Ironclad-beetle
Guides
Acolobicus erichsoni
Acolobicus erichsoni is a species of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae. It is known from limited distributional records in North America and Middle America. The species was described by Reitter in 1877. Available information on this species is sparse, with only four observations documented on iNaturalist and minimal published biological data.
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.
Lobogestoria gibbicollis
Lobogestoria gibbicollis is a species of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae, first described by Reitter in 1878. The genus Lobogestoria is small and poorly documented, with limited published information on its biology. The species epithet "gibbicollis" refers to a humped or swollen pronotum. Records indicate presence in the Caribbean and North and South America, though specific habitat associations and ecological details remain largely unstudied.
Phellopsis obcordata
Eastern Ironclad Beetle
Phellopsis obcordata is a small beetle in the family Zopheridae, commonly known as the Eastern Ironclad Beetle. It occurs in old growth boreal forests of eastern North America. The species was historically confused with the western P. porcata until a 2008 revision clarified their status as valid vicariant species. It is known for its hard, armored body typical of ironclad beetles.
Phloeodes
diabolical ironclad beetle
Phloeodes is a genus of ironclad beetles in the family Zopheridae, native to western North America. The genus includes the well-known species Phloeodes diabolicus, commonly called the diabolical ironclad beetle, which has attracted scientific attention for its exceptional mechanical durability. Members of this genus are flightless, have heavily sclerotized exoskeletons, and feed on fungi growing under tree bark. The genus has been synonymized with Nosoderma in some taxonomic treatments, though Phloeodes remains in widespread use.
Phloeodes plicatus
Wrinkled Ironclad Beetle
Phloeodes plicatus, commonly known as the Wrinkled Ironclad Beetle, is a flightless beetle in the family Zopheridae. It is closely related to Phloeodes diabolicus, the diabolical ironclad beetle, and shares the remarkable structural durability characteristic of this genus. The species has been reclassified under the genus Nosoderma in some taxonomic treatments.
Phloeonemus interruptus
Interrupted Ironclad Beetle
Phloeonemus interruptus is a species of cylindrical bark beetle in the family Zopheridae, commonly known as the Interrupted Ironclad Beetle. It belongs to a group of beetles known for their hardened, protective exoskeletons. The species has been documented in both Central America and North America, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Pycnomerus reflexus
Reflexed Ironclad Beetle
Pycnomerus reflexus is a species of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae. It is characterized by the heavily sclerotized, hardened exoskeleton typical of this group. The species occurs across North America. It was first described by Thomas Say in 1826.
Synchita lecontei
Synchita lecontei is a species of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae. The genus Synchita comprises small, cylindrical beetles characterized by their heavily sclerotized exoskeletons. Very few observations of this species have been documented, with only four records in iNaturalist. The species epithet honors the American entomologist John Lawrence LeConte.
Tanystoma diabolica
Diabolical Ironclad Beetle
Tanystoma diabolica, commonly known as the diabolical ironclad beetle, is a flightless beetle native to western North America. The species is renowned for exceptional mechanical durability, withstanding crushing forces up to 39,000 times its body weight. Its elytra feature densely layered, interlocking structures that inspired engineering research into tough, flexible materials. The beetle feeds on fungi growing beneath tree bark.
Usechimorpha barberi
Usechimorpha barberi is a species of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae. It was described by Blaisdell in 1929. The species is found in North America. Ironclad beetles in this family are known for their heavily sclerotized, armor-like exoskeletons.
Zopherus championi
Zopherus championi is a species of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae. It was described by Triplehorn in 1972 and occurs in Central America and North America. Like other members of the genus Zopherus, it is adapted to wood-boring and possesses the heavily sclerotized exoskeleton characteristic of ironclad beetles.
Zopherus concolor
concolor ironclad beetle
Zopherus concolor is a species of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae, native to North America. The species belongs to a genus of beetles adapted to wood-boring habits, with some Zopherus species historically used as living brooches. Field observations indicate nocturnal activity on dead conifer trunks, particularly Pinus edulis.
Zopherus elegans
ironclad beetle
Zopherus elegans is a species of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae. It is native to North America. The species was described by Horn in 1870. Like other members of the genus Zopherus, it is characterized by an exceptionally hardened exoskeleton.
Zopherus gracilis
ironclad beetle
Zopherus gracilis is a species of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae, first described by Horn in 1867. It belongs to a genus of beetles adapted to wood-boring, with members distributed across the Americas. The genus Zopherus comprises 19 species, some of which have been historically used as living brooches due to their hard, durable exoskeletons.
Zopherus granicollis
ironclad beetle
Zopherus granicollis is a species of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae, characterized by exceptionally hard, fused elytra that make specimens notoriously difficult to pin. The species occurs in Central America and North America, with two recognized subspecies: Z. g. granicollis and Z. g. ventriosus. Like other members of the genus, it exhibits nocturnal activity on tree trunks, though specific behavioral details for this species remain poorly documented.
Zopherus granicollis granicollis
Zopherus granicollis granicollis is a subspecies of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae, a group known for their exceptionally hard exoskeletons that make them notoriously difficult for entomologists to pin. The genus Zopherus includes species frequently encountered on tree trunks at night, particularly in pine and juniper woodlands of the southwestern United States. This subspecies has been recorded from Middle America and North America.
Zopherus granicollis ventriosus
Zopherus granicollis ventriosus is a subspecies of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae. Like other members of the genus, it possesses an exceptionally hard, heavily sclerotized exoskeleton that makes specimens notoriously difficult to pin for museum collections. The subspecies is distributed across parts of North America and Middle America. Adults are nocturnal and have been observed crawling on tree trunks at night, particularly conifers. The genus Zopherus is well-known among coleopterists for its extreme body armor and the challenges this poses for specimen preparation.
Zopherus nodulosus
Ironclad beetle
Zopherus nodulosus is a species of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae, named for the nodular bumps on its dorsal surface. The species occurs in Central America and North America, with recognized subspecies including Z. n. haldemani (Texas ironclad beetle) and Z. n. nodulosus. These beetles possess exceptionally hardened exoskeletons that make them notoriously difficult to pin, a trait shared with other members of the genus Zopherus.
Zopherus nodulosus haldemani
Texas Ironclad Beetle
Zopherus nodulosus haldemani, commonly known as the Texas Ironclad Beetle, is a subspecies of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae. These beetles are renowned for their exceptionally hard, heavily sclerotized exoskeletons that make them notoriously difficult to pin for collection. The species exhibits nocturnal activity patterns, with adults frequently observed on tree trunks at night. The subspecies name honors American entomologist Samuel Stehman Haldeman.
Zopherus tristis
ironclad beetle
Zopherus tristis is a species of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae. The species is characterized by an exceptionally dense, well-armored exoskeleton that makes specimens difficult to pin for collection. It occurs in Central America and North America. The family Zopheridae was formerly classified within Tenebrionidae (darkling beetles) but is now recognized as distinct.