Bipectinate Click Beetle
Pityobius anguinus
This record describes Pityobius anguinus (species). Recorded family: Elateridae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Fairly uncommon. Other than a few lines of text in American Beetles, the only other reference I found was a brief mention in Coleoptera or Beetles East of the Great Plains ( 3 )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Elateroidea
- Family
- Elateridae (Click Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Pityobiinae
- Genus
- Pityobius
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
east of the Miss. R. to AB - Map
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Pityobius anguinus (LeConte 1853)
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Pityobius anguinus. 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 Bipectinate Click Beetle (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Mike Quinn; Additional contributions by JohnMaxwell22 , Russell Rogers