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Beetle Larva (illustration)
Beetle Larva (image)
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Beetle Larva
These belong to the order Coleoptera (coll-ee-op-terra). It comes from the Greek words "koleos," (sheath), and "ptera," (wings). The name refers to the hardened front wings, which cover the folded hind wings like a sheath.

What they look like:
There are many types of beetle larvae (the plural of larva) , so it is difficult to give a precise description. They are generally segmented and cylindrical with six legs and a distinct head.

Size:
2-20 mm long.

Where they live:
They live in a large range of habitats; often found in mountain streams or slow moving rivers, puddles, dams and lakes.

What they eat:
Beetle Larvae eat plant or animal matter. They usually have biting mouth parts.

Pollution tolerance: Tolerant, rating 4.
Beetle Larvae cannot tolerate low levels of dissolved oxygen.

What’s interesting about Beetle Larvae?

  • We live in the Age of Beetles - Coleoptera is the largest order in the entire animal kingdom. There are more species of beetles than there are species of plants!

  • Most species are dependent on air. Larvae and many adults breathe through their gills or spiracles (little holes) and do not need to come up for air. This makes them look silvery under water.
Where they fit in:
> Phylum Arthropoda > Class Insecta > Order Coleoptera > Family (19 Australian families): Microsporidae; Carabidae; Haliplidae; Hygrobiidae; Noteridae; Dytiscidae; Gyrinidae; Hydrophilidae; Hydraenidae; Staphylinidae; Scirtidae; Elmidae; Limnichidae; Heteroceridae; Psephenidae; Ptilodactylidae; Chrysomelidae; Brentidae; Curculionidae.
 
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