noun
beetles; coleopterans; Coleoptera
Taxonomic term for the insect order Coleoptera. Used in biological contexts; in everyday speech, カブトムシ or クワガタ are more common for specific beetles.
See also: 甲虫目
甲虫類は昆虫の中で最も種類が多いグループの一つです。
Beetles are one of the most diverse groups of insects.
この図鑑には日本産の甲虫類が詳しく載っている。
This field guide covers Japanese beetles in detail.
From 甲虫 (こうちゅう, 'beetle') + 類 (るい, 'group, category'). The kanji 甲 originally means 'armor' or 'shell', referring to the hardened forewings of beetles.