The beetles are coleopterous insects that can be found in many habitats, from deserts to very cold areas. The Coleoptera group is formed by more than 350,000 species, so their morphology is very different, as are their eating habits.
The two main characteristics of these animals is their type of metamorphosis, called holometabola, because it is complete, and their first pair of wings, called elytra, which are hardened to form a shell. However, in this article on our site we will find out what beetles eat, what their favorite foods are and what kind of diet they follow.
Beetle feeding
Beetles have a mouth apparatus called a "masticator" They have very strong and primitive jaws, typical of those insects that eat solid substances. These jaws are adapted to cut and grind food, and can also serve as a defense.
The different habitats where beetles live offer a wide variety of foods, so each species has adapted to certain types of food:
- Plants: Most beetles are herbivorous animals, feeding exclusively on plants. They can eat roots, leaves, seeds, nectar, fruits, etc. Many of these animals are usually a problem in crops, becoming pest animals.
- Wood: Many species of beetles feed on wood. These animals can do a lot of damage to living trees, but they can also attack furniture in a house. Two examples of wood-eating beetles are the long-horned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) and the powder-post beetle (Lyctus brunneus).
- Decaying matter: Many beetles are scavengers, feeding on decaying matter to survive. Some eat decomposing plant material, such as dry leaves that are on the ground, others feed on excrement, and many others are part of the cadaveric fauna.
- Insects: there are also beetles that are carnivorous animals. These feed on the larvae of other insects or their adult specimens, although they also feed on mites or butterfly caterpillars.
- Amphibians: Some beetles, despite being smaller in size than their prey, can feed on frogs and toads. They attract these amphibians to attack them, and when they do, they enter their mouths to gradually absorb their fluids.
What do rhinoceros beetles eat?
Rhinoceros beetles or bull beetles are called all those beetles that are provided with one or more horns on their heads These animals are found among the largest beetles in the world, being able to measure more than six centimeters in length. This horn is used by the males in their fights to impress the females and to dig tunnels that serve as an escape from dangerous situations.
They are herbivorous beetles. They usually feed on the leaves and plant material, in general, that they find on the ground of the forests where they usually live.
What do green beetles eat?
Green beetles can belong to various genera, but all are characterized by a very striking metallic green color. They are usually pest animals in crops, since they feed on fruits In addition, they can drink the nectar of flowersThe larvae of these beetles are also herbivorous and during this stage feed on plant roots.
What do dung beetles eat?
These beetles are dung beetles, they feed on decomposing matter, specifically animal feces, with which they form little balls that they can transport. They are very strong beetles and good fliers From the air, thanks to their small specialized antennae, they are able to pick up the smell of manure from several kilometers away.
What do Egyptian beetles eat?
Egyptian beetles or mummy beetles are dermestid beetles, whose adults and larvae feed on rotten meat. These beetles were used by the Egyptians to remove excess meat from bodies to be mummified. There are other beetles very present in the cadaveric fauna, some do not feed on meat, but on the larvae of flies that live on the corpse.
