What eats beetles?

Beetles are eaten by predators such as wasps, spiders, ants, mice, rats, moles shrews, salamanders, frogs, toads, birds, skunks and other beetles. In order to avoid being eaten, beetles run or hide in a tunnel when they are still larvae. A number of beetles have hard shells and can bite when defending themselves and others release toxic chemicals to discourage predators.

Beetles eat plant parts such as wood, seeds, fruit or leaves. A number of beetles prey on small animals and eat fungus and dung. Beetles can be found in most habitats on Earth and most commonly live on plants and in burrows and tunnels. Over 3,000 different species of beetles are found throughout the world.