Beetles are fascinating creatures, comprising the largest group of insects on Earth.
With one-quarter of all known animal species and a third of all described insects being beetles, their life expectancies vary considerably.
Some predatory beetles, for example, live up to 4 years, while others may have shorter lifespans.
Different factors, such as environmental conditions and food availability, influence the longevity of these insects.
Their life cycle, known as complete metamorphosis, includes stages like egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
The duration spent in each stage also varies among different beetle species, contributing to their overall lifespan and survival rate.
As we explore the diverse world of beetles, it becomes clear that there is much to learn about these incredibly diverse and fascinating creatures.
How Long Do Beetles Live? Life Cycle of Beetles
Beetles undergo a process called complete metamorphosis, which consists of four different stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
The duration of a beetle’s life cycle varies depending on the species.
In the first stage, female beetles lay eggs that usually take around 7 to 10 days to hatch. The hatched larvae, often called “mealworms” in some species, are quite different in appearance from adult beetles.
Larvae feed and grow, shedding their exoskeleton multiple times before entering the pupa stage. Pupal development can vary in length; for some beetles, it may take a few weeks, while others may remain in this stage for months.
Once the adult beetle emerges, it is ready to mate and reproduce. Some beetles have shorter lifespans of just a few weeks, while others can live up to several years.
Factors affecting lifespan include environmental conditions, predation, and availability of food sources.
Examples of beetle species and typical lifespans:
- Lady beetles: up to 1 year
- Stag beetles: 2-3 years
- Longhorn beetles: 2-5 years
Comparison table of beetle lifecycles:
| Beetle Species | Egg Duration | Larva Duration | Pupa Duration | Adult Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lady Beetle | 4-7 days | 2-3 weeks | 5-12 days | up to 1 year |
| Stag Beetle | 10-14 days | 1-2 years | 3-5 months | 2-3 years |
| Longhorn Beetle | 7-10 days | 1-3 years | 2-4 weeks | 2-5 years |
Life Cycle Stages
Egg Stage
Beetles begin their life as eggs, which are usually laid by the female in protected areas. The duration of the egg stage varies among species, but it typically lasts for 7 to 10 days1.
Larval Stage
After hatching, the beetles enter the larval stage. They go through several growth stages called instars. The larval stage duration can differ significantly, with some species having multiple generations per year2.
Pupal Stage
Once the larval stage is complete, beetles enter the pupal stage. This is where they undergo complete metamorphosis2. The pupal stage duration also varies among species.
Adult Stage
After emerging from the pupal stage, beetles become adults2. Adult beetles are capable of reproduction. The lifespan of adult beetles differs greatly among species.
Comparison Table
| Stage | Duration (Varies with Species) |
|---|---|
| Egg | 7 to 10 days |
| Larval | Multiple generations per year |
| Pupal | Varies |
| Adult | Varies |
Beetle Classification and Species
Ground Beetles
Ground beetles are a large, diverse group of beetles in the family Carabidae. Most ground beetles live for around one year.
They are known for their:
- Predatory habits
- Fast-moving abilities
- Variety of sizes and colors
Examples include the Bombardier beetle and the tiger beetle.
Leaf Beetles
Leaf beetles belong to the family Chrysomelidae and are known for:
- Feeding on leaves
- Bright colors
- Diverse shapes
Leaf beetles have a lifecycle of about two months and can have several generations in a year.
Some examples are the Colorado potato beetle and the tortoise beetle.
Longhorn Beetles
In the family Cerambycidae, longhorn beetles have:
- Long antennae
- Wood-boring habits
Typically these beetles live between one to two years, though it varies greatly by species.
Examples are the elder borer and the cottonwood borer.
Ladybugs
Also called ladybirds, these beetles are in the family Coccinellidae. They:
- Consume pests like aphids
- Show bright colors
- Exhibit round shapes
Examples are the seven-spotted ladybird and the Asian ladybird. These beetles typically live for about one year.
Weevils
Weevils belong to the family Curculionidae. They live for about two to three months.
Characteristics include:
- Snout-like mouthparts
- Feeding on plants
For example, the boll weevil is a known pest of cotton crops.
Fireflies
Fireflies, in the family Lampyridae, are beetles that:
- Produce light (bioluminescence)
- Are active at night
Fireflies can live for about an year.
Examples are the common eastern firefly and the big dipper firefly.
Here’s a comparison table of the mentioned beetle families:
| Beetle Family | Example | Distinct Feature | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carabidae | Bombardier beetle | Predatory habits | 1 year |
| Chrysomelidae | Colorado potato-beetle | Leaf-eating habits | 2 months |
| Cerambycidae | Elder borer | Long antennae | 1-2 years |
| Coccinellidae | Seven-spotted ladybird | Pest control | 1 year |
| Curculionidae | Boll weevil | Snout-like mouthparts | 2-3 months |
| Lampyridae | Common eastern firefly | Bioluminescence | 1 year |
Conclusion
Beetles, representing a vast portion of insect diversity, have lifespans that vary significantly across species.
Their life cycle, characterized by complete metamorphosis, consists of stages like egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Factors such as environment and food availability play a role in their longevity.
Understanding the intricacies of beetle lifespans and behaviors offers insights into their ecological importance and interactions with human environments.
Footnotes
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50 Comments. Leave new
I live in Brisbane, Queensland and I have a Three Lined Lema Beetle infestation all over my cape gooseberry bushes. They have pretty much annihilated the plant. I have plenty of photos ect if you’d like them, of eggs, larve and the beetle themselves. I found this website to be very useful as for the past few days I had nicknamed them “Sh*t Beetles” as they had ruined one of my shirts as I walked past them. Out of interest they haven’t attacked any other plant around them, including zucchinis, roses, cucumbers,comfrey and others. More info can be provided (as well as specimens :I ). Just ask.
I live on the Gold Coast, QLD, and I have EXACTLY the same issue with these beetles attacking my cape gooseberry also :(. I really want to know how to deter/control them or I”m never going to get any fruit from my plant.
i have these on my cape gooseberry too. The lavau ate all the leaves and i squished all the beetles. The plant is making a comeback but the beetles have returned… Any idea on how to get rid of them MUCH appreciated!
We live in southwest Iowa and we just noticed these bugs all over the side of our house.. this helped us out alot we had no idea what they were
Really? Locust Borers covering your house? Is there a nearby locust tree grove?
The toxin is quite stable and slow to break down, and yes it can be released by dead beetles – dead beetles in hay can poison stock.
Thank you so much for supplying that information.
I live in Western Mass and my yard is full of these. One time there were about a hundred of them on the driveway all at once! One pinched onto my cat’s nose but I was able to remove it with tweezers without harming either the cat or the beetle. They are harmless and actually kind of cool in a way.
Your yard must provide the perfect habitat for Stag Beetles, including rotting stumps for the development of the larvae.
We also have these lax beetles which have only just started coming around for a few weeks through january in the last five years (we never had any before then). They are a real niusance and our doctors couldn’t even tell us what had caused the blister – they told us it was sunburn. I only discovered the cause via google and noticing the arrival of these beetles. they definately come out at twilight and then disappear again once it is dark. I would love to know what they are feeding on or living in so we can erradicate them. As they are new to our area, they don’t belong here, they are very frustrating and dangerous to our young children also.
You did not provide a location, but it is our understanding that Lax Beetles are native to both Australia and New Zealand. We do not provide extermination advice.
These bugs are from Australia, introduced to NZ in 1931. They are just now spreading very quickly around NZ. They breed in Mangrove swamps apparently
The last 3 days me & my family have been staying in our family Bach in Kaimaumau… These bugs turned up every night as soon as the sun went down and stayed around for bout 2 hours. It was like a swarm of them! You couldn’t walk outside without getting attacked by about 20 at a time. We are all covered in blisters! They weren’t around last year… Would love to know where they have come from and why there is so many as soon as the sun goes down!?
It has to be the Red-legged Ham beetle:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/445986
Pet food is what they feed on.
Thanks Boris.
Hi,
We have a lot of lax beetles here in Southland, New Zealand. Our property is surrounded by native forest and I have noted 6 or 7 beetles at a time. Often on the ceiling or window sills. I recently have been ‘stung’ by one. Fold of my elbow with a classic Kissing pattern to the blistering. Very symmetrical. Started as a small spots in the morning before developing large > 10 mm blisters by midday. I did not realise that we had these sort of beetles in NZ and had falsely assumed a whitetail spider bite. However, have never seen a whitetail in Southland before but have seen a heap of Lax bettles.
Cheers
Clint
I live in southern Arizona and I have been seeing a lot of beetles this year. Many of them are blister beetles and kissing bugs. Both can be dangerous. I have some native geckos as pets and I keep a light on at night so I can catch their meals. I dont wanna feed them anything that would do them harm so everytime I see a new bug I take it’s picture and reverse image search it. I was suprised that the one I just found looks and acts like this one from New Zealand. The blister beetles here are usually red and black but I’ve seen many different colors and patterns this year. And it’s barely the end of April! I’m thinking it’s going to be worse come July.
I have a ton of these in my basement in Minnesota. Why are they in the basement if they like rotting wood? Does that mean I have some sort of rotting wood in the basement that the larva are hatching out of? I don’t think (hope) we have any rotting wood in the basement, so how then did they get there?
I have caught quite a few and take them outside, but really am not fond of so many in the basement. What do the adults eat?
Do I have to worry about them in the house? Will they destroy wood?
I heard the sound of a large trapped bug in my light fixture. When we took down the glass light cover from the ceiling fan, we saw this. It froze in place and wouldn’t move. Brought it outside and let it go. I thought for sure it was a June bug, but I guess not. Boylston Massachusetts here.
Not exactly, but looks close to Lagria (Tenebrionidae).
I agree. Although it does bear resemblance to a Necrophila or Calosoma larva, both of the above have different antennae. Calosoma larvae, being carabids, also have large, conspicuous jaws, which this picture lacks. Furthermore, bugguide only shows North American species, and the picture above is obviously not NAmerican.
The beetlesinthebush post below features a larva very similar to this one. According to the post, that larva is a tenebrionid, perhaps Goniadera ampliata. Goniadera and Lagria are both in subfamily Lagriinae.
https://beetlesinthebush.wordpress.com/2011/02/14/answers-to-id-challenge-5-artropodes-em-casca-de-arvore-morta/
I agree. Although it does bear resemblance to a Necrophila or Calosoma larva, both of the above have different antennae. Calosoma larvae, being carabids, also have large, conspicuous jaws, which this picture lacks. Furthermore, bugguide only shows North American species, and the picture above is obviously not NAmerican.
The beetlesinthebush post below features a larva very similar to this one. According to the post, that larva is a tenebrionid, perhaps Goniadera ampliata. Goniadera and Lagria are both in subfamily Lagriinae.
https://beetlesinthebush.wordpress.com/2011/02/14/answers-to-id-challenge-5-artropodes-em-casca-de-arvore-morta/
We have similar Tenebrionids in the subfamily Stenochiinae.
This Cyphaleus is a similar in Australia: https://www.ebay.ie/itm/COLEOPTERA-CETONIINAE-CYPHALEUS-IMPERIALIS-from-AUSTRALIA-/122837233792?hash=item1c99ab7080 Cetoniinae is clearly wrong.
Agreed. The beetle looks like a dead ringer, but the Fruit and Flower Chafer subfamily Cetoniinae is obviously incorrect. We can’t located any other images of a similar looking individual with the binomial name to verify if the species is even correct.
I found large yellow with brown design on shell bettle type bug? It is 2 inches long and inch wide? Beautiful design on hard shell! Found in West Virginia?
Based on the size, our guess is that you encountered an Eastern Hercules Beetle.
Thank you, Bugman for your reply back! I found one a week after I found that guy. It was an another male. This time, I let it go in someone’s oak tree “garden.”
Thanks for the update William.
May be the eyed elater: http://bugoftheweek.com/blog/2013/1/2/heres-looking-at-you-kid-eyed-click-beetle-ialaus-oculatusi-missing-vid-and-links
Wow Cesar. That would be awesome. You always provide such consistently accurate corrections and identifications on our often hastily made postings, and we are forever grateful for your contributions to our humble site.
Looks like Hydrophylidae to me:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cosperwosper/5913657318
Here are some Japanese ones:
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Habitus-of-the-larvae-of-Hydrophilini-dorsal-view-A-B-Hydrochara-affi-nis-Sharp_fig2_263660233
Thanks for the links Cesar.
Looks like Hydrophylidae to me:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cosperwosper/5913657318
Here are some Japanese ones:
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Habitus-of-the-larvae-of-Hydrophilini-dorsal-view-A-B-Hydrochara-affi-nis-Sharp_fig2_263660233
We had one in the house and one in the yard – horrifying- also in Mass.
Found dozens of these on lavender plants outside our home in South Norfolk.
In North Attleboro, MA. Found one this morning in an outdoor plant pot. How cool!!! Wish I knew how to attach a picture to this reply.
Too funny – I just found one this past week in my South Attleboro house. I had no idea they were indigenous to the area. Mine looks like the one from the original poster, deep red color. Very pretty!
We found one on our potted shrub in Belmont, MA. Very cool!
I just found one in my daughters bedroom as we were tucking her in! It was in a toy bucket, and I honestly thought it was a toy spider for a minute. I dropped it r on the bathroom floor, and it moved very slightly, so naturally I yelled loudly and my husband came running. Yikes!! Not something I want my 5 year olds to step on by her bed!!
Did you by chance ask your five year old if she brought it into the house in her toy bucket?
I love that this conversation spans 18 years! We still see these guys on occasion here in Boylston MA.
Let’s make it 19. Found one today in Dalton MA!
Just caught one in my Western MA dining room. It freaked me out but am relieved to read that they are relatively harmless.
I am in Wellington and living next to a pine forest too, just like you said, every day I sweep up at least 10-15 from around the house. During the day they like to hide in folds of curtains and bedding etc and play dead. We moved here in Sept and started getting them early Dec and they show no signs of buggering off anytime soon. My cat is bug obsessed and ate one before I knew they were toxic, it gave her diarrhoea and vomiting and gave me an expensive vet bill. I always thought they were harmless when growing up but now I’m quite anxious about them being in the house. Im following the above advice, but I’m wondering if anything in particular “repels” them?
Saw on in Manchester-by-the-sea MA today. It was my first time ever seeing one, he kept sticking to everything he touched!
Make that 20 years! There’s one in my pool right now in Milton, MA
So this is weird…
I grew up in Quincy, MA and was outside all the time, never saw one of these beetles in my life. Today, back here visiting family, saw 3! 2 in my sisters garden in Squantum and 1 stuck in my sarong by the pool earlier. They are strong!
Went on mini vacation to Wareham MA, went out to walk my dog, say one on stairs, freaked me out. Came home a found one when I opened front door, stepped on it, went down to do laundry and there was another one inside by back door, stepped on that one to. Will keep stepping on these awful things. Sorry but just can’t.
I’ve now seen one in my yard a few days in a row. They are startlingly large, but beautiful. So glad they are not harmful. I can’t imagine why anyone would kill one of these. Can’t help thinking that would be bad karma.