What role do beetles play in our lives?

There are over 400,000 species of beetles worldwide, so they play a LOT of roles in our lives. Some are carnivores that eat other small bugs like tiger beetles, water beetles, and our beneficial lady bugs. Some are important detrivores when they are grubs, breaking down decaying logs and leaves to make them dirt again. Some are pollinators, and some are pests like the weevils that show up in our flour and rice in the pantry.