Story: Beetles

Around one third of all the world’s animals are beetles, and in New Zealand there are thousands of species. They are sturdy little creatures with hardened wings, and come in a myriad of shapes and sizes – from the outlandish giraffe beetle with its elongated head, to the familiar, tiny house borer.

Story by John Marris
Main image: Giraffe weevil

Story summary

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What is a beetle?

Beetles belong to the insect order Coleoptera. This name, from the Greek for ‘sheath’ and ‘wing’, refers to their hard front wings, which enclose the body. These are called elytra, and give beetles their distinct appearance. The elytra protect beetles from predators, and when they are digging amongst leaves or wood.

New Zealand’s beetles

New Zealand has 4,500 known beetle species, and there are probably many more yet to be discovered. Most can be found nowhere else.

The longest is the giraffe weevil – with its long head, it reaches 9 centimetres in length. Huhu beetles are also large, and their grubs were a tasty food for Māori. Among the smallest, at only half a millimetre long, are the feather-winged beetles.

Life cycle

Most beetles have a similar life cycle. The female lays eggs, which hatch into larvae or grubs. A larva’s body may be soft or hard, and it eats until it becomes a pupa. During this stage, its shape changes entirely, and it emerges as an adult beetle. Most can fly, although some cannot.

Diet

Most beetles eat plants – leaves, wood, grass and bark. Some prey on other insects.

Where they live

Beetles live throughout New Zealand, from the coast to the mountains. The greatest variety can be found in the forest – in trees, on the ground, under the soil or in rotting logs. A few can swim in hot springs, and some live deep in caves.

Threatened species

Beetles, especially flightless ones, are easily killed by introduced animals such as rats and cats. Some beetle species have become extinct. A reserve has been set up in Central Otago to protect the rare Cromwell chafer beetle, which is found nowhere else.

Beetles that are pests

Grass grubs are pests in New Zealand – by eating the roots of grass, they destroy farmland.

How to cite this page:

John Marris, 'Beetles', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/beetles (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by John Marris, published 24 September 2007