Woodland-beetle
Guides
Alaus melanops
Western Eyed Click Beetle
Alaus melanops, the Western Eyed Click Beetle, is a large elaterid beetle found in western North America. Adults measure 20–35 mm and possess distinctive eyespots on the pronotum—black patches surrounded by white rings that serve as defensive mimicry. The species exhibits the family's characteristic clicking mechanism, using a prosternal spine and mesosternal notch to produce an audible snap that can launch the beetle into the air to escape predators or right itself. Larvae are predatory, inhabiting decaying wood where they feed on other beetle larvae and pupae.
Calopteron discrepans
banded net-winged beetle
Calopteron discrepans is a colorful net-winged beetle in the family Lycidae, recognized by its striking orange elytra with black banding. The species occurs in moist woodland habitats across eastern North America, where adults are active during summer months. It is frequently confused with congeners C. reticulatum and C. terminale, requiring careful examination of antennal and ventral coloration for positive identification. The species participates in Müllerian mimicry complexes with other aposematically colored insects.
Centrodera decolorata
Discolored Long-horned Beetle
Centrodera decolorata is a species of flower longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It is found in eastern North America, with records from Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Québec) and the United States. As a member of the subfamily Lepturinae, it is associated with flowers and likely feeds on pollen as an adult. The species was described by Harris in 1838.
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.
Lycostomus fulvellus femoratus
Lycostomus fulvellus femoratus is a subspecies of net-winged beetle (family Lycidae) in the genus Lycostomus. Net-winged beetles are characterized by their soft, flexible elytra with distinct reticulate venation patterns. Members of this family are typically found in forested habitats and are known for their aposematic coloration, often displaying orange, red, or yellow patterns that advertise their chemical defenses. The subspecies epithet 'femoratus' likely refers to distinctive coloration or modification of the femora.
Pterostichus moestus
Pterostichus moestus is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is native to North America. The species belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which comprises numerous ground beetle species with predominantly nocturnal habits.
Pterostichus neobrunneus
Pterostichus neobrunneus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Carl Lindroth in 1966. It belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which contains numerous woodland-dwelling species. The species is known from North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a nocturnal predator inhabiting forest floor habitats.
Pterostichus protractus
Pterostichus protractus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by LeConte in 1860. It is found in North America, with records from both Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Pterostichus, it is part of a diverse group of carabid beetles commonly referred to as woodland ground beetles.
Zopherus granicollis
ironclad beetle
Zopherus granicollis is a species of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae, characterized by exceptionally hard, fused elytra that make specimens notoriously difficult to pin. The species occurs in Central America and North America, with two recognized subspecies: Z. g. granicollis and Z. g. ventriosus. Like other members of the genus, it exhibits nocturnal activity on tree trunks, though specific behavioral details for this species remain poorly documented.