Beetle Facts for Kids
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Beetles are fascinating creatures that come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. With over 400,000 known species, they make up about 40% of all insects on Earth. Here are some interesting beetle facts for kids:
1. Beetles can fly. While not all beetles fly, some can travel thousands of miles in a year. These insects have two pairs of wings, with the front pair being hard and protective.
2. Beetles have an exoskeleton. Like other insects, beetles have an exoskeleton, which is a hard outer layer that protects their bodies. Unlike other insects, however, their exoskeleton is incredibly tough and can withstand considerable force.
3. Beetles can live almost anywhere. From deserts to forests, and even in freshwater habitats, beetles have adapted to live in almost every environment on Earth.
4. Beetles are decomposers. Many beetles feed on dead plants and animals, breaking them down and helping to maintain a healthy ecosystem by recycling nutrients.
5. Some beetles are brightly colored. Beetles don’t just come in shades of brown and black. Some species are brightly colored, such as the ladybug, which is red with black spots, and the tiger beetle, which has metallic green or blue coloring.
6. Beetles have different mouthparts. Depending on what the beetle eats, it may have mandibles (jaws) for biting, or a proboscis (a long, thin mouthpart) for drinking nectar or piercing and sucking fluids from plants or animals.
7. Beetles undergo metamorphosis. Like butterflies, beetles go through a lifecycle that includes egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. During the larval stage, beetles may look vastly different from the adult form they will eventually take on.