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)

Selenophorus opalinus

Carabidae

Identification: Relatively large size and shiny iridescent elytra with series of tiny punctures in striae 3, 5, & 7. NB: an undescribed species discovered recently in se TX superficially appears like a small (8-8.5 mm) S. opalinus . Type locality: Ca

Selenophorus rileyi

Carabidae

Identification: distinguished from other Nearctic Selenophorus species by the dark elytra with strong metallic luster; pronotum with base and front coarsely punctate, hind angles sharply subrectangular; elytra with subfoveate seriate punctures and de

Selenophorus seriatoporus

Carabidae

Identification: Elytra with seriate punctures large. Pronotum base more finely rugose than punctate. Det. P.W. Messer, 2021 (based on examination of the spmn)

Selenophorus undatus

Carabidae

Identification: distinguished from other species of Selenophorus by its shiny and iridescent black elytra, dorsal microsculpture absent, pronotum not notably cordate, elytral striae not densely punctulate, abdomen without subapical carinae in males,

Selvadius nunenmacheri

Coccinellidae

Identification: Gordon defined this polymorphic species with noticeable variation in size and some variation in the form of the postcoxal line and body shape based on four spmns Type Locality: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Semanotus japonicus 0

Semanotus japonicus

Cerambycidae

Identification: adult habitus: preserved specimens ♂♀ ● live photo

Semijulistus rubrithorax

Rhadalidae

"These with the red prothorax from the eastern Sierras go under the name Semijulistus rubrithorax Pic, 1928. Whether they're a color morph of a more widespread solid-black species is still unknown!" ―Matt Gimmel

Sennius cruentatus

Chrysomelidae

Identification: The shape of the elytral maculation will usually separate S. cruentatus from all the U.S. species except S. simulans , which is only known from AZ. Has an all-black form

Sennius guttifer

Chrysomelidae

Identification: Det. E. G. Riley, 2010 – first USA record not reported in Kingsolver

Sennius lebasi

Chrysomelidae

Identification: Body reddish yellow to black, most often dark red; head black, pronotum red to black, often with paler red median line; elytra reddish yellow to dark brown, each elytron with broad, oblique, paler band usually extending from side to s

Sennius leucostauros

Chrysomelidae

Identification: Integument black; antenna reddish brown, fore legs and mid legs reddish brown, metafemoral base black, apical one-third to one-half red. Vestiture white and dark brown; pronotum with median stripe and lateral patches white; scutellum

Sennius medialis

Chrysomelidae

Identification: most closely resembles S. abbreviatus , which has the hind legs black, not red

Sennius simulans 0

Sennius simulans

Chrysomelidae

Type locality: Huachuca Mountain, Cochise Co., Arizona

Sepedophilus brachypterus

Staphylinidae

Identification: Male genitalia show variation throughout its range; may actually be a complex of similar species

Sepedophilus marshami

Staphylinidae

A very small (5 mm) Rove Beetle. It is shaped like a tear drop with the head at the wider end. It has a blackish body with a wide red central band. A ground dwelling species, often found in ants nests in damp rotting stumps and fallen branches, also

Sepedophilus wickhami

Staphylinidae

Identification: Holotype Described from Sudbury, Ontario; rare

Serica campestris

Scarabaeidae

Texas records from Bowie and Wood counties in e.TX ( 3 )

Serica howdeni

Scarabaeidae

originally known from only the type specimen taken near Tyler (Smith County). Riley & Wolfe collected it at Tyler State Park (Smith County) and in Brazos County.

Serica intermixta

Scarabaeidae

Identification: Det. Paul K. Lago, 1985 Texas records from Brazos, Sabine, Smith, Tyler and Wood counties in e.TX ( 4 )

Serica mystaca

Scarabaeidae

Literature record only for Texas, but expected to be found in east TX ( 4 )

Serica parallela

Scarabaeidae

Identification: "Color varying through the shades mahogany red, bay and chestnut, surface velvety and opaque, with only a slight iridescence observable when viewed at an oblique angle in good light." Det. E. G. Riley, 2014 Type Locality: New Jersey

Serica sericea

Scarabaeidae

Identification: "Color deep chestnut, surface velvety and opaque but in shifting lights showing a very brilliant metallic sheen of rainbow colors." Not strongly setose on head or pronotum.

Serica tristis

Scarabaeidae

Identification: "Color varying from chestnut to nearly black, depending largely upon the degree of maturity and condition of the specimen, surface moderately shining, distinctly less velvety than in sericea , but with a similar though less intense, m

Serica vespertina

Scarabaeidae

coll'ed at UV light in Morris and Smith counties in e. TX

Sericoda bogemannii

Carabidae

Sericoda bogemannii is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America and Europe.

Shining Ball Scarab Beetle

Ceratocanthus aeneus

Hybosoridae

Riley & Wolfe (2003) examined one specimen from Sabine County taken in a malaise trap during July. This record extends the known range of this uncommon southeastern United States species to near its hypothetical western limit. ( 3 ) Most records seem

Shiny Round Sand Beetle

Omophron nitidum

Carabidae

Nocturnal; adults take cover during the day in burrows dug in the ground, or in leaf litter. Adults are gregarious; often come to lights. ( 3 )

Shiny Spider Beetle

Mezium affine

Ptinidae

Identification: see here and earliest record in our area: ne. US 1904

Shoemaker's reed beetle

Plateumaris shoemakeri

Chrysomelidae

Identification: Typically, specimens of P. shoemakeri are recognized by presence of deep, regular median line and basal and callosal sulci of pronotum, largely reddish appendages, robustly clavate metafemur with large acute subapical tooth, and shiny

Shore Ground Beetle

Elaphrus ruscarius

Carabidae

Elaphrus ruscarius is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Elaphrinae. It was described by Say in 1834.

Siagonium americanum

Staphylinidae

Identification: Distinguished from the other widespread species, Siagonium punctatum , by having elytra with a single stria near the suture (several in punctatum ), the remaining surface being longitudinally striate. Males have a horn above each ante

Siagonium stacesmithi

Staphylinidae

Identification: Distinguished from S. punctatum by a more transverse pronotum, with surface between punctures "alutaceous" (with skin-like lines). Also male horns are slightly stouter than in that species. Compare the pronotal microsculpture of stace

Sibinia fulva

Curculionidae

Merobruchus julianus (Bruchinae) was reared from A. greggii seeds attacked by S. fulva ; M. julianus occupied the centres of the large flattened seeds while S. fulva fed around the edges.

Sibinia hispida

Curculionidae

In w. TX and NM S. hispida is virtually always microsympatric with another bud predator S. sibinioides , and with the seed predator S. suturalis .

Sibinia ochreosa

Curculionidae

Identification: Det. E. G. Riley, 2009 Considered as a biological control agent for the invasive Mimosa pigra (Fabaceae)

Sibinia ruidula

Curculionidae

Type Locality: TEXAS: Hidalgo Co., 4 mi N Delfina, 27 March, 1970, W.E. Clark

Sibinia transversa

Curculionidae

Identification: Dets. W. E. Clark Type Locality: AZ

Silis carmelita

Cantharidae

Silis carmelita is a species of soldier beetle in the family Cantharidae. It is found in North America.

Silis insperata

Cantharidae

Identification: Virtually indistinguishable from other members of the pallida group, other than in male genitalia

Silis ruficollis

Cantharidae

A distinctive species being 6 to 7mm long with a black pronotum, and having the base of tibiae and mandibles red. The pronotum is deeply notched at the hind angles and coarsely punctate throughout. Each elytron has three slightly raised lines. Quite

Silis spathulata

Cantharidae

Silis spathulata is a species of soldier beetle in the family Cantharidae. It is found in North America.

Silky Anobiid

Priobium sericeum

Ptinidae

Identification: Difficult to separate from the other 2 species

Simplocaria metallica

Byrrhidae

Simplocaria metallica is a species of pill beetle in the family Byrrhidae. It is found in Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China) and North America.

Simplocaria semistriata

Byrrhidae

Simplocaria semistriata is a species of pill beetle in the family Byrrhidae. It is found in Europe & Northern Asia (excluding China) and North America.

Sitona hispidulus

Curculionidae

Length 3 to 6 mm. This weevil is noticeably bristly. It usually has a golden coppery or greenish metallic appearance when fresh, but when the scales rub off it appears much blacker. Unless identified by a recognised expert, good photos are required t

Sitona sulcifrons

Curculionidae

Length 3 to 4 mm. this is a plain brown weevil with a short rostrum (snout). Other Sitonia species. Dissection is necessary to distinguish between them. Unless identified by a recognised expert, photographic evidence is required and the specimen shou

Sitona suturalis

Curculionidae

Length 4 or 5 mm. A brown weevil with rather a dark and light striped appearance when fresh. There are other weevils with a similar appearance and detailed examination is necessary for identification. Other Sitonia species. Dissection is necessary to

Sitophagus hololeptoides

Tenebrionidae

Identification: male head is horned A minor pest; can give a bad smell to the stored goods.

Sitophilus oryzae

Dryophthoridae

Adult weevils are about 2 to 3mm long and coloured a dull reddish-brown to black with large and irregular punctures on the elytra and four light reddish or yellowish spots on the elytra. The median lobe of the male aedeagas needs examining and the do

Six-banded Longhorn Beetle

Dryobius sexnotatus

Cerambycidae

Identification: pattern distinctive: (recently collected in e. TX; state record) Uncommon/rare ; widely scattered, populations are sparse ; listed as rare or threatened by several states, e.g. considered a SGCN by AR, LA, and VA Dury noted that D. se

Six-lined Goldenrod Leaf Beetle

Ophraella sexvittata

Chrysomelidae

Ophraella sexvittata is a species of skeletonizing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America.

Six-speckled Long-horned Beetle

Astylopsis sexguttata

Cerambycidae

Astylopsis sexguttata is a species of longhorn beetles of the subfamily Lamiinae. It was described by Say in 1826.

Six-spotted Flower Longhorn Beetle

Strangalia sexnotata

Cerambycidae

Identification: Less elongated than other members of genus with strong elytral spots. Elytral pubescence "bristly". One form, noted from south-central states, has first few antennomeres black and pale legs. Coastal form from Virginia, etc. has mostly

Six-spotted Zigzag Ladybird

Cheilomenes sexmaculata

Coccinellidae

Identification: highly variable, 23 phenotypes this sp. has been on a northward tear from Peru since 2010! In the Americas, C. sexmaculata was first found in Chile in 2000 (González 2008). Since then, it has made its way north: Peru in 2010 (Cornejo

Skullcap Leaf Beetle

Phyllobrotica quadrimaculata

Chrysomelidae

Size 5 to 7 mm. The straw-brown or orange-brown elytra are marked with a total of four dark spots or blotches, giving rise to the Latin name. As the Common Name suggests this species is strongly associated with Skullcap. Widespread, although not comm

Slender Dung Beetle

Ataenius cognatus

Scarabaeidae

Identification: Holotype • most similar to A. strigatus and A. spretulus , but lacks posterior femoral lines and has significantly shallower punctures on pronotum

Slender Lizard Beetle

Acropteroxys gracilis

Erotylidae

Identification: narrower and shorter than A. lecontei , with elytra more pointed and the intervals more sparsely punctate; thoracic mark, when present, is never in the center of the thorax

Slender Seedcorn Beetle

Clivina impressefrons

Carabidae

Identification: One clue that helps distinguish this species is its rather uniform brown color. In hand the pronotum appeared almost same color as elytra.

Slender-horned Flour Beetle

Gnatocerus maxillosus

Tenebrionidae

Identification: male has a small horn on the mandible

Slime Flux Beetle

Nosodendron unicolor

Nosodendridae

Slime Flux Beetle (Nosodendron unicolor) is a species in the family Nosodendridae, commonly known as wounded-tree beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the suborder Polyphaga, superfamily Derodontoidea. This sp

Small Black Dung Beetle

Copris minutus

Scarabaeidae

Small Black Dung Beetle (Copris minutus) is a species in the family Scarabaeidae, commonly known as scarab beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Scarabaeinae, tribe Coprini, suborder Polyphaga, su

Small Cedar Borer

Atimia confusa

Cerambycidae

Small Cedar Borer (Atimia confusa) is a species in the family Cerambycidae, commonly known as longhorn beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Spondylidinae, tribe Atimiini, suborder Polyphaga, supe

Small Chestnut Weevil

Curculio sayi

Curculionidae

Identification: See Remarks. "The Greater Chestnut Weevil is Curculio caryatrypes and it is easily recognized as its the only Curculio with segment two of the antennal funicule (the part beyond the elbow) longer than segment 1. In Lesser Chestnut Wee

Small Hive Beetle

Aethina tumida

Nitidulidae

Small Hive Beetle (Aethina tumida) 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 Nitidulinae, tribe Nitidulini, suborder Polyphaga, su

Small Striped Flea Beetle

Phyllotreta undulata

Chrysomelidae

A tiny beetle, which measures little more than about 1.5 mm. Its black elytra are marked with broad straw yellow longitudinal stripes. It is similar to Phyllotreta nemorum and detailed examination is necessary to be certain of the species. Their pref

Smaller European Elm Bark Beetle

Scolytus multistriatus

Curculionidae

Identification: prominent spine on abdominal segment 2 separates S. multistriatus from S. rugulosus , the only other hardwood-infesting western scolytid. ( UBC Forestry ) Their gallery is typically unbranched and runs parallel to the grain; this dist

Smaragdina militaris

Chrysomelidae

Type Locality: One specimen, New Braunfels, Texas, Mr. Lindheimer.

Smartweed Node Weevil

Rhinoncus longulus

Curculionidae

Identification: elongate form; no prothoracic tubercles; eyes round and barely touch the prothorax in repose; antecoxal ridges very strong but prosternum hardly emarginate in front • Holotype

Smicrips texana

Smicripidae

Type series: Texas (Austin [County] and Brownsville). Six specimens. third-most commonly coll'ed (mostly via pitfall traps, rarely via UV light) beetle sp. at Laguna Atascosa NWR, Cameron Co., TX

Smicronyx centralis

Curculionidae

Identification: Description : Rostra of both sexes black, moderately stout, punctate from base to apex; squamose behind the antennal insertion; longer, more tapered and less roughly punctate in female. Head black to piceous, front sparsely squamose.

Smicronyx corpulentus

Curculionidae

Identification: surface of antennal club rufous to ferruginous Description : Rostra of both sexes black, moderately curved, finely punctate from base to apex, sparsely squamose behind antennal insertions; slightly longer, smoother and more tapered in

Smicronyx discoideus

Curculionidae

Identification: A distinct posterolateral macula of dark scales present on each elytron, in addition to the dark dorsal macula; surface of antennal club black or piceous Det. MJ Hatfield, 2019

Smicronyx quadrifer

Curculionidae

Identification: A nearly quadrate patch of dark scales present near middle (and divided by sutural line) of elytra Description : Rostra of both sexes stout, black to piceous, rugosely punctate from base to apex; closely squamose from base to near ape

Smicronyx spretus

Curculionidae

Identification: Det. M. A. Quinn, 2013 Type Locality: Ariz.

Smodicum texanum

Cerambycidae

Identification: Characters cited by Knull for separating texanum are difficult to interpret in material from southern Texas, it appears that texanum differs from cucujiforme only by its slightly paler coloration, more lightly pubescent dorsum, and mi

Smooth Spider Beetle

Gibbium aequinoctiale

Ptinidae

Identification: Elytra fused and inflated, completely glabrous (smooth). Can only be confused with Mezium , but pronotum distinctive. has a remarkable ability to avoid drying out and can withstand temperatures as high as 56°C (133°F) (Yoder et al. 20

Smooth-winged Sun Beetle

Amara laevipennis

Carabidae

Amara laevipennis is a species of seed-eating ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.

Snail Hunter

Cychrus caraboides

Carabidae

Length 14 to 19 mm. This beetle has a long thin head designed for getting inside snail shells to eat the flesh. It also has a pear-shaped body and is not likely to be confused with any other species. It is mainly found in woodland and other shaded ha

Snakewood Bruchid

Neltumius texanus

Chrysomelidae

Neltumius texanus is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Snow Lady Beetle

Coccidula lepida

Coccinellidae

Identification: Gordon's figures Enlongated narrow shape Lightly pubescent (hairy) markings variable:

Soapberry Borer

Agrilus prionurus

Buprestidae

Identification: markings distinctive; shiny black, with 4 small white spots on elytra Infested trees observed in Travis and McLennan counties as early as 1998. (Billings and Pase, 2009) In the spring of 2009, Texas Forest Service, and several other s

Sonoma tishechkini

Staphylinidae

Identification: Examination of aedeagus is necessary Winged, capable of flight; collected in light trap . It is the only eastern Sonoma species known from low elevations.

Soronia grisea

Nitidulidae

A small (3.5 to 5.5 mm) beetle, related to the common pollen beetle. It has a distinctive mottled patterning of brown and paler straw colour. Unless identified by a recognised expert, good photos are required that show the key ID features. Also state

Sosylus costatus

Bothrideridae

Sosylus costatus is a species of dry bark beetle in the family Bothrideridae. It is found in North America.

South Texas Coastal Cotinis

Cotinis boylei

Scarabaeidae

Type Locality is Bastrop State Park . ( 3 ) Texas considers this to be a "Species of Greatest Conservation Need" (SGCN) ( 4 )

South Texas Giant Tiger Beetle

Amblycheila hoversoni

Carabidae

Identification: See key on genus page. It's rather remarkable that this largest of all New World tiger beetles was only just described in 1990...

Southern Corn Leaf Beetle (cyphus-denticollis Complex)

Myochrous cyphus-denticollis

Chrysomelidae

Identification: Myochrous sp. denticollis-cyphus Complex Det. M. A. Quinn, 2010

Southern Cowpea Weevil

Callosobruchus chinensis

Chrysomelidae

widely used as lab model for research ( 3 ) ; may severely damage stored pulses of legumes ( 4 )

Southern Pine Sawyer

Monochamus titillator

Cerambycidae

Identification: Adult: brown with irregular pale grayish patches on elytra; legs gray; apical elytral margin meets sutural tooth at right angle; tip of elytral suture with distinct spines:

Southern Tobacco Flea Beetle

Epitrix fasciata

Chrysomelidae

Epitrix fasciata, the banded epitrix, is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in the Caribbean, Central America, North America, Oceania, and South America.

Southwest Spring Firefly

Bicellonycha wickershamorum

Lampyridae

Identification: Note the black elytra with yellow margins and elytral suture. Dark black median pronotal vitta, acute hind pronotal corners, all contrast with Photinus knulli (the only Photinus in that area, having concolorous grey elytra, small pron

Southwestern Marbled Longhorn

Lochmaeocles marmoratus

Cerambycidae

Lochmaeocles marmoratus is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by Casey in 1913. It is known from the United States and Mexico.

Soybean Leafminer

Odontota horni

Chrysomelidae

Odontota horni, the soybean leafminer, is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America.

Spalacopsis suffusa 0

Spalacopsis suffusa

Cerambycidae

Spalacopsis suffusa is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was first described by Newman in 1842.

Spalacopsis texana

Cerambycidae

Penrose swept numerous spmns from grasses and understory vegetation at Welder Wildlife Refuge in May and beat a mating pair from Baccharis at that site in Oct.

Sparedrus aspersus

Oedemeridae

Identification: Det. M. A. Quinn, 2012 Adults come to lights (E.G. Riley, pers. comm., 2012)

Sparedrus depressus 0

Sparedrus depressus

Oedemeridae

Identification: Holotype specimens taken at Chisos Basin May 1‒8 by beating gray oak and at light, and at Tornillo Flat on May 12 by beating Acacia ; described from a single male specimen taken at Mexico City.

Spectralia gracilipes

Buprestidae

Spectralia gracilipes is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

Spectralia prosternalis

Buprestidae

Identification: Det. D. J. Heffern, 2010 S. prosternalis is rarer than S. robusta , but has a smoother pronotum. Both have been reared from persimmon. Type Locality: Esperanza Ranch, Brownsville, Cameron Co., Texas Texas considers this a "Species of

Spectralia roburella

Buprestidae

Spectralia roburella is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.