By Obiabin Onukwugha
Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera, in the superorder Holometabola. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects.
Beetles typically have a particularly hard exoskeleton including the elytra, though some such as the rove beetles have very short elytra while blister beetles have softer elytra.
The general anatomy of a beetle is quite uniform and typical of insects, although there are several examples of novelty, such as adaptations in water beetles which trap air bubbles under the elytra for use while diving.
Beetles are holometabolans, which means that they undergo complete metamorphosis, with a series of conspicuous and relatively abrupt changes in body structure between hatching and becoming adult after a relatively immobile pupal stage.
Some beetles have intricate mating behaviour. Pheromone communication is often important in locating a mate.
Found in almost every habitat except the sea and the polar regions, Beetles interact with their ecosystems in several ways.
The males and females engage in a complex dialog before mating; each species has a unique combination of flight patterns, duration, composition, and intensity of the light produced.
Before mating, males and females may stridulate, or vibrate the objects they are on. In the Meloidae, the male climbs onto the dorsum of the female and strokes his antennae on her head, palps, and antennae. Essentially all beetles lay eggs, though some myrmecophilous Aleocharinae and some Chrysomelinae which live in mountains or the subarctic are ovoviviparous, laying eggs which hatch almost immediately.
Adults have extremely variable lifespans, from weeks to years, depending on the species.
Igbos call it”Ebe’, Hausas call it “irin ƙwaro.
Beetles often feed on plants and fungi, break down animal and plant debris, and eat other invertebrates. Some species are serious agricultural pests, such as the Colorado potato beetle, while others such as Coccinellidae (ladybirds or ladybugs) eat aphids, scale insects, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects that damage crops.
However, the major impact of beetles on human life is as agricultural, forestry, and horticultural pests. Serious pests include the boll weevil of cotton, the Colorado potato beetle, the coconut hispine beetle, and the mountain pine beetle.
Most beetles, however, do not cause economic damage and many, such as the lady beetles and dung beetles are beneficial by helping to control insect pests.
Despite its small size, the beetle showcases remarkable strength and resilience in the face of adversity. Its ability to overcome obstacles and endure even the harshest conditions becomes a testament to the power of unwavering determination.
Overall, beetles’ versatile qualities have solidified their status as one of the most diverse and successful groups of organisms on Earth, playing crucial roles in various ecological processes and highlighting their significance within the natural world.
The beetle, has been deeply woven into the cultural and mythological fabric of numerous civilizations, ranging from ancient Egypt to Native American tribes, East Asian cultures, and classical European societies.
For the ancient Egyptians, the sacred scarab beetle symbolized rebirth and the eternal cycle of life and death, influenced by its behavior of rolling balls of dung. They revered it as a representation of the Sun God Ra, and scarab amulets were prevalent as protective symbols of the soul.
Native American cultures, on the other hand, saw the beetle as a messenger linked to transformation and messages from the spiritual realm, due to its intimate association with the earth.
In East Asia, the beetle carries varied meanings across cultures. Chinese traditions often associate beetles with prosperity and good fortune. Meanwhile, the rhinoceros beetle in Japan symbolizes strength, drawing from samurai symbolism.