Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Beetle Facts
- As the largest group of animals in the world, the beetle is also a member of the wider 'insects' family.
- Like all insects, beetles have six jointed legs, a head, thorax and abdomen.
- The Ladybird is Britain's best-known beetle.
- In Britiain, there are at least 3700 species of beetle.
- The Stag beetle is the longest British beetle at up to 85mm in length.
- Glow-worms are actually beetles.
- Wood piles are a favoured home for many British beetles.
- Bifocal eyes are the 'claim to fame' for the Whirligig beetle - aquatic - the lower part of the eye enables them to see clearly under water, and the upper part provides clearer vision above water.
- Although they have two pairs of wings, beetles only use their hind wings for flying.
- As a defence mechanism, hot chemicals can be blasted from the tip of the abdomen of the Bombardier beetle.
- The Devil's coach horse curls its tail upwards, like a scorpion, when threatened and can emit an unpleasant odour from both it's anus and mouth.