Beetle elytra
Description
The hard exoskeleton composed of Chitin that covers the wings of adult beetles (Coleopter). Elytra provide protection from heat, wind, and moisture evaporation allowing beetles to live in adverse conditions, such as a desert environment. Beetles typically have two wings folded under a thicker pair of elytra that meet in the center of the back and extend to the tip of the abdomen. These protective wings have bright jewel-tone colors, many of which are iridescent due to the interference of light between the multiple layers of chitin. The ancient cultures of Asia commonly pieces of the beautiful iridescent elytra to adorn paintings, textiles and jewelry. The colors and textures of the wings are very durable even though the beetles themselves often only live a few weeks as an adult
Synonyms and Related Terms
beetle wings; elytron (singular)
Additional Images
Oulema melanopus beetle elytra
Sternocera aequisignata beetle native to Thailand
Chrysollina cerealis beetle
Resources and Citations
- Victoria Rivers, 'Beetles in Textiles" BugBios, Issue 2, February 1994 LINK
- The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
- Encyclopedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Britannica-Online Comment: Dermestid beetle. Retrieved May 29, 2003,.
- Lynda A. Zycherman, J.Richard Schrock, A Guide to Museum Pest Control, FAIC and Association of Systematics Collections, Washington DC, 1988
- Hermann Kuhn, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities, Butterworths, London, 1986
- Wikipedia: Beetlewing Accessed March 2025