Acmaeodera prorsa
Here's another member of the family Buprestidae. This species is really common on Mount Diablo
Here's another member of the family Buprestidae. This species is really common on Mount Diablo
My first Buprestid! Metallic Wood-Boring Beetles are some of the prettiest beetles you'll ever find. They range from a couple millimeters like this to being quite large in the tropical genera. I've been finding these on flowers a lot lately. I guess when it rains it pours!
Family Buprestidae
Unfortunately the resolution of this image is the only one I have available due to cropping the image.
Family Melyridae (Soft-winged Flower Beetles)
This is another Buprestid, though not the prettiest of its members.
This is a tiny tiny beetle, only a millimeter or so, and when they enter your house they can cause quite a lot of damage. Worst of all, is that they'll reduce an insect collection to dust if given the chance.
Family Dermestidae
Rove Beetles of this genus are often found under kelp on beaches, which is where this was photographed.
Family Staphylinidae (Rove Beetles)
This Douglas Fir Borer gets its name for the habit of having its larva layed in Douglas Fir, which then bore their way out.
Family Cerambycidae (Long-horned Beetles)
Pretty Carabid in the subfamily Harpalinae, pretty common under driftwood on some sand dunes in OK
Finally ID'd as a Cibdelis sp
Family Tenebrionidae (Darkling Beetle)
This is the nominate subspecies of Cicindela formosa. The red coloration is typical of this subspecies.
Among the fastest moving land insects in the world, this large and often brightly colored subfamily of Ground Beetles are found in a wide variety of habitats. This particular species can often be found on the beach.
Family Carabidae
This is a really common species over a wide range in the US. Up close you can see a row of punctures running down near the sides of the elytral suture.
Subfamily Cicindelinae
These are really common around lakes and sandy rivers.
Subfamily Cicindelinae
Another amazing Tiger Beetle. This species is often seen flying away from hikers on muddy trails in forests. This individual let me get right next to it though!
Family Carabidae
Another pretty tiger beetle, wasn't camera shy at all
Subfamily Cicindelinae
The quintessential Ladybeetle, this Seven-spotted Ladybeetle is found throughout the US.
Family Coccinellidae (Ladybeetles)
This is a subspecies of the normal Three-banded Ladybeetle, having only one band instead of the usual three.
Family Coccinellidae (Ladybeetles)
Of the 4 species in this genus, this Coelus ciliatus is the only one unendangered. Found it by digging under some beach grass on a sand dune.
Family Tenebrionidae (Darkling Beetles)
These False Blister Beetles are common under driftwood on the beach.
Family Oedemeridae (False Blister Beetles)
Believe it or not, this is a ladybeetle. More specifically it's the immature form of a ladybeetle called a Mealybug Destroyer. Ladybeetles, like all beetles are what are known as Holometabolous, meaning that they go through a complete metamorphosis and that the larva look unlike the adults.
Family Coccinellidae
This common genus of Scarab Beetle is often found coming to lights.
Family Scarabaeidae (Scarab Beetles)
This small Cerambycid doesn't have a common name. Saw quite a few of these on this small tree that was in bloom.
This Cucumber Beetle was found hanging out inside this flower.
Family Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)
The large Darkling Beetles are often seen crossing bare ground both during the day and particularly at night.
Family Tenebrionidae (Darkling Beetles)
This was a very large Eleodes duing it characteristic pose when threatened. The size and striation on the elytra make me think this is probably Eleodes suturalis. This guy didn't end up in my collection, as it was in Zion NP
This huge congregation is just one group of several thousand found along a forest trail in the redwoods of California.
Family Coccinellidae (Ladybeetles)
This little Chrysomelid was found, not surprisingly, on Swamp Milkweed, its host plant
This is something in the subfamily Lepturinae, and the flower looks like a Sidalcea or something close in the family Malvaceae
Don't know too much about these small beetles except they're easily distinguishable by the spiky tip to the abdomen.
Family Mordellidae
This is a interesting little family called Pyrochroidae. The beetles in this family are characterized mainly by the large, fibrilose antennae. I found this at a fluorescent light.
This is the melanistic form of Nicrophorus defodiens, a Silphid Beetle that feeds on carrion and lays its eggs in it.
Family Silphidae (Carrion Beetles)
This is a largely tropical group in the family Passalidae, the major North American species is this one, though there are a few more in southern Texas.
This is a member of the largest family of animal in the world; the Weevils, from the family Curculionidae
A very common Soldier Beetle in my area, often seen coming to lights at night.
Family Cantharidae (Soldier Beetles)
Now this is an interesting species of beetle. It's a ground beetle, from the family Carabidae, which is normal enough. What isn't normal is that this feeds on millipedes. Now this wouldn't seem like a big deal, except that most millipedes use cyanide as a defensive mechanism, and thus contain it in their bodies. Now I don't know this for certain, but I am supposing that this beetle is immune to cyanide's rather lethal effects. THAT is really cool!
This is a tiny ladybeetle (2mm or less) that is from a much less well known genera than the usual Coccinella, Harmonia, or Hippodamia. Apparently being tiny is not an uncommon trait, in fact most ladybeetles are, the ones we notice are the exception rather than the rule.
Family Coccinellidae (Ladybeetle)
This is a male Stag Beetle, in the family Lucanidae, it's also what is known as a Major Male, with much longer horns
Here's a pretty long-horned beetle resting on its host milkweed plant. They're pretty common in Kansas
This small beetle is often found near water and is very distinctive due to its unusual antennae. I haven't been able to get this individual down further than Family level.
Family Ptilodactylidae (Toe-winged Beetles)
