North American Coleoptera (Beetles)

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Beetles are the most diverse groups of insects in the world.  They have 2 sets of wings.  Their antennae come in many forms and this often helps in identifying them.  The flying wings are kept hidden beneath the the hardened covers, though not all beetles can fly, even with their "flying" wings.  The typical beetle lifecycle consists of an egg, a series of larval stages and the adult phase. 

Grant's Rhinoceros beetles (Dynastes granti) are a familiar beetle to many people.  They hatch from their eggs and then go through 3 larval instars (popularly referred to as L1, L2, L3).  At the end of L3, they construct an egg-like chamber of dirt (or other substrate) where they will pupate (go through metamorphosis).  The pupa (see photo example) gradually take on the shape of the adult beetle and look very much like sarcophagi.  With Grant's Rhinoceros Beetles, you can literally watch the horns grow longer over the course of a few days.

Rhino Beetles and Stag Beetles are the two most desirable beetle groups in the pet trades.  Rhino Beetles (Family: Dynastinae) are technically a kind of Scarab Beetle, but other scarabs make popular pets as well, including the Jewel Scarabs (Family: Rutelinae) and the Flower Scarabs (Family: Cetoniinae).  The large beetles from Latin America called Megasoma species are the Elephant Beetles and are similar in size to the other heavyweights- the Goliath Beetles of Africa (Goliathus species).  A few Megasoma species are found in the USA, including Megasoma vogti and Megasoma punctulatus.  These species are quite rare, and are also all in the family Cetoniinae.  The longest beetle in the world is the longhorn beetle (Family: Cerambyicadae) Titanus giganteus.  They measure in at about 5 to 6 inches long with the largest specimens reaching almost 8 inches!  They look very similar to the longest US species- The Palo Verde Beetle (listed below).

Different beetles eat different things.  Many eat fruits or drink saps from trees.  Others scavenge the flesh of animals.  Some feed on living plants, while other feed on decaying plant matter.