Pill-beetles
Guides
Byrrhinae
pill beetles
Byrrhinae is a subfamily of pill beetles within the family Byrrhidae, established by Latreille in 1804. The subfamily comprises approximately 25 genera and at least 160 described species. Members are small, compact beetles with a characteristic rounded, pill-like body form that enables conglobation—rolling into a ball when disturbed. Byrrhinae represents the more species-rich of the two subfamilies in Byrrhidae.
Byrrhus
pill beetles
Byrrhus is a genus of pill beetles established by Linnaeus in 1767, containing at least 30 described species. These beetles are notable for their ability to conglobate, or roll into a ball when disturbed. The genus belongs to the family Byrrhidae, a group of small beetles often associated with moss and lichen habitats.
Cytilus
pill beetles
Cytilus is a genus of pill beetles in the family Byrrhidae, established by Erichson in 1847. The genus contains approximately eight described species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, and East Asia. Pill beetles in this genus are characterized by their ability to conglobate—curl into a compact ball when disturbed—a defensive behavior that gives the group its common name.
Eusomalia
pill beetles
Eusomalia is a genus of pill beetles in the family Byrrhidae. The genus was described by Casey in 1912 and contains a single described species, Eusomalia lecontei. Members of this genus share the characteristic defensive behavior of pill beetles, which curl into a ball when disturbed.
Exomella
pill beetles
Exomella is a genus of pill beetles in the family Byrrhidae, established by Casey in 1914. The genus contains at least two described species: E. merickeli (Johnson, 1985) and E. pleuralis (Casey, 1908). Members of this genus belong to the tribe Exomellini within the subfamily Byrrhinae. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revision and study, with E. pleuralis recently rediscovered and re-evaluated.
Lioon
pill beetles
Lioon is a genus of pill beetles in the family Byrrhidae, established by Casey in 1912. The genus contains at least four described species distributed in North America. Members of this genus are small, compact beetles capable of conglobation (rolling into a ball), a defensive behavior characteristic of the family Byrrhidae.
Listemus
pill beetles
Listemus is a genus of pill beetles in the family Byrrhidae, established by Casey in 1912. The genus contains at least four described species distributed in North America. Pill beetles in this genus share the family characteristic of rolling into a compact ball when disturbed. The genus remains poorly studied, with limited ecological and biological data available.
Porcinolus
pill beetles
Porcinolus is a genus of small beetles in the family Byrrhidae, commonly known as pill beetles. The genus was established by Mulsant & Rey in 1869 and contains at least three described species native to North America. Members of this genus are characterized by their ability to conglobate, rolling into a compact ball when disturbed. The genus is part of a family known for mineral feeding habits and association with moist, mossy habitats.
Porcinolus undatus
Porcinolus undatus is a small beetle species in the family Byrrhidae (pill beetles), first described by Melsheimer in 1844. Records indicate presence in North America, with documented occurrences in Canadian provinces including Alberta, Manitoba, and New Brunswick. The genus Porcinolus belongs to a family of beetles typically associated with moss, lichen, or decaying plant matter. Available information about this species is limited, with only four observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Simplocaria
pill beetles
Simplocaria is a genus of pill beetles (family Byrrhidae) established by Stephens in 1829. The genus contains more than 30 described species. Members of this genus are associated with forest habitats in northern regions. Simplocaria metallica has been specifically studied in northern Alberta, Canada, in relation to forest habitat characteristics.
Simplocariini
pill beetles
Simplocariini is a tribe of pill beetles (family Byrrhidae) comprising approximately 9 genera and more than 40 described species. The tribe was established by Mulsant & Rey in 1869 and is classified within the subfamily Byrrhinae. Members of this tribe share the family characteristic of conglobation—the ability to roll into a ball when disturbed. The tribe includes genera distributed across the Holarctic region, with some genera showing more restricted geographic ranges.