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BOYACA, COLOMBIA , JUNE 7: Beetles, known scientifically as Coleoptera, represent one of the most diverse orders of insects with an estimated 375,000 to 400,000 species described to date. Typically, these resilient creatures have a lifespan of about a year. Their diet primarily includes plants, seeds, and fruit, but some species occasionally prey on small animals such as other insects, snails, or worms. Fossil records show that beetles have existed since the Permian period, approximately 280 million years ago. In Colombia, beetles have become a significant part of the illegal trade in animals and insects, a market that is said to generate more profits than drug trafficking. This illicit trade poses a threat to their populations and biodiversity. Despite this, there is a positive narrative emerging from Tunja, in the Boyaca department of Colombia. Since 2002, a local company has been dedicated to researching beetles for the production of organic fertilizer. Their innovative processes include converting waste into drinking water using lip ciliates and creating sustainable ecosystems with fertilizer derived from beetle waste after they consume organic garbage. This groundbreaking work highlights the potential of beetles to contribute significantly to environmental sustainability and waste management. (Footage by Ernesto Che Mercado Jones /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)