Beetles (Coleoptera) in our backyard in 2009
-from the Greek: coleos=sheath + ptera=wings
-distinctive front wings called elytra, which are usually hard
-most can fly
-chewing mouthparts
-complete metamorphosis
-largest order with 300,000+ species
-common families = scarab, leaf, lady, and ground beetles
copper beetle: super family Buprestid (metallic wood-boring beetles) dicerca lurida. This may look like an ordinary nondescript beetle, but when you shine a light, it is a urprising luminous metallic copper-colour on its back, legs and antennae. He was discovered by Dad in an apple tree.
japanese beetle (popillia japonica): Found by mom on the roses!
lightening bug
True bugs (hemiptera) in our backyard IN 2009
dog day ciacada (tibicen canicularis): Found by The Beagle on our deck.
rhododendrum leaf hopper (graphocephala fennahi): Found by Zoo on a rose stem.
stilt bug (jalysus): The fourth (end) segment of the antennae was not enlarged on our bug.
