Order Coleoptera

Also known as beetles, this is the most massive order of insects. They are characterized by their hard forewings (elytra), which protect their delicate hind wings. Beetles are highly adaptable, living in a variety of habitats, and have important functions in ecosystems as decomposers, pollinators, and predators.

Acknowledgements: All images of the Haleakalā National Park entomology collection were photographed as part of a project in collaboration with the University of Hawai‘i. This initiative was conducted through the Hawai‘i-Pacific Islands Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit under Agreement Number P23AC02110. The photographs were taken by Spencer Pote, with oversight from Dr. Daniel Rubinoff, entomologists with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Insect Museum. The photographs have been placed online for visitors to view.