Beetle

insects · record-breakers · bugs

Built-in armor. A beetle's front wings are hardened into tough cases called elytra, which protect the delicate flying wings folded underneath.

Most species ever. With about 400,000 known species, beetles make up the largest order of any animal group on Earth.

One in four animals. Beetles are roughly 25% of all known animal species and nearly 40% of all described arthropods.

Still being found. Scientists discover new beetles all the time, and think there may be between 0.9 and 2.1 million species total.

Total transformers. Beetles belong to a group that goes through complete metamorphosis, changing form like butterflies do.