Saprininae
Guides
Aphelosternus interstitialis
Aphelosternus interstitialis is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by John L. LeConte in 1851. The species is native to western North America, with confirmed records from California. Like other members of the subfamily Saprininae, it is likely associated with decomposing organic matter and carrion, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The genus Aphelosternus is a small group within the diverse Histeridae, and species-level biology for most members is not well studied.
Eremosaprinini
Eremosaprinini is a tribe of small carrion beetles in the family Histeridae, subfamily Saprininae. Members are primarily distributed in arid and semi-arid regions, reflecting adaptations to xeric environments. The tribe comprises several genera of tiny, compact beetles associated with decomposing organic matter.
Eremosaprinus minimus
clown beetle
Eremosaprinus minimus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It was described by Tishechkin & Lackner in 2012. The species is found in North America, with records from Arizona, USA. As a member of the Saprininae subfamily, it belongs to a group of histerid beetles often associated with decomposing organic matter and carrion.
Euspilotus
clown beetles
Euspilotus is a genus of clown beetles (family Histeridae) containing more than 80 described species. Members of this genus are predatory beetles, with some species documented as predators of forensic importance at decomposition sites. The genus was established by Lewis in 1907 and is classified within the subfamily Saprininae.
Geomysaprinus
clown beetles
Geomysaprinus is a genus of clown beetles in the family Histeridae, established by Ross in 1940. The genus contains at least 20 described species, distributed primarily in North America. Members are small, compact beetles typical of the Saprininae subfamily. The genus name reflects an association with Geomyidae (pocket gophers), suggesting possible commensal or symbiotic relationships with mammal burrows.
Geomysaprinus xerobatis
Geomysaprinus xerobatis is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It belongs to the genus Geomysaprinus, a group specialized for association with fossorial mammals. The species epithet "xerobatis" references its documented association with desert-dwelling pocket gophers.
Gnathoncus barbatus
clown beetle
Gnathoncus barbatus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by Bousquet and Laplante in 1999. It is known from North America, with records from Canada and the northern United States. Like other histerid beetles, it is likely associated with decomposing organic matter, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Hypocaccini
Hypocaccini is a tribe of clown beetles (Histeridae: Saprininae) distributed across the Arabo-Saharan region. Members include psammophilous genera such as Hypocaccus, Exaesiopus, and Neopachylopus, which are adapted to sandy coastal habitats. Recent taxonomic work has described new species from the Arabian Peninsula and Algerian Sahara, expanding the known diversity of this group.
Hypocacculus
clown beetles
Hypocacculus is a genus of clown beetles (family Histeridae) established by Bickhardt in 1914. The genus contains more than 20 described species and is classified within the subfamily Saprininae. These beetles are part of the diverse Histeridae family, which are known for their association with decomposing organic matter.
Hypocaccus
clown beetles
Hypocaccus is a genus of clown beetles (family Histeridae) established by C.G. Thomson in 1867. The genus comprises more than 120 described species distributed across multiple continents. Taxonomic classification within the genus remains problematic, with several subgenera recognized but inter-relationships and diagnostic characters still under study. Species exhibit considerable morphological diversity, with some individuals showing atypical combinations of characters that complicate subgeneric assignment.
Myrmetini
Myrmetini is a tribe of clown beetles (Histeridae) within the subfamily Saprininae, established by Portevin in 1929. The tribe is currently treated as a synonym in modern classifications, with its constituent genera generally reassigned to other tribes, particularly Saprinini. Members of this group were historically associated with ant colonies (myrmecophily), a trait reflected in the tribe's name derived from Greek 'myrmex' (ant). The taxonomic status reflects ongoing revisionary work in Histeridae systematics.
Neopachylopus
clown beetles
Neopachylopus is a genus of clown beetles in the family Histeridae, established by Reichardt in 1926. The genus contains six described species distributed across multiple continents. Species in this genus are part of the diverse saprinine lineage of histerid beetles, which are generally associated with decomposing organic matter.
Philoxenus
Philoxenus is a genus of clown beetles in the family Histeridae, described by Mazur in 1991. The genus is classified within the subfamily Saprininae. Its sole known species, Philoxenus desertorum, is currently treated as a synonym of Hypocaccus desertorum. The genus name derives from Greek, meaning "lover of foreigners" or "hospitable".
Saprinus
clown beetles
Saprinus is a genus of clown beetles in the family Histeridae, containing more than 200 described species. Members are found on every continent except Antarctica. The genus includes species associated with carrion, dung, and other decaying organic matter, where they function as predators of other small insects. Some species have specialized associations with ants or termites.
Saprinus discoidalis
clown beetle
Saprinus discoidalis is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851. It belongs to the subfamily Saprininae, a group characterized by small, spherical, highly polished beetles. The species is known from North America with records from western Canada, the western and central United States, and Mexico.
Saprinus distinguendus
clown beetle
Saprinus distinguendus is a species of clown beetle (family Histeridae) described by Marseul in 1855. It is distributed across North America, with records from Canada and the northern United States. Like other members of the genus Saprinus, it is a predatory beetle typically associated with decomposing organic matter.
Saprinus felipae
clown beetle
Saprinus felipae is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It was described by Lewis in 1913. The species belongs to the subfamily Saprininae, a group of predatory beetles commonly associated with carrion and decomposing organic matter. Like other members of its genus, it is likely predatory on other small insects found in such habitats.
Saprinus fimbriatus
Saprinus fimbriatus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, subfamily Saprininae. It is native to western North America, with records from the western United States, southwestern Canada, and Mexico. As with other histerid beetles, it is likely associated with carrion and decomposing animal matter, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited. The species was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851.
Saprinus ignotus
Saprinus ignotus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, subfamily Saprininae. The species was described by Marseul in 1855. GBIF records indicate occurrence in Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil. The genus Saprinus comprises predatory beetles typically associated with carrion, dung, and other decomposing organic matter.
Saprinus laciniatus
Saprinus laciniatus is a species of clown beetle (family Histeridae) described by Casey in 1916. It belongs to the subfamily Saprininae, a group of small, predatory beetles commonly associated with carrion and decomposing animal matter. The genus Saprinus is widespread and diverse, with species typically found in habitats rich in decaying organic material where they prey on other insects.
Saprinus lubricus
Saprinus lubricus is a species of clown beetle (family Histeridae) in the subfamily Saprininae. It was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851. The species is distributed across North America from Canada to Central America, with records extending south to Argentina and Chile. Like other hister beetles, it is likely associated with carrion and decomposing organic matter, though specific ecological details for this species are limited.
Saprinus lugens
clown beetle
Saprinus lugens is a small clown beetle in the family Histeridae, measuring 5–8 mm. The species has a broad geographic distribution spanning Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), Central America, and North America. It has been introduced to parts of Europe including France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. The beetle is predatory and commonly associated with carrion, where it feeds on other small insects.
Saprinus martini
Saprinus martini is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, described by Henry Clinton Fall in 1917. The species belongs to the subfamily Saprininae, a group of predatory beetles commonly associated with carrion, dung, and other decomposing organic matter. Records indicate it occurs in western North America including California, Oregon, Nebraska, and Mexico. Like other histerids, it likely exhibits the family's characteristic behaviors including playing dead when disturbed and preying on other insects.
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.
Saprinus oregonensis
clown beetle
Saprinus oregonensis is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by LeConte in 1844. The species is distributed across western North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan), the United States (California, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington), and Mexico. As a member of the Saprininae subfamily, it belongs to a group of predatory beetles commonly associated with carrion, dung, and other decomposing organic matter.
Saprinus profusus
clown beetle
Saprinus profusus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by Thomas Lincoln Casey Jr. in 1893. Like other members of the genus Saprinus, it belongs to the subfamily Saprininae, a group of small, predatory beetles commonly associated with decomposing organic matter. The species is documented from North America with specific records from Canada and multiple U.S. states.
Saprinus scabriceps
Saprinus scabriceps is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, described by Casey in 1916. Like other members of the genus Saprinus, it is likely associated with carrion and decomposing organic matter. The species has been recorded from the western United States, specifically Nevada and Oregon. As with most histerids, it is presumed to be predatory on other insects, particularly fly larvae, in its habitat.
Saprinus subnitescens
clown beetle
Saprinus subnitescens is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It has been recorded from Africa, Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. The species was described by Bickhardt in 1909. As a member of the genus Saprinus, it belongs to a group of small, predatory beetles commonly associated with carrion and dung habitats.
Saprinus vestitus
Saprinus vestitus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851. It is classified within the subfamily Saprininae and placed in the subgenus Xerosaprinus. The species is known from California, USA. Histerid beetles in this genus are typically small, predatory beetles associated with decomposing organic matter.
Saprinus vitiosus
Saprinus vitiosus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851. It belongs to the subfamily Saprininae, a group of small, predatory beetles commonly associated with carrion and dung. The species has been recorded from the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other hister beetles, it is likely predatory on other insects in decaying organic matter.