There are more species of beetles on the planet than any other life form. When you put it into perspective, there are about 800,000 known species of insects. About half of them are beetles. What’s unique about beetles is the pair of protective wings that cover their flight wings. The elytra extend out during flight, while the 2 flight wings are used to help them fly. There are many shapes and colors of these amazing bugs. Here are a few of these wonderful insects.

Goliath Beetle

The Goliath beetles are amongst some of the largest and heaviest beetles. The beetles have legs that end in claws called tarsi. This provides them with the ability to grip tree branches and for climbing. Males also have a Y-shaped horn on the top of their head; which is used for battling other males over feeding sites and potential mates.

Hercules Beetle

You’d think with such sizeable horns that these insects would be volatile, but they’re quite docile. The huge horns that grow from their thorax make up for more than half the length of the beetle’s body. The male can grow to be nearly 6 1/2 inches in length. The males use their horns for jousting with other males. It can take nearly 2-3 years of the larvae of this species to emerge as adults.

Rhinoceros Beetle

If you think ants are tough, you should meet this guy. A rhinoceros beetle is capable of carrying 850 times its own body weight. Impressive for an insect. It is named for the rhinoceros, because very much like the animal, the insect carries a massive horn on top of its head as well. The horn is so strong, that if the insect senses danger approaching, it is capable of digging its way out of harm.

Bombardier Beetle

Don’t get too close to this beetle, or you could regret it. If startled, the beetle is capable of projecting a hot, boiling chemical from its rear. Reaching up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit, this poisonous chemical is aimed at any part of its attackers. The beetle stores two chemicals, hydroquinone, and hydrogen peroxide. When it’s threatened, the chemicals combine, undergoing a violent chemical reaction. Hot stuff!

Golden Tortoise Beetle

It is a bit smaller than the ladybird (or ladybug) species, growing to maybe a ¼ of an inch in length. While the color of the beetle resembles gold, amazingly if the beetle were to expire, the luminescent coloring rapidly vanishes.

Ladybird Beetle (Ladybugs)

To this day, whenever I catch one, I close my eyes and make a wish before letting one go. They are considered good luck for those that spot them, and one legend says that once when invasive insects were destroying crops during the Medieval Ages, the farmers prayed for salvation. It was sent in the answer of ladybirds, which quickly devoured the pests. The beetle became known as our Lady’s Beetle (for its association with the Virgin Mary), and the name was condensed to the version of ladybird. Despite their tiny appearance, they are voracious predators, being crucial for feeding on aphids, mites, and other small insects, and thus a favorite insect amongst farmers and plant growers.

Blister Beetle

Why they look seemingly harmless, they’re not. They contain a toxin that can be secreted from their joints when they feel threatened. If the toxin gets on the skin of animals, it can cause nasty and uncomfortable blisters. They have even been known to kill horses when they’ve accidentally been crushed in hay and consumed by the animals.

Cyphochilus Beetle

This beetle has scientists baffled as to how it has managed to produce an unusually white shell. The scales are ten times thinner than human hair, and are whiter than milk or human teeth.

Carrion Beetle

Yes, their name implies what it means. Most species of this beetle feed on the maggots within the carrion. The adults will lay their eggs inside the animal, where the larvae will feed on the animal. And while they may be a little on the unappealing side, they do help with decomposition.