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Beetles

Order Coleoptera

1299 species

The largest order of insects, comprising about 25% of all known animal species. Beetles are found in nearly every habitat and are distinguished by their hardened forewings called elytra.

Species in this Order

Curculionidae

Banded Fruit Weevil

Phlyctinus callosus

A small greyish-brown weevil with pale transverse bands on the elytra. It is a significant pest of f...

7-10 mm
Erotylidae

Banded Fungus Beetle

Triplax russica

A small, attractively colored beetle with a red thorax and dark blue-black elytra. Lives on bracket ...

3-5 mm
Buprestidae Not Evaluated

Banded Jewel Beetle

Chrysochroa buqueti

A large, spectacularly iridescent beetle with red, green, and blue metallic bands. It is native to t...

30-45 mm
Cerambycidae

Banded Longhorn Beetle

Typocerus velutinus

A yellow and brown longhorn beetle commonly found visiting flowers. Larvae develop in rotting hardwo...

10-18 mm
Carabidae

Banded Oogaster Ground Beetle

Anthia sexguttata

A large Indian ground beetle with six prominent white spots on its black elytra. It is a fast-runnin...

30-45 mm
Curculionidae Not Evaluated

Barbados Cane Weevil

Metamasius hemipterus

A large weevil with variable striped patterns, originally from the Caribbean. It is a significant pe...

12-20 mm
Trogossitidae Not Evaluated

Bark Gnawing Beetle

Trogossita japonica

A predatory beetle found under bark where it hunts wood-boring larvae. Its flattened body is well su...

12-18 mm
Staphylinidae

Bark-crevice Rove Beetle

Nudobius lentus

A slender, flattened rove beetle adapted for life under tight-fitting bark. Its compressed body and ...

6-9 mm
Cerambycidae Near Threatened

Bates' Rosalia

Rosalia batesi

A rare and beautiful longhorn beetle with pale lavender-grey elytra and contrasting black spots, fou...

18-30 mm
Leiodidae

Bathysciola Cave Beetle

Bathysciola ovata

A small oval cave beetle found in the Pyrenean caves of France and Spain. It has reduced eyes and el...

2-3 mm
Chrysomelidae

Bean Weevil

Acanthoscelides obtectus

A small, mottled grayish-brown beetle with a compact, somewhat wedge-shaped body. It is a major stor...

2-4 mm
Staphylinidae

Beaver Rove Beetle

Leptusa fumida

A tiny, dark aleocharine rove beetle that inhabits the nests of beavers and other semi-aquatic roden...

2-3 mm
Scarabaeidae

Bee Beetle

Trichius fasciatus

A fuzzy, yellow-and-black banded beetle that closely resembles a bumblebee. Adults visit flowers and...

9-13 mm
Scarabaeidae

Bee Chafer

Trichius rosaceus

A furry bumblebee-mimicking flower beetle with yellow and black bands. Visits roses and other garden...

9-13mm
Carabidae Endangered

Benderman's Cave Beetle

Pseudanophthalmus bendermani

A tiny blind ground beetle restricted to a single cave system in Virginia. It is federally listed as...

4-5 mm
Cerambycidae

Berger's Flat-face

Anoplophora beryllina

A stunning metallic blue-green longhorn found in the subtropical forests of Yunnan and Guizhou provi...

25-38 mm
Lampyridae Vulnerable

Bethany Beach Firefly

Photuris bethaniensis

A predatory firefly known from a narrow range along the mid-Atlantic coast. Females mimic the flash ...

10-14 mm
Lampyridae

Big Dipper Firefly

Photinus consimilis

A common North American firefly that produces a slow, arching flash resembling the Big Dipper conste...

8-12 mm
Cicindelidae

Big Sand Tiger Beetle

Cicindela formosa

A large and colorful tiger beetle found in sandy habitats across North America. Its color varies fro...

14-18 mm
Carabidae

Big-eyed Ground Beetle

Notiophilus biguttatus

A small, fast-running ground beetle with enormously enlarged eyes relative to its body size. It has ...

5-6 mm
Carabidae

Big-headed Tiger Beetle

Megacephala virginica

A nocturnal tiger beetle with a disproportionately large head and long curved mandibles. It is dark ...

18-24 mm
Scarabaeidae

Binodis Dung Beetle

Onthophagus binodis

A small, brown-black tunneling dung beetle with two small nodules on the male head. It was introduce...

6-10 mm
Staphylinidae

Bipunctate Aleocharine

Aleochara bipustulata

A robust aleocharine rove beetle with two reddish spots on its elytra, serving as both predator and ...

3-5 mm
Curculionidae

Birch Bark Beetle

Scolytus ratzeburgi

A small, dark brown bark beetle that infests birch trees in boreal and subarctic forests. Adults bor...

4-6 mm
Chrysomelidae

Birch Leaf Beetle

Chrysomela collaris

A handsome beetle with dark metallic blue-black elytra and a contrasting bright red pronotum. It is ...

6-8 mm
Curculionidae

Black Alpine Weevil

Otiorhynchus niger

A robust, dark weevil commonly found under stones in alpine environments. Adults are nocturnal and f...

7-10 mm
Cerambycidae

Black and Yellow Longhorn

Rutpela maculata

A slender wasp-mimicking beetle with yellow elytra marked with black bands and spots. It is a common...

13-20mm
Scarabaeidae

Black Aphodius

Aphodius fimetarius

A small dweller dung beetle with a black head and pronotum and reddish-brown elytra. It lives direct...

5-8 mm
Silphidae

Black Burying Beetle

Nicrophorus humator

A large all-black burying beetle with orange-tipped antennae. It buries animal carcasses for its lar...

18-26mm
Dermestidae Not Evaluated

Black Carpet Beetle

Attagenus unicolor

A small, oval, dark brown to black beetle that is a major pest of textiles and natural fibers. Larva...

3-5 mm
Silphidae

Black Carrion Beetle

Necrodes littoralis

A large, dark carrion beetle with ridged elytra and a distinctive lumpy thorax. It is associated wit...

15-25 mm
Carabidae

Black Caterpillar Hunter

Calosoma sayi

A large, entirely black caterpillar hunter beetle native to North American prairies and grasslands. ...

20-28 mm
Carabidae

Black Clock Beetle

Pterostichus madidus

A common nocturnal ground beetle found throughout European gardens and farmland. It is jet black and...

14-18 mm
Staphylinidae

Black Cocktail-Ant Rove Beetle

Lomechusa pubicollis

A myrmecophilous rove beetle that lives inside ant nests. It secretes chemicals that trick ants into...

4-6 mm
Scarabaeidae

Black Dung Beetle

Copris lunaris

A robust black dung beetle found across Europe and parts of Asia. Males bear a single curved horn on...

15-22 mm
Carabidae

Black Forest Ground Beetle

Pterostichus niger

A large jet-black ground beetle common in European forests and damp woodlands. It is one of the larg...

16–24 mm
Silphidae

Black Sexton Beetle

Necrophorus vespilloides

A remarkable burying beetle that locates small animal carcasses using acute sense of smell. Pairs wo...

12-18 mm
Curculionidae Not Evaluated

Black Vine Weevil

Otiorhynchus sulcatus

A dull black, flightless weevil that is a serious pest of ornamental plants. Adults feed at night, l...

8-12 mm
Meloidae

Black-Headed Blister Beetle

Epicauta pennsylvanica

An entirely black blister beetle common across eastern North America, often seen in large groups on ...

10-18 mm
Cerambycidae

Black-striped Flower Longhorn

Strangalia attenuata

A slender, wasp-like flower longhorn with yellow elytra bearing longitudinal black stripes. Found in...

14-20 mm
Cerambycidae

Black-striped Longhorn

Stenurella melanura

A small, attractive longhorn beetle commonly found on flowers in summer. Has dark wing tips on a yel...

6-9 mm
Elateridae

Black-tailed Click Beetle

Ampedus nigrinus

A dark-bodied click beetle with subtly reddish-brown elytra and a shiny black pronotum. It inhabits ...

8-11 mm
Geotrupidae

Blackburn Earth-Boring Beetle

Blackburnium reichei

A small, globular earth-boring dung beetle with a dark brown to black body. Endemic to Australia, it...

8-12 mm
Carabidae Vulnerable

Blackburnia Hawaiian Ground Beetle

Blackburnia hawaiiensis

An endemic Hawaiian ground beetle found in montane forests on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is a noct...

12-18 mm
Leiodidae Vulnerable

Blind Cave Leiodid Beetle

Glacicavicola bathyscioides

A tiny eyeless beetle found in ice caves of the western United States. It survives in near-freezing ...

2-3 mm
Meloidae Not Evaluated

Blister Beetle

Epicauta vittata

A striped black and yellow beetle that releases cantharidin, a chemical causing painful skin blister...

12-20 mm
Elateridae

Blood-red Click Beetle

Ampedus sanguinolentus

A striking click beetle with deep blood-red elytra and a black head and pronotum. Larvae develop in ...

10-14 mm
Cerambycidae

Blood-red Longhorn

Callidium coriaceum

A flat-bodied cerambycid with a rich reddish-brown color and a leathery texture to its elytra. It is...

10-17 mm
Chrysomelidae

Bloody-Nosed Beetle

Timarcha tenebricosa

A large, flightless, domed black beetle that oozes red fluid from its mouth when threatened. The sec...

10-20 mm
Tenebrionidae

Blue Death-feigning Beetle

Asbolus verrucosus

A rounded blue-grey desert beetle covered in a waxy powder-blue coating. When threatened it flips on...

18-21mm
Chrysomelidae

Blue Flea Beetle

Altica lythri

A small metallic blue-green flea beetle that feeds on willowherb and evening primrose. Has enlarged ...

4-5 mm
Lampyridae Not Evaluated

Blue Ghost Firefly

Phausis reticulata

A firefly producing a steady pale blue-white glow rather than flashing. Females are larviform and wi...

7-12 mm
Carabidae Near Threatened

Blue Ground Beetle

Carabus intricatus

A large brilliant blue beetle with intricately sculptured elytra. It is a nocturnal predator of slug...

24-36mm
Chrysomelidae

Blue Leaf Beetle

Colaspidema atrum

A small, oval, dark blue to black beetle with a slight metallic luster. It can be a pest of lucerne ...

4-6 mm
Carabidae

Blue Margined Ground Beetle

Chlaenius impunctifrons

A brilliantly colored ground beetle with bright metallic blue-green elytra and a velvety texture fro...

12-15 mm
Chrysomelidae

Blue Milkweed Beetle

Chrysochus cobaltinus

A stunningly beautiful beetle with a deep cobalt blue metallic sheen across its rounded body. It fee...

8-12 mm
Chrysomelidae

Blue Mint Beetle

Chrysolina coerulans

A small, deep metallic blue leaf beetle found exclusively on mint plants. Both adults and larvae fee...

6-8 mm
Lampyridae

Blue Mountains Firefly

Atyphella flammulans

An Australian firefly found in cool temperate rainforests, producing a steady greenish glow. It has ...

7-10 mm
Lycidae

Blue Net-Winged Beetle

Metriorrhynchus rhipidius

An Australian net-winged beetle with dark blue-black elytra and elaborate feathery antennae in males...

10-16 mm
Staphylinidae

Blue Paederine Rove Beetle

Paederus balcanicus

A colorful Paederus rove beetle with metallic blue elytra and an orange thorax, found in southeaster...

7-9 mm
Staphylinidae

Blue Rove Beetle

Paederus fuscipes

A small, slender beetle with metallic blue elytra and an orange abdomen. It is an important biologic...

6-8 mm
Chrysomelidae

Blue Willow Beetle

Phratora vulgatissima

A small, metallic dark blue to blue-green beetle commonly found on willow trees. It can cause signif...

3-5 mm
Staphylinidae

Blue-winged Rove Beetle

Platydracus chalcocephalus

A handsome rove beetle with a metallic blue-green head and pronotum contrasting with brown elytra. I...

12-17 mm
Tenebrionidae Not Evaluated

Blue-Winged Wasteland Beetle

Omocrates marginatus

A robust, flightless darkling beetle found in arid Australian landscapes. It is nocturnal and shelte...

18-25 mm
Staphylinidae

Bog Jet Beetle

Stenus juno

One of the largest Stenus species, with a shiny black body and the characteristic bulging eyes of it...

5-7 mm
Geotrupidae

Bolboceras Dung Beetle

Bolboceras armiger

A stout, rounded earth-boring beetle with a yellowish-brown body and a prominent horn on the male he...

10-18 mm
Curculionidae

Boll Weevil

Anthonomus grandis

A small grayish-brown weevil with a long curved snout used to bore into cotton bolls. It devastated ...

4-8 mm
Carabidae

Bombardier Beetle

Brachinus crepitans

Defends itself with a boiling-hot chemical spray ejected from its abdomen at over 100°C. The reactio...

5-13 mm
Dytiscidae Near Threatened

Bordered Great Diving Beetle

Dytiscus circumflexus

A large British diving beetle similar to D. marginalis but with expanded yellow margins. It prefers ...

28-34 mm
Lucanidae

Bornean Flat Stag Beetle

Aegus chelifer

A medium-sized, very flat stag beetle with a glossy dark reddish-brown body perfectly adapted for li...

20-45 mm
Lucanidae

Bornean Flat-horned Beetle

Gnaphaloryx squalidus

A compact stag beetle with a broad, flattened body perfectly adapted for living under bark. It is da...

20-35 mm
Chrysomelidae

Bornean Peacock Beetle

Lamprosoma bicolor

A small, dome-shaped leaf beetle with spectacular iridescent elytra that shift from purple to green ...

5-10 mm
Scarabaeidae Vulnerable

Bornean Thick-legged Flower Beetle

Cheirotonus battareli

A large, striking flower beetle with metallic green elytra and enormously thickened front legs in ma...

50-80 mm
Lampyridae Data Deficient

Borneo Firefly

Pteroptyx bearni

A synchronous firefly endemic to Borneo that creates dramatic light displays in riverside trees. It ...

5-7 mm
Lampyridae

Borneo Giant Firefly

Lamprigera borneensis

A very large tropical firefly from Borneo with massive larviform females that glow brightly. Males a...

25-60 mm (female), 12-18 mm (male)
Lampyridae Endangered

Borneo Pulsing Firefly

Pteroptyx tener

A synchronous firefly of Southeast Asian mangroves that produces green flashes in unison with thousa...

6-9 mm
Dynastinae Not Evaluated

Borneo Three-horned Beetle

Chalcosoma caucasus

Among the longest beetles in Asia, with three powerful horns and a metallic green-black sheen. Males...

60-135 mm
Curculionidae

Botany Bay Diamond Weevil

Chrysolopus spectabilis

A large weevil covered in brilliant pale green scales with black diamond-shaped patches. It was one ...

15-25 mm
Chrysomelidae

Brassy Willow Beetle

Phratora vitellinae

A small, shiny metallic bronze to greenish beetle that feeds on willow and poplar. Adults overwinter...

3-5 mm
Cicindelidae

Brazilian Arboreal Tiger Beetle

Oxycheila tristis

A large, dark brown tiger beetle found in the forests of South America. Unlike most tiger beetles it...

18-25 mm
Lampyridae Data Deficient

Brazilian Headlight Firefly

Pyrearinus termitilluminans

A unique click beetle relative whose bioluminescent larvae inhabit termite mounds in the Brazilian c...

15-20 mm
Scarabaeidae Not Evaluated

Brazilian Jewel Scarab

Chrysina cupreomarginata

A dazzling scarab beetle with a brilliant golden-green metallic sheen. Its compact oval body reflect...

25-35 mm
Erotylidae Not Evaluated

Brazilian Pleasing Fungus Beetle

Erotylus incomparabilis

A strikingly patterned beetle with bold black and orange spots on a glossy body. It is commonly foun...

15-30 mm
Phengodidae

Brazilian Railroad Worm

Phrixothrix viviani

A tropical glowworm beetle with the remarkable ability to produce both green lateral lights and a re...

20-40 mm (female), 10-14 mm (male)
Scarabaeidae Not Evaluated

Brazilian Rhinoceros Beetle

Enema pan

A large, glossy black dynastine beetle with a prominent upward-curving cephalic horn and a smaller p...

40-65 mm
Cantharidae

Brazilian Soldier Beetle

Chauliognathus flavipes

A South American soldier beetle with yellow-orange elytra and dark markings. It is commonly found on...

9-13 mm
Scarabaeidae

Bright Green Canthon

Canthon virens

A small, vivid metallic green roller dung beetle found in Brazil and neighboring countries. Its brig...

8-14 mm
Chrysomelidae

Broad Bean Weevil

Bruchus rufimanus

A compact, dark beetle with grayish pubescence and reddish-brown antennae bases. It is a significant...

4-5 mm
Lucanidae

Broad-Horned Flour Beetle Mimic Stag

Figulus sublaevis

A small, elongate, dark brown to black stag beetle with reduced mandibles that resembles a darkling ...

10-16 mm
Scarabaeidae

Broad-Horned Onitis

Onitis caffer

A large, dark brown to black tunneler with massive forelegs in males. The prothorax is greatly enlar...

16-26 mm
Cerambycidae

Broad-necked Root Borer

Prionus laticollis

A large dark brown prionine beetle with a notably broad pronotum bearing three sharp lateral teeth o...

22-48 mm
Dytiscidae Vulnerable

Broad-shouldered Diving Beetle

Dytiscus latissimus

The largest European diving beetle and one of the largest aquatic beetles in the world. It inhabits ...

36-44 mm
Chrysomelidae

Broad-shouldered Leaf Beetle

Chrysomela tremula

A robust, convex beetle with dark metallic greenish-black to bronze elytra and irregular rows of pun...

7-11 mm
Scarabaeidae

Broad-Toothed Scarab

Scarabaeus laticollis

A medium-sized, glossy black roller dung beetle with a broad pronotum and strong clypeal teeth. Comm...

15-22 mm
Buprestidae Not Evaluated

Bronze Birch Borer

Agrilus anxius

A native North American jewel beetle that is the most serious pest of birch trees. Larvae create win...

7–12 mm
Chrysomelidae

Bronze Flea Beetle

Altica ambiens

A metallic bronze to greenish flea beetle with prominent hind leg development. It feeds on alder lea...

4-6 mm
Chrysomelidae

Bronze Leaf Beetle

Colaphellus sophiae

A small, bronze to dark coppery beetle with a convex, oval body. It feeds on various cruciferous pla...

4-5 mm
Scarabaeidae

Brown Chafer

Serica brunnea

A small chestnut-brown beetle with a velvety sheen to its elytra. It is nocturnal and attracted to l...

8-11 mm
Chrysomelidae

Brown Leaf Weevil

Phyllobius oblongus

A brown-scaled weevil commonly found on hawthorn and other hedgerow shrubs. Less colorful than its g...

4-6 mm
Chrysomelidae

Brown Willow Beetle

Galerucella lineola

A small brown beetle that feeds on willow leaves and can cause significant defoliation. Has been use...

4-6 mm