ENTOMOLOGY \ COLLECTION RESOURCES \ Coleoptera Collection

COLEOPTERA COLLECTION - Beetle Families of the World

The following sequence of beetle higher taxa is the "new world order" from the following work:

          Lawrence, J. F. & A. F. Newton, Jr. 1995. Families and subfamilies of Coleoptera (with selected genera, notes, references and data on family-group names),  pp. 779-1006. In: Pakaluk, J. & S. A. Slipinski (Eds.). Biology, Phylogeny, and Classification of Coleoptera. Papers Celebrating the 80th Birthday of Roy A. Crowson. Muzeum I Instytut Zoologii PAN, Warszawa.

This sequence is followed in the new reference: American Beetles , vols. 1 and 2)

(Note: families below in [brackets] are not known in North America; numbered families with * are not known from California)
 

Suborder ARCHOSTEMMATA
    1. *MICROMALTHIDAE – Telephone-pole beetles
    2. [OMMATIDAE] (= Ommadidae; incl. Tetraphaleridae)
    3. [CROWSONELLIDAE]
    4. CUPEDIDAE (= Cupesidae) – Reticulated beetles

Suborder MYXOPHAGA
    5. [LEPICERIDAE] (= Cyathoceridae)
    6. [TORRIDINCOLIDAE]
    7. HYDROSCAPHIDAE – Skiff beetles
    8. MICROSPORIDAE (= Sphaeriidae) – Minute bog beetles

Suborder ADEPHAGA
    9. GYRINIDAE – Whirligig beetles
  10. HALIPIDAE – Crawling water beetles
  11. TRACHYPACHIDAE
  12. NOTERIDAE (incl. Phreatodytidae) – Burrowing water beetles
  13. AMPHIZOIDAE– Trout-stream beetles
  14. [HYGROBIIDAE] (= Pelobiidae)
  15. DYTISCIDAE – Predacious diving beetles
  16. RHYSODIDAE – Wrinkled bark beetles
  17. CARABIDAE (incl. Cicindelidae, Paussidae, etc.) - Ground and tiger beetles

Suborder POLYPHAGA
Series STAPHYLINIFORMIA
Superfamily HYDROPHILOIDEA (incl. Histeroidea)
  18. HYDROPHILIDAE (incl. Georissidea=Georyssidae, Helophoridae, Hydrochidae, Spercheidae, Sphaeridiidae) – Water scavenger beetles
  19. SPHAERITIDAE – False clown beetles
  20. [SYNTELIIDAE]
  21. HISTERIDAE (= Niponiidae) – Hister or clown beetles

Superfamily STAPHYLINOIDEA
  22. HYDRAENIDAE (= Limnebiidae) – Minute moss beetles
  23. PTILIIDAE (=Trichopterygidae; incl. Cephaloplectidae, Limulodidae) – Feather-winged beetles
  24. ARGYRTIDAE (=Silphidae, part)
  25. LEIODIDAE (= Anisotomidae, Liodidae; incl. Camiaridae, Catopidae, Cholevidae, Colonidae, Leptinidae, Leptodiridae, Platypsyllidae, Sogdiidae) – Round fungus beetles
  26. SCYDMAENIDAE (incl. Anisosphaeridae) – Ant-like stone beetles
  27. SILPHIDAE – Carrion beetles
  28. STAPHYLINIDAE (incl. Brathinidae, Dasyceridae, Empelidae, Micropeplidae, Oxytelidae, Oxyporidae, Pselaphidae, Scaphidiidae, etc.) – Rove beetles

Series SCARABAEIFORMIA
Superfamily SCARABAEOIDEA (= Lamellicornia)
  29. LUCANIDAE - Stag beetles
  30. *PASSALIDAE – Bess beetles
  31. TROGIDAE – Trogid beetles
  32. GLARESIDAE
  33. PLEOCOMIDAE – Rain beetles
  34. DIPHYLLOSTOMATIDAE
  35. GEOTRUPIDAE – Earth-boring beetles
  36. [BELOHINIDAE]
  37. OCHODAEIDAE
  38. *CERATOCANTHIDAE (= Acanthoceridae)
  39. HYBOSORIDAE
  40. GLAPHYRIDAE (incl. Lichniidae)
  41. SCARABAEIDAE (= Aclopidae, Cetoniidae, etc.) – Scarabs, dung beetles, May/ June beetles, chafers

Series ELATERIFORMIA (= Dascilliformia; incl. Eucinetiformia)
Superfamily SCIRTOIDEA
  42. [DECLINIIDAE]
  43. EUCINETIDAE (= Cryptomeridae) – Plate-thigh beetles
  44. CLAMBIDAE (incl. Calyptomeridae) – Minute beetles
  45. SCIRTIDAE (= Cyphonidae, Helodidae, Elodidae) – Marsh beetles

Superfamily DASCILLOIDEA
  46. DASCILLIDAE (incl. Karumiidae) – Soft-bodied plant beetles
  47. RHIPICERIDAE (= Sandalidae) – Cedar beetles

Superfamily BUPRESTOIDEA
  48. SCHIZOPODIDAE
  49. BUPRESTIDAE – Metallic wood-boring or jewel beetles

Superfamily BYRROIDEA (incl. Dryopoidea, Psephenoidea)
  50. BYRRHIDAE (incl. Syncalyptidae) – Pill beetles
  51. ELMIDAE (= Elminthidae, Helminthidae, Elmididae, Limniidae) – Riffle beetles
  52. DRYOPIDAE (= Parnidae; incl. Chiloeidae) – Long-toed water beetles
  53. LUTROCHIDAE
  54. LIMNICHIDAE – Minute marsh-loving beetles
  55. HETEROCERIDAE – Variegated mud-loving beetles
  56. PSEPHENIDAE (incl. Eubriidae, Psephenoididae) – Water penny beetles
  57. [CNEOGLOSSIDAE]
  58. *PTILODACTYLIDAE – Toed-winged beetles
  59. CHELONARIIDAE
  60. EULICHADIDAE (= Lichadidae)
  61. CALLIRHIPIDAE

Superfamily ELATEROIDEA (incl. Cantharoidea, Artematopodoidea)
  62. ARTEMATOPODIDAE (= Artematopidae; incl. Eurypogonidae)
  63. BRACHYPSECTRIDAE – Texas beetles
  64. CEROPHYTIDAE – Rare click beetles
  65. EUCNEMIDAE (= Melasidae; incl. Perothopidae, Phylloceridae) – False click beetles
  66. THROSCIDAE (= Trixagidae)
  67. ELATERIDAE (incl. Cebrionidae, Dicronychidae, Lissomidae) – Click beetles
  68. [PLASTOCERIDAE]
  69. [DRILIDAE ]
  70. [OMALISIDAE] (= Omalysidae, Homalisidae)
  71. LYCIDAE –Net-winged beetles
  72. TELEGEUSIDAE – Long-lipped beetles
  73. PHENGODIDAE
  74. LAMPYRIDAE – Fireflies, Lightingbugs, Glowworms
  75. OMETHIDAE
  76. CANTHARIDAE (= Telephoriade; incl. Chauliognathidae) – Soldier beetles

Incertae Sedis
  77. [PODOCEPHALIDAE]
  78. [RHINORHIPIDAE]

Series BOSTRICHIOFORMIA
Superfamily DERODONTOIDEA
  79. DERODONTIDAE (incl. Laricobiidae, Peltasticidae) – Tooth-neck fungus beetles

Superfamily BOSTRICHOIDEA (inc. Dermestoidea)
  80. NOSODENDRIDAE
  81. DERMESTIDAE (incl. Thorictidae, Thylodriidae) – Skin beetles
  82. [ENDECATOMIDAE ]
  83. BOSTRICHIDAE (= Bostrychidae; incl. Lyctidae, Psoidae) – Powder-post beetles
  84. ANOBIIDAE (incl. Ectrephidae, Gnostidae, Ptinidae) – Death watch beetles

Incertae Sedis
  85. [JACOBSONIIDAE] (= Sarothriidae)

Series CUCUJIFORMIA
Superfamily LYMEXYLONIODEA
  86. *LYMEXYLIDAE (= Lymexylonidae; incl. Atractoceridae) – Ship-timber beetles

Superfamily CLEROIDEA
  87. [PHLOIOPHILIDAE] (= Phloeophilidae)
  88. TROGOSSITIDAE (incl. Lophocateridae, Ostomidae, Peltidae, Temnochilidae) – Bark-gnawing beetles
  89. [CHAETOSOMATIDAE]
  90. CLERIDAE (incl. Corynetidae, Korynetidae) – Checkered beetles
  91. [ACANTHOCNEMIDAE]
  92. [PHYCOSECIDAE]
  93. [PRIONOCERIDAE ]
  94. MELYRIDAE (incl. Dasytidae, Malachiidae, Rhadalidae, Carphuridae) – Soft-winged flower beetles

Superfamily CUCUJOIDEA (= Clavicornia)
  95. [PROTOCUCUJIDAE]
  96. *SPHINDIDAE (incl. Aspidiphroidae) – Dry-fungus beetles
  97. BRACHYPTERIDAE (= Cateretidae, Kateretidae)
  98. NITIDULIDAE (incl. Cybocephalidae) – Sap beetles
  99. SMICRIPIDAE
100. MONOTOMIDAE (incl. Rhizophagidae) – Root-eating beetles
101. [BOGANIIDAE]
102. [HELOTIDAE ]
103. [PHLOEOSTICHIDAE]
104. SILVANIDAE
105. PASSANDRIDAE (= Catogenidae)
106. CUCUJIDAE – Flat Bark beetles
107. LAEMOPHLOEIDAE
108. [PROPALTICIDAE]
109. PHALACRIDAE (incl. Phaenocephalidae) – Shining flower beetles
110. [HOBARTIIDAE]
111. [CAVOGNATHIDAE]
112. CRYPTOPHAGIDAE (incl. Catopochrotidae, Hypocopridae) – Silken fungus beetles
113. [LAMINGTONIDAE]
114. LANGURIIDAE (incl. Cryptophilidae) – Lizard beetles
115. EROTYLIDAE (incl. Dacnidae) – Pleasing fungus beetles
116. BYTURIDAE – Fruitworms
117. BIPHYLLIDAE (= Diphyllidae) – False skin beetles
118. BOTHRIDERIDAE (incl. Anommatidae)
119. CERYLONIDAE (= Cerylidae; incl. Aculagnathidae, Dolosidae, Euxestidae, Murmidiidae) 
120. [ALEXIIDAE] (= Sphaerosomatidae, Sphaerosomidae)
121. [DISCOLOMATIDAE] (= Discolomidae, Notiophygidae)
122. ENDOMYCHIDAE (incl. Merophysiidae, Mycetaeidae) – Handsome fungus beetles
123. COCCINELLIDAE (incl. Epilachnidae) – Ladybird beetles
124. CORYLOPHIDAE (= Orthoperidae) – Minute fungus beetles
125. LATRIDIIDAE – Minute brown scavenger beetles

Superfamily TENEBRIONOIDEA (= Heteromera)
126. MYCETOPHAGIDAE – Hairy fungus beetles
127. ARCHEOCRYPTICIDAE
128. [PTEROGENIIDAE]
129. CIIDAE (= Cisidae) - Minute tree-fungus beetles
130. TETRATOMIDAE
131. MELANDRYIDAE (= Serropalpidae) – False farkling beetles
132. MORDELLIDAE – Tumbling flower beetles
133. RHIPIPHORIDAE
134. COLYDIIDAE (incl. Adimeridae, Monoedidae) – Cylindrical bark beetles
135. MONOMMATIDAE (= Monommidae)
136. ZOPHERIDAE (incl. Merycidae, part) – Ironclad beetles
137. [ULODIDAE] (incl. Merycidae, part)
138. [PERIMYLOPIDAE]
139. [CHALCODRYIDAE]
140. [TRACHELOSTENIDAE]
141. TENEBRIONIDAE (incl. Alleculidae, Cossyphodidae, Lagriidae, Nilionidae, Petriidae, Physopaussidae, Tentyriidae) – Darkling beetles
142. PROSTOMIDAE
143. SYNCHROIDAE
144. OEDEMERIDAE – False blister beetles
145. STENOTRACHELIDAE (= Cephaloidae)
146. MELOIDAE (incl. Tetraonychidae) – Blister beetles
147. MYCTERIDAE (incl. Hemipeplidae)
148. BORIDAE
149. [TRICTENOTOMIDAE ]
150. PYTHIDAE
151. PYROCHROIDAE (incl. Conontidae, Pedilidae, Pilipalpidae) – Fire beetles
152. SALPINGIDAE (incl. Aegialitidae, Dacoderidae, Elacatidae, Eurystethidae, Inopeplidae, Othiniidae, Tretothoracidae) – Narrow-waisted bark beetles
153. ANTHICIDAE – Ant-like flower beetles
154. ADERIDAE (= Euglenidae, Euglenesidae, Hylophilidae, Xylophilidae) – Ant-like leaf beetles
155. SCRAPTIIDAE (incl. Anaspididae)

Superfamily CHRYSOMELOIDEA
156. CERAMBYCIDAE (incl. Anoplodermatidae, Disteniidae, Hypocephalidae, Oxypeltidae, Paradridae, Spondylidae, Vesperidae, etc.) – Longhorn beetles
157. MEGALOPODIDAE
158. ORSODACNIDAE
159. CHRYSOMELIDAE (incl. Bruchidae, Sagridae, etc.) – Leaf beetles

Superfamily CURCULIONOIDEA (= Rhynchophora)
160. NEMONYCHIDAE (= Rhinomaceridae)
161. ANTHRIBIDAE (= Platystomidae, Platostomatidae, Platyrhinidae; incl.Bruchelidae, Urodontidae)  – Fungus weevils
162. BELIDAE – Primitive weevils
163. OXYCORYNIDAE
164. ATTELABIDAE (incl. Apoderidae, Pterocolidae, Rhynchitidae) – Leaf Rolling weevils
165. ITHYCERIDAE
166. BRENTIDAE (= Brenthidae; incl. Apionidae, Cyladidae, Eurhynchidae) – Straight snouted weevils
167.  [CARIDAE]
168. *ITHYCERIDAE
169. CURCULIONIDAE (incl. Calendridae, Cossonidae, Platypodidae, Rhyncophoridae, Scolytidae, etc.) – Weevils or snout beetles