Why does veetle lag

The mating ritual of some beetle species can be compared to battles between Roman gladiators. In certain species, beetles will fight to the death — males against males, and females against females — until only one pair remains.

This process, which may seem extreme, ensures that the strongest of their kind will produce offspring. Once the victorious male and female join, the mating process can take a few minutes to several hours. The life cycle of a beetle is known as a complete metamorphosis, meaning it has four very different stages: egg, larval, pupal and adult.

The female beetle, depending on the species, will lay hundreds of small white or yellow eggs. The eggs can be deposited in decaying leaves, rotten wood and even animal feces. Some beetles keep their eggs inside and give birth to live larvae.

Beetle larvae are grub or worm-like in appearance and have voracious appetites. It is in this stage that wood-destroying beetles, such as powderpost and Longhorned beetles, do their damage to structures. The larvae of these beetles feed on the cellulose structure of timber, eating the wood from the inside out. As the larvae begin to grow, they need to discard the outer covering of their bodies, known as the exoskeleton, to provide more room.

This shedding, called "molting," may occur between seven to 10 times before the larvae enter the pupal stage. This stage of the beetle life cycle is where the greatest change in form takes place.

The worm-like larvae form the pupa or cocoon as it often called, then lay dormant. During this stage, the larva begin to take the shape of the adult beetle. The time period to reach adulthood from the pupal stage varies dramatically among different types of beetles.

Some take as little as 30 days while others may take up to two to three years to fully develop. Once adulthood is reached, the fully mature beetle emerges from the cocoon and begins another life cycle all over again. Few garden pests match the destructive power of Japanese beetles. In their mature form, they decimate gardens, leaving skeletonized leaves and weakened plants behind. In their immature stage, when they're commonly called grubs, they feast on tender grassroots, leaving brown, dying lawns in their wake.

Controlling these invasive pests requires action during both stages. Understanding where Japanese beetles came from and where they're headed can help you take back the upper hand. As their name suggests, Japanese beetles aren't native to the United States. First discovered in the U. In their native country of Japan, natural enemies keep beetle numbers in proper balance.

But in the U. The U. Department of Agriculture reports that Japanese beetles were fully or partially established in more than 70 percent of the contiguous United States by January , and they're now the country's most widespread turf-grass pests.

Japanese beetle damage is magnified because destruction occurs during multiple life stages. The first signs usually appear when mature beetles emerge from the ground in late spring to midsummer, often flying in from nearby areas and targeting stressed plants. Beautiful garden roses and other beetle favorites are soon left with skeleton-like leaves and blossoms. Adult beetles live 30 to 45 days and feed voraciously. During a two- to three-week period, female beetles repeatedly tunnel a few inches into the ground and lay up to 60 eggs each.

Japanese beetle eggs hatch during midsummer. Most adult beetles are brown or black, but some are very brightly colored. Beetle larvae look sort of like worms, but they have six legs and a hard head. Beetle pupa can't move and are covered with a leathery skin.

Beetles are the most diverse group of insects. There are over , species known to science, and probably many tens of thousands more still unknown.

Beetles are found on land and in fresh water all over the world. Beetles are found in just about every habitat. Most species live on plants, others tunnel or burrow, some swim. Beetles have four different stages in their life cycle. Adult female beetles mate and lay eggs. The eggs hatch into a larval stage that is wingless. The larva feed and grow, and eventually change into a pupal stage. The pupa does not move or feed. Eventually the pupa transforms into an adult beetle.

Female beetles usually lay dozens or hundreds of eggs. Reproduction is often timed to match the time of most available food. Adult beetles mate, and the female lays eggs on or very near a food source for her larvae.

Some beetles collect a supply of food for their larvae, and lay the egg in the ball of food. Some scavenger beetles even feed their babies. Most beetle species complete their lives in a single year. Some, especially larger ones, live for more than a year, hatching in summer, a few months to a year or more as a larva and pupa, and then emerging to reproduce as an adult.

Most beetles are active at night, but some are active in daylight especially if they have chemical defense. Often they time their growth and reproduction so all the adults emerge at once, and for a short time you can find lots of a particular species. Most beetles communicate with other beetles with chemicals. Males often locate females by their scent. Beetles usually can't see very well. Some beetle make sounds, usually scraping their mouthparts together or rubbing their legs on their bodies.

Some beetles that live in dead wood drum and make vibrations.