The common beetle has had cars, pop bands and various other things named after it. Sadly they do seem to get quite a bad press because people believe that when you step on them it rains and if it’s a scarab beetle it will eat you from the inside out! Sadly for all beetle species, only one of those things is true! But which one…
Desert Spider Beetle
10 – Genus Cysteodemus – www.whatsthatbug.com/2015/04/17/desert-spider-beetle-19
At a quick glance, people can be instantly scared of these beetles because they first look like rather dangerous spiders. But that’s only to trick other animals.
Bombardier Beetle
9 – Carabidae – www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pib9qT-pccI
At first, you might think this ground beetle is a little boring and not that unusual at all. That is until you discover that it can shoot 212° F (100° C) burning acid from it’s rear to protect itself! Now that is amazing.
Grape Fungus Beetle
8 – Gibbifer Californicus – www.pinterest.com/pin/264093965619130445
Native to America and Mexico is these fungus beetles that come in a wide variety of colours. But I think this grape coloured one is the best.
Titan Beetle
7 – Titanus Giganteus – www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/photos/10-of-the-largest-insects-in-the-world/titan-beetle
Officially the world’s largest species of beetle the Titan beetle is a neotropical longhorn beetle and is apparently harmless (if you hold them the right way) despite its giant size. From one the biggest we go to one of the smallest…
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Giraffe Beetle
6 – Trachelophorus giraffa – loscuatroojos.com/2008/04/23/giraffe-beetle-amazing
This human is in danger now because this is the deadly Giraffe Beetle! Ok, so he’s in no danger at all, but that long part attached to his body really is his neck! With a small head on the top of it, you can easily see why he got its name.
Rainbow Stag Beetle
5 – Phalacrognathus muelleri – featuredcreature.com/rainbow-stag-beetle-steals-the-show-with-incredible-colors
It’s probably the most colourful beetle on the face of the planet and most of us have probably seen one. As an odd side fact, some parklands and woodlands trusts farm these beetles to try and help their growth out because they are apparently fantastic for clearing up old bits of leaf and wood.
Longhorn Beetles
4 – Anoplophora graafi – featuredcreature.com/8-outrageously-weird-insects
Before anyone calls “Cockroach!” we need to understand the differences between a cockroach and a beetle. Beetle has a hard, outer pair of wings that protect the flying wings underneath, and Roaches have two pairs of wings leathery or papery, but not hard like a beetle wing. Cockroaches also have a head that is nearly invisible from the top down, and we can clearly see this guy’s lovely blue head.
Cicadae Parasite Beetle
3 – Sandalus Niger – thisiscolossal.com/2015/01/nicky-bay-macro-insects-singapore
Otherwise known as the Cedar Beetle their antenna that you can see in full bloom is normal all curled and rolled up, but now and again a really good photographer will capture it in full view.
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Pleasing Fungus Beetle
2 – Erotylidae – www.flickr.com/photos/36524915@N05/6573989281
He comes from a rather large family of beetles, but I think he is the best looking of the bunch.
Golden Tortoise Beetle
1 – Charidotella sexpunctata – knowledgetting.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/an-unusual-beetle-golden-turtle.html
He might be only 5 to 7 millimetres in length, but this leaf beetle is one of the most amazing beetles I have ever come across. His shell shines so bright that many people have been fooled into believing they really are made from gold!