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Order of the Month
| Common Names | Metamorphosis | Mouthparts |
| Key Characteristics | Biology | Highlighted Coleoptera |
| Common Families | Recognizing Beetle Groups | Fun Facts |
Common names: beetles, weevils
Metamorphosis: holometabolous
Mouthparts: chewing
Key Characteristics: Coleoptera have the front pair of wings (elytra) hard
and shield-like, meeting in a straight line down the middle of the back.
They usually have two pairs of wings. The hind wings are membranous and
are folded under the front wings when at rest.
Biology: Immature stages are
grub-like or worm-like and the insects pass through a pupal stage before
becoming adults. Food habits are varied. Some feed on living plants; some
are predaceous; some are scavengers; and some bore in wood. This order
includes some of the best-known and most important insect pests. Most of
the members are terrestrial, but some are aquatic. Coleoptera is the
largest order, including about 1/4 of all known insects or about 280,000
different species. Perhaps the most famous members of this group are lady
beetles and the cotton boll weevil.
Name derivation: Coleoptera = Latin for “sheath” (coleo); “wings” (ptera)