BeetlesBeetles

Laura HorchLaura HorchOctober 12, 2005October 12, 2005

Education 140Education 140Bugscope ProjectBugscope Project

Dorsal Anatomy of a Dorsal Anatomy of a BeetleBeetle

BeetlesBeetles

Beetles are one of the Beetles are one of the main groups of insectsmain groups of insects

They belong to the They belong to the order Coleoptera, which order Coleoptera, which means “Sheathed Wing”means “Sheathed Wing”

It has more species than It has more species than any other order in the any other order in the entire animal kingdomentire animal kingdom

Beetles-habitatBeetles-habitat

They can be found in They can be found in almost all habitatsalmost all habitats

They are not known to They are not known to occur in the sea and occur in the sea and polar regionspolar regions

Beetles-ecosystemBeetles-ecosystem

They have a major They have a major impact on the impact on the ecosystem in three ecosystem in three ways: ways:

1.1. Feed on plants and Feed on plants and fungifungi

2.2. Break down animal Break down animal and plant debrisand plant debris

3.3. Eat other Eat other invertebratesinvertebrates

Beetles-matingBeetles-mating Smell is thought to play Smell is thought to play

a significant importance a significant importance in the location of a matein the location of a mate

Pairing is generally Pairing is generally short but in some cases short but in some cases may last for several may last for several hourshours

During pairing sperm During pairing sperm cells are transferred to cells are transferred to the female to fertilize the female to fertilize the eggthe egg

Beetles-life cycleBeetles-life cycle

Beetles have complete Beetles have complete metamorphosismetamorphosis

Each beetle starts as Each beetle starts as an egg, hatches into a an egg, hatches into a larva, becomes a larva, becomes a pupa, and emerges as pupa, and emerges as an adultan adult

Beetles-dietBeetles-diet

They feed on foliage, roots, They feed on foliage, roots, flowers, seed, and fruitsflowers, seed, and fruits

Colorado potato beetles opt Colorado potato beetles opt almost entirely to colonize almost entirely to colonize plants of the potato familyplants of the potato family

Others are generalists, Others are generalists, eating both plants and eating both plants and animalsanimals

Ground beetles are entirely Ground beetles are entirely carnivorous and will catch carnivorous and will catch and consume small prey and consume small prey such as earthworms and such as earthworms and snailssnails

Beetle-protectionBeetle-protection

Beetles and larvae Beetles and larvae have evolved to have evolved to employ a variety of employ a variety of strategies for strategies for avoiding being eatenavoiding being eaten

1.1. CamouflageCamouflage

2.2. Use of strong Use of strong mandiblesmandibles

3.3. Secretion of Secretion of poisonous substancespoisonous substances

Beetles-giraffe and Beetles-giraffe and hissinghissing

Beetles- red may and Beetles- red may and stagstag

NSES-Bugscope ProjectNSES-Bugscope Project Life Science: Content Life Science: Content

Standard CStandard C (Grades 5-8)(Grades 5-8) Reproduction and heredity:Reproduction and heredity:

females produce eggs and females produce eggs and males produce sperm males produce sperm

an egg and sperm unite to an egg and sperm unite to begin development of a new begin development of a new individual individual

Regulation and behavior:Regulation and behavior: an organism's behavior an organism's behavior

evolves through adaptation to evolves through adaptation to its environment its environment

Populations and ecosystems:Populations and ecosystems: consumers, which obtain food consumers, which obtain food

by eating other organisms by eating other organisms

Authenticity of Authenticity of TechnologyTechnology

The scanning electron The scanning electron microscope allows students microscope allows students to view the insect with a very to view the insect with a very large magnification.large magnification.

The ESEM allows light to The ESEM allows light to pass through the object, pass through the object, allowing the students to see allowing the students to see the magnified insect clearly the magnified insect clearly with all the details shown.with all the details shown.

The students can learn the The students can learn the many parts of an insect many parts of an insect through viewing it under the through viewing it under the ESEM.ESEM.

Literature SourcesLiterature Sources

1.1. National Audubon National Audubon Society First Field Society First Field Guide: InsectsGuide: Insects

2.2. Beetle Bedlam by Beetle Bedlam by Vlasta van Kampen Vlasta van Kampen

3.3. The Best Book of The Best Book of Bugs by KingfisherBugs by Kingfisher

Bugscope- curricular Bugscope- curricular activitiesactivities

1.1. Students can compare different structures of different Students can compare different structures of different insects. They can learn that important levels of insects. They can learn that important levels of organization for structure and function include cells, organization for structure and function include cells, organs, tissues, organ systems, whole organisms, and organs, tissues, organ systems, whole organisms, and ecosystems. ecosystems.

2.2. Students can learn that millions of species of animals Students can learn that millions of species of animals and microorganisms are alive today. Although and microorganisms are alive today. Although different species might not look alike, the unity different species might not look alike, the unity among organisms becomes apparent from an analysis among organisms becomes apparent from an analysis of internal structures, the similarity of their chemical of internal structures, the similarity of their chemical processes, and the evidence of common ancestry. processes, and the evidence of common ancestry.

ReferencesReferences

http://www.4to40.com/earth/geography/htm/http://www.4to40.com/earth/geography/htm/insectsindex.asp?counter=4insectsindex.asp?counter=4

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beetlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beetle

http://bugscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/http://bugscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/