An All Black Beetle

Description:

Beetles are a group of insects which are biologically classified in the order Coleoptera. Most beetles have two pairs of wings. The front pair, the ( elytra ) being-hardened and thickened into a shell like protection, for the rear pair, and the beetles abdomen. The Coleoptera, includes more species, than any other order, constituting almost twenty five per cent of all known types of animal life-forms. About forty per cent of all described insect species, are beetles ( about 400,000 species). Beetles are prey of various invertebrates and vertebrates, including other insects, fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Species in the Coleoptera, have a hard exoskeleton, particularly on there forewings ( elytra ). All insects bodies, are divided into three sections: head, thorax, and abdomen. Beetles are endopterygotes: they undergo complete metamorphosis. Head: The head, having mouthparts projecting forward or sometimes down turned, is usually heavily sclerotized, and varies in size. The eyes are compound, and may display remarkable adaptability. Beetles antennae, are primarily organs of smell, but may also be used to feel a beetles environment physically. Beetles have mouthparts similar to those of grasshoppers. Thorax: The thorax, is segmented into two discernible parts, the pro-and pterathorax. The multi segmented legs, end in two to five small segments called tarsi. Like many other insect orders, beetles bear claws, usually one pair, on the end of the last tarsal segment of each leg. Wings: The elytra is connected to the pterathorax. The elytra are not used for flight, but tend to cover the hind part of the body, and protect the second pair of wings. They must be raised to move the hind flight wings. Abdomen: The abdomen, is the section behind the metathorax, made up of a series of rings, each with a hole for breathing and respiration, called a spiracle. The digestion system of beetles, is primarily based on plants, upon which they, for the most part, feed. Like most insects, beetles inhale oxygen, and exhale carbon dioxide, via a tracheal system. Like other insects, beetles have open circulatory systems, based on hemolymph rather than blood. A notable number of species, have developed special glands, to produce chemicals, for deterring predators. Beetles go through complete metamorphosis. Beetles go through four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and the imago or adult. The larvae are commonly called grubs, and the pupa is called a chrysalis. Beetles and there larvae, have a variety of strategies to avoid being attacked by predators or parasitoids. These include: camouflage, mimicry, toxicity, and active defense..

Habitat:

Coleoptera, are found in nearly all natural habitats, everywhere vegetative foliage is found, from trees and there bark, to flowers, leaves, and underground near roots-even inside plants in galls, in every plant tissue, including dead or decaying ones.

Notes:

I found this all black beetle, resting on a window sill, inside my house. This beetle, was three eighths, of an inch long. It was all black in color. It had six legs, and two compound eyes. It also had, two segmented antennae. It had vertical lines, going from top to bottom, on its outer wings ( elytra). It had a head, thorax, and abdomen. It had two pairs of wings.