Darkling-beetle
Guides
Meracantha
Meracantha is a genus of darkling beetles in the family Tenebrionidae, established by Kirby in 1837. The genus contains one extant species, M. contracta, and one extinct species, M. lacustris, known from fossil remains. Members of this genus are found in North America.
Meracantha contracta
Contracted Darkling Beetle
Meracantha contracta is a North American darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae) distinguished by its strongly convex, humped body profile and association with decaying wood. Adults measure 11-14 mm and are bronze-black when mature. The species overwinters as larvae within rotting logs, producing antifreeze compounds to survive temperatures down to approximately -11°C. It has been recorded from at least Ontario, Canada, with broader distribution across North America.
Merinus laevis
Smooth Darkling Beetle
Merinus laevis is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, commonly known as the Smooth Darkling Beetle. It is native to eastern North America, with confirmed records from Ontario and Québec in Canada. As a member of the darkling beetle family, it likely occupies habitats typical of tenebrionids, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Metaclisa
Metaclisa is a genus of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) and the sole genus of the tribe Metaclisini. It contains at least four described species. The genus has a notably broad geographic distribution spanning multiple biogeographic realms.
Metaclisa atra
Metaclisa atra is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, described by LeConte in 1866. The genus Metaclisa belongs to the subfamily Lagriinae within the diverse beetle family Tenebrionidae. Very little published information exists regarding the specific biology, ecology, or distribution of this particular species. The species epithet "atra" refers to its black coloration. Records in GBIF and iNaturalist indicate it is a rarely encountered species with limited observational data.
Metaclisa seditiosa
Metaclisa seditiosa is a species of darkling beetle (family Tenebrionidae) described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1862. It belongs to the tribe Cryptochilini, a group of tenebrionids characterized by particular morphological adaptations. The genus Metaclisa comprises relatively obscure species with limited published biological data. M. seditiosa is primarily known from taxonomic collections and historical descriptions, with few modern ecological studies documenting its natural history.
Metopoloba
Metopoloba is a genus of darkling beetles (family Tenebrionidae) described by Casey in 1907. The genus is endemic to the Nearctic region, with 244 observations recorded on iNaturalist. As a member of Tenebrionidae, it belongs to a large and diverse family of beetles primarily associated with arid and semi-arid environments. Species-level taxonomy within this genus remains poorly documented in public sources.
Metopoloba pruinosa
Metopoloba pruinosa is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, first described by Horn in 1870. The species is classified within the order Coleoptera and is part of the diverse beetle fauna of North America. Very little specific biological information has been published for this particular species.
Metoponium
Metoponium is a genus of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) described by Thomas Lincoln Casey Jr. in 1907. The genus is endemic to North America and comprises two subgenera: Metoponiopsis and Metoponium. At least one species, Metoponium bicolor, has been documented damaging agricultural crops.
Metoponium abnorme
Metoponium abnorme is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae. The genus Metoponium is a small group within this large family of beetles, which are primarily distributed in arid and semi-arid regions. Very few records exist for this species, and its biology remains poorly documented.
Metoponium abnorme abnorme
Metoponium abnorme abnorme is a subspecies of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, originally described by LeConte in 1851. The genus Metoponium contains species associated with arid and semi-arid regions of western North America. As a nominate subspecies, it represents the typical form of Metoponium abnorme. Published records for this taxon are sparse, with no observations documented in major biodiversity databases.
Microschatia championi
Microschatia championi is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, described by Horn in 1893. The genus Microschatia belongs to a diverse family of primarily nocturnal beetles commonly found in arid and semi-arid environments. This species is known from Mexico based on distribution records.
Microschatia inaequalis
Microschatia inaequalis is a species of darkling beetle (family Tenebrionidae) native to southwestern North America. Its known distribution is restricted to southern California south of Los Angeles and northern Baja California Norte. As a member of the Tenebrionidae, it belongs to a large family of beetles commonly associated with arid and semi-arid environments.
Microschatia morata
Microschatia morata is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, first described by Horn in 1878. It belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized beetles distributed in North America. The species has been documented in Mexico based on collection records.
Mycetochara bicolor
Mycetochara bicolor is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, described by Couper in 1865. It is known from eastern Canada, with records from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec. As a member of the Tenebrionidae, it belongs to a large family of beetles commonly associated with decaying plant matter and fungi.
Mycetochara haldemani
Mycetochara haldemani is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae. The genus Mycetochara comprises fungus-feeding beetles, and this species follows that ecological pattern. It is known from scattered observations across North America, with records from the Great Plains region. The specific epithet honors the entomologist Samuel Stehman Haldeman.
Mycotrogus
Mycotrogus is a genus of darkling beetles (family Tenebrionidae) described by Horn in 1870. The genus is poorly documented, with minimal published information on its biology and ecology. Records indicate presence in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions.
Mycotrogus angustus
Mycotrogus angustus is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, described by Horn in 1870. The genus Mycotrogus belongs to a diverse family of beetles commonly known for their association with arid environments and detritivorous feeding habits. Very little specific information has been published about this particular species.
Mycotrogus mentalis
Mycotrogus mentalis is a darkling beetle species in the family Tenebrionidae, described by Blaisdell in 1923. The genus Mycotrogus is a small group within this large family of primarily detritivorous beetles. This species is known from Mexico, though detailed biological information remains limited in available literature. Like other tenebrionids, it likely occupies arid or semi-arid environments.
Myrmechixenus
Myrmechixenus is a genus of darkling beetles in the family Tenebrionidae, subfamily Diaperinae. The genus contains two recognized species: M. lathridioides and M. picinus. Members of this genus are small beetles associated with ant colonies.
Nalassus aereus
Nalassus aereus is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, tribe Palorini. The species was described by Germar in 1823. As a member of this tribe, it is associated with stored products and dry organic matter. The genus Nalassus includes species commonly found in granaries, warehouses, and similar environments.
Nalassus californicus
Nalassus californicus is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, first described by Mannerheim in 1843. The species epithet reflects its association with California. As a member of this large beetle family, it likely inhabits dry, terrestrial environments typical of many tenebrionids. Very few observations of this species have been recorded, with only two documented observations in iNaturalist as of the knowledge cutoff.
Nalassus convexulus
Nalassus convexulus is a small darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, first described by LeConte in 1861. It belongs to a genus of beetles commonly associated with dead wood and forest floor habitats. The species is rarely encountered, with few documented observations.
Neobaphion
Neobaphion is a genus of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) established by Blaisdell in 1925. The genus is native to the Nearctic region and contains relatively few described species. As a member of the Tenebrionidae family, it belongs to one of the largest families of beetles, characterized by their generally cryptic habits and association with arid or semi-arid environments. The genus remains poorly studied, with limited published information on its biology and ecology.
Neobaphion planipenne
Neobaphion planipenne is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1866. It belongs to a genus with limited documented species, and like other members of Tenebrionidae, it exhibits morphological adaptations associated with arid or semi-arid environments. The species name 'planipenne' refers to the flattened (plane) wing condition. Documentation of this species in scientific literature and biodiversity databases remains sparse.
Neomida bicornis
Two-horned Darkling Beetle
Neomida bicornis, commonly known as the Two-horned Darkling Beetle, is a small species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae. The species is characterized by the distinctive horn-like projections on its head, from which its specific epithet derives. It has been documented across eastern and central North America, with observations ranging from Canada to the United States. The species is attracted to artificial light sources at night.
Neomida ferruginea
Neomida ferruginea is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, first described by LeConte in 1866. The species is known from Mexico based on distribution records. As a member of Tenebrionidae, it shares family characteristics including a hardened exoskeleton and typically nocturnal habits, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Nocibiotes
Nocibiotes is a genus of darkling beetles in the family Tenebrionidae, established by Casey in 1895. It is distributed in the Nearctic region. The genus is relatively poorly documented in scientific literature, with limited published information on its biology and ecology.
Notibius puberulus
Notibius puberulus is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851. The genus Notibius is a small, poorly known group within the large tenebrionid fauna of North America. This species has been recorded from Mexico and appears to be rarely collected, with limited biological information available.
Nyctoporini
Nyctoporini is a tribe of darkling beetles (family Tenebrionidae, subfamily Pimeliinae) established by Lacordaire in 1859. The tribe includes the genus Nyctoporis, which contains approximately five described species distributed in North America. Members of this tribe are ground-dwelling beetles associated with arid and semi-arid environments.
Nyctoporis
Nyctoporis is a genus of darkling beetles in the family Tenebrionidae, established by Eschscholtz in 1831. The genus comprises five described species distributed in North America. These beetles belong to the subfamily Pimeliinae and tribe Nyctoporini. Members of this genus are part of the diverse tenebrionid fauna characteristic of arid and semi-arid regions of western North America.
Nyctoporis aequicollis
Nyctoporis aequicollis is a darkling beetle (family Tenebrionidae) described by Eschscholtz in 1831. It belongs to a genus of beetles found in western North America. The species is rarely documented, with limited published information on its biology.
Nyctoporis carinata
armored night-walker, flightless darkling beetle
Nyctoporis carinata is a flightless darkling beetle endemic to California, found in leaf litter and rocky debris along the coast and Coast Ranges. Adults measure 12–16 mm and are characterized by fused, non-functional wing covers (elytra) that render them permanently flightless. The species exhibits a heavily sculptured exoskeleton with indentations, bumps, and ridges. Preliminary genetic analysis suggests possible conspecificity with Nyctoporis vandykei.
Nyctoporis cristata
Nyctoporis cristata is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, first described by Eschscholtz in 1831. It belongs to the tribe Nyctoporini, a group of tenebrionid beetles often associated with arid and semi-arid environments. The species epithet 'cristata' refers to a crested or ridged feature, likely describing a morphological characteristic of the pronotum or elytra. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be nocturnal and ground-dwelling.
Nyctoporis sponsa
Nyctoporis sponsa is a darkling beetle (family Tenebrionidae) described by Casey in 1907. The genus Nyctoporis is native to western North America, and members are generally associated with arid and semi-arid habitats. The species is documented in scattered records across the southwestern United States.
Oenopion
Oenopion is a genus of darkling beetles (family Tenebrionidae) described by Champion in 1885. The genus is distributed in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. As with many tenebrionid genera, detailed biological information remains limited in published literature.
Oenopion zopheroides
Oenopion zopheroides is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, first described by Horn in 1874. The species is endemic to Mexico and belongs to a genus of relatively obscure beetles with limited published documentation. Available records indicate it is a rarely collected species with few observations in natural history databases.
Onychomira
Onychomira is a genus of darkling beetles in the family Tenebrionidae, established by Campbell in 1984. It is a small genus with limited documented species, restricted to the Nearctic region. Members are ground-dwelling beetles associated with arid and semi-arid environments typical of many tenebrionids.
Onychomira floridensis
Onychomira floridensis is a darkling beetle (family Tenebrionidae) described by Campbell in 1984. The genus Onychomira is part of the speciose family Tenebrionidae, commonly known as darkling beetles, which are primarily detritivores and are abundant in arid and semi-arid environments. No specific ecological or behavioral studies have been published for this species.
Oploptera simplicicolle
Oploptera simplicicolle is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae. The genus Oploptera contains multiple described species, though published information on this particular species remains limited. It is known from a small number of observations, primarily in southern Africa.
Palorus
Palorus is a genus of darkling beetles in the family Tenebrionidae, established by Mulsant in 1854. The genus contains at least four described species, including several recognized as pests of stored grain products. Species such as Palorus ratzeburgi (small-eyed flour beetle) and P. subdepressus (depressed flour beetle) are economically significant stored product pests. The genus belongs to the tribe Palorini within the subfamily Tenebrioninae.
Palorus ratzeburgii
small-eyed flour beetle
Palorus ratzeburgii, commonly known as the small-eyed flour beetle, is a darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae. It belongs to a genus associated with stored products and grain storage environments. The species is part of a group of beetles often found in human-modified habitats related to food storage.
Palorus subdepressus
Depressed Flour Beetle
Palorus subdepressus, commonly known as the depressed flour beetle, is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae. The species has been recorded in Europe and North America, with additional distribution records from the Azores (Terceira) and Austria. It belongs to a genus associated with stored products and dry organic matter.
Paratenetus exutus
Paratenetus exutus is a species of darkling beetle (family Tenebrionidae) described in 2014. The genus Paratenetus belongs to a group of tenebrionids associated with arid and semi-arid environments. This species is known from a small number of observations, reflecting either genuine rarity or limited survey effort in its range.
Paratenetus fuscus
Brownish Darkling Beetle
Paratenetus fuscus is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae. The species was described by LeConte in 1850. Records indicate a distribution across multiple Canadian provinces from British Columbia to Ontario, including northern territories. As a member of the Tenebrionidae family, it shares the general characteristics of darkling beetles, including a hardened exoskeleton and typically cryptic coloration.
Paratenetus texanus
Paratenetus texanus is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, described in 2014. The genus Paratenetus was established relatively recently, and this species is one of its members. As a tenebrionid beetle, it belongs to a large family of primarily detritivorous beetles commonly found in arid and semi-arid environments. Very little specific biological information has been published about this particular species.
Pelecyphorus
Pelecyphorus is a genus of darkling beetles (family Tenebrionidae). The genus has been assigned to different families in historical literature, with Catalogue of Life listing it as a synonym within Staphylinidae (rove beetles) under the genus Euryporus, while GBIF and NCBI recognize it as a valid genus in Tenebrionidae. The genus occurs in the Nearctic region, with 270 observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Pelecyphorus contortus
Pelecyphorus contortus is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1853 from the southwestern United States. The species was originally described under the genus Microschatia before transfer to Pelecyphorus. Records indicate it occurs in arid regions, consistent with the desert-adapted ecology typical of many tenebrionid beetles. The genus Pelecyphorus is characterized by compact body forms and cryptic coloration suited to xeric environments.
Pelecyphorus liratus
Pelecyphorus liratus is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, first described by LeConte in 1854. The genus Pelecyphorus belongs to a group of tenebrionids often associated with arid and semi-arid environments. Records indicate this species occurs in Mexico, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Pelecyphorus regularis
Pelecyphorus regularis is a species of darkling beetle (family Tenebrionidae) described by Horn in 1870. It belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized tenebrionids found in North America. The species has been recorded from Mexico based on distribution data, though detailed biological information remains limited. As with many tenebrionid beetles, it likely inhabits arid or semi-arid environments, though specific habitat associations have not been documented.