Nitidulidae
Guides
Epuraea avara
Avaricious Sap Beetle
Epuraea avara is a species of sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae. It is found in North America. The species is commonly known as the Avaricious Sap Beetle. As a member of the Nitidulidae, it is associated with fermenting plant sap, fruit, and other sugary substances.
Epuraea helvola
Epuraea cf. helvola is a small sap beetle in the family Nitidulidae, characterized by its compact, oval body form and association with fermenting plant materials. The 'cf.' designation indicates the identification is provisional and based on morphological comparison rather than definitive confirmation. Members of this genus are frequently encountered in decaying vegetation, fungal fruiting bodies, and other microhabitats rich in yeasts and fungal growth. The species epithet 'helvola' (meaning tawny or yellowish-brown) likely references its coloration.
Epuraea imperialis
Epuraea imperialis is a small beetle species in the family Nitidulidae (sap beetles). The genus Epuraea comprises minute to small beetles typically associated with fermenting plant materials, fungi, and decaying organic matter. This species has been documented in Belgium and the broader European region. Like other nitidulids, it likely plays a role in nutrient cycling through its association with decomposing substrates.
Epuraea luteola
pineapple sap beetle
Epuraea luteola, commonly known as the pineapple sap beetle, is a small sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae. The species has been documented in North America, Oceania, and Europe, with records from the Galápagos Islands. It is associated with decaying plant matter and fermenting sap flows.
Epuraea ocularis
sap beetle, sap-feeding beetle
Epuraea ocularis is a small sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae, characterized by its association with fermenting plant material. The species has a broad global distribution spanning multiple continents. Laboratory studies in India have documented its complete life cycle, including egg-laying in clusters on fermenting overripe fruits, four larval instars, and pupation in soil.
Epuraea papagona
Epuraea papagona is a species of sap beetle in the family Nitidulidae, described by Thomas L. Casey in 1884. The species belongs to a genus of small beetles commonly associated with fermenting plant materials and fungal substrates. It is known from North America and Middle America, though detailed biological studies remain limited.
Epuraea peltoides
Epuraea peltoides is a species of sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae, first described by Horn in 1879. It belongs to a genus of small beetles commonly associated with fermenting plant materials and fungal substrates. The species is known from North America.
Epuraea populi
Epuraea populi is a species of sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae, described by Dodge in 1939. It is native to North America and belongs to a genus of small beetles commonly associated with fermenting or decaying plant materials. The species epithet "populi" suggests a possible association with Populus (poplar) species, though this relationship has not been explicitly documented in available sources.
Epuraea rufa
Rufous Sap Beetle
Epuraea rufa is a species of sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae. It is known from North America, with records from Canada (New Brunswick, Ontario, Québec) and the United States. The species is associated with fermenting sap and decaying plant matter.
Epuraea rufida
Epuraea rufida is a small sap beetle in the family Nitidulidae, first described from North America in 1846. Members of this genus are commonly associated with decaying plant matter and fungal fruiting bodies. The species is poorly documented in contemporary literature, with minimal observational records available.
Epuraea rufomarginata
Epuraea rufomarginata is a small beetle species in the family Nitidulidae (sap beetles), first described by Stephens in 1830. The species has a Holarctic distribution, occurring in both Europe and North America. As a member of the genus Epuraea, it belongs to a group of beetles commonly associated with fermenting plant materials, fungi, and decaying organic matter. The specific epithet "rufomarginata" suggests reddish marginal coloration, though detailed morphological descriptions are limited in the available sources.
Epuraea terminalis
Epuraea terminalis is a small sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae, first described by Mannerheim in 1843. It has a broad Holarctic distribution, occurring across Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. As a member of the sap beetle family, it is associated with fermenting plant materials and fungal substrates. The species is documented in entomological collections and observation records, though detailed biological studies remain limited.
Epuraea truncatella
Epuraea truncatella is a species of sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae. The species was described by Mannerheim in 1846. It is found in North America, with records from multiple Canadian provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, and Labrador. As a member of Nitidulidae, it is associated with fermenting plant materials and sap flows.
Fabogethes nigrescens
black pollen beetle, Black Sap Beetle
Fabogethes nigrescens is a species of pollen beetle in the family Nitidulidae. It is widely distributed across Africa, Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. The species was originally described by Stephens in 1830 under the genus Meligethes, and has since been reclassified to Fabogethes. It is commonly known as the black pollen beetle or Black Sap Beetle.
Genistogethes
Genistogethes is a genus of sap beetles in the family Nitidulidae, established in 2009. Members of this genus are small beetles associated with flowers and decaying plant material. The genus is relatively poorly documented with limited published biological information.
Genistogethes carinulatus
Genistogethes carinulatus is a small beetle in the family Nitidulidae, the sap beetles. The genus Genistogethes is associated with leguminous plants, particularly brooms (Genista and related genera). This species was described by Forster in 1849 and has been recorded from Europe and western North America. The specific epithet 'carinulatus' refers to small keel-like structures, likely describing surface sculpturing on the body.
Glischrochilus
picnic beetles, beer bugs
Glischrochilus is a genus of small beetles in the family Nitidulidae, commonly known as picnic beetles or beer bugs. The genus contains two subgenera with divergent feeding strategies: Librodor species feed on sap and fermenting plant matter, while Glischrochilus species are predators of soft invertebrates. Most species are characterized by black bodies with contrasting yellow, red, or orange elytral markings. The genus is distributed across North America and Eurasia and includes several agricultural pests.
Glischrochilus confluentus
Glischrochilus confluentus is a sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1823. It belongs to a genus commonly known as picnic beetles, which are attracted to fermenting plant fluids. The species is distributed across North America, with confirmed records from multiple Canadian provinces.
Glischrochilus fasciatus
Picnic Beetle
Glischrochilus fasciatus, commonly known as the picnic beetle, is a sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae. The species is distributed across North America and Central America. It belongs to a genus known for attraction to fermenting plant materials and oozing sap. The common name derives from its tendency to frequent outdoor food gatherings.
Glischrochilus obtusus
Glischrochilus obtusus is a sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae, a group commonly known as sap beetles. The species occurs in North America. Members of the genus Glischrochilus are typically associated with fermenting plant sap, decaying fruits, and fungal fruiting bodies.
Glischrochilus quadrisignatus
Four-spotted Sap Beetle, Four-spotted Fungus Beetle, Beer Bug, Picnic Beetle
Glischrochilus quadrisignatus is a sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae, commonly known as the four-spotted sap beetle or picnic beetle. It is native to North America and has been introduced to parts of Europe including Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, and Austria. The species is strongly attracted to fermenting plant fluids, overripe fruits, and fungal growths, and is a notable pest of sweet corn and other crops. It has been studied for its complex ecological interactions, including its role as a mortality factor for European corn borer larvae and its potential as a biological control agent.
Glischrochilus sanguinolentus
Bloody Sap Beetle
Glischrochilus sanguinolentus, commonly known as the Bloody Sap Beetle, is a species of sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae. It is native to North America and belongs to a genus known for association with fermenting plant sap, fungi, and occasionally damaged fruit. The species is relatively well-documented with over 700 observations on iNaturalist.
Glischrochilus siepmanni
Glischrochilus siepmanni is a sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae. It belongs to a genus commonly known as picnic beetles, though specific behavioral details for this species remain limited. It has been documented across multiple Canadian provinces and is presumed present throughout North America.
Lobiopa brunnescens
Lobiopa brunnescens is a species of sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae. It was described by Blatchley in 1917 and is known from North America. The genus Lobiopa comprises sap beetles that are typically associated with fermenting plant materials and fungal substrates.
Lobiopa insularis
strawberry sap beetle
Lobiopa insularis is a sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae, widely distributed across the Americas from North America through Central America to South America and the Caribbean. It is a significant agricultural pest of strawberry and other soft fruits, causing direct feeding damage and indirect losses through fungal dispersal. The species has been extensively studied for its biology, life history, and control options, including biological control using parasitoids and entomopathogenic nematodes.
agricultural-pestsap-beetlestrawberry-pestbiological-controlNitidulidaefrugivoroussexual-dimorphismmate-guardingparasitoid-hostentomopathogenic-nematode-hostpolyphagousfungal-dispersal-agentoverwintering-adultlong-lived-adulthigh-fecunditysoil-ovipositionripening-fruit-attractionintegrated-pest-managementBrazilArgentinaAmericas-distributionLobiopa oblonga
Lobiopa oblonga is a species of sap beetle in the family Nitidulidae, described by Parsons in 1938. The genus Lobiopa was reviewed in a 2012 publication in The Pan-Pacific Entomologist, which included the description of a new congeneric species from Baja California Sur, Mexico. As a member of Nitidulidae, it likely shares the family's general association with fermenting or decaying plant matter, though species-specific biology remains poorly documented.
Lobiopa undulata
Lobiopa undulata is a sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1825. It occurs across North America with confirmed records from Canada (Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick) and the United States. As a member of Nitidulidae, it is associated with fermenting plant sap, overripe fruit, and other sugar-rich substrates.
Meligethes atratus
Meligethes atratus is a pollen beetle in the family Nitidulidae, distributed across Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China). The species belongs to a genus of small beetles commonly associated with flowers, particularly those of Brassicaceae and other plant families. Like related pollen beetles, adults likely feed on pollen and floral tissues. The species was first described by Olivier in 1790.
Nitidula
Nitidula is a genus of sap-feeding beetles in the family Nitidulidae, first described by Fabricius in 1775. The genus contains approximately 20-23 described species, though estimates vary among sources. Several species are associated with carrion and decaying organic matter, with some species such as N. carnaria and N. flavomaculata being utilized in forensic investigations due to their predictable colonization of mammalian corpses during later stages of decay. Other species breed in carrion or are found in association with fermenting plant materials.
Nitidula carnaria
Nitidula carnaria is a species of sap beetle in the family Nitidulidae, originally described by Schaller in 1783 under the name Silpha carnaria. It belongs to the genus Nitidula, a group of beetles commonly associated with fermenting or decaying organic matter. The species has been recorded from several islands of the Azores archipelago.
Nitidula nigra
Nitidula nigra is a small sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae, first described by Schaeffer in 1911. The species is recorded from western and central Canada, including Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with decomposing organic matter and carrion habitats.
Nitidula ziczac
Nitidula ziczac is a species of sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae. It is a small beetle, measuring 3–5 millimeters in length, and is known to associate with carrion. The species is found in North America, primarily from the Great Plains westward, and also occurs in Central America.
Nitidulidae
sap beetles, sap-feeding beetles, picnic beetles
Nitidulidae is a family of small beetles commonly known as sap beetles or picnic beetles, with approximately 4,500 described species worldwide and 173 species in North America. Members exhibit highly variable feeding habits, ranging from sap-feeding to scavenging on carrion, fermenting fruits, fungi, and stored products. Several species are economically significant as agricultural pests, particularly in tree nut crops and honey bee colonies. The family has gained recent attention as vectors of the oak wilt pathogen (Bretziella fagacearum), with beetles transmitting fungal spores from infected to healthy oak trees. Some species have been successfully deployed in bioconversion systems to recycle agricultural waste.
Nitidulinae
sap beetles
Nitidulinae is a subfamily of small beetles within the family Nitidulidae, commonly known as sap beetles. The subfamily contains approximately 110 genera and at least 70 described species, though taxonomic revision is ongoing. Members are primarily associated with fungal substrates, particularly large-bodied Basidiomycetes, and exhibit diverse feeding habits including phallalophagy in some lineages. The group has been subject to recent phylogenetic study focusing on body convexity as a morphological trait and host-use patterns.
Nitops craigheadi
Nitops craigheadi is a small beetle species in the family Nitidulidae (sap beetles), originally described as Carpophilus craigheadi by Dobson in 1972. The genus Nitops comprises species often associated with fermenting plant materials, though specific ecological data for this species remain limited. Like other nitidulids, adults are likely attracted to decaying organic matter and fungal growth. The species is distinguished from congeners by subtle morphological features of the antennae and pronotum.
Omosita colon
Omosita colon is a sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae. The species has been documented across Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), Central America, and North America. Detailed morphological studies have examined its antennae and mouthpart sensilla, revealing specialized sensory structures associated with its feeding ecology.
Pallodes
Pallodes is a genus of sap-feeding beetles in the family Nitidulidae, first described by Erichson in 1843. The genus contains approximately 51 described species, with the majority distributed in tropical regions. Three species occur in North America: Pallodes austrinus, Pallodes pallidus, and Pallodes plateosus. The genus is noted for its association with fresh mushrooms and is considered taxonomically in need of a worldwide revision.
Pallodes pallidus
Pale Sap Beetle
Pallodes pallidus is a small sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae, commonly known as the Pale Sap Beetle. It is native to North America, with records from the United States and Canada including Ontario and Québec. As a member of the sap beetle guild, it is associated with fermenting plant sap, fungi, and other decaying organic matter. The species is relatively well-documented on citizen science platforms, with over 160 observations recorded.
Phenolia grossa
Phenolia grossa is a species of sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae. It is found in North America, with records from Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario) and the United States. As a member of Nitidulidae, it belongs to a family commonly known as sap beetles, which are associated with fermenting or decaying plant materials.
Pityophagus
Pityophagus is a genus of sap-feeding beetles in the family Nitidulidae, established by Shuckard in 1839. The genus contains approximately six described species distributed across the Holarctic region. Members of this genus are associated with coniferous trees, where they feed on sap flows and exudates.
Pityophagus cephalotes
Pityophagus cephalotes is a species of sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae, first described by LeConte in 1866. The species is found in North America. Members of the genus Pityophagus are associated with coniferous trees and are known to feed on sap flows.
Pocadius
hairy puffball beetle
Pocadius is a genus of sap-feeding beetles in the family Nitidulidae, first described by Erichson in 1843. The genus comprises approximately 47 species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, with particularly high diversity in Central and South America. Species were historically underdescribed, with a major revision in 2008 expanding the genus from nine to 47 recognized species. The genus includes both described larvae and adults, with some species associated with fungal substrates.
Pocadius basalis
Pocadius basalis is a species of sap beetle in the family Nitidulidae, first described by Schaeffer in 1911. The species is documented from the southwestern United States, with recent records extending its known range. As a member of Nitidulidae, it belongs to a family commonly associated with fermenting or decaying plant materials, though species-specific biology remains poorly documented.
Pocadius helvolus
hairy puffball beetle
Pocadius helvolus, commonly known as the hairy puffball beetle, is a species of sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae. The species was described by Erichson in 1843. It is found in Central America and North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada. The common name suggests a hairy appearance, though specific morphological details are limited in available sources.
Prometopia
Prometopia is a genus of sap-feeding beetles in the family Nitidulidae, subfamily Prometopiinae. The genus comprises approximately 28 species worldwide, with distribution centered in the Afrotropical region and extending to the Nearctic and other regions. Most species are excluded from the Palaearctic region, Madagascar, and New Zealand. The genus is characterized by distinctive body shape and elytral spot patterns.
Prometopinae
Prometopinae is a subfamily of sap-feeding beetles within the family Nitidulidae. It comprises approximately eight genera, with the genus Prometopia being the sole North American representative. Members are associated with fermenting plant materials and sap flows.
Psilopyga
stinkhorn beetles
Psilopyga is a genus of small beetles in the family Nitidulidae, commonly known as sap beetles. The genus contains at least four described species, including two with common names referencing their association with stinkhorn fungi: the black stinkhorn beetle (P. histrina) and the stinkhorn beetle (P. nigripennis). Species in this genus are known to feed on sap and are associated with fungal fruiting bodies.
Psilopyga fasciata
Psilopyga fasciata is a small sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae, first described from Mexico by Sharp in 1891. The species has undergone taxonomic revision and is currently treated as a synonym of Oxycnemus fasciatus. Records indicate presence in Middle and North America, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in available literature.
Psilopyga histrina
black stinkhorn beetle
A small sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae, known from North America. The common name "black stinkhorn beetle" suggests an association with stinkhorn fungi (Phallaceae), though direct documentation of this relationship is limited. Like other nitidulids, it likely feeds on fermenting plant fluids and fungal substrates.
Psilopyga nigripennis
stinkhorn beetle
Psilopyga nigripennis, commonly known as the stinkhorn beetle, is a species of sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae. It is found in North America. The common name "stinkhorn beetle" reflects its association with stinkhorn fungi (Phallaceae), which are among its known food sources. The species was described by LeConte in 1863.