Latridiidae
Guides
Cartodere australica
Cartodere australica is a species of minute brown scavenger beetle in the family Latridiidae. Members of this genus are typically found in association with decaying plant matter and fungal growth. The specific epithet 'australica' indicates an Australian distribution. Like other latridiids, this species is minute in size and feeds on fungal spores and hyphae.
Cartodere nodifer
Swollen Fungus Beetle, minute brown scavenger beetle
Cartodere nodifer is a minute beetle in the family Latridiidae, commonly known as the Swollen Fungus Beetle. The species was originally described from Europe but has become cosmopolitan through human-mediated dispersal. It is now established on multiple continents including Australia, New Zealand, and the Azores archipelago. The species belongs to a group commonly called 'minute brown scavenger beetles' due to their small size and ecological habits.
Corticaria dentiventris
Corticaria dentiventris is a minute beetle in the family Latridiidae (plaster beetles), described by Poppius in 1903. The species is known from high-latitude regions of the Holarctic, with confirmed records from Yukon Territory, Canada and Alaska, USA. Like other members of Latridiidae, it likely inhabits moist, decaying organic matter. Very few observations exist in public databases.
Corticaria ferruginea
Rusty Spider Beetle
Corticaria ferruginea is a minute beetle in the family Latridiidae, commonly known as spider beetles. The species was described by Marsham in 1802 and is characterized by its small size and ferruginous (rust-colored) appearance. It belongs to a family of beetles typically associated with moist, decaying organic matter and fungal environments. The species has a Holarctic distribution, with records from multiple Canadian provinces.
Corticariinae
Corticariinae is a subfamily of minute beetles in the family Latridiidae, comprising small (1-3 mm), cryptically colored species with elongated oval bodies and 3-3-3 tarsal formula. The subfamily includes at least 11 genera, with species distributed across the Andean region and other global localities, ranging from lowland tropical forests to high-elevation páramos (up to 4300 m). Members are mycetophagous, feeding on fungal spores and conidia, and occupy diverse microhabitats including decaying vegetation, stored food products, and very humid cloud forest environments.
Corticarina minuta
Minute plaster beetle
Corticarina minuta is a minute beetle in the family Latridiidae, commonly known as plaster beetles. The species was described by Fabricius in 1792 and is among the smallest beetles in this family, typically measuring less than 2 mm in length. It is associated with damp, moldy environments where it feeds on fungal growth. The species has been recorded across parts of Europe including Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Cortinicara
Cortinicara is a genus of minute brown scavenger beetles in the family Latridiidae, established by Johnson in 1975. The genus contains approximately 15 described species distributed across multiple continents, including species originally described from Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, New Zealand, and North America. Species in this genus are small, cryptic beetles associated with moist, decaying organic matter.
Cortinicara gibbosa
minute brown scavenger beetle
Cortinicara gibbosa is a species of minute brown scavenger beetle in the family Latridiidae. It is a small beetle with a humped or gibbous body shape. The species has been recorded across multiple Canadian provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador. As a member of the Latridiidae, it belongs to a family commonly known as minute brown scavenger beetles or plaster beetles.
Dienerella
Dienerella is a genus of minute brown scavenger beetles (family Latridiidae) comprising 41 described taxa across two subgenera: Cartoderema (19 species) and Dienerella (22 species). The genus was established by Reitter in 1911. Species are globally distributed with 15 currently recognized as endemic. The group is characterized by taxonomic complexity, with species distinguished primarily by subtle morphological features including aedeagus structure.
Dienerella costulata
Dienerella costulata is a small beetle species in the family Latridiidae (plaster beetles or minute brown scavenger beetles), first described by Reitter in 1877. The genus Dienerella comprises minute beetles associated with mold and fungal growth. This species has been recorded from several Canadian provinces including Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec. Very few observations of this species exist in public databases.
Dienerella filiformis
Slender plaster beetle
Dienerella filiformis is a minute beetle in the family Latridiidae, commonly known as plaster beetles due to their association with damp, moldy environments. The species is characterized by its notably slender, elongated body form compared to congeners. It has been recorded across eastern Canada, with distribution spanning from Manitoba to the Maritimes. Like other members of the genus, it is presumed to feed on fungal hyphae and spores in humid microhabitats.
Dienerella ruficollis
Red-necked plaster beetle
A small beetle in the family Latridiidae, commonly known as the red-necked plaster beetle. This species is associated with damp, moldy environments and has been introduced to North America from Europe. It is frequently found in buildings and other human-modified habitats where fungal growth occurs.
Enicmus aterrimus
Enicmus aterrimus is a minute beetle in the family Latridiidae (plaster beetles), described by Motschulsky in 1866. Like other members of this family, it is extremely small and associated with moist, mold-rich environments. The species has been documented in several Canadian provinces including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan.
Enicmus brevicornis
plaster beetle, lathridid beetle
Enicmus brevicornis is a minute beetle in the family Latridiidae, commonly known as plaster beetles or lathridids. The species is native to Europe and has been introduced to other regions including North America. Like other members of the genus, it is associated with moist, moldy environments where it feeds on fungal growth. The species is distinguished from congeners by its relatively short antennae, as indicated by the specific epithet "brevicornis" (short-horned).
Enicmus histrio
Enicmus histrio is a species of minute brown scavenger beetle in the family Latridiidae, described by Joy & Tomlin in 1910. The species is native to Europe and has been recorded in Belgium, with additional distribution records from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in Canada. Like other members of Latridiidae, it is associated with moist, decaying organic matter. Specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented in published literature.
Enicmus tenuicornis
Enicmus tenuicornis is a minute beetle in the family Latridiidae, commonly known as plaster beetles or minute brown scavenger beetles. The species was described by LeConte in 1878 and is native to North America. Like other members of the genus, it is likely associated with moist, decaying organic matter and fungal growth. The specific epithet 'tenuicornis' refers to its slender antennae.
Eufallia
Eufallia is a genus of minute brown scavenger beetles (family Latridiidae) established by Muttkowski in 1910. The genus contains two described species: Eufallia africanus (Dajoz, 1970) from Africa and Eufallia seminivea (Motschulsky, 1866). Members of this genus are small beetles associated with decaying organic matter.
Eufallia seminivea
Eufallia seminivea is a minute beetle in the family Latridiidae, commonly known as plaster beetles or minute brown scavenger beetles. The species was originally described by Motschulsky in 1866 under the basionym Aridius seminiveus. Latridiidae beetles are generally associated with mold and fungal growth, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented. The genus Eufallia contains few described species and is characterized by distinctive antennal and pronotal morphology.
Fuchsina
Fuchsina is a genus of minute brown scavenger beetles (family Latridiidae) established by Fall in 1899. The genus contains at least two described species: Fuchsina occulta (the type species) and Fuchsina arida. These beetles are part of the diverse assemblage of small, cryptic beetles associated with decomposing plant matter and fungal growth.
Latridiinae
minute brown scavenger beetles (informal, family-level)
Latridiinae is a subfamily of minute beetles within the family Latridiidae, first described by Erichson in 1842. The subfamily contains at least 18 recognized genera distributed globally, including economically significant genera such as Latridius, Enicmus, Dienerella, and Stephostethus. Members are among the smallest beetles, often overlooked due to their size and cryptic habits. Taxonomic research continues to reveal new species, particularly in underexplored regions such as Taiwan and Central Asia.
Latridius
Latridius is a genus of minute brown scavenger beetles in the family Latridiidae, established by Herbst in 1793. The genus contains at least 16 described species distributed across the Holarctic region, with records from Europe, North America, and Asia. Species within this genus are small, cryptic beetles associated with decaying plant matter and fungal growth. The genus is part of the superfamily Coccinelloidea, though its members bear little resemblance to the more familiar lady beetles.
Latridius hirtus
Latridius hirtus is a small beetle species in the family Latridiidae (plaster beetles), first described by Gyllenhal in 1827. It is a member of a family associated with moist, moldy environments. The species has been recorded in parts of Canada (British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec) and Belgium.
Latridius minutus
squarenosed fungus beetle, square-nosed fungus beetle
Latridius minutus is a minute brown scavenger beetle in the family Latridiidae, commonly known as the square-nosed fungus beetle. The species is characterized by its small size and association with fungal substrates. Population activity peaks during summer months and declines in winter.
Latridius protensicollis
Latridius protensicollis is a species of minute brown scavenger beetle in the family Latridiidae, described by Mannerheim in 1843. This species is known from the Pacific Northwest of North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada and Alaska, United States. Like other members of Latridiidae, it is a small beetle associated with moist, decaying organic matter.
Melanophthalma casta
Melanophthalma casta is a species of minute brown scavenger beetle in the family Latridiidae. The genus Melanophthalma comprises small beetles typically associated with moldy or decaying plant material. Very few documented observations of this species exist, with only one record currently available on iNaturalist. The family Latridiidae as a whole is characterized by tiny body size and association with fungal growth on damp organic substrates.
Melanophthalma inermis
Melanophthalma inermis is a species of minute brown scavenger beetle (family Latridiidae) first described by Motschulsky in 1866. These beetles are among the smallest coleopterans, typically found in moist habitats where they feed on fungal spores and hyphae. The species is documented from eastern Canada, with records from New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Latridiid beetles are generally associated with decaying plant material and are common in forest floor litter and similar microhabitats.
Melanophthalma pumila
Melanophthalma pumila is a species of minute brown scavenger beetle in the family Latridiidae. First described by LeConte in 1855 under the name Corticaria pumila, it was later transferred to the genus Melanophthalma. The species belongs to a family of small beetles commonly associated with moldy or decaying plant material. Records indicate presence in multiple Canadian provinces.
Melanophthalma simplex
Melanophthalma simplex is a species of minute brown scavenger beetle in the family Latridiidae. The genus Melanophthalma comprises small beetles associated with fungal growth and decaying organic matter. Records for this species are sparse, with limited observational data available.
Melanophthalma villosa
Melanophthalma villosa is a species of minute brown scavenger beetle in the family Latridiidae. This family comprises small beetles commonly known as plaster beetles or fungus beetles, typically associated with mold and fungal growth in various habitats. The species was described by Zimmermann in 1869. Like other members of Latridiidae, it is presumed to feed on fungal hyphae and spores, though specific ecological studies on this species are limited. It has been recorded across multiple Canadian provinces.
Metophthalmus
Metophthalmus is a genus of minute brown scavenger beetles in the family Latridiidae, established by Motschulsky in 1850. These beetles are small, often overlooked, and associated with decaying organic matter. The genus belongs to a family commonly known as plaster beetles or minute brown scavenger beetles, though specific ecological details for Metophthalmus remain poorly documented in published literature.
Metophthalmus americanus
Metophthalmus americanus is a minute beetle in the family Latridiidae (plaster beetles). Members of this family are among the smallest beetles, with adults typically measuring less than 2 millimeters in length. The genus Metophthalmus contains species associated with moist, decaying organic matter.
Metophthalmus rileyi
Metophthalmus rileyi is a species of minute brown scavenger beetle in the family Latridiidae. The genus Metophthalmus belongs to a group of tiny beetles commonly associated with decaying organic matter and fungal growth. The specific epithet "rileyi" honors Edward Riley, an indefatigable collector of beetles who contributed significantly to the study of North American coleopteran diversity. The species is known from very few records and remains poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Metophthalmus septemstriatus
Metophthalmus septemstriatus is a minute beetle in the family Latridiidae, commonly known as plaster beetles or minute brown scavenger beetles. The genus Metophthalmus contains small, inconspicuous species associated with damp, moldy environments. The specific epithet 'septemstriatus' refers to seven stripes, likely describing elytral patterning. Like other latridiids, this species is presumed to feed on fungal spores and hyphae, though direct observations are limited.
Migneauxia lederi
Migneauxia lederi is a small beetle species in the family Latridiidae (plaster beetles), described by Reitter in 1875. The genus Migneauxia contains minute beetles often associated with damp, moldy environments. This species has been recorded from Belgium and Denmark based on occurrence data.
Revelieria
Revelieria is a genus of small beetles in the family Latridiidae, established by Perris in 1869. The genus contains two described species: Revelieria genei (originally described by Aubé in 1850) and Revelieria california (described by Fall in 1899). Latridiidae beetles are commonly known as plaster beetles or minute brown scavenger beetles.
Stephostethus lardarius
minute brown scavenger beetle
Stephostethus lardarius is a species of minute brown scavenger beetle in the family Latridiidae. It is a small beetle that feeds on fungal spores and decaying organic matter. The species has been recorded in parts of Europe and North America. It is one of many small beetles in this family that inhabit moist, moldy environments.
Thes
Thes is a genus of minute beetles in the family Latridiidae (plaster beetles), established by Semenov in 1909. These beetles are morphologically typical of their family, being small and associated with damp, moldy environments. The genus is recorded from northern Europe including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Thes bergrothi
Ridge-winged Fungus Beetle
Thes bergrothi is a small beetle in the family Latridiidae, commonly known as the Ridge-winged Fungus Beetle. This species is distributed across several Canadian provinces including British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan. Like other members of its family, it is associated with fungal habitats.