Coleoptera

Co`le`op´te`ra

n. pl.

1.

(Zool.) An order of insects having the anterior pair of wings (elytra) hard and horny, and serving as coverings for the posterior pair, which are membranous, and folded transversely under the others when not in use. The mouth parts form two pairs of jaws (mandibles and maxillæ) adapted for chewing. Most of the Coleoptera are known as beetles and weevils.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Coleoptera - beetles order Coleoptera animal order - the order of animals class Hexapoda, class Insecta, Hexapoda, Insecta - insects; about five-sixths of all known animal species beetle - insect having biting mouthparts and front wings modified to form horny covers overlying the membranous rear wings Cicindelidae, family Cicindelidae - tiger beetles Coccinellidae, family Coccinellidae - the ladybugs Carabidae, family Carabidae - ground beetles family Lampyridae, Lampyridae - fireflies Cerambycidae, family Cerambycidae - long-horned beetles Chrysomelidae, family Chrysomelidae - leaf beetles Dermestidae, family Dermestidae - carpet beetles Cleridae, family Cleridae - beetles that prey on other insects Lamellicornia, superfamily Lamellicornia - scarabaeid beetles and stag beetles Elateridae, family Elateridae - click beetles and certain fireflies Dytiscidae, family Dytiscidae - water beetles family Gyrinidae, Gyrinidae - whirligig beetles Anobiidae, family Anobiidae - deathwatch beetles Curculionidae, family Curculionidae - true weevils: snout beetles family Meloidae, Meloidae - blister beetles family Ipidae, family Scolytidae, Ipidae, Scolytidae - large family of bark-boring or wood-boring short-beaked beetles; very destructive to forest and fruit trees family Staphylinidae, Staphylinidae - rove beetles family Tenebrionidae, Tenebrionidae - a family of arthropods including darkling beetles and mealworms Bruchidae, family Bruchidae - seed beetles