Subterranean-larvae
Guides
Anomoea laticlavia
Clay-colored Leaf Beetle, Persimmon Beetle
Anomoea laticlavia is a case-bearing leaf beetle native to central and eastern North America. Adults measure 7–12 mm and display distinctive reddish-brown elytra with a variable-width black suture. The species belongs to the unranked taxon Camptosomata, characterized by larvae that construct portable cases from fecal material and shed skins. Adults feed on leaves of various host plants including legumes, persimmons, oaks, willows, and ragweed, while larvae are subterranean root or litter feeders. Some Florida populations have been recognized as a distinct subspecies.
Asilus sericeus
Butterflyhunter
Asilus sericeus is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae. The larvae measure 18–20 mm in length and live underground. Adults are aerial predators that capture prey in flight. Unlike some other members of the family, they have not been reported feeding on bees or wasps.
Copablepharon longipenne
Dusky Dune Moth
Copablepharon longipenne is a noctuid moth native to the Great Plains and southwestern North America. It inhabits sand dune ecosystems where larvae live and feed underground near host plants. The species has a single annual generation, with adults active in mid-summer. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate form and C. l. serraticornis.
Ithonidae
moth lacewings, giant lacewings
Ithonidae is a small family of neuropteran insects comprising ten living genera and over a dozen extinct genera known from fossils. The family represents one of the most primitive lineages within Neuroptera. Adults are medium to large-sized with distinctive wing venation. Larvae exhibit a highly unusual grub-like (scarabaeiform) body form with stout mandibles, unique among lacewings, and lead a subterranean lifestyle. The modern distribution is notably disjunct, with genera occurring in Australia, the Americas, and Asia, while fossil evidence indicates a formerly broader global range from the Early Jurassic to Late Eocene.
Lampetis
Eyed Jewel Beetles
Lampetis is a large genus of jewel beetles (Buprestidae) comprising nearly 300 species worldwide. Adults are typically large, conspicuous beetles with brilliant metallic coloration. The genus has a broad geographic distribution spanning North America, South America, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Larval biology remains poorly known for most species, with development suspected to occur in living wood below the soil line—a habit that explains the rarity of larval discoveries.
Pleocoma simi
Pleocoma simi is a rain beetle in the family Pleocomidae, described by Davis in 1934. The species is known from Oregon in the western United States. As with other Pleocoma species, adults are active during autumn rains and males fly to locate flightless females. Larval stages remain underground, feeding on roots.
Prionus californicus
California root borer, California prionus
Prionus californicus is a large, sexually dimorphic longhorned beetle native to western North America. Adults emerge from soil in early summer and are active from June through August. Females are larger than males and produce a volatile sex pheromone to attract mates, while males possess more strongly serrated antennae. The species spends most of its life cycle underground as root-feeding larvae, making it a significant pest of orchards, vineyards, and other woody plants.
Rhizedra lutosa
Large Wainscot, Isle of Wight Wainscot, Large Wainscot Moth
Rhizedra lutosa is a noctuid moth native to the Palearctic, ranging from Ireland to Japan. It has established populations in eastern North America following introduction. The species is notable for its subterranean larval habit, feeding on reed roots.