ladybug, ladybug

did you know 20% of all living species on earth are beetles? just a little tidbit. the beetle (including our diminutive ladybug) is the world's most prolific creature, with some 350,000 species. thankfully for us mammals (total species : less than 5000), beetles don't bite, sting, or carry diseases. rather, they are very useful little critters. according to arthur v. evans + charles l. bellamy of an inordinate fondness for beetles, they "function as tiny recycling machines that return organic materials to the soil, making them available again for use by plants + other animals." some beetles are also extremely social, + live harmoniously with other bugs like ants or termites. can't beet that.