Beetles usually rely on the help of bacterial partners to survive. These symbioses can have different functions. Bacterial symbionts may help digest plant material, make the beetles more resistant to ...

MANHATTAN, KAN. -- Kansas State University researchers think their discovery of the enzyme involved in the hardening of a beetle's exoskeleton or cuticle could lead not only to better pest control, ...

In addition to providing coloration, the exoskeletal shell of beetles needs to be strong and damage tolerant, researchers explain. Beetles are creatures with built-in body armor. They are tiny tanks ...

Researchers explore the microstructure of the ground beetle exoskeleton using microscopy. The striking colors of many creatures in nature result from their structures at a microscopic or even ...