There are more named species of beetles and beetles make up 25% of all described species. Beetles are fairly easy to recognize and are found in nearly every habitat around the world.
Beetle wings evolved to have the 2 forewings hardened (called the elytra). The elytra provide a protective coating for their soft bodies. Coleoptera is derived from Greek meaning “sheath wings.”
Beetle larvae do not have a single common name like other orders of insects might. Their larvae can be called grubs, rootworms, mealworms, wireworms, or borers. The larvae also have differing feeding strategies, depending on the species. They eat living to dead plant tissue, fungi, carrion, and dung; some may be predaceous and others may be parasitic.
The wood-boring beetles leave their signature with tracks grooved into trees. The shape and size of their burrows are distinctive and indicative of which species has invaded the tree.
I’ve listed all the beetles alphabetically by family and alphabetically within the family – for ease of use.
Anthicidae (Antlike Flower Beetles)
Notoxus desertus
Anthribidae (Fungus Weevils)
Euparius marmoreus – Marbled Fungus Weevil
Bostrichidae (Horned Powder post Beetles)
Lichenophanes bicornis
Brentidae (Straight-Snouted Weevils)
Arrhenodes minutus – Oak Timberworm
Trichapion rostrum
Buprestidae (Metallic Wood-boring Beetles)
Agrilus ruficollis – Red-necked Cane Borer
Cantharidae (Soldier Beetles or Leather-winged Beetles)
Atalantycha bilineata – Two-lined Leatherwing Beetle
Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus – Pennsylvania Leather-wing
Podabrus flavicollis
Podabrus rugosulus
Podabrus tomentosus
Carabidae (Ground Beetles)
Agonum sp
Anisodactylus sanctaecrucis
Bembidion rapidum
Brachinus sp – Bombardier Beetle
Calleida punctata
Calosoma wilcoxi – Wilcox’s Caterpillar Hunter
Chlaenius tricolor tricolor
Cicindela punctulata – Punctured Tiger Beetle
Cicindela sexguttata – Six-spotted Tiger Beetle
Galerita bicolor – False Bombardier Beetle
Harpalus caliginosis – Murky Ground Beetle
Harpalus Subgenus Megapangus
Harpalus pensylvanicus – Pennsylvania Dingy Ground Beetle
Lebia solea
Paraclivina bipustulata – Two spot Slope rumped Beetle
Platynus decentis
Scarites subterraneus – Tunneling Large Pedunculate Beetle
Sphaeroderus stenostomus lecontei
Stenolophus comma
Stenolophus lineola
Cerambycidae – Longhorned Beetles
Anelaphus parallelus – Oak Twig Pruner
Clytus ruricola
Brachysomida bivittata
Enaphalodes rufulus – Red Oak Borer
Euderces picipes
Graphisurus despectus
Graphisurus fasciatus
Monochamus scutellatus – White spotted Sawyer
Neandra brunnea – Pole Borer
Saperda candida – Round-headed Apple Tree Borer
Saperda discoidea – Hickory Saperda
Saperda vestita – Linden Borer
Strangalia luteicornis
Tetraopes tetraophthalmus – Red Milkweed Beetle
Typocerus velutinus – Banded Long-horned Beetle
Xlyotrechus colonus – Rustic Borer
Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)
Acalymma vittatum – Striped Cucumber Beetle
Agroiconota bivittata – Tortoise Beetle
Bromius obscurus – Western Grape Rootworm
Crepidodera sp
Diabrotica barberi – Northern Corn Rootworm
Diabrotica cristata
Diabrotica undecimpunctata – Spotted Cucumber Beetle
Disonycha xanthomelas – Spinach Flea Beetle
Luperaltica nigripalpis
Microrhopala excavata
Paria sp
Paria fragariae-complex – Strawberry Rootworm
Systena marginalis – Margined Systena
Trirhabda canadensis – Goldenrod Leaf Beetle
Coccinellidae (Lady Beetles)
Brachiacantha ursina – Orange spotted Lady Beetle
Chilocorus stigma – Twice stabbed Lady Beetle
Coccinella novemnotata – Nine-spotted Lady Beetle
Cycloneda munda – Polished Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis – Asian Lady Beetle
Hippodamia convergens – Convergent Lady Beetle
Hippodamia variegata – Variegated Lady Beetle
Curculionidae (Snout & Bark Beetles)
Calomycterus setarius -Imported Long Horn Weevil
Curculio sp – Nut and Acorn Weevil
Epicaerus sp
Listroderes sp
Listronotus humilis
Neoporus sp
Odontocorynus sp
Otiorhynchus sulcatus – Black Vine Weevil
Polydrusus formosus – Green Immigrant Leaf Weevil
Polydrusus impressifrons – Pale Green Weevil
Pseudobaris angusta
Sciaphilus asperatus
Sitona hispidulus – Clover Weevil
Dytiscidae (Predaceous Diving Beetle)
Colymbetes sculptilis
Coptotomus longulus
Cybister fimbriolatus
Neoporus sp
Elateridae (Click Beetles)
Aeolus mellillus
Ampedus linteus
Elater abruptus
Hemicrepidius hemipodus
Hemicrepidius memnonius
Melanotus communis-complex
Sylvanelater cylindriformis
Elmidae (Riffle Beetles)
Optioservus fastiditus
Erotylidae (Pleasing Fungus & Lizard Beetles)
Toramus pulchellus
Geotrupidae (Earth-boring Scarabs)
Bolbocerosoma bruneri
Geotrupes splendidus – Splendid Earth Boring Beetle
Gyrinidae (Whirligig Beetles)
Dineutus emarginatus
Heteroceridae (Variegated Mud-loving Beetle)
Heterocerus mollinus – Variegated Mud-loving Beetle
Hydrophilidae (Water Scavenger Beetles)
Berosus sp
Cercyon praetextatus
Hydrochara soror
Tropisternus lateralis nimbatus
Lampyridae (Fireflies)
Photinus pyralis
Latridiidae (Minute Brown Scavenger Beetles)
Melanophthalma subgenus Melanophthalma
Lucanidae (Stag Beetles)
Dorcus parallelus – Antelope Beetle
Lycidae (Net winged and Sap Beetles)
Calopteron terminale – End Band Net wing
Erotides sculptilis
Meloidae (Blister Beetles)
Epicauta funebris – Margined Blister Beetle
Epicauta pennsylvanica – Black Blister Beetle
Zonitis bilineata
Zonitis vittigera
Mordelliidae (Tumbling Flower Beetles)
Glipa oculata
Mordella marginata
Mordellistena convicta
Mordellistena sp
Mycetophagidae (Hairy Fungus Beetles)
Mycetophagus punctatus – Hairy Fungus Beetle
Typhaea stercorea
Nitidulidae (Sap-feeding Beetles)
Cryptarcha ampla
Glischrochilus quadrisignatus – Picnic Beetle
Glischrochilus sanguinolentus
Phalacridae (Shining Flower and Mold Beetles)
Stilbus apicalis
Phengodidae (Glowworm Beetles)
Phengodes sp
Pyrochroidae (Fire-colored Beetles)
Neopyrochroa flabellata
Ripiphoridae (Wedge shaped Beetles)
Macrosiagon limbatum
Scarabaeidae (Scarab Beetles)
Ataenius sp – Small Dung Beetle
Copris fricator
Dichelonyx sp
Osmoderma eremicola – Hermit Flower Beetle
Pelidnota punctata – Spotted June Beetle
Phyllophaga sp
Phyllophaga tristis
Serica sp
Xyloryctes jamaicensis – Rhinoceros Beetle
Silphidae (Carrion or Burying Beetles)
Necrodes surinamensis – Red lined Carrion Beetle
Nicrophorus pustulatus
Nicrophorus orbicollis – Roundneck Sexton Beetle
Oiceoptoma noveboracense – Margined Carrion Beetle
Silvanidae (Silvanid Flat Bark Beetles)
Ahasverus rectus
Staphylinidae (Rove Beetles)
Homaeotarsus sp
Neobisnius sp
Platydracus (cinnamopterus complex)
Tachyporus sp
Stenotrachelidae (False Longhorn Beetles)
Cephaloon lepturides – False Leptura Beetle
Tenebrionidae (Darkling Beetles)
Bolitotherus cornutus – Forked Fungus Beetle
Cynaeus angustus – Larger Black Flour Beetle
Hymenorus sp
Trogidae (Hide or Skin Beetles)
Trox scaber
