Beetles – Order Coleoptera – are the largest and most diverse group of living things. Generally they have two pairs of wings, the outer being a protection for the second pair. Their bodies are usually hard and compact, and often brightly coloured. Well over 28,000 species are known in Australia.
Jewel Beetles, Metallic Wood-boring Beetles, Flatheaded Borers (BUPRESTIDAE )
About Jewel Beetles The Jewel Beetles are known for their glossy iridescent colours. The family is among the largest of the beetles, with some 15,000 species known in 450 genera. The larger and more spectacularly coloured jewel beetles are highly prized by insect...
Soldier Beetles (CANTHARIDAE)
About Soldier Beetles Soldier beetles Cantharidae are relatively soft-bodied, straight sided beetles, related to the Lampyridae or firefly family, but being unable to produce light. One common British species is bright red, reminding people of the red coats of...
Longicorn Beetles (CERAMBYCIDAE)
About Longicorn Beetles Longicorn or long-horned beetles are often characterised by long antennae, often as long as or longer than the body. Worldwide it is a large family with some classified as pests due to their wood-boring habits. A number of species mimic ants,...
Leaf Beetles (CHRYSOMELIDAE)
About Leaf Beetles Chrysomelidae, the leaf beetles, is a family of over 35,000 species in more than 2,500 genera. This is an enormous group with many colourful species which mostly feed on the leaves of plants. Most of them are very fussy about the particular plants...
Lady Beetles (COCCINELLIDAE)
About Lady Beetles Ladybirds or Ladybird Beetles in the family Coccinellidae are also known as Ladybugs and Lady Beetles. The adults are domed, most are brightly colored. Many are predators of aphids and other garden pests and are considered by gardeners as beneficial...
Weevils (CURCULIONOIDEA)
About Weevils A weevil is any beetle from the Curculionoidea superfamily. They are usually small, less than 6 mm, and herbivorous. Due to the shape of their heads, weevils are commonly known as snout beetles. Families in the superfamily include Belidae, Caridae,...
Lycid Beetles (LYCIDAE)
About Lycid Beetles Lycid Beetles are commonly seen flying at dusk and may be found in flowers or on foliage. May be nectar feeders, but some adults might not feed at all, just fly around and mate. Lycid beetles are toxic and offensive in taste to most predators,...
Scarab Beetles (SCARABAEIDAE)
About Scarab Beetles Scarabs are stout-bodied beetles, many with bright metallic colours, measuring between 5-60 mm. There are more than 30,000 species of Scarab Beetles worldwide. They have distinctive, clubbed antennae composed of plates called lamellae that can be...
Darkling Beetles (TENEBRIONIDAE )
About Darkling Beetles Tenebrionoidae is a superfamily of the Coleoptera in the suborder Polyphaga containing Fungus, Bark, Darkling and Blister Beetles. Lagria grandis This beetle is a teneral specimen of Lagria grandis, usually put into the Lagriidae family, but...
