Published Wednesday, August 6, 2025

The Beatles - John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr - are one of the greatest bands of all time. Beetles are a type of insect that includes 400,000 described species; they constitute almost 40% of described arthropods and 25% of all known animal species. At first glance, they don't have much in common besides their names sounding the same. As you will soon discover, however, the Beatles and the Beetles are much more similar than they first appear...

1. Fabulous Style

The Beatles were also known as the Fab Four. Their fashion choices not only reflected the trends and attitudes of their era, but influenced them. Beetles may not pick their outfits, but it is undeniable that they, too, look pretty fabulous.

2. Pleasant Sounds

You probably already know the Beatles created some pretty amazing music. Songs like Help!, Yellow Submarine, Let It Be, and A Hard Day's Night remain relevant and influential to this day. What you might not know is that some Beetles also create their own kind of music. Click Beetles can launch themselves into the air with a loud click, Bark Beetles sometimes make a chirping sound, and Bess Beetles can make fourteen distinct sounds used to communicate everything from danger to courtship!

3. Fighters

While the Beatles usually got along, they did sometimes fight amongst themselves. In fact, on one occasion John Lennon and George Harrison reportedly got into a fist fight during the filming of Let it Be! As you probably already know, the Beatles eventually broke up, due at least in part to quarreling between the band members. Beetles also fight, often over territory, food, to establish dominance, or to impress potential mates.

4. Help the World

The Beatles stood up against racial segregation throughout their career, at one point refusing to play at a venue in Florida unless the audience would not be segregated. The band repeatedly voice admiration and great respect for African-American musicians. The Beatles also promoted pacifist ideology, and used their fame to amplify anti-war positions. John Lennon and his second wife, Yoko Ono, were especially vocal in their support of pacifism and anti-war protests. Beetles are incredibly valuable creatures, though often in ways we don't notice. Many Beetles are pollinators and decomposers. They also act as natural pest control; in fact some farmers release thousands of Ladybugs into their fields to kill pests like aphids that damage their crops.

5. From Across the Pond

The Beatles are a British band. They come from, as the colloquialism says, "across the pond". They are part of the British Invasion, a term for the influx of British rock and pop musicians into the United States, significantly impacting American music and culture in the mid-1960s. Other well-known bands of the British Invasion include The Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Dave Clark Five. Many Beetles likely come from across a pond much closer to you than the Atlantic Ocean. In fact, there are many aquatic Beetles, such as Whirligig Beetles, Skiff Beetles, and Travertine Beetles.

6. Famous

The Beatles are arguably still the most famous band in the world. The best-selling musical artists to date, they are often rated the best rock band of all time. Their music remains incredibly popular and will likely continue to for the foreseeable future. Beetles may not have quite as many adoring fans as the Beatles do, but we see them throughout our lives nearly every day. Here at the Edwardsville Public Library, we have many resources available about both Beetles and the Beatles, and, for the rest of August, we have a display dedicated to both of them.

The Beatles

If you are interested in learning more about the Beatles, here are some books you might enjoy!

The Beetles

If you are interested in learning more about the Beetles, here are some books you might enjoy!

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