Meet the BEETLES!

I'll have two beetle sets coming out in February.

Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, called the Elytron which distinguishes them from most other insects. There are about 400,000 described species making it the largest of all orders and about 25% of all known animal species.

They are found in almost every habitat except the sea and the polar regions. They interact with their ecosystems in several ways: beetles often feed on plants and fungi, break down animal and plant debris, and eat other invertebrates. While some species are serious agricultural pests, others such as ladybirds eat aphids, scale insects, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects that damage crops. Some others also have unusual characteristics, such as fireflies, which use a light-emitting organ for mating and communication purposes.

The Base Set comes with two different species of Beetle and a variety of poses. It includes the Pinacate Beetle of the American Southwest, which is often referred to as the Stink Bug because it raises its hind end in the air and sprays a noxious liquid to defend itself (much like a skunk). The other beetle included is the popular Stag Beetle which found in Europe and is unmistakable with its large “pinchers” (maxillary palps).

The add-on set, Beetles of the World Volume 1 will come with all the other beetles shown above plus a "dung ball" for the dung beetle.