Beetles - coleoptera - ReThing

Beetles are the largest and most diverse group of insects, and they live in most environments. One-third of all animals in the world are beetles [3]. Because of their diversity, beetles play an essential role in nature [1].

Beetles eat a varied diet depending on the species. Some beetles are predators, some more general, while others eat specific prey. They can also be herbivores that live on a wide assortment. Some species can be found in flowers, where they consume pollen and nectar; many others live in fungi and on fungi, both fruiting bodies and mycelium. Beetles also live as decomposers on various decaying organic materials, including faeces, dead meat, litter and dead wood [2].

Some beetles are social insects that live in communities, while others are parasites that live on or off someone else. Some species of beetles are pests of cereals and foodstuffs, and some create major problems by killing large numbers of spruce and pine plants. However, some beetles are also pest controllers and can be used precisely as biological control agents [3].

Key functions

● Decomposers of organic matter

● Pest controllers

● Biological pesticides

Threat

● Logging

● Modern forestry

● Climate change

Common species