Ptinidae
Guides
Anobiini
death-watch beetles
Anobiini is a tribe of beetles within the family Ptinidae, commonly known as death-watch beetles. The tribe contains at least 6 genera and approximately 20 described species. Members of this tribe are wood-boring beetles known for their association with timber and wooden structures. The common name "death-watch" derives from the tapping sounds produced by some species, historically associated with superstitions about impending death.
Byrrhodes
death-watch beetles, spider beetles
Byrrhodes is a genus of small beetles in the family Ptinidae, commonly referred to as death-watch and spider beetles. The genus contains approximately 14 described species. These beetles are typically associated with dry organic materials and wood products. Taxonomic placement has varied, with some sources historically placing the genus in Anobiidae.
Byrrhodes granus
Byrrhodes granus is a small beetle species first described by LeConte in 1878. It belongs to the family Ptinidae, a group commonly known as spider beetles or deathwatch beetles. The species is documented from North America, though specific details about its biology remain poorly known.
Byrrhodes intermedius
Byrrhodes intermedius is a small beetle species in the family Ptinidae, first described by LeConte in 1878. It belongs to a genus of wood-boring beetles commonly known as deathwatch beetles or furniture beetles. The species has been recorded from eastern North America, with confirmed observations in Nova Scotia and Québec.
Caenocara blanchardi
desert cockroach
Caenocara blanchardi is a species of desert cockroach described by Fall in 1905. It belongs to the family Ptinidae (formerly treated as Anobiidae), a group of beetles commonly known as spider beetles or deathwatch beetles. The species is known from arid regions of western North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada. Very little is known about its specific biology or ecology.
Caenocara tenuipalpum
desert cockroach
Caenocara tenuipalpum is a small beetle species in the family Ptinidae (formerly Anobiidae), first described by Fall in 1905. The common name "desert cockroach" is a misnomer, as this is a beetle, not a cockroach. It is known from North America with very few documented observations.
Calymmaderus nitidus
Calymmaderus nitidus is a species of beetle in the family Ptinidae (formerly Anobiidae), first described by LeConte in 1865. It belongs to a genus of small wood-boring beetles commonly known as deathwatch beetles or furniture beetles. The species is known from North America with confirmed records from Canada, including Québec.
Calymmaderus punctulatus
Calymmaderus punctulatus is a small beetle species in the family Ptinidae (spider beetles and deathwatch beetles). The species was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1865. Records indicate a North American distribution. Like other members of its family, this species likely inhabits stored products, wood, or dry organic materials.
Colposternus
Colposternus is a genus of beetles in the family Ptinidae, first described by Fall in 1905. The genus contains at least one described species, C. tenuilineatus. Members of Ptinidae are commonly known as spider beetles or deathwatch beetles, though specific ecological details for Colposternus remain undocumented.
Cryptorama
death-watch beetles, spider beetles
Cryptorama is a genus of beetles in the family Ptinidae, commonly referred to as death-watch and spider beetles. The genus was established by Fall in 1905 and contains more than 20 described species. Members of this genus share characteristics with other Ptinidae in their compact body form and association with wood or stored products.
Cryptoramorphus floridanus
Cryptoramorphus floridanus is a species of beetle in the family Ptinidae, first described by White in 1966. The genus Cryptoramorphus belongs to the spider beetle group, though specific details about this particular species remain scarce. Records indicate its presence in North America, with the species epithet suggesting a Florida association. Only a single observation has been documented on iNaturalist, indicating it is rarely encountered or underreported.
Desmatogaster
Desmatogaster is a genus of small beetles in the family Ptinidae (formerly Anobiidae), established by Knutson in 1963. The genus contains at least one described species, D. subconnata. These beetles belong to the group commonly known as spider beetles or deathwatch beetles, though specific ecological details for this genus remain poorly documented.
Dorcatoma
Dorcatoma is a genus of small beetles in the family Ptinidae (formerly Anobiidae), comprising more than 70 species distributed across temperate regions worldwide but absent from tropical areas. Adults and larvae are closely associated with dead wood, particularly wood softened and decomposed by fungi. Several species have been documented developing within the fruiting bodies of bracket fungi.
Dorcatoma falli
Dorcatoma falli is a small beetle species in the family Ptinidae, first described by R.E. White in 1965. The species is known from eastern Canada, with records from Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Québec. Like other members of the genus Dorcatoma, it likely inhabits decaying wood and fungal substrates, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species is rarely encountered, with only three observations recorded in iNaturalist as of the source date.
Dorcatominae
Dorcatominae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Ptinidae, encompassing approximately 16 genera and at least 190 described species. Members are commonly known as death-watch and spider beetles. The subfamily was formerly classified within Anobiidae, but family-level taxonomy has been revised to Ptinidae. Larval morphology has been described in detail for at least some members of the genus Dorcatoma.
Dorcatomini
Dorcatomini is a tribe of beetles within the family Ptinidae (spider beetles and relatives). The tribe comprises at least 11 genera and approximately 50 described species. Members of this group are small to minute beetles associated with dead wood, fungal fruiting bodies, and other decaying organic matter. The tribe is distributed across multiple continents with greatest diversity in temperate and subtropical regions.
Dryophilodes
Dryophilodes is a genus of beetles in the family Ptinidae (spider beetles and relatives), described by Blackburn in 1891. The genus is currently marked as doubtful in taxonomic databases, indicating uncertainty about its validity or circumscription. Members of Ptinidae are generally small beetles associated with wood, stored products, or fungal habitats. The genus contains relatively few documented observations, with limited ecological and morphological data available in published literature.
Dryophilodes niger
Dryophilodes niger is a species of beetle in the family Ptinidae, a group commonly known as spider beetles or deathwatch beetles. The genus Dryophilodes is part of a family of small beetles often associated with stored products, wood, or dry organic materials. Available records for this species are extremely limited, with only two observations documented on iNaturalist. The specific biology, ecology, and distribution of D. niger remain poorly characterized in published literature.
Epauloecus unicolor
A small beetle in the family Ptinidae (spider beetles), recorded from scattered localities in Europe and eastern Canada. The specific epithet "unicolor" suggests uniform coloration, though detailed morphological descriptions are limited in available sources. The species has been documented in Serbia, Austria, and several Canadian provinces including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Quebec.
Episernus
Episernus is a genus of small beetles in the family Ptinidae, distributed across the Holarctic region with western populations in North America. The genus comprises approximately 13 described species, primarily associated with coniferous habitats. Episernus is taxonomically close to Ernobius but is distinguished by morphological features of the pronotum and antennae.
Episernus trapezoideus
Episernus trapezoideus is a small beetle species in the family Ptinidae (death-watch and spider beetles). It occurs in northwestern North America, with confirmed records from Alaska and British Columbia. The species was described by Fall in 1905. Available information on its biology and ecology is extremely limited.
Ernobiini
Ernobiini is a tribe of deathwatch and spider beetles in the family Ptinidae, containing at least 4 genera and approximately 70 described species. Members of this tribe are small wood-boring beetles whose larvae develop in dead wood or dry plant material. The tribe was established by Pic in 1912 and is classified within the subfamily Ernobiinae.
Ernobius mollis
pine knot borer, pine bark anobiid, waney edge borer, bark borer
Ernobius mollis is a small wood-boring beetle in the family Ptinidae (formerly Anobiidae), commonly known as the pine knot borer. Native to northern Europe, it has been introduced to North America and is also recorded from the Azores. The species develops in dead pine wood, particularly in bark and knots, and is frequently associated with processed timber. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate E. m. mollis and E. m. espanoli from the Iberian region.
Euceratocerini
death-watch beetles
Euceratocerini is a tribe of beetles within the family Ptinidae, commonly known as death-watch beetles. The tribe comprises at least 4 genera and approximately 18 described species. Members are xylophagous wood-boring beetles. The tribe includes the genera Actenobius, Ctenobium, Euceratocerus, and Xeranobium.
Euceratocerus
death-watch beetles
Euceratocerus is a genus of death-watch beetles first described by LeConte in 1874. The genus comprises four described species distributed in North America. These beetles belong to the family Ptinidae (formerly treated as Anobiidae), a group known for wood-boring larvae. The genus name reflects their membership among beetles that produce distinctive tapping sounds.
Euceratocerus gibbifrons
death-watch beetle
Euceratocerus gibbifrons is a species of death-watch beetle in the family Ptinidae. It was described by White in 1960. The species is known from North America. Like other members of Ptinidae, it is associated with wood-boring habits.
Eucrada
Eucrada is a genus of small beetles in the family Ptinidae (formerly Anobiidae), established by J.L. LeConte in 1861. Members of this genus belong to the subfamily Eucradinae and tribe Eucradini. The genus contains species associated with wood-boring habits typical of related ptinid beetles. Taxonomic placement has shifted historically between Anobiidae and Ptinidae due to ongoing classification revisions in the Bostrichoidea superfamily.
Eucrada humeralis
Eucrada humeralis is a species of deathwatch beetle in the family Ptinidae. It is native to North America, with records from Ontario and Québec in Canada. The species was described by Melsheimer in 1846.
Euvrilletta mucorea
Euvrilletta mucorea is a small beetle in the family Ptinidae, commonly known as deathwatch or furniture beetles. The species occurs in North America and was first described by LeConte in 1865. Two subspecies are recognized: E. m. mucorea and E. m. variabilis. Records of this species are sparse, with limited ecological or biological documentation available.
Gastrallus
Gastrallus is a genus of beetles in the family Ptinidae containing nearly 100 described species. The genus has a nearly worldwide distribution, with the Palearctic realm harboring the greatest diversity. Several species are significant pests of cultural heritage materials, particularly in library and archive environments.
Gastrallus fasciatus
death-watch beetle
Gastrallus fasciatus is a species of death-watch beetle in the family Ptinidae. It is known from North America. The species was described by White in 1976. As a member of the death-watch beetles, it belongs to a group known for their association with wood-boring habits, though specific details about its biology remain limited.
Gastrallus marginipennis
death-watch beetle
Gastrallus marginipennis is a species of death-watch beetle in the family Ptinidae. It was described by LeConte in 1879. The species occurs in North America, with distribution records from British Columbia, Canada. As a member of the death-watch beetles, it belongs to a group known for the distinctive tapping sounds produced by males to attract females.
Gibbium
hump beetle
Gibbium is a genus of small beetles in the family Ptinidae, commonly known as hump beetles. The genus contains at least two recognized species: G. aequinoctiale, which has a cosmopolitan distribution, and G. psylloides, found in the Palearctic, Southeast Asia, and North Africa. These beetles are primarily known as stored-product pests, feeding on dried animal and plant material. Gibbium species have been studied for their feeding behavior, developmental biology, and role as hosts for parasitoid wasps.
Gibbium aequinoctiale
smooth spider beetle
Gibbium aequinoctiale, commonly known as the smooth spider beetle, is a small beetle in the family Ptinidae (subfamily Ptininae). It has a pantropical distribution spanning the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, and parts of Asia. The species feeds primarily on dead organic materials and is frequently associated with stored products and warm, humid environments. It is morphologically similar to G. psylloides, from which it can be distinguished by pronotal shape and elytral punctation.
Gnostus
Gnostus is a monotypic genus of spider beetles in the family Ptinidae, containing a single described species, G. floridanus. The genus was established by Westwood in 1855. As a member of Ptinidae, it belongs to a group of beetles commonly associated with stored products and dry organic materials.
Gnostus floridanus
Gnostus floridanus is a spider beetle (family Ptinidae) described by Blatchley in 1930. The species is known from new geographic records extending its previously documented range. Behavioral observations have been published in primary literature, though detailed ecological data remain limited.
Hadrobregmus
Hadrobregmus is a genus of small wood-boring beetles in the family Ptinidae (formerly placed in Anobiidae). Species in this genus are associated with dead and decaying wood. The genus was established by C.G. Thomson in 1859 and includes approximately ten described species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere.
Hadrobregmus notatus
Marked Death-watch Beetle
Hadrobregmus notatus is a species of death-watch beetle in the family Ptinidae. It is found in Eastern Canada and the Eastern United States. The species has been documented in provinces including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario in Canada. As a member of the death-watch beetles, it belongs to a group known for their association with wood and structural timber.
Hadrobregmus quadrulus
Hadrobregmus quadrulus is a small beetle species in the family Ptinidae, first described by LeConte in 1859 from specimens collected in California. It belongs to a group commonly known as death-watch and spider beetles, many of which are associated with wood or stored products. The species is documented from western North America, with records from British Columbia and California.
Mesocoelopus collaris
Mesocoelopus collaris is a small beetle species in the family Ptinidae (formerly included in Anobiidae). It has a notably broad geographic distribution spanning multiple continents including Africa, Europe, Northern Asia, North America, and Southern Asia. The species was described by Mulsant & Rey in 1864. Like other members of the genus Mesocoelopus, it belongs to a group of beetles commonly associated with wood-boring habits, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in published literature.
Meziini
Meziini is a tribe of small beetles within the family Ptinidae (spider beetles and deathwatch beetles), established by Bellés in 1985. Members of this tribe are characterized by their compact body form and are classified within the subfamily Ptininae. The tribe represents a distinct lineage within the diverse Ptinidae, a family known for species associated with stored products, wood, and dry organic matter. Based on iNaturalist records, the group has been documented in at least 446 observations, indicating moderate levels of detection by naturalists.
Neohedobia
Neohedobia is a monotypic genus of beetles in the family Ptinidae, containing a single described species, N. texana. The genus was established by Fisher in 1919. Members of Ptinidae are commonly known as death-watch beetles or spider beetles.
Neohedobia texana
Neohedobia texana is a small beetle species in the family Ptinidae (formerly placed in Anobiidae), described by Fisher in 1919. The genus Neohedobia is part of the diverse group of anobiid beetles commonly known as deathwatch beetles or furniture beetles. Very little published information exists on the natural history of this particular species, which appears to be rarely collected and poorly represented in entomological collections.
Niptinus ovipennis
spider beetle
Niptinus ovipennis is a species of spider beetle in the family Ptinidae, described by Fall in 1905. It belongs to a group of beetles commonly known as spider beetles due to their rounded, compact body form and long legs that give them a superficial resemblance to spiders. The species is documented from North America, though specific ecological details remain poorly recorded in the scientific literature.
Niptus hololeucus
golden spider beetle
Niptus hololeucus, commonly known as the golden spider beetle, is a species of spider beetle in the family Ptinidae. It has been used as a comparative reference in taxonomic studies to distinguish related genera, particularly in the separation of the North American genus Coleotestudus. The species is recognized as belonging to an independent clade of spider beetles that does not share a recent common ancestor with Coleotestudus.
Niptus ventriculus
Niptus ventriculus is a species of spider beetle (family Ptinidae) first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1859. It belongs to the genus Niptus, which comprises several species of small beetles associated with stored products and dry organic materials. The species has been documented in Central America and North America, though detailed biological studies remain limited.
Oligomerus
death-watch beetles
Oligomerus is a genus of death-watch beetles in the family Ptinidae, containing approximately 18 described species. These wood-boring beetles are known for their association with timber and wooden structures, where their larvae create distinctive exit holes. The genus was established by Redtenbacher in 1849. Species in this genus are primarily distributed in Europe, with records from Norway and Sweden documented in biodiversity databases.
Oligomerus obtusus
Oligomerus obtusus is a small beetle in the family Ptinidae (formerly Anobiidae), first described by LeConte in 1865. The species has been recorded in North America and Oceania, with observations documented in Ontario, Canada. It belongs to the genus Oligomerus, which comprises wood-boring beetles often associated with dead or decaying wood. Available information on this species is limited, with only seven observations recorded on iNaturalist and minimal published biological data.
Ozognathus
death-watch beetles, spider beetles
Ozognathus is a genus of beetles in the family Ptinidae, commonly referred to as death-watch and spider beetles. The genus contains at least 11 recognized species native to the Americas. One species, Ozognathus cornutus, has become established as an alien species in Europe and the Mediterranean region, where it colonizes woody galls and decaying organic matter. The genus is taxonomically placed in the subfamily Ernobiinae (or historically Anobiinae), reflecting its close relationship to other wood-associated beetles.
Ozognathus floridanus
Ozognathus floridanus is a small beetle in the family Ptinidae, first described by LeConte in 1878. The species is known from North America, with records indicating presence in the United States. Like other members of Ptinidae, it is likely associated with wood or stored products, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The genus Ozognathus contains relatively few described species, and O. floridanus appears to be one of the less frequently encountered members of this group.