In species of Coleoptera , the only functional wings are the hindwings. The hindwings are longer than the elytra , folded longitudinally and transversely under the elytra. The wing is rotated forwards on its base into flight position.

Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (/ k oʊ l iː ˈ ɒ p t ər ə /), in the superorder Holometabola. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects.

Coleoptera (beetles and weevils) is the largest order in the class Insecta. As adults, most beetles have a hard, dense exoskeleton that covers and protects most of their body surface. The front wings, known as elytra, are just as hard as the rest of the exoskeleton.

Coleoptera are the only order of insects that have elytra. This adaptation has enabled them to expand into many habitats such as leaf litter, logs and soil, that would otherwise damage the wings of less well protected insect groups.

Coleoptera usually have two pairs of wings. The front pair of wings, called elytra, are thick and form a hard shell over the abdomen of the most beetles. Elytra meet in a straight line down the middle of the back.

The order name means sheath (Coleo-) winged (-ptera), and of course refers to the hardened front pair of wings which we call elytra. The elytra is not used in flight, but rather serves to protect the delicate membranous hind pair of wings which are folded up underneath the elytra when at …

Wings serve not only as organs of flight, but also may be adapted variously as protective covers (Coleoptera and Dermaptera), thermal collectors (Lepidoptera), gyroscopic stabilizers (Diptera), sound producers (Orthoptera), or visual cues for species …

A soldier beetle lifts its elytra in order to use its hind wings to fly. Coleoptera means “sheathed wing,” referring to the fact that the first pair of wings has been thickened into a pair of hard sheaths, or elytra, that cover the delicate hind wings.

May 31, 2012 · A survey is made of the major features of the venation, articulation, and folding in the hind wings of Coleoptera. The documentation is based upon examination of 108 Coleoptera families and 200 specimens, and shown in 101 published figures.

The hind wings of all known families and most subfamilies of Coleoptera are illustrated, annotated and discussed utilising the terminology of Kukalová-Peck and Lawrence (2004), with a few changes in nomenclature suggested by the senior author. The beetle families are discussed in 21 groups, based on recent classifications of Coleoptera.