Flight-capable
Guides
Amarygmini
darkling beetles
Amarygmini is a tribe of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) comprising over 80 genera. Adults are active, long-legged beetles capable of flight, primarily associated with tree bark and dead wood habitats. The tribe is notable for having long-lived larvae and relatively short-lived adults. Most species are nocturnal and occur in both natural forests and urban environments.
Anisodactylus binotatus
common shortspur beetle
A medium-sized ground beetle native to Europe, introduced to New Zealand in 1938 where it has become widely established. Adults measure 10–12.7 mm with distinctive shiny black coloration and a characteristic red spot (or paired spots) on the frons between the eyes. The species exhibits flight capability and has proven to be an exceptionally successful colonist, thriving in both natural and anthropogenic habitats including cultivated fields and urban environments.
Carabus granulatus
Granulated Ground Beetle
Carabus granulatus is a small, winged ground beetle native to the Palearctic, ranging from Ireland to the Russian Far East, with introduced populations in North America. Adults measure 14–20 mm and exhibit metallic greenish-bronze, green, or occasionally black coloration with distinctive granulated elytra. Unlike most Carabus species, it has retained functional flight ability, though it primarily remains ground-dwelling. The species occupies diverse habitats including forests, fields, prairies, taiga, river margins, fens, lakeshores, and upland peat, occasionally occurring in gardens.
Halocoryza
Halocoryza is a genus of small, intertidal ground beetles (Carabidae) restricted to tropical and subtropical coastal habitats. The genus comprises four described species distributed across shorelines of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, including Caribbean islands and the Gulf of Mexico. All species are nocturnal predators associated with sandy or coralline substrates near mangroves, coral reefs, or seaweed accumulations. The genus is characterized by reduced flight capability, slow running speed, and adaptations for burrowing in coastal sediments.
Labia minor
lesser earwig, small earwig
Labia minor is a small earwig species, 4–7 mm in length including pincers, distinguished by its dull yellow-brown to chocolate brown coloration and less shiny appearance compared to the common earwig. It is notable as the first Dermapteran species to have its genome sequenced by the Darwin Tree of Life project. The species exhibits exceptional maternal care behavior, with females guarding eggs and feeding offspring for 1–2 weeks after hatching—a rarity among insects. Unlike many earwigs, it flies frequently and possesses visible hind wings.
Lasioderma serricorne
cigarette beetle, tobacco beetle, cigar beetle, paprika beetle, tow bug, tobacco borer, cheroot beetle
Lasioderma serricorne is a small stored-product pest beetle, 2–3 mm in length, with a cosmopolitan distribution resulting from human commerce. It is distinguished from similar anobiid beetles by its uniformly serrated antennae lacking a terminal club, flatter thorax profile, and smooth elytra without grooves. The species has a remarkably broad diet, infesting tobacco, cereals, dried fruits, spices, and herbarium specimens. It possesses a mutualistic relationship with yeast-like symbionts (Symbiotaphrina spp.) that assist in protein metabolism and enable survival on nutritionally poor substrates. Strong flight capability and attraction to UV light facilitate its spread and monitoring.