A behind-the-scenes look at our beetle collectionPhoto Galleries | Updated 7 years ago Calosoma schayeri, Native Australian beetle which belongs to the family Carabidae, subfamily CarabinaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Calosoma oceanicum, Native Australian beetle which belongs to the family Carabidae, subfamily CarabinaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Genus Euryscaphus, Native Australian beetle which belongs to the family Carabidae, subfamily ScaritinaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the family Carabidae, subfamily HelluoninaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the family Carabidae, genus CatadromusJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the species Catadromus lacordairei, family Carabidae; commonly known as Catadromus Carabid Beetle or Greenlined Ground BeetleJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian diving beetle which belongs to the species Cybister godeffroyi, family DytiscidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the genus Pseudotetralobus, family ElateridaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the species Paracalais suboculatus, family ElateridaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Foreign dung beetle collected in Vietnam; family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Introduced dung beetles which belongs to the species Onitis aygulus, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Male specimen of a native Australian beetle which belongs to the species Haploscapanes barbarossa, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Female specimen of a Native Australian beetle; species Haploscapanes barbarossa, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Male specimen of a south-east Asian rhinoceros beetle; genus Xylotrupes, family Scarabaeidae; commonly known as Elephant Beetle, Siamese rhinoceros beetle or fighting beetleJessica Scholle, WA Museum Male specimen of a native rhinoceros beetle Jessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily CetoniinaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Rear view of a native Australian beetle which belongs to the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily CetoniinaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily CetoniinaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Foreign beetle which belongs to the species Ischiopsopha ignipennis, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Foreign beetle which belongs to the species Heterorrhina elegans, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the species Dilochrosis walteri, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the species Dilochrosis walteri, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the species Stenopisthes frenchi, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Pupal cells collected in Beacon, WA. Pupae are a stage in which beetles undergoing the last step of metamorphosis to become adults.Jessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the species Dilochrosis balteata, family Scarabaeidae; commonly known as Red Spot RosechaferJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the species Hemipharis insularis, family Scarabaeidae Jessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the species Eupoecila inscripta, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the species Eupoecila inscripta, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the species Eupoecila inscripta, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the species Eupoecila australasiae, family Scarabaeidae; commonly known as Fiddler BeetleJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the species Trichaulax marginipennis, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the species Trichaulax macleayi, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian Beetles which belong to the species Tapinoschema digglesii, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Foreign beetle of the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily CetoniinaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the species Ischiopsopha wallacei yorkiana, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Foreign beetles which belong to the species Lomaptera annae, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Foreign male beetle collected in India; species Lucanus lunifer, family LucanidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the species Prosopocoilus bison, family LucanidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the species Lamprima aurata, family Lucanidae; commonly known as Golden Stag BeetleJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the species Lamprima aurata, family Lucanidae; commonly known as Golden Stag BeetleJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the species Lamprima aurata, family Lucanidae; commonly known as Golden Stag BeetleJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the family LucanidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle of the genus Lamprima, which belongs to the family LucanidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the species Mastachilus polyphyllus, family PassalidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the species Omorgus gigas, family TrogidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the species Bolboleaus truncatus, family BolboceratidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the species Bolboleaus truncatus, family BolboceratidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the species Bolboleaus truncatus, family BolboceratidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the species Bolborhachium tricavicolle, family BolboceratidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the species Bolborhachium tricavicolle, family BolboceratidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Close-up of a wing of a native Australian beetle which belongs to the species Bolborhachium tricavicolle, family BolboceratidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the genus Lepidiota, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the genus Pachytricha, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the genus Pachytricha, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the genus Pachytricha, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the species Anoplognathus smaragdinus, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the species Anoplognathus macleayi aurora, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the species Anoplognathus macleayi aurora, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the species Anoplognathus aeneus, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the species Calloodes grayianus, family Scarabaeidae; commonly known as Golden Bordered BeetleJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the species Anoplostethus laetus, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the species Epichrysus lamprimoides, family ScarabaeidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetle which belongs to the species Julodimorpha saundersii¸ family Buprestidae; commonly known as Giant Jewel BeetleJessica Scholle, WA Museum Underside of a specimen which belongs to the species Julodimorpha saundersii, family Buprestidae; commonly known as Giant Jewel BeetleJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian jewel beetle which belong to the species Calodema regalis, family BuprestidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Underside of a native Australian jewel beetle which belong to the species Calodema regalis, family BuprestidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian beetles which belong to the species Julodimorpha saundersii, family Buprestidae; commonly known as Giant Jewel BeetleJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian jewel beetles which belong to the species Stigmodera macularia, family BuprestidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Underside of a native Australian jewel beetle which belongs to the species Temognatha duboulayi, family BuprestidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian jewel beetle which belongs to the species Temognatha duboulayi, family BuprestidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian jewel beetles which belong to the species Temognatha conspicillata, family BuprestidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian jewel beetles which belong to the species Temognatha mnizechii, family BuprestidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian jewel beetles which belong to the species Temognatha chevrolatii, family BuprestidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum Native Australian jewel beetle which belongs to the species Temognatha chevrolatii, family BuprestidaeJessica Scholle, WA Museum The Coleoptera, commonly called beetles, are by far the largest order of insects. More than 420,000 species are described worldwide, making up about 40% of all known insects species and almost 25% of all known animals. This large order includes diving beetles, ladybugs, stag beetles, weevils and ground beetles. Beetles occur in all terrestrial habitats including dry regions, tropical forests and freshwater or beach environments, except in the Polar Regions. Some species are herbivores, eating flowers, fruits, roots, leaves, buds and seeds, whereas other beetles are carnivorous, feeding on insects and animal corpses. Some are xylophagous, which means they consume wood. Through this photo gallery, explore a small part of our beetle collection and note the diversity in shape, size and colour of the largest insect order. Further Information Dirty dancing: dung beetles get down to walk the line, Nature Early 2014 a plague of “stink bugs” was recorded in a workshop in Leonora, WA. Find out more on our website. Curious about diving beetles? The first species of subterranean diving beetles found in Western Australia were discovered during fieldwork led by the Western Australian Museum.