It is estimated that there are 30,000 species of beetles in Australia representing 110 families. many new species and even some new genera are discovered each year.

One reason for the success of beetles is there hard outer covering. All winged insects except flies have two pairs of wings. It flies the front pair has been modified into a specialised flight organ. In beetles the front pair have been modified into hard coverings called "elytra". This protective armour helps to protect them against predators, but does make it more difficult to fly, as they have to be carried open and raised in front of the true wings. Beetles are therefore generally not strong fliers.

Weevils

Weevils are beetles too! They belong to the largest animal family known - the Curculionidae, and are generally recognisable by there long "nose" or "snout" called a rostrum, complete with a strange sent of articulated antennae. They also have a very hard and often spiky outer covering. Weevil larvae are different from the young stage of other beetles in having no legs. Over 3,000 Australian weevil species are known, from a world total of over 60,000.