A Pleasing Beetle

Beetles are an Order of insects known as Coleoptera. Scientists believe that there are more species of beetles in the world than any other group of organisms. Beetles come in many different sizes, colors and shapes. Beetles are ubiquitous in almost all of the earth's ecosystems and they play myriad roles as herbivores and carnivores and decomposers. Some are considered pests, while others perform critical functions in many habitats. To put it succinctly, beetles are extremely diverse, abundant and important organisms. Beetles are also fascinating.

Pictured today is the pleasing fungus beetle Megalodacne heros. This species, about 2-centimeters long, is just one of the colorful species in the pleasing fungus beetle family: Erotylidae. This species of pleasing fungus beetle is a member of mature forest communities where it hides under loose bark while not feeding. Its food consists mostly of various species of fungi and rotting wood. The fungi in the photograph is a hemlock polypore shelf-fungus (shown close-up and in its entirety). This fungus digests dead and dying hemlock trees and then grows shelf-like fruiting bodies of a glossy orange-chestnut brown color. The beetle feeds on the fungus.

In the scientific definition of "biodiversity," beetles are understood to represent a huge portion of all life on our rich planet.

Today's photograph was taken by wildlife biologist and naturalist Jerry Hassinger, on the lower reaches of the south fork of Powell's Creek in Dauphin County, PA.

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