Beetles

Beetles (Coleoptera) form the largest order of insects, with approximately 350,000 known species globally (Smithsonian). Sincee beetles comprise the most species of any insect order, they also represent the largest percentage of insect species facing extinction. However, the exact number of beetle species in the Amazon rainforest remains unknown.

Beetles play essential roles in their ecosystems, acting as pollinators, herbivores, predators, and decomposers. The largest group within beetles is the weevils (Curculionoidea), a superfamily encompassing about 60,000 known species (The Field Museum). Weevils are primarily herbivorous and tend to be highly specialized. While weevils often have a predator-prey relationship with plants, they sometimes serve as pollinators, showcasing a unique and intricate relationship with their environment.

Ultimately, beetles represent the highest diversity of any order of life, with weevils displaying the most diversity within the order itself.

References:

Beetles (Coleoptera) Smithsonian

https://www.si.edu/spotlight/buginfo/beetle

(May 24, 2023) Weevils, long-nosed beetles, are unsung heroes of pollination A special kind of intertwined plant-pollinator relationship thought to be rare, is present in hundreds of weevil species The Field Museum

https://www.fieldmuseum.org/about/press/weevils-long-nosed-beetles-are-unsung-heroes-of-pollination