Saproxylic
Guides
Dryocoetes
Dryocoetes is a genus of bark beetles (subfamily Scolytinae) in the weevil family Curculionidae. Species are distributed across North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The genus includes both conifer- and hardwood-associated species, with documented hosts including fir, spruce, pine, alder, birch, beech, poplar, liquidambar, and walnut. Several species are economically significant forest pests or invasive species.
Dryotribini
Dryotribini is a tribe of weevils within the subfamily Cossoninae of the family Curculionidae. The tribe contains approximately 60 described genera distributed across multiple continents. Members of this tribe are generally small, cryptic weevils associated with dead or decaying plant material. The group has been documented in both temperate and tropical regions, with notable diversity in the Pacific islands and New Zealand.
Dynastes tityus
Eastern Hercules beetle, elephant beetle, ox beetle
Dynastes tityus, the eastern Hercules beetle, is among the largest and heaviest beetles in the United States. Males possess prominent thoracic and cephalic horns used in combat with rival males for access to mates. The species exhibits remarkable humidity-dependent color change in its elytra, shifting from green-gray-tan to deep brown when moisture is absorbed. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to lights. The complete life cycle may extend up to three years in the wild, with larvae developing in decaying wood within tree cavities.
Elater
click beetles, elaters
Elater is a genus of click beetles in the family Elateridae, characterized by a distinctive prosternal spine and mesosternal notch mechanism that produces an audible click when flexed. The genus includes species that are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular, with larvae that are predatory on other insects in decaying wood. Some species are attracted to fermenting substances and are captured in ethanol-baited traps.
Elephantomyia
Elephantomyia is a genus of crane flies (Diptera: Limoniidae) characterized by an exceptionally elongated rostrum used for nectar feeding. The genus has a broad Palearctic distribution spanning Europe, Russia, East Asia, and fossil records from Baltic amber. Larvae are saproxylic, developing in moist decaying wood of hardwoods and conifers. Multiple subgenera have been described, including Elephantomyia, Elephantomyina, Elephantomyodes, and Xenoelephantomyia.
Emmesa blackmani
Blackman's False Darkling Beetle
Emmesa blackmani is a species of false darkling beetle in the family Melandryidae, described by Hatch in 1927. It is known from a small number of observations in eastern Canada, primarily Québec. The species belongs to a genus of beetles associated with decaying wood and fungal habitats in forest ecosystems.
Emmesa labiata
Lipped False Darkling Beetle
Emmesa labiata is a species of false darkling beetle in the family Melandryidae. It is found in eastern North America, with records from New Brunswick to Ontario and Québec. The species was first described by Thomas Say in 1824. Common name is the Lipped False Darkling Beetle.
Enaphalodes taeniatus
Enaphalodes taeniatus is a species of longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1854. It belongs to the tribe Elaphidiini, a diverse group of cerambycids commonly known as elaphidiines. The species is known from North America and has been documented in the United States and Mexico. Like other members of its genus, it is a wood-boring beetle whose larvae develop in dead or dying hardwood trees.
Entomophthalmus rufiolus
Entomophthalmus rufiolus is a species of false click beetle (family Eucnemidae) in the tribe Dirhagini. The mature larva has been described from the Nearctic region. Larvae develop in decaying hardwood logs, where they function as decomposers. The species is known from eastern Canada.
Epierus regularis
clown beetle
Epierus regularis is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by Palisot de Beauvois in 1818. It is native to North America, with records from eastern Canada and across the eastern and central United States. As a member of the Histeridae, it belongs to a family commonly known as clown beetles or hister beetles, which are typically associated with decaying organic matter and are often found in carrion, dung, and under bark.
Erotinae
Erotinae is a subfamily of net-winged beetles within the family Lycidae, established by J.L. LeConte in 1881. The subfamily contains approximately 10 genera and 19 described species, including genera such as *Eros*, *Erotides*, *Eropterus*, and *Platycis*. Members of this subfamily share the characteristic reticulate wing venation typical of Lycidae but are distinguished from the larger subfamily Lycinae by specific morphological features. The group is primarily distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, with representatives in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Etorofus anthracinus
A species of longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1875. Adults are found in North America and have been observed seeking dead parts of living trees for development. The species belongs to the subfamily Lepturinae, a group commonly known as flower longhorns.
Eucicones marginalis
Eucicones marginalis is a species of cylindrical bark beetle in the family Zopheridae, described by Melsheimer in 1846. The genus Eucicones belongs to the subfamily Colydiinae, a group commonly known as cylindrical bark beetles due to their elongated, parallel-sided body form. Members of this family are primarily associated with dead and decaying wood, where they feed on fungi or are predatory on other wood-inhabiting insects. The species is documented from North America, with records from Ontario, Canada.
Eucnemidae
False Click Beetles
Eucnemidae, commonly known as false click beetles, is a family of elateroid beetles comprising approximately 1,700 species distributed worldwide. The family is closely related to Elateridae (true click beetles) and shares the ability to produce an audible clicking sound through a prosternal-mesosternal mechanism, though this trait is less pronounced than in true click beetles. Larvae are saproxylic, developing in decaying wood where they feed on fungal fluids using specialized digestive adaptations. Adults are typically short-lived and frequently observed on broken wood surfaces.
Eucnemis
Eucnemis is a genus of click beetle allies in the family Eucnemidae, established by August Ahrens in 1812. The genus is predominantly Palaearctic in distribution, with at least four described species. Eucnemis capucina, the type species, is a rare cavity-dwelling beetle associated with old hollow trees in deciduous forests. The genus is notable for its saproxylic lifestyle and conservation significance in European forests.
Euryptychus ulkei
Euryptychus ulkei is a species of false click beetle in the family Eucnemidae. Very little published information exists about this species. The genus Euryptychus comprises small to medium-sized eucnemids, and species in this family are typically associated with dead or decaying wood where larvae develop as saproxylic feeders. Adults are generally collected by beating vegetation or attracted to light.
Euspilotus azurescens
clown beetle
Euspilotus azurescens is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by Marseul in 1855. The species exhibits a broad Neotropical distribution spanning from the southern United States through Central America to southern South America. It belongs to a genus characterized by small, often metallic beetles associated with decomposing organic matter.
Eustrophinae
Eustrophinae is a subfamily of beetles within the family Tetratomidae, established by Gistel in 1848. These beetles are part of the superfamily Tenebrionoidea and are characterized by their association with fungal habitats. The subfamily includes genera such as Eustrophus and Pseudoholostrophus. Members are small to medium-sized beetles with relatively uniform morphology across the group.
Eustrophopsis
Eustrophopsis is a genus of polypore fungus beetles in the family Tetratomidae, containing approximately seven described species. These beetles are associated with fungal habitats, specifically polypore fungi growing on decaying wood. The genus was established by Champion in 1889 and represents one of several lineages within the Eustrophinae subfamily adapted to fungivory.
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.
Fornax knulli
Fornax knulli is a species of false click beetle in the family Eucnemidae. The genus Fornax belongs to a group of beetles commonly known as false click beetles, which resemble true click beetles (Elateridae) but lack the prosternal process that enables the characteristic clicking mechanism. Species in this family are typically associated with decaying wood and forest habitats. The specific epithet "knulli" honors American coleopterist Joseph N. Knull (1879-1964), who described numerous North American beetle species.
Fornax melsheimeri
Fornax melsheimeri is a species of false click beetle in the family Eucnemidae. Members of this family are characterized by their inability to produce the clicking sound that defines true click beetles (Elateridae), despite similar body plans. The genus Fornax contains multiple North American species, though detailed species-level documentation remains limited. This species was named in honor of the early American entomologist Frederick Ernst Melsheimer.
Glyptotus
Glyptotus is a genus of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae: Stenochiinae) containing at least two described species, including G. cribratus. The genus is characterized by saproxylic larvae and adults that inhabit soft rotten dry wood of dead branches on living trees or recently fallen sections. Larvae possess distinctive urogomphi (pinching organs) used in antipredator defense. The genus is distributed in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, with confirmed records from the southeastern United States.
Grammoptera
flower longhorn beetles
Grammoptera is a genus of flower longhorn beetles in the family Cerambycidae, containing approximately 30 described species distributed primarily across the Northern Hemisphere. These beetles are associated with coniferous and deciduous woodlands, where adults are often found on flowers or freshly cut timber. The genus is characterized by relatively small body size and slender proportions compared to many other longhorn beetles. Species identification typically requires examination of antennal structure, elytral coloration patterns, and body proportions.
Graphisurus triangulifer
Graphisurus triangulifer is a species of longhorn beetle in the subfamily Lamiinae, described by Haldeman in 1847. It is one of three Graphisurus species occurring in Missouri and is distinguished by dark triangular markings on the elytra. The species exhibits a southern, lowland distribution pattern in eastern North America and is strongly associated with Celtis (hackberry/sugarberry) as its primary larval host.
Grylloblatta campodeiformis
Northern Rock Crawler
Grylloblatta campodeiformis, the northern rock crawler, is a wingless, cold-adapted insect endemic to western North America. It was the first grylloblatid species described scientifically (Walker, 1914) and serves as the type species for both its genus and family. The species occupies a broader range of habitats than previously assumed, from high-altitude glacial margins to subalpine forests and even low-elevation dry zones. Four subspecies are currently recognized, distributed across the Canadian Rockies and adjacent mountain ranges in British Columbia, Alberta, Montana, and Washington.
Grylloblattodea
ice crawlers, rock crawlers
Grylloblattodea is a small order of extremophile insects commonly known as ice crawlers or rock crawlers. These wingless insects are adapted to cold environments and are found in montane habitats, caves, and subalpine forests across western North America and northeastern Asia. The order comprises approximately 25-30 described species in five extant genera, though significant undescribed diversity is suspected. Grylloblattids are predatory, feeding on other arthropods, and show remarkable cold tolerance. They are considered a relict lineage with ancient origins, closely related to Mantophasmatodea within the clade Xenonomia (order Notoptera).
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.
Hallomenus
polypore fungus beetles
Hallomenus is a genus of small beetles in the family Tetratomidae, commonly referred to as polypore fungus beetles. The genus was established by Panzer in 1793 and contains approximately nine described species. Members of this genus are associated with fungi, particularly polypore bracket fungi, which serve as their primary habitat and food source. The genus is distributed across northern regions of Europe and North America.
Hammerschmidtia
Hammerschmidtia is a Holarctic genus of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) in the tribe Brachyopini. Larvae develop in sap under the bark of freshly fallen trees, particularly decaying aspen (Populus tremula). The genus includes five described species, with H. ferruginea being endangered in parts of its range due to habitat loss.
Helops rugulosus
Helops rugulosus is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851. The genus Helops belongs to the tribe Helopini within the subfamily Tenebrioninae. Species in this genus are typically associated with decaying wood and forest floor habitats. Like other darkling beetles, they are characterized by concealed mandibles and bead-like antennae segments.
Helops sulcipennis
Helops sulcipennis is a species of darkling beetle (family Tenebrionidae) described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1866. As a member of the tribe Helopini, this beetle belongs to a group of elongate, moderately sized tenebrionids that are primarily found in North America. The specific epithet 'sulcipennis' refers to grooved or furrowed elytra, a characteristic feature of this species. Like other Helopini, this beetle is likely associated with decaying wood and forest floor habitats.
Histeridae
clown beetles, hister beetles
Histeridae is a cosmopolitan family of predatory beetles containing more than 410 genera and 4,800 described species worldwide. Members are commonly known as clown beetles or hister beetles. They are immediately recognizable by their shortened elytra that leave two abdominal tergites exposed, and their elbowed antennae with clubbed, lamellate ends. The family exhibits remarkable ecological diversity, with species occupying niches ranging from carrion and dung to ant and termite colonies, forest litter, and tree bark. Their predatory habits on fly larvae and other arthropods have made them valuable for biological control and forensic entomology.
Hololepta minuta
clown beetle
Hololepta minuta is a species of clown beetle (family Histeridae) first described by Erichson in 1834. It belongs to the genus Hololepta, a group characterized by their flattened, compact bodies adapted for living in tight spaces. The species has a broad distribution across the Americas, ranging from the southern United States through Central America and into South America, including Caribbean islands.
Hololepta quadridentata
clown beetle
Hololepta quadridentata is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, characterized by its flattened body form typical of the genus. It is widely distributed across the Americas, from the southern United States through Central America and into South America. The species has also been introduced to Spain. Like other members of Histeridae, it is associated with decaying organic matter.
Hoshihananomia inflammata
tumbling flower beetle
A species of tumbling flower beetle in the family Mordellidae, found in North America. Larvae and pupae develop in rotting oak wood.
Hyperplatys aspersa
Hyperplatys aspersa is a small greyish longhorn beetle in the subfamily Lamiinae, described by Thomas Say in 1824. It is one of two Hyperplatys species occurring in Eastern Canada, alongside H. maculata. The species has a history of taxonomic confusion, having been frequently misidentified by early authors.
Isarthrus
Isarthrus is a genus of beetles in the family Eucnemidae (false click beetles), established by LeConte in 1852. Members of this genus are small to medium-sized beetles characterized by their association with decaying wood. The genus is poorly documented in scientific literature, with only eight observations recorded on iNaturalist as of the data cutoff. Isarthrus belongs to a family whose larvae are primarily wood-borers in dead or dying hardwoods.
Lamiinae
Flat-faced Longhorn Beetles, Flat-faced Longhorns
Lamiinae is a subfamily of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) distinguished by their orthognathous head orientation, where the face is vertical and mouthparts directed downward—hence the common name 'flat-faced longhorns.' The subfamily is extraordinarily diverse, containing over 750 genera and rivaled only by Cerambycinae in species richness within the family. Members are primarily wood-boring beetles, with larvae developing in living or dead plant tissues across a wide range of host plants.
Lasconotus vegrandis
Lasconotus vegrandis is a species of cylindrical bark beetle in the family Zopheridae, first described by George Henry Horn in 1885. It belongs to a genus characterized by compact, cylindrical body forms adapted for life under bark. The species has been documented in western North America, with records from British Columbia. Like other members of its family, it is presumed to inhabit dead or decaying wood, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Lathropus rhabdophloeoides
Lathropus rhabdophloeoides is a species of small, flattened beetle in the family Laemophloeidae, commonly known as lined flat bark beetles. Species in this genus are associated with dead or decaying wood and bark, where they inhabit the concealed spaces beneath bark surfaces. The specific epithet 'rhabdophloeoides' suggests a resemblance to the genus Rhabdophloeus, a related laemophloeid genus. Like other members of Laemophloeidae, this species is likely cryptic in habit and difficult to detect without specialized collecting methods.
Latridiidae
minute brown scavenger beetles, fungus beetles
Latridiidae is a cosmopolitan family of minute beetles containing approximately 1,050 described species in 29 genera, though true diversity is likely much higher. Adults range from 1.2 to 2 mm in length and are uniformly brown to black in coloration. The family is divided into two subfamilies: Latridiinae (glabrous, heavily sculptured dorsal surface, smooth pronotal margin) and Corticariinae (finely pubescent, lightly sculptured, serrate pronotal margin). Both adults and larvae are obligate mycetophages, feeding exclusively on fungal hyphae and spores.
Lecontia
conifer bark beetles
Lecontia is a genus of conifer bark beetles in the family Boridae, containing a single species, Lecontia discicollis. These beetles are found in Central America and North America, where they inhabit the bark of dead conifers. The genus is notable for its specialized association with fire-killed or stressed conifer trees, particularly in the years following forest fires.
Leiodes puncticollis
Leiodes puncticollis is a small round fungus beetle in the family Leiodidae. The species was originally described by Thomson in 1862 under the basionym Anisotoma puncticollis. It has a broad Holarctic distribution spanning Europe, northern Asia, and North America. As a member of the Leiodidae, it is associated with fungal habitats, though specific ecological details remain limited in published literature.
Lejota cyanea
Cobalt Trunksitter
Lejota cyanea, commonly known as the cobalt trunksitter, is an uncommon syrphid fly found in northeastern and western North America. Adults are flower-visiting hoverflies that feed on nectar and pollen. The larvae develop in decaying tree roots, a trait characteristic of the genus Lejota.
Lepturini
flower longhorns
Lepturini is a tribe of flower longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae: Lepturinae) characterized by adults that frequently visit flowers for pollen feeding. The tribe contains numerous genera distributed across forested and semi-open habitats in the Northern Hemisphere, with some representatives in South America. Larvae develop primarily in woody plants, where they contribute to dead wood decomposition. Adult activity is strongly seasonal and diurnal, with peak flight periods typically occurring in late spring to early summer.
Lestremiinae
Lestremiine Wood Midges
Lestremiinae is a subfamily of gall midges (Cecidomyiidae) comprising 105 described species across 13 genera. The subfamily is distinguished by larval specialization on fungal substrates. Unlike many Cecidomyiidae that form plant galls, Lestremiinae larvae are primarily fungivorous, inhabiting decaying wood where they consume fungal growth. The group has received substantial taxonomic attention in northern Europe, with ongoing discoveries of new species.
Lichenophanes
horned powder-post beetles
Lichenophanes is a genus of horned powder-post beetles in the family Bostrichidae, established by Lesne in 1899. The genus contains more than 40 described species distributed across the Palaearctic, Oriental, and Nearctic regions. Species are nocturnal wood-borers that develop in dead hardwood trees during initial stages of fungal decomposition. Adults are attracted to artificial light and possess cryptic coloration that camouflages them in bark cracks during daylight hours.
Litargus connexus
Litargus connexus is a small beetle in the family Mycetophagidae, commonly known as hairy fungus beetles. The species has a broad distribution across Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. Both adults and larvae are strongly associated with fungal decomposition of wood, with larvae specializing on particular pyrenomycete fungi.
Lophocateridae
Lophocateridae is a small family of cleroid beetles comprising over 100 species in 14+ genera. Formerly treated as a subfamily or tribe of Trogossitidae, molecular phylogenetic analyses led to its elevation to family rank in 2019. The family is recovered as sister to Chaetosomatidae and Trogossitidae sensu stricto. Extant species occupy diverse ecological niches including fungivory, herbivory, and predation, primarily in association with dead wood habitats. The family has a fossil record extending to the Early Cretaceous.