Beetles and Cockroaches: English Vocabulary List

a large brown insect with a broad body, wings, long legs and antennae, considered a household pest

"A cockroach ran under the table."

"Cockroaches are hard to kill and often hide in dark places."

a large, typically black insect, which has a hard case on its back that covers its wings

"A beetle crawled across the floor."

"The beetle was under the leaf when I looked closely."

a small beetle with a long snout that feeds on seeds and grains, destroying crops

"The weevil damaged the stored grain."

"The weevil is a beetle with an elongated snout that it uses to bore into nuts and grains."

a small flying insect which is usually red with black spots

"A ladybug was on the leaf."

"The ladybug landed gently on her arm and she watched it crawl across her skin."

a large beetle, the male of which has jaws that resemble the antlers of a stag

"Male stag beetles fight each other using their enlarged mandibles."

"The male stag beetle has enormous mandibles that resemble deer antlers used for wrestling rivals."

a large insect with horn-like protrusions on the head of males, known for its robust size and distinctive appearance

"Rhinoceros beetles have horns on their heads that males use in battles."

"The rhinoceros beetle gets its name from the large horn on its head that males use for fighting."

an insect known for its ability to release a volatile chemical spray from its abdomen as a defense mechanism

"Bombardier beetles spray hot toxic chemicals from their abdomen when threatened."

"The bombardier beetle sprays boiling hot toxic chemicals from its abdomen when threatened by predators."

a small insect that can infest and damage carpets, clothing, and other materials

"Carpet beetle larvae damage carpets furniture and clothing made from animal fibers."

"The carpet beetle larva feeds on natural fibers causing damage to carpets clothing and upholstered furniture."

a type of insect characterized by its ability to produce a clicking sound and perform a sudden, acrobatic jump when flipped onto its back

"The click beetle jumps with a clicking sound."

"The click beetle flips itself into the air with an audible click when it lands on its back."

a beetle species that feeds on and utilizes animal feces for nourishment and reproduction

"Dung beetles roll animal droppings into balls and bury them as food."

"The dung beetle rolls animal waste into balls and buries them as food for its larvae."

a highly invasive insect with a metallic green and bronze body, known for its destructive feeding habits on a variety of plants

"The Japanese beetle eats plant leaves."

"The Japanese beetle is an invasive pest that skeletonizes the leaves of over three hundred plant species."

a type of beetle with long antennae and a diverse range of patterns and colors

"Longicorn beetles have antennae that are often longer than their entire bodies."

"The longicorn beetle has extremely long antennae that can exceed the length of its own body."

a large black dung beetle considered to be holy by ancient Egyptians

"The ancient Egyptians worshipped the scarab beetle as a symbol of rebirth."

"The scarab beetle was sacred to ancient Egyptians who associated it with the sun god Khepri."

a small brown insect with a pair of pincer-like appendages, the female of which looks after the young until they are grown

"The earwig has pincers on its tail."

"The earwig has distinctive pincers on its abdomen but does not actually crawl into human ears despite the myth."

a small winged insect that preys on other insects, especially ants, by digging holes in the sand

"The ant lion digs pits to trap ants."

"The ant lion digs a conical pit in sandy soil and waits at the bottom for ants to fall in."