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Nature is amazing, as demonstrated by the diverse species of insects belonging to the Order Coleoptera, commonly known as beetles, which includes between 375,000 and 400,000 described species, not to mention the significant number of individuals currently in the process of being accepted as members of this taxonomic order, for which they must meet basic characteristics such as the presence of a case-shaped body protected by a chitinous exoskeleton—which is very resistant, heavy, colorful, or dark in hue—three pairs of legs anchored to the animal’s thorax, a body divided into three regions including the head, thorax, and abdomen, two protective upper wings known as elytra, another pair of functional wings for flight located beneath the elytra, chewing mandibles, and sensory antennae at the front, which, together with the compound eyes, allow them to establish a network of interactions with their environment—essential for mating, feeding, and finding shelter within their ecosystem.

In this image, we see a beetle belonging to the Phylum Arthropoda, Class Insecta, Order Coleoptera, Family Lycidae, perched on a ripe Japanese medlar (Eriobotrya japonica, Rosaceae family). Note that its morphology allows it to blend into its surroundings while feeding on the juices oozing from the fruit. Its long front antennae classify it as a longhorn beetle.

In this picture, we see a beetle commonly known as a ladybug(Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Arthropoda, Class Insecta, Order Coleoptera, Family Coccinellidae, Subfamily Coccinellinae, Species Cycloneda sanguinea).This small beetle is an excellent predator of aphids and other insects harmful to plants, making use of its powerful chewing mouthparts as well as its camouflage, which allows it to blend into its surroundings and approach its prey more easily. Ladybugs lay their eggs near aphid colonies so that the larvae can feed immediately upon hatching. Adults also hunt aphids.

The morphology of each individual in the Order Coleoptera, and of all living beings, is determined by its genetic information, and in some cases, by diet or overexposure to similar environmental factors—a condition known as phenocopy, with the particularity that when the element inducing the novel morphology disappears, the animal once again expresses the information contained in its genes, which in the natural sciences we evaluate through a discipline known as morphometry, which, based on form, allows us to place the individual in its corresponding taxon, with universal validity.

Firefly, of the genus Photinus, family Lampyridae, order Coleoptera, class Insecta, phylum Arthropoda, kingdom Animalia, domain Eukaryota, probable species Photinus signaticollis (Émile Blanchard, 1846). Fireflies exhibit marked sexual dimorphism, particularly in wing development, which prevents females from flying; thus, when they detect a male in flight, they activate their bioluminescence to facilitate mating. This light is produced by chemical reactions that occur in a specialized organ located in the abdomen of both males and females.
they also twist their bodies to escape predators. Males are excellent fliers. All of these abilities are due to their morphology.

Through morphometry, we can compare the morphological variations present in some individuals belonging to the Order Coleoptera, and it is in this sense that the publication you have been reading is oriented, highlighting the way in which evolution modifies the bodies of the individuals under study, not simply on a whim, but as a response to the ecological conditions in which these specimens live and how they respond to the pressures created by those living conditions, compounded by the fact that any individual that fails to adapt to the changing environment is surely destined to disappear, which could affect population numbers and, subsequently, the species itself.

This image shows a fire beetle (Phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, Order Coleoptera (beetles), Family Scarabaeidae, Genus Gymnetis, probable species Gymnetis sallei (Schaum, 1849), feeding on a ripe banana.
Some researchers classify it as Gymnetis fulgurata.
Beetles of the genus Gymnetis feed on sugars and yeast found in ripe fruit. There are even reports of these iridescent beetles attacking honeybee hives, protected by their hard exoskeleton, where they also find abundant sugars.

The images you have been viewing as you read this publication correspond to specimens of the Order Coleoptera, captured during my frequent visits to rural areas of Lara State, Venezuela, which reflect and reaffirm that our country is megadiverse in terms of fauna and flora species.

The author of this post during one of his hikes through the xerophytic forest of Mount Mucuragua, in northern Lara State.

Let’s look at some other wonderful beetles:

A vaquita beetle, or maquech (Phylum Arthropoda, Class Insecta, Order Coleoptera, Family Zopheridae, Genus Zopherus), native to Mexico, spotted on Mount Mucuragua in the xerophytic forest biome, north of Lara State, in Venezuela.

This vaquita beetle is a herbivore that feeds on tree bark.

A click beetle (Order Coleoptera, Suborder Polyphaga, Family Elateridae, Species Monocrepidius nocturnus), so named because when caught by a predator, it twists its body and makes a clicking sound in an attempt to escape.
They feed mainly on roots, underground stems, and seeds, using their front legs and mouthparts to penetrate the base of the stem below ground level. This makes them agricultural pests, as they damage the plant’s growing tissues (meristematic tissues), hindering the development of plant tissues and ultimately causing the plant’s death.

A light green beetle (Order Coleoptera, Suborder Polyphaga, Family Scarabaeidae, Subfamily Rutelinae, Platycoelia burmeisteriana), showing the lines that allow the pronotum, head, and elytra to close and fit together. Their color allows them to blend into the spaces created by dense vegetation.

A specimen of green beetle with iridescent markings on the outer part of its body (Order Coleoptera, Suborder Polyphaga, Family Scarabaeidae, Species Cotinis columbica), photographed while feeding on the ripe fruit of a guava tree (Psidium guajava).

The same specimen of Cotinis columbica, placed on the palm of my hand, where the sun’s rays fall differently, creating a beautiful iridescent effect.
The color of this specimen has aposematic effects. Sensing danger while on my hand, the animal curled up its entire body and tucked in its limbs.

A specimen of the April beetle (Family Scarabeidae, Order Coleoptera, Class Insecta, Phylum Arthropoda, Kingdom Animalia), photographed on the wall of a house in the El Toro area, near the village of Usera, in northern Lara State. This animal was disoriented by efect of the artificial light.
Family Scarabeidae, Order Coleoptera, Class Insecta, Phylum Arthropoda, Kingdom Animalia.

A specimen of the multicolored Asian ladybug (Harmonia axiridis, Family Coccinellidae, Order Coleoptera, Class Insecta, Phylum Arthropoda), native to Asia, this species was introduced to South America, North America, and Europe for the purpose of biological control of aphids that attack agricultural crops. However, as an invasive species, it has gotten out of control, invading urban areas and homes, and poses serious competition to local ladybug species, displacing them from their ecological niches. The specimen shown in the photo was photographed in a manioc field (Manihot esculenta) located on a farm near the town of Sanare, Lara State, Venezuela.

I invite you to learn more about the morphology of beetles and to relate it to the niche and habitat these insects occupy within ecosystems.

A specimen of the corn beetle (Diabrotica barberi, family Chrysomelidae), which uses its powerful chewing mouthparts to wreak havoc on crops such as corn, squash, dahlias, legumes, and grasses in general. The larval stage is the most damaging to plants. These beetles are considered agricultural pests.

SUGGESTED BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Coleoptera
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Morphometry
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MORPHOMETRY: FROM WORDS TO FIGURES
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Insecta
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Thank you for visiting my blog:

Ali Riera

All images were taken with a Xiaomi Redmi 9C smartphone and are the property of Hive account@aliriera