Coleoptera

  • A metallic green tiger beetle at the bottom of an orange plastic jar.
    Tiger beetles are some of the most charismatic insects on Earth: metallic, sharp-eyed, absurdly fast, and every bit as predatory as their name suggests. Come learn how they hunt, why their larvae live like tiny trapdoor monsters in the soil, and what their decline says about the fragile open habitats many other species need too.

Guides

  • Kuschelina ulkei

    Kuschelina ulkei is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Horn in 1889. As a member of the tribe Alticini, it possesses the enlarged hind femora characteristic of flea beetles, which enable their distinctive jumping locomotion. The species has been documented in North America, though specific details regarding its biology and ecology remain limited in published literature.

  • Kuschelina weismani

    Kuschelina weismani is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Blake in 1954. As a member of the tribe Alticini, it possesses the enlarged hind femora characteristic of flea beetles that enable jumping locomotion. The species is known from North America. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with herbaceous vegetation, though specific host plants remain undocumented.

  • Laccobiini

    Laccobiini is a tribe of aquatic beetles within the family Hydrophilidae, containing 367 species distributed across 8 genera. Members are small to minute water scavenger beetles occupying diverse freshwater habitats across multiple continents. The tribe includes the well-known genus Laccobius and the hygropetric-specialist genus Oocyclus.

  • Laccobius agilis

    Agile Laccobius Scavenger

    Laccobius agilis is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It is native to North America and has been recorded across a broad geographic range including much of Canada and the United States. The species is one of approximately 200 described species in the genus Laccobius, which are primarily associated with aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats. Observations of this species are relatively sparse, with limited detailed ecological information available in published literature.

  • Lacconotus pinicola

    Lacconotus pinicola is a beetle species in the family Mycteridae, first described by Horn in 1879. The species epithet 'pinicola' suggests an association with pine (Pinus), though specific ecological relationships remain poorly documented. It is known from North America, with distribution records including British Columbia, Canada. The species is rarely encountered, with only six observations recorded on iNaturalist.

  • Lacconotus punctatus

    Lacconotus punctatus is a species of beetle in the family Mycteridae. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from eastern Canada including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Québec. The species was described by LeConte in 1862. Very little is known about its biology or ecology.

  • Laccophilus

    Laccophilus is a genus of small diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, distributed across temperate and tropical regions worldwide. These beetles inhabit freshwater environments and are characterized by their compact, oval bodies and relatively short antennae. The genus contains numerous species, though many remain poorly documented. Members are active swimmers and predators in aquatic ecosystems.

  • Laccophilus gentilis

    Laccophilus gentilis is a small predatory diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, described by LeConte in 1863. It belongs to the subfamily Laccophilinae, a group of small, often brightly marked diving beetles commonly found in vegetated freshwater habitats. The species occurs in North America and Middle America. Like other members of its genus, it is an aquatic predator that likely inhabits ponds, marshes, and slow-moving waters with abundant vegetation.

  • Laccophilus maculosus

    dingy diver

    Laccophilus maculosus, commonly known as the dingy diver, is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. It belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized diving beetles that inhabit freshwater environments.

  • Laccophilus maculosus decipiens

    Laccophilus maculosus decipiens is a subspecies of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It belongs to the genus Laccophilus, a diverse group of small to medium-sized diving beetles commonly found in freshwater habitats. The subspecies was described by LeConte in 1852 and occurs in North America and Middle America. Like other members of its genus, it is adapted to aquatic life with modified hind legs for swimming.

  • Laccophilus maculosus maculosus

    A subspecies of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. Like other members of the genus Laccophilus, it is an aquatic beetle adapted to freshwater habitats. The specific epithet 'maculosus' refers to spotted or maculate patterning typical of this taxon.

  • Laccophilus maculosus shermani

    Laccophilus maculosus shermani is a subspecies of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It belongs to the genus Laccophilus, a group of small diving beetles commonly found in aquatic habitats. The subspecies was described by Leech in 1944. As a member of the subfamily Laccophilinae, it shares characteristics with other Laccophilus species, including adaptations for underwater predation. Specific distinguishing features of this subspecies compared to the nominate form remain poorly documented in available sources.

  • Laccophilus pictus coccinelloides

    Laccophilus pictus coccinelloides is a subspecies of diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, first described by Régimbart in 1889. It belongs to the genus Laccophilus, a group of small predatory diving beetles commonly found in aquatic habitats. The subspecies epithet 'coccinelloides' suggests a resemblance to ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae), likely referring to coloration or patterning. Like other members of its genus, this beetle is adapted to freshwater environments where it preys on small aquatic organisms.

  • Laccophilus pictus insignis

    Laccophilus pictus insignis is a subspecies of diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, described by Sharp in 1882. It belongs to the genus Laccophilus, a group of small predatory diving beetles commonly known as water beetles. The subspecies is distributed across Middle America and North America. As with other members of its genus, it is likely an aquatic predator inhabiting freshwater environments, though specific ecological details for this subspecies remain poorly documented in available sources.

  • Laccophilus quadrilineatus

    Laccophilus quadrilineatus is a species of predaceous diving beetle described by Horn in 1871. It belongs to the family Dytiscidae, a group of aquatic beetles adapted to life in freshwater environments. The species is distributed across North America and the Neotropics. Three subspecies are recognized: L. q. quadrilineatus (the nominate form), L. q. mayae, and L. q. tehuanensis.

  • Laccophilus salvini

    Laccophilus salvini is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, subfamily Laccophilinae. The species was described by Sharp in 1882 and is recorded from Middle America. As a member of Laccophilus, it belongs to a genus of small diving beetles commonly found in aquatic habitats. Specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.

  • 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.

  • Laccophilus sonorensis

    Laccophilus sonorensis is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, described by Zimmerman in 1970. It belongs to the genus Laccophilus, a group of small to medium-sized diving beetles commonly found in aquatic habitats. The species is distributed in Middle America. Very little specific information is available about its biology or ecology.

  • Lachnodactyla

    Lachnodactyla is a genus of toe-winged beetles in the family Ptilodactylidae, established by Champion in 1897. The genus contains at least two described species: L. arizonica and L. texana, both described by Schaeffer in 1906. These species are known from the southwestern United States. The family Ptilodactylidae is characterized by expanded tarsal segments that give the common name 'toe-winged beetles'.

  • Lachnodactyla texana

    toe-winged beetle

    Lachnodactyla texana is a species of toe-winged beetle in the family Ptilodactylidae, first described by Schaeffer in 1906. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. As a member of the Ptilodactylidae, it belongs to a family characterized by beetles with expanded tarsal segments that bear adhesive setae, commonly referred to as 'toe-winged' beetles. Very few specific biological details have been documented for this particular species.

  • Lacon

    Lacon is a genus of click beetles (family Elateridae) first described by Laporte in 1838. The genus belongs to the subfamily Agrypninae and contains multiple species distributed across Europe, Asia, and North America. Species within this genus are morphologically similar, often requiring examination of genitalia and subtle external characters for accurate identification. A new species, L. mertliki, was described in 2019 from the Hyrcanian forest of northern Iran.

  • Lacon candidus

    Lacon candidus is a click beetle species in the family Elateridae, subfamily Agrypninae. The species is poorly documented in the provided source material, which instead focuses primarily on the stonefly Isogenus nubecula (Scarce Yellow Sally). The source mentions "click beetles" only once in passing as part of a general seasonal insect emergence description along the River Dee in Wales. No specific information about Lacon candidus biology, distribution, or ecology is contained in the provided context.

  • Lacon maculatus

    Lacon maculatus is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, first described by LeConte in 1866. The species belongs to the subfamily Agrypninae and is characterized by its spotted or maculated appearance, as suggested by its specific epithet. It is known from eastern Canada, with records from Ontario and Québec. Like other click beetles, it possesses the family-defining prosternal process that enables the characteristic 'clicking' escape mechanism.

  • Lacon marmoratus

    Marbled Click Beetle

    Lacon marmoratus, commonly known as the marbled click beetle, is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. The species is characterized by its distinctive marbled patterning. It has been documented in parts of Canada including Ontario and Québec, with 275 observations recorded on iNaturalist. As a member of the click beetle family, it possesses the characteristic ability to right itself when overturned through a sudden body flexion mechanism.

  • Lacon mexicanus

    Coastal Reddish Lacon

    Lacon mexicanus is a click beetle species in the family Elateridae, commonly known as the Coastal Reddish Lacon. As a member of this family, it possesses the characteristic clicking mechanism used for righting itself when overturned. The species is documented through 77 iNaturalist observations, indicating it has been recorded by citizen scientists but may not be extensively studied in formal literature.

  • Lacon nobilis

    Lacon nobilis is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, placed in the subfamily Agrypninae. The genus Lacon comprises numerous species distributed primarily across the Palearctic and Oriental regions, though specific information about L. nobilis remains limited in publicly available sources. As with other elaterid beetles, adults possess the characteristic clicking mechanism formed by the prosternal process and mesosternal receptacle that enables their signature escape response.

  • Lacon rorulentus

    Lacon rorulentus is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, described by LeConte in 1859. Records indicate it occurs in British Columbia, Canada. As a member of the click beetle family, it possesses the characteristic prosternal process that engages with a mesosternal groove to produce the clicking mechanism used for righting itself when overturned.

  • Lacon sparsus

    Lacon sparsus is a click beetle species in the family Elateridae, first described by Candèze in 1865. It belongs to a genus of click beetles with limited published information on species-level biology. The species has been recorded in western North America, particularly British Columbia, Canada.

  • Laemophloeus biguttatus

    Two-spotted Flat Bark Beetle

    Laemophloeus biguttatus is a species of lined flat bark beetle in the family Laemophloeidae. The species is distributed across Central America and North America, with records extending to British Columbia. As a member of Laemophloeidae, it belongs to a group commonly known as flat bark beetles due to their dorsoventrally compressed bodies adapted for living under bark.

  • Laemophloeus fasciatus

    Square-spotted Flat Bark Beetle, lined flat bark beetle

    Laemophloeus fasciatus is a species of flat bark beetle in the family Laemophloeidae, commonly known as the Square-spotted Flat Bark Beetle. It is native to North America and has been recorded from multiple Canadian provinces including Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. As a member of the lined flat bark beetles, it inhabits the spaces beneath tree bark.

  • Laemophloeus shastanus

    lined flat bark beetle

    Laemophloeus shastanus is a species of lined flat bark beetle in the family Laemophloeidae. It is a small beetle associated with bark habitats. The species is found in North America. Published records indicate it has been observed at least six times.

  • Laemosaccus gossypii

    Laemosaccus gossypii is a species of weevil in the family Curculionidae, described by Hespenheide in 2019. The specific epithet "gossypii" suggests an association with cotton (Gossypium), though the exact nature of this relationship has not been detailed in available sources. The genus Laemosaccus is characterized by modified front femora bearing teeth, a trait shared with related anthonomine weevils.

  • Laemosaccus texanus

    Laemosaccus texanus is a species of true weevil in the family Curculionidae, described by G.C. Champion in 1903. It is native to North America. Very little is known about its biology, ecology, or specific habitat requirements. The genus Laemosaccus belongs to a diverse group of weevils, but species-level information for most members remains sparse in scientific literature.

  • Lagriinae

    Long-jointed Beetles

    Lagriinae is a subfamily of darkling beetles within the family Tenebrionidae, comprising more than 270 genera grouped into 11 tribes. Adults are medium-sized (5–12 mm) with characteristic Tenebrionidae features including a 5-5-4 tarsal formula and antennal bases concealed by canthi. The subfamily is notable for its defensive symbiosis with Burkholderia bacteria that produce the antifungal compound lagriamide, protecting eggs and larvae from antagonistic fungi. This symbiosis has evolved through multiple independent horizontal acquisition events rather than strict co-diversification.

  • Lagriini

    Lagriini is a tribe of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae: Lagriinae) established by Latreille in 1825. Members are small beetles, with some species such as Adynata poupillieri measuring 4–5 mm. The tribe occurs across multiple continents with documented diversity in North Africa, including Morocco and Algeria. Moroccan species have been subject to recent taxonomic revision including lectotype designation and identification keys.

  • Lampyrinae

    typical fireflies

    Lampyrinae is the largest subfamily of fireflies (Lampyridae), comprising over half of the family's genera. Historically used as a 'wastebin taxon' for fireflies with unresolved relationships, recent molecular phylogenetics have clarified its boundaries as a monophyletic group. The subfamily exhibits exceptional diversity in bioluminescent communication, including both flashing and continuous-glow species distributed across the Holarctic and tropical regions. Ancestral Lampyrinae likely possessed primitive or absent light signals, with several modern lineages independently reverting to pheromone-based communication.

  • Laneganus

    Laneganus is a genus of click beetles (family Elateridae). As a genus within this family, its members possess the characteristic elongated body form and pronotal structure that enables the distinctive clicking mechanism for righting themselves when overturned. The genus contains multiple described species, though detailed biological information remains limited in available literature.

  • Lanelater hayekae

    Lanelater hayekae is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. The genus Lanelater belongs to the subfamily Agrypninae, a group of large click beetles characterized by their ability to produce an audible clicking sound. Like other members of its genus, L. hayekae likely possesses the distinctive prosternal spine and mesosternal notch mechanism that enables the characteristic jumping behavior of click beetles. The species has been documented through iNaturalist observations, though detailed biological information remains limited in publicly available sources.

  • Languria angustata

    lizard beetle

    Languria angustata is a species of lizard beetle in the family Erotylidae. It is found in North America, with records from Canada (Ontario) and the United States. The species belongs to a genus commonly associated with leguminous plants. Limited detailed ecological information is available for this specific species.

  • Languria bicolor

    Languria bicolor is a species of lizard beetle in the family Erotylidae, first described by Fabricius in 1798. The species is known from North America. As a member of the Erotylidae family, it belongs to a group commonly referred to as lizard beetles, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain limited in available sources.

  • Languria convexicollis

    lizard beetle

    Languria convexicollis is a species of lizard beetle in the family Erotylidae, characterized by an elongated, somewhat flattened body form typical of the subfamily Languriinae. The species is known from both Central and North America, with records extending as far north as British Columbia, Canada. Like other members of its genus, it belongs to a group commonly referred to as lizard beetles due to their reptile-like appearance and elongate body shape.

  • Languria discoidea

    lizard beetle

    Languria discoidea is a species of lizard beetle in the family Erotylidae. It is known from Florida and the southeastern United States. The species was described by LeConte in 1854. Like other members of the genus Languria, it is characterized by an elongated body form and association with grasses.

  • Languria mozardi

    clover stem borer

    Languria mozardi is a small lizard beetle (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) commonly known as the clover stem borer. Adults are red and black, measuring 4–9 mm in length. The species is native to North and Central America, with larvae developing inside the stems of host plants. Multiple host records document its presence on agricultural crops, including clover, canola, and soybeans.

  • Languria trifasciata

    Three-banded lizard beetle

    Languria trifasciata is a species of lizard beetle in the family Erotylidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1823. It is distributed across North America. As a member of the subfamily Languriinae, it belongs to a group of beetles commonly known as lizard beetles, characterized by their elongated bodies and association with plant materials.

  • Langurites lineatus

    Red-shouldered Lizard Beetle

    Langurites lineatus, commonly known as the Red-shouldered Lizard Beetle, is a species of pleasing fungus beetle in the family Erotylidae. The species has been recorded across North America, Middle America, and South America. As a member of Erotylidae, it is associated with fungal habitats, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in published literature.

  • Lara

    Lara is a genus of beetles in the family Elmidae, commonly known as riffle beetles. The genus was established by John Lawrence LeConte in 1852. Members of this genus are aquatic beetles associated with flowing water habitats. The genus is classified within the subfamily Larainae, which contains other genera of similar aquatic beetles.

  • Lara avara

    riffle beetle

    Lara avara is a xylophagous riffle beetle in the family Elmidae. It inhabits freshwater streams in western North America, where larvae feed on submerged decaying wood. The life cycle spans 4–6 years, with extended larval development and brief adult emergence from May to August. The species contributes to aquatic wood decomposition through larval feeding and fecal production.

  • Larinus carlinae

    Canada thistle bud weevil, thistle bud weevil, Canada thistle stem weevil

    A small weevil native to Europe and western Asia introduced to North America as a biological control agent for invasive thistles. Adults emerge in spring and feed on developing thistle buds with their elongated snouts. Females drill into flower buds to deposit eggs; larvae hatch and consume reproductive tissues, destroying seeds and preventing plant reproduction. Populations can reduce target thistle species by 90% or more within a decade of establishment. The species has been observed feeding on native North American thistles, raising conservation concerns for endemic species.

  • Lasconotus borealis

    Boreal Ironclad Beetle

    Lasconotus borealis is a species of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae, distributed across northern North America including Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and other parts of Canada. The species belongs to a genus characterized by heavily sclerotized, cylindrical bodies. Very little detailed biological information has been published for this specific species.

  • Lasconotus intricatus

    Intricate Ironclad Beetle

    Lasconotus intricatus is a cylindrical bark beetle in the family Zopheridae, found in North America. It is attracted to the aggregation pheromone of the four-eyed spruce bark beetle, Polygraphus rufipennis, suggesting a close ecological association with this bark beetle species. The beetle shows temporal synchrony with P. rufipennis in spring and summer activity patterns.