Byrrhidae
Guides
Amphicyrta dentipes
Amphicyrta dentipes is a species of pill beetle in the family Byrrhidae. It belongs to a genus of small, compact beetles adapted to moist habitats. The species epithet "dentipes" refers to toothed feet, a characteristic feature of this group. Very little specific information has been published about this particular species.
Arctobyrrhus
Arctobyrrhus is a genus of pill beetles in the family Byrrhidae, established by Münster in 1902. The genus contains at least two described species: Arctobyrrhus dovrensis and Arctobyrrhus subcanus. These beetles are distributed in northern Europe and western North America, respectively. Pill beetles in this family are known for their ability to conglobate, or roll into a ball, as a defensive behavior.
Arctobyrrhus subcanus
Arctic Grey Pill Beetle
Arctobyrrhus subcanus is a species of pill beetle in the family Byrrhidae, commonly known as the Arctic Grey Pill Beetle. It is native to North America with documented records from western Canada including Alberta and British Columbia. Pill beetles in this family are characterized by their ability to conglobate—roll into a tight ball when disturbed. The genus Arctobyrrhus is associated with northern and montane habitats.
Byrrhinae
pill beetles
Byrrhinae is a subfamily of pill beetles within the family Byrrhidae, established by Latreille in 1804. The subfamily comprises approximately 25 genera and at least 160 described species. Members are small, compact beetles with a characteristic rounded, pill-like body form that enables conglobation—rolling into a ball when disturbed. Byrrhinae represents the more species-rich of the two subfamilies in Byrrhidae.
Byrrhus
pill beetles
Byrrhus is a genus of pill beetles established by Linnaeus in 1767, containing at least 30 described species. These beetles are notable for their ability to conglobate, or roll into a ball when disturbed. The genus belongs to the family Byrrhidae, a group of small beetles often associated with moss and lichen habitats.
Byrrhus americanus
pill beetle
Byrrhus americanus is a species of pill beetle in the family Byrrhidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1850. Pill beetles in this family are characterized by their rounded, compact body form that allows them to curl into a ball when disturbed—a defensive behavior that gives the group its common name. The species is recorded from North America with specific locality records from Canadian provinces including Labrador, Manitoba, and New Brunswick.
Byrrhus concolor
Two-colored Pill Beetle
Byrrhus concolor is a species of pill beetle in the family Byrrhidae, a group of small beetles known for their ability to roll into a compact ball when disturbed. The species occurs in northern North America, with records from Canada including Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory, and the Northwest Territories. The common name "Two-colored Pill Beetle" suggests distinctive coloration, though specific details of this pattern are not well documented in available sources. Pill beetles in this family are typically associated with mossy or damp habitats.
Byrrhus cyclophorus
Ringed Pill Beetle
Byrrhus cyclophorus is a species of pill beetle in the family Byrrhidae, commonly known as the Ringed Pill Beetle. It is found in North America, with distribution records from Canada including Alberta, Manitoba, and Labrador. As a member of Byrrhidae, it shares the family characteristic of rolling into a compact pill-like shape when disturbed.
Byrrhus eximius
Superb Pill Beetle
Byrrhus eximius is a species of pill beetle in the family Byrrhidae. It is found in North America, with records from western Canada including Alberta and British Columbia. The common name "Superb Pill Beetle" has been assigned to this species. Like other members of the genus Byrrhus, it is a small beetle capable of conglobation (rolling into a ball).
Chaetophora spinosa
pill beetle
Chaetophora spinosa is a species of pill beetle in the family Byrrhidae, distributed across Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. The species belongs to a family commonly known for their rounded, compact body form and association with moist habitats. Pill beetles (Byrrhidae) are named for their ability to roll into a ball when disturbed, a defensive behavior shared with other beetle families.
Curimopsis albonotata
pill beetle
Curimopsis albonotata is a species of pill beetle in the family Byrrhidae, first described by LeConte in 1861. It is known from North America, with confirmed records from Alberta and the Yukon Territory in Canada. Pill beetles in this family are characterized by their ability to conglobate, or roll into a ball, as a defensive behavior. The specific epithet 'albonotata' suggests white markings, though detailed morphological descriptions are limited in available sources.
Cytilus
pill beetles
Cytilus is a genus of pill beetles in the family Byrrhidae, established by Erichson in 1847. The genus contains approximately eight described species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, and East Asia. Pill beetles in this genus are characterized by their ability to conglobate—curl into a compact ball when disturbed—a defensive behavior that gives the group its common name.
Cytilus alternatus
pill beetle
Cytilus alternatus is a species of pill beetle in the family Byrrhidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1825. The species is characterized by its compact, rounded body form typical of pill beetles, which can contract into a ball-like shape. It occurs in North America with documented records from Canada and the United States.
Eusomalia
pill beetles
Eusomalia is a genus of pill beetles in the family Byrrhidae. The genus was described by Casey in 1912 and contains a single described species, Eusomalia lecontei. Members of this genus share the characteristic defensive behavior of pill beetles, which curl into a ball when disturbed.
Exomella
pill beetles
Exomella is a genus of pill beetles in the family Byrrhidae, established by Casey in 1914. The genus contains at least two described species: E. merickeli (Johnson, 1985) and E. pleuralis (Casey, 1908). Members of this genus belong to the tribe Exomellini within the subfamily Byrrhinae. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revision and study, with E. pleuralis recently rediscovered and re-evaluated.
Exomella merickeli
Exomella merickeli is a species of pill beetle in the family Byrrhidae, described by Johnson in 1985. It is known from North America. As a member of the pill beetle family, it likely exhibits the characteristic ability to conglobate—rolling into a compact ball when disturbed. The species is represented by minimal observational data.
Lioligus nitidus
pill beetle
Lioligus nitidus is a species of pill beetle in the family Byrrhidae, characterized by its ability to conglobate (roll into a ball) when disturbed. The species was described by Motschulsky in 1845 and is known from western North America, with records from Alaska, British Columbia, and other regions. Pill beetles in this family are typically associated with moist habitats and feed on decaying plant material.
Lioligus pallidus
Lioligus pallidus is a species of pill beetle in the family Byrrhidae, described by Thomas L. Casey in 1912. It is found in North America. Pill beetles (Byrrhidae) are small, compact beetles known for their ability to curl into a ball when disturbed. The specific epithet "pallidus" refers to the pale coloration of this species. Very little is known about the biology and ecology of this particular species.
Lioon
pill beetles
Lioon is a genus of pill beetles in the family Byrrhidae, established by Casey in 1912. The genus contains at least four described species distributed in North America. Members of this genus are small, compact beetles capable of conglobation (rolling into a ball), a defensive behavior characteristic of the family Byrrhidae.
Lioon simplicipes
pill beetle
Lioon simplicipes is a species of pill beetle in the family Byrrhidae. The species was described by Mannerheim in 1852 and is known from North America, with records from Alaska and British Columbia. Like other members of Byrrhidae, it is characterized by its ability to conglobate—curl into a tight ball when disturbed. The genus Lioon contains species adapted to cool, often montane or northern environments.
Listemus
pill beetles
Listemus is a genus of pill beetles in the family Byrrhidae, established by Casey in 1912. The genus contains at least four described species distributed in North America. Pill beetles in this genus share the family characteristic of rolling into a compact ball when disturbed. The genus remains poorly studied, with limited ecological and biological data available.
Listemus acuminatus
pill beetle
Listemus acuminatus is a species of pill beetle in the family Byrrhidae, first described by Mannerheim in 1852. The species is found in North America, with distribution records from Alaska, British Columbia, and other parts of the continent. As a member of Byrrhidae, it belongs to a family commonly known as pill beetles due to their habit of rolling into a ball when disturbed.
Morychus
pill beetle
Morychus is a genus of pill beetles (family Byrrhidae) established by Erichson in 1846. These beetles are characterized by their compact, rounded body form that allows them to roll into a defensive ball. The genus belongs to the tribe Morychini and is distributed across northern Europe, with records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Members of this genus are associated with mossy and lichen-rich habitats.
Pedilophorini
Pedilophorini is a tribe of minute moss beetles (family Byrrhidae) established by Casey in 1912. Members are classified within the subfamily Byrrhinae and are characterized by small body size and association with mossy microhabitats. The tribe contains multiple genera distributed primarily in the Holarctic region. These beetles are part of the diverse Byrrhoidea superfamily within the Elateriformia infraorder.
Porcinolus
pill beetles
Porcinolus is a genus of small beetles in the family Byrrhidae, commonly known as pill beetles. The genus was established by Mulsant & Rey in 1869 and contains at least three described species native to North America. Members of this genus are characterized by their ability to conglobate, rolling into a compact ball when disturbed. The genus is part of a family known for mineral feeding habits and association with moist, mossy habitats.
Porcinolus undatus
Porcinolus undatus is a small beetle species in the family Byrrhidae (pill beetles), first described by Melsheimer in 1844. Records indicate presence in North America, with documented occurrences in Canadian provinces including Alberta, Manitoba, and New Brunswick. The genus Porcinolus belongs to a family of beetles typically associated with moss, lichen, or decaying plant matter. Available information about this species is limited, with only four observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Simplocaria
pill beetles
Simplocaria is a genus of pill beetles (family Byrrhidae) established by Stephens in 1829. The genus contains more than 30 described species. Members of this genus are associated with forest habitats in northern regions. Simplocaria metallica has been specifically studied in northern Alberta, Canada, in relation to forest habitat characteristics.
Simplocaria semistriata
pill beetle
Simplocaria semistriata is a species of pill beetle in the family Byrrhidae, first described by Fabricius in 1794. It is one of approximately 30 species in the genus Simplocaria. The species has been recorded across a broad geographic range spanning Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. Pill beetles in this family are known for their ability to conglobate—roll into a ball—and often inhabit moist, mossy environments.
Simplocariini
pill beetles
Simplocariini is a tribe of pill beetles (family Byrrhidae) comprising approximately 9 genera and more than 40 described species. The tribe was established by Mulsant & Rey in 1869 and is classified within the subfamily Byrrhinae. Members of this tribe share the family characteristic of conglobation—the ability to roll into a ball when disturbed. The tribe includes genera distributed across the Holarctic region, with some genera showing more restricted geographic ranges.