Beetles, an order of Insects, having a biting mouth and the first pair of wings more or less horny, forming sheaths for the second pair, and usually meeting in a straight line down the middle of the back.
Insect order that includes beetles and weevils, which damage plants mainly by chewing plant parts. Examples of economically-important species: Colorado potato beetle, alfalfa weevil, boll weevil, bean weevil, cucumber beetle. The lady bird beetle (lady bug) is an important biological control organism for aphid infestations, particularly in greenhouses.