How many wings do the beetles have? Features of the structure of the beetle wings

Perhaps, in nature there is no greater variety of representatives than in this unit. The class of beetles is represented by species in the fauna of our planet most widely. To date, they are described more than a quarter of a million. But scientists add to these ranks every year for several thousand previously unknown forms. So entomologists of all countries have more work to do. In this article, we describe how these insects are arranged, and answer the question of how many wings the beetle has.

Beetles

This detachment of insects is divided into 2 suborders. These arthropods are carnivorous and are different. Most of the species are land inhabitants that inhabit a variety of areas: forests and meadows, marshy places and mountains, even deserts. Parasites among them are not so many, and predators and herbivores - about fifty to fifty. Gestokrylye pass in their development a cycle of complete transformation: an egg, a larva, a pupa and an adult individual - an imago.

Adaptability to the external environment

The very high adaptability of these insects to the most varied conditions of life gives them privileges in determining habitats. For example, if there is no water in a desert area, this will not be an obstacle for some species of beetles living there (and here the coleopterans are the most numerous group). They use water absorbed with food from plants, and dig in the sand deeper in the daytime, but at night they are active.

In the forest zone, on the contrary, there is enough liquid, but there is not enough heat. Beetles are active on warm sunny days. And they live almost everywhere, including dead wood, where other species of insects could not survive (most of them live in their larvae).

Some species adapt to existence at the expense of other representatives of insects, for example, ants. The owners themselves are not able to distinguish such beetles from their fellow humans and are engaged in feeding their larvae as their own. And the coleopterans receive food from the owners of the dwelling and can even soak in the form of an ant eggs as a supplement to the table.

Frequent and complex interactions of larvae of these representatives of coleopterans with plants: the first biochemically affect the tissues of the second, provoking growth.

The structure of the beetle

Traditionally, it is considered that the adult consists of the head, chest, limbs, abdomen and wings.

The head has faceted eyes (they are absent only in those of the species that live in constant darkness). On the head in front of the eye - antennae, consisting of segments. Oral cavity - gnawing type. The upper jaws are tools for crushing food (chewed). Sometimes in some males they can reach huge sizes, and turn into a kind of decoration.

Features of the structure of beetles determines that six breast segments are attached to six legs. In some species, they have a variety of forms: for running, digging, swimming, jumping. And at some on the extremities of legs or foots - suckers.

How many wings do the beetles have?

Gestokrylye are the scientific name of the detachment, which unites all species. It reflects as well as possible the main feature that is peculiar to them: the front wings of these insects in the course of evolution turned into rigid and strong elytra. Their functional features - protection of the soft upper abdomen, as well as second thin and membranous wings from damage. Other, gentle wings, serve as bugs for them to make flights. These are much longer than the first. However, when an insect creeps or sits, it hides the flying wings under a hard shield from the elytra. By the way, they are invented by nature not only for protective functions. In many species, they are painted in the brightest colors, which helps to attract individuals for mating.

Results

So, how many wings do the beetles have? Like all insects, that is four (two pairs). However, the front paired part is transformed into rigid elytra. Hence the name - coleoptera. And another pair of the same adult - wings with membranes, perfectly folding and tender. They are removed under the elytra when the insect is not in flight. Now you know how many wings the beetle has? And it is not surprising that some may seem like there are only two of them. After all, in nature there are separate species, in which the second pair of wings is completely reduced, and they can not fly (for example, darkling beetles or ground beetles). Sometimes, on the contrary, the elytra is atrophied, which may have a short, coalesced shape, and the main wings are open.