Prologue


Asked what could be inferred about the work of the Creator from a study of His works, the British scientist J.B.S. Haldane is reported to have replied, that He has "an inordinate fondness for beetles." Some people suggest that Haldane never uttered these words, but no one can argue with the truth they contain.

Beetles, or Coleoptera as they are known in scientific circles, inhabit nearly every biological niche, from the narrow fringes of the polar ice caps to the broad, unexplored expanse of rain forest canopy. By the most conservative estimate, approvimately 350,000 species of beetles have been described since 1758. That's an average of slightly more than four per day. Some of these species, such as the beneficial ladybird beetle and the pestiferous grain beetles, are cosmopolitan. But most species are restricted to a particular continent, mountain range, valley, or soil type.

Beetles do not sting, nor carry venom, nor diseases that can be transferred to humans or other vertebrate animals. Most beetles simply exist in harmony with nature, fulfilling particular roles in their respective ecosystems and niches. They are truly the essence of biological diversity and they can be used as examples of most of the general facts and habits of natural organisms, actually a great study group for those beginning a study of biology or any specialty topic.

Beetles are the largest group of animals, representing a fifth of all known living organisms and a fourth of all animals.

Nearly one quarter of all beetles are weevils, family Curculionidae, represented above by Eupholus bennetti from Papua New Guinea.

A small leaf beetle from southern Africa has a black & green color pattern that blends into the similar pattern of the Acacia leaves.