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)

Eggplant Tortoise Beetle

Gratiana pallidula

Chrysomelidae

Identification: Adult: in most live individuals, pronotum light green, elytra light golden brown with explanate, transparent margins; color of dead specimens mostly medium brown with lighter brownish-yellow margins; body oblong; elytral margins almos

Egyptian Alfalfa Weevil

Hypera brunnipennis

Curculionidae

Identification: close to H. postica , no reliable structural differences have been found except slight but consistent mandibular characters of the adult

Eight-spotted Lady Beetle

Hyperaspis octonotata

Coccinellidae

Identification: Gordon's figures - Unique arrangement of elytral spots and shape of the discal spot

Eisonyx crassipes

Curculionidae

Identification: Det. H. R. Burke, 2002 Type Locality: Tex.

Eisonyx picipes 0

Eisonyx picipes

Curculionidae

Identification: Body distinctly widest at middle (Fig. 12); hypomeron not carinate, with punctures nearly round; elytral striae deepest and most distinct basally Described from one specimen collected at Nashville, Tennessee, in September in a strawbe

Elacatis senecionis

Salpingidae

known from San Diego Co., CA and Hidalgo and La Salle counties, TX; also known from Baja (D. Pollock, 2016)

Elaphidion cryptum

Cerambycidae

Elaphidion cryptum is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by Linsley in 1963.

Elaphidion linsleyi

Cerambycidae

Identification: resembles E. mucronatum , but the apical spines on inside of meso- and metfemora are broad (acute in E. mucronatum )

Elaphidion mimeticum

Cerambycidae

Identification: has white on the lower sides of the pronotum SYNTYPE Taken at molasses bait and attracted to lights ( 3 ) Types, two males and two females, Brownsville, Texas, Esperanza Ranch. (Schaeffer 1905)

Elaphidionopsis fasciatipennis

Cerambycidae

Type Locality: Devil's River near Del Rio, Val Verde Co., Texas "Very rare in collections"

Elaphrus cupreus

Carabidae

Length 8 or 9 mm. Bronze with conspicuous purple ocellate depressions on the elytra. Antennae are black, tibiae are brown and the rest of the legs are black but often with metallic, usually bluish, reflections. The head is wider than the quadrate pro

Elaphrus riparius

Carabidae

Length 6.5 to 7.5 mm. Metallic green elytra with pale lilac markings and a pair of round violet depressions that appear to be edged with silver in strong light. Legs long, femora metallic green, strongly microsculptured, tibiae red but darkened and m

Elaphrus viridis

Carabidae

Identification: Bright metallic green, with no or reduced circular pits on the elytra federally threatened species as of 8.viii.1980 under the Endangered Species Act; on California's "Special Animals" list The development of the Central Valley for ag

Eleodes acuta

Tenebrionidae

The gender of Eleodes is feminine , so adjectivic species names end -is or -a, not -um.

Eleodes acuticauda

Tenebrionidae

Identification: (Below comments drawn from experts on ) Strongly arcuate pronotum twice width of the head with dentate projections on the anterior corners. Versus Coelocnemis, has a large, broad head rather than a small one, and spines are present on

Eleodes debilis

Tenebrionidae

Identification: This is a small species, ovate and convex in body shape, which resembles some E. carbonarius in punctation. It is glabrous and shining with the integument finely and sparsely punctulate. The pronotum is subquadrate and widest at the m

Eleodes fusiformis

Tenebrionidae

Most abundant Eleodes in the high grasslands of central New Mexico (Wise 1981)

Eleodes goryi

Tenebrionidae

Identification: --- male --- and --- female --- Type Locality: Mexico

Eleodes halli

Tenebrionidae

Identification: Very similar to E. rileyi but with conspicuous setae on the elytra

Eleodes knullorum

Tenebrionidae

Identification: The elytral striae are formed by much finer punctures than E. goryi and the integument is dull Det. T. Hedlund, 2019

Eleodes mirabilis

Tenebrionidae

Identification: distinctive, each elytron with sutural and three discal costae, intervals between which are usually coated with clay-like material causing the shiny costae to stand out in bold relief PARATYPE (male) rare in collections, known from th

Eleodes nigropilosa

Tenebrionidae

Identification: Similar to E. littoralis , but with black hairs ( vs pale or tawny), and occurring right along the coast (sand dunes, wetlands, etc.) ―J. Bailey

Eleodes spiculifera

Tenebrionidae

Identification: last line in key: Integument dull, opaque; basal three protarsomeres of male with pads or tufts of golden setae on plantar surface

Eleodes striolata

Tenebrionidae

Identification: easily recognized by the closely spaced double row series of fine elytral punctures. the profemora are dentate in the male, sinuate in the female. the body is fusiform (male) to ovate (female) and both sexes are briefly caudate. The g

Eleodes suturalis

Tenebrionidae

Say's description of his first encounter with this beetle: "...the party arrived at the village of the Konza [Kansas] Indians, hungry, fatigued, and out of health. Commiserating our situation, these sons of nature, although suffering under the injust

Eleodes tribulus

Tenebrionidae

Identification: Body elongate ovate, covered in long, pilose setae. Pronotum subquadrate, lateral margins arcuate, narrowing posteriorly, anterior angles rounded, not produced, disc moderately punctate. Elytra with moderate punctures arranged in more

Eleodes tricostata

Tenebrionidae

the most common and widespread member of the genus; garden and wheat pest The gender of Eleodes is feminine , so adjectivic species names end -is or -a, not -um.

Eleodes wenzeli

Tenebrionidae

Identification: "general shape of E. tricostata or E. pedinoides , but elytra not strongly sulcate" - I Fox

Eleven-spotted Lady Beetle

Coccinella undecimpunctata

Coccinellidae

Identification: More elongate and less convex than any other species of Coccinella . Head with 2 well separated pale spots ( C. novemnotata has a solid band) Elytral suture red, not or only slightly darker than the pale discal area. Elytron usually w

Ellychnia facula

Lampyridae

Identification: Lateral vitta of the pronotum wider than black margin, typically with two dark spots along inner margin in the discal area (sometimes merged with discal spot). Elytron with two costae.

Ellychnia flavicollis

Lampyridae

Identification: all-orange pronotum distinctive within the genus • Holotype Has fairly large lights for a diurnal species and they need to be photographed in the dark or otherwise measured to get some idea of how bright they are. Lights of male and f

Ellychnia greeni

Lampyridae

Identification: Separated from similar species in its range by the following characters:

Ellychnia megista

Lampyridae

Identification: can be distinguished by black pubescence; CA distribution; convex median portion of pronotum finely punctate and shining; pronotum bicolored; with broad, uninterrupted, red, sub-lateral vittae from apex to base; narrow black lateral e

Elm Bark Borer

Physocnemum brevilineum

Cerambycidae

Identification: Det. Guy A. Hanley, 2010 uncommon ( 6 )

Elm Borer

Saperda tridentata

Cerambycidae

Identification: Elytra covered with powdery/pearly-gray to medium gray pubescence; orangish or reddish stripe along lateral margin, and 3 bands of same color across each elytron; basal band extends inward at right-angles to margin for short distance,

Elm Calligrapha

Calligrapha scalaris

Chrysomelidae

has become less common due to its main host, the American Elm , being devastated by Dutch Elm Disease

Elmis aenea

Elmidae

A very small (2 mm) riffle beetle that is equipped with strong claws to enable it to grip in strong currents. It is a dark coloured species with very deeply ridged elytra. It is a water beetle of running water, but cannot swim and lives amongst stone

Elodes minutus

Scirtidae

Please provide photograph to support your record. Although the larvae live in water, the adults can be found on vegetation. Peak months for this species are May and June. No additional images available for this species.

Elonus basalis

Aderidae

Identification: Distinct from other nearctic species with orange elytral marks by its elongate antenna (antennomeres 4–9 twice as long as wide), the unusually long male genitalia, and a post-median elytral stripe of whitish pubescence, distinct under

Elonus nebulosus

Aderidae

Identification: Markings distinctive among Nearctic aderids

Elonus simplex

Aderidae

Elonus simplex is a species of ant-like leaf beetle in the family Aderidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Elytroleptus divisus

Cerambycidae

long series (12 spmns) in the UTIC coll'ed in April from Dimmit Co. in s. TX ( 5 )

Elytroleptus floridanus

Cerambycidae

Elytroleptus floridanus (Elytroleptus floridanus) is a species in the family Cerambycidae, commonly known as longhorn beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Cerambycinae, tribe Trachyderini, subord

Elytroleptus limpianus

Cerambycidae

Elytroleptus limpianus is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by Skiles & Chemsak in 1982.

Embossed Hawthorn Buprestid

Dicerca lepida

Buprestidae

Dicerca lepida, the embossed hawthorn buprestid, is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America and varies in size between 13.5 and 17.5 millimetres (0.53 and 0.69 in).

Emelinus butleri

Aderidae

Identification: Some of the rami almost 2/5 total length of antenna (Werner 1956) Type Locality: Ramsey Canyon, Huachuca Mts., Cochise Co., Arizona, July 12, 1955, F. G. Werner & G. D. Butler

Enaphalodes archboldi

Cerambycidae

Identification: conspicuous uniform appressed fulvous pubescence that densely covers elytral surface Type Locality: Archbold Biological Station, Highlands Co., FL

Enaphalodes atomarius

Cerambycidae

Enaphalodes atomarius is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by Dru Drury in 1773 from New York City.

Enaphalodes niveitectus

Cerambycidae

Identification: Det. S. Lingafelter, 2013 Type Locality: Miller Canyon, Huachuca Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona

Enaphalodes taeniatus

Cerambycidae

Identification: generally lacks white on the top edges of the pronotum, see: Cerambycidae Catalog Det. M. J. Heiman, 2011 taken at lights Type Locality: Between Laredo and Ringgold Barracks, [Starr Co.,] Texas

Enchodes sericea

Melandryidae

Identification: tarsi not as elongate as in Synchroa , and no fine rows of tiny silvery hairs on elytra. --Doug Yanega, 16.vi.2008 one of my favorite Serropalpines... they are fun to watch at night on their rotting logs or tree limbs. They move very

Endeitoma granulata

Zopheridae

Endeitoma granulata (Endeitoma granulata) is a species in the family Zopheridae, commonly known as ironclad beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Colydiinae, tribe Synchitini, suborder Polyphaga,

Endeodes basalis

Melyridae

Identification: According to Moore and Legner, 'This species is distinct in the combination of its long piceus elytra with the base pale and its cordate pronotum. The color of the abdomen is variable, ranging from entirely ferruginous to entirely pi

Enicmus aterrimus

Latridiidae

[the "introduced from Europe" remark in Downie and Arnett (1996) ( 4 ) is an error; this native nearctic sp. does not occur in Europe. =v=]

Enicmus brevicornis

Latridiidae

Length 1.5-2mm. Dull black, femora usually pitchy. 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 ide

Enicmus maculatus

Latridiidae

Identification: Elytra color testaceous, tessellated [checkered] with black quadrate spots, margin blackish Det. Nicolas Gompel, 2008 Type Locality: Detroit, MI

Enochrus cinctus

Hydrophilidae

Identification: The distinctively undercut mesosternal crest easily identifies this species. Note also the pale lateral margins of the clypeus, pronotum and elytra, the shallow abdominal notch and the simple protarsal claws of the male (vs basally to

Enochrus hamiltoni

Hydrophilidae

Identification: widely misidentified confused with other species, likely including many of the photos on the guide page here

Enochrus melanocephalus

Hydrophilidae

Length 5.5 to 6.5 mm. A pale straw coloured water beetle. Associated with richly vegetated pools and ponds, sometimes in shaded areas. It is widespread in England to Northumberland but few records for the south west, Wales and Ireland with none for S

Enochrus ochraceus

Hydrophilidae

Identification: Low, rounded mesosternal crest; quite variable in coloration. Noted as "one of the most common and abundant water beetles in Florida."

Enoclerus analis

Cleridae

Identification: "quite variable across their range" (J. Rifkind, pers. comm. to MAQ, 2025)

Enoclerus angustus

Cleridae

Identification: In FL, has blackish to reddish legs and is nearly entirely red to reddish-pink. Det. J. Rifkind, 2008 Leavengood's key to similar spp. in FL 3. Abdomen red..................................................4 3’. Abdomen black..........

Enoclerus lunatus

Cleridae

Identification: Each elytron with one crescent-shaped creamy white slightly elevated lunula located behind the middle, the punctation of the lunula being much less coarse and dense than the remaining elytral regions, the pubescence on the lunula no m

Enoclerus nigrifrons

Cleridae

Identification: In FL, has a red head, pronotum, legs, antennae and mouthparts. The basal third of the elytra is red, followed by an arched, white mid-elytral fascia which is not anteriorly margined with black. - spmn from OK Det. K. H. Stephan, 2002

Ephelinus guttatus

Staphylinidae

Identification: Differs from notatus by the spot being larger and posterior to the middle of the elytra. Det. Brad Barnd, 2025

Ephelinus notatus

Staphylinidae

Identification: Differs from guttatus by the spot being smaller and not posterior to the middle of the elytra. Det. Margaret Thayer, 2013 Type Locality: Pennsylvania

Ephelinus pallidus 0

Ephelinus pallidus

Staphylinidae

Identification: The fuscous marks of the elytra consist of a sinuated vitta extending from the humerus to the tip near the suture; the external margin is also dark. Type Locality: Kansas

Ephistemus globulus

Cryptophagidae

"very likely introduced in North America and not a truly Holarctic species" -Yves Bousquet, pers. comm. to =v=, 29.ii.2012

Epicaerus lepidotus

Curculionidae

Described from eight specimens collected by E. A. Schwarz at San Antonio, Texas, May 9 and 10. It is also at hand from Cotulla and Brownsville, Texas. (Pierce 1910)

Epicauta abadona

Meloidae

Identification: Each elytron with 2 well-defined black stripes, marked in ground color and pubescence, on a luteous background Det. Salvador Vitanza, 2022 Scarce. Most frequently taken at light

Epicauta alastor

Meloidae

Identification: Though a member of Macrobasis , the first antennomere is not conspicuously modified even in males. Similar to E. hirsutipubescens/virgula , but antennomere 3 much longer than 2, and antennae relatively longer Type Locality: Florence,

Epicauta albida

Meloidae

Identification: ant. pale basally, esp. in the male, and by the dark maculae on the abdomen medially like many meloids, this sp. has periodic outbreaks

Epicauta alphonsii

Meloidae

Horn's original usage was alphonsii which he continued in subsequent publications so clearly the spelling was intentional. Subsequent authors have continued with that same spelling. The name was in honor of a Mr. Alphonse so, true, we currently wou

Epicauta arizonica

Meloidae

Identification: Legs brown, not contrasting with rest of body; male antennomeres 1 & 2 elongate, but together shorter than 3 thru 11; female antennomeres 1-2 with some cinereous pubescence may be common at light

Epicauta atrivittata

Meloidae

Identification: Elytra cinereous-pubescent, with two wide black stripes down each, these connected behind ( 3 ) Det. J. C. Abbott, 1993 generally rare in Arizona. ( 3 )

Epicauta batesii

Meloidae

Identification: Pubescence as thin as in most E. pruinosa , a bit condensed at elytral margins, not much affecting colour of integument. Body tan to brown (head darker), legs even paler, eyes very large. • Holotype

Epicauta brunnea

Meloidae

Identification: large eyes, form of the ant., and brown color

Epicauta callosa

Meloidae

Identification: distinguished at once by the two glabrous callosities on the pronotum v belov, 22 August, 2020

Epicauta cazieri

Meloidae

Identification: closely related to E. maculata , it differs in the protibial spurs and maxillary palpi being unmodified in the male and in the maculae of the head and pronotum being densely placed, as well as in having the tibiae and tarsi pale.

Epicauta cicatrix 0

Epicauta cicatrix

Meloidae

Identification: "distinguished from the other members [of the caviceps -group], and from all other Nearctic and Neotropical members of Epicauta , by the form of the second antennal segment (see fig. 5)." Type Locality: Presidio, Texas, Nov. 14, 1944,

Epicauta conferta

Meloidae

Identification: Elytra short, leaving the tip of the abdomen exposed, separately rounded. Wingless. Det. v. belov, 2019 Type locality: "Council Bluffs, Iowa and near the Rocky Mountains." Say's type lost. Neotype locality: Dallas, Texas.

Epicauta corvina

Meloidae

Identification: black, feebly shiny; pubescence moderately dense and black. Posterior tibial spurs spiniform. ( 3 )

Epicauta costata

Meloidae

Identification: head and pronotum with narrow glabrous midline; elytra with the suture, side margins and four ridges on each sharply elevated; male with antennal segments 3-5, and to a lesser extent 2, elongate, slender, and shiny above. Det. Salvado

Epicauta crassitarsis

Meloidae

Identification: Male with basal segment of middle tarsi inflated (diagnostic). Ground color often uniformly tan but sometimes with head and pronotum clouded with brown to dark brown.

Epicauta diversipubescens

Meloidae

Identification: pubescence yellowish, some dark ventral maculation. Pubescence denuded at pronotal front angles (less so behind angles), resulting in darker spots. ( E. rileyi may show a similar pattern but have a very distinct pit at inner eye margi

Epicauta excavatifrons

Meloidae

Identification: Head deeply impressed in middle to look deformed; base of elytra also depressed in a triangle

Epicauta fortis

Meloidae

Populations of E. fortis in SE Texas are disjunct from the main range of the species. Besides distribution these populations differ slightly morphologically and occur later in the year. (J.D. Pinto, pers. comm. to =v= 6.xi.2010)

Epicauta hirsutipubescens

Meloidae

Epicauta hirsutipubescens (Epicauta hirsutipubescens) is a species in the family Meloidae, commonly known as blister beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Meloinae, tribe Epicautini, suborder Poly

Epicauta immaculata

Meloidae

Identification: Dets. John D. Pinto Larson reports finding the remains of 94 individuals of E. immaculata in the course of examining the stomach contents of 100 individuals of the toad Bufo americanus Holbrook, taken in potato fields at Fort Thompson

Epicauta lauta

Meloidae

Identification: Legs partly black, in contrast with body. Basal antennal segments not enlarged in either sex and without cinereous pubescence

Epicauta liebecki

Meloidae

Identification: elytra brown, with paler margins; legs rufous with black tips to segments. male antennal segments 1 and 2 together longer than 3 to 11 together Det. Boris Büche, 2021

Epicauta maculifera

Meloidae

Identification: our only maculate member of this subgenus

Epicauta magnomaculata

Meloidae

Identification: distinguished from other maculate species by the more slender form and a pair of small denuded callosities on the pronotum

Epicauta mimetica

Meloidae

Identification: Labrum deeply incised - the giveaway character. Antennae slender, scape in male just reaching beyond eye, in female, almost so; pedicel half as long as scape in either sex; A3 2× as long as pedicel in female, ⅔ as long in male. • Synt

Epicauta nigritarsis

Meloidae

Identification: in part: light-colored elytral suture; distinct patch of dark setae on humeri; legs mostly orangish except black tarsi. Det. E. G. Riley, 2010 Key to species in Pinto Type Locality: Mexican Boundary

Epicauta obesa

Meloidae

Identification: Most resembles E. cinerea , vestiture always in one colour (grey - brown - black); male antennae without long hairs within, shorter than in the other sp.. Dark abdominal spots in some males.

Epicauta ochrea

Meloidae

Identification: bright ferruginous with moniliform (beaded) antennae ( 3 ) Det. E. G. Riley, 2004 head and pronotum often darker than elytra male, female

Epicauta oregona

Meloidae

Identification: Maculate; vestiture rather thin, thus usually dark grey in colour; dotting small, or even indistinct. Male antennae wider, and flattened in the basal half (ensiform). belongs to the E. bispinosa -group

Epicauta parvula

Meloidae

Identification: Easily mistaken for a Meloe by shape, and unusually strong, and spaced punctures flightless

Epicauta polingi

Meloidae

Identification: a pair of black spots on the elytral bases, plus the elytra are generally of a different shade of gray from that of the head and pronutum, males have thickened ant. basal segments male, female Type Locality: Davis Mtns, TX