Introduction

Next time you go on a walk around campus, grab a handful of soil or a bunch of fallen leaves. Chances are you’ll find a beetle. Astoundingly, there are more than 375,000 species of beetles described, making up about 25% of all animal species.

Beetles are found in almost every habitat. Their remarkable ability to adapt has facilitated their coexistence. With niches that differentiate and overlap, but do not overshadow or outcompete, it’s not surprising that beetles are the most species abundant organisms in the animal kingdom.

The Beetles of Lewis & Clark College highlights three families of beetles found on the Lewis & Clark College campus: the snout-nosed beetles, featherwing beetles, and click beetles. By examining distinct physical traits of each family in the context of how they interact with the physical environment and other organisms, we can begin to understand the diverse lives of the beetles around us.

Have you seen any of these beetles at Lewis & Clark? Perhaps on a stroll around campus you encountered a ladybug (Coccinellidae). Or maybe you saw a ground beetle (Carabidae) roaming our grounds. And if you think you have never seen a beetle on campus, you might have and not even known it because it was so small, like the featherwing beetle (Ptilliidae). In total, LC students have collected 43 distinct beetle species on our campus. Keep your eyes out for these amazing beetles.