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#9: Beetle Biodiversity

© Christopher Marley

 Litinsects #9: Beetle Biodiversity

Take a minute and think about all the different animal species that science has named... from sponges and snails, to earthworms and scorpions, to sharks and birds and humans. What if I told you that a quarter of all the animals that we know of right now on this planet 🌍... are beetles?!

I know it’s hard to imagine...all the people... living life in peace... oh wait, wrong kind of beetle! 😜

There are around 380,000 named beetle species at the moment. They make up about 40% of all insect species but scientists think there could be a MILLION more beetle species that haven’t been discovered yet! They are found in almost every type of habitat except polar regions and the open ocean and come in all shapes, colors, and sizes imaginable.

Now for some fun beetle superlatives:

  • The HERCULES BEETLE is the longest beetle and one of the largest flying insects in the world, measuring up to 17cm (7 in). It can lift 850 times its own weight!

  • The heaviest insect is the GOLIATH BEETLE, weighing in at 100 grams (3.5 ounces) in its larval stage!⚖️

  • The smallest beetle and smallest recorded free-living insect is the FEATHERWING BEETLE, at about 0.3 mm (0.013 in)

  • TIGER BEETLES are the fastest running insects in the world and one of the fastest animals relative to body size. The fastest species can run 9 km/h (5.6 mph) which is like a human running 770 km/h (480 mph)! 🏃‍♀️

  • The longest living insects are SPLENDOUR BEETLES, which can remain in the larval stage more than 30 years!⏱

  • The strongest insect is a DUNG BEETLE that can pull 1,141 times its own weight, which would be like an average-sized human pulling 6 double-decker buses 💪

  • Finally, some of the most beautiful-looking insects are beetles! Many JEWEL BEETLES are iridescent and are used in jewelry and as ornamentation in cultures around the world. Seriously, go and google “beautiful beetles” and tell me there aren’t some really freakin’ cool-looking beetles out there!
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