| Synopsis |
Over 35% of all know animals are beetles, well over 350,000 at the last count, with possibly a similar number yet to be discovered ! Beetles outnumber, by far, any other family of animals or plants on earth.
Even we humans must admit that beetles are the world's most successful creatures. They thrived long before the age of dinosaurs, and will certainly outlast the human race.
But what are the secrets behind their incredible success ? How have beetles diversified into so many forms, and evolved adaptations to conquer so many environments ? What is so special about the beetle design.
In this one-hour programme, we will answer these questions. With the help of scientists working at the cutting edge of beetle research, we will:
Discover that the beetles' 'design edge' is their incredible armour-plating
Show that despite the heavy armour, beetles are brilliant flying machines. NASA scientists are using beetle wing designs for the antennae of the International Space Station !
Explain how beetles are insatiable eating machines, as both adults and larvae.
Find out that beetles have turned their bodies into chemical factories, making a huge variety of noxious and lethal chemicals, and even in one case using a jet of boiling toxins as a defence. Many of these chemicals have potential uses in medicine.
Learn that beetles destroy over 10% of all the produce we grow, and cost over 10 billion dollars a year to combat. The more food we grow, the more they eat.
Discover that many carnivorous species are 'farmers friends' and are used as alternatives to chemical control agents, while in Australia a 500, 000 ton dung problem is being solved by beetles.
Be amazed to see why the strongest animal for its size is a beetle.
Therefore not be surprised to see that beetles have adapted to just about every habitat on earth, from parched deserts, to frozen wastelands, to lakes, rivers and ponds.
About the only place they haven't invaded is the sea - YET !
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