Thanatosis
Guides
Timarcha
bloody-nosed beetles
Timarcha is a genus of flightless leaf beetles comprising over 100 species across three subgenera, with a disjunct distribution spanning the Mediterranean region and western North America. The genus exhibits several unusual traits for Chrysomelidae, including complete apterism (winglessness), fused elytra, and archaic genital morphology. All species are uniformly black and herbivorous, with host plant associations concentrated in Rubiaceae and Plumbaginaceae. The most familiar species is T. tenebricosa, commonly known as the bloody-nosed beetle, named for its defensive reflex bleeding behavior.
Trogidae
hide beetles, keratin beetles, skin beetles
Trogidae is a family of scarabaeoid beetles commonly known as hide beetles or keratin beetles. The family contains approximately 300 species in four or five genera, distributed worldwide. Members are characterized by a distinctive rough, warty, or bumpy exoskeleton and are specialized scavengers of dried animal remains, feeding on skin, feathers, fur, and connective tissue. They are among the last insects to colonize carcasses, appearing only after decomposition has advanced to the dry remains stage. The family's taxonomic placement remains debated, with some authorities treating it as a subfamily (Troginae) within Scarabaeidae.
Trox
hide beetles
Trox is a genus of hide beetles in the family Trogidae, subfamily Troginae. The genus currently contains approximately 70 species divided among three subgenera: Trox (Trox), Trox (Niditrox), and Trox (Granulitrox). These beetles are specialized scavengers that colonize animal remains in advanced stages of decomposition, feeding on dried skin, hair, feathers, and connective tissue. They are among the last insects to visit carcasses, appearing after most other carrion fauna have departed. The genus has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with former subgenera Phoberus and Glyptotrox elevated to full genera and numerous species synonymized.
Trox floridanus
hide beetle
Trox floridanus is a species of hide beetle in the family Trogidae, first described from Florida in 1957. As a member of this family, it is associated with decomposing animal remains in advanced stages of decay, feeding on dried skin, hair, feathers, and connective tissue. The species is documented from the Nearctic region, specifically Florida, USA. Hide beetles in this genus are cryptic insects that typically become coated in debris and exhibit thanatosis (death-feigning) when disturbed.
Trox foveicollis
hide beetle
Trox foveicollis is a species of hide beetle in the family Trogidae, currently classified under the genus Glyptotrox. The species is known from the central and eastern United States and adjacent Canada. Like other hide beetles, it is associated with decomposing animal remains in advanced stages of decay.
Trox gemmulatus
Hide beetle
Trox gemmulatus is a hide beetle in the family Trogidae, native to arid and semi-arid regions of western North America. These beetles specialize in consuming desiccated animal remains, including dried skin, fur, feathers, and connective tissue. Adults are typically 8–11 mm in length and are known for their rough, debris-caked appearance and thanatosis behavior—feigning death when disturbed. The species is most active during spring and is frequently associated with the final stages of vertebrate decomposition.
Trox plicatus
Trox plicatus is a species of hide beetle in the family Trogidae, described by Robinson in 1940. The species belongs to a genus specialized in consuming dried animal remains during the final stages of decomposition. Like other trogids, it is adapted to cryptic existence among carrion debris. It has been documented from the southwestern United States and central Mexico.
Trox robinsoni
Trox robinsoni is a hide beetle in the family Trogidae, described by Vaurie in 1955. Members of this genus are specialized decomposers that colonize carcasses in advanced stages of decay, feeding on dried skin, hair, feathers, and other keratinous materials when little else remains. The species occurs in the north-central United States and central Canada.
Trox scaber
Hide beetle, Scarab beetle
Trox scaber is a small hide beetle in the family Trogidae, measuring 5–8 mm. It has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution and is strongly associated with bird nests, where both adults and larvae develop. The species feeds on dried animal remains including skin, feathers, fur, and small dry carcasses. It is characterized by rough, sculptured elytra and pronotum with distinctive bristly scales, and exhibits a remarkable death-feigning behavior when disturbed.
Trox striatus
Hide beetle
Trox striatus is a hide beetle in the family Trogidae, occurring in the Nearctic region of eastern North America. Like other members of its genus, it specializes in consuming dried animal remains during the final stages of decomposition. The species has been recorded from scattered localities across the northeastern and midwestern United States and adjacent Canada.
Trox terrestris
Hide beetle, Hide and tallow beetle
Trox terrestris is a hide beetle in the family Trogidae, closely allied to scarab beetles. The species has been reclassified under Glyptotrox terrestris in some taxonomic treatments. These beetles specialize in consuming dried animal remains, including skin, hair, feathers, and connective tissue during the final stages of carcass decomposition. They are known for their cryptic appearance and thanatosis behavior.
Trox tuberculatus
hide beetle
Trox tuberculatus is a hide beetle in the family Trogidae, a group of scarabaeoid beetles specialized in feeding on dried animal remains. The species occurs in the Nearctic region, with records from multiple U.S. states. Like other Trogidae, it is associated with the late stages of carcass decomposition, consuming dried skin, hair, feathers, and connective tissue. The beetle exhibits characteristic defensive behaviors including thanatosis (death-feigning) and debris-covering that render it cryptic and difficult to detect.
Trox unistriatus
Trox unistriatus is a hide beetle in the family Trogidae, a group closely related to scarab beetles. Like other members of its genus, this species specializes in consuming dried animal remains, including skin, hair, feathers, and connective tissue. It is found across much of North America, with records from Canada and the United States. The species exhibits typical trogid behavior: freezing in a rigid posture when disturbed and accumulating debris on its body for camouflage.
Zopherinae
ironclad beetles
Zopherinae is a subfamily of beetles commonly known as ironclad beetles, characterized by exceptionally hardened exoskeletons. The subfamily currently contains eight genera across two tribes: seven genera in Zopherini and the monotypic genus Phellopsis in its own tribe Phellopsini. Historically treated as a family alongside Usechinae, Zopherinae is now classified within the expanded family Zopheridae. These beetles are primarily associated with rotting wood and are known to be fungivores.