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)

Ampedus laurentinus

Elateridae

Identification: Amongst NE dark Ampedus: Dark pubescence, pronotal punctures umbilicate and not dense (separated by a diameter), ovipositor sub-rectangular

Ampedus linteus

Elateridae

Identification: elytral suture & a patch at elytral apex black

Ampedus molestus

Elateridae

Identification: Subparallel pronotum and ovipositor valves subrectangular are diagnostic

Ampedus nigricollis

Elateridae

Identification: species has pale legs, compared to the dark legs of the similar Ampedus sellatus . Adults hibernate under bark.

Ampedus pedalis 0

Ampedus pedalis

Elateridae

Identification: habitus photo (specimen from TN id'd by B.A.Mathison)

Ampedus quebecensis

Elateridae

Identification: Pale form: Elytra red with apical dark spot cordiform, pronotal punctures extremely dense, specially on the sides. Pilosity dark/black Dark form: All black, separated from the other dark Ampedus by the piceous pubescence and the dense

Ampedus rubricollis

Elateridae

Ampedus rubricollis (Ampedus rubricollis) is a species in the family Elateridae, commonly known as click beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Elaterinae, tribe Ampedini, suborder Polyphaga, super

Ampedus sanguinipennis

Elateridae

Identification: Coloration and shape apparently distinctive.

Amphicerus simplex

Bostrichidae

Identification: Elytra at base slightly narrower than pronotum at middle, truncate at base, without tubercles or callosities on apical declivity ; sutural margins strongly elevated on apical declivity; sides slightly expanded posteriorly, conjointly

Amphicrossus ciliatus

Nitidulidae

Amphicrossus ciliatus (Amphicrossus ciliatus) 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 Amphicrossinae, suborder Polyphaga, superf

Amphizoa insolens

Amphizoidae

Identification: They are usually dull black, but can be brown.

Amphotis ulkei

Nitidulidae

Identification: Habitus Recently reported in Canada

Anacaena globulus

Hydrophilidae

2.5 to 3.5mm. Strongly convex above, shape broadly oval and colouration dark, almost black with contrasting pale pronotal and elytral margins. Distinguished from our other species by the form of the mesosternum; the sharply-declined part in front of

Anacaena limbata

Hydrophilidae

Identification: Hind femora entirely pubescent except for apex; combined length of hind tarsomeres not longer than hind tibia. The identity of this species is confused, as apparently two species occur in North America that are being confused: A. limb

Anacua Tortoise Beetle

Coptocycla texana

Chrysomelidae

Fairly common in southmost Texas, the damage they leave behind (leaf holes) can be ubiquitous (MAQ, pers. obs.)

Anaedus texanus

Tenebrionidae

Type coll'ed by E. A. Schwarz in Brownsville, Texas.

Anaglyptus mysticus

Cerambycidae

The length can be up to 13mm. This distinctive longhorn beetle has elytra with basal 1/3rd reddish/chestnut and the remaining 2/3rds black with 3 to 4 transverse pubescent bands. The thorax is grey/black. In the melanic variety hieroglyphicus the bas

Analeptura lineola

Cerambycidae

Identification: Color pattern variable One of the most abundant summer day-flying longhorns in Great Smoky Mountains NP

Anambodera palmarum

Buprestidae

Anambodera palmarum (Anambodera palmarum) is a species in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as metallic wood-boring beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Polycestinae, tribe Acmaeoderini, sub

Anaspis fasciata

Scraptiidae

A small (about 4 mm) elongate beetle with black and orangey red elytra. Around Hawthorn and Blackthorn blossom and open Spring flowers. Fairly common and widely distributed over much of England and Wales with fewer records from Scotland.

Anaspis frontalis

Scraptiidae

2.5-4.4mm. This is the most common of the genus, often associated with Hawthorn blossom. It is generally all black, usually with some yellow on the front of the head and the four basal antennal segments also yellow. The legs are generally except the

Anaspis maculata

Scraptiidae

2.4-3.1mm. This is a small, elongate beetle which is usually yellowish-brown with variable black markings. However there are several colour forms including an all-yellow variant. The standard and most common form has a dark triangular mark around the

Anaspis regimbarti

Scraptiidae

Length: 2.8 to 3.8 mm. The body is predominantly black with orange pronotum. The antennae are black with some orange towards the base, the legs are also predominantly orange. Although it is striking in appearance there are other very similar species,

Anatrichis oblonga

Carabidae

one spmn collected by Wickham along the Rio Grande near Brownsville, Cameron Co., TX in the late 1800's.

Anchastus augusti

Elateridae

Identification: Distinctive First US records in 1987 and 1989 in the Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Brownsville, TX (Heffern & Brattain, 1991). Texas considered this a SGCN in 2012

Anchastus fumicollis

Elateridae

Identification: relatively easily recognized in the se.US by its size, color, long antennae, and subequal second and third antennomeres. Det. E. G. Riley, 2014 Type Locality: Royal Palm Park, Florida (for which there appears to be more than one in di

Anchomenus dorsalis

Carabidae

Length of 8-9mm. One of the most colourful species of this genus. The elytra vary from orange to greeny-black with large chestnut red or orange patches at the shoulders, whilst the thorax is a brassy green, and the legs are yellow. Various including

Anchonoderus quadrinotatus

Carabidae

Identification: Check the Info tab under the genus page "Anchonoderus" for descriptive information. Horn (1878) described this sp. from two spmns.

Anchonoderus schaefferi 0

Anchonoderus schaefferi

Carabidae

Anchonoderus schaefferi is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.

Anchonus suillus

Curculionidae

Identification: Rostral base not deeply incised, lacks apical elytral tubercules, elytra regularly tuberculate usually with single setae per tubercle. Unknown if native to Florida, introduced via natural means, or introduced by man.

Ancylocera bicolor

Cerambycidae

Identification: Males have much longer antennae ♂ ♀

Andrion regensteinense

Curculionidae

Length 5 mm. A small brown hairy weevil, usually with a pale stripe down the mid-line of both pronotum and elytra. Unless identified by a recognised expert, photographic evidence is required and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In t

Androchirus femoralis

Tenebrionidae

Androchirus femoralis (Androchirus femoralis) is a species in the family Tenebrionidae, commonly known as darkling beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Alleculinae, suborder Polyphaga, superfamil

Androlyperus fulvus

Chrysomelidae

Identification: Color orange, including pronotum; Head, antennae, mesosternum, metasternum, legs and apex of abdomen are dark, scutellum brownish yellow. The broad, reflexed lateral edge (epipleuron) of the elytra extends to the incision in males,

Androlyperus incisus

Chrysomelidae

Identification: Elytra entirely black Type locality. Quartzside [Quartzsite, Yuma Co.], Arizona.

Androlyperus maculatus

Chrysomelidae

Identification: As in some of its congeners, the sexual dimorphism is remarkable in this species. In addition to the modifications on the terminal sternite and at the posterolateral angles of the elytra, males have opaque rather than shining elytra.

Aneflomorpha aculeata

Cerambycidae

Aneflomorpha aculeata is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1873.

Aneflomorpha rectilinea

Cerambycidae

can be abundant at lights after the monsoon rains begin

Aneflomorpha tenuis

Cerambycidae

Aneflomorpha tenuis is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by LeConte in 1854.

Aneflus obscurus

Cerambycidae

Aneflus obscurus is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1873.

Anelaphus asperus 0

Anelaphus asperus

Cerambycidae

no specimens outside of western Texas (Big Bend region) have been examined, and its occurrence west of Texas is doubtful. Type Locality: Holotype male and paratype labeled Panther Junction, 4000 ft, Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Texas, Ma

Anelaphus belkini 0

Anelaphus belkini

Cerambycidae

Identification: The other oak Anelaphus species described by Skiles, A. belkini , is not included in this complex since the structure of the elytral apex (rounded to a spinose suture), antenna (scape and third antennomere weakly sulcate), and pronotu

Anelaphus debilis

Cerambycidae

Identification: Elytral apices rounded to spinose suture. Elytra with off-white pubescent patches scattered throughout (Fig. 17b). Basal sutural region of elytra with ochre pubescence. commonly collected at lights, at fermenting molasses bait, and by

Anelaphus dentatus

Cerambycidae

Anelaphus dentatus is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by Chemsak in 1962 while he was doing scientific exploration.

Anelaphus inermis

Cerambycidae

Identification: Pronotum with small, dense maculae of white or ochre pubescence on disk. Pronotal callus oval and less than one-third length of pronotum (Fig. 21a) (indistinct in some specimens). Type Locality: St. John's Bluff, Duval County, Florida

Anelaphus magnipunctatus

Cerambycidae

Identification: Det. (and discussion of diagnostic characters) S. Lingafelter, 2018

Anelaphus moestus

Cerambycidae

Anelaphus moestus (Anelaphus moestus) 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 Elaphidiini, suborder Polyphaga,

Anelaphus niveivestitus

Cerambycidae

Identification: Elytral apex truncate or very weakly bidentate. Elytra with bright white appressed pubescent patches most concentrated at middle and apical region. (Fig. 17a). Basal sutural region of elytra without ochre pubescence. Type Locality: Es

Anelaphus pumilus

Cerambycidae

Anelaphus pumilus is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by Newman in 1840.

Angular Fungus Beetle

Cryptophagus acutangulus

Cryptophagidae

Identification: pronotum distinctive among its NA congeners in being widest at the level of the anterior angles

Anillinus alleni

Carabidae

Identification: The males have incredibly large spines on the metafemora. The females also have modified metafemora, the only described species in which females have modified legs .

Anillinus barri

Carabidae

Identification: The male genitalia are very distinctive.

Anillinus davidsoni

Carabidae

Named in honor of Robert L. Davidson, carabid expert and longtime collection manager of invertebrate zoology at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

Anillinus depressus

Carabidae

Identification: Adults of Anillinus depressus are distinguished easily from those of other Texan species of the genus by the following combination of external characters: small size, markedly elongated habitus, laterally oblique pronotal basal margin

Anillinus docwatsoni

Carabidae

Identification: See redescription in . Named after the famous guitarist Doc Watson, who, like these beetles, was also blind.

Anillinus dohrni

Carabidae

Identification: Impossible to identify, because it is known from a single female from an unknown locality.

Anillinus kingi

Carabidae

Described from a single specimen collected in 1976 ; in recent years, Tim King has collected hundreds of individuals from deep soil near his home [C. Harden, personal observation]. As in most Anillinus species, these large series reveal variation in

Anillinus sinuaticollis

Carabidae

Apparently known from only the female holotype, collected at a peach orchard somewhere in Roane Co., TN.

Anillinus smokiensis

Carabidae

This species has been considered a "troglobite", but it is not known from troglobitic habitats. The type series was sifted from leaf litter in a cave entrance, a microhabitat that usually contains a fauna similar to the surface.

Anillinus steevesi

Carabidae

Identification: Adults are variable in external characters; male genitalia are distinctive Barr's holotype was never deposited at CMNH in his lifetime, and has not been found in his materials acquired after his death; he might not have ever designate

Anillinus unicoi

Carabidae

Described from a single male collected by sifting litter , the species is more easily collected by searching under rocks at the type locality or by using pipe traps (C. Harden pers. obs.) Part of the " moseleyae -group" of species, which are all soil

Anillinus virginiae

Carabidae

In the opinion of C. Harden, based on five years of collecting and studying Anillinus in Virginia, this name refers to a widespread litter-dwelling species in the langdoni-group and not the species that Jeannel illustrated the median lobe of; if this

Anisodactylus (Spongopus) verticalis

Anisodactylus verticalis

Carabidae

the only member of the precinctive Nearctic subgenus Spongopus (that may not be closely related to Anisodactylus

Anisodactylus alternans

Carabidae

Anisodactylus alternans is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.

Anisodactylus anthracinus

Carabidae

Identification: Closest to allopatric A. merula in published keys, but much more convex and is restricted to the southwest

Anisodactylus dulcicollis

Carabidae

Anisodactylus dulcicollis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.

Anisodactylus haplomus

Carabidae

Identification: Protibial spur trifid, clypeus with one pair of setae, frontal fovea not prolonged, very fine punctules distributed rather densely and uniformly on frons. The published distinction regarding thickness of the prontal lateral bead does

Anisodactylus lodingi

Carabidae

Identification: "suborbiculate pronotum with very deep and prominent lateral depressions and broadly rounded posterior angles" "The species might be extinct; the only specimen I am aware of that was collected after 1927 is a male taken at Lcedale, Ge

Anisodactylus melanopus

Carabidae

Anisodactylus melanopus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.

Anisodactylus nigerrimus

Carabidae

Identification: Clues include a pair of setae (bristles) on each side of clypeus plus pronotum with lateral margins minimally deplanate and hind angles rounded.

Anisodactylus rudis

Carabidae

Identification: Photos of Holotype (MCZ #5959) Here . Pronotum cordate and coarsely punctate anteriorly on disc. Elytra with intervals 2, 4, and 6 coarsely setose .

Anisodactylus rusticus

Carabidae

Anisodactylus rusticus (Anisodactylus rusticus) 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 Harpalini, suborder Adephaga.

Anisodactylus similis

Carabidae

Identification: From Noonan: "Adults resemble A. binotatus in having pubescent outer elytral intervals. However they differ by having: short fine setae on the sides of the frons of the head; the pronotal disk densely punctate and wrinkled posteriorly

Anisostena ariadne

Chrysomelidae

Identification: Head blue-black, strongly alutaceous, frons with deep, median, vertical depression, and thin carina between antennae. Eyes with deep vertical sulcus on mesal border. Antennae black, apical 5 segments with brown pubescense. Pronotum or

Anisostena californica

Chrysomelidae

Anisostena californica is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America.

Anisostena lecontii

Chrysomelidae

very rarely collected (E.G.Riley, 2013 pers. comm. to MAQ)

Anisostena nigrita

Chrysomelidae

Most widely dist. member of this genus , but apparently uncommon(???) per GBIF data

Anisostena nunenmacheri

Chrysomelidae

Identification: in N.America, unicolorous dorsum , mesofemur not serrate on inner margin, and pronotum without basal impression key to this this species.

Anisotoma humeralis

Leiodidae

There are four species of the round fungus beetle Anisotoma, but this is the only one with the orange markings, the others being entirely dark and difficult to tell apart. Woodland especially areas with fallen trees and dead wood. They are known to f

Anomala binotata

Anomalacra binotata

Scarabaeidae

Identification: suture and outer margin brown to black, sometimes very broadly so; almost always with a strong central dark spot on each elytron MAQ, pers. obs.: the thick black sutural line apppears to be more consistant character than the elytral s

Anomala castaniceps

Anomalacra castaniceps

Scarabaeidae

the only representative of the subg. Bucaphallanus Ramírez-Ponce & Morón 2012 in our fauna

Anomala delicata

Anomalacra delicata

Scarabaeidae

Identification: Pronotum with 5-sided dark brown macula, often slightly incised laterally, rarely enlarged and complete to base Det. A. Evans, 2016 Type Locality: Cochise Co., Arizona

Anomala digressa

Anomalacra digressa

Scarabaeidae

Identification: Elytra with only sutural margin narrowly dark brown; slender to moderately robust, subparallel to somewhat cuneate

Anomala ellipsis

Anomalacra ellipsis

Scarabaeidae

Identification: elytra immaculate, with fine binotate spots or rarely with a little fine streaking Can be relatively common in spring, feeding on flower buds of Quercus turbinella and other oaks. --W.B. Warner

Anomala flavilla

Anomalacra flavilla

Scarabaeidae

The US thing currently goes under this name, but Bates' type is from fairly far south in Mexico, so this may eventually end up under a different name currently in synonymy. ―W.B. Warner, 30.ix.2010

Anomala foraminosa

Anomalacra foraminosa

Scarabaeidae

Identification: Lateral margins of elytra with only short dark brown or blackish band from humeral angle, extending only briefly beyond umbone Det. E. G. Riley, 2010

Anomala undulata

Anomalacra undulata

Scarabaeidae

Identification: mostly March-May (emphasis added) Elytral maculation similar to innuba (e. added) [recommend ignoring the elytal patterns of both spp., except for the apical umbone - MAQ] Pronotal macula commonly complete to basal margin, but if not,

Anomalacra cavifrons

Scarabaeidae

Identification: Det. E. G. Riley, 2009 Type Locality: Two males and a female collected on the Smoky Hill river, KS.

Anomalacra flavipennis

Scarabaeidae

Identification: extremely variable in color and pattern last key couplet: Head and pronotum red-brown, dark brown, greenish- or brownish-black or black; clypeus more than twice as wide as long; labrum appressed to anterior face of clypeus, not porrec

Anomalacra innuba

Scarabaeidae

Identification: Elytra immaculate to spotted, banded or black (emphasis added) [recommend largely ignoring the elytral spot pattern, except for the apical umbone - MAQ] pronotal macula triangulate with waist-like constriction near anterior margin (e.

Anomalacra lucicola

Scarabaeidae

Identification: Dull yellow to completely black, pronotum with or without black spot or pair of spots. Labrum moderately emarginate, extended only slightly beyond nearly vertical anterior face of clypeus; elytra commonly with intervals 7 and 9 only m

Anomalacra schaefferi

Scarabaeidae

Identification: By the unusually short and broadly dilated hind tibiae this species is easily distinguished from all our species. known from two spmns, the female holotype from 'Texas,' and a specimen collected on Padre Island, Kleberg Co., Tex, V-19

Anomalacra semilivida

Scarabaeidae

Identification: Elytra straw to pale brown, rarely 3rd and 5th intervals streaked darker brown; pronotal macula variable in size, but if complete to base, enclosing pale area mediobasally

Anommatus duodecimstriatus

Teredidae

First reported from NA in early 1970s (Rochester, NY); found in the soil from imported plants ( Peck 1972 )

Anomoea flavokansiensis

Chrysomelidae

Identification: The dorsum being completely flavous with all femora also flavous/fulvous is distinct for US species. --John Watts, 8.vii.2008

Anomognathus cuspidatus

Staphylinidae

Identification: penultimate tergite with long median and a pair of shorter lateral spines

Anopliomorpha rinconia

Cerambycidae

Identification: "The alveolate punctures on the pronotum, bright white scutellum pubescence, and relatively long third antennomere with pronounced spine are all characters of [ Anopliomorpha ] and not present in Gymnopsyra ." - Steven Lingafelter, 20

Anoplocurius altus

Cerambycidae

Holotypc and allotypc collected in Davis Mountains. TEXAS, July 2, 1940. Paratypes from the same locality ranging in dates from June 6 to July 6, D. J. and J. N. Knull collectors.

Anoplodera pubera

Cerambycidae

Anoplodera pubera (Anoplodera pubera) is a species in the family Cerambycidae, commonly known as longhorn beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Lepturinae, tribe Lepturini, suborder Polyphaga, sup

Anoplognatho dunnianus

Scarabaeidae

Identification: Antenna with 9 segments but can appear to have 10 because sometimes the 5th segment is subdivided. It can be difficult to spot so be careful and check other generic characters. Mandibles are large and semicircularly rounded.