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Why Are Some Beetles Shiny? It’s Not What Researchers Thought
Why Are Some Beetles Shiny? It’s Not What Researchers Thought
The glossy shell of some beetles, it has long been speculated, helps hide the insects from predators. A recent paper put the hypothesis to the test—and found it wanting.
The glossy shell of some beetles, it has long been speculated, helps hide the insects from predators. A recent paper put the hypothesis to the test—and found it wanting.
beetles, evolution
Image of the Day: Eyed Elater
Amy Schleunes | Jan 23, 2020 | 1 min read
The click beetle’s intricate false eyes cast a deep black color with the help of pigment-coated hairs.
Image of the Day: Horns and Wings
Emily Makowski | Nov 29, 2019 | 2 min read
Scarab beetle horns share a common genetic origin with wings.
Image of the Day: Beetle Evolution
Emily Makowski | Nov 19, 2019 | 1 min read
Plants, fungi, and bacteria likely contributed to insect diversity.
Image of the Day: Beetle Fight
Jef Akst | Dec 3, 2018 | 1 min read
The exaggerated horns and elongated forelegs of male flower beetles, which use these appendages as weapons in combat for females, do not slow down the insects in a race.
Fossilized Beetle Is Earliest Evidence of Insect Pollinator
Abby Olena, PhD | Aug 16, 2018 | 3 min read
A 99-million-year-old beetle preserved in amber alongside grains of pollen likely pollinated prehistoric plants.
Image of the Day: Ectopic Wings
The Scientist and The Scientist Staff | Jan 24, 2018 | 1 min read
Insect wings may have evolved from multiple origins, say researchers.
Size Matters
Tracy Vence | Jul 1, 2014 | 2 min read
The disproportionately endowed carabid beetle reveals that the size of female—and not just male—genitalia influences insemination success.
Beetles Stay True to Their Colors
Cristina Luiggi | Sep 30, 2011 | 1 min read
Fifteen to 47-million-year-old fossil beetles have retained their structural colors almost intact.