Coleoptera: What are, characteristics, types and examples

The Coleoptera (Word that originates from the Greek Koleoswhich means “box or case”, and Greek Pteronwhich means “wing”) or also called Beetlesthey form an order of Holometabol insects known as Coleoptera. Taxonomically speaking, they form more than 40% of the diversity described for hexapoda worldwide, they know each other between 360,000 and 400,000 species currently described. In this way, it includes a quarter of all the species described so far and, in addition to being the zoo with a larger number of species throughout the biosphere, it is the More diverse animals order of the planet.

Beetles are a monophiletic group, with the oldest coleopteroid fossil dating from the lower Permian (270 million years ago). However, the first authentic beetles appeared in the upper Permian stage (about 250 million years ago) and in the upper Triassic (240-220 million years) where up to twenty families are recognized.

We invite you to learn more about the classification of insects with this other Ecology Verde.

Coleoptera are characterized by a great morphological variability, a characteristic that has allowed them to colonize all kinds of environments and habitats, from Dulceacuícola to marine environments. This has given them the group of animals with the greatest evolutionary success. But,How are the beetles? These are the main Characteristics of coleoptera:

• Like insects, the body of the beetles has three characteristic tagmas: the head, the thorax and the abdomen. However, the existence of a pterothorable covered by the eliters (modified wings totally hardened with protective function to the second pair of wings, the back of the thorax and the abdomen), gives the feeling that the body is divided into an anterior part, formed by the head and the protorax, and a posterior under the eliters.
• Commonly, the head is bygnata, that is, the longitudinal axis of the rest of the body coincides with that of the head (an angle of 180^either). It is equipped with a cephalic capsule, where the following regions are distinguished: the forehead, the vertex between the forehead and the occipucio and some side areas known as genas, where compound eyes are located. In this capsule, a pair of antennas and mouth pieces are connected, these last, with an orthopteroid structure that facilitates chewing.
• The Torax is characterized by a net division in Prósrax and Pterorax. The first section is free while, the second, forms a functional unit. Metatoracic wings are membranous and bend transversely under the eliters, being normally longer than these.
• The abdomen is divided by ten or eleven segments, of which the visible sternitos are 5 or 6 (corresponding to segments III A VII U VIII).
• Regarding the size of individuals, it usually ranges between 0.3 mm of some PTILIIDAE and 200 mm of the females of Titanus giantus and Xixuthrus Heros (Cerambycidae).

Regarding the feeding of these organisms there is a very diverse range of food sources, as varied as their ways of life. Coleoptera can feed on flowers, fruits, dejections, other animals, seeds, leaves, pollen, roots, among many other options. In fact, the typology of their food allows them to classify them into three Coleoptera suborders according to their diet:

• SUBORDEN Adephagaor carnivorous beetles.
• SUBORDEN Myxophagaor herbivorous beetles.
• SUBORDEN Polyphagaor omnivorous beetles.

Commonly, Coleoptera reproduce sexualwhile parthenogenesis occurs exceptionally.

Everything begins when males attract females by aggregation hormones while females attract males through pheromones Or, also, emitting sounds. They carry out a courtship and, then, reproduce. From there, a very variable egg size and numberfrom a large one to various hundreds or thousands of small eggs. Their life cycles are usually univoltinos; However, in warm and sufficient food areas, two or more annual generations can occur.

4 suborders are considered: Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga and Polyphaga. Suborders containing Colleopter species Of agricultural interest they are Adephaga and Polyphaga and, therefore, we focus on these.

• ADEPHAGA: developed coxas that divide the first abdominal segment. Noticeural suture present. Tarsal formula 5,5,5.
• Polyphaga: developed Coxas do not divide the first abdominal segment. Absent noticeural suture.

Some Examples of beetles more curious are the Titan beetle (Titanus giantus), which can reach a size of 17 centimeters, the Eastern fireflies (Photinus pyralis), characterized by issuing bioluminescence, and La Cantárida (Lytta vesicatory), one of the species of poisonous beetle for the human being. And there is still an immensely curious and peculiar variety of school species.

There are several species of coleoptera that can cause Damage to horticultural crops or garden plantswhich makes animals potentially causing pests.

A common example are Colleopter pests In the Colza. Normally, this event becomes evident when the larvae have left the pods of the rapes through openings. Previously, inside the sheath, these larvae have eaten the pods. Consequently to the perforations that create in the pods, the water penetrates into them causing excretion.

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