Nature: Wildlife (PROFESSIONAL) - HONORABLE MENTION
A closer look to diversity in Coleoptera: a macro approach for beetles.

Photo © Pedro Cattony
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There are many forces involved in the evolution of traits in the order Coleoptera. On one hand, In Chiasognathus grantii and Orthomegas similis, we have observed jaws have evolved under sexual selection; on the other hand, Hypocephalus armatus underwent natural selection in the sense its jaws are highly adapted for digging and are not related to disputes for females.
The wings of many insects have undergone minor modifications. In Coleoptera, the anterior wings, known as elytra, are very hard structures that protect the rest of the body when they are folded. In this case, the rear wings are the main ones, so they assume the function of flying. We can say that the more rigid the exoskeleton, the greater the mechanical protection that it confers and, therefore, the greater the chance of survival of the insect. That would explain, in part, the greater diversification suffered by this order when we compare it with all the others in the Insecta class.
For this portfolio, we bring a macro approach to discuss diversification in Coleoptera through its various forms and colors. These images were achieved by stacking from 30 to 70 photos.
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There are many forces involved in the evolution of traits in the order Coleoptera. On one hand, In Chiasognathus grantii and Orthomegas similis, we have observed jaws have evolved under sexual selection; on the other hand, Hypocephalus armatus underwent natural selection in the sense its jaws are highly adapted for digging and are not related to disputes for females.
The wings of many insects have undergone minor modifications. In Coleoptera, the anterior wings, known as elytra, are very hard structures that protect the rest of the body when they are folded. In this case, the rear wings are the main ones, so they assume the function of flying. We can say that the more rigid the exoskeleton, the greater the mechanical protection that it confers and, therefore, the greater the chance of survival of the insect. That would explain, in part, the greater diversification suffered by this order when we compare it with all the others in the Insecta class.
For this portfolio, we bring a macro approach to discuss diversification in Coleoptera through its various forms and colors. These images were achieved by stacking from 30 to 70 photos.
BACK TO GALLERY