Beetles

Behavior and Habitat of Beetles

The diversity of beetles is very wide. Beetles can be found everywhere on the planet except for the oceans and in the poles. With so many species, beetles have become specialists in their diets, with those eating plant/animal debris, carrion, dung, fungi, plants, pollen, fruits, flowers, other insects, and arthropods. Pest beetles feed on agriculturally important crops, as well as processed foods such as grains, pastas, and other dried products. Those pest beetles that feed on grains, nuts, cereals, pastas, and myriad stored dry products are known as "stored product pests" and are the ones most commonly seen by homeowners. Many of these beetles can also feed and survive on food and other items of no nutritional content, such as book bindings. Drugstore beetles, which got their name from being found eating prescription drugs, have even been known to chew through tin or aluminum foil and lead sheets. They also cause irreparable damage to valuable museum exhibits and artifacts, feeding on glue or paste, furniture stuffing, and paper they contain. Some beetle species have also been known to feed on rodent poison without harm.