Predatory-beetle
Guides
Acupalpus indistinctus
Indistinct Harp Ground Beetle
Acupalpus indistinctus is a small ground beetle species described by Dejean in 1831. It belongs to the genus Acupalpus within the family Carabidae. The species has been recorded in Canada and the United States. Limited observational data exists, with 21 records on iNaturalist.
Agonoleptus conjunctus
Adjoining Harp Ground Beetle
Agonoleptus conjunctus is a small ground beetle in the tribe Stenolophini, commonly known as the Adjoining Harp Ground Beetle. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1823 and occurs across a broad range from southern Canada through the United States to Central America. As a member of the Carabidae family, it is a predatory beetle active on the ground surface.
Agonum anchomenoides
Agonum anchomenoides is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Platyninae. It occurs in Canada and the United States, with records extending to Alaska. As a member of Carabidae, it is a predatory beetle. Specific details regarding its ecology and behavior remain poorly documented in published sources.
Agonum brevicolle
Agonum brevicolle is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae. It is distributed across North America, with records from Canada and the United States. The species belongs to the genus Agonum, a diverse group of small to medium-sized predatory beetles commonly found in moist habitats. Limited specific information is available regarding its ecology and behavior.
Agonum crenulatum
Agonum crenulatum is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. Members of the genus Agonum are generally predatory beetles found in moist habitats. The species is part of the diverse North American fauna of platynine ground beetles. Specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Agonum cyclifer
Agonum cyclifer is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae. It occurs in Mexico and the southwestern United States. The genus Agonum includes predatory beetles commonly found in moist habitats. Very few published observations exist for this species.
Agonum fossiger
Agonum fossiger is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Dejean in 1828. It belongs to the large genus Agonum, which contains numerous species of small to medium-sized predatory beetles. Records indicate presence in Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States. As a member of Carabidae, it is presumed to be predatory, though specific ecological studies on this species are limited.
Agonum mutatum
Variable Ground Beetle
Agonum mutatum is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, distributed across North America including Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States. The species is known by the common name Variable Ground Beetle. As a member of the genus Agonum, it likely shares the predatory habits characteristic of this group, though specific details about its biology remain limited in published sources.
Agonum piceolum
Agonum piceolum is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by LeConte in 1879. It is native to North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Agonum, it is a predatory beetle that inhabits ground-level habitats. The species is part of a diverse genus containing numerous similar-looking ground beetles that require careful examination for identification.
Airora minuta
Airora minuta is a species of beetle in the family Trogossitidae. The genus Airora belongs to this family of predatory beetles commonly known as bark-gnawing beetles. Very little published information exists regarding this particular species. The family Trogossitidae comprises beetles that are typically found in association with dead or decaying wood, where they prey on other arthropods.
Ardistomis schaumii
Ardistomis schaumii is a species of ground beetle first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1857. It belongs to the tribe Clivinini within the subfamily Scaritinae, a group characterized by fossorial (burrowing) adaptations. The species occurs in both North America and Central America. Published records remain sparse, with only 12 observations documented on iNaturalist as of the knowledge cutoff.
Astenus brevipennis
Astenus brevipennis is a species of rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Austin in 1877. It belongs to the subfamily Paederinae, a group characterized by relatively slender bodies and predatory habits. The species name "brevipennis" refers to short wings, a trait common among rove beetles where the hardened forewings (elytra) are reduced and leave most of the abdomen exposed. This species has been recorded from scattered localities across eastern North America.
Attalus rufiventris
Red-sutured Attalus
Attalus rufiventris is a species of soft-winged flower beetle in the family Melyridae, commonly known as the Red-sutured Attalus. The species belongs to a large genus of predatory beetles frequently found on flowers. As a member of Melyridae, it possesses the characteristic soft elytra and flexible body typical of the family. The specific epithet rufiventris refers to the reddish coloration of the ventral surface.
Aulicus antennatus
Aulicus antennatus is a species of checkered beetle in the family Cleridae. The genus Aulicus belongs to the clerid subfamily Clerinae, a group of predatory beetles commonly associated with other insects. Records indicate this species is present in the University of California Riverside (UCR) entomology collection, though detailed biological information remains limited. Like other clerids, members of this genus are presumed to be predatory, but specific prey associations for A. antennatus have not been documented.
Aulicus dentipes
Aulicus dentipes is a species of checkered beetle in the family Cleridae, described by Schaeffer in 1921. It belongs to the genus Aulicus, a group of predatory beetles within this family. The species is documented from North America, though specific details regarding its biology, ecology, and distribution within this range remain poorly known in the available literature.
Aulicus edwardsii
Aulicus edwardsii is a species of checkered beetle in the family Cleridae. It belongs to the genus Aulicus, which is part of a family of predatory beetles commonly associated with dead wood habitats. The species is known to be a host for the parasitic chalcidid wasp Acanthochalcis nigricans, indicating its role in complex ecological interactions involving wood-boring beetles and their parasitoids.
Badister
Badister is a genus of small ground beetles in the family Carabidae, comprising approximately 54 species distributed across North Africa, the Near East, and the Holarctic. Members of this genus are characterized by asymmetric mandibles adapted for shell-breaking predation on gastropods. The genus is classified within the tribe Licinini, a group widely associated with snail-eating behavior. Badister species occupy wetland and riparian habitats, with documented activity in wet grasslands, lakeshores, and riverbanks.
Bembidion acutifrons
Bembidion acutifrons is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by LeConte in 1879. The species occurs in northern regions of North America, with documented records from Alaska, Canada, and the United States. Like other members of the genus Bembidion, it is a predatory beetle inhabiting riparian and moist ground habitats. Available occurrence data are sparse, with only three observations recorded in iNaturalist.
Bembidion commotum
Bembidion commotum is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Casey in 1918. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Bembidion, it belongs to a large and diverse group of small carabid beetles commonly found in moist habitats. The species is represented by relatively few observations in modern databases, suggesting it may be infrequently encountered or understudied.
Bembidion compressum
Bembidion compressum is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Lindroth in 1963. The species has a Holarctic distribution, occurring across northern regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. Like other members of the genus Bembidion, it is a predatory beetle inhabiting ground-level environments.
Bembidion gebleri
Bembidion gebleri is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Gebler in 1833. It belongs to the large genus Bembidion, which contains numerous small predatory beetles commonly found near water or in moist habitats. The species has been recorded across northern Asia and parts of North America.
Bembidion incrematum
Bembidion incrematum is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1860. It is a member of the large genus Bembidion, which comprises numerous species of small predatory beetles commonly found in diverse terrestrial habitats. The species has a Holarctic distribution, occurring across northern regions of North America and Eurasia. Like other Bembidion species, it is presumed to be a ground-dwelling predator, though specific ecological studies are limited.
Bembidion mutatum
Bembidion mutatum is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Gemminger & Harold in 1868. It is a small predatory beetle distributed across northern North America, with records from Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States. The species belongs to the large genus Bembidion, which contains hundreds of species commonly found in diverse terrestrial and riparian habitats.
Bembidion versutum
Bembidion versutum is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by LeConte in 1878. The species is native to North America and has been recorded in Canada and the United States. Like other members of the genus Bembidion, it is a predatory beetle. Available information about this species is limited, with relatively few documented observations.
Cafius seminitens
Cafius seminitens is a large rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Horn in 1884. It occurs in western North America, ranging from British Columbia through California and Oregon to Washington, with records extending to Mexico. The species belongs to the subtribe Philonthina, a group of predatory rove beetles commonly associated with decaying organic matter.
Calleida decora
Calleida decora is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, subfamily Lebiinae. The species was described by Fabricius in 1801 and is currently treated as a synonym of Calleida cordicollis. It belongs to a diverse genus of predatory beetles distributed across the Americas. Records indicate occurrence in Belize, Mexico, and the United States.
Calleida platynoides
Calleida platynoides is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by George Henry Horn in 1882. The genus Calleida comprises approximately 100 species distributed primarily in tropical and subtropical regions, with this species representing one of the North American members. Like other carabid beetles, it is a predatory insect. The species has been documented from both the United States and Mexico.
Calleida purpurea
Calleida purpurea is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, distributed across North America. It belongs to the genus Calleida, a group of often colorful predatory beetles. The specific epithet "purpurea" suggests a purple coloration, though detailed documentation of this species remains limited in available sources.
Calosoma scrutator
Fiery Searcher, Caterpillar Hunter
Calosoma scrutator is a large, predatory ground beetle native to North America, commonly known as the Fiery Searcher or Caterpillar Hunter. Adults reach 25–35 mm in length and display striking metallic coloration. The species is primarily nocturnal and climbs vegetation to hunt caterpillars, earning its common name. When disturbed, it excretes a foul-smelling defensive oil from pygidial glands. It serves as an important biological control agent for defoliating insect pests.
Cantharis alticola
Mountaineer Cantharid Beetle
Cantharis alticola is a species of soldier beetle in the family Cantharidae. It is found in North America, with records from western Canadian provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. The species is part of a group commonly known as soldier beetles or leatherwings, recognized for their soft, flexible elytra and aphid predation. As a member of the genus Cantharis, it shares traits with approximately 160 soldier beetle species recorded in California alone.
Carabus truncaticollis
blunt-collared worm and slug hunter
Carabus truncaticollis is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae distributed across the northern Holarctic. The species occurs in mesic tundra environments, including moist meadows. Multiple subspecies have been described, primarily from Russia and Mongolia. The common name 'blunt-collared worm and slug hunter' reflects its presumed predatory habits, though specific dietary documentation is limited.
Carcinops
clown beetles
Carcinops is a genus of clown beetles in the family Histeridae, containing at least 50 described species. These small beetles are known primarily from their role as biological control agents in poultry operations, where they prey on fly eggs and larvae. The genus was established by Marseul in 1855 and belongs to the subfamily Dendrophilinae.
Carcinops corticis
Carcinops corticis is a species of hister beetle in the family Histeridae, described by Marseul in 1863. It belongs to a genus containing predatory beetles associated with decaying organic matter and animal waste environments. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico. As with other Carcinops species, it likely functions as a predator of fly eggs and larvae in manure-rich habitats, though specific ecological data for this species is limited.
Carcinops opuntiae
clown beetle
Carcinops opuntiae is a species of histerid beetle in the family Histeridae, commonly known as clown beetles. It occurs in North America, with records from the southwestern United States (Arizona, California, Texas) and Mexico. The species epithet 'opuntiae' suggests an association with Opuntia cacti, though specific ecological relationships remain poorly documented. Like other histerids, adults are likely predatory, feeding on the eggs and larvae of other insects.
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.
Chariessa texana
Chariessa texana is a species of checkered beetle in the family Cleridae, described by Wolcott in 1908. The species is known from North America, with records primarily from the southwestern and central United States including Missouri. As a member of Cleridae, it belongs to a family of predatory beetles commonly associated with wood-boring insects and their galleries.
Chlaenius alternatus
Chlaenius alternatus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It belongs to the large and diverse genus Chlaenius, which contains approximately 1,000 species worldwide. The genus is native to multiple biogeographic realms including the Palearctic, Afrotropical, and Nearctic regions. Chlaenius alternatus has been recorded from Alaska, Canada, and the United States.
Chlaenius cordicollis
Heart-necked Chlaenius
Chlaenius cordicollis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It belongs to the large and diverse genus Chlaenius, which contains approximately 1,000 species worldwide. The species is native to North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of the genus, it is likely predatory, though specific ecological details for this species are limited in available sources.
Chlaenius emarginatus
Emarginate Chlaenius
Chlaenius emarginatus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, native to North America. It belongs to the large and diverse genus Chlaenius, which contains approximately 1,000 species worldwide. Like other members of its genus, this beetle is likely predatory. The species was first described by Thomas Say in 1823.
Chlaenius erythropus
Chlaenius erythropus is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, distributed across North America. The species belongs to a large and diverse genus native to multiple continents including the Palearctic, Near East, Africa, and Nearctic regions. Like other members of its genus, it is likely predatory, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented. The species has been the subject of taxonomic confusion, with some sources listing it as a synonym of Chlaenius nigricornis.
Chlaenius flaccidus
Chlaenius flaccidus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is native to North America and has been documented in the United States. As a member of the genus Chlaenius, it belongs to a diverse group of ground beetles often characterized by metallic coloration and predatory habits. The species was described by G.Horn in 1876. Available records indicate limited observation data, with only three documented observations in iNaturalist.
Chlaenius glaucus
Chlaenius glaucus is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by LeConte in 1856. The species belongs to a large genus of predatory beetles commonly known as "vivid metallic ground beetles" for their characteristic coloration. Like other Chlaenius species, it is likely a ground-dwelling predator sensitive to soil disturbance and agricultural practices. The species has been documented in Mexico and the United States.
Chlaenius leucoscelis
Chlaenius leucoscelis is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Chevrolat in 1835. The species belongs to the large and diverse genus Chlaenius, which contains approximately 1,000 species worldwide. As a member of the subfamily Licininae, it shares characteristics with other Chlaenius species including metallic coloration and predatory habits. The species has been recorded from Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States.
Chlaenius leucoscelis monachus
Chlaenius leucoscelis monachus is a subspecies of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by LeConte in 1851. It belongs to the genus Chlaenius, a diverse group of predatory beetles commonly known as vivid metallic ground beetles. The subspecies is part of the Chlaenius (Lithochlaenius) subgenus, a group characterized by distinctive coloration patterns. Like other carabids, it possesses the family-typical traits of exposed mandibles and thread-like antennae segments longer than wide.
Chlaenius oxygonus
Chlaenius oxygonus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It occurs in North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented. Like other members of the genus Chlaenius, it is presumed to be a predatory beetle active on the ground surface.
Chlaenius pennsylvanicus pennsylvanicus
Chlaenius pennsylvanicus pennsylvanicus is a subspecies of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1823. It belongs to the genus Chlaenius, a diverse group of often brightly colored predatory beetles commonly known as violet ground beetles or bombardier beetles. The subspecies is distributed in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a ground-dwelling predator, though specific ecological details for this subspecies remain poorly documented in the provided sources.
Chlaenius prasinus
Chlaenius prasinus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, characterized by its vivid metallic green coloration. The genus Chlaenius contains approximately 1,000 species worldwide, with members distributed across the Palearctic, Near East, North Africa, Afrotropical region, and Nearctic. Species in this genus are known for their chemical defense capabilities and predatory habits. C. prasinus has been documented in the United States, though specific ecological details remain limited in published sources.
Chlaenius pusillus
Chlaenius pusillus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Thomas Say in 1823. It belongs to the large and diverse genus Chlaenius, which contains approximately 1,000 species worldwide. The species is native to North America, with confirmed records from the United States and Canada. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a predatory beetle inhabiting ground-level environments.
Chlaenius solitarius
Chlaenius solitarius is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, native to North America. It belongs to the large and diverse genus Chlaenius, which contains roughly 1,000 species worldwide with the majority occurring in the Oriental and Afrotropical regions. Members of this genus are known for their metallic coloration and predatory habits. The species epithet "solitarius" suggests a solitary nature, though specific behavioral documentation for this species is limited.
Chlaenius sparsus
Chlaenius sparsus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by LeConte in 1863. As a member of the genus Chlaenius, it belongs to a group commonly known as "vivid metallic ground beetles" or "colorful foliage ground beetles." The species occurs in North America and Mexico. Like other Chlaenius species, it is likely predatory, though specific natural history details for this species remain poorly documented.