Beetles

The beetles belong to the phylum Artropoda, Class Insecta, Order Coleoptera. They are easily identified by the presence of the elytra, the first pair of well-resistant wings of coriaceous or corneal consistency that protects the second pair of wings that are membranous. Some species of agricultural importance with phytophagous species are considered pests and predatory species are also used to control other insects, which is important in biological control.

Morphology

As main characteristics are presented:

• Rounded (mostly) or elongated head that forms a face with an oral apparatus at the apex.

• Protórax developed ..

• Ocelli in larvae and compound circular or elliptical eyes in adults.

• Well developed chewing mouth appliance.

• Ambulatory legs (floor), fossa (dig) and swimming (aquatic species).

• First pair of modified wings in elytra and second pair of membranous wings.

• Abdomen sessile, with 10 uromers in the males and 9 in the females; where the spirals are found (breathing).

Reproduction

The reproduction is sexual, with some exceptions that can perform parthenogenesis telítoca eggs are developed without fertilization, only for women. Most of them lay eggs, but they can have ovoviviparous or viviparous species. The eggs are long and smooth, placed alone or in groups. From the eggs, larvae that suffer eczema become pupae, and later in adults. That is, these animals have complete development (holometabolos) with young stages different from the adult.

Bioluminescence

Present in fireflies and glow worms, it is obtained by a chemical reaction of oxidation of luciferin with water under the action of luciferase Enzina producing oxiluciferin and light rays. Both males and females have bioluminescence capacity.

Agricultural Importance

Ladybugs and Biological Control

The Chrysopidae beetle family has many aphid predator species, insect scale insects that are considered pests of roses and citrus. Thus, they play an important role in the biological control of these insects. As an example, we have the ladybug Cycloneda sanguinea of ​​the family Coccinelidae. It is a kind of ladybug with a rounded body, well known for presenting red elytra, without spots. In the head it has black spots in a clear area that resemble the eyes. It is common in gardens, preying on aphids of roses. Their eggs are yellow and long, the larvae go through four nymphal stages before becoming adults and are often mistaken for roseate pests. In the orange trees, they are predators of woodlice such as the species Chrysomphalus ficus, Lepidosaphis beckii, Pinnaspis aspidistrae, cinerea Parlatoria, Selenaspidus articulatus, among others.

Economic importance

There are a large number of beetles that are considered agricultural pests and others that attack stored grains, books and lead wires from telephone lines. Examples include the Brown beetle (Tribolium castaneum), a reddish-brown beetle, spanning from 2.3 to 4.4 cm in length. Despite the small size, they live up to 4 years and can be responsible for the total loss of warehouses around the world as it attacks all types of milled cereals such as bran, rations, flours, fuba and also ginger roots, nuts, chocolate , nuts, grains of legumes.