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What are the four main suborders of Coleoptera?
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Coleoptera
African goliath beetle (Goliathus giganteus).
The order Coleoptera (beetles) is divided into four main suborders:
- Archostemata1
- Adephaga1
- Myxophaga1
- Polyphaga1
While the first three groups contain relatively few families, the vast majority of beetle species are classified within the suborder Polyphaga. Taxonomists use various criteria to distinguish these groups, including variations in the structure of the first abdominal segment and how the hind coxal leg segments attach to the body. It is important to note that among coleopterists, there are differing opinions regarding the relationships between these groups and the precise placement of various families within these suborders.123