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Beetles
The largest of all orders
Beetles are a group of insects that form the order Coleoptera which is the largest of all orders with about 400,000 species. It includes almost 40% of described insects and 25% of all known animal life-forms. 1).
Origin of a name
The English name beetle derivates from the Old English word bitela (meaning) little biter which is related to bītan (to bite), and finally leads to Middle English betylle. 2).
100 families of beetles
In the United States, there are about 100 families of beetles. Weevils are the largest family of insects and the largest family of beetles. 3).
The smallest beetle
The smallest beetle in the world is called Scydosella musawasensis. This on-parasitoid insect is approximately 325 µm (0.325 mm). 4).
The longest beetle body
The beetle with the longest body in the world is the titan beetle Titanus giganteus of South America. Its body is 6 in (15 cm) long. 5).