The Color of Beetles – Blue, Black, Orange and Many More!

Depending on your viewpoint, beetles are either pests or they protect our gardens and orchards from invasive species that can destroy our plants. For example, farmers love beetles since they are known to destroy aphid colonies.

Either way, one thing is clear. Beatles are everywhere, and they can shine in glorious patches of color!

Why do beetles flash bright colors? Scientists do not feel that beetles use bright colors to either attract or identify others of the species – they typically use chemical attractions to attract mates. This is different from species like butterflies and dragonflies.

The general consensus is that the colors on beetles serve the purposes of either camouflage or warning to predators.

Where do the colors come from?

There are two types of colors found on beetles:

• (a) natural pigmentation and
• (b) structural colors.

For example, colors such as orange, brown, black, yellow, as well as certain shades of red or, come from actual pigments in a beetle’s hard shell (called an elytra).

On the other hand, beetles can show bright blue, green, red, purple, pink or grey/white colors due to structural colors created by photonic cells in their outer shell that reflect certain bands of light in specific ways.

Natural pigmentation stays the same whenever or wherever you see it, though many beetles have multi-layered stacks on top of their underlying elytra and inner wings. But the angle at which light hits the body will cause the structural colors to change – a shimmering effect we call iridescence.

As mentioned, beetles usually have multiple layers of scales, with plate-like layers slanted in different directions. In conjunction with the base below, which could be an entirely different color, beetles will often show shimmery, metallic colors based on the angle(s) at which light hits their back. Wings are often a different color altogether.

Beetles are the most widespread species on Earth, constituting almost 40% of all insects with over 40,000 known species belonging to the order Coleoptera. The US has over 25,000 species.

Beetles are often difficult to classify in terms of color, since they typically sport different shades and iridescence in different parts of their body and elytra. In the examples below, some dominant colors have been referred to, including both iridescent and natural pigmentation.

Can Beetles Be Black?

Black pigmentation in beetles create black patches or bands on other backgrounds or predominantly black backgrounds with other colors. Bottom line – many black pigmentations occurs in conjunction with other colors.

Orange-black, zebra, brown-black and yellow-black are common color combinations. Some black beetles, such as the stag beetle, were traditionally used as amulets in Italy and other parts of Europe.

a)  Are Black Beetles Rare?

Black beetles are common. The longest living beetle in the world, as well as one of the largest flying insects, is the Hercules Beetle (Dynastes Hercules). A type of rhinoceros beetle, the Hercules Beetle is known for its tremendous strength, hence the name.

Goliath beetles, the largest beetles on the planet, have a combination of black, brown and white coloration – they are described in more detail in the section on Brown Beetles below. Another well known black beetle is the Stag Beetle.

There are some 1200 stag beetles in the family Lucanidae, but the Lucanus cervus is usually referred to as “the” stag beetle – the largest terrestrial insect in Europe. The Giraffe Stag Beetle (Prosopocoilus giraffa) is another black beetle with distinctive muscular jaws.

Two beetles that resemble wasps are the Wasp Beetle (Clytus arietis) and the Spotted Longhorn Beetle (Rutpela maculata). Minotaur Beetles (Typhaeus typhoeus), a species of dung beetles, can be found to burrow next to rabbit, sheep or deer dung.

The Asian Longhorn (Anoplophroa glabripennis), also known as the Starry Sky or Sky Beetle, is a beetle that has recently grown infamous in North America and Europe after its introduction in these habitats mainly through the transport of wood packing material.

b)  How Do You Identify This Type of Beetle?

Black beetles are easy to spot, though greyish or brownish black colors may fade into the background depending on their habitat. The Hercules Beetle can be distinguished by its length, which can range to 7 inches when counting the horns.

The males typically have black bodies but often olive-green elytra, while females are black throughout. Black and white marked Goliath beetles are easy to spot due to their distinctive markings. The Stag Beetle is large, squat and very black – the males have powerful mandibles which make them distinctive.

The Giraffe Stag Beetle can be distinguished by its size (close to 5″), distinctive muscular jaws and aggressive nature. Yellow bands on black bodies distinguish the Wasp Beetle and the Spotted Longhorn Beetle as they go from flower to flower in search of nectar.

Minotaur Beetles can be distinguished by their jet-black body, three unmistakably bull-like horns (hence their name) and setae (hairs) hanging from their undersides. Asian Longhorn Beetles can be spotted by their shiny black bodies and exceedingly long horns.

c)  Where Can They Be Found?

Black beetles are abundant the world over, except in Antarctica. Hercules Beetles are found in Central America, South America and parts of the Lesser Antilles. Goliath Beetles can be found in Africa principally.

Stag beetles are commonly found throughout Western Europe, including England but not Ireland. Giraffe Stag Beetles are found in a wide range in Asia – from India to Indonesia. The Wasp Beetle and the Spotted Longhorn Beetle are both common in England and Wales, though rarer further north.

Minotaur Beetles can be found all over Europe and the UK. Asian Longhorn Beetles are native to China and Korea but have become an invasive species in North America and Central Europe.

Can Beetles Be Red?

Red is an iridescent color that often exists with black or other bases in beetles. Some red beetles, such as Cardinal Beetles, are perceived as toxic by other insects, protecting them from predators. In general, the popular colorful version of a beetle is the Ladybug, red all over with prominent black spots.

If you want to learn more about the color of ladybugs, then we have an entire article dedicated to it! Check it out here The Color Of Ladybugs

a)  Are Red Beetles Rare?

Red beetles are found all over the world. One of the common variety of beetles found in the US are the colorful Ladybugs, species that are called Ladybirds over in the UK.

Not only are they pretty, farmers love them since they destroy aphids and protect crops. Appropriately, ladybugs are thought to bring good fortune and prosperity. The Seven-spot Ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata), called the Seven-Spotted Ladybird in Europe, is one of the most common species the world over.

Its rarer cousin found in Great Britain is the Scarce Seven-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella magnifica). Another variation, the Two-spotted Ladybug (Adalia bipunctata), is found all over the Northern Hemisphere. The Convergent Lady Beetle (Hippodamia convergens) is also a typical red and black ladybug.

The False Ladybird (Endomychus coccineus) is akin to a ladybird with its red and black markings, but it is a different species. One of the ladybug beetles without black markings, the Cycloneda sanguinea, is described under Orange Beetles below, though it can also be a deep red color on occasion.

The Scarlet Lily Beetle (Lilioceres lilii), also called the Red Lily Beetle or Lily Leaf Beetle, feeds on the leaves, stems, buds and flowers of lilies and fritillaries, and is sometimes considered an invasive species.

They look similar to two species of the Cardinal Beetles – the Black-headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serratiacornis) and the Rarer Cardinal Beetle (Schizotus pectinicornis). The Red Headed or Common Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serratiacornis) is distinctly different.

b)  How Do You Identify This Type of Beetle?

Most red beetles are easy to spot due to their striking color. Ladybugs appear as tiny, spotted half-spheres, with round or oval shaped domes. The vibrant colors of the Seven-spot Ladybird (seven black spots on red), the Two-spotted Ladybug (two black spots on red) and the ­­Convergent Lady Beetle make them easy to identify.

The False Ladybird has five distinctive black markings on its red skin and can be distinguished from its namesake by a smaller body and much longer antennae.The adult Scarlet Lily Beetle has a bright scarlet-red elytra and black undersides, legs, eyes, antennae and head.

The color of the head distinguishes it from the Common Cardinal Beetle, which is red from head to toe with black legs. The Black-headed Cardinal Beetle and Rarer Cardinal Beetle look similar to the Scarlet Lily Beetle.

c)  Where Can They Be Found?

Red beetles can be found all over the world, except Antarctica. There are some 5,000 species of Ladybugs found, many of them with the distinctive red bodies. The Seven-spot Ladybug/Ladybird is extremely common in North America and Europe, whereas the Scarce Seven-Spot Ladybird is confined to Great Britain except southern England.

The two-spotted Ladybug is found in every continent in the Northern Hemisphere, including Northern Africa. The Convergent Lady Beetle is endemic to North America, though it has been recently introduced into South America as well.

The False Ladybird can be found all over Europe and the UK, mostly in deciduous forests. The Scarlet Lily Beetle was originally found in Europe and Asia but have been introduced to Canada and northeastern US. The Cardinal Beetles are common in England.

Can Beetles Be Brown?

Brown pigmentation is very common in beetles, whether in the elytra or the outer shell. In many cultures, a brown or tan colored beetle symbolizes a fresh start, transformation and luck.

a)  Are Brown Beetles Rare?

Brown beetles are common. The Goliath Beetle (Goliathus regius), which is the largest and strongest beetle on the planet (it can lift 850 times its own weight), has striking patterns of brown, black and white.

The Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica) is a large scarab beetle which is considered a pest in North America, harmful to some 300 species of plants, though not in its native habitat in Japan.

The Acorn Weevil (Curculio glandium) is a distinctive brown species found in oak woodlands. Two species of Eucalyptus Tortoise Beetles (the Trachymela sloanei and Chrysophtharta m-fuscum) have come to be considered as pests after being introduced to California from Australia.

b)  How Do You Identify This Type of Beetle?

Brown beetles may be difficult to spot, since their color provides handy camouflage. But many of them have striking colors, such as the Goliath Beetles.

Females range from a dark brown to silky white, while males are brown/black/white or black/white. There are distinct bands of color laid vertically across the thorax. Their size and weight both stand out. Males have a Y-shaped horn on the head.

The Japanese Beetle looks distinctive with a copper colored elyctra and a dark green thorax and head. The Acorn Weevil has a distinctive long snout, called a rostrum, that it uses to bore into the center of an acorn.

Among the Eucalyptus Tortoise Beetle species, the Trachymela sloanei are darker brown in color – both species are known for their tendency to tuck their head under their torso when threatened and for wreaking havoc to eucalyptus plants.

c)  Where Can They Be Found?

Brown beetles can be found in every continent except Antarctica. Goliath Beetles can be found in many parts of Africa. The Japanese Beetle is native to Japan but known as an invasive species in North America.

They have also been found in Europe and the Azores. Acorn Weevils are common in the US and UK. The Eucalyptus Leaf Beetle, a native of Australia, is now common in Southern California.

Can Beetles Be Orange?

Orange is a natural color, which occurs due to pigmentation and is found both on open and closed wings of beetles. There are thousands of species. Orange coloration is often paired with black, either in patches, dots or bands. The bright color is meant to signal toxicity to predators.

a)  Are Orange Beetles Rare?

Orange beetles are quite common. The Cowboy Beetle (Chondropyga dorsalis) is an Australian native, a scarab beetle not considered to be a pest. Another orange specimen from Down Under is the Spotted Flower Chafer (Neorrinha punctatum).

The Halrequin or Asian Ladybeetle (Harmonica axyridis), also known as the Multicolored Asian, was originally from Asia, but was introduced as a form of pest control in North America, Europe and South Africa, where it has been well established over the past 100 years.

The Orange-spotted Ladybird (Coccinella leonina) is a colorful variety, more defined by its orange spots than its black body. Two species of the lady bug beetle, the Cycloneda sanguinea and its sister species, the Cycloneda galapagensis are common all over the Americas.

b)  How Do You Identify This Type of Beetle?

Orange is a natural pigmentation, so beetles of that color are easy to spot. The Cowboy Beetle is orange-brown to mid brown in color, with a wide black stripe down the middle of the thorax and abdomen.

The Spotted Flower Chafer stands out due to the brown-black patterns on its yellow thorax and abdomen. There are many sub-species of Asian Ladybeetles, but their predominant colors are orange or reddish-orange, with or without spots on a dome-shaped elytra atop a largish body.

Some subspecies can be distinguished by their brown undercarriage and reddish-brown legs. The Orange-spotted Ladybird has 16 orange-yellow spots on its black body, giving it a lion like appearance.

Their legs and abdomen are black. The Cycloneda sanguinea and the Cycloneda galapagensis are distinctive due to not the lack of black spots on their orange-red bodies but having black heads with white markings.

c)  Where Can They Be Found?

Orange beetles are found on every continent. The Cowboy Beetle and the Spotted Flower Chafer are both relatively common in Eastern Australia.

Asian Ladybeetles are found all over North America, Europe and South Africa currently, though they originated from Asia, where they are found over a wide range from Russia to China and Japan.

Orange-spotted Ladybirds are native to New Zealand. The Cycloneda sanguinea is found from the Southern United States down to Argentina – it’s the most widespread beetle in Latin America. Its sister species, the Cycloneda galapagensis, is found on the Galapagos Islands.

Can Beetles Be Yellow?

Yellow colors in beetles often occur in conjunction with natural pigmentation such as black, or beautiful green or blue iridescence. The yellow color in beetles is typically used as a warning signal to protect itself from predators.

a)  Are Yellow Beetles Rare?

Yellow being a primary pigmentation, its common to find shades of gold and yellow in beetles. The Twenty-two-spot Ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata)is one of only three ladybird species found in the UK.

The Sulphur Beetle (Cteniopus sulphureus), though small, is quite distinctive in its natural habitat. The Iron Cross Blister Beetle (Tegrodera algoa) is distinctive. The Larger Elm Leaf Beetle (Monocesta coryli) is considered to be a pest to elm trees in particular.

The North American Goldsmith Beetle (Cotalpa lanigera) is also considered to be a pest pest in North America. The Shining Leaf Chafer (Chrysina macropus) is a leaf-chomping scarab beetle found in Mexico. The Mexican Maquech Beetle (Zopherous chilensis) is a living jewelry worn by people in Mexico.

b)  How Do You Identify This Type of Beetle?

Gold or yellow beetles are usually distinctive in color, with few comparable species. The Twenty-two-spot Ladybird is easy to spot, given its distinctive 22 spots on a solid yellow background – a second, related species has a white segment in front.

The Sulphur Beetle is the only bright yellow beetle found in the UK – it stands out atop the flowers they typically feed on. The Iron Cross Blister Beetle is distinguished by the contrasting yellow and reddish-brown spots on its body, which gives an impression of a dark iron cross imprinted on a shiny yellow background.

The beetle has a red head. The Larger Elm Leaf Beetle are greenish yellow insects with two black stripes along the outer edge of their wing covers. The North American Goldsmith Beetle is colored a shining gold on the head and thorax and copper colored on the underside.

The Shining Leaf Chafer is bright greenish yellow and has orange legs with iridescent blue tips. The Mexican Maquech Beetle is a sandstone color with bands of black, green and white markings down each side.

c)  Where Can They Be Found?

Generally, yellow and black species are common all over the world, with the exception of Antarctica. The Twenty-two-spot Ladybird is commonly found in Europe including the British Isles, as well as parts of Central and Western Asia stretching into Afghanistan.

Sulphur Beetles are common in southern Britain. The Iron Cross Blister Beetle is found in North and Central America. The Larger Elm Leaf Beetle is principally found in North America, though related species can be found on other continents.

The North American Goldsmith Beetle is common in North America. The Shining Leaf Chafer is native to North America, but only found in Mexico. The Mexican Maquech Beetle is native to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

Can Beetles Be Blue?

Blue beetles come in many shades, ranging from light to midnight blue. They are often found in shades and spots of blue, black and grey.

a)  Are Blue Beetles Rare?

Many blue beetles are commonly found – there are thousands of species globally. The Cobalt Milkweed Beetle (Chrysochus cobaltinus), also called the Blue Milkweed Beetle, is a leaf beetle common in North America.

The Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni) is another species of leaf beatles that is now found in North America. The Desert Ironclad Beetle or the Blue Death Feigning Beetle (Asbolus verrucosus) is a darkling beetle native of deserts in the US.

The Blue Mint Beetle () is another European beetle. The Willow Leaf Beetle (several species in the genera Phratora and Crepidodera) is another garden pest found in the UK.

b)  How Do You Identify This Type of Beetle?

Blue beetles are easy to identify due to their bright iridescence. The Cobalt Blue Milkweed Beetle is a shimmering blue iridescent in color. The Alder Leaf Beetle is relatively small, but distinctive on vegetation due to its blue-black iridescence.

The Blue Death Feigning Beetle has a powdery blue hue but can be distinguished by two things – warts on its exoskeleton and its propensity to feign death when threatened. The Blue Mint Beetle is a metallic blue insect that feeds on mint leaves.

The Willow Leaf Beetle are bronzy green or bluish black in color and are known to attack willows and poplars.

c)  Where Can They Be Found?

As mentioned before, blue beetles can be found the world over, except Antarctica. The Cobalt Milkweed Beetle is endemic to the US and British Columbia.

The Alder Leaf Beetle was endemic to Europe as far south as Kazakhstan but is now found in the US after having been introduced in the 19^th century. It has recently been rediscovered in the UK as well. The Blue Death Feigning Beetle is found in the Sonoran Desert and other parts of the Southwestern United States.

Blue Mint Beetles are widespread in Southern and Eastern Europe and has been spotted extensively in Great Britain over the past 10 years. Multiple species of Willow Leaf Beetles are found in parts of Europe and the UK.

Can Beetles Be Purple?

Purple beetles are sometimes associated with royalty and wealth. Many people think that seeing a purple butterfly may herald the arrival of someone important in your life. There are a few specimens of beetles that display violet or purple iridescence.

a)  Are Purple Beetles Rare?

Purple beetles are not exactly rare. However, you do not always find a consistently purple color. It’s more common to find various shades of purple, violet or indigo tinges on a shiny black or blue colored beetle.

A common violet beetle is the nocturnal Violet Ground Beetle or the Rain Beetle (Carabus violaceus). The Chrysocoris stockerus is a brightly-colored shield beetle. Purple Jewel Beetles (Smaragdesthes africana oertzeni) are spectacular insects found in savannahs and forest floors.

b)  How Do You Identify This Type of Beetle?

Purple beetles may sometimes be difficult to differentiate from the many shades of blue and black beetles. The Violet Ground Beetle, for example, has a black shine that has distinct violet or indigo tinges on its elytra and thorax.

The Chrysocoris stockerus is shaded bright purple on its shield like body. Purple Jewel Beetles shimmer with purple and blue iridescence in the sun and are easy to distinguish.

c)  Where Can They Be Found?

Purple beetles can be found in all over the world except Antarctica. The Violet Ground Beetle is common throughout Europe, and also Japan. Chrysocoris beetles are found in South Asia, including the Himalayan regions. The Purple Jewel Beetle is found in forest floors and savannahs in Tanzania, Africa.

Can Beetles Be Green?

Green is one of the iridescent colors that flashes on the elytra or the torso of a beetle. Green beetles tend to be distinctive in their habitats.

a)  Are Green Beetles Rare?

Green beetles are common. The green June Beetle, or June Bug/June Beetle (Cotinis nitida) is extremely common in the summer months, along with its cousin the Figeater Beetle (Cotinis mutabilis), also called the Green Fruit Beetle or the Fig Beetle.

Japanese Beetles (described under Brown Beetles above) have a dark green thorax and a copper colored elyctra. The Rose Chafer (Cetonia aurata) is considered to be a pest in the UK and their other habitats gpt chewing on roses and peonias, but they do more – praying on grapes and berries.

The Green Tiger Beetle is a fierce predator, praying on small invertebrates. The Thick-legged Flower Beetle (Oedemera nonilis). Also known as the swollen-thighed beetle, is a small but bright contrast on their natural habitat, i.e. feeding on the pollen of large open flowers.

One of the well-known seasonal beetles is the Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus sp.) found Down Under between November and January.

A beetle that is increasingly getting rare is Tansy Beetle (Chrysolina graminis), which spends its life around the tansy plant.

b)  How Do You Identify This Type of Beetle?

Typically, green beetles are easy to identify. June Bugs are long with dull, metallic green wings, with gold sides and very bright, shiny green head. legs and underside. Figeater Beetles look somewhat similar = they are a semi-glossy green on top and an iridescent green on the bottom.

The Rose Chafer is pale green to tan with hairy legs – their metallic green colors are created structurally. Some species have white specks. The Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris) is a shiny green color with (usually six) symmetrical creamy-yellow spots and bronze-purple legs – one of the most spectacular species of beetles.

The Thick=legged Flower Beetle is a bright, metallic green with thick legs, as its name suggests. The male of the species also has white streaks on its head and hind tibiae. The Christmas Beetle is distinctively seen during the season, but can also be spotted by its lustrous color, which ranges from green to a golden sheen.

The Tansy Beetle is easily identifiable by its beautiful, lustrous green color with a coppery sheen.

c)  Where Can They Be Found?

Green beetles are common all over the world. June Bugs are common all over the Eastern US and Canada, especially in the South East, where its sometimes confused with Figeater Beetles that are common in the Southwest.

Rose Chafers are found in Central Europe, Southern UK and South East Asia including Hong Kong. The Green Tiger Beetle is common in England and Ireland, and parts of Europe from Spain to Finland.

They have also been spotted in the North Eastern United States. The Thick-legged Flower Beetle is common in Central Europe, the Mediterranean, England and Wales. The Christmas Beetle can be found in Australia and South Africa.

The habitat of the Tansy Beetle is shrinking – for example, it can only be found in parts of Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire in the UK.

Can Beetles Be Grey?

There are thousands of species of grey, white or zebra colored beetles. At times, grey is combined with some other bright, iridescent color.

a)  Are Grey Beetles Rare?

Grey beetles abound all around the world. One of the largest insects in the world, the Titan Beetle (Titanus giganteus), is a neotropical longhorn beetle.

The Actaeon Beetle (Megasoma actaeon), found in similar habitats to Titan Beetles, is a powerful insect which was named after a famous hero known in Thebes.

A number of the Ant Cetonia Beetles found in Africa are grey, including the Ant Cetonlinae Songea, Cremastochellini sp., Lecanoderus incises, Per., Ant Cetonlinae Kuduberg and Coenochilus ventrisosus. The Whirligig Beetle (Gyrinus natator) is a water beetle known for its bewildering swimming pattern.

b)  How Do You Identify This Type of Beetle?

Grey beetles are often hard to spot due to their dirty white sheen. The Titan Beetle is grayish black in color with brown wings. It’s distinctive due to its size, which is between 6 to 7 inches.

While similar to the overall size of the Hercules Beetle, the Titan Beetle has less prominent mandibles and therefore a larger body. They have enormous strength and can snap pencils in half with their jaws. They defend themselves by hissing and biting – their bites are known to cause damage to human flesh.

The Actaeon Beetle is large, often over 5″, and have a grayish black luster. They have powerful legs with large tarsal claws. Males have appendages protruding from their mouths and heads.

The Ant Cetonia Beetles have shiny, metallic grey bodies and thoraxes, especially the ones mentioned above. The Whirligig Beetle, for example, though handsomely colored with a steely gray or bronze luster with prominent orange antennae, are often hard to spot – in fact, they are more often spotted due to their bewildering swimming patterns than their color.

c)  Where Can They Be Found?

Grey beetles can be found on every continent except Antarctica. The Titan Beetle is commonly found in the rain forests of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, the Guineas and north-central Brazil.

The Actaeon Beetle is also found in the rainforests of South America, with more locales than the Titan Beetle including Bolivia, Panama and Suriname. The Ant Cetonia Beetles mentioned above are found in Africa, respectively in Tanzania, Craddock, Northern Cape, Namibia and Cameroun.

Whirligig Beetles have some 900 sub-species spread all over the world, except for Antarctica, New Zealand, eastern Polynesia and southern South America.

Can Beetles Be Pink?

Pink is not a color that exists in nature, it is not a wavelength or particle, and does not appear in the visible spectrum. Often times, our brain perceives something to be pink, without the color actually being present. There are however reddish beetles that appear pink due to iridescence.

a)  Are Pink Beetles Rare?

Beetles that appear pink are rarer than some other colors. The Pink-Spotted Lady Beetle (Coleomegilla maculata), also called the Twelve-spotted Lady Beetle is perhaps the most common pink beetle. It’s sometimes confused with the less common Seaside Lady Beetle (Naemia seriata).       

b)  How Do You Identify This Type of Beetle?

The Pink-spotted Lady Beetle is distinctly pink in color over most of its distribution, each of its elytra have six black spots. The Seaside Lady Beetle has similar black spots, but shades towards pinkish orange in color with black spots.

c)  Where Can They Be Found?

Pink-spotted Lady Beetles are common over a wide range in North America. The Seaside Lady Beetle is found only on the two coastal areas of North America.

In Conclusion …

Beetles are plentiful and found on every continent. They are small creatures, but often flash bright iridescence from multiple parts of the body, especially the elytra.

Many are considered pests, but others are considered friends, given how they destroy other pests such as aphids. All in all, these omnipresent insects are here to stay alongside humans and others on the planet.