Adephaga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Adephaga |
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| Dytiscus latissimus, a predaceous diving beetle | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Adephaga Schellenberg, 1806 |
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Extant families:
Extinct families:
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The Adephaga is a very large group of beetles. It's like a major branch on the beetle family tree. There are over 40,000 different kinds, or species, of Adephaga beetles! This makes it the second largest group of beetles in the whole Coleoptera order.
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Types of Adephaga Beetles
This amazing group includes many well-known beetles. You might have seen some of them in your backyard or near a pond. Some popular examples are:
Most of the species in the Adephaga group belong to the family of ground beetles, also known as Carabidae.
Where Adephaga Beetles Live
Scientists divide the Adephaga into two main groups based on where they live:
- Hydradephaga are the water beetles. They live in ponds, lakes, and rivers.
- Geadephaga are the ground beetles. They live on land, often under rocks or logs.
Most beetles in the Adephaga group are predators. This means they hunt and eat other smaller creatures.
Amazing Defenses of Adephaga
Many Adephaga beetles have special ways to protect themselves from danger. Ground beetles, for example, have a fantastic chemical defense system.
They have special glands called pygidial glands. When a predator tries to attack them, these glands can squirt out hot, burning chemicals! This is a great way to scare off attackers.
Bombardier beetles are very famous for this trick. They can aim their spray and shoot it at anything that threatens them. It's like having a built-in chemical weapon!
History of Adephaga
The first fossils of both water and ground Adephaga beetles have been found from the Triassic period. This means these beetles have been around for a very long time, evolving and adapting over millions of years.
See also
In Spanish: Adephaga para niños
