Virtual Exhibit on Canada´s Biodiversity

	Metamorphoses: complete North American Families: 100 North American Species: 30, 000	Coleoptera Beetles Feeding Habits: Members of the order Coleoptera show a wide range of food habits. Some species feed on dead organic materials, some are predators of other invertebrates, and others are phytophagous and feed on leaves, wood or seed, and a few are parasites or parasitoids.
	Description: Most beetles have four wings, with the front pair (called elytra) thickened and shell-like or leathery. The hind wings (these are the flight wings) are membranous and when they are not in use they are folded under the elytra. Larvae and adults have chewing mouthparts.
	Comments: This is the largest order of insects comprising about 40% of the known species of Hexapoda. Beetles are found in many different habitats, and there are both aquatic and terrestrial species. Their ability to occupy all terrestrial and freshwater habitats accounts for their diversity. Unlike most flying insects the beetles do not often use their wings, and walk more than they fly. Some species are considered serious pests of crops and forests and some are pests of stored products. Other species are beneficial to humans by acting as scavengers that recycle dung, carrion and decaying plant matter, or predators that eat pest insects.

	Families in this Order
	Buprestidae: Metallic wood-boring beetles Size: 3 to 30 mm North American Species: 675
	Cantharidae: Soldier beetles Size: 1 to 15 mm North American Species: 468
	Carabidae: Ground beetles Size: 1 to 30 mm North American Species: 2200
	Cerambycidae: Long-horned beetles Size: 3 to 75 mm North American Species: 1000
	Chrysomelidae: Leaf beetles Size: 1 to 20 mm North American Species: 1500
	Cicindelidae: Tiger beetles Size: 6 to 24 mm North American Species: 100
	Cleridae: Checkered beetles Size: 3 to 12 mm North American Species: 266
	Coccinelidae: Ladybird beetles Size: 1 to 10 mm North American Species: 475
	Cucujidae: Flat bark beetles Size: 5 to 14 mm North American Species: 80
	Curculionidae: Weevils, Snout beetles Size: 1 to 40 mm North American Species: 2600
	Dermestidae: Dermestid or skin beetles Size: 1 to 12 mm North American Species: 129
	Dytiscidae: Predaceous diving beetles Size: 1 to 40 mm North American Species: 475
	Elateridae: Click beetles Size: 2 to 50 mm North American Species: 885
	Gyrinidae: Whirligig beetles Size: 3 to 16 mm North American Species: 58
	Hydrophilidae: Water scavenger beetles Size: 1 to 40 mm North American Species: 284
	Lampyridae: Fireflies, Lightningbugs Size: 5 to 20 mm North American Species: 125
	Meloidae: Blister beetles Size: 3 to 28 mm North American Species: 335
	Mordellidae: Tumbling flower beetles Size: 2 to 15 mm North American Species: 204
	Nitidulidae: Sap beetles Size: 2 to 12 mm North American Species: 183
	Passalidae: Bess beetles Size: 30 to 40 mm North American Species: 3
	Scarabaeidae: Scarab beetles Size: 5 to 60 mm North American Species: 1400
	Scolytidae: Bark beetles and ambrosia beetles Size: 1 to 9 mm North American Species: 476
	Silphidae: Carrion beetles Size: 2 to 40 mm North American Species: 46
	Staphylinidae: Rove beetles Size: 1 to 20 mm North American Species: 3200
	Tenebrionidae: Darkling beetles Size: 2 to 35 mm North American Species: 1000

ColeopteraBeetles

Families in this Order

Coleoptera
Beetles