The pleasing fungus beetle is any of the 3,500 species of the Erotylidae family. It is easy to recognize by its black and red-orange patterns.
Pleasing fungus beetles feed on fungus, where the middle part of their name comes from. However, some species within the family also extend their diet to include plant matter.
The nocturnal pleasing fungus beetle is not a pest, which is excellent news because you can find it almost anywhere in the world. Perhaps the first word of its name comes from its easy-going nature.
The multicolored Asian Lady Beetle, or Harlequin, originates from eastern Asia, though humans brought it to the United States and other countries to control pests.
Harlequin ladybugs exhibit three main physical variations. The "succinea" variety ranges from orange to red with up to 22 black spots.
Conversely, the "conspicua" and "spectabilis" forms are primarily black with two or four red markings, respectively. The pronotum pattern varies, and their undersides are dark, ringed with reddish-brown, matching their brown legs.
Asian Lady Beetles are notorious for being highly invasive. They often overwinter indoors, smell unpleasant when disturbed, and can bite humans. Their threat to native species and the grape industry has led to control methods2, including insecticides, trapping, beetle removal, and blocking building access.
The Polished Lady Beetle is native to North America and is known for its smooth and glossy appearance. Its shell is vibrant and ranges from orange to red, with unspotted forewings, which gives it a minimalist and unique look.
Unlike other lady beetles, this is a solitary creature found in trees, shrubs, fields, and gardens. It feeds on aphids and other soft-bodied insects, including their eggs, making it a helpful ally to gardeners and farmers.
During the breeding season, the female Polished Lady Beetle lays hundreds of eggs near aphid colonies to feed the larvae when they hatch.
Mexican Bean Beetles feed on plants, particularly legume crops like beans. They are deceptive, featuring a yellow to copper-brown shell with sixteen black spots. However, they damage crops.
Their life cycle begins as an egg, which hatches into a spiny, yellow-orange larva. The larval stage lasts for some weeks, during which the larvae feed and grow before pupating on the leaves they feed on.
After another week or two, the adult beetles emerge and start the cycle again. Controlling their population is essential to avoid significant crop damage.
Leaf beetles form a diverse group known for their ovular or rounded bodies. Uniquely, their antennae aren't overly long, and their eyes exhibit no notching. Their exterior displays various aesthetics, from dull hues to bright, patterned displays or metallic tones.
Scarab beetles exhibit usual antennae, ending in three club-shaped plates. These beetles, identifiable by their front legs adapted for digging, come in various sizes, from a diminutive 0.2 inch to a bulky 4.7 inches for some African species.
The Glowworm beetle is an interesting creature. The females exhibit bioluminescence, resembling their larval stage. They cast light through photic organs on each body segment and sometimes from luminous bands extending across the body. These females are spotted more frequently than the larvae.
Tiger beetles thrive in sandy habitats across many continents, notably the United States. They're nimble creatures, quick to take flight and have a near-perfect vision. Their bright hues adorn their bodies, earning them the label "butterflies of the beetle world."
The spots on a ladybug aren't only for beautification purposes. They also serve as a warning to predators, thereby protecting the insect from predation.
The bright colors and spots warn would-be predators that the insect is toxic and tastes horrible.
Apart from their colors, another one of the ladybug defenses is the foul-smelling blood they emit. This yellow liquid comes from their leg joints, leaving yellow stains on the surface below. This liquid is toxic to various ladybug predators, protecting these little creatures from harm as predators avoid the seemingly sickly beetle. They also have a third defense mechanism, which is to play dead.
Jewel beetles are brightly colored, mostly iridescent insects. We also call them metallic wood-boring beetles. In the Victorian era and across a number of native cultures, people used jewel beetles as living jewelry5.
There are over 15,000 jewel beetle species, and their colors vary from metallic blue to black, green, or copper. Some scientists say the iridescence of the beetle is camouflage. Some species of this beetle hide their bright bodies under dull dark carapaces.
