Buzz
Beetles not only outnumber humans—they far exceed all other creatures. One in every four living organisms on Earth is a beetle, and when you factor in plants, beetles make up one in every five life forms. There are approximately three million species of beetles, yet only about one-tenth of them have been formally identified. We've employed beetles in some rather bizarre ways, and the insects themselves often lead revolting lives.
10. Living Beetle Jewelry
The tradition of using live beetles as adornments dates back to ancient Egypt, where soldiers wore scarabs—believed to possess magical powers—on their battle uniforms. In Mexico, an old Mayan story tells of a princess who was forbidden to marry her true love. A witch doctor transformed her into a Maquech beetle so she could stay by her lover's side, close to his heart. Over time, Mayan women began wearing live Maquech beetles in tribute to the fabled princess.
The trend of wearing live Maquech beetles as jewelry has been popular in Mexico since the 1980s. The adult Maquech rarely feeds and typically lives for two to three years. Rhinestones and gems are affixed to the beetle's forewings (elytra), along with a gold chain that’s attached to a pin. The pin is fastened to the wearer’s shirt, allowing the Maquech to roam freely across their chest.
Naturally, animal rights organizations strongly criticize the use of live beetles as jewelry. Additionally, Maquech beetles cannot be brought into the United States, and travelers attempting to do so may face fines of up to $500.
9. The Prickly Nature of Beetle Mating
The female diving beetle has a complex reproductive system. Her body can store sperm from several males for months, or even years. This likely enables her to select the most suitable sperm for fertilization.
There are roughly 5,000 species of ladybugs (also known as 'ladybird bugs' and 'lady beetles'). This seems to confuse male ladybugs because their aedeagus (penis) can only fit into the reproductive tract of a female of the same species, like a key fitting into a lock.
However, nothing is more intimidating than the aedeagus of seed beetles, or bean weevils. Their penises are spiked and horned, enabling them to anchor themselves within the female’s reproductive tract. The image above shows an electron microscope view of a seed beetle’s aedeagus.
Females have developed protective padding within their ducts to shield them from harm. Despite this, some damage still occurs, and many scientists believe that this injury prevents the female from mating with another male for a period of time.
8. The Dung Hat
Beetles are also known to make use of their own waste. The striking golden tortoise beetle has an anal fork where feces and discarded skin accumulate, forming a large shield shaped like a beaver’s tail. Meanwhile, the larvae of leaf beetles carry a transparent bubble filled with their own feces on their back, which helps ward off predators.
One of the most peculiar fecal shields is carried by palmetto tortoise beetle larvae, found from Mississippi to Florida, often feeding on saw palmetto plants. As the larvae grow, they coil their feces into layers, which resemble an untidy Rastafarian hairstyle, a bird's nest, or a straw hat.
7. Railroad Worms
Glowworms aren't actually worms, but the larvae of several bioluminescent insects. While some are flies or gnats, the term typically refers to the Lampyridae or Phengodidae families of beetles.
The Lampyridae family, known as fireflies or lightning bugs, thrives in the humid regions of the Americas, Asia, and Europe. They possess a special light organ in their abdomens where oxygen interacts with luciferin to create light. According to a 2010 study, the glow of just 10 fireflies is comparable to that of a streetlight. During World War I, soldiers in trenches used jars filled with European fireflies to illuminate maps and documents.
The female larvae of the Phengodidae family are equipped with paired light organs along each body segment, emitting a yellow-green glow similar to the lights of a train's coach windows. They also have a bright red light on their heads, which is why they are known as Railroad Worms.
6. Beetle Metal
Many beetles display iridescence, which gives them a glittering, metal-like appearance, earning them the title of 'living jewels.' Their outer shells consist of layers of plates, arranged in various directions to reflect and bend light. Beneath these plates, a layer of pigment amplifies the iridescence.
The Spilopyra genus is home to some of the most vibrantly colored beetles globally and is classified as small leaf-beetles (Chrysomelidae). Unlike many other iridescent beetles, members of this genus gleam not only on their elytra but also on their head, legs, and even underneath their belly. One of the most stunning species is Spilopyra sumptuosa, found in Australia and New Guinea, whose colors shift between golden-green, purple-blue, and purple-green.
Scientists have yet to fully understand why beetles are iridescent. Unlike birds, beetles attract mates using chemicals, not colors. Research has shown that their iridescent hues do not serve to warn predators, allowing them to remain well camouflaged.
5. Navigating, Poop-Dancing Beetles
Dung beetle competition is fierce, with some beetles hanging onto a mammal’s backside, waiting for the next opportunity to collect dung. Once the dung falls, the battle intensifies. A beetle may roll a perfect dung ball, only for it to be snatched away by a competing neighbor.
The dung beetle must roll its ball to its burrow, where it can feast and nurture its offspring. To keep the ball moving in a straight line (and avoid getting stuck in endless circles), it climbs on top and does a little dance. It spins around to orient itself, then climbs down and pushes or drags the ball using its hind legs.
In daylight, polarized light surrounds the Sun symmetrically. While humans can't perceive this, dung beetles have specialized receptors in their eyes that allow them to detect it and use it for navigation during their dance. By night, they rely on the faint polarized light from the Moon, and on nights without the Moon, they turn to the Milky Way.
4. Retro Body Types
The physical structure of many beetles' bodies mirrors that of their ancient ancestors. One family of beetles has evolved a body type akin to that of the extinct trilobite, another arthropod. The female trilobite beetle possesses a plated, segmented exoskeleton for protection, just as the prehistoric trilobite did. Unlike its ancient counterpart, however, the beetle can retract its tiny head beneath its flat armor.
Some have suggested that trilobite beetles are bioluminescent, but this is likely a mix-up with firefly larvae, which share a similar body structure. The head of a trilobite beetle is exposed, whereas the head of a firefly larva is shielded by a plate.
The male trilobite beetle develops a typical beetle body and is capable of flight, while the female remains in her larval trilobite form throughout her life and lacks wings. The female is also significantly larger, typically 6 centimeters (2.4 inches), compared to the male's size of 5 millimeters (0.2 inches). The mating session lasts for a full five hours, after which the male perishes.
3. Spanish Fly
The fabled aphrodisiac known as Spanish fly is not derived from flies, but from beetles, specifically blister beetles. These beetles release a milky substance called cantharidin from their leg joints as a defense against predators. Females coat fertilized eggs with cantharidin to safeguard them, while males present the female with a sperm packet for her use at any time. To enhance the packet's appeal, the male adds drops of cantharidin.
Cantharidin is a clear, odorless solid at room temperature. It is a toxic irritant that causes blisters when it comes into contact with the skin. If ingested, it can damage the stomach lining. It is as poisonous as strychnine and currently has no known antidote.
Legend has it that the blister beetle can be ground into powder and added to a woman's drink to induce arousal. In reality, however, it can be lethal. The infamous Marquis de Sade once gave prostitutes chocolates laced with Spanish fly. They survived, but de Sade was charged with attempted murder.
Men, however, can experience at least one effect from ingesting Spanish fly. Cantharidin retains its irritant properties during digestion. Eventually, it is excreted in the urine, but as it passes through the urethra, it causes severe swelling, resulting in a painful, prolonged erection. The man may suffer from intense abdominal pain, respiratory and heart failure, kidney failure, bloody urine, convulsions, coma, and even death. Yet, he will still have that erection.
2. The Better To See You—And You, And You, And You
The whirligig beetle could make even James Bond envious. It can operate as a motorboat, a submarine, or an aircraft. Its family name, Gyrinidae, comes from the Latin word meaning "circle," which reflects its habit of paddling in circles across ponds and lakes.
This beetle has four long, flattened orange legs that can make up to 60 strokes per second. When they gather in groups, they may seem to move in a disorganized manner, but in reality, each beetle has its own place in the group and communicates constantly with others to maintain their positions.
When startled, whirligig beetles dive into the water and use a small air bubble attached to their abdomen to stay submerged for long periods. In the fall, the adults fly off to find new water sources. A close-up of its head resembles a spaceship's nose, with four compound eyes visible—two on top and two underneath—allowing it to see above and below the water simultaneously.
1. Beetle Ghouls
The male and female gravedigger beetles spend their honeymoon seeking the ideal dead bird or rodent. Once they find the perfect specimen, they transport it to a more suitable location by carrying it, rolling it, or by positioning themselves beneath it, moving the carcass forward like a conveyor belt.
Once they've selected the best spot, they bury the carcass by digging a hole beneath it and covering it with soil. The male stays above ground, guarding the burial site throughout his brief life. Below ground, the female creates a brood chamber next to the corpse, removes its fur or feathers, debones it, and secretes a preservative to keep the meat fresh.
The female lays her eggs within the carcass. When the larvae hatch, she feeds them by regurgitating the carcass meat into their mouths. She also carries tiny arachnid mites on her body that feed on fly eggs, ensuring that her young won't have to compete with maggots.
+George Harrison And The Beetles
George Harrison, the legendary guitarist, once shared that his greatest stroke of luck was joining The Beatles. His second greatest? Leaving the band.
A passionate gardener, Harrison left behind a living tribute after his passing in 2001: a pine tree planted in his honor at Griffith Park in Los Angeles. The tree, accompanied by a plaque and a flower bed, reached a height of 3 meters (10 feet) by 2013. Sadly, it succumbed to infestations, likely caused by Dendroctonus ponderosae or Coccinella magnifica.
Indeed, the George Harrison Memorial Tree was taken down by a beetle.
