Here's why:
* Short vowel sounds are typically found in words where the vowel is followed by one consonant. In "beetle", the vowel "e" is followed by the consonant "t".
* Long vowel sounds are usually associated with words where the vowel is followed by a vowel or a consonant followed by a silent "e".
Therefore, the "e" in "beetle" has a short sound, similar to the "e" in words like "bed" or "pet".