Predatory-beetles
Guides
Adelestini
Adelestini is a tribe of soft-winged flower beetles (family Melyridae, subfamily Malachiinae). Members are small, elongate beetles with soft elytra characteristic of the family. The tribe was established to accommodate genera with distinctive morphological features separating them from other malachiine tribes, particularly in antennal structure and male genitalia. Species occur primarily in the Old World, with greatest diversity in the Palaearctic and Oriental regions.
Agonoleptus
Agonoleptus is a genus of ground beetles (Carabidae) comprising approximately eight described species. The genus was established by Casey in 1914 and is classified within the tribe Stenolophini, subfamily Harpalinae. Species in this genus are found in North America, with records from the United States including Vermont.
Amara
Sun Beetles
Amara is a large genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, commonly known as sun beetles. The genus has a primarily Holarctic distribution, with most species occurring in the Northern Hemisphere. A few species extend into the Neotropics and eastern Asia. Members of this genus are active predators and are frequently observed in open, sunny habitats.
Aulicus
Aulicus is a genus of checkered beetles in the family Cleridae, containing approximately 14 described species. These beetles are part of the diverse clerid fauna, a family known for predatory habits. The genus was established by Spinola in 1841. Specific biological details for most Aulicus species remain poorly documented in published literature.
Baconia
Baconia is a genus of clown beetles (family Histeridae) comprising 116 species, with 85 species described in a 2013 systematic revision. The genus is renowned for brilliant jewel-like coloration and bizarrely flattened body forms—traits rare and little-appreciated in the Histeridae. Species are primarily distributed across North and South America. Many species are known from extremely few specimens; nearly half are represented by only one or two specimens in museum collections.
Boschella
Boschella is a genus of checkered beetles in the family Cleridae, established by Barr in 1980. The genus contains a single described species, Boschella fasciata. Checkered beetles in this family are generally predatory or scavenging, though specific ecological details for this genus remain limited.
Carabidae
ground beetles
Carabidae is one of the largest families of beetles, comprising over 40,000 described species worldwide. Members are predominantly predatory, with elongated bodies, thread-like antennae, and prominent forward-directed mandibles. The family includes diverse forms from fast-running tiger beetles to flightless tyrant ground beetles, occupying nearly every terrestrial habitat. Many species serve as important biological control agents of agricultural pests.
Carabinae
ground beetles
Carabinae is a subfamily of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, comprising approximately 1,400 described species across ten genera. The subfamily is divided into two tribes: Cychrini and Carabini, with the latter further subdivided into subtribes Carabina and Ceroglossina. Notable genera include Carabus, Calosoma, and Ceroglossus. The group has been extensively studied phylogenetically, with molecular data covering over 90% of carabid genera.
Chariessa
checkered beetles
Chariessa is a genus of checkered beetles in the family Cleridae, containing approximately six to seven described species. These beetles are carnivorous predators typically associated with oak trees (Quercus), where they likely prey on wood-boring insects. The genus has a broad distribution spanning North, Central, and South America, with some species also occurring in the Palearctic region. Species such as Chariessa pilosa demonstrate this wide range, occurring across both North America and Eurasia.
Chauliognathinae
soldier beetles
Chauliognathinae is a subfamily of soldier beetles (family Cantharidae) containing at least four genera and approximately 20 described species. The subfamily includes the tribe Ichthyurini, whose genus Ichthyurus comprises roughly 200 species worldwide. Members exhibit notable sexual dimorphism, with males often possessing specialized structures on legs, elytra, or terminal abdominal segments. The first documented predatory behavior in the tribe was reported for Ichthyurus antheraeanus, which preys on early instar larvae of the tasar silkmoth Antheraea mylitta.
Cicindelidia
Prairie Tiger Beetles, Limestone Tiger Beetles, Miami Tiger Beetle (for C. floridana), Highlands Tiger Beetle (for C. highlandensis), Scabrous Tiger Beetle (for C. scabrosa)
Cicindelidia is a genus of small to medium-sized tiger beetles primarily distributed in North America, with greatest diversity in the southern and western United States. The genus includes several notable species groups, most prominently the abdominalis species-group containing four sand-dwelling species (C. abdominalis, C. floridana, C. highlandensis, C. scabrosa) with red venters. Many species exhibit specialized habitat associations, including thermal springs (C. haemorrhagica), limestone outcrops (C. politula), pine rocklands (C. floridana), and sand scrub habitats (C. scabrosa, C. highlandensis). Several species are of conservation concern due to restricted ranges and habitat loss.
ColeopteraCicindelidaetiger-beetlesNorth-Americathermal-springsendemic-speciesconservationsand-habitatspine-rocklandlimestone-habitatspredatory-beetlesmetal-bioaccumulationabdomenalis-species-groupFlorida-endemicsYellowstone-National-Parkriparian-habitatscobblestone-habitatsprairie-habitatsxeric-habitatsfire-adapted-habitatsendangered-speciesrediscovered-specieslarval-burrowsthermoregulationphotography-subjectscollecting-interestCicindelinae
tiger beetles
Cicindelinae is a subfamily of predatory beetles commonly known as tiger beetles. Adults are characterized by large eyes, long slender legs, and powerful mandibles adapted for capturing fast-moving prey. They exhibit a distinctive run-stop-run hunting pattern necessitated by their visual processing limitations at high speeds. The subfamily contains approximately 2,822 species in 120 genera distributed worldwide, though they are most diverse in tropical and subtropical regions. Many species show strong habitat specificity, with some restricted to particular sand dune systems, riparian zones, or rock outcrops.
Cleridae
checkered beetles
Cleridae, commonly known as checkered beetles, is a family of predatory beetles in the superfamily Cleroidea. The family contains approximately 3,500 species worldwide, with about 500 species in North America. Most species are predatory, feeding primarily on other beetles and their larvae, particularly bark beetles and wood-boring beetles. Some genera exhibit scavenging or pollen-feeding habits. The family has significant economic importance as biological control agents against forest pests.
Clerinae
Clerinae is a subfamily of checkered beetles (family Cleridae) comprising numerous genera distributed across tropical and temperate regions worldwide. The subfamily includes diverse species with varied ecological associations, including flower-visiting and predatory behaviors. Taxonomic revisions have substantially expanded recognized diversity, with many genera such as Neorthrius, Xenorthrius, Erymanthus, Eunatalis, Tillicera, and Enoclerus undergoing recent systematic study. Some lineages show strong biogeographic patterns linked to Gondwanan origins and Andean vicariance events.
Clivinina
Clivinina is a subtribe of ground beetles within the family Carabidae, tribe Clivinini, and subfamily Scaritinae. These beetles are primarily fossorial, adapted for burrowing in soil and sandy substrates. The subtribe contains multiple genera distributed across temperate and tropical regions worldwide. Members are characterized by specialized morphological adaptations for subterranean life.
Cultellunguis
Cultellunguis is a genus of soldier beetles in the family Cantharidae, established by McKey-Fender in 1950. The genus contains approximately nine described species distributed in North America. These beetles are part of the diverse Cantharidae family, which is characterized by soft-bodied adults and larvae that are often predatory or feed on detritus.
Cymatodera
checkered beetles
Cymatodera is a genus of checkered beetles in the family Cleridae, tribe Tillinae, comprising at least 70 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropics and Nearctic regions. Species within this genus exhibit considerable morphological diversity, with several new species described recently from Mexico, Central America, and South America. Members are typically found in association with woody vegetation and are attracted to ultraviolet light.
Dicaelina
Dicaelina is a subtribe of ground beetles (Carabidae: Licininae: Licinini) established by Laporte in 1834. Members of this subtribe are included within the tribe Licinini, a group of predatory beetles characterized by elongated bodies and relatively long legs adapted for running. The subtribe contains multiple genera of moderate to large-sized carabids distributed across various regions. iNaturalist records indicate substantial observational data (4,358 observations), suggesting these beetles are moderately well-documented by naturalists.
Dicaelus
Notched-mouthed Ground Beetles
Dicaelus is a genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, containing approximately 18 described species restricted to North America. Members of this genus are commonly known as notched-mouthed ground beetles, a name referencing a distinctive morphological feature of the group. These beetles are primarily active predators found in terrestrial habitats across the continent.
Eunota
Saline Tiger Beetles
Eunota is a genus of tiger beetles in the family Cicindelidae, commonly known as the saline tiger beetles. The genus was established by Émile Rivalier in 1954 and contains eleven recognized species distributed in the United States and Mexico. Members of this genus are specialized for life in saline habitats including salt flats, alkaline lakes, and tidal marshes. Several species exhibit pronounced white elytral markings, with subspecies showing varying degrees of white coloration.
Exosternini
clown beetles
Exosternini is a tribe of clown beetles (family Histeridae) containing at least 60 genera and approximately 800 described species. Members are predominantly small, predatory beetles with diverse body forms ranging from compact and rounded to bizarrely flattened. The tribe includes notable genera such as Baconia, known for brilliant metallic coloration, and Operclipygus, characterized by clamshell-like pygidia. Many species remain poorly known due to extreme rarity and tropical distribution.
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.
Gyrininae
whirligig beetles, gyrinine beetles
Gyrininae is the largest subfamily of Gyrinidae, containing over 740 described extant species. These beetles are commonly known as whirligig beetles for their characteristic circling behavior on water surfaces. The subfamily comprises three tribes: Dineutini, Gyrinini, and Orectochilini, with genera distributed across all major biogeographic regions. Members occupy diverse freshwater habitats from lentic to lotic systems.
Hister
Clown Beetles
Hister is a genus of clown beetles in the family Histeridae, comprising small to medium-sized predatory beetles with distinctive compact, oval bodies and clubbed antennae. Members of this genus are typically shiny black or metallic in coloration and are found in diverse habitats worldwide. The genus is taxonomically significant as the type genus of the family Histeridae, with species identification relying heavily on elytral striae patterns and male genitalia characteristics. Some species exhibit morphological variability in dorsal elytral striae configuration, which has been documented in detail for H. shanghaicus.
Ischyropalpus
Ischyropalpus is a genus of antlike flower beetles in the family Anthicidae, comprising approximately 15 described species. Members of this genus were historically characterized as myrmecophilous (ant-associated), though at least one species, I. nitidulus, has been documented as a predator of mites in pine ecosystems. The genus exhibits a notable ecological flexibility, with species occupying both ant-associated and free-living predatory niches.
Isohydnocera
Isohydnocera is a genus of checkered beetles (family Cleridae) established by E.A. Chapin in 1917. The genus comprises approximately 14 described species distributed primarily in North America. As members of Cleridae, these beetles are likely predatory or scavenging, though species-specific biology remains poorly documented.
Korynetinae
Korynetinae is a subfamily of checkered beetles (Cleridae) within the order Coleoptera. Members of this group are small to medium-sized beetles associated with predatory or scavenging habits. The subfamily is distinguished from other clerid subfamilies by specific morphological features of the antennae and body form. Korynetinae has been documented across multiple continents with greatest diversity in temperate and tropical regions.
Lebia
colorful foliage ground beetles, flat ground beetles
Lebia is a large genus of predatory ground beetles (Carabidae) comprising over 700 species in 17 subgenera with worldwide distribution. Members are frequently encountered on foliage and flowers, where their often brilliant metallic coloration makes them conspicuous despite small to medium size. The genus is notable within Carabidae for including species with parasitoid larval stages, a rare life history strategy among ground beetles. Adults are active predators of small insects, while larvae of at least some species are obligate parasitoids of beetle prepupae.
Lebiini
Lebiini is a tribe of ground beetles within the family Carabidae, containing over 250 genera and approximately 4,800 described species. Members exhibit considerable morphological diversity and occupy a wide range of habitats across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The tribe includes several subtribes such as Agrina, Dromiusina, Metallicina, Pericalina, and Physoderina.
Lecontella
Lecontella is a genus of checkered beetles in the family Cleridae, established by Wolcott & Chapin in 1918. The genus contains at least four described species distributed in North America. Members of this genus are part of the diverse clerid beetle fauna, a family known for predatory habits and often striking color patterns.
Leptotrachelus
Leptotrachelus is a genus of ground beetles (Carabidae) in the tribe Ctenodactylini, subfamily Ctenodactylinae. The genus contains more than 30 described species distributed primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. Members of this genus are characterized by their elongated body form and are part of the diverse ground beetle fauna that function as predators in soil and leaf litter habitats.
Lesteva
ocellate rove beetles
Lesteva is a genus of ocellate rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, containing at least 60 described species. Members of this genus are small predatory beetles with distinct ocelli on the head. At least one species, L. pallipes, has been identified as a subnivium specialist—active beneath winter snowpack and rare or inactive during summer. The genus has a Holarctic distribution with species recorded across Europe, Asia, and North America.
Medonina
Medonina is a subtribe of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) established by Casey in 1905. As of 2024, it encompasses 49 genera distributed across multiple continents. The subtribe belongs to the tribe Lathrobiini within the subfamily Paederinae. Members are small to medium-sized predatory beetles commonly found in leaf litter, soil, and other decaying organic matter.
Monophylla
Spatulate Clerids
Monophylla is a genus of checkered beetles in the family Cleridae, commonly known as spatulate clerids. The genus contains at least four described species distributed in North America. These beetles are part of the diverse Cleridae family, which are predominantly predatory beetles often associated with other insects in various habitats.
Mulsantina
Mulsantina is a genus of lady beetles (family Coccinellidae) native to North and Central America and the Caribbean. The genus was established by Julius Weise in 1906, honoring French entomologist Étienne Mulsant, who had previously described this group under the name Cleis—a name later found to be preoccupied. The genus contains approximately nine species.
Neorthopleura
Neorthopleura is a genus of checkered beetles in the family Cleridae, established by Barr in 1976. The genus comprises at least three described species distributed in North America. Species within this genus are part of the subfamily Korynetinae, a group of clerid beetles often associated with predatory habits.
Panagaeus
Holy Ground Beetles
Panagaeus is a genus of ground beetles (Carabidae) comprising approximately 15 described species. The genus has a broad geographic distribution spanning the Holarctic, Near East, North Africa, Central America, and South America. Species within this genus are commonly referred to as "Holy Ground Beetles" due to distinctive markings on the elytra that resemble crosses or other symbolic patterns. The genus was established by Latreille in 1802 and belongs to the subfamily Panagaeinae.
Plochionus
Plochionus is a genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, established by Dejean in 1821. The genus contains approximately 18 described species. Members are classified within the subfamily Lebiinae and tribe Lebiini. At least one species, P. timidus, has been documented as a predator of agricultural pest insects in North American wetland and orchard systems.
Saprininae
clown beetles
Saprininae is a subfamily of clown beetles within the family Histeridae, comprising over 50 genera and approximately 800 described species. The group is globally distributed but shows notable biogeographic variation, with particular diversity in arid and coastal habitats. Members exhibit diverse ecological associations, including free-living predators, myrmecophiles, and termitophiles.
Saprinini
Saprinini is a tribe of clown beetles (Histeridae) characterized by small to medium body size, often with metallic coloration and reduced elytral striae. Members are primarily associated with decaying organic matter and carrion, where they prey on fly larvae and other insects. The tribe is cosmopolitan in distribution and contains numerous genera, including the widespread *Saprinus* and *Euspilotus*.
Saprinus orbicularis
Saprinus orbicularis is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, subfamily Saprininae. Members of this genus are typically small, spherical, highly polished beetles associated with carrion, dung, and other decomposing organic matter. The species is predatory on other small insects found in these habitats. Like other histerids, it exhibits defensive behaviors including playing dead when disturbed.
Scydmaenus
ant-like stone beetles
Scydmaenus is a genus of minute rove beetles in the subfamily Scydmaeninae, commonly called ant-like stone beetles. The genus has nearly cosmopolitan distribution with species documented across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and other regions. Members are small, slow-moving beetles typically found in soil and leaf litter habitats. Some species have been documented as predators of soft-bodied arthropods, though earlier literature suggested specialization on armored mites.
Scymninae
Scymnine lady beetles, Minute lady beetles
Scymninae is a subfamily of minute lady beetles within Coccinellidae, comprising at least 170 described species globally. Members are recognized as efficient biological control agents, particularly in agricultural systems. The subfamily is taxonomically diverse, represented by 5 tribes, 15 genera, and 138 species in the Indian subcontinent alone. Species within Scymninae exhibit morphological characteristics distinct from other coccinellid subfamilies, including specific arrangements of coxal lines and genitalia structures.
Staphylinina
Staphylinina is a subtribe of rove beetles within the tribe Staphylinini, family Staphylinidae. Members are typically medium to large-sized rove beetles with elongated bodies and relatively short elytra that leave much of the abdomen exposed. The subtribe includes genera such as Platydracus, Staphylinus, Ocypus, Agelosus, and Naddia. Several species have been documented exhibiting specialized behaviors including ant-mimicry and termitophily. The group has a cosmopolitan distribution with significant diversity in the Palaearctic and Oriental regions.
Stictostix
Stictostix is a genus of clown beetles (family Histeridae) established by Marseul in 1870. It belongs to the subfamily Tribalinae within the diverse beetle superfamily Histeroidea. The genus contains relatively few documented species and remains poorly studied compared to more speciose histerid genera. Species in this genus are associated with forest floor and decaying wood habitats, where they function as predators of other small invertebrates.
Thanerocleridae
Thanerocleridae is a small family of predaceous cleroid beetles comprising 36 extant species in 10 genera. Formerly classified as a subfamily of Cleridae, it was elevated to family rank based on molecular data. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution concentrated in tropical and subtropical regions, with one relictual temperate genus (Zenodosus) in North America. Species occupy habitats associated with wood-decaying fungi and tree bark, where they prey on small beetles.
Tillinae
checkered beetles (subfamily)
Tillinae is a subfamily of checkered beetles (family Cleridae) comprising approximately 164 described species across 11 genera in the New World. The subfamily is characterized by diagnostic morphological features including procryptosternum fused to pronotal extension, closed procoxal cavities, and 5-5-5 tarsal formula. Body size ranges from 3 to 40 mm. The genus Cymatodera dominates the subfamily with approximately 134 species, exhibiting its greatest diversity in Mexico.
Trogossitidae
bark-gnawing beetles
Trogossitidae is a small family of beetles in the superfamily Cleroidea, commonly known as bark-gnawing beetles. The family has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with many former members reassigned to separate families (Lophocateridae, Peltidae, Protopeltidae, Rentoniidae, and Thymalidae) as of 2019. Under the modern circumscription, the family contains approximately 400 species in 25 genera, reduced from roughly 600 species in over 50 genera under previous definitions. Members are predominantly predatory and/or mycophagous, with both adults and larvae associated with wood habitats.
Zabrini
Seed-eating Ground Beetles
Zabrini is a tribe of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, subfamily Pterostichinae, with more than 750 described species across three genera. The tribe is divided into two subtribes: Amarina (containing Amara and Pseudamara) and Zabrina (containing Zabrus). Species are found primarily in the Holarctic region, with exceptional diversity in China. The common name 'Seed-eating Ground Beetles' reflects granivory observed in some species, though feeding habits vary considerably across the tribe.