Some species of Hercules beetles have a huge protruding horn that they use to battle with other beetles.Īnother interesting fact about this large beetle is that it is one of the largest flying insects in the world. These markings are unique to each individual beetle. Their hard wing covers can be light brown, green, or gray colors with black markings. There is a wide variation in the different species of Hercules beetles. Beetles from this group are also referred to as rhinoceros beetles. These horned beetles belong to the subfamily Dynastinae and are a scarab beetle. The horned large Hercules beetles include different species with various colorsĪs the name suggests, Hercules beetles are a large and impressive type of beetle. Let’s look at some of the most common beetles you are likely to find in your garden, in forests, or scurrying through your house. Types of Beetles with Their Picture and Name: Identification Guide Lower classifications of beetles are categorized by their ability to fly, colors, long antennae, swimming ability, and head shape.īecause the list of beetle types is extremely long, it can be challenging to identify the exact beetle species. Beetle Identificationīeetles are classified into groups of insects that have hard exoskeletons, wings, and most species have pincers or mandibles on their front. However, most people refer to any small pesky critters with legs as bugs, whether tiny beetles, caterpillars, spiders, ants, flies, or ticks. For example, ladybugs ( Coccinellidae), potato bugs ( Leptinotarsa decemlineata), lightning bugs ( Lampyridae), and clay-colored billbugs ( Sphenophorus aequalis) are all beetles in the order Coleoptera. The difference between beetles and bugs gets confusing because some beetles have the word “bug” in their common name. Bugs, instead, have piercing, sucking mouthparts they use to bite plant tissue or skin. Beetles are winged insects in the order Coleoptera, and they have chewing mouthparts called mandibles. However, true bugs in the order Hemiptera are not the same as beetles. One type of small red beetle with black spots that flies is the ladybug or lady beetle. Others can have striped, speckled, or patterned bodies. Some of the most stunning varieties of beetles have iridescent coloring with shades of metallic colors. The Scydosella musawasensis beetle is less than 1 mm long! The largest beetle, the Titan beetle, can grow to nearly 7” (17 cm)! However, the average size of most beetles is under 1” (2.5 cm) long.Īlthough many beetle species are black, beetles can be a range of colors from green to brown, red, or orange. The smallest species of beetle is also the smallest insect in the world. Insects in the beetle order can range in size from very small to relatively large. In fact, the old English word for beetle literally means “little biter.” Some types of beetles can fly and others bite. There are over 400,000 species of beetles that are divided into families and subgroups. Identifying beetles by their color, body shape, and other features can help to know which type of beetle you have.Īll types of beetle are anthropoids (phylum Arthropoda) that belong to the order Coleoptera. However, there are also some beetle species that can destroy plants or vegetation. Many types of beetles are harmless and can be beneficial for gardens or backyards. As boxelders produce their seeds, the bugs move up to feed in the tree.Share on Email Share on Pinterest Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedInīeetles are some of the most fascinating types of insects that you will come across. Because these insects feed primarily on boxelder and maple seeds, after the seeds drop boxelder bugs are sometimes found on the ground feeding on fallen seeds. Only the adults survive the winter as boxelder bugs have the socially unacceptable habit of dining on any nymphs unfortunate enough to be in the vicinity. The insects seek overwintering places in September and October. The boxelder bug population increases rapidly from middle July to early September. Development of the six nymphal stages takes 50 to 70 days. Each female deposits a total of about 230 eggs. Eggs are deposited in masses of 10 or 11 eggs usually in bark crevices. These insects prefer sunny areas and, therefore, are found most abundantly on trees in a southern exposure and on sides of buildings facing south. Adult boxelder bugs emerge from their overwintering shelters in March and early April and feed for about 2 weeks before mating. Nymphs are conspicuously bright red, although older nymphs have dark gray wing pads. Females lay eggs that are light yellow but soon darken to rusty red. The leathery parts of the wings are outlined in red, and the eyes are also red. Description and Biology Skip to Description and Biologyīoxelder bugs, Boisea ( Leptocoris) trivittata, are dark gray to black with three red stripes on the thorax.
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