Minute-beetle
Guides
Acritus exiguus
clown beetle
Acritus exiguus is a small clown beetle (family Histeridae) described by Erichson in 1834. It occurs across much of eastern North America from southern Canada to Mexico, with records from the northeastern United States through the Gulf Coast states and west to Colorado and Texas. Like other members of the genus Acritus, it is minute in size and associated with decaying organic matter. The species is documented from museum collections and limited iNaturalist observations, though detailed ecological studies remain sparse.
Acrotrichini
Acrotrichini is a tribe of minute featherwing beetles (family Ptiliidae) characterized by their extremely small body size—among the smallest of all beetles. Members possess distinctive wing morphology with reduced venation and fringed margins that enable flight despite their diminutive size. The tribe was established by Reitter in 1909 and is classified within the subfamily Ptiliinae. Acrotrichini includes the genus Acrotrichis, which contains numerous species distributed across multiple continents.
Aleochara lanuginosa
Woolly Minute Rove Beetle
Aleochara lanuginosa is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, characterized by its minute size and distinctive woolly pubescence. The species is native to the Palearctic region but has been introduced to North America, where it is now established in Canada and the northern United States. It belongs to the subgenus Xenochara, a group of Aleochara species with specialized ecological associations.
Aleodorus bilobatus
Two-lobed Minute Rove Beetle
Aleodorus bilobatus is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae) native to eastern North America. Adults measure 2.8–4.1 mm and exhibit variable coloration from light brown to black. The species is associated with wet riparian habitats, particularly vegetation along rivers and ditches. It is classified in the tribe Falagriini within the subfamily Aleocharinae.
Aleodorus intricatus
Intricate Minute Rove Beetle
Aleodorus intricatus is a minute rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae, tribe Falagriini. It measures 3.1–4.1 mm and is uniformly light to dark brownish-testaceous in color. The species is distributed in western North America from the southwestern United States to southern Canada.
Anillinus arenicollis
Anillinus arenicollis is a species of minute ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It belongs to a genus of small, often eyeless or reduced-eyed beetles adapted to subterranean or soil-dwelling habits. The species epithet 'arenicollis' suggests association with sandy habitats. Members of Anillinus are among the smallest carabid beetles and are poorly known due to their cryptic lifestyle.
Anillinus barberi
Anillinus barberi is a small carabid beetle in the tribe Bembidiini, described by Jeannel in 1963. It belongs to a genus of minute ground beetles characterized by reduced or absent eyes and elongated appendages adapted for subterranean life. The species is known from the United States and is part of a poorly studied group of beetles with limited published ecological data.
Anillinus davidsoni
Anillinus davidsoni is a species of small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Sokolov in 2012. It belongs to the tribe Bembidiini and subtribe Anillina, a group of minute, often eyeless or reduced-eyed beetles adapted to subterranean or cryptic habitats. The genus Anillinus is endemic to North America, with species distributed primarily in the eastern and central United States.
Anillinus kingi
Anillinus kingi is a species of minute ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Sokolov in 2012. The genus Anillinus comprises small, often eyeless or reduced-eyed beetles adapted to subterranean or hypogean habitats. Members of this genus are typically found in soil, leaf litter, or caves in North America. Anillinus kingi is known from the United States.
Anillinus moseleyae
Anillinus moseleyae is a small ground beetle described in 2004 from the southeastern United States. It belongs to the genus Anillinus, a group of minute, eyeless or reduced-eye beetles adapted to subterranean and soil-dwelling habitats. The species was named in honor of an individual (Moseley), following standard patronymic conventions. Like other members of the subtribe Anillina, it is presumed to inhabit deep soil, leaf litter, or cave-associated environments, though specific ecological details remain limited.
Aphanisticus cochinchinae
Aphanisticus cochinchinae is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, originally described from the Cochinchina region of Southeast Asia. The species has been documented with expanded distribution into the New World, including Hawaii. It belongs to a genus of minute buprestids typically associated with grasses and sedges rather than woody hosts. Two subspecies are recognized: A. c. cochinchinae and A. c. seminulum.
Aphanisticus congener
Aphanisticus congener is a species of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Saunders in 1875. It belongs to a genus of minute buprestids characterized by their small size and reduced elytral sculpturing. The species epithet 'congener' suggests its close relationship to other members of the genus. Like other Aphanisticus species, it is likely associated with monocotyledonous plants, particularly grasses and sedges, though specific host records for this species are limited.
Bacanius tantillus
Bacanius tantillus is a small species of clown beetle (family Histeridae) described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1853. It is one of the smallest members of its genus, as indicated by its specific epithet 'tantillus' (Latin for 'so little'). The species is native to eastern North America, where it occurs in forested habitats. Like other members of the subfamily Dendrophilinae, it is likely associated with decaying wood and fungal substrates.
Blaisdelliana sexualis
Pitch Lady Beetle
Blaisdelliana sexualis is a minute lady beetle (family Coccinellidae) found in the southwestern United States. Adults measure approximately 1.25–1.78 mm in length. The species has been recorded from California and Arizona, where it inhabits arid and semi-arid environments. Little is known of its biology beyond basic morphological description.
Brachygluta ulkei
Brachygluta ulkei is a small rove beetle in the subfamily Pselaphinae, a diverse group of minute beetles often associated with leaf litter and soil habitats. The species was described by Brendel in 1866 and occurs in the eastern United States. Like other pselaphines, it is likely a predator or scavenger in microarthropod communities, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
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.
Catalinus angustus
Catalinus angustus is a species of minute rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Scydmaeninae. These beetles are among the smallest staphylinids, typically associated with leaf litter and decaying organic matter in forested habitats. The genus Catalinus belongs to the tribe Stenichnini, a group characterized by their small size and specialized ecological roles in decomposition systems. Records indicate this species occurs in California, USA.
Cephaloscymnus zimmermanni
Zimmermann's lady beetle
Cephaloscymnus zimmermanni is a minute lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. Adults measure approximately 2.15–2.40 mm in length with a dark piceous to black body. The species occurs in eastern North America, with records from Washington D.C., Ohio, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. It belongs to the subfamily Scymninae, a group of small predatory lady beetles.
Cephennium gallicum
Cephennium gallicum is a minute rove beetle in the subfamily Scydmaeninae, native to Europe and first recorded in North America in 2004 from Point Pleasant Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia. The species is believed to have been introduced via shipping activity at the port of Halifax. It represents one of several documented cases of Palearctic Coleoptera establishing populations in North American port cities.
Chaetarthria nigrella
Chaetarthria nigrella is a minute water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It is one of the smallest members of its family, typically measuring only 1-2 millimeters in length. The species belongs to the subfamily Chaetarthriinae, a group of tiny beetles often associated with moist or aquatic microhabitats. Very few observations exist for this species, with only three records documented on iNaturalist, suggesting it is either genuinely rare, undercollected, or difficult to detect due to its minute size.
Clambus armadillo
Clambus armadillo is a minute beetle species in the family Clambidae, a group of small beetles often associated with decaying organic matter. The species has a transcontinental distribution spanning Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. Like other clambid beetles, it is likely associated with moist microhabitats where it feeds on fungal hyphae or decaying plant material, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Clambus gibbulus
Clambus gibbulus is a minute beetle in the family Clambidae, commonly known as fringe-winged beetles. The species was described by LeConte in 1850 and occurs in both North America and parts of Europe. Like other members of its family, it is characterized by reduced wing venation with long marginal setae. Very few observations of this species have been documented.
Clambus howdeni
Clambus howdeni is a minute beetle species in the family Clambidae, first described by Endrödy-Younga in 1981. The species occurs in eastern North America, with confirmed records from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario in Canada. Like other members of the genus Clambus, it is among the smallest beetles, typically measuring only 1–2 mm in length. The species name honors Henry F. Howden, a prominent Canadian coleopterist.
Clambus pubescens
Clambus pubescens is a small beetle species in the family Clambidae, a group commonly known as minute beetles or fringe-winged beetles. The species has a transcontinental distribution spanning Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. Like other members of Clambidae, it is characterized by its diminutive size and reduced wing venation with long marginal setae. The family Clambidae is a small but ancient lineage of polyphagan beetles with fossil records extending to the Cretaceous period.
Clambus simsoni
Clambus simsoni is a small beetle in the family Clambidae, first described by Blackburn in 1902. The genus Clambus comprises minute beetles often associated with leaf litter and decaying organic matter. Records indicate presence in Austria with uncertain status in Belgium. The species has limited observation data, with 22 records on iNaturalist.
Clambus vulneratus
Clambus vulneratus is a small beetle species in the family Clambidae, described by LeConte in 1879. It is one of approximately 30 recognized species in the genus Clambus, a group of minute beetles commonly known as fringe-winged beetles. The species has been documented in North America, including records from Québec, Canada. Members of Clambidae are typically found in leaf litter and decaying organic matter, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited.
Clypastraea lepida
minute hooded beetle
Clypastraea lepida is a species of minute hooded beetle in the family Corylophidae, first described by LeConte in 1852. It is among the smallest beetles in North America, measuring approximately 2 millimeters in length. The species belongs to a family commonly known as "minute hooded beetles" or "minute fungus beetles," characterized by a distinctive morphological adaptation where the head is concealed beneath a shelf-like projection of the pronotum. Members of the genus Clypastraea are typically associated with fungi and mold in rotting wood and under bark on dead trees.
Clypastraea sp-one
minute hooded beetle, minute fungus beetle
Clypastraea sp-one is a minute beetle in the family Corylophidae, measuring approximately 2 millimeters in length. It belongs to a genus typically associated with fungi and mold in rotting wood and under bark on dead trees. The beetle was discovered in a residential Colorado Springs neighborhood, crawling on the base of a utility box beneath a cottonwood tree. This record represents a notable discovery of a poorly known group of beetles in an urban setting.
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.
Cybocephalus californicus
Cybocephalus californicus is a minute beetle species in the family Cybocephalidae, described by Horn in 1879. The species is native to western North America, with documented occurrence in British Columbia, Canada. Adults measure 0.95–1.30 mm in length. Members of the genus Cybocephalus are known as predatory beetles that feed on scale insects and whiteflies, though species-specific biological details for C. californicus remain poorly documented.
Cybocephalus nigritulus
Cybocephalus nigritulus is a minute beetle in the family Cybocephalidae, historically classified among sap, bark, and fungus beetles. The species is native to North America and is among the smallest beetles in its family, with adults measuring 1.0–1.55 mm in length. It was described by LeConte in 1863.
Cybocephalus nipponicus
Cybocephalus nipponicus is a minute beetle in the family Cybocephalidae, measuring 1–1.35 mm in length. Originally described from Japan, it has been introduced to multiple continents and is now established in Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, North America, Oceania, and Southern Asia. The species is recognized as a potential biological control agent, particularly against armored scale insects.
Cyrtinus beckeri
Cyrtinus beckeri is a minute longhorned beetle species in the subfamily Lamiinae, described by Howden in 1960. It is known from the United States, where it has been documented feeding on Bigtooth maple (Acer grandidentatum). Like other members of the genus Cyrtinus, it is among the smallest cerambycids, exhibiting ant-mimicking characteristics.
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.
Eidophelus
Eidophelus is a genus of minute bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae. The genus was established by Eichhoff in 1876 and contains species formerly classified within the tribe Cryphalini. Based on recent taxonomic revision, Eidophelus has been reassigned from the former Cryphalini to one of three newly erected tribes. Species are extremely small, comparable in size to a grain of wheat.
Eidophelus jalapae
Eidophelus jalapae is a minute bark beetle species in the tribe Cryphalini. Like other members of this group, it is extremely small, measuring approximately 1 mm in length. The species was subject to taxonomic reclassification as part of the 2024 revision of the former Cryphalini, which reorganized this historically chaotic group into three distinct tribes. Eidophelus jalapae is one of multiple species within the genus Eidophelus that were clarified through this taxonomic work.
Elaphropus anceps
Elaphropus anceps is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, subfamily Trechinae. It belongs to a diverse genus of minute carabids often found in moist microhabitats. The species is known from North America, with records from the United States and Canada. Like other members of the tribe Bembidiini, it is likely associated with riparian or wetland edges, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Elaphropus parvulus
Elaphropus parvulus is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, originally described by Dejean in 1831 as Bembidium parvulum. The species has a remarkably broad distribution spanning North America, Europe, temperate Asia, and Africa. It belongs to a genus of minute carabid beetles commonly associated with riparian and wetland habitats. Despite its wide geographic range, detailed natural history information for this specific species remains limited in the available literature.
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.
Euconnus pecki
Euconnus pecki is a species of ant-like stone beetle (family Staphylinidae, subfamily Scydmaeninae) described in 2021 by Stephan and Chandler. It belongs to a large genus of minute beetles characterized by compact bodies and reduced wing venation. The species is known from scattered localities in the south-central United States.
Euconnus salinator
Euconnus salinator is a minute rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Scydmaeninae. Members of this genus are among the smallest beetles, often measuring under 2 mm. The species has been recorded across eastern North America from Canada to Florida. Scydmaenine beetles are primarily associated with leaf litter and soil habitats where they prey on oribatid mites.
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.
Eulimnichus ater
minute marsh-loving beetle
Eulimnichus ater is a species of minute marsh-loving beetle in the family Limnichidae, first described by LeConte in 1854. The species is widely distributed across the Americas, occurring in the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. As a member of the Limnichidae, it belongs to a family of small beetles typically associated with moist or marshy habitats, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in the available literature.
Eulimnichus californicus
Eulimnichus californicus is a minute marsh-loving beetle in the family Limnichidae. The species was described by LeConte in 1879 and is known from North America. Members of the genus Eulimnichus are small beetles typically associated with riparian and wetland habitats.
Euplectus karstenii
Euplectus karstenii is a minute rove beetle in the subfamily Pselaphinae, characterized by its compact body form and reduced elytra typical of ant-loving beetles. The species has a broad native distribution across the Palearctic region and has been introduced to North America, Australia, and potentially South America through human activity. As a member of the myrmecophilous Pselaphinae, it is associated with ant colonies, though specific host relationships remain poorly documented.
Falagria dissecta
Dissected Minute Rove Beetle
Falagria dissecta is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, characterized by its abbreviated elytra that expose most of the abdomen. The species is widely distributed across North America, with records spanning Canada and the United States. As a member of the tribe Falagriini, it belongs to a group of minute rove beetles that are often associated with decaying organic matter and soil habitats.
Gymnochthebius fossatus
Gymnochthebius fossatus is a species of minute moss beetle in the family Hydraenidae, first described by LeConte in 1855. It is one of the smallest beetles in North America, with adults typically measuring less than 2 mm in length. The species has a broad geographic distribution spanning the Caribbean Sea, Central America, North America, and South America. As a member of Hydraenidae, it belongs to a family of beetles commonly known as moss beetles or minute moss beetles, which are primarily associated with moist microhabitats.
Gyrophaena gilvicollis
Gyrophaena gilvicollis is a small rove beetle in the subfamily Aleocharinae, described by Casey in 1906. The species belongs to the Gyrophaena genus, a group of minute beetles associated with fungal habitats. Its distribution spans eastern North America, with records from Canada and the eastern United States.
Hydraena pensylvanica
Hydraena pensylvanica is a species of minute aquatic beetle in the family Hydraenidae, first described by Kiesenwetter in 1849. Despite its specific epithet suggesting a Pennsylvania origin, this species occurs across eastern North America. Like other members of the genus Hydraena, it inhabits shallow freshwater habitats. The species is poorly documented in recent literature, with only a handful of observations recorded on community science platforms.