Primitive Winged Insects

Order Coleoptera

The Primitive Winged Insects (Order Coleoptera) includes 15,720 species across 160 families and 3,716 genera in our directory.

About Primitive Winged Insects

Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.

Economic Impact

Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.

Ecological Role

Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.

Families in Coleoptera (160)

Species in Coleoptera (15,720)

Coenopoeus palmeri

Cerambycidae

Identification: The amount of pale pubescence on the elytra varies considerably. All black individuals are encountered in s. AZ and NM ( 3 ) Type Locality: Ariz ( 3 )

Coffee Bean Weevil

Araecerus fasciculatus

Anthribidae

Identification: tibiae with three pale rings is diagnostic

Coffin Cave Mold Beetle

Batrisodes texanus

Staphylinidae

Identification: Batrisodes texanus can only be distinguished from other pselaphid beetles by a qualified systematist upon microscopic study. Type Specimen: Male holotype from Inner Space Cavern , Williamson County, Texas, May 23, 1965. Collected by W

Colaspis costipennis

Chrysomelidae

Colaspis costipennis is a species of leaf beetle from North America. It is mostly found in coastal states; in the United States, its range extends from Louisiana and Georgia north to New Hampshire and Pennsylvania, and in Canada, it is reported from

Colaspis crinicornis

Chrysomelidae

Identification: Det. E. G. Riley, 2024 Type Locality: Brownsville, Cameron Co., Texas

Colaspis cruriflava

Chrysomelidae

Identification: Per Blake: "This species is somewhat paler green than the rest and the only one of the group with yellow legs . It is the smallest one of the favosa group. There is a peculiar depression on each side of the prothorax not found in the

Colaspis flavocostata

Chrysomelidae

Identification: Has a dark metallic lustre, and pronotal margin has a clear greenish lustre. [ Rob Westerduijn ] Type Locality: Chipola Lake, Florida

Colaspis pini

Chrysomelidae

Identification: Adults are oval, convex, tannish to brown, with metallic greenish specks on their backs. Det. E. G. Riley, 2024 Mature larvae are yellowish-white, about 6 mm long, with a sparse covering of short hairs and clusters of longer hairs at

Colaspis recurva

Chrysomelidae

good species that belongs to the flavocostata complex. There is little question about its identification, but it is “officially” known only from peninsular Florida, but in reality ranges (along the coast) north to central New York State, where it is

Colecerus dispar

Curculionidae

Identification: per LeConte's (1874) original description, the specimen from Arizona has the thorax at base as wide as the elytra, the hind angles being expanded, flattened and acute, with the side margin acute; the sides in front of the angles are s

Colecerus marmoratus

Curculionidae

Identification: Form of dispar . Thorax broader than long, sides moderately arcuate (=curved), widest at middle. ( 3 ) pattern variable

Colenis impunctata

Leiodidae

Identification: Clypeus non-emarginate; outer edge of protibia near apex with one long spine, followed by very short ones; male genitalia distinctive. Body light yellow to dark reddish. Most often taken in malaise and flight intercept traps, car nets

Coleorozena fulvilabris

Chrysomelidae

Identification: scutellum is pubescent and the red humeral spot is nearly square (Jacoby, 1888) Det. E. G. Riley, 2010 fairly common in c. TX ( 5 )

Coleorozena lecontii 0

Coleorozena lecontii

Chrysomelidae

Identification: pronotal punctation deep and coarse (Moldenke 1970) Type Locality: Texas boundary (Webb Co.?)

Coleothorpa dominicana

Chrysomelidae

Identification: Pronotum and under surfaces with conspicuous white pubescence. Mandibles of males notably enlarged. The more western populations have the elytra conspicuously hairy, whereas in the more eastern populations the elytra are largely glabr

Coleothorpa vittigera

Chrysomelidae

Coleothorpa vittigera is a species of case-bearing leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America.

Colliuris lioptera

Carabidae

Identification: Elytron black with one lateral reddish dot in posterior third. ─Peter Messer, 5.ix.2015

Colliuris pensylvanica

Carabidae

Colliuris pensylvanica (Colliuris pensylvanica) is a species in the family Carabidae, commonly known as ground beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Harpalinae, tribe Odacanthini, suborder Adephag

Collops arizonensis 0

Collops arizonensis

Melyridae

Types: Holotype, male,; allotype, female; and two female paratypes, Chiricahua Mts., Ariz., June. D. K. Dunean

Collops bipunctatus

Melyridae

Identification: Pronotum red to dull reddish-yellow with two black spots; elytra green-blue to black; pilose overall. third antennomere enlarged in males

Collops flavicinctus

Melyridae

Identification: similar, at least in color pattern, to C. limbellus ; the two can be easily distinguished by the erect hairs on the elytra, pale in C. flavicinctus and black in C. limbellus Information on this page is based on Dr. Mayor's comments he

Collops granellus

Melyridae

Identification: diagnostic feature, small round granules on the elytra: (comment per Adriean Mayor) Type Locality: Chiricahua Mtns, AZ

Collops hirtellus

Melyridae

Identification: ?Holotype • var. lucens Fall, syntype

Collops histrio

Melyridae

Identification: Elytra coarsely punctate, shining; legs black. The male is easily distinguished from its allies by the shape of the first antennal segment and the black legs.

Collops knulli 0

Collops knulli

Melyridae

Identification: Both sexes can be easily separated from our other quadrimaculate species of Collops by the following characters: small size, elytral spots confluent or nearly so, legs pale, head pale anterior to the front margin of the eyes, the pale

Collops marginicollis

Melyridae

Identification: Type specimen extremely uncommon ― Adriean Mayor

Collops nigriceps

Melyridae

Identification: prothorax black on disc, or immaculate; antennae wholly testaceous in male (last couplet in key, emphasis added) ( 3 ) legs and a large patch on the disc of the prothorax black. The testaceous, tapering antennae of the male, with unus

Collops nigritus

Melyridae

Identification: species described from a single male coll'ed in AZ. differs from all species with unicolorous elytra by the rather strongly angulated first antennal joint of the male, the densely punctate prothorax, and the black elytra. (Schaeffer,

Collops pallipes

Melyridae

Identification: shiny unicolorous elytra, pale prothorax, and uniformly pale legs Type Locality: Brownsville, Texas VIII-8-37. D. J. and J. N. Knull, Collrs.

Collops scutellatus 0

Collops scutellatus

Melyridae

Identification: The coloration, the scarcely apically dilated basal joint of antenne, the red scutellum and the more shining elytra will separate this from all previously described maculate species. Red; metasternum and palpi black; head with central

Collops subtropicus 0

Collops subtropicus

Melyridae

Identification: Type matches Collops nigriceps (Say) which Schwarz reported as "common" in FL I find almost no literature records for subtropicus (MAQ, pers. obs. 2025) Type Locality: Jacksonville, FLA (Duval County)

Collops tricolor

Melyridae

Identification: Identification of C. nigriceps vs. C. tricolor . This is C. tricolor (Say). Note the relatively smaller 4th antennal segment. Compare with the closeup photo of C. nigriceps male antenna (first photo) in the C. nigriceps set of picture

Collops versatilis

Melyridae

Identification: coloration exceedingly variable • Holotype

Collops vicarius

Melyridae

Identification: Extremely like tricolor and separable with certainty only by the male antennal characters. The basal joint of the male antenna is here much less broadly triangular than in tricolor , being more than 1/2 longer than wide, and the 2d jo

Collops vittatus

Melyridae

Identification: Say's original 1824 description indicates pronotum has a large black spot (or two that are confluent), but the discussion in Fall states: "The thoracic spot may be large or small, is often divided into two smaller ones, and is not inf

Colobicus parilis

Zopheridae

possibly introduced with crop products; rarely collected

Colopterus niger

Nitidulidae

Identification: Pronotum with oblique sulcus in each hind angle

Colopterus truncatus

Nitidulidae

Colopterus truncatus (Colopterus truncatus) is a species in the family Nitidulidae, commonly known as sap-feeding beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Cillaeinae, suborder Polyphaga, superfamily

Colorado Dune Tiger Beetle

Cicindela theatina

Carabidae

Cicindela theatina, commonly known as the Great Sand Dunes tiger beetle, is a predatory beetle found in sparsely vegetated sandy habitats. The species' range encompasses only about 290 square kilometres (110 sq mi) in the Great Sand Dunes park in Col

Colymbetes dahuricus

Dytiscidae

Identification: Ventral surface including legs entirely dark Color generally paler dorsally- pronotum rufous with a medial dark spot

Colymbetes densus

Dytiscidae

Identification: In this species, the frons is swollen (rather protruding) in front of the eyes (comments by Tim Loh here ).

Colymbetes exaratus

Dytiscidae

Identification: One of the members of the C. sculptilis species complex, which consists of 5-6 similar to identical species; species identification is only reliable from examination of male genitalia (length of adeagus)and in some cases subtle differ

Colymbetes fuscus

Dytiscidae

A large diving beetle (15-19 mm). Although this may look a dark species, the elytra are light straw brown and on close inspection have a network of black, transverse grooves. The beetle is darker brown underneath. The head and neck shield are also br

Comacmaeops brunnea

Cerambycidae

Identification: shows considerable variation as is frequent in this group. One paratype has head, pronotum, for most part, and elytra dark brown; coxae, trochanters and femora dark brown. It differs from other members of the genus in its robust form

Comal Springs Diving Beetle

Comaldessus stygius

Dytiscidae

Identification: Diagnosis: Comaldessus stygius differs from all known North American bidessine species by the following combination of characters: Type Locality: TEXAS: Comal County, New Braunfels, Landa Park, Comal Spring 3, net near springhead, 10-

Comal Springs Dryopid Beetle

Stygoparnus comalensis

Dryopidae

Identification: vestigial (non-functional) eyes, weakly pigmented, translucent, and thin-skinned. Federally listed endangered species in 1997 , Texas Parks & Wildlife considers this to be a "Species of Greatest Conservation Need" (SGCN) first collect

Comal Springs Riffle Beetle

Heterelmis comalensis

Elmidae

Identification: H. comalensis is the smallest of the Heterelmis species (n = 5) in the US, is the only species of Heterelmis with vestigial hind wings, and is flightless (Bosse et al., 1988). Type Locality: Texas, Comal County, Comal River, Landa Par

Common Carrion Beetle

Dermestes marmoratus

Dermestidae

pest in powdered milk plants and cereal warehouses, most likely feeding on dead insects; carrion, dry animal products

Common Claybank Tiger Beetle

Cicindela limbalis

Carabidae

Identification: color of dorsal surface varies greatly, from brick red to metallic red to reddish-purple to reddish-green, and rarely dull green or brown; elytral markings highly variable: (humeral lunule complete, broken, or rarely absent; middle ba

Common Cockchafer

Melolontha melolontha

Scarabaeidae

This large beetle has ribbed wing cases (elytra) that are reddish-brown in colour, and the head and the pronotum are blackish and covered in short hairs. The fan-like antennae are longer in males than females. Frequents hedgerows and gardens. It is a

Common Furniture Beetle

Anobium punctatum

Ptinidae

Size 3 to 4.5 mm. This all brown beetle has a pronotum resembling a monk's cowl. It has linear and punctuated striae and elytra that are very parallel-sided. Anobium beetles have a groove along the hind coxa that can accomodate the femur. It has a de

Common Leaf Weevil

Phyllobius pyri

Curculionidae

5 to 7 mm. The legs are reddish brown with a strong leg tooth. The elytra are coppery in fresh specimens becoming blacker with age and have a ribbed appearance. This is the only Phyllobius species that has blade-like ridges on its tibiae. The large l

Common Malachite Beetle

Malachius bipustulatus

Melyridae

Length: 5.5-6 mm. Emerald green (can be bronze) elytra with twin red spots. The pronotum is transverse and usually has red margins on the anterior corners. The front of the head between the eyes curves back. Cordylepherus viridis is very similar but

Common Plaster Beetle

Dienerella filum

Latridiidae

potential pest of air-conditioning and refrigeration systems ; adults cannot crawl on smooth or vertical surfaces, and often get trapped in sinks/tubs

Common Pollen Beetle

Brassicogethes aeneus

Nitidulidae

Identification: Note slight metallic sheen, and protibiae paler than others (and more slender than in nigrescens ). … Boris Büche, 22 August, 2018

Common Red Soldier Beetle

Rhagonycha fulva

Cantharidae

It has a red-orange body with a black tip. Often seen on umbelifer flowers, such as Hogweed and Cow Parsley. They are predatory on other insects visiting the flower they are resting on but also eat nectar and pollen. A very common beetle throughout m

Common Sexton Beetle

Nicrophorus vespilloides

Silphidae

This is a very distinctive and brightly coloured beetle, with black and orange patterning on the elytra. The wing cases are squarish and shorter than the abomen. This beetle is commonly seen at light in gardens, often in company with a related, all b

Common Sun Beetle

Amara aenea

Carabidae

Length: 6.5 - 9mm. One of many very similar Amara species, this is one of the most common with an obvious shiny brass/copper appearance. Its legs have black femora and brown tibiae. The scutellary pore is absent and it has fine striae. The antennae a

Common Willow Calligrapha

Calligrapha multipunctata

Chrysomelidae

Identification: differs from C. philadelphica primarily in having the pronotum light with some large dark areas, rather than uniformly dark. Also, dark areas including spots are more likely to be dark metallic green in C. philadelphica vs black in C.

Confused Flour Beetle

Tribolium confusum

Tenebrionidae

Identification: see Probably the most serious pest of the genus Tribolium and one of the most economically important beetles These beetles aggregate. At intermediate levels they are randomly distributed. With heavy infestations they are uniformly dis

Coniatus splendidulus

Curculionidae

"A hyperine weevil which was under consideration for release as a biocontrol agent against tamarisk. However the release was not authorized due to conflict of interest between ranchers who want the tree controlled and the conservationists (in this ca

Conopalpus testaceus

Melandryidae

This is a small beetle (around 9 mm in length) with two colour forms. The standard form is a fairly uniform reddish-brown colour whilst the other form has orange pronotum and legs and dark elytra. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is

Conotelus mexicanus

Nitidulidae

Identification: Closely related to C. obscurus , but the prothorax is a little narrower, the upper surface more opaque and more rugose, legs and elytra darker, and the male pygidium less deeply emarginate.

Conotrachelus cameronensis

Curculionidae

Type Locality: Holotype, female, Cameron Co., Texas V-20 in (ELS). Allotype same data in (ELS). Eleven paratypes: 1 Brownsville, Texas V-31-39 DJ & JNK., 1 Brownsville, Tex. V-25-34, JNK., 2 Brownsville, Tex. VI-8-34, JNK., 3 Brownsville, Tex. V-22-3

Conotrachelus carinifer

Curculionidae

Identification: coarse pronotal punctures, fresh individuals show white shoulders

Conotrachelus carolinensis

Curculionidae

Identification: Det. Matt Bertone, 2022 common at lights in e.TX [=v=]

Conotrachelus corni

Curculionidae

Identification: Looks a lot like nenuphar but are much smaller Relatively uncommon. Unless otherwise indicated, the information on this page has been provided by C.W. O'Brien here

Conotrachelus coronatus

Curculionidae

Identification: Det. E. G. Riley, 2008 Type Locality: Enterprise, Florida

Conotrachelus ecarinatus 0

Conotrachelus ecarinatus

Curculionidae

Identification: photos of mounted specimens: [A] • [B] • [C] • [D]

Conotrachelus leucophaeatus

Curculionidae

Type locality: Mexico most frequently observed at lights ( 5 )

Conotrachelus neomexicanus

Curculionidae

Identification: Holotype Pattern distinctive, body more elongate than usual (resembling Pissodes sp. )

Conotrachelus recessus

Curculionidae

Type Locality: Atoka, Indian Territory, Atoka Co., Oklahoma

Conotrachelus rubescens

Curculionidae

Identification: The small size and the coloration will make this species easily recognizable from any of our Conotrachelus . (Schaeffer 1904) Type Locality: Brownsville, Texas (Esperanza Ranch, San Tomas). The species is not a common one, only a smal

Conotrachelus texanus

Curculionidae

Type Locality: Esperanza Ranch, Brownsville, Cameron Co., TX (Schaeffer 1906)

Contacyphon coarctatus

Scirtidae

3.5 to 4.5mm. The entire body is usually shiny black or dark brown. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In the comments box, state the key or ID method used and describe

Contacyphon cooperi

Scirtidae

Identification: Like americanus Pic in form, color, vestiture and punctuation but with the subbasal impression on each elytron transverse, not oblique as in americanus , and the large sub-apical impression also not oblique. The third antennal joint i

Contacyphon laevipennis

Scirtidae

Around ponds and wet areas, sometimes associated with Common Reed (Phragmites australis) but also found where this plant is not present. Widespread and fairly common in suitable areas of Britain. No additional images available for this species.

Contacyphon palustris

Scirtidae

A small (approx. 3.3 mm) reddish brown marsh beetle. Favouring damp habitats such as pond margins and wet meadows. No additional images available for this species.

Contacyphon perplexus

Scirtidae

Identification: Coloration is not reliable for identification; positive identification is only possible based on dissected specimens. Most of the images on the guide page here should be treated as general suggestions, not accurate identifications. sm

Contacyphon punctatus

Scirtidae

Identification: Male genitalia are diagnostic. Fairly strongly setose and pronotum granulose Det. Brad Barnd, 2023 Type localities: South Carolina and New York Previously considered a synonym of Cyphon variabilis , but genitalia differences led Tetra

Contacyphon pusillus

Scirtidae

Identification: Very small, blackish with paler elytral apices

Contacyphon setulipennis

Scirtidae

Contacyphon variabilis

Scirtidae

A small brown marsh beetle. Length 3 to 4 mm. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In the comments box, state the key or ID method used and describe the size and identify

Copelatus caelatipennis

Dytiscidae

Identification: most specimens with base of elytron pale and contrasting with [slightly] darker color of pronotum and [much darker] remainder of elytron

Copelatus debilis

Dytiscidae

Identification: Elytron with 5 or 6 discal striae; elytral base distinctly paler than disc in most specimens

Copelatus distinctus

Dytiscidae

Identification: 10 discal striae and longitudinal strioles on lateral portion of pronotum; many striae are commonly reduced or absent, especially in males

Copelatus glyphicus

Dytiscidae

Identification: Adult: pale yellowish brown to reddish brown, ventral surface darker. Body with fine, moderately dense punctation dorsally. Pronotum with lateral bead complete. Each elytron with short sulcus near margin plus 10 complete sulci. Venter

Cophes fallax

Curculionidae

Cophes fallax (Cophes fallax) is a species in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as snout and bark beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Cryptorhynchinae, tribe Gasterocercini, suborder Poly

Cophes longiusculus

Curculionidae

Identification: readily separated from all other species in the genus from the area under consideration, by the very elongate form and the bidentate anterior femora.

Copris howdeni

Scarabaeidae

Identification: males hornless; elytral intervals flat, more densely punctate than in C. fricator (punctures separated by about their diameter) Mostly collected at lights

Copris remotus

Scarabaeidae

Identification: syntype Protibial apical spur abruptly bent inward just before apex (Kohlmann et al. 2003)

Coprophilus castoris

Staphylinidae

Identification: Similar to C. striatulus , which has the posterior portion of the elytra much more rugose. Holotype

Coproporus laevis

Staphylinidae

Identification: More or less unicolorous, pronotum smooth (lacking punctures & microsculpture), elytra with deep impression laterally and mostly impunctate except around the lateral impression.

Coproporus rutilus

Staphylinidae

Type locality. - Originally cited from "Americae ins. Puerto Rico et St. Thomae, in Columbia." (Blackwelder 1938)

Coptodera aerata

Carabidae

Coptodera aerata is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.

Coptotomus longulus

Dytiscidae

Identification: reliably distinguished by broad metasternal wing (narrowest width between mesocoxa and edge of metacoxal plate) of 0.35 mm or greater

Coptotomus venustus

Dytiscidae

Identification: Labial and maxillary palpi notched apically; last abdominal sternite without a pair of medial parallel grooves; elytra without dense sculpture of irregular grooves