Adephaga
Guides
Agabinus
Agabinus is a genus of predaceous diving beetles (family Dytiscidae) established by Crotch in 1873. The genus contains two described species: Agabinus glabrellus and Agabinus sculpturellus. Members are found in North America and are classified within the subfamily Agabinae.
Agabus semipunctatus
Agabus semipunctatus is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. The species was originally described as Colymbetes semipunctatus by Kirby in 1837 before being transferred to the genus Agabus. It is recorded from North America, with specific distribution records from Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. As a member of the predaceous diving beetles, it is adapted to aquatic habitats.
Agonum corvus
Agonum corvus is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Platyninae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1860. The species is endemic to North America, with records from Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States. It is one of approximately 1,200 species in the genus Agonum, a diverse group of small to medium-sized ground beetles found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere.
Agonum moerens
Agonum moerens is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Dejean in 1828. It is distributed across North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Agonum, it belongs to a diverse group of small to medium-sized ground beetles often associated with moist habitats.
Agra wickhami
Amara angustata
Amara angustata is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, native to North America. The species was first described by Thomas Say in 1823. It is currently recognized as a valid species in GBIF and iNaturalist databases, though Catalogue of Life lists it as an ambiguous synonym. The species belongs to the large genus Amara, which comprises numerous ground beetle species distributed across the Holarctic region.
Amara aurata
Amara aurata is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Dejean in 1828. It belongs to the large genus Amara, which contains numerous species distributed across North America and other regions. As a member of Carabidae, it is part of a diverse family of predatory beetles commonly known as ground beetles.
Amphizoa
troutstream beetles
Amphizoa is a monogeneric genus of aquatic beetles, the sole representative of the family Amphizoidae. These beetles are commonly called troutstream beetles due to their association with cold, flowing mountain waters. The genus contains five known species, with three distributed in western North America and two in the eastern Palearctic region (China and North Korea). Adults and larvae are predatory, feeding primarily on stonefly larvae. When disturbed, adults release a yellowish, cantaloupe-scented fluid from the anus as a chemical defense.
Anchonoderus schaefferi
Anchonoderus schaefferi is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It was described by Liebke in 1928. The species is known to occur in North America, specifically within the United States. Very little detailed biological or ecological information has been published about this species.
Anisodactylus opaculus
Anisodactylus opaculus is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, described by LeConte in 1863. It is native to North America and occurs in the United States. The species belongs to a genus containing several granivorous ground beetles, though specific feeding habits for this species have not been documented.
Athrostictus
Athrostictus is a genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, established by Henry Walter Bates in 1878. The genus comprises 18 described species. As members of the tribe Harpalini within the subfamily Harpalinae, these beetles are part of a diverse group of predominantly ground-dwelling predatory beetles.
Brachinus cyanochroaticus
bombardier beetle
Brachinus cyanochroaticus is a species of bombardier beetle in the ground beetle family Carabidae. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from the United States and Canada. Like other members of the genus Brachinus, it possesses the distinctive defensive chemical reaction that gives bombardier beetles their common name. The species was described by Terry Erwin in 1969.
Brachinus puberulus
Brachinus puberulus is a species of bombardier beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Chaudoir in 1868. It belongs to the genus Brachinus, renowned for its chemical defense mechanism that produces a hot, noxious spray from the abdomen when disturbed. The species is recorded from the United States and Middle America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain sparse in the available literature.
Brychius
crawling water beetles
Brychius is a genus of small aquatic beetles in the family Haliplidae, commonly known as crawling water beetles. The genus comprises five recognized species distributed across parts of Europe and North America. One species, Brychius hungerfordi, is federally endangered in the United States. Members of this genus inhabit freshwater environments and are associated with aquatic vegetation.
Carabidae
ground beetles
Carabidae is one of the largest families of beetles, comprising over 40,000 described species worldwide. Members are predominantly predatory, with elongated bodies, thread-like antennae, and prominent forward-directed mandibles. The family includes diverse forms from fast-running tiger beetles to flightless tyrant ground beetles, occupying nearly every terrestrial habitat. Many species serve as important biological control agents of agricultural pests.
Cicindelinae
tiger beetles
Cicindelinae is a subfamily of predatory beetles commonly known as tiger beetles. Adults are characterized by large eyes, long slender legs, and powerful mandibles adapted for capturing fast-moving prey. They exhibit a distinctive run-stop-run hunting pattern necessitated by their visual processing limitations at high speeds. The subfamily contains approximately 2,822 species in 120 genera distributed worldwide, though they are most diverse in tropical and subtropical regions. Many species show strong habitat specificity, with some restricted to particular sand dune systems, riparian zones, or rock outcrops.
Clemnius
Clemnius is a genus of diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, established in 2017 to accommodate species previously placed in related genera. The genus belongs to the tribe Hygrotini within the subfamily Hydroporinae. Species in this genus are small to medium-sized diving beetles adapted to aquatic habitats. The genus has been documented from Southeast Asia based on collection records.
Clivinini
Clivinini is a tribe of ground beetles (Carabidae: Scaritinae) containing over 70 genera and more than 1,200 described species. Members are predominantly soil-dwelling or subterranean, with many species adapted to endogean (buried soil) or troglobitic (cave) habitats. The tribe includes several subtribes, most notably Ardistomina (containing Aspidoglossa, Semiardistomis, and Ardistomis) and Reicheiina. Species occur across all major biogeographic regions, with significant radiations in tropical and subtropical karst systems.
Copelatinae
copelatine diving beetles
Copelatinae is a subfamily of predaceous diving beetles (Dytiscidae) comprising seven genera: Agaporomorphus, Aglymbus, Copelatus, Exocelina, Lacconectus, Liopterus, and Madaglymbus. The genus Copelatus is the largest with approximately 470 described species worldwide, showing greatest diversity in tropical South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Members are predominantly aquatic, though some species have colonized highly ephemeral habitats including forest floor depressions. The subfamily exhibits remarkable morphological diversity and includes phylogenetically isolated lineages such as the South African genus Capelatus.
Dicaelus chermocki
notched-mouth ground beetle
Dicaelus chermocki is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by George Ball in 1959. It belongs to the genus Dicaelus, commonly known as notched-mouth ground beetles, characterized by a distinctive emargination on the labrum. The species is known from the United States, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Dicaelus purpuratus
Notch-mouthed Ground Beetle
Dicaelus purpuratus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, commonly known as the notch-mouthed ground beetle. It is distributed across North America, with records from both Canada and the United States. The species was described by Bonelli in 1813 and includes two recognized subspecies: D. p. purpuratus and D. p. splendidus. Members of the genus Dicaelus are characterized by their notched labrum, giving rise to the common name.
Discoderus amoenus
Discoderus amoenus is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1863. It is endemic to the United States, with distribution records indicating presence in North America. The genus Discoderus belongs to the tribe Harpalini within the subfamily Harpalinae. Like other members of Carabidae, this species is likely predatory, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in available literature.
Discoderus parallelus
Discoderus parallelus is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, first described by Haldeman in 1843. It belongs to the suborder Adephaga and is native to North America, with confirmed records from the United States and Canada. The species is placed in the tribe Harpalini within the subfamily Harpalinae.
Dyschirius
Dyschirius is a genus of small ground beetles in the family Carabidae, tribe Dyschiriini. Species occur across the Northern Hemisphere with documented records from Europe, North America, and other regions. The genus is taxonomically well-established but individual species often require detailed examination for identification.
Dytiscinae
predaceous diving beetles
Dytiscinae is a subfamily of predaceous diving beetles (family Dytiscidae) containing at least 20 genera and approximately 380 described species. Members are medium to large diving beetles found in aquatic habitats across most continents. The subfamily includes well-known genera such as Dytiscus, Cybister, Acilius, and Hydaticus. Species are predatory in both adult and larval stages, with larvae often called 'water tigers' for their voracious feeding habits.
Eucaerus varicornis
Eucaerus varicornis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1853. It belongs to the tribe Lachnophorini within the subfamily Lebiinae. The species is known from North America, with records from the United States. Like other members of the genus Eucaerus, it is likely associated with ground-dwelling habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Gyrininae
whirligig beetles, gyrinine beetles
Gyrininae is the largest subfamily of Gyrinidae, containing over 740 described extant species. These beetles are commonly known as whirligig beetles for their characteristic circling behavior on water surfaces. The subfamily comprises three tribes: Dineutini, Gyrinini, and Orectochilini, with genera distributed across all major biogeographic regions. Members occupy diverse freshwater habitats from lentic to lotic systems.
Haliplidae
Crawling Water Beetles, haliplids
Haliplidae is a family of small aquatic beetles comprising approximately 200 species in five genera, representing the sole extant member of the superfamily Haliploidea. These beetles are characterized by their distinctive swimming behavior using alternating leg movements, which renders them relatively clumsy swimmers compared to other aquatic beetles. Consequently, they predominantly move by crawling along substrates rather than swimming. The family exhibits a cosmopolitan distribution in freshwater habitats worldwide.
Haliplus subguttatus
Haliplus subguttatus is a species of crawling water beetle in the family Haliplidae, described by Roberts in 1913. Its taxonomic status is disputed between sources: Catalogue of Life lists it as a synonym, while GBIF treats it as accepted. The species belongs to the subgenus Liaphlus within Haliplus. Haliplidae beetles are small, aquatic adephagans found in freshwater habitats.
Helluomorphoides praeustus bicolor
Helluomorphoides praeustus bicolor is a subspecies of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, tribe Helluonini. It is one of two recognized subspecies of H. praeustus, distinguished by its bicolored elytral pattern. The subspecies was described by T.W. Harris in 1828 and occurs in North America, with confirmed records from the United States. Like other members of the genus, it belongs to a group of carabid beetles sometimes referred to as 'bombardier beetles' or 'flanged bombardier beetles' due to defensive chemical capabilities found in related taxa, though specific defensive chemistry for this subspecies has not been documented.
Hybothecus
Hybothecus is a genus of ground beetles (Carabidae) established by Chaudoir in 1874. The genus contains seven described species distributed in the Neotropical region. Species have been recorded from Central and South America, with some described from Ecuador. The genus belongs to the subtribe Pterostichina within the tribe Pterostichini.
Hydroporus columbianus
Hydroporus columbianus is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, first described by Fall in 1923. It belongs to the subfamily Hydroporinae, a diverse group of small to medium-sized diving beetles. The species is known from western North America, with records from Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. Like other members of the genus, it is an aquatic predator.
Laccophilus schwarzi
Laccophilus schwarzi is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, described by Fall in 1917. It belongs to the genus Laccophilus, a diverse group of small to medium-sized diving beetles found in aquatic habitats. The species is known from North America, though specific details about its ecology and distribution remain limited in available literature.
Leptotrachelus depressus
Leptotrachelus depressus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Blatchley in 1923. It is a small, flattened beetle found in North America. The species belongs to the tribe Ctenodactylini within the subfamily Ctenodactylinae, a group characterized by their depressed body form and association with ground-dwelling habitats.
Liodessus
Liodessus is a genus of small diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, tribe Bidessini. Species occur across the Americas from North America through the Andes to southern South America, with notable diversity in high-altitude wetlands and páramo ecosystems. Many species inhabit shallow, exposed pools and temporary water bodies, showing phenotypic plasticity in body form correlated with habitat permanence. The genus contains numerous species, with several new species described from the high Andes of Peru and Colombia in recent years. Taxonomic resolution relies heavily on male genital morphology.
diving-beetleaquatic-insecthigh-altitudepáramoAndesphenotypic-plasticityBidessiniHydroporinaeDytiscidaeColeopterawetlandtemporary-poolpeatlandsubantarctictaxonomymale-genitaliaCOI-barcodecryptic-speciesincipient-speciationhybridizationgeometric-morphometricsenvironmental-sentineldrought-indicatorSouth-AmericaNorth-AmericaFijiNavarino-IslandMagallanesPeruColombiaChileArgentinaBoliviaBogotáJunínCuscoHuánucoCundinamarcaSumapazPunasteppepeat-bogshallow-poolpuddlealtitude-3400-4900mL.-affinis-complexL.-bogotensis-complexL.-chilensisL.-affinisL.-obscurellusL.-noviaffinisL.-saratogaeL.-picinusL.-santarositaL.-alpinusL.-hauthiL.-rhigosL.-thespesiosGuignot-1939ZimmermannSharpLeConteSaySteinheilRégimbartBiströmMillerBalkeFranciscoloSanfilippoPederzaniNilssonYoungClarkHatchMannerheimCaseyAubéBalfour-BrowneBrinckPeschetSolierWhiteZootaxaZooKeysInsect-Systematics-&-EvolutionAnales-del-Instituto-de-la-PatagoniaPLoS-ONEGBIFiNaturalistCatalogue-of-LifeNCBI-TaxonomyBOLDBarcode-of-Life-Data-SystemCOImitochondrial-DNAphylogeographypopulation-structurerange-expansionlineagegenetic-structuresubspecieslectotypeneotypesynonymynew-speciesnew-subspeciesrevisionmorphometricsallometrybody-sizebody-shapeelytrapronotumstriaecolorationpunctationhabitusoccipital-linegenital-morphologyaedeagusparamerediagnosisidentification-keytype-localitytype-specimenetymologybionomicsnatural-historygeographic-distributiondistribution-mapNearcticNeotropicalPatagoniaCape-Horn-Biosphere-Reservedroughtclimate-changeenvironmental-changesentinel-speciesplasticityadaptationphenotypic-variationhydrological-landscapewater-permanencepoolbogAltiplanoAndeanhigh-elevationmontanealpineaquaticfreshwaterlenticloticinsectbeetleAdephagaLiodessusMesonoterus addendus
Mesonoterus addendus is a small diving beetle species in the family Noteridae, first described by Blatchley in 1920. The species belongs to a genus of burrowing water beetles adapted to aquatic habitats. Based on the limited available records, this species has been documented from the Caribbean and North America. The genus Mesonoterus contains species typically associated with shallow, often temporary aquatic habitats where they burrow in muddy or sandy substrates.
Notiobia cephala
Notiobia cephala is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Casey in 1914. It is native to North America, with distribution records from the United States. As a member of the genus Notiobia, it belongs to a group of small to medium-sized carabid beetles often associated with riparian or moist habitats.
Odacanthini
Odacanthini is a tribe of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, comprising more than 40 genera and over 680 described species. The tribe exhibits broad geographic distribution across tropical and subtropical regions including the Americas, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Several genera within Odacanthini, such as Colliuris, Ophionea, and Dobodura, have been subject to recent taxonomic revision due to their morphological diversity and complex species boundaries.
Oodes amaroides
Oodes amaroides is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, first described by Dejean in 1831. It belongs to the subfamily Licininae and tribe Oodini. The species is documented from North America, with occurrence records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Oodes, it shares characteristics with other oodine ground beetles, though specific biological details remain limited in published literature.
Opilidia
Opilid Tiger Beetles
Opilidia is a genus of tiger beetles in the family Cicindelidae, established by Rivalier in 1954. The genus contains seven described species distributed in the Neotropical region. Members are characterized by their elongated body form and are active, fast-running predators typical of the tiger beetle group.
Parvindela debilis
Grass-runner Tiger Beetle
Parvindela debilis, commonly known as the Grass-runner Tiger Beetle, is a species of tiger beetle in the family Cicindelidae. The species was originally described by Bates in 1890 and has undergone taxonomic reclassification from the genus Cylindera to the currently accepted Parvindela. As a member of the tiger beetle subfamily Cicindelinae, it exhibits the characteristic predatory habits and fast-running behavior typical of this group. The species appears to be relatively rarely encountered, with limited observational records available.
Patrobus longicornis
Long-horned Patrobus Beetle
Patrobus longicornis is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae. It is native to North America and occurs in both Canada and the United States. The species was first described by Thomas Say in 1823 under the basionym Feronia longicornis. Like other members of the genus Patrobus, it inhabits moist terrestrial environments.
Peltodytes dispersus
Peltodytes dispersus is a species of crawling water beetle in the family Haliplidae, described by Roberts in 1913. It is currently recognized as a valid species within the genus Peltodytes, though some sources list it as a synonym of Peltodytes simplex. The species has been recorded from North America.
Peltodytes festivus
Peltodytes festivus is a species of crawling water beetle in the family Haliplidae. It occurs in North America. Members of this family are semi-aquatic, inhabiting the margins of ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams where they feed on algae and detritus. The genus Peltodytes is distinguished from other haliplid genera by morphological features of the elytra and hind legs.
Peltodytes pedunculatus
Peltodytes pedunculatus is a species of crawling water beetle in the family Haliplidae. Members of this family are small, oval beetles adapted to aquatic environments with well-developed hind legs for swimming. The species was described by Clark in 1862 from North American material.
Peltodytes simplex
Peltodytes simplex is a species of crawling water beetle in the family Haliplidae, first described by LeConte in 1852. It is one of approximately 20 species in the genus Peltodytes, which are characterized by their association with aquatic habitats and distinctive morphological adaptations for swimming. The species occurs in North America and Middle America, though detailed biological information remains limited in published literature.
Pterostichus amethystinus
Pterostichus amethystinus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Mannerheim in 1843. It belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, a diverse group of predatory beetles commonly known as woodland ground beetles. The species is distributed across northern North America including Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States. As with other members of its genus, it is likely a nocturnal predator inhabiting forest floor habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Pterostichus costatus
Pterostichus costatus is a woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It occurs across a broad holarctic distribution spanning Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. The species inhabits forested environments and is part of a large genus of ground beetles characterized by relatively robust body forms.
Pterostichus ebeninus
woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus ebeninus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Dejean in 1828. It is classified as a woodland ground beetle and is found in North America, specifically in Canada and the United States. The species belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which contains numerous similar-looking ground beetle species that require careful examination for identification. Information on its specific biology and ecology remains limited.
Pterostichus empetricola
Pterostichus empetricola is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is distributed across the Holarctic region, with records from Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America including Alaska, Canada, and the United States. The species is part of the diverse genus Pterostichus, which contains numerous ground beetle species.
Pterostichus menetriesii
Pterostichus menetriesii is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is endemic to North America, with records from the United States. The species belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which comprises numerous ground beetle species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere.
Pterostichus morionides
woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus morionides is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Chaudoir in 1868. It is found in North America, where it inhabits woodland habitats. Like other members of the genus Pterostichus, it is a ground-dwelling beetle, though specific ecological details remain limited in published literature.
Pterostichus putus
Pterostichus putus is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, described by Casey in 1913. It belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which comprises numerous species of predatory beetles distributed primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. The species is known from the United States and is part of the diverse North American carabid fauna. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a ground-dwelling predator, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Pterostichus subacutus
Pterostichus subacutus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America. The species belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which comprises numerous woodland-dwelling carabid beetles.
Sanfilippodytes brumalis
Sanfilippodytes brumalis is a small predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, described by Brown in 1930. The species belongs to the subfamily Hydroporinae, a group of generally small dytiscids. It occurs in northern North America, with records from Labrador and Québec in Canada. As a member of Dytiscidae, it is aquatic and predatory, though specific natural history details remain poorly documented.
Selenophorus chaparralus
Selenophorus chaparralus is a ground beetle species described by Purrington in 2000. It belongs to the genus Selenophorus, a group of nocturnal ground beetles within the family Carabidae. The species epithet 'chaparralus' suggests an association with chaparral vegetation, a type of Mediterranean scrubland found in parts of western North America. As a recently described species with limited observation records, much of its biology remains undocumented.
Selenophorus fabricii
Selenophorus fabricii is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described in 2017. The species is known from the Caribbean region, including the Cayman Islands, Hispaniola, and the Lesser Antilles. As a member of the genus Selenophorus, it belongs to a diverse group of small to medium-sized ground beetles commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions. Very little is known about the specific biology or ecology of this recently described species.
Sericoda obsoleta
Sericoda obsoleta is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, occurring in North America. It is one of several species in the genus Sericoda, which are generally associated with riparian and wetland habitats. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1823. Available information on this species is limited, with most sources providing only basic taxonomic and distributional data.
Trechus schwarzi saludae
Trechus schwarzi saludae is a subspecies of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Barr in 1979. It belongs to the large genus Trechus, which comprises numerous ground beetle species primarily found in temperate regions. As a subspecies of T. schwarzi, it represents a geographically restricted population with presumably distinct morphological characteristics that warranted subspecific recognition. The species epithet 'schwarzi' honors a person, likely an entomologist or collector, while 'saludae' refers to a geographic locality.
Vatellus mexicanus
Vatellus mexicanus is a diving beetle species in the family Dytiscidae, subfamily Hydroporinae, and tribe Vatellini. First described by Sharp in 1882, this species is distributed across Middle America and North America. As a member of the Vatellini, it belongs to a group of small to minute diving beetles often associated with riparian habitats. The genus Vatellus contains species that are typically found in tropical and subtropical regions.