Bugland: Beetlemania

Beetles are by far the largest order of insects, with roughly between 350,000 to 400,000 species. That means they comprise about 40 percent of all insect species — about 25 percent of all animals. New beetles are discovered frequently, with estimates suggesting that there may be as many as 2.1 million types of species all over the world.

They are found on land and in fresh water and can adapt to almost any environment. They usually just live where they eat. Beetles come in all colors, sizes and even shapes. They are spotted, striped, and iridescent black.

Beetles cannot see very well, so they communicate using pheromones, sounds or vibrations. Some burrow into wood and stay frozen half the year, surviving by producing their own anti-freeze.

Some species are serious agricultural pests — like the Colorado potato beetle, which originated right here in the Rocky Mountains. Other beetles are not pests at all: Ladybugs are not only considered good luck, but they feast on aphids and other plant-sucking insects that damage crops and flowers. Fireflies are also beetles. They glow in the dark to communicate.

Beetles have a prominent place in human culture, from the ancient sacred scarabs in Egypt to beetlewing art, in which the iridescent wings of beetles are used to decorate garments. Some Asian cultures long ago adopted beetle fighting for entertainment and gambling. The Japanese, in particular, consider beetles good pets because they’re docile, live a year or more, and are easy to care for.

Here is a small collection of beetles living in Park Hill, found and photographed by Mark Silverstein.