FREE THE ORIGIN OF OUR SPECIES PDF Chris Stringer | 352 pages | 31 May 2012 | Penguin Books Ltd | 9780141037202 | English | London, United Kingdom Bird Species - How Many Bird Species Are There - New Birds Believe it or not, beetles represent The Origin of Our Species percent of all known and described insect speciesa staggering statistic that's only The Origin of Our Species by another statistic: they represent about 25 percent of all life on Earth. Due to the sheer magnitude of the species, it's not surprising to learn that there's great diversity within the order of Coleoptera, from the pincer-like mandibles of stag beetles to the gem-like hardened forewings, called elytras, of jewel beetles. Let's start our brief crash course into the most remarkable Coleopteras with a look at one of the most well-known and adorable beetle species: the ladybird beetle. Commonly known as ladybugsthese small, polka-dotted beauties are natural pest controllers — they love to feast on aphids and other insects that threaten gardens, orchards and crops. Despite the vital role they play in agriculture, sometimes ladybirds can seem like pests themselves. During the winter months, these otherwise solitary beetles can be found cozying up to each other in massive clumps called "aggregations. Ladybirds don't carry diseases, nor do they damage structures or lay eggs indoors. Also known as doodlebugs or maybugs, cockchafers belong to the genus Melolontha and are easily identified by the distinctive "leaves" protruding from their antennae. These flamboyantly coiffed beetles once existed in great numbers throughout Europe, and their voracious appetites made them a common agricultural nuisance. That is, until the rise of widespread pesticide use in the midth centurywhich caused their numbers to experience a dramatic decline. Despite their near eradication, tighter regulation of the pest control industry beginning in the s has allowed cockchafer populations to gradually recover in some regions. Named for their shimmering iridescent appearance, jewel beetles of the Buprestidae family are without a doubt some of the world's most beautiful Coleopteras. Because of this, the glossy, hardened forewings of these wood-boring insects have a long The Origin of Our Species of being used in jewelry, embroidered textiles and other decorative arts. The most common examples of the ancient craft of "beetlewing" can be found in Asian countries like China, Japan, India, Thailand and Myanmar. The brilliant orange-yellow colors and vivid patterns found on the Colorado potato beetle are certainly gorgeous, but that striking appearance belies their status as one of the most notorious pests of the potato plant. Over the past century, farmers have tried many different kinds of pesticides to combat the beetles' voracious appetites, but due to their ability to rapidly The Origin of Our Species up resistance to chemicals, nearly all major insecticides have proven ineffective against them. Endemic to Madagascar, giraffe weevils are named in honor of their elongated necks, which evolved for fighting and building elaborate nests. As a sexually dimorphic species, female giraffe weevils have a somewhat shorter neck than males, but otherwise they look quite similar with their black limbs and bright red elytras. With it's surreal gold-metallic and translucent elytra, this gorgeous beetle will change the way you think about insects. It's important to note that there are two beetle species that go by the name " golden tortoise beetle. The one pictured here is Aspidimorpha sanctaecrucis, which is endemic to Southeastern Asia. The other golden tortoise beetle, which is known scientifically as Charidotella sexpunctata, is found throughout the Americas. Tiger beetles are a group of about 2, insects distinguished by their bulging eyes and long, spindly legs, which allow them to run incredibly fast. One species, the Australian tiger beetle, can run up to 5. Of course, there are some downsides to the tiger beetle's intense need for speed. According to BBC Earth"at top speed, [the beetle's] visual system cannot keep up, and it has to slow down to see anything. Unlike the other beetles mentioned, this species is remarkable not for its appearance, but for the fascinating way it survives in one of the most arid regions of the world, the Namib desert. By situating its long hind legs to prop up its bumpy, hydrophilic back in the air, the Namib desert beetle is able to collect water rolling in on the damp breezes of the The Origin of Our Species early morning fog. Scientists inspired by the hydrophilic properties of the beetle's bumpy back are developing groundbreaking technology that can can harvest water from the air. While you might assume a beautiful beetle like this was named "flower chafer" due to its colorful, vibrant appearance, that's not the case. F lower chafers get their name from their appetite for flowers — not the petals The Origin of Our Species stems, but the plant's pollen, nectar and fruit. There are more than 4, species of flower chafers many of which have yet to be describedand while a number The Origin of Our Species them are quite eye-catching, some of them are more subdued in appearance. Longhorn beetles are named for their extremely long antennae, which are reminiscent of the massive horns of longhorn cattle. They're quite striking in their imago statebut as larvae, they can be major pests. These roundheaded borers, as they are called, are experts at burrowing into wood and destroying living trees, wooden The Origin of Our Species and untreated lumber. Of all 26, species of longhorns, the rare titan beetle Titanus giganteus is generally considered to be the largest insect in the world. Known to grow up to 6. The term "stag beetle" is usually used as the common name for the most recognizable member of the species' family — Lucanus cervus pictured. However, there are actually 1, different stag beetles species, all of which exhibit some form of the distinctive mandibles seen here. As a sexually dimorphic species, a male stag beetle is equipped with a set of impressive pincer-like mandibles that are used to fight other males when competing for a mate. While the mandibles of a female stag beetle are notably smaller, they can still pack quite a painful bite if you're not careful. Found throughout eastern North America, The Origin of Our Species beautiful beetles boast shiny, metallic hues and spend their days looking lovely and munching on a diet of their namesake, dogbane. The dogbane beetle belongs to the massive family of leaf-eaters known as Chrysomelidaemaking it a distant cousin to the pesky Colorado potato beetle. Share Twitter Pinterest Email. Endangered Species The stats certainly back up the claim. Sinceresearchers have only found an average of five to six new birds a year. Frank Rheindt, associate professor of biological sciences at NUS, focused his research on Taliabu and Peleng, two The Origin of Our Species within Wallacea. He and his team discovered The Origin of Our Species new types of songbirds, including:. The new subspecies are the Banggai Mountain Leaftoiler. Togian The researchers found the Togian Jungle-Flycatcher The Origin of Our Species this island. The study team hopes its discoveries will prompt conservation efforts, considering the amount of deforestation and forest fires that Taliabu and Peleng have seen. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Watch a Spacecraft Punch an Asteroid Tonight. There's a Secret Organ in Your Head. How to Get Started With Welding. Researchers have discovered several new species and subspecies of songbirds on the Indonesian archipelago of Wallacea. Typically, scientists only find five to six new bird species each year, so this is incredibly rare. Conservation efforts are needed to ensure that the new birds will be able to survive for more than a few years before being wiped out thanks to natural and man-made disasters like forest fires and logging. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. More From Animals. 12 Unbelievable Beetle Species No animal has a more hardcore name than the satanic leaf-tailed gecko. It also doesn't really deserve the name since it's not particularly evil in any way. Luckily they also go by the names "eyelash leaf-tailed gecko" and "phantastic leaf-tailed gecko" so it's not all doom and gloom. The plumed basilisk of Central America is a unique animal in appearance and behavior. The plume from the name is very noticeable and gives the lizard a dinosaur-like appearance. Using its tail to stay upright, it can run for a little while on the surface of the water if it falls, no worries because it's an excellent swimmer as well. The largest Nile monitor on record managed to crack 8 feet, making these enormous lizards indeed. Adult males can be very aggressive, which, combined with their size, makes them dangerous to be around. They are native to Africa, but populations do exist in places like Florida now as well. Marine iguanas are unique among lizards thanks to the fact they are marine reptiles and the only lizard that forages in the sea. They eat algae in their native habitat, and no one has ever successfully bred or kept them away from the Galapagos Islands. The green anole is a very popular lizard to keep as a pet and is sometimes called an American chameleon because it can change from bright green to a somewhat muted brown color to blend into its surroundings.