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Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (/ k oʊ l iː ˈ ɒ p t ər ə /), in the superorder Holometabola. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects.
Coleopteran, (order Coleoptera), any member of the insect order Coleoptera, consisting of the beetles and weevils. It is the largest order of insects, representing about 40 percent of the known insect species. Among the over 360,000 species of Coleoptera are many of the largest and most conspicuous.
Greek 'sheath wing'; Aristotle already called beetles 'koleopteros' (κολεοπτερος) to refer to the hardened front wings. The largest order in the animal kingdom, with close to 400,000 described species in almost 30,000 genera of >200 families worldwide (6)(7), or ~40% of known insects.
Coleoptera protect themselves against enemies in various ways. Some closely resemble their surroundings; the upper surface of one African species (Petrognatha gigas), for example, resembles dead velvety moss, and its irregular antennae are very much like dried tendrils or twigs.
Coleoptera larvae differ in appearance from adults. This is characteristic of insects with complete metamorphosis (Endopterygota), in which the wings develop internally until they become apparent in the pupal stage.
Beetles (Order Coleoptera) are known to include some 350,000 described species. In the United States, there are nearly 30,000 kinds of beetles known. These figures are rising constantly due to the naming of new species by taxonomists.
Beetles belong to the order ‘Coleoptera’, pronounced ‘co-le-op-ter-a’. This is the largest order of species in the animal kingdom, even larger than ants! Coleoptera come in all different shapes, sizes and colors.