Field and Swamp: Animals and Their Habitats

  Beetles (order Coleoptera, infraclass Neoptera, subclass Pterygota, class Insecta, subphylum Hexapoda, phylum Arthropoda, kingdom Animalia)

Multi-colored Asian Ladybug Beetles (Harmonia axyridis)

Durham, 5/3/05.  This might be a Multi-colored Asian Ladybug (19-spot) Beetle (Harmonia axyridis).  Unlike native ladybugs, they try to enter houses and become pests in the process.	Multi-colored Asian Ladybug Beetle, Durham, 9/9/05.	Yet another Multi-colored Asian Ladybug Beetle,  Moses Cone Memorial Park, Watauga County, NC, 8/8/06	Yet another Multi-colored Asian Ladybug Beetle, Durham, 7/5/05

 

This is also a Multi-colored Asian Ladybug Beetle, according to BugGuide's Harmonia axyridis guide page. NC Botanical Garden, 6/19/05	Multi-colored Asian Ladybug Beetle, Durham, 7/13/06.  Slightly smaller spots than those of the beetle on the immediate left.	Durham, 11/4/05.  This Multi-colored Asian ladybug quickly freed itself from this spider web by somehow causing the strand it was on to lengthen and weaken.	This Multi-colored Asian Beetle was trying to take off without success; it was obviously injured.  The spots are on the way to appearing.  Moses Cone Memorial Park, Watauga County, NC, 8/8/06	Multi-colored Asian Ladybug Beetle, Southern Village, Orange County, NC, 11/13/07.  The spots have just started to come out on this recent metamorph.

Multi-colored Asian Ladybug Beetle (Harmonia axyridis) larvae

Multi-colored Asian Ladybug Beetle (Harmonia axyridis) larva, Durham, 6/14/05.  This larva showed up on my deck.  Pretty big legs!	Same Multi-colored Asian Ladybug Beetle larva	Multi-colored Asian Ladybug Beetle larva, Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, Orange County, NC, 6/15/06.  Alas, this is also the season for late instar Wheel Bug nymphs, which make short work of these larvae.	Multi-colored Asian Ladybug Beetle larva, Eno River State Park, Old Cole Mill Rd. access, Orange County, NC, 6/15/06

Seven-spotted Ladybug Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata)

Seven-spotted Ladybug Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata), Durham, 5/7/08	Seven-spotted Ladybug Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata), Durham, 4/27/07.	Seven-spotted Ladybug Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata), Durham, 9/12/05.  ID according to Charles Schurch Lewallen at Bugguide.net.  See larva below, IDed referring to same page.

Seven-spotted Ladybug Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) larva, Durham (edge of marsh at neighborhood swamp), 4/11/09.  This plump but nimble little rascal climbed rapidly over grass plants and other objects, readily bending in two.	Seven -spotted Ladybug Beetle larva, Duke Gardens, 3/28/07.  This larva, much skinnier than the one on the left, appeared on the steps at the central terrace.	Seven-spotted Ladybug Beetle pupa, Durham, NC, 5/1/08	Ladybug beetle pupa, Mason Farm Biological Reserve (area north of the creek), 4/28/07.  Since there were 10+ Seven-spotted Ladybug Beetle adults in the immediate area, it seemed likely that this was one, too.

Spotted Ladybug Beetle (Coleomegilla maculata)

Spotted Ladybug Beetle (Coleomegilla maculata) mating pair, Durham (neighborhood marsh), 6/18/05.  This is the most abundant species by far in this marsh.	Spotted Ladybug Beetle (Coleomegilla maculata) mating pair, Durham, NC, 6/17/06, in my neighborhood marsh/swamp.	Spotted Ladybug Beetle (Coleomegilla maculata) larva, Durham, 6/23/05, seen on a cattail leaf at the same marsh as the adult Coleomegilla maculata beetles above.  ID based on Marshall (2006), p. 345.

Cycloneda genus

Ladybug Beetle (Cycloneda munda), Duke Forest, Korstian Division, Orange County, NC, 5/3/06.   Thanks to Eric Eaton for genus ID.

Psyllabora vigintamaculata

Possibly Psyllabora vigintamaculata, Little Scaly Mountain, Macon County, NC, 8/9/05.  ID based on Marshall (2006), p. 349.  This beetle showed up at an altitude of about 4100 feet in far southwestern North Carolina.

Ladybug Beetle Pupae

The sequence in the first row (ordered photos of different pupae, taken on one or two leaves of the same tree) illustrates the changes Ladybug Beetle pupae of one species go through.  On the left is a new pupa, with the long, thin shape of a larva and some larva parts still showing.  Later on, as the pupa matures, it takes on the round adult shape and the old larval body parts outside the pupa's shell disappear.

All of the pupae in the first row showed close to a swamp in my neighborhood.  Although their species is unknown, they are almost certainly not Multi-colored Asian Ladybug Beetles.  To judge from the species of the Ladybug Beetles seen in this vicinity, I would say they are most likely Coleomegilla maculata pupae.

Two views of a larva becoming a pupa, Durham, NC, 7/5/05.		Pupa, Durham, 8/6/05	Pupa, Durham, 7/15/05.  See the leg sticking out the right side.	Pupa, Durham, 6/18/05.  I found this sitting on a leaf.  This was about a third of an inch long.

This pupa was a member of another Ladybug Beetle species, the Multi-colored Asian Ladybug Beetle (Harmonia axyridis):

Durham, NC, 6/29/06

This pupa was found among a few similar pupae and many Seven-spotted Ladybug Beetle adults.

Snout Beetles (family Curculionidae, superfamily Curculionoidea, infraorder Cucujiformia, suborder Polyphaga)

There are about 50,000 species of curculionid snout beetles, also called weevils.  They are surprisingly easy to find, especially in brushy power line cuts.  If most species weren't so tiny, we'd probably be swimming in them -- at least if it weren't for Ambush Bugs, which lie in wait on flowering plants in brushy areas!  Nevertheless, there are some notable exceptions to the size rule: some weevils are almost an inch long.

Asian Oak Weevils (Cyrtepistomus castaneus), Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 8/31/07

Weevil, Durham, 6/16/05.  Found on a swamp plant.  About ⅛ inch long, as were all the weevils in this row and the one just below it.	Weevil, Durham, 6/20/05.  This and all the weevils to the right of this one in this row showed up in a power line cut in my neighborhood.	Weevil, Durham, 6/20/05

Mating weevils (Odontocorynus scutellumalbum, subfamily Baridinae), Durham, 6/20/05.  These black weevils showed up in a power line cut.	Weevil, Durham, 7/15/05, front view.	Same weevil, as on left.  Durham, 7/15/05.	Perhaps a similar weevil, but in a different light.  Durham, 6/2/06	Mating weevils, Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC, 6/4/06

Billbug (probably genus Sphenophorus), North Charleston, Charleston County, SC, 3/28/06.  About ¾ inch long.  ID thanks to Eric Eaton.	A very big weevil, Lixus genus, Lixinae subfamily, Durham, NC, 5/25/06. It was about an inch long.   It showed up near a mini-swamp next to a power line cut.  Thanks to Eric Eaton for ID.

Primitive or Straight-snouted Weevils (family Brentidae, superfamily Curculionoidea, infraorder Cucujiformia, suborder Polyphaga)

Tiny weevil (about 2 mm long), North Carolina Museum of Art outdoor trail, Wake County, NC, 5/8/07.	Oak Timberworm(Arrhenodes minutus), a type of straight-snouted weevil .   It was about 18 mm long.  ID thanks to John and Jane Balaban.  See more information at the Forest Pests Oak Timberworm Page.

Fungus Weevils (family Anthribidae, superfamily Curculionoidea, infraorder Cucujiformia, suborder Polyphaga)

Euparius marmoreus, Falls Lake SP, Wake County, NC, 3/1/06.  This beetle appeared near the end of a pier.	Touching the beetle caused it to play dead briefly, after which it righted itself after some leg-wiggling.	This shows the characteristic back pattern of the Euparius marmoreus.

Leaf Beetles (family Chrysomelidae, superfamily Chrysomeloidea, infraorder Cucujiformia, suborder Polyphaga)

Some Leaf Beetles, such as the Colorado Potato Beetles, were major crop pests because they were imported from outside North America while their natural predators were left behind.  Leaf Beetles in general are far less common than they used to be as a result of insecticide use.  However, they are still found munching on a variety of weeds and marsh vegetation in my neighborhood and at least a few other places.

Tribe assignments for Tortoise Beetles are taken from the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University web page.   Most of the subfamily IDs are based on University of Minnesota's Insects of Cedar Creek.

Tortoise Beetles (Subfamily Cassidinae)

There is some controversy about whether this subfamily should stand alone or be a part of the Leaf-mining Beetle subfamily Hispinae.

Golden Tortoise Beetle (Charidotella bicolor), Durham, NC, 7/1/07.  These are photos of the same beetle, taken in different lighting.		Golden Tortoise Beetle,  Durham, NC  9/10/06

Clavate Tortoise Beetle (Plagiometriona clavata) larva, Durham, NC, 7/6/07.  This insect was about 3 mm long.  ID thanks to Donald S. Chandler.

Clavate Tortoise Beetle(Plagiometriona clavata, tribe Cassidini, sub-family Cassidinae)   Duke Gardens, 7/24/05.  Underneath its purely reflective  "shell" is something that looks like an ordinary beetle. It was about ¼ inch long.  It appeared in the main (terraced) garden.  Thanks to Jeff Pippen for the ID.	Argus Tortoise Beetle (Chelymorpha cassidea, tribe Stolaini, subfamily Cassidinae ), north shore of Ocracoke Island, 5/15/05.  This beetle was about half an inch long.  Not sure of this ID.

Leaf-mining Leaf Beetles (Subfamily Hispinae)

Locust Leafminer (Odontota dorsalis, subfamily Hispinae), Boone, Watauga County, NC, 8/29/05.   The taxon "Hispinae" is valid according to the ITIS, which lists no genera under it as of 4/3/06.

Dogbane Beetle (Chrysochus auratus, subfamily Eumolpinae), Durham, 7/12/05.  It was about ½ inch long.  These beetles only eat milkweed and dogbane, so they are not pests.  Thanks to Betty Anderson for the ID.	Another Dogbane Beetle, Durham, 7/15/05.	Mating Dogbane Beetles, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 7/9/06	Dogbane Beetle, Daniel Boone Gardens, Boone, Watauga County, NC, 8/9/06	Dogbane Beetle, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/1507	Maybe a Grape Rootworm (Fidia viticida), Durham, 6/23/05.  We have a lot of wild grape vines in my neighborhood.

Leaf Beetle, about 2 mm long.  Seems to be Chrysochus genus.

Skeletonizing Leaf Beetles (Subfamily Galerucinae)

Flea Beetles (Disonycha genus, Alticini tribe)

Chrysomelid beetle,  (Kuschelina scripticollis, subfamily Galerucinae), White Pines Nature Preserve, Chatham County, NC, 4/16/06.  The only individual I have seen of this species.  Thanks to Eric Eaton and Mike Quinn at BugGuide  for genus, species names.	Chrysomelid beetle, possibly a Flea Beetle (Disonycha genus, Alticini tribe), Durham, NC, 4/19/06.  This beetle was visiting a dandelion.	Flea beetle, Durham, NC, 7/6/07.  A very tiny beetle.	Flea Beetle (Disonycha fumata, Alticini tribe), Durham, 7/5/05.  This one was about ¼ inch long.

Spotted Cucumber Beetles (Diabrotica undecimpunctata, Luperini tribe)

This illustrates some interesting similarities.  A Spotted Cucumber Beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata, subfamily Galerucinae), at right, shared flower nectar with a (mainly carnivorous) ladybug beetle (Coleomegilla maculata) on 7/2/05.	Spotted Cucumber Beetle, Durham, NC, 7/29/07	Spotted Cucumber Beetle, Duke Forest, Gate 12, Durham, NC,  9/29/05.

Loosestrife Leaf Beetle, Durham, NC, 4/25/07.  About 5 mm long, seen on flowering plant on edge of marsh.

Beetle, genus Ophraella, Durham, NC, 9/22/07

Broad-bodied Leaf Beetles (Subfamily Chrysomelinae)

Burdock Beetle (Leptinotarsa juncta, subfamily Chrysomelinae).  I found this beetle munching on a leaf of one of my least favorite weeds (Horse Nettle).  Durham, 9/27/05.  Thanks to Eric Eaton for ID.	Burdock Beetle. Same beetle, playing dead.  Close to looking like a Colorado Potato Beetle, but no cigar: the broad black stripe and the thorax markings set it apart.	Probably Leptinotarsa genus, Chrysomelinae family member.  Durham, 10/31/05.	Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle (Labidomera clivicollis), Eno River State Park, Orange County, NC, 10/9/06

Case-bearers, i.e., Cylindrical Leaf Beetles, Warty Leaf Beetles and Short-horned Leaf Beetles (Subfamily Cryptocephalinae)

They are called "cryptocephalid" because of the "hidden" orientation of their heads, i.e., at right angles to their bodies.  Females cover their eggs with their feces, which become a "case" that the growing larva builds on. 

Warty Leaf Beetle (genus Neochlamisus). A picture from the rear of this fast-moving beetle.  Durham, 7/31/05. Although most insects (and some treefrogs) seem to mimic dead leaves, this beetle is typically confused with caterpillar droppings, but only when it tucks its legs under it and lies motionless!	Cylindrical Leaf beetle (Babia quadriguttata, tribe Clytrini), Durham, 6/2/06.	Clay-colored Leaf Beetle(Anomoea laticlavia, tribe Clytrini), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/15/07.   Family ID thanks to Jim McClarin.

Cryptocephalid Beetle (Cryptocephalinae subfamily), Duke Gardens, 7/24/05.  This beetle was about one inch long and showed up at the far end of the Asian garden.	Probably another Clay-colored Leaf Beetle, Indian Creek Trail, a Jordan Lake Game Land, Chatham County, NC, 7/7/06	Casebearer leaf beetle, possibly an Oulema cornutus	Cryptocephalid Leaf beetle, Durham, 7/15/05.

Case-bearer beetle larva, Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC, 6/4/06.  This is an example of the fecal  "case"  that gives this subfamily its name.	Case-bearer beetle larva, Eno River State Park, Orange County, NC  8/5/06	Case-bearer beetle larva, Durham, NC, 6/20/05.	Case-bearer beetle larva, Durham, NC, 6/17/07.  You can just barely see the little legs near the bottom.	Casebearer beetle larva, Jordan Lake Gameland, Chatham County, NC,  6/19/07.  You can see the little legs on the bottom.

Shining Leaf Beetles (Criocerinae subfamily)

These have no relation to the Shining Leaf Chafers of the Scarabaeidae family.   These are less than ¼ inch long.

Criocerinid beetle,  (Neolema sexpunctata), Durham, 7/18/05	Criocerinid beetle (Neolema sexpunctata), Durham, 7/27/06.  Same species as on left.  About 5 mm long.	Shining leaf beetle (Neolema sexpunctata), Durham, NC, 7/1/07

Long-horned Beetles (family Cerambycidae, superfamily Chrysomeloidea, infraorder Cucujiformia, suborder Polyphaga)

Lepturinae subfamily

Zebra Longhorn Beetle (Typocerus zebra), Durham, NC, 5/7/08	Flower Longhorn Beetle (Typocerus genus, subfamily Lepturinae), Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 7/15/06	Flower Longhorn Beetle (Typocerus velutinus, subfamily Lepturinae), Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 7/15/06	Flower Longhorn Beetle (Strangalia sexnotata, subfamily Lepturinae), Durham, NC, 9/8/06

Cerambycinae subfamily

Locust Borer (Megacyllene robiniae, subfamily Cerambycinae), Boone, Watauga County, NC, 8/29/05.  The Cerambycinae taxon is valid according to the ITIS.  Species name taken from University of Minnesota's Insects of Cedar Creek.	Locust Borer, Boone, Watauga County, NC, 8/7/06

Longhorn beetle (Ancylocera bicolor, subfamily Cerambycinae), Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, NC, 6/9/06.  ID thanks to Sean McCann.

Longhorn beetle (Phymatodes amoenus)

Lamiinae subfamily

Flat-faced Longhorned Beetle (Aegomorphus quadrigibbus, subfamily Lamiinae), Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, 7/30/05.  ID thanks to Eric Eaton and Dr. Doug Yanega of the University of California at Riverside.	Same Flat-faced Longhorn Beetle.	Flat-faced Long-horned Beetle (Aegomorphus genus, subfamily Lamiinae), Durham, 7/1/06	Hickory saperdas (Saperda discoidea, subfamily Lamiinae), 6/22/07	Sumac Stem Borer (Oberea ocellata, subfamily Lamiinae), White Pines Nature Preserve, Chatham County, NC, 4/16/06.  Eric Eaton ID'd this one too.  Confirmed by S.A. Marshall (2006).

Unidentified Longhorn Beetle

Long-horned beetle,  Eno River State Park, Old Cole Mill Road access, 4/4/07

Wedge-shaped Beetles (family Rhipiphoridae, superfamily Tenebrionoidea, suborder Polyphaga)

Macrosiagon cruenta, Penny's Bend, 6/4/06.  Family ID thanks to Jim McClarin.	Macrosiagon cruenta, same place and time

A very tiny beetle, found on flower at Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, NC, 6/9/06.  Family ID thanks to Jim McClarin.	Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 6/9/07.

Blister Beetles (family Meloidae, superfamily Tenebrionoidea, suborder Polyphaga)

Margined Blister Beetle (Epicauta pestifera), Occoneechee Mountain, Orange County, NC, 8/12/06.  ID thanks to Lynette Schimming.	Margined Blister Beetle, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 9/1/07	Blister beetle (Nemognatha genus, species probably piazata), Fort Fisher, New Hanover County, NC, 6/22/06.  ID thanks to Stanislav Krejcik. Confirmed by BugGuide.	Blister Beetle (Lytta aenea, tribe Lyttini, subfamily Meloinae)

Darkling Beetles (family Tenebrionidae, superfamily Tenebrionoidea, infraorder Cucjiformia, suborder Polyphaga)

Darkling beetle  (Diaperis maculata, tribe Diaperini, subfamily Diaperinae), Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 5/11/07.

Passalid Beetles (family Passalidae, superfamily Scarabaeoidea, infraorder Scarabeiformia, suborder Polyphaga)

Adult beetles live under rotting logs and chew up the wood so their offspring can eat it.

Bess Beetle (Papilius disjunctus?), Eno River State Park, Fews Ford access, 12/31/05.  This beetle was grinding up rotten log material with its mandibles.  The Papilius taxon is valid according to the ITIS.  Species name given by Encyclopedia Britannica.	Horned Passalus Beetle (Odontotaenius disjunctus), Durham, NC, 7/20/07.  Taken at night.

Scarab Beetles (family Scarabaeidae, superfamily Scarabaeoidea, infraorder Scarabeiformia, suborder Polyphaga)

These beetles perform an essential clean-up function: the adults move the feces of other animals underground, where they store it as food for themselves and their offspring.

Tumblebugs (subfamily Scarabaeinae)

Tumblebug (Canthon imitator), pushing a clump of dung along with its hind legs at Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, 5/29/05.

Shining Leaf Chafers (subfamily Rutelinae)

Researchers at the U. of Nebraska at Lincoln are doing phylogenetic research on the genera of the Rutelinae subfamily.  

Grapevine Beetle (Pelidnota punctata, tribe Rutelini, subfamily Rutelinae), Durham, 7/20/07.	Goldsmith Beetle (Cotalpa lanigera, Rutelinae subfamily), Durham, 6/29/05.   A Shining Leaf Chafer beetle.  Its genus may be changed in the future.	Rose Chafer Beetle (Macrodactylus subspinosus), Indian Creek Trail, a Jordan Lake Game Land, Chatham County, NC, 7/7/06	An unidentified member of the Shining Leaf Chafer subfamily, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 6/16/07	Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica), Durham, NC, 7/1/07

May/June Beetles (subfamily Melolonthinae)

These common names are used rather loosely, probably depending on what time of year these beetles show up in a particular part of the country. 

May Beetle (Phyllophaga rugosa), Durham, NC, 5/2/07.

Flower Scarabs (subfamily Trichiinae)

This subfamily seems to be controversial.

CChanneled Valgus (Valgus canaliculatus).  Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, 6/23/05.  This beetle seems to have an injured leg.  ID thanks to Jim McClarin.

Bumble Flower Beetles (subfamily Cetoniinae)

Bumble Flower Beetle (Euphoria inda, tribe Cetoniini), Durham, 4/15/05.  Note the lamellate antennae.	Delta Flower Beetle(Trigonopeltastes delta), Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 7/9/06	Green June Beetle (Cotinus nitida, tribe Gymnetini), Durham, 8/1/05.  These beetles' larvae eat plant roots.	Scarab beetle, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/15/07.   It is hard to classify because of its unusual appearance, but I suspect that it is a very worn Euphoria inda.

Mystery Scarab Beetles  (family Scarabaeidae)

Scarab beetle, Occoneechee Mountain, Orange County, NC, 3/13/06.  On this day a group of them appeared on the road to the summit of this mountain, and several landed on my hat.	Scarab beetle, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 5/13/07	Scarab beetle, Durham, NC, 8/13/07

Scarab Beetle Larvae (also called grubs)

Durham, 11/29/05.  This grub drowned during a heavy rain.	Durham, 1/9/06.  A small grub apparently hibernating.

Metallic Wood-boring Beetles (family Buprestidae, superfamily Buprestoidea, infraorder Elateriformia, suborder Polyphaga)

Flat-headed Pine Heartwood Borer (Chalcophora virginiensis), Durham, NC, 4/25/06.  A fairly large beetle, almost two inches long.	Buprestid Beetle (Chrysobothris genus), Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, Orange County, NC, 6/23/05.  ID help thanks: Eric Eaton and Dr. Doug Yanega of the University of California at Riverside.	Buprestid Beetle (Acmaeodera tubulus), Durham, 6/2/06.  This was a very tiny beetle, looking like a speck without the camera.   Thanks to Adalbert Goertz for genus and family ID.   Confirmed by Marshall (2006), p. 326).	Probably a Buprestid beetle, North Carolina Museum of Art outdoor trail, Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 5/8/07.  It was about 15 mm long.

Glowworm Beetles (family Phengodidae, superfamily Elateroidea, infraorder Elateriformia, suborder Polyphaga)

Glowworm Beetle (Phengodes plumosa, Phengodinae subfamily), Durham, NC, 5/11/07

Lightning Bug Beetles (family Lampyridae, superfamily Elateroidea, infraorder Elateriformia, suborder Polyphaga)

Possibly a Winter Firefly Beetle (Ellychnia corrusca), Eno River SP, Orange County, NC, 4/2/06.  This genus name is provided by White, 1983.	Firefly beetle (possibly Lucidota atra), Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 6/16/07	Lightning bug beetle,  Johnston Mill, Orange County, NC, 7/1/06

Click Beetles (family Elateridae, superfamily Elateroidea, infraorder Elateriformia, suborder Polyphaga)

Eyed Click Beetle, (Alaus oculatus), Durham, 5/18/06	Eyed Click Beetle preparing for takeoff at no River State Park, Old Cole Mill Road access, Durham County, NC, 5/19/06

Click Beetle, (Melanotus genus, Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, 6/23/05	Click beetle,  Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 5/20/06	Click beetle (Elaterinae subfamily)	Click beetle (Dalopius genus), Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 6/16/07	Click beetle (Dalopius genus), Duke Forest, Korstian Division, Orange County, NC, 6/11/06.  ID based on Marshall (2006), p. 319.	Click beetle, Durham, 7/5/06

Net-winged Beetles (family Lycidae, superfamily Elateroidea, infraorder Elateriformia, suborder Polyphaga)

Netwinged beetle (Calopteron reticulatum), Durham, 6/13/06.  Thanks for ID to Hannah Nendick-Mason.  ID confirmed by Marshall (2006), p. 317.	Net-winged Beetle, (Plateros genus) Durham, NC, 4/27/07.  This beetle showed up about a city block from the swamp.	Net-winged Beetle, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 6/9/07

Soldier Beetles (subfamily Chauliognathinae, family Cantharidae, superfamily Elateroidea, infraorder Elateriformia, suborder Polyphaga)

Margined Leather-wing (Chauliognathus marginatus).  Wing maintenance, Durham swamp, 7/2/05.  Notice the leg over the wing.	Sometime later.

Margined Leatherwing,  Durham, 6/14/05.	Margined Leatherwing, NC Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 8/28/06

Possibly Margined Leatherwings (Chauliognathus marginatus).  Mating pair, 8/28/05, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC.

Two-lined Leatherwing Beetle,  Duke Forest Gate 12, Durham County, NC, 4/6/06

Rove Beetles (family Staphylinidae, superfamily Staphylinoidea, infraorder Staphylinoidea, suborder Polyphaga)

Rove Beetle, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 5/11/07	Rove beetle, Jordan Lake Gameland, Chatham County, NC, 6/19/07.  The foreshortened abdomen was raised in the air.

Tiger Beetles (subfamily Cicindelinae, family Carabidae, suborder Adephaga)

Cicindela gratiosa

Whitish tiger beetle (Cicindela gratiosa), Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 6/23/06.  Although these beetles were numerous that day in the heart of CBSP, I'd never seen them there (or anywhere else) before.  They have been sighted in just a few counties in southern North Carolina.  ID thanks to Patrick Coin of Durham, NC.

Six-spotted Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela sexguttata)

Six-spotted Green Tiger Beetle, Durham, 3/31/07	Six-spotted Green Tiger Beetle without any spots.  I also saw several others just like it at I'on Swamp, Francis Marion National Forest, Charleston County, SC, 3/29/06.	Six-spotted Green Tiger Beetle with eight spots.  Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, 4/13/06.	Six-spotted Green Tiger Beetle with eight spots, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, 4/14/06

Common Shore Tiger Beetles (Cicindela repanda)

Common Shore Tiger Beetles (Cicindela repanda) Indian Creek trail, Chatham County, NC.  These beetles resembled houseflies at a distance because of their size and movements.  ID provided by Josh Rose.	Common Shore Tiger Beetle, Lake Jordan shore, Chatham County, NC, 10/16/05	Common Shore Tiger Beetle, Lake Jordan shore, Chatham County, NC, 3/10/06	Common Shore Tiger Beetle, Occoneechee Mountain Natural Area, Orange County, NC, 3/25/07

One-spotted Tiger Beetle (Cicindela unipunctata), Eno River State Park, Fews Ford Access, top of Cox Mountain, Orange County, NC, 5/27/06.  ID according to Bugguide's C. unipunctata page.	Green-margined Tiger Beetle (Epicauta pestifera),Occoneechee Mountain, Orange County, NC, 8/12/06	Sidewalk Tiger Beetle, Eno River State Park, Orange County, NC, 7/27/07

Ground Beetles (family Carabidae, suborder Adephaga)

Ground Beetle, Durham, 11/24/05.  About ½ inch long.	Ground Beetle, Durham, 4/14/06.  About ½ inch long.	Genus Amara, tribe Zabrini, subfamily Harpalinae, Durham, NC, 4/9/08	Ground Beetle, Durham, 7/13/06

Whirligig Beetles (family Gyrinidae, suborder Adephaga)

I get the general impression from my reading that Dineutus is the only Gyrinidae genus this big found in the continental US.

Large Whirligig Beetle (Dineutus genus), Durham, 6/10/05.  This beetle was about an inch long, and in constant rapid motion.	Whirligig Beetle, Jordan Lake, Chatham County, NC, 3/25/07.  There were about a hundred such beetles in a group on the lake near the shore.

Water Scavenger Beetles (family Hydrophilidae, superfamily Hydrophiloidea, infraorder Staphyliniformia, suborder Adephaga)

Adults are herbivorous, the larvae carnivorous.  They have to come to the surface to get air.

Water Scavenger Beetle (Hydrophilus triangularis), Durham, 6/19/06.  This beetle was underwater at the time.	Same Water Scavenger Beetle.

Mystery Beetles

From time to time beetles present ID problems and photos are shown here.  See if you can figure out what kinds of beetles these are.  If you know the answer, contact us.