Clown-beetle
Guides
Eleodes rileyi reducta
Eleodes rileyi reducta is a subspecies of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae. Like other members of the genus Eleodes, it exhibits the defensive "head stand" behavior characteristic of clown beetles. The species E. rileyi and its subspecies are part of the diverse Eleodes fauna of western North America, though specific information distinguishing E. rileyi reducta from the nominate subspecies is limited in available sources.
Eleodes spiculifera
Eleodes spiculifera is a species of clown beetle (family Tenebrionidae) described by Triplehorn in 2007. It belongs to a genus renowned for defensive head-standing behavior when disturbed. The species is part of the diverse Eleodes fauna of western North America, a region where these beetles are conspicuous components of arid and semi-arid ecosystems.
Eleodes sponsa
Eleodes sponsa is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, commonly known as clown beetles. The species was described by LeConte in 1858. Members of the genus Eleodes are characterized by their defensive "head stand" behavior, where they elevate their abdomen when threatened. The species occurs in North American grassland and prairie habitats.
Eleodes tribulus
Eleodes tribulus is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, described by Thomas in 2005. The species belongs to the large genus Eleodes, commonly known as clown beetles, which are recognized for their defensive head-stand behavior. Distribution records indicate presence in Mexico. As a relatively recently described species, detailed biological information remains limited.
Eleodes versatilis
Eleodes versatilis is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, first described by Blaisdell in 1921. The genus Eleodes, commonly known as clown beetles or stink beetles, is characterized by defensive head-standing behavior when disturbed. Specific information about E. versatilis is limited; the species has been recorded in taxonomic databases but detailed natural history documentation is sparse. Members of the genus are primarily nocturnal and inhabit arid and semi-arid environments across North America.
Eleodes veterator
Texas Coastal Teneb
Eleodes veterator is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, commonly known as the Texas Coastal Teneb. As a member of the Eleodes genus, it shares the defensive "head stand" behavior characteristic of clown beetles, where the beetle elevates its abdomen to release defensive secretions. The species was described by Horn in 1874. Information specific to this species is limited compared to better-known congeners such as E. suturalis and E. hispilabris.
Eleodes wenzeli
Eleodes wenzeli is a species of darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae) described by Blaisdell in 1925. It belongs to the large genus Eleodes, commonly known as clown beetles or stink beetles due to their defensive head-standing behavior. The species is part of a taxonomically challenging complex within Eleodes that includes similar-looking species such as E. suturalis and E. hispilabris. Available occurrence records suggest limited documented observations, with 12 records in iNaturalist as of the data cutoff.
Eleodes wynnei
Wynne's clown beetle
Eleodes wynnei is a species of clown beetle (family Tenebrionidae) described in 2012. It belongs to the large genus Eleodes, which contains numerous species in North America commonly known as clown beetles or stink beetles due to their defensive head-stand posture. The species is named in honor of someone with the surname Wynne. As a recently described species, detailed natural history information remains limited in the published literature.
Epierus decipiens
clown beetle
Epierus decipiens is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851. It belongs to a genus of small histerid beetles commonly associated with decaying organic matter and carrion. The species occurs across a broad geographic range from the southwestern United States through Central America.
Epierus mehicanus
clown beetle
Epierus mehicanus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1860. It belongs to the genus Epierus, a group of histerid beetles characterized by their association with decomposing organic matter. The species is known from limited collection records in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Epierus regularis
clown beetle
Epierus regularis is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by Palisot de Beauvois in 1818. It is native to North America, with records from eastern Canada and across the eastern and central United States. As a member of the Histeridae, it belongs to a family commonly known as clown beetles or hister beetles, which are typically associated with decaying organic matter and are often found in carrion, dung, and under bark.
Eremosaprinus falli
clown beetle
Eremosaprinus falli is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by Ross in 1939. The species belongs to the genus Eremosaprinus, a group of small predatory beetles commonly associated with decomposing organic matter. It occurs in North America, with records from California (USA) and Baja California (Mexico).
Eremosaprinus minimus
clown beetle
Eremosaprinus minimus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It was described by Tishechkin & Lackner in 2012. The species is found in North America, with records from Arizona, USA. As a member of the Saprininae subfamily, it belongs to a group of histerid beetles often associated with decomposing organic matter and carrion.
Euspilotus assimilis
clown beetle
Euspilotus assimilis is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It is native to North America and has been recorded across eastern Canada and the eastern United States. As a member of Histeridae, it is likely associated with decaying organic matter, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Euspilotus azurescens
clown beetle
Euspilotus azurescens is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by Marseul in 1855. The species exhibits a broad Neotropical distribution spanning from the southern United States through Central America to southern South America. It belongs to a genus characterized by small, often metallic beetles associated with decomposing organic matter.
Euspilotus rossi
clown beetle
Euspilotus rossi is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, described by Wenzel in 1939. The species is recorded from North America, with distribution spanning parts of Canada and the United States. Like other members of Histeridae, it belongs to a group commonly known as clown beetles, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in available literature.
Euspilotus scrupularis
clown beetle
Euspilotus scrupularis is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It occurs across western and southern North America and into Central America. Like other histerid beetles, it likely inhabits decomposing organic matter where it preys on fly larvae. The species was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1860.
Geomysaprinus castanipennis
Chestnut-winged Clown Beetle
Geomysaprinus castanipennis is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It is found in North America, with records from western Canada and the northwestern United States. The species epithet 'castanipennis' refers to the chestnut-colored wing covers. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with rodent burrows, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Geomysaprinus floridae
Equal-clawed Gopher Tortoise Hister Beetle, clown beetle
Geomysaprinus floridae is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It is known by the common name Equal-clawed Gopher Tortoise Hister Beetle, indicating a likely association with gopher tortoise burrows. The species was described by Horn in 1873 and occurs in North America, with records from Florida. Like other members of Histeridae, it belongs to a family of beetles commonly known as clown beetles or hister beetles, many of which are associated with decaying organic matter and animal burrows.
Geomysaprinus goffi
Geomysaprinus goffi is a species of clown beetle (family Histeridae) described by Ross in 1940. It belongs to the genus Geomysaprinus, a group of histerid beetles often associated with mammal burrows. The species is known from scattered records in the southern United States.
Geomysaprinus posthumus
clown beetle
Geomysaprinus posthumus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. The species was described by Marseul in 1855. It occurs in parts of North America and Central America. Like other histerid beetles, it belongs to a group commonly known as clown beetles due to their habit of playing dead when disturbed.
Gnathoncus barbatus
clown beetle
Gnathoncus barbatus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by Bousquet and Laplante in 1999. It is known from North America, with records from Canada and the northern United States. Like other histerid beetles, it is likely associated with decomposing organic matter, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Gnathoncus rotundatus
clown beetle
Gnathoncus rotundatus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It is a small beetle with a cosmopolitan distribution spanning multiple continents. The species has been introduced to Australia and New Zealand. It is associated with poultry manure habitats where it functions as a biological control agent of fly pests.
Haeterius brunneipennis
Haeterius brunneipennis is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by Randall in 1838. It is distributed across eastern and central North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the subfamily Haeteriinae, it belongs to a group of histerid beetles known for their associations with social insects.
Haeterius californicus
clown beetle
Haeterius californicus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by Horn in 1870. It is a member of the subfamily Haeteriinae, a group of histerid beetles commonly known as clown beetles. The species is found in North America, with confirmed records from California, USA. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with social insects, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Haeterius exiguus
clown beetle
Haeterius exiguus is a small clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It is found in western North America, with records from the western United States and Canada. The species was described by Mann in 1911. Like other members of the genus Haeterius, it is associated with ants, though specific host relationships for this species remain poorly documented.
Haeterius wagneri
clown beetle
Haeterius wagneri is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, described by Ross in 1938. It belongs to the subfamily Haeteriinae, a group commonly known as clown beetles. The species is known from North America, with records from California, USA.
Haeterius zelus
Haeterius zelus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It was described by Fall in 1917. The species is known from North America, with records from California, USA. Like other members of the genus Haeterius, it is likely associated with social insects, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Halacritus maritimus
clown beetle
Halacritus maritimus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851. The species is distributed in North America, with records from California and potentially other regions of the United States. As a member of the Histeridae, it belongs to a family of beetles commonly known as clown beetles or hister beetles, characterized by their compact bodies and clubbed antennae.
Hippeutister californicus
Hippeutister californicus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, described by Caterino & Tishechkin in 2008. It is native to California and has been documented in association with ant colonies of Solenopsis amblychila, suggesting a myrmecophilous lifestyle. As a member of the subfamily Haeteriinae, it belongs to a group known for specialized relationships with ants.
Hister coenosus
clown beetle
Hister coenosus is a predatory clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It has been documented across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Laboratory studies indicate it develops in soil and preys on dipteran larvae.
Hister comes
clown beetle
Hister comes is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by Lewis in 1888. It is found in Central America and North America, with records from the southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) and Mexico. As a member of Histeridae, it belongs to a family of predaceous beetles commonly associated with carrion and decomposing organic matter.
Hister curtatus
clown beetle
Hister curtatus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, a group characterized by their shiny metallic appearance and flattened legs. The species is known from North America, with records from both the United States and Canada. Like other hister beetles, it is presumed to be predaceous, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented. It was first described by J.E. LeConte in 1844.
Hister defectus
clown beetle
Hister defectus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, described by J.E. LeConte in 1860. It is distributed across much of eastern and central North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of Histeridae, it is likely predaceous, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Hister depurator
clown beetle
Hister depurator is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by Thomas Say in 1825. It is found in North America, with records from eastern Canada and across much of the United States. Like other hister beetles, it is likely predaceous, feeding on small arthropods in decaying organic matter. The species is rarely encountered in collections, with only two observations documented on iNaturalist.
Hister furtivus
clown beetle
Hister furtivus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by J. E. LeConte in 1860. It is found in North America, with records across Canada and the United States. The species belongs to a diverse family of predatory beetles commonly associated with carrion and decaying organic matter.
Hister humilis
clown beetle
Hister humilis is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, described by Fall in 1910. It is distributed across Central America and North America, with records from the southwestern United States (Arizona), Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. As a member of the genus Hister, it belongs to a diverse group of predatory beetles commonly associated with decomposing organic matter.
Hister incertus
clown beetle
Hister incertus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, a group characterized by shiny, compact bodies and predatory habits. The species has been documented in North America, with records from Canada and multiple U.S. states. A laboratory study examining its life cycle and habits was published in 1981, though specific biological details from this work are not readily accessible in the provided sources.
Hister indistinctus
clown beetle
Hister indistinctus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by Thomas Say in 1825. It is found in North America, with distribution records spanning much of the eastern and central United States. As a member of the Histeridae, it likely exhibits the family's characteristic predatory behavior, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented. The species name 'indistinctus' suggests it may be challenging to distinguish from related species.
Hister laevipes
clown beetle
Hister laevipes is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It is found in North America, with records from the United States and Mexico. Like other members of the genus Hister, it is a small, predaceous beetle. The specific epithet "laevipes" refers to smooth legs, a distinguishing morphological feature.
Hister lucanus
clown beetle
Hister lucanus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, described by Horn in 1873. It is distributed across parts of North America and Central America. Like other members of its family, it possesses the characteristic flattened legs that give clown beetles their common name.
Hister militaris
clown beetle
Hister militaris is a species of clown beetle (family Histeridae) described by Horn in 1870. It belongs to the genus Hister, one of the most species-rich genera in the family. The species occurs in western North America, with records from British Columbia south through the western United States to California and Arizona. Like other hister beetles, it is likely predaceous, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Hister sarcinatus
clown beetle
Hister sarcinatus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by Lewis in 1898. The species belongs to the genus Hister, one of the most diverse genera within this family of predatory beetles. It is distributed across parts of North America and Central America. Like other hister beetles, it is likely predatory, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Hister servus
clown beetle
Hister servus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, characterized by its compact, shiny black body typical of the genus. It belongs to the H. servus species group, a Neotropical radiation centered in Mexico and Central America with some lineages extending into the southeastern United States. The species has been documented across a broad geographic range spanning the Caribbean, Central America, and North America.
Hololepta lucida
clown beetle
Hololepta lucida is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It is distributed across eastern North America, with records from Canada (Ontario, Quebec) and the eastern United States. The species is one of approximately eight in the genus Hololepta, which are characterized by their flattened body form adapted for living under bark and in decaying wood.
Hololepta minuta
clown beetle
Hololepta minuta is a species of clown beetle (family Histeridae) first described by Erichson in 1834. It belongs to the genus Hololepta, a group characterized by their flattened, compact bodies adapted for living in tight spaces. The species has a broad distribution across the Americas, ranging from the southern United States through Central America and into South America, including Caribbean islands.
Hololepta populnea
clown beetle
Hololepta populnea is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851. The species is distributed across southwestern United States and Mexico, extending into Central America. As a member of the genus Hololepta, it exhibits the characteristic flattened body form adapted for life under bark and in tight spaces. The specific epithet 'populnea' suggests an association with Populus (poplar/cottonwood) trees, though this host relationship requires confirmation.
Hololepta quadridentata
clown beetle
Hololepta quadridentata is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, characterized by its flattened body form typical of the genus. It is widely distributed across the Americas, from the southern United States through Central America and into South America. The species has also been introduced to Spain. Like other members of Histeridae, it is associated with decaying organic matter.
Hololepta vicina
clown beetle
Hololepta vicina is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851. It is native to North America, with recorded occurrences in the United States (Arizona, California, Texas, Washington) and Mexico. As a member of the Histeridae family, it belongs to a group of beetles commonly associated with decomposing organic matter. The species is currently accepted as valid, though it was previously listed as a synonym in some sources.
Hylis californicus
Hylis californicus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. Members of this family are typically small, compact beetles associated with decaying organic matter and carrion. The species epithet 'californicus' indicates a type locality or primary distribution in California. Hylis species are morphologically characterized by shortened elytra that expose several abdominal tergites, a trait common to the family but with genus-specific modifications in antennal structure and body proportions.