Beetles
These Beetles have nothing to do with classic rock and are much more important to the world.
Beetles are amazing creatures that are easily recognized by their shell-like exteriors. The Coleoptera order is represented in 25,000 different known examples throughout North America and upwards of 350,000 species worldwide - making them the largest order of the animal kingdom. Beetles are unique in every insect way and appropriately diverse, coming in many varied shapes, forms and colors and each can be found in equally diverse environments suiting their particular lifestyles and food requirements.
All Beetles begin life as larva and eventually mature (through metamorphosis) into their more identifiable forms. Some larvae may even attach themselves to host animals for nutrition during the critical developmental time. Eggs of Beetles may be laid as individual units or in quantitative collections but they are almost always found near a viable food source. Maturity can be reached in a matter of months or even take several years meaning that some species may produce multiple generations in a single season whilst others may not.
Beetles (and their larvae) have always held a sour place in the world of humans where their need for plant material has made them a traditional yearly pest. They tend to devastate food crops, forests and residential trees, directly endangering the human way of life on many levels. The two most notorious tree-killing breeds in the United States remain the Emerald Ash Borer and the Asian Longhorn Beetle - both imported from sources afar. And while some Beetle species have rightfully earned themselves a bad reputation in the world of man, still others have proven beneficial to general pest control, encroaching plant control and general flower pollination. Some even have their population numbers used to gauge the healthiness of certain complex biological environments - if the Beetle population is healthy, so too is their environment.
There are 39 Beetles in the Insect Identification database.
American Carrion Beetle
This little beetle has the appearance of a bumble bee at first glance. Adults prefer moist habitats and are active all summe...
American Oil Beetle
American Oil Beetles feature a stout abdomen with a shell covering that appears as though a series of overlapping plates. Ant...
Asian Multicolored Lady Beetle
Lady beetles are known to eat aphids, plant-killing insects, thus making them a beneficial insect. The exotic Asian Multicol...
Banded Alder Borer Beetle
Adult beetles are attracted to the smell of paint. The black and white pattern is distinct. Adults are active in the day an...
Black Blister Beetle
Three-segmented body made up of mostly black with reddish-brown legs. Head is slightly larger than second segment with third ...
Black Vine Weevil
This weevil is aknown pest to many plants and usually feeds at night....
Boll Weevil
Long the bane of cotton farmers, the Boll Weevil as a pest has since come under control to an extent. They have extremely rou...
Checkered Beetle
A strong banding pattern lends itself to the name of this beetle. Checkered beetles eat other insects: weevils, borer beetle...
Cottonwood Borer
The Cottonwood Borer is part of the larger Long-Horned Beetle family that makes its way throughout the summertime months dest...
Darkling Beetle
This beetle walks with its head down and can be found roaming desert areas eating fungi and plant matter.
It burrows unde...
Devil's Coach Horse
All-black body with no shine and appearing dull in any light. Abdominal segments are easily discernable. The Devil's Coach Ho...
Dogbane Leaf Beetle
Metallic green and coppery hues make this beetle stand out from the rest.
Dogbane leaf beetles mate, feed and grow on th...
Eastern Eyed Click Beetle
This species of click beetle has two large black 'eyespots' on its pronotum. They are surrounded by a thin, white ring. Larv...
Eastern Hercules Beetle
This massive beetle can be found in forests. Despite their size, they still fly. As members of the rhinocerous beetle family...
Emerald Ash Borer
The Emerald Ash Borer is a recent addition to the line of tree-boring beetles in North America. As recently as June 2002, the...
Grapevine Hoplia
The Grapevine Hoplia is a small rounded pesky beetle that has a hunger for vegetation - it will feed on the leaves of plants ...
Hardwood Stump Borer Beetle
Large thick pincers (jaws) on the males are quite intimidating. This species is usually found in tree stumps or structural w...
Iron Clad Beetle
The exoskeletons of these beetles is extremely thick, hence their name. This species is living jewelry in Mexico where the b...
Ivory Marked Beetle
The defining ivory spots on the top of this beetle come in pairs. They are usually found in forests or lumberyards.
Larva...
Japanese Beetle
The Japanese Beetle is a pest not native to the United States, let alone North America. It is believed to have arrived by way...
Locust Borer Beetle
Adults are often seen on goldenrod plants, feeding on the pollen in autumn. Larvae are deposited into the heartwood of the l...
Mealy Bug Destroyer Larvae
The unique white 'hairs' on this tiny bug often draw attention from people. These larvae are extremely useful in pest manage...
Notch Tipped Flower Longhorn Beetle
Larva from this species of beetle bore deep into decayed wood and remain there over winter. They feed on the wood and pupate...
Ox Beetle
The sheer size of this relative of the Rhinocerous beetle makes for an unforgettable first impression.
Adults are nocturna...
Pine Sawyer Beetle
Active at dusk, adults can be seen flying near lights (males) or walking on logs or stumps.
Their pronotum has spines on i...
Predaceous Diving Beetle
Found in or near ponds and lakes, the Predaceous Diving Beetle has a unique appearance. It appears to only have two 'arms' an...
Red Headed Ash Borer
Red Headed Ash Borer beetles are related to the Long Horned Borer beetles. They mimic wasps by appearance only and are often...
Red Oak Borer
The larvae of this beetle bore into weak, but still living, red oak and white oak trees. Because of the damage it does, it i...
Reticulated Netwinged Beetle
This beetle resembles the firefly, but the ridges and pattern of veins on their wings place them in the Lycidae family.
Wh...
Rose Chafer
These small and slender members of the beetle family are a common pest usually associated with roses though they venture into...
Soldier Beetle
Commonly found in parks and fields, this species of beetle feed on pollen.
They are usually spotted on flowers, especialll...
Spangled Flower Beetle
This grubs of this beetle can be found in ant nests. They emerge as adults in late summer, overwinter and make another appea...
Stag Beetle
Common east of the Mississippi. Noted for their large size and ferocious appearance, complete with hard shell and imposing pi...
Striped Blister Beetle
When threatened, this blister beetle secrets a yellowish fluid onto its legs. Predators are burned by this substance and bli...
Three Lined Potato Beetle
This species feeds on nightshade and tomatillos, the green 'tomatoes' used to make salsa verde and, of course, potatoes.
...
Varied Carpet Beetle
Adults can be found indoors where they feed on pollen. Larvae can be pests at home as well as in universities. They feed on...
Western Hercules Beetle
Adults feed on ash tree sap and can be found at higher elevations or in canyons.
Males have a 'horn' believed to be used...
White Oak Borer Beetle
This species of beetle is partial to white oak trees, sometimes becoming serious pests. ...
White-spotted Sawyer Beetle
One white spot at the top of the elytra (wing sheath) marks black beetle. Smaller white speckling may be visible on the elty...
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