Beetles belong to the Order Coleoptera. Almost 23, 000 different species have been named in Australia, but it has been estimated that there may be as many as 80, 000 Australian beetle species. World-wide, almost a third of all animal species are beetles. Beetles can be found almost anywhere - in our homes, in arid deserts, hot wet jungles, snow-covered mountains, deep caves, and even underwater in creeks and lakes.

Most adult beetles have a compact shape and an armoured body. Their forewings (elytra) have become stiff covers that protect their delicate hind wings, which fold up beneath them. The elytra meet in a straight line along the center of the abdomen. Beetles usually have very strong mouthparts that are designed for chewing.

Beetles have a wide range of diets. Some eat fungi and plants, others scavenge and eat rotting flesh or dung, and some are even hunters, preying on other insects - including other beetles!

The eggs of beetles are quite small and are usually laid on or near the food supply. A female beetle might lay a few eggs, or many hundreds. The eggs hatch into larvae which develop through a number of stages, called instars, the last of which eventually pupates and then emerges as an adult beetle. The adult male and female forms of many beetle species can look quite different to each other (sexually dimorphic).