Mosaic Round Sand Beetle
Omophron tessellatum
This record describes Omophron tessellatum (species). Recorded family: Carabidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance

Omophron tessellatum, the mosaic round sand beetle, is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.
Identification notes
dorsal habitus
Wikipedia reference for Omophron tessellatum: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omophron tessellatum.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Adephaga
- Family
- Carabidae (Ground Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Omophroninae
- Tribe
- Omophronini
- Genus
- Omophron (Round Sand Beetles)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
flooded places: lake/river banks, pond/pool edges, sea beaches, usually on sandy or clayish soils
Geographic Range
much of NA (NS-AB to VA-AR-OK-AZ) - Map ( 3 ) ( 4 )
Seasonal Activity
spring breeder ; May-Jul
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Omophron tessellatum Say 1823
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Omophron tessellatum. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
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.
Ecological role of the group
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.
Economic and practical significance of the group
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.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Mosaic Round Sand Beetle (8)
Photo credits: (c) Owen Strickland, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Owen Strickland | (c) Riley-Brendan Walsh, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Riley-Brendan Walsh | (c) blocky, all rights reserved, uploaded by blocky | (c) Owen Ridgen, all rights reserved, uploaded by Owen Ridgen | (c) APDP, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by APDP | (c) Levi smith, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Levi smith | (c) Mark Oxamitny, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Mark Oxamitny | (c) Brent Guinn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Brent Guinn | Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Bbarnd , Mike Quinn , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Mosaic Round Sand Beetle
What is Mosaic Round Sand Beetle?
Mosaic Round Sand Beetle (Omophron tessellatum) is a species in the family Carabidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How do you identify Mosaic Round Sand Beetle?
dorsal habitus
Where is Mosaic Round Sand Beetle found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | flooded places: lake/river banks, pond/pool edges, sea beaches, usually on sandy or clayish soils |
| Range | much of NA (NS-AB to VA-AR-OK-AZ) - Map ( 3 ) ( 4 ) |
When is Mosaic Round Sand Beetle active?
Mosaic Round Sand Beetle: seasonal activity - spring breeder ; May-Jul.
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