Minute-beetles
Guides
Abraeini
Abraeini is a tribe of minute clown beetles within the family Histeridae, first described by MacLeay in 1819. Members of this tribe are among the smallest histerid beetles and are characterized by reduced elytra that expose several abdominal segments. They are primarily associated with decaying organic matter and have been observed in various microhabitats including dung, carrion, and fungal fruiting bodies. The tribe contains multiple genera, though species-level taxonomy remains incompletely resolved for many groups.
Arthrolips fasciata
Arthrolips fasciata is a minute beetle species in the family Corylophidae, originally described by Erichson in 1842. Records indicate presence in Belgium with some uncertainty, and the species has been observed 18 times on iNaturalist. Like other members of this family, it is among the smallest beetles, typically associated with decaying organic matter and fungal habitats. The genus Arthrolips is part of the diverse microbeetle fauna that remains understudied due to its diminutive size.
Batriasymmodes
Batriasymmodes is a genus of minute rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae, described by Orlando Park in 1951. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Batrisini, a diverse group of small beetles often associated with leaf litter and soil habitats. The genus is part of the hyperdiverse Pselaphinae, one of the most species-rich subfamilies of Staphylinidae, though individual species remain poorly documented in public databases. Observations of this genus are extremely sparse, with only five records in iNaturalist as of the available data.
Brachycepsis
Brachycepsis is a genus of minute rove beetles in the subfamily Scydmaeninae, established by Brendel in 1889. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Stenichnini, a group characterized by small body size and specialized ecological associations. The genus is part of the diverse Staphylinidae family, one of the largest beetle families. Limited species-level information is available in public databases.
Calyptomerus
Calyptomerus is a genus of minute beetles in the family Clambidae, established by Redtenbacher in 1847. The genus contains at least three described species: C. alpestris, C. dubius, and C. oblongulus. These beetles belong to the subfamily Calyptomerinae within the small family Clambidae, which is placed in the infraorder Clambiformia. Records indicate presence in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Catalinus
Catalinus is a genus of minute rove beetles (family Staphylinidae, subfamily Scydmaeninae) established by Casey in 1897. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Stenichnini, a group of small beetles often associated with forest floor habitats and microhabitats such as leaf litter and decaying wood. The genus is poorly documented in public sources, with only three observations recorded on iNaturalist as of the knowledge cutoff.
Cerylon
Cerylon is a genus of minute bark beetles in the family Cerylonidae, established by Latreille in 1802. The genus comprises approximately 11 described species distributed across Europe and North America. These beetles are small, inconspicuous inhabitants of forest ecosystems where they occupy specialized microhabitats on and beneath bark.
Clambidae
Minute Beetles, Fringe-winged Beetles
Clambidae is a family of minute beetles in the superfamily Clamboidea, comprising approximately 70 described species across five genera. Adults range from 0.7 to 2 mm in body length and exhibit distinctive fringe-winged morphology with long hairs lining the wing margins. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution excluding Antarctica, with the genus Clambus being the most widespread. Some species exhibit a conglobate body form capable of rolling into a ball.
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.
Corylophidae
minute hooded beetles, minute fungus beetles
Corylophidae is a family of minute beetles in the superfamily Coccinelloidea, comprising approximately 18 genera and at least 120 described species. Members are among the smallest free-living insects, with body lengths typically around 2 mm. The family exhibits distinctive anatomical modifications associated with extreme miniaturization, including elevated rates of substitution in nuclear rRNA genes in the most diminutive species. Formerly known as Orthoperidae in older literature.
Cyrtinus
Cyrtinus is a genus of minute longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) comprising approximately 30 described species distributed across the Americas. The genus is notable for containing some of the smallest members of the family, with adults of certain species measuring only 2–3 millimeters in length. Species occur in eastern North America, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. The type species, Cyrtinus pygmaeus, is among the smallest North American cerambycids and exhibits effective ant mimicry.
Derolathrus
Jacobson's beetles
Derolathrus is a genus of minute beetles in the family Jacobsoniidae, containing 12 described species. The genus includes both extant and extinct species, with fossil records from Cretaceous amber deposits in Myanmar and France. Several species exhibit troglomorphic adaptations, including reduced or absent eyes. The genus has a disjunct global distribution spanning tropical and subtropical regions.
Gehringiinae
Gehringiinae is a small subfamily of ground beetles (Carabidae) containing approximately 20 described species across two genera: Gehringia and Zuphioides. Members are minute to small beetles, generally less than 3 mm in length, adapted to specialized microhabitats. The subfamily was established to accommodate taxa with distinctive morphological features that separate them from other carabid lineages. They are among the smallest carabid beetles and are rarely encountered due to their cryptic habits.
Glandulariini
Glandulariini is a tribe of minute rove beetles within the subfamily Pselaphinae. Members are characterized by complex glandular structures on the abdomen, from which the tribe derives its name. These beetles are among the smallest staphylinids, often measuring less than 2 mm in length. The tribe contains numerous genera distributed across multiple biogeographic regions.
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.
Leptoscydmus
Leptoscydmus is a genus of minute rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Scydmaeninae. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Leptoscydmini, a group of small beetles adapted to life in soil and leaf litter microhabitats. The genus was established by Thomas Lincoln Casey in 1897 and contains species distributed in North America. These beetles are part of the diverse scydmaenine fauna that plays roles in decomposer food webs.
Limnichini
Limnichini is a tribe of minute marsh-loving beetles within the family Limnichidae. Members are small, compact beetles associated with moist or riparian habitats. The tribe is distinguished from the other limnichid tribe, Paralimnichini, by specific morphological features of the adult beetles. These beetles are poorly studied and many aspects of their biology remain undocumented.
Loricaster
Loricaster is a genus of minute beetles in the family Clambidae, established by Mulsant & Rey in 1861. The genus contains at least three described species: L. cribripennis, L. rotundus, and L. testaceus. Members of this genus are small beetles, consistent with the general characteristics of Clambidae.
Mastogenius
Mastogenius is a genus of minute jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) characterized by extremely small body size—adults measure approximately 2 mm in length. The genus contains approximately 40 described species distributed across the Americas, from the southwestern United States through Central America and into South America. Adults are typically collected by beating oak foliage, and at least one species has been recorded from Florida sand oak (Quercus geminata). The genus is among the smallest buprestids in North America, making field identification challenging without close examination.
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.
Microscydmus
Microscydmus is a genus of minute rove beetles in the subfamily Scydmaeninae, characterized by their small size and reduced elytra typical of the family Staphylinidae. The genus was established by Saulcy & Croissandeau in 1893 and contains species distributed across Europe, Australia, and North America. Taxonomic revisions have transferred some previously assigned species to other genera, such as Microscydmus trianguliceps to Afroeudesis. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Stenichnini within the ant-like stone beetle subfamily.
Motschulskium
Motschulskium is a genus of minute featherwing beetles in the family Ptiliidae, subfamily Nossidiinae. These beetles are among the smallest insects known, with most Ptiliidae measuring under 1 mm in length. The genus was established by Matthews in 1872 and is distinguished from related genera primarily by genitalic and antennal characteristics. Species within this genus are poorly known and rarely collected due to their minute size and cryptic habits.
Mychocerus
minute bark beetles
Mychocerus is a genus of minute bark beetles in the family Cerylonidae, established by Erichson in 1845. The genus contains at least two described species: M. discretus (Casey, 1890) and M. striatus (Sen Gupta & Crowson, 1973). These beetles are small, inconspicuous insects associated with dead or decaying wood.
Nanosellini
Nanosellini is a tribe of feather-winged beetles within the family Ptiliidae, first described by Barber in 1924. Members of this tribe are among the smallest known beetles, with most species measuring less than 1 millimeter in length. They belong to the subfamily Ptiliinae, which contains approximately 80% of described feather-winged beetle genera. The tribe is characterized by extreme miniaturization and associated morphological adaptations.
Nephanes
Nephanes is a genus of minute beetles in the family Ptiliidae, established by C.G. Thomson in 1859. The genus contains at least two described species, including N. titan (Newman, 1834) and N. euphorbiicola Israelson, 1976. Members of this genus are among the smallest beetles known, characteristic of the featherwing beetle family.
Nossidium
Nossidium is a genus of minute featherwing beetles (family Ptiliidae) established by Erichson in 1845. It belongs to the subfamily Nossidiinae, one of the smaller lineages within this family of extremely small beetles. Members of this genus are among the smallest beetles known, with body lengths often below 1 mm. The genus has been documented from northern European localities.
Olibrus rufipes
Olibrus rufipes is a small beetle species in the family Phalacridae, first described by LeConte in 1856. The genus Olibrus comprises minute beetles commonly known as shining flower beetles or pollen beetles. Information regarding the specific biology and ecology of O. rufipes is extremely limited in published sources. The species epithet "rufipes" refers to reddish or rufous-colored legs, a characteristic feature of this taxon. Like other phalacrids, it is presumed to be associated with flowers and fungal spores, though direct observations of this specific species remain undocumented in the available literature.
Orthoperus
minute hooded beetles
Orthoperus is a genus of minute hooded beetles in the family Corylophidae, established by Stephens in 1829. The genus contains more than 20 described species, with at least 28 species currently recognized. Members are characterized by their extremely small body size and the distinctive hood-like pronotal structure that partially covers the head. These beetles belong to the tribe Orthoperini within the subfamily Corylophinae. They have been recorded from Europe and North America.
Ostomopsis
Ostomopsis is a genus of minute bark beetles in the family Cerylonidae, established by Scott in 1922. The genus contains at least three described species: O. kuscheli, O. neotropicalis, and O. watti. These beetles belong to the subfamily Ostomopsinae and are part of the diverse Cerylonidae family within the superfamily Coccinelloidea.
Papusus
Papusus is a genus of minute rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Scydmaeninae, tribe Papusini. The genus was described by Casey in 1897 and is the sole member of its tribe. These beetles are among the smallest staphylinids and are associated with forest floor habitats. The genus is rarely encountered, with extremely limited observational records.
Parmulini
minute hooded beetles
Parmulini is a tribe of minute hooded beetles in the family Corylophidae, established by Poey in 1854. The tribe contains at least two genera—Arthrolips and Clypastraea—and more than 40 described species. These beetles are characterized by their small size and hooded body form. Members of this tribe are part of the superfamily Coccinelloidea within the suborder Polyphaga.
Pselaphitae
Pselaphitae is a supertribe of minute rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) characterized by compact, often hump-backed bodies with shortened elytra. The group comprises nine tribes and at least thirteen described genera, including Pselaphus, Tmesiphorus, and Tyrus. Members are primarily distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, with notable radiations in New Zealand where several endemic genera have been described. The supertribe was established by Latreille in 1802 and remains an active subject of taxonomic revision.
Sphindociinae
Sphindociinae is a small subfamily of beetles established by Lawrence in 1974. The group has been historically classified within different families, with sources placing it in either Tetratomidae or Ciidae. The subfamily contains few described species and remains poorly known, with only two observations recorded on iNaturalist. Members are minute beetles associated with fungal habitats.
Stenichnus
Stenichnus is a genus of minute rove beetles in the subfamily Scydmaeninae, characterized by distinctive larval morphology with complex chaetotaxy (setal patterns). The genus is distributed across the Palaearctic region with some Nearctic representatives. Larvae have been studied through shed skins and rearing to adults, revealing significant morphological variation between species that complicates homology assessments.
Taphrocerus sulcifrons
Taphrocerus sulcifrons is a small buprestid beetle described by Fisher in 1922. The species belongs to the genus Taphrocerus, a group of minute metallic beetles often associated with sedges and other herbaceous plants in moist habitats. Based on collection records, this species occurs in both Middle America and North America. Field observations indicate adults are active in spring and early summer, with specimens collected by sweeping vegetation near water sources.
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.
Upoluna
Upoluna is a genus of minute rove beetles in the subfamily Pselaphinae, family Staphylinidae. Members of this genus are placed in the tribe Tyrini and subtribe Somatipionina. The genus was established by Schaufuss in 1886. Like other pselaphines, species in this genus are small, compact beetles associated with leaf litter and soil habitats.