The beetles They are coleoptero insects that can be found in a multitude of habitats, from deserts to very cold areas.The group of coleopteros is formed by more than 350,000 species , so its morphology is very different, like than their eating habits.
The two main characteristics of these animals is their type of metamorphosis, called holometabol, for being complete, and their first pair of wings, called elitros, which are hardened forming a shell.In this Animals and Pets Online article we will discover what beetles eat , what are their favorite foods and what type of diet they follow.
Feeding the beetles
The beetles have a mouth appliance called "chewing".They are very strong and primitive jaws, typical of those insects that eat solid substances.These jaws are adapted to cut and crush food, also can serve as defense.
The different habitats where beetles live offer a wide variety of food, so each species has adapted to certain types of food:
- Plants : Most beetles are herbivorous animals, feeding exclusively on plants.They can eat roots, leaves, seeds, nectar, fruits, etc.Many of these animals are usually a problem in crops, becoming pest animals..
- Wood : Many species of beetles feed on wood.These animals can do a lot of damage to living trees, but they can also attack the furniture of a house.Two examples of wood-eating beetles are the horned beetle long ( Anoplophora glabripennis ) and the pole dust beetle ( Lyctus brunneus ).
- Decomposing matter : many beetles are carron animals, since, to survive, they feed on decomposing matter.Some eat decomposing plant matter, such as dried leaves that are on the ground, others feed on feces and, many others are part of the cadaverous fauna.
- Insects : there are also beetles that are carnivorous animals.These feed on larvae of other insects or their adult specimens, although they also feed deacaros or butterfly caterpillars.
- Amphibians : some beetles, despite being smaller in size than their prey, can feed on frogs and toads.They attract these amphibians to attack them and, when they do it, they enter their mouths to gradually absorb their fluids.
What do rhinoceros beetles eat?
They are called rhinoceros beetles or bull beetles to all those coleopteros that are provided with one or more horns on the head.These animals are among the largest beetles in the world, being able to measure more than six centimeters in length This horn is used by males in their struggles to impress females and to dig tunnels that serve to escape them before dangerous situations.
They are herbivorous beetles.They usually feed on leaves and plant material, in general , which they find in the soil of the jungles where they usually live.
What do green beetles eat?
Green beetles can belong to several genera, but all are characterized by a very striking metallic green color.They tend to be pests in crops, since they feed on fruits In addition, they can take the nectar of the flowers .The larvae of these beetles are also herbivores and during that stage they feed on the roots of the plants.
What do dung beetles eat?
These coleopteros are coprophagous beetles, they feed on decomposing matter, specifically animal feces, with which they form pellets that they can transport.They are very strong beetles and good flying.From the air, thanks to their Small specialized antennas are capable of capturing the smell of manure several kilometers away.
What do Egyptian beetles eat?
Egyptian beetles or mummy beetles are melted coleopteros, whose adult specimens and larvae feed on rotten meat.These beetles were used by the Egyptians to remove leftover meat from the bodies they were going to mummify.There are other beetles that are very present in cadaverous fauna, some do not feed on meat, but on the larvae of flies that live in the corpse.
If you want to read more articles similar to What do beetles eat? , we recommend that you enter our Balanced Diets section.
Bibliography
- Holter, P.,&Scholtz, CH (2007).What do dung beetles eat?.Ecological Entomology , 32 (6), 690-697.
- Davis, ALV2013.Onthophagus pugionatus.The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T137186A521177.
- Kanchwala, H.( 2019) Beetle Di et: What Do Beetles Eat? Science ABC.
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