1 00:00:03,462 --> 00:00:04,964 {\an7}\h\hNARRATOR: The beetle... 2 00:00:05,005 --> 00:00:06,632 {\an7}...undisputed master 3 00:00:06,673 --> 00:00:09,092 {\an7}of the insect world, 4 00:00:09,134 --> 00:00:13,263 {\an7}\haccounting for every fourth animal species on the planet. 5 00:00:14,306 --> 00:00:19,895 {\an7}(♪) 6 00:00:19,937 --> 00:00:23,441 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: Beetles are the world’s \h\hfastest insects, 7 00:00:25,150 --> 00:00:28,236 {\an7}\h\h\h\hand among its most ruthless hunters. 8 00:00:29,530 --> 00:00:33,409 {\an7}Some wield chemical weapons. 9 00:00:33,450 --> 00:00:37,663 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hOthers evade danger with extraordinary acrobatics. 10 00:00:39,248 --> 00:00:41,083 {\an7}How did the humble beetle 11 00:00:41,124 --> 00:00:44,252 {\an7}\h\h\h\hachieve such astonishing success? 12 00:00:47,089 --> 00:00:53,596 {\an7}(♪) 13 00:01:04,773 --> 00:01:07,859 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: \h\h\h\h\h\hSpringtime in southern Germany... 14 00:01:07,901 --> 00:01:09,486 {\an7}Deep in a forest, 15 00:01:09,528 --> 00:01:14,158 {\an7}\h\ha giant among beetles emerges from underground. 16 00:01:20,789 --> 00:01:24,918 {\an7}\h\h\hIt’s a bit of a freak in the world of European beetles. 17 00:01:27,462 --> 00:01:30,423 {\an7}Reaching more than \h\h3 inches long, 18 00:01:30,465 --> 00:01:34,052 {\an7}\h\hit’s Europe’s biggest and most extraordinary beetle... 19 00:01:34,094 --> 00:01:35,679 {\an7}...the stag beetle. 20 00:01:35,721 --> 00:01:39,600 {\an7}The male has huge jaws \h\hresembling antlers, 21 00:01:39,641 --> 00:01:41,977 {\an7}which give the species its name. 22 00:01:49,234 --> 00:01:50,652 {\an7}An enticing scent 23 00:01:50,694 --> 00:01:52,821 {\an7}lures the newly emerged male 24 00:01:52,863 --> 00:01:54,865 {\an7}up off the forest floor. 25 00:01:54,906 --> 00:01:57,909 {\an7}\h\h\h\hIt’s the scent of fermenting tree sap, 26 00:01:57,951 --> 00:02:01,079 {\an7}\h\h\hand he heads straight for the trunk of an oak tree 27 00:02:01,121 --> 00:02:03,582 {\an7}in search of this sugary fluid. 28 00:02:06,376 --> 00:02:09,045 {\an7}This is his primary \h\hsource of food; 29 00:02:09,087 --> 00:02:11,923 {\an7}with his extremely \h\hdeformed jaws, 30 00:02:11,965 --> 00:02:14,593 {\an7}he can’t eat anything \h\h\h\h\hbut liquid. 31 00:02:22,309 --> 00:02:25,437 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hThe females are half the size of the males, 32 00:02:25,479 --> 00:02:28,774 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hand don’t sport any elaborate head gear. 33 00:02:28,815 --> 00:02:31,234 {\an7}\h\h\hLike the males, they live for no more 34 00:02:31,276 --> 00:02:32,694 {\an7}than 8 weeks. 35 00:02:32,736 --> 00:02:34,404 {\an7}Their short, adult lives 36 00:02:34,446 --> 00:02:38,909 {\an7}are dedicated to one goal only: reproducing. 37 00:02:43,705 --> 00:02:47,542 {\an7}\h\h\h\hBut, attracted by this female’s pheromones, 38 00:02:47,584 --> 00:02:50,253 {\an7}two males have appeared \h\h\h\h\hon the stage. 39 00:02:52,422 --> 00:02:56,301 {\an7}The males’ antlers have evolved for one purpose only... 40 00:02:56,343 --> 00:02:57,803 {\an7}...to fight. 41 00:02:59,179 --> 00:03:04,059 {\an7}\hThe right to procreate has to be won in battle. 42 00:03:08,105 --> 00:03:12,735 {\an7}(♪) 43 00:03:19,116 --> 00:03:21,910 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: \h\h\hIf one of them is clearly outgunned, 44 00:03:21,952 --> 00:03:24,872 {\an7}the loser withdraws \h\hwithin seconds. 45 00:03:24,913 --> 00:03:27,958 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBut these two are roughly the same size; 46 00:03:27,999 --> 00:03:31,002 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\htheir fight could last for minutes. 47 00:03:32,462 --> 00:03:38,885 {\an7}(♪) 48 00:03:44,641 --> 00:03:46,977 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: But it’s not a fight \h\h\hto the death; 49 00:03:47,018 --> 00:03:51,523 {\an7}\h\h\hthe goal here is to throw your opponent out of the ring. 50 00:04:04,536 --> 00:04:05,996 {\an7}As with all beetles, 51 00:04:06,037 --> 00:04:08,248 {\an7}their exoskeleton acts as armor, 52 00:04:08,290 --> 00:04:10,584 {\an7}and serious injuries are rare. 53 00:04:19,342 --> 00:04:22,595 {\an7}The winner hurries to claim his prize. 54 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:26,850 {\an7}Over the course of the summer, 55 00:04:26,892 --> 00:04:29,353 {\an7}this male will fight \h\h\h\hmore battles 56 00:04:29,394 --> 00:04:32,981 {\an7}\h\h\hand mate with up to eight different females. 57 00:04:38,153 --> 00:04:41,698 {\an7}Mating among stag beetles \h\h\h\h\h\h\htakes time, 58 00:04:41,740 --> 00:04:44,368 {\an7}and can last up to 10 minutes. 59 00:04:48,038 --> 00:04:51,041 {\an7}\h\h\h\hHis enormous jaws help to herd the females 60 00:04:51,082 --> 00:04:53,418 {\an7}into the right position. 61 00:04:54,461 --> 00:04:56,630 {\an7}Immediately after mating, 62 00:04:56,671 --> 00:04:58,590 {\an7}they go their separate ways. 63 00:04:58,632 --> 00:05:02,678 {\an7}\h\hThe impregnated female will disappear into the forest alone 64 00:05:02,719 --> 00:05:06,389 {\an7}\h\h\hto bury about 20 eggs underground. 65 00:05:06,431 --> 00:05:09,351 {\an7}Shortly thereafter, \h\h\hshe will die. 66 00:05:21,154 --> 00:05:23,948 {\an7}\hBeetles can look bizarre and clumsy, 67 00:05:23,990 --> 00:05:25,200 {\an7}but they’re among the oldest 68 00:05:25,242 --> 00:05:28,454 {\an7}and most successful creatures on earth. 69 00:05:28,495 --> 00:05:32,791 {\an7}Modern day beetles evolved during the Triassic period, 70 00:05:32,833 --> 00:05:36,045 {\an7}more than 240 million years ago. 71 00:05:37,963 --> 00:05:41,008 {\an7}\h\h\hAmber, which is fossilized tree resin, 72 00:05:41,049 --> 00:05:43,051 {\an7}acts like a time capsule, 73 00:05:43,093 --> 00:05:45,470 {\an7}perfectly preserving \h\hancient beetles, 74 00:05:45,512 --> 00:05:48,432 {\an7}\h\h\h\hwhich were trapped in the honey-colored resin 75 00:05:48,473 --> 00:05:50,850 {\an7}hundreds of millions \h\h\h\hof years ago. 76 00:05:52,269 --> 00:05:57,065 {\an7}(♪) 77 00:05:57,107 --> 00:06:01,278 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: \h\h\hMany beetle species have hardly changed over that time, 78 00:06:01,319 --> 00:06:02,779 {\an7}which is remarkable... 79 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:07,784 {\an7}...because when beetles \h\h\h\hfirst emerged, 80 00:06:07,826 --> 00:06:10,579 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hthe world was a very different place. 81 00:06:12,289 --> 00:06:17,294 {\an7}\h\hThere was only one single contiguous continent, Pangea, 82 00:06:17,335 --> 00:06:19,170 {\an7}and the climate was far hotter 83 00:06:19,212 --> 00:06:21,423 {\an7}and drier than it is today. 84 00:06:25,051 --> 00:06:27,470 {\an7}\hFlowering plants had yet to evolve, 85 00:06:27,512 --> 00:06:31,141 {\an7}so a single color dominated \h\h\h\h\hall plant life... 86 00:06:31,182 --> 00:06:34,477 {\an7}...green. 87 00:06:34,519 --> 00:06:39,566 {\an7}\hMassive horsetail trees and giant ferns covered the land. 88 00:06:41,985 --> 00:06:45,780 {\an7}There are still a few remnants \h\h\hfrom this long-past time. 89 00:06:45,822 --> 00:06:49,826 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hThe ginkgo tree is a living fossil from that era. 90 00:06:51,286 --> 00:06:54,414 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSince then, super volcano eruptions, 91 00:06:54,456 --> 00:06:58,043 {\an7}\hasteroid impacts, and other natural cataclysms 92 00:06:58,084 --> 00:07:02,338 {\an7}\h\h\h\hhave devastated life on the planet more than once. 93 00:07:02,380 --> 00:07:05,717 {\an7}But beetles have defied \h\h\h\hevery disaster. 94 00:07:05,759 --> 00:07:07,678 {\an7}And they didn’t just survive, 95 00:07:07,719 --> 00:07:10,764 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hthey thrived and went on to conquer 96 00:07:10,805 --> 00:07:13,516 {\an7}almost every habitat on Earth. 97 00:07:18,688 --> 00:07:20,023 {\an7}The success of beetles 98 00:07:20,065 --> 00:07:23,569 {\an7}has fascinated biologists \h\h\h\h\hfor centuries. 99 00:07:23,610 --> 00:07:27,739 {\an7}\hTheir collections capture the incredible diversity of beetles, 100 00:07:27,781 --> 00:07:30,867 {\an7}the largest order \hof all animals. 101 00:07:36,164 --> 00:07:37,624 {\an7}Nevertheless, 102 00:07:37,666 --> 00:07:41,378 {\an7}beetles don’t necessarily look \h\hlike evolutionary winners, 103 00:07:41,419 --> 00:07:46,007 {\an7}\hso what made such an awkward looking creature so successful? 104 00:07:47,968 --> 00:07:52,097 {\an7}The cockchafer, or May bug, \h\h\h\h\h\hholds the clue. 105 00:07:52,138 --> 00:07:55,350 {\an7}It’s like an early \hbeetle prototype. 106 00:07:55,392 --> 00:07:59,104 {\an7}Its body is more compact than most other insects, 107 00:07:59,145 --> 00:08:02,273 {\an7}\h\h\hwith a simple yet strong anatomy. 108 00:08:02,315 --> 00:08:05,485 {\an7}\h\h\h\hThe greatest asset is the shield covering the body, 109 00:08:05,527 --> 00:08:07,571 {\an7}which is fused with the back 110 00:08:07,612 --> 00:08:10,615 {\an7}\h\h\h\hand extends under the hardened front cover. 111 00:08:10,657 --> 00:08:12,784 {\an7}It’s a tough, rigid design 112 00:08:12,826 --> 00:08:15,662 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hthat protects the May bug’s inner organs. 113 00:08:15,704 --> 00:08:19,291 {\an7}\h\h\h\hIts suit of armor might make him ponderous, 114 00:08:19,332 --> 00:08:22,752 {\an7}but it turns the May bug \h\hinto a mini tank... 115 00:08:22,794 --> 00:08:26,006 {\an7}...a tank, that can fly. 116 00:08:26,047 --> 00:08:29,050 {\an7}Hard-shelled outer wings, \h\h\h\h\hcalled elytra, 117 00:08:29,092 --> 00:08:30,677 {\an7}unfold first. 118 00:08:30,719 --> 00:08:34,598 {\an7}\h\hThey protect a flexible second set of inner wings. 119 00:08:36,391 --> 00:08:37,475 {\an7}After take-off, 120 00:08:37,517 --> 00:08:40,228 {\an7}the stiff forewings \h\hgenerate lift, 121 00:08:40,270 --> 00:08:42,898 {\an7}helping the May bug \hto stay airborne, 122 00:08:42,939 --> 00:08:46,651 {\an7}while the flexible back wings \h\h\h\hact like propellers. 123 00:08:51,781 --> 00:08:53,074 {\an7}Thanks to its armor, 124 00:08:53,116 --> 00:08:56,161 {\an7}\h\h\h\han occasional crash - even from a great height - 125 00:08:56,202 --> 00:08:58,538 {\an7}doesn’t do any lasting damage. 126 00:09:02,625 --> 00:09:05,419 {\an7}The May bug simply folds up its wings, 127 00:09:05,462 --> 00:09:10,467 {\an7}\hlooks for another suitable launch pad, and tries again. 128 00:09:12,510 --> 00:09:17,724 {\an7}(♪) 129 00:09:19,225 --> 00:09:25,732 {\an7}(♪) 130 00:09:30,111 --> 00:09:33,865 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: \h\h\h\hThe evolution of the simple-yet-tough beetle body 131 00:09:33,907 --> 00:09:36,660 {\an7}opened up a host of opportunities, 132 00:09:36,701 --> 00:09:38,870 {\an7}and beetles were quick \h\h\hto take advantage 133 00:09:38,912 --> 00:09:42,374 {\an7}of any new ecological niche \h\h\h\h\h\h\hthat emerged. 134 00:09:42,415 --> 00:09:45,126 {\an7}They diversified rapidly, 135 00:09:45,168 --> 00:09:49,964 {\an7}\h\hcolonizing new habitats and exploiting unique food sources. 136 00:09:52,801 --> 00:09:55,679 {\an7}\h\hToday, beetles are the undisputed leaders 137 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:57,305 {\an7}of the animal kingdom, 138 00:09:57,347 --> 00:10:01,893 {\an7}constituting almost a quarter of all known animal species. 139 00:10:01,935 --> 00:10:06,106 {\an7}\h\h\h\hAbout 380,000 species have been described to date, 140 00:10:06,147 --> 00:10:09,776 {\an7}with hundreds of new ones \hdiscovered every year. 141 00:10:10,652 --> 00:10:15,073 {\an7}(♪) 142 00:10:15,115 --> 00:10:18,952 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: \hTheir diversity of color and form is so impressive, 143 00:10:18,993 --> 00:10:21,746 {\an7}\h\h\h\hit led Scottish evolutionary biologist 144 00:10:21,788 --> 00:10:23,873 {\an7}John Haldane to declare, 145 00:10:23,915 --> 00:10:27,669 {\an7}"God seems to have a special \h\h\h\hfondness for beetles. 146 00:10:27,710 --> 00:10:31,505 {\an7}They must surely be ’God’s Darlings’." 147 00:10:38,763 --> 00:10:41,683 {\an7}Their triumph began on land. 148 00:10:46,604 --> 00:10:50,983 {\an7}\hAnd for about a fifth of all European beetles, that means... 149 00:10:51,025 --> 00:10:53,444 {\an7}...trees. 150 00:10:53,486 --> 00:10:57,365 {\an7}One of them is a particularly \h\heye-catching specimen... 151 00:10:57,407 --> 00:10:59,367 {\an7}...the great capricorn beetle. 152 00:10:59,409 --> 00:11:02,704 {\an7}Its antennae are twice the length of its body, 153 00:11:02,745 --> 00:11:05,581 {\an7}though scientists \hdon’t know why. 154 00:11:08,418 --> 00:11:09,753 {\an7}The great capricorn beetle 155 00:11:09,794 --> 00:11:13,631 {\an7}selects one big healthy oak tree as its residence, 156 00:11:13,673 --> 00:11:15,884 {\an7}and stays on it for life. 157 00:11:15,925 --> 00:11:17,635 {\an7}Like the stag beetle, 158 00:11:17,677 --> 00:11:20,180 {\an7}it feeds on the tree’s sap. 159 00:11:20,221 --> 00:11:22,473 {\an7}\h\h\hIts offspring live under the bark, 160 00:11:22,515 --> 00:11:24,642 {\an7}feeding on the wood of the tree, 161 00:11:24,684 --> 00:11:26,561 {\an7}for up to five years. 162 00:11:30,982 --> 00:11:34,152 {\an7}Trees are the preferred habitat for many beetle species. 163 00:11:34,194 --> 00:11:36,822 {\an7}In an undisturbed European forest, 164 00:11:36,863 --> 00:11:41,993 {\an7}a single oak tree can be home to up to 650 beetle species. 165 00:11:46,748 --> 00:11:51,503 {\an7}Beetles have conquered virtually every corner of the world. 166 00:11:51,544 --> 00:11:54,213 {\an7}They call alpine regions \h\h\h\h\h\h\htheir home, 167 00:11:54,255 --> 00:11:57,341 {\an7}as well as dry deserts. 168 00:11:57,383 --> 00:12:01,095 {\an7}But they don’t limit themselves to living on land. 169 00:12:02,430 --> 00:12:05,350 {\an7}They have also conquered \h\h\hthe water world. 170 00:12:07,101 --> 00:12:12,565 {\an7}There are more than 3,000 known species of aquatic beetles, 171 00:12:12,607 --> 00:12:16,444 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hamong them the great diving beetle, 172 00:12:16,486 --> 00:12:18,613 {\an7}which lives in ponds and lakes 173 00:12:18,655 --> 00:12:20,907 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hthroughout the northern hemisphere. 174 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:24,077 {\an7}Besides a streamlined body, 175 00:12:24,118 --> 00:12:27,371 {\an7}its most obvious adaptation \h\h\h\hto underwater life 176 00:12:27,413 --> 00:12:29,415 {\an7}is a pair of feathered rear legs 177 00:12:29,457 --> 00:12:34,712 {\an7}that have evolved into oars and help it maneuver under water. 178 00:12:37,548 --> 00:12:38,924 {\an7}But without gills, 179 00:12:38,967 --> 00:12:41,887 {\an7}the great diving beetle \hcannot breathe water, 180 00:12:41,928 --> 00:12:44,889 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hand periodically has to come up to the surface 181 00:12:44,931 --> 00:12:46,891 {\an7}in order to take in air. 182 00:12:48,351 --> 00:12:51,062 {\an7}\h\h\hIt traps the air beneath its wing case, 183 00:12:51,104 --> 00:12:53,982 {\an7}which it uses like a scuba tank. 184 00:13:01,447 --> 00:13:05,493 {\an7}\h\h\h\hThis bubble of air allows it to stay submerged 185 00:13:05,535 --> 00:13:07,412 {\an7}for about 30 minutes. 186 00:13:16,462 --> 00:13:18,130 {\an7}Like an underwater wolf, 187 00:13:18,172 --> 00:13:21,425 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hit hunts sick and weak water dwellers, 188 00:13:21,467 --> 00:13:24,053 {\an7}and also eats carrion. 189 00:13:27,932 --> 00:13:31,894 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hIt has short but sharp mandibles... 190 00:13:31,936 --> 00:13:36,149 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h...and can inject digestive enzymes into its prey. 191 00:13:40,778 --> 00:13:42,405 {\an7}This monstrous looking creature 192 00:13:42,447 --> 00:13:45,951 {\an7}\h\h\h\his the larval form of the great diving beetle. 193 00:13:45,992 --> 00:13:47,911 {\an7}It’s a fast, agile swimmer 194 00:13:47,952 --> 00:13:51,372 {\an7}and also a voracious \hunderwater hunter, 195 00:13:51,414 --> 00:13:52,832 {\an7}but, like the adults, 196 00:13:52,874 --> 00:13:55,919 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hit must return to the surface to breathe. 197 00:13:59,881 --> 00:14:01,216 {\an7}In the spring, 198 00:14:01,257 --> 00:14:02,550 {\an7}its main food source 199 00:14:02,592 --> 00:14:04,177 {\an7}is tadpoles. 200 00:14:06,554 --> 00:14:09,974 {\an7}However, after millions \hof years of success, 201 00:14:10,016 --> 00:14:11,809 {\an7}these beetles are struggling. 202 00:14:11,851 --> 00:14:15,146 {\an7}Dwindling amphibian populations in Central Europe 203 00:14:15,188 --> 00:14:18,441 {\an7}\h\hmake life harder for the great diving beetles. 204 00:14:18,483 --> 00:14:21,653 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWith food in ever-shorter supply, 205 00:14:21,694 --> 00:14:24,488 {\an7}who knows how long they will survive. 206 00:14:25,990 --> 00:14:30,328 {\an7}(♪) 207 00:14:33,498 --> 00:14:36,835 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: \h\h\h\h\h\hWhile some beetles have evolved to become aquatic, 208 00:14:36,876 --> 00:14:39,712 {\an7}\h\hothers can tolerate the opposite extreme... 209 00:14:39,754 --> 00:14:42,215 {\an7}...arid, desert habitats, 210 00:14:42,256 --> 00:14:43,591 {\an7}where the sand can reach 211 00:14:43,633 --> 00:14:46,594 {\an7}120 degrees Fahrenheit \h\h\hduring the day. 212 00:14:50,181 --> 00:14:53,726 {\an7}Here, tiger beetles flit \hfrom shadow to shadow. 213 00:14:53,768 --> 00:14:56,938 {\an7}The fastest can reach speeds \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hof up to 214 00:14:56,979 --> 00:14:58,898 {\an7}five and a half miles per hour, 215 00:14:58,940 --> 00:15:03,820 {\an7}\hcovering 120 times the length of its body in a single second. 216 00:15:03,861 --> 00:15:06,739 {\an7}If a sprinter wanted to match the beetle, 217 00:15:06,781 --> 00:15:07,991 {\an7}they’d have to run 218 00:15:08,032 --> 00:15:11,327 {\an7}at 480 miles per hour. 219 00:15:13,454 --> 00:15:15,456 {\an7}The tiger beetle has sharp eyes 220 00:15:15,498 --> 00:15:18,710 {\an7}to spot the insects on which it preys. 221 00:15:20,753 --> 00:15:23,256 {\an7}But its incredible speed \h\h\h\hmeans the beetle 222 00:15:23,297 --> 00:15:26,383 {\an7}often can’t see its prey \h\hwhile it’s in motion. 223 00:15:26,426 --> 00:15:28,386 {\an7}To get a fix on its victim, 224 00:15:28,428 --> 00:15:30,931 {\an7}it must first come to a stop. 225 00:15:34,809 --> 00:15:41,149 {\an7}(♪) 226 00:15:47,822 --> 00:15:52,744 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: \hThe word "beetle" comes from the Old English word "bitula," 227 00:15:52,785 --> 00:15:55,037 {\an7}meaning "little biter." 228 00:15:55,079 --> 00:15:56,205 {\an7}Looking at this beetle, 229 00:15:56,247 --> 00:15:59,375 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hit becomes clear why they earned this name. 230 00:16:04,797 --> 00:16:08,843 {\an7}When hunting, the tiger beetle \h\h\h\his always on the move. 231 00:16:10,178 --> 00:16:12,597 {\an7}Its larva, on the other hand, 232 00:16:12,638 --> 00:16:15,307 {\an7}\hhas a completely different strategy. 233 00:16:15,349 --> 00:16:18,519 {\an7}It lurks in a burrow \h\hdug in the sand, 234 00:16:18,561 --> 00:16:21,105 {\an7}hiding from unsuspecting prey... 235 00:16:26,527 --> 00:16:30,156 {\an7}...ready to strike at anything \h\h\hthat ventures too close. 236 00:16:32,033 --> 00:16:38,456 {\an7}(♪) 237 00:16:38,498 --> 00:16:40,458 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: Only if they’ve eaten recently 238 00:16:40,500 --> 00:16:42,794 {\an7}\hdo they withdraw into their burrows 239 00:16:42,835 --> 00:16:45,880 {\an7}and pose no threat \hto any passerby. 240 00:16:50,176 --> 00:16:52,762 {\an7}But, if they are hungry, 241 00:16:52,803 --> 00:16:55,889 {\an7}they are ready to strike \hwith incredible speed. 242 00:17:01,896 --> 00:17:03,981 {\an7}This ant is lucky; 243 00:17:04,023 --> 00:17:06,317 {\an7}the larva misjudged its strike 244 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:10,488 {\an7}\h\h\hand unintentionally propelled it into safety. 245 00:17:10,530 --> 00:17:14,200 {\an7}But usually the larvae succeed \h\hin snatching their victims 246 00:17:14,242 --> 00:17:18,037 {\an7}from the surface and dragging \h\hthem into their lairs... 247 00:17:21,707 --> 00:17:27,046 {\an7}(♪) 248 00:17:28,339 --> 00:17:29,799 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: ...where they kill them 249 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:32,051 {\an7}with their powerful mandibles 250 00:17:32,093 --> 00:17:34,095 {\an7}and suck them dry. 251 00:17:38,182 --> 00:17:43,771 {\an7}(♪) 252 00:17:47,149 --> 00:17:48,942 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: Over millions of years, 253 00:17:48,985 --> 00:17:52,864 {\an7}the animal kingdom has produced a huge variety of predators, 254 00:17:52,905 --> 00:17:55,825 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hand beetles have their fair share of hunters. 255 00:17:55,866 --> 00:17:59,536 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOne of them is easily recognizable... 256 00:17:59,579 --> 00:18:03,666 {\an7}...the seven-spot European ladybug. 257 00:18:03,708 --> 00:18:06,669 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hIt can eat up to 50 aphids a day. 258 00:18:06,711 --> 00:18:09,005 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hIn the Middle Ages, it was thought the little bug 259 00:18:09,046 --> 00:18:12,466 {\an7}\h\h\h\hwas on a mission from "Our Lady," the Virgin Mary, 260 00:18:12,508 --> 00:18:16,095 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hto destroy pests that plagued the farmer’s crops. 261 00:18:16,137 --> 00:18:17,430 {\an7}Hence the name... 262 00:18:17,471 --> 00:18:19,139 {\an7}...ladybug. 263 00:18:21,475 --> 00:18:23,185 {\an7}Despite their chaste namesake, 264 00:18:23,227 --> 00:18:27,064 {\an7}adult ladybugs pursue only two activities: 265 00:18:27,106 --> 00:18:29,900 {\an7}hunting and procreating. 266 00:18:34,030 --> 00:18:37,659 {\an7}There are more than 6,000 different ladybug species 267 00:18:37,700 --> 00:18:39,327 {\an7}around the world. 268 00:18:39,368 --> 00:18:42,037 {\an7}\hThe Asian ladybug is a close relative, 269 00:18:42,079 --> 00:18:45,916 {\an7}distinguished by the white and black shield behind its head. 270 00:18:45,958 --> 00:18:48,794 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hIt’s an even more proficient hunter. 271 00:18:50,671 --> 00:18:55,801 {\an7}It can chomp through up to 250 aphids in a single day. 272 00:19:04,727 --> 00:19:08,898 {\an7}\hSuch killing efficiency led to it being exported from Asia 273 00:19:08,939 --> 00:19:10,774 {\an7}to Europe and North America 274 00:19:10,816 --> 00:19:14,528 {\an7}as a biological pest control \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hin the 1990s. 275 00:19:17,490 --> 00:19:20,785 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hUnfortunately, the Asian ladybug turned out 276 00:19:20,826 --> 00:19:23,996 {\an7}to be a hyper-efficient \h\h\hbreeder as well, 277 00:19:24,038 --> 00:19:28,376 {\an7}producing up to 3,500 \hoffspring a year... 278 00:19:30,711 --> 00:19:34,006 {\an7}\h\h\h...eight times more than its European cousin. 279 00:19:37,176 --> 00:19:39,136 {\an7}With no natural predators, 280 00:19:39,178 --> 00:19:41,931 {\an7}its population has skyrocketed. 281 00:19:48,270 --> 00:19:51,190 {\an7}Both species usually coexist peacefully, 282 00:19:51,232 --> 00:19:54,527 {\an7}but, if the aphid population falls, 283 00:19:54,568 --> 00:19:58,238 {\an7}the larvae of the Asian Ladybug often satisfies 284 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:01,784 {\an7}\hits voracious appetite a little closer to home. 285 00:20:06,247 --> 00:20:08,249 {\an7}It turns cannibalistic 286 00:20:08,290 --> 00:20:12,419 {\an7}and eats the eggs and larvae \h\h\hof its European cousin. 287 00:20:18,426 --> 00:20:21,888 {\an7}\hOnly a few decades after its introduction from Asia, 288 00:20:21,929 --> 00:20:24,140 {\an7}it’s become a pest itself, 289 00:20:24,181 --> 00:20:26,183 {\an7}though in evolutionary terms, 290 00:20:26,225 --> 00:20:29,520 {\an7}\h\h\hit’s simply fitter than the native species. 291 00:20:31,772 --> 00:20:38,279 {\an7}(♪) 292 00:20:40,740 --> 00:20:45,870 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: Beetles are world champions in exploiting every food resource 293 00:20:45,911 --> 00:20:48,956 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hand using every environmental niche available. 294 00:20:53,544 --> 00:20:57,757 {\an7}The floor of a temperate forest is a very diverse ecosystem, 295 00:20:57,798 --> 00:21:01,302 {\an7}\hfilled with life and possibilities. 296 00:21:01,343 --> 00:21:05,681 {\an7}\h\h\h\hOne family of beetles has adapted to it completely. 297 00:21:07,308 --> 00:21:08,851 {\an7}In the course of evolution, 298 00:21:08,893 --> 00:21:09,977 {\an7}the Golden Ground Beetle 299 00:21:10,019 --> 00:21:12,438 {\an7}has lost its ability to fly. 300 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:15,191 {\an7}But, while its locomotion \h\h\h\h\h\h\his limited, 301 00:21:15,232 --> 00:21:17,526 {\an7}its diet is broad. 302 00:21:17,568 --> 00:21:22,907 {\an7}It lives on fungi and carrion \h\hand even small animals... 303 00:21:22,948 --> 00:21:24,366 {\an7}...like snails. 304 00:21:36,420 --> 00:21:41,425 {\an7}Snails make a highly nutritious - albeit slimy - meal, 305 00:21:41,467 --> 00:21:46,180 {\an7}but first you have to get \h\h\h\hpast that shell. 306 00:22:02,696 --> 00:22:06,366 {\an7}\h\hThe snail is too slow to escape most predators, 307 00:22:06,408 --> 00:22:09,369 {\an7}but it has a secret weapon.... 308 00:22:11,205 --> 00:22:17,169 {\an7}(♪) 309 00:22:18,879 --> 00:22:23,008 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: ...it secretes a thick, \h\hfoul-tasting mucus. 310 00:22:31,392 --> 00:22:33,644 {\an7}To reach the snail’s flesh, 311 00:22:33,686 --> 00:22:34,854 {\an7}the Golden Ground Beetle 312 00:22:34,895 --> 00:22:36,522 {\an7}must try to fight its way 313 00:22:36,564 --> 00:22:38,024 {\an7}through the goop. 314 00:22:44,405 --> 00:22:48,659 {\an7}\h\h\h\hThe mucus soon covers its face and clogs its mouth, 315 00:22:48,701 --> 00:22:52,580 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hmaking attack a rather sticky situation. 316 00:22:56,500 --> 00:22:59,628 {\an7}It’s enough to deter \h\h\hthis predator. 317 00:23:03,507 --> 00:23:08,262 {\an7}The beetle gives up and resorts to cleaning itself up instead. 318 00:23:11,682 --> 00:23:14,602 {\an7}A clogged mouth is bad enough... 319 00:23:20,649 --> 00:23:21,775 {\an7}...but the antennae 320 00:23:21,817 --> 00:23:23,110 {\an7}are the most important 321 00:23:23,152 --> 00:23:25,571 {\an7}sensory organs for beetles. 322 00:23:25,613 --> 00:23:29,325 {\an7}\hIt must clean them before the mucus dries and hardens, 323 00:23:29,366 --> 00:23:33,078 {\an7}otherwise it will lose its ability to smell, 324 00:23:33,120 --> 00:23:35,873 {\an7}\h\h\hand that would be a death sentence. 325 00:23:38,042 --> 00:23:41,295 {\an7}\h\h\h\hThe snail lives to fight another day... 326 00:23:41,337 --> 00:23:43,047 {\an7}...but not for long. 327 00:23:43,881 --> 00:23:45,299 {\an7}This beetle, 328 00:23:45,341 --> 00:23:47,343 {\an7}the Black Snail Hunter, 329 00:23:47,384 --> 00:23:51,013 {\an7}\h\h\h\hcould be seen as the snail’s arch nemesis. 330 00:23:53,849 --> 00:23:58,270 {\an7}(♪) 331 00:24:00,481 --> 00:24:04,568 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: The slime trick is useless \h\hagainst this predator. 332 00:24:04,610 --> 00:24:07,571 {\an7}Its jaws are lined \h\hwith brushes, 333 00:24:07,613 --> 00:24:11,283 {\an7}perfectly adapted to deal \hwith the sticky mess... 334 00:24:11,325 --> 00:24:15,538 {\an7}\h\h...and it seems to like the taste. 335 00:24:15,579 --> 00:24:19,208 {\an7}Once the beetle has finished \h\hits slimy hors d’oeuvres, 336 00:24:19,249 --> 00:24:23,128 {\an7}\h\h\hit will crawl into the shell for the entrée. 337 00:24:27,091 --> 00:24:32,388 {\an7}(♪) 338 00:24:32,429 --> 00:24:35,974 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: \h\h\h\h\h\hBeetles might be the most successful insects, 339 00:24:36,016 --> 00:24:39,394 {\an7}but they’re not invincible. 340 00:24:39,436 --> 00:24:40,896 {\an7}In a split second, 341 00:24:40,938 --> 00:24:43,607 {\an7}hunters can become the hunted. 342 00:24:43,649 --> 00:24:47,570 {\an7}Beetles are readily available \h\h\hand highly nutritious. 343 00:24:50,781 --> 00:24:53,867 {\an7}\h\h\h\hThey’re an important food source for many animals, 344 00:24:53,909 --> 00:24:57,121 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hsuch as the Great spotted woodpecker. 345 00:24:57,162 --> 00:24:58,455 {\an7}Like many animals, 346 00:24:58,497 --> 00:25:02,376 {\an7}it preys on both the beetles \h\h\h\h\hand their larvae. 347 00:25:03,210 --> 00:25:07,381 {\an7}(♪) 348 00:25:07,423 --> 00:25:09,216 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: While forests may present 349 00:25:09,258 --> 00:25:11,761 {\an7}a wealth of food sources \h\h\h\h\h\hfor beetles, 350 00:25:11,802 --> 00:25:15,306 {\an7}\h\hthey also present a wealth of enemies. 351 00:25:18,684 --> 00:25:20,519 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTo survive, beetles have developed 352 00:25:20,561 --> 00:25:22,688 {\an7}a diversity of strategies. 353 00:25:26,525 --> 00:25:29,862 {\an7}Flying is usually the safest option. 354 00:25:37,745 --> 00:25:40,289 {\an7}But for a small creature \h\h\h\h\hlike a beetle, 355 00:25:40,330 --> 00:25:42,791 {\an7}hiding is a natural alternative. 356 00:25:45,878 --> 00:25:50,007 {\an7}(♪) 357 00:25:53,844 --> 00:25:55,971 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: But one beetle has developed 358 00:25:56,013 --> 00:25:59,266 {\an7}a very extraordinary trick \h\h\hto escape predators, 359 00:25:59,308 --> 00:26:03,270 {\an7}\h\h\heven when they fall directly into harm’s way. 360 00:26:04,980 --> 00:26:11,445 {\an7}(♪) 361 00:26:30,089 --> 00:26:36,053 {\an7}(♪) 362 00:26:39,056 --> 00:26:42,476 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: \h\h\hA beetle on its back is a quintessential victim, 363 00:26:42,518 --> 00:26:44,562 {\an7}utterly helpless... 364 00:26:44,603 --> 00:26:46,688 {\an7}...or so it seems. 365 00:26:54,113 --> 00:26:56,657 {\an7}Without the help of legs or wings, 366 00:26:56,698 --> 00:26:59,534 {\an7}\h\hthe click beetle can fly into the air, 367 00:26:59,576 --> 00:27:01,870 {\an7}as if shot from a catapult. 368 00:27:04,873 --> 00:27:06,249 {\an7}It stores energy 369 00:27:06,291 --> 00:27:09,336 {\an7}in a special spring mechanism \h\h\h\h\h\hinside its body. 370 00:27:09,378 --> 00:27:10,838 {\an7}When released, 371 00:27:10,879 --> 00:27:13,548 {\an7}it launches the beetle skyward. 372 00:27:17,845 --> 00:27:20,806 {\an7}\h\h\hThis stunning trick allows it to hurl itself 373 00:27:20,848 --> 00:27:23,684 {\an7}\h\hup to twenty times its own body length... 374 00:27:25,060 --> 00:27:27,688 {\an7}...and out of immediate danger. 375 00:27:27,729 --> 00:27:31,233 {\an7}Nature has had almost \h\h240 million years 376 00:27:31,275 --> 00:27:34,028 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hto work on beetles’ defense strategies, 377 00:27:34,069 --> 00:27:36,863 {\an7}\hand it’s come up with a real zinger. 378 00:27:38,699 --> 00:27:40,409 {\an7}For a convincing deterrent, 379 00:27:40,450 --> 00:27:44,579 {\an7}\h\hthere’s perhaps no better example of nature’s ingenuity 380 00:27:44,621 --> 00:27:46,915 {\an7}than the Bombardier beetle. 381 00:27:46,957 --> 00:27:49,751 {\an7}These little things might look harmless, 382 00:27:49,793 --> 00:27:52,546 {\an7}\h\h\hbut they should be approached with caution. 383 00:27:53,881 --> 00:27:56,967 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA colony of ants needs huge amounts of protein, 384 00:27:57,009 --> 00:28:01,263 {\an7}\husually covered by preying on small spiders or insects. 385 00:28:01,305 --> 00:28:04,016 {\an7}A beetle of less than \h\h\h\hhalf an inch 386 00:28:04,057 --> 00:28:07,519 {\an7}is usually overwhelmed \h\h\h\h\hwith ease... 387 00:28:07,561 --> 00:28:09,813 {\an7}...but not the Bombardier. 388 00:28:15,986 --> 00:28:19,490 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWhen attacked, it emits a corrosive, hot gas, 389 00:28:19,531 --> 00:28:23,076 {\an7}up to 210 degrees Fahrenheit. 390 00:28:23,118 --> 00:28:25,954 {\an7}\hThe gas may not kill the attacker, 391 00:28:25,996 --> 00:28:28,373 {\an7}but it certainly drives it away. 392 00:28:28,415 --> 00:28:30,876 {\an7}It’s not intended that way, 393 00:28:30,918 --> 00:28:34,296 {\an7}\h\h\hbut it gives the ant an opportunity to learn... 394 00:28:35,047 --> 00:28:37,216 {\an7}...and adapt. 395 00:28:37,257 --> 00:28:40,177 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hIt won’t make the same mistake again. 396 00:28:40,219 --> 00:28:44,473 {\an7}\h\h\h\hBut such weapons don’t always win the day. 397 00:28:44,514 --> 00:28:48,309 {\an7}\hAgainst a predator the size of a toad... 398 00:28:48,352 --> 00:28:52,022 {\an7}...even the Bombardier \h\h\h\h\his helpless. 399 00:29:00,614 --> 00:29:07,121 {\an7}(♪) 400 00:29:09,998 --> 00:29:12,209 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: Nature has equipped beetles 401 00:29:12,251 --> 00:29:14,462 {\an7}with a whole arsenal \h\h\hof chemicals: 402 00:29:14,503 --> 00:29:16,088 {\an7}some for defense, 403 00:29:16,129 --> 00:29:18,173 {\an7}some for digesting food, 404 00:29:18,215 --> 00:29:21,677 {\an7}and others for reproduction. 405 00:29:21,718 --> 00:29:27,599 {\an7}\h\hThis beetle uses a chemical reaction to lure in its lovers. 406 00:29:27,641 --> 00:29:30,769 {\an7}Lacking wings and with multiple body segments, 407 00:29:30,811 --> 00:29:32,354 {\an7}this female firefly, 408 00:29:32,396 --> 00:29:33,689 {\an7}or lightning bug, 409 00:29:33,730 --> 00:29:34,981 {\an7}looks more like a centipede 410 00:29:35,023 --> 00:29:37,025 {\an7}than a beetle. 411 00:29:37,067 --> 00:29:38,527 {\an7}But luckily for her, 412 00:29:38,568 --> 00:29:39,652 {\an7}it’s not her appearance 413 00:29:39,695 --> 00:29:41,739 {\an7}that will attract a mate. 414 00:29:44,658 --> 00:29:51,165 {\an7}(♪) 415 00:29:57,796 --> 00:29:59,589 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: On warm summer evenings, 416 00:29:59,631 --> 00:30:01,007 {\an7}when the sun sets, 417 00:30:01,049 --> 00:30:02,634 {\an7}fireflies show off 418 00:30:02,676 --> 00:30:04,636 {\an7}their chemical attractant. 419 00:30:06,555 --> 00:30:13,270 {\an7}(♪) 420 00:30:13,312 --> 00:30:16,065 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: \h\h\hFireflies have a special light organ 421 00:30:16,106 --> 00:30:18,233 {\an7}located in the lower abdomen. 422 00:30:18,275 --> 00:30:21,487 {\an7}The glow it emits has \ha single purpose... 423 00:30:21,528 --> 00:30:23,947 {\an7}...sex. 424 00:30:23,989 --> 00:30:28,911 {\an7}As night falls, the males swarm in the air and light it up. 425 00:30:32,581 --> 00:30:34,500 {\an7}Waiting on the ground, 426 00:30:34,541 --> 00:30:38,420 {\an7}\h\h\h\hthe females respond with their own sexual glow. 427 00:30:40,714 --> 00:30:42,507 {\an7}The light is energy released 428 00:30:42,549 --> 00:30:45,552 {\an7}\h\hby a complicated biochemical reaction. 429 00:30:45,594 --> 00:30:49,515 {\an7}\h\hBut instead of dispelling most of this energy as heat, 430 00:30:49,556 --> 00:30:54,186 {\an7}\hthe fireflies turn 95% of it into light. 431 00:30:54,227 --> 00:30:58,356 {\an7}\h\hThis also ensures they don’t get burned. 432 00:30:59,274 --> 00:31:03,528 {\an7}(birds sing) 433 00:31:05,155 --> 00:31:08,492 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: By day, the male reveals itself 434 00:31:08,533 --> 00:31:11,161 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hto be small and rather unimpressive, 435 00:31:11,203 --> 00:31:13,414 {\an7}although, unlike the female, 436 00:31:13,455 --> 00:31:16,124 {\an7}\hhe at least looks more like a beetle. 437 00:31:22,547 --> 00:31:25,800 {\an7}During their brief adult life of only a few days, 438 00:31:25,842 --> 00:31:30,096 {\an7}\h\h\h\hfireflies never eat; they’re too busy procreating. 439 00:31:30,138 --> 00:31:34,601 {\an7}The male isn’t much more than a vessel of semen on six legs. 440 00:31:34,643 --> 00:31:38,438 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hThe female, a tube filled with eggs. 441 00:31:49,574 --> 00:31:52,327 {\an7}Mating takes place \h\hon the ground. 442 00:31:57,666 --> 00:31:59,459 {\an7}Once it’s finished, 443 00:31:59,501 --> 00:32:02,796 {\an7}the partners separate for good. 444 00:32:02,838 --> 00:32:06,133 {\an7}The male has fulfilled \hhis only goal in life 445 00:32:06,174 --> 00:32:08,635 {\an7}and will die in about 10 days. 446 00:32:11,263 --> 00:32:14,308 {\an7}The female turns off \hher light forever 447 00:32:14,349 --> 00:32:17,811 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hand goes looking for a place to lay her eggs. 448 00:32:19,354 --> 00:32:21,690 {\an7}Once that task is complete, 449 00:32:21,731 --> 00:32:24,067 {\an7}she too will die. 450 00:32:25,819 --> 00:32:27,404 {\an7}A few weeks later, 451 00:32:27,446 --> 00:32:30,532 {\an7}larvae will emerge \hfrom the eggs... 452 00:32:30,574 --> 00:32:34,661 {\an7}...but it will take three years for them to reach maturity 453 00:32:34,703 --> 00:32:38,999 {\an7}and join the magical light show that illuminates summer nights. 454 00:32:43,086 --> 00:32:49,593 {\an7}(♪) 455 00:32:53,597 --> 00:32:55,474 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: Beetles’ reproductive behaviors 456 00:32:55,515 --> 00:32:58,810 {\an7}are as varied and complex \h\h\h\has their diets... 457 00:32:58,852 --> 00:33:01,438 {\an7}\h\h\h...another reason they’re so successful. 458 00:33:02,647 --> 00:33:04,858 {\an7}140 million years ago, 459 00:33:04,900 --> 00:33:07,820 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hthe emergence of the first flowering plants 460 00:33:07,861 --> 00:33:11,782 {\an7}offered creatures on land \hbrand new food sources. 461 00:33:11,823 --> 00:33:15,994 {\an7}It triggered an explosion \hin new beetle species. 462 00:33:19,956 --> 00:33:23,626 {\an7}As beetles developed a taste \h\h\hfor nectar and pollen, 463 00:33:23,668 --> 00:33:25,795 {\an7}they also pollinated the plants, 464 00:33:25,837 --> 00:33:29,257 {\an7}playing a crucial role \h\hin their evolution. 465 00:33:30,926 --> 00:33:33,595 {\an7}\h\hGrazing animals like sheep and goats 466 00:33:33,637 --> 00:33:37,099 {\an7}actually open up vegetation \h\h\hclose to the ground, 467 00:33:37,140 --> 00:33:40,018 {\an7}allowing wildflowers to grow. 468 00:33:42,354 --> 00:33:46,984 {\an7}\h\h\hThis Dorbeetle follows grazing herbivores around... 469 00:33:47,025 --> 00:33:50,695 {\an7}...but it isn’t interested \h\h\hin nectar or pollen. 470 00:33:52,197 --> 00:33:55,450 {\an7}And it also doesn’t prey \h\h\h\hon other insects. 471 00:33:57,285 --> 00:33:59,996 {\an7}\h\h\hIt’s interested in just one thing... 472 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:03,708 {\an7}...poop. 473 00:34:09,089 --> 00:34:13,135 {\an7}There’s nothing like the smell \hof fresh dung to a Dorbeetle. 474 00:34:13,176 --> 00:34:15,679 {\an7}\hAnd thanks to its keen sense of smell, 475 00:34:15,720 --> 00:34:19,224 {\an7}Dorbeetles find fresh dung within minutes. 476 00:34:22,185 --> 00:34:23,645 {\an7}The fresher the dung, 477 00:34:23,687 --> 00:34:26,565 {\an7}\h\h\hthe more beetles will come to the feast. 478 00:34:30,235 --> 00:34:35,073 {\an7}\hThere are about 7,000 species of dung beetle around the world. 479 00:34:37,284 --> 00:34:41,038 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTo them, manure is a nutrient-rich food source, 480 00:34:41,079 --> 00:34:44,874 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hfor themselves, as well as their offspring. 481 00:34:48,461 --> 00:34:51,172 {\an7}But putting your offspring \h\h\h\h\hin a heap of dung 482 00:34:51,214 --> 00:34:52,632 {\an7}with many other beetles 483 00:34:52,674 --> 00:34:55,260 {\an7}\hmeans they’ll have a lot of competition. 484 00:34:59,097 --> 00:35:02,017 {\an7}Some dung beetle species have solved this problem 485 00:35:02,058 --> 00:35:04,143 {\an7}in a very peculiar way. 486 00:35:07,314 --> 00:35:11,360 {\an7}The Sisyphus dung beetle has \hshort, powerful front legs, 487 00:35:11,401 --> 00:35:14,154 {\an7}\h\h\hthat function like a pair of carving knives 488 00:35:14,195 --> 00:35:15,822 {\an7}to divide the manure. 489 00:35:18,533 --> 00:35:20,618 {\an7}Its hind legs, however, \h\h\h\h\hhave adapted 490 00:35:20,660 --> 00:35:23,079 {\an7}\hto a completely different task... 491 00:35:23,121 --> 00:35:28,126 {\an7}...it uses them to roll a ball \h\h\hof manure away backwards. 492 00:35:29,294 --> 00:35:35,801 {\an7}(♪) 493 00:35:43,558 --> 00:35:46,102 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: Immensely powerful for its size, 494 00:35:46,144 --> 00:35:49,022 {\an7}the Sisyphus dung beetle can maneuver dung balls 495 00:35:49,064 --> 00:35:51,483 {\an7}up to ten times its own weight, 496 00:35:51,524 --> 00:35:53,860 {\an7}over rough and steep terrain. 497 00:35:55,278 --> 00:35:59,699 {\an7}It pushes and pulls its cargo \h\h\h\h\h\h\halmost 30 feet 498 00:35:59,741 --> 00:36:01,243 {\an7}to its burrow, 499 00:36:01,284 --> 00:36:03,036 {\an7}an epic distance for a creature 500 00:36:03,078 --> 00:36:05,497 {\an7}about half an inch long. 501 00:36:07,582 --> 00:36:11,419 {\an7}\h\h\h\hEven when it runs into what seems to be a dead end... 502 00:36:11,461 --> 00:36:13,421 {\an7}...it doesn’t give up. 503 00:36:15,507 --> 00:36:18,677 {\an7}\h\hThat’s how it earned its Latin name, Sisyphus, 504 00:36:18,718 --> 00:36:22,597 {\an7}\h\hafter the Greek hero who was charged with the impossible task 505 00:36:22,639 --> 00:36:25,100 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hof pushing an immense boulder up a hill, 506 00:36:25,141 --> 00:36:29,354 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\honly to watch it repeatedly roll back down. 507 00:36:32,148 --> 00:36:36,277 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hBut in this case, help arrives just in time. 508 00:36:36,319 --> 00:36:39,614 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hMating pairs of Sisyphus beetles cooperate 509 00:36:39,656 --> 00:36:43,034 {\an7}to bring home the daily dung. 510 00:36:43,076 --> 00:36:46,121 {\an7}\h\h\h\hSpreading dung over large areas and underground 511 00:36:46,162 --> 00:36:49,749 {\an7}\hprovides another crucial service... 512 00:36:49,791 --> 00:36:51,751 {\an7}...fertilizing the soil. 513 00:36:51,793 --> 00:36:53,753 {\an7}Without dung-eating beetles, 514 00:36:53,795 --> 00:36:57,757 {\an7}\h\hthe land would eventually suffocate under animal waste. 515 00:36:59,718 --> 00:37:00,969 {\an7}Home at last, 516 00:37:01,010 --> 00:37:02,303 {\an7}the Sisyphus dung beetle 517 00:37:02,345 --> 00:37:05,723 {\an7}\hstores the precious dung in its underground pantry, 518 00:37:05,765 --> 00:37:08,184 {\an7}ensuring that the next \hgeneration of beetles 519 00:37:08,226 --> 00:37:10,437 {\an7}will grow up well-nourished. 520 00:37:11,563 --> 00:37:18,028 {\an7}(♪) 521 00:37:23,199 --> 00:37:27,662 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: \h\h\hMany beetle species perform essential tasks to the ecosystem 522 00:37:27,704 --> 00:37:29,915 {\an7}and, while the Sisyphus beetle \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hseems like 523 00:37:29,956 --> 00:37:32,876 {\an7}it’s taken waste treatment \h\h\h\h\h\hto the extreme, 524 00:37:32,917 --> 00:37:36,546 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hthere may be an even more extreme case. 525 00:37:38,214 --> 00:37:43,928 {\an7}(birds sing) 526 00:37:49,601 --> 00:37:53,814 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: \h\h\h\h\h\hOne beetle species in European forests performs a task 527 00:37:53,855 --> 00:37:58,568 {\an7}\h\hjust as essential, though far more grisly. 528 00:38:05,867 --> 00:38:08,912 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDung is only one kind of animal remains 529 00:38:08,953 --> 00:38:11,581 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hthat needs to be dealt with in nature. 530 00:38:15,376 --> 00:38:19,171 {\an7}A dead yellow-necked mouse lies on the forest floor... 531 00:38:19,214 --> 00:38:23,635 {\an7}\h\h\h...an easy meal for many potential scavengers. 532 00:38:23,676 --> 00:38:25,845 {\an7}It’s a race between flies, 533 00:38:25,887 --> 00:38:27,847 {\an7}foxes, badgers, 534 00:38:27,889 --> 00:38:29,808 {\an7}and something else... 535 00:38:36,147 --> 00:38:39,067 {\an7}A spooky spectacle begins. 536 00:38:40,443 --> 00:38:42,654 {\an7}As if by magic, 537 00:38:42,695 --> 00:38:45,281 {\an7}the dead mouse begins to move. 538 00:38:46,574 --> 00:38:49,702 {\an7}Something is stirring. 539 00:38:55,667 --> 00:39:02,382 {\an7}(♪) 540 00:39:16,771 --> 00:39:23,236 {\an7}(♪) 541 00:39:37,834 --> 00:39:39,210 {\an7}\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: Little by little, 542 00:39:39,252 --> 00:39:42,213 {\an7}the mouse is sucked \h\hinto the soil. 543 00:39:47,427 --> 00:39:52,974 {\an7}\h\h\hUp to 6 hours later, it will vanish completely. 544 00:40:01,399 --> 00:40:05,069 {\an7}The burying beetle is nature’s \h\h\hundertaker and embalmer. 545 00:40:05,111 --> 00:40:09,032 {\an7}\h\h\hPreserving the body with antibacterial saliva, 546 00:40:09,073 --> 00:40:13,035 {\an7}\hit buries the carcasses of small mammals and birds 547 00:40:13,077 --> 00:40:15,788 {\an7}to use as food for its larvae. 548 00:40:24,756 --> 00:40:28,134 {\an7}\hThis tiny beetle can bury an animal 549 00:40:28,176 --> 00:40:31,721 {\an7}150 times its own size, 550 00:40:31,763 --> 00:40:34,641 {\an7}\h\hdigging a hole beneath the corpse 551 00:40:34,682 --> 00:40:37,977 {\an7}\hso that it gradually sinks into the ground. 552 00:40:44,025 --> 00:40:47,695 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hBut the mouse isn’t a meal for himself. 553 00:40:47,737 --> 00:40:51,616 {\an7}It’s an engagement present \h\h\hfor his future mate. 554 00:40:53,826 --> 00:41:00,541 {\an7}(♪) 555 00:41:04,462 --> 00:41:06,422 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: He stops to excrete pheromones 556 00:41:06,464 --> 00:41:11,469 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hto attract a female to lay eggs in the mouse’s body. 557 00:41:17,058 --> 00:41:19,644 {\an7}He then finishes the burial, 558 00:41:19,686 --> 00:41:22,981 {\an7}\h\hkeeping the carcass safe from carrion flies, 559 00:41:23,022 --> 00:41:25,775 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hwhose maggots would devour the flesh. 560 00:41:34,158 --> 00:41:36,077 {\an7}Once the burial is complete, 561 00:41:36,119 --> 00:41:39,414 {\an7}\h\h\h\hthe burying beetle will strip the mouse’s fur 562 00:41:39,455 --> 00:41:42,583 {\an7}and form a "meat ball" \h\hfor his offspring. 563 00:41:49,132 --> 00:41:55,639 {\an7}(♪) 564 00:42:12,905 --> 00:42:16,283 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: If a female doesn’t respond \h\h\h\hto his pheromones, 565 00:42:16,409 --> 00:42:19,704 {\an7}\hthe beetle’s efforts will have been in vain. 566 00:42:19,912 --> 00:42:22,123 {\an7}\h\hThe sole purpose of burying the mouse 567 00:42:22,331 --> 00:42:24,625 {\an7}is to provide food \hfor their larvae. 568 00:42:24,667 --> 00:42:28,254 {\an7}\h\h\hAdult beetles feed mainly on other insects, 569 00:42:28,379 --> 00:42:33,009 {\an7}so if he gets no female callers, he will abandon his prize. 570 00:42:36,095 --> 00:42:39,015 {\an7}This extraordinary behavior \h\h\h\h\h\h\his an example 571 00:42:39,057 --> 00:42:40,976 {\an7}of how beetles have evolved 572 00:42:41,017 --> 00:42:45,605 {\an7}to exploit every conceivable food source nature can offer. 573 00:42:52,195 --> 00:42:58,702 {\an7}(♪) 574 00:43:00,578 --> 00:43:03,998 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNARRATOR: Adaptability is a great part \h\hof the beetles’ success, 575 00:43:04,040 --> 00:43:09,003 {\an7}but one of its greatest secrets is often hidden from the world. 576 00:43:12,799 --> 00:43:15,844 {\an7}Every beetle begins its life \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\has a larva, 577 00:43:15,885 --> 00:43:18,554 {\an7}and many beetles spend \hmost of their lives, 578 00:43:18,596 --> 00:43:19,889 {\an7}sometimes years, 579 00:43:19,931 --> 00:43:23,560 {\an7}as larvae, often living in underground chambers 580 00:43:23,601 --> 00:43:25,895 {\an7}or in damp, decaying wood. 581 00:43:34,195 --> 00:43:36,906 {\an7}What may only look like a plump maggot 582 00:43:36,948 --> 00:43:39,451 {\an7}\h\his actually part of a very successful 583 00:43:39,492 --> 00:43:41,536 {\an7}evolutionary strategy. 584 00:43:43,996 --> 00:43:47,500 {\an7}Beetle larvae are typically \h\hfat "eating machines." 585 00:43:47,542 --> 00:43:49,669 {\an7}\h\h\h\hAs they grow, they shed their skin 586 00:43:49,710 --> 00:43:54,298 {\an7}several times before eventually emerging as adult beetles. 587 00:43:55,758 --> 00:43:58,261 {\an7}Before they can do that, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hhowever, 588 00:43:58,302 --> 00:44:01,847 {\an7}\h\h\hthey must undergo one of the most fascinating processes 589 00:44:01,889 --> 00:44:03,349 {\an7}in nature... 590 00:44:03,391 --> 00:44:05,226 {\an7}...metamorphosis. 591 00:44:11,899 --> 00:44:14,485 {\an7}The larva wriggles \has it transforms 592 00:44:14,527 --> 00:44:16,696 {\an7}into an immobile pupa... 593 00:44:18,322 --> 00:44:23,118 {\an7}\h\h...as rigid as a mummy in its underground chamber. 594 00:44:23,161 --> 00:44:25,246 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hThis larva of a male stag beetle 595 00:44:25,288 --> 00:44:28,666 {\an7}has spent around eight years in its underground nursery, 596 00:44:28,708 --> 00:44:32,128 {\an7}before entering metamorphosis \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hin the fall. 597 00:44:32,170 --> 00:44:33,755 {\an7}Over the course of two months, 598 00:44:33,796 --> 00:44:38,384 {\an7}\hthe pupa undergoes a full reconstruction of its body. 599 00:44:39,427 --> 00:44:40,803 {\an7}In the spring, 600 00:44:40,845 --> 00:44:43,890 {\an7}it finally sheds its corset... 601 00:44:43,931 --> 00:44:46,517 {\an7}...to emerge as an adult. 602 00:44:51,981 --> 00:44:54,817 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAdult beetles often don’t eat at all 603 00:44:54,859 --> 00:44:57,737 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hand only live for a very short time. 604 00:44:57,778 --> 00:45:01,699 {\an7}\h\h\hThey’re often little more than sexual organs with wings, 605 00:45:01,741 --> 00:45:04,202 {\an7}with only one role in life... 606 00:45:04,243 --> 00:45:07,204 {\an7}...to procreate. 607 00:45:07,246 --> 00:45:09,623 {\an7}\h\hWith the larvae hiding underground, 608 00:45:09,665 --> 00:45:11,709 {\an7}and the adults free to fly, 609 00:45:11,751 --> 00:45:13,920 {\an7}the two life stages \h\hof many beetles 610 00:45:13,961 --> 00:45:16,172 {\an7}live in completely \hdifferent worlds, 611 00:45:16,214 --> 00:45:19,467 {\an7}and don’t compete with one another. 612 00:45:21,052 --> 00:45:24,347 {\an7}\h\h\hIt’s a powerful evolutionary strategy. 613 00:45:26,557 --> 00:45:30,186 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hMany other beetles have a slightly different approach... 614 00:45:30,228 --> 00:45:35,275 {\an7}\h...a single ladybug can produce up to 80,000 offspring per year. 615 00:45:35,316 --> 00:45:37,902 {\an7}Even if they compete with their offspring, 616 00:45:37,944 --> 00:45:40,405 {\an7}some are bound to survive. 617 00:45:40,446 --> 00:45:42,281 {\an7}It’s a numbers game, 618 00:45:42,323 --> 00:45:46,202 {\an7}\h\h\hanother effective evolutionary strategy. 619 00:45:47,495 --> 00:45:49,455 {\an7}Beetles have changed and adapted 620 00:45:49,497 --> 00:45:52,458 {\an7}\hinto an impressive diversity of species. 621 00:45:52,500 --> 00:45:55,128 {\an7}Their tough outer casing enabled them to conquer 622 00:45:55,169 --> 00:45:58,881 {\an7}a huge variety of habitats \h\h\hall over the globe... 623 00:45:58,923 --> 00:46:00,842 {\an7}on land... 624 00:46:03,928 --> 00:46:06,180 {\an7}in the air... 625 00:46:06,222 --> 00:46:09,100 {\an7}...and underwater. 626 00:46:09,141 --> 00:46:11,310 {\an7}And along the way, they have evolved 627 00:46:11,352 --> 00:46:14,605 {\an7}\h\h\hto eat almost any organic food... 628 00:46:14,647 --> 00:46:16,440 {\an7}They hunt... 629 00:46:16,482 --> 00:46:19,443 {\an7}they gather... 630 00:46:19,485 --> 00:46:23,614 {\an7}...and they clean up the mess \h\hthat others leave behind. 631 00:46:26,492 --> 00:46:29,620 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hDiversity is the name of the game... 632 00:46:29,662 --> 00:46:32,582 {\an7}\h\h\h\h...the secret to beetles’ success. 633 00:46:36,627 --> 00:46:40,381 {\an7}Beetles are the most successful animals in the world. 634 00:46:40,423 --> 00:46:42,842 {\an7}There are eight times as many beetle species 635 00:46:42,883 --> 00:46:46,470 {\an7}as there are fish, amphibian, reptile, 636 00:46:46,512 --> 00:46:50,057 {\an7}bird, and mammal species \h\h\h\h\hput together. 637 00:46:54,228 --> 00:46:57,356 {\an7}Beetles have survived every mass extinction 638 00:46:57,398 --> 00:47:00,067 {\an7}over the last 240 million years. 639 00:47:00,109 --> 00:47:03,946 {\an7}\h\h\h\hThey have endured global warming, ice ages, 640 00:47:03,988 --> 00:47:06,365 {\an7}super volcano eruptions, 641 00:47:06,407 --> 00:47:08,034 {\an7}and asteroid strikes 642 00:47:08,075 --> 00:47:11,579 {\an7}that wiped out animals \hlike the dinosaurs. 643 00:47:14,957 --> 00:47:19,462 {\an7}Yet like all insect populations in the industrialized world, 644 00:47:19,503 --> 00:47:22,172 {\an7}their numbers are dwindling. 645 00:47:22,214 --> 00:47:24,383 {\an7}Let’s hope the beetles \h\h\h\h\hwill survive 646 00:47:24,425 --> 00:47:26,802 {\an7}the next global cataclysm. 647 00:47:26,844 --> 00:47:30,056 {\an7}(♪)