Pronunciation: [bˈiːtə͡lz] (IPA) 
The word "beetles" is spelled with the letters B-E-E-T-L-E-S. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is written as /ˈbiː.tl̩z/. The first syllable starts with the sound /b/ as in "boy," followed by the long vowel sound /i:/ as in "bee." The final syllable has the consonant blend /tl/ and ends with the /z/ sound as in "buzz." The double "e" in the word represents the long vowel sound in the first syllable.
Beetles are a group of insects that belong to the order Coleoptera, which is the largest order of insects, comprising over 400,000 described species. They are characterized by their hardened forewings, called elytra, which serve as protective covers for their membranous hindwings used for flying. The elytra often have striking patterns or colors, which vary significantly among different species. Beetles are found in various habitats worldwide, ranging from forests and grasslands to deserts and aquatic environments.
These insects come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. They can range from tiny species that measure a few millimeters in length to the massive Goliath beetle, which can reach sizes of up to 11 inches. Beetles have a complete metamorphosis life cycle, consisting of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larvae, commonly known as grubs, typically have distinct body forms and play various ecological roles.
Beetles are known for their diversity and ecological significance. They have adapted to occupy numerous ecological niches, performing vital roles in ecosystems such as pollination, decomposition, and biological control of pests. While some beetles are beneficial to humans, such as ladybugs that prey on plant pests, others can be destructive agricultural pests. Beetles are also appreciated by collectors and researchers for their aesthetic beauty and scientific importance. They have been studied extensively in fields such as ecology, evolutionary biology, and agriculture.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "beetles" has an interesting etymology. It ultimately derives from the Middle English word "betel" or "beetel", which referred to a type of mallet or club used for beating or striking. This Middle English term can be linked back to the Old English word "bȳtl" or "bētel", which had a similar meaning.
The Old English "bȳtl" is believed to have been borrowed from the Old Norse word "beita", which meant "to beat" or "to strike". This Old Norse word is also related to the Old High German word "baital", which shared a similar meaning.
Over time, the word "beetle" took on additional meanings. It began to be used as a term to describe certain insects that have a hard, protective outer shell, somewhat resembling the striking tool.
