Dytiscidae

Family of beetles

Dytiscidae

Temporal range: Late Jurassic–Recent

PreꞒ

Cybister lateralimarginalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:  | Animalia
Phylum:  | Arthropoda
Class:  | Insecta
Order:  | Coleoptera
Suborder:  | Adephaga
Superfamily:  | Dytiscoidea
Family:  | Dytiscidae
Leach, 1815
Subfamilies

* Agabinae Thomson, 1867
* Colymbetinae Erichson, 1837
* Copelatinae Branden, 1885
* Coptotominae Branden, 1885
* Cybistrinae
* Dytiscinae Leach, 1815
* Hydrodytinae Miller, 2001
* Hydroporinae Aubé, 1836
* Laccophilinae Gistel, 1856
* Lancetinae Branden, 1885
* Matinae Branden, 1885
* † Liadytiscinae Prokin & Ren, 2010

"Water tiger" redirects here. For the mythical Chinese creature, see shuihu.

The Dytiscidae - based on the Greek dytikos (δυτικός), "able to dive" - are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur in virtually any freshwater habitat around the world, but a few species live among leaf litter.[1] The adults of most are between 1 and 2.5 cm (0.4–1.0 in) long, though much variation is seen between species. The European Dytiscus latissimus and Brazilian Megadytes ducalis are the largest, reaching up to 4.5 cm (1.8 in) and 4.75 cm (1.9 in) respectively.[1][2] In contrast, the smallest is likely the Australian Limbodessus atypicali of subterranean waters, which only is about 0.9 mm (0.035 in) long.[1] Most are dark brown, blackish, or dark olive in color with golden highlights in some subfamilies. The larvae are commonly known as water tigers due to their voracious appetite.[3] They have short, but sharp mandibles and immediately upon biting, they deliver digestive enzymes into prey to suck their liquefied remains. The family includes more than 4,000 described species in numerous genera.[4]

## Habitat[edit]

Diving beetles are the most diverse beetles in the aquatic environment and can be found in almost every kind of freshwater habitat, from small rock pools to big lakes. Some dytiscid species are also found in brackish water.[5] Diving beetles live in water bodies in various landscapes, including agricultural and urban landscapes.[6][7][8] Some species, such as Agabus uliginosus[6] and Acilius canaliculatus,[8] are found to be relatively tolerant to recent urbanization. One of the most important limiting factors for diving beetle occurrence is the presence of fish, which predate on the beetles (mostly on larvae), compete for food, and change the structure of the habitat.

## Larvae and development[edit]

Larva of the European diving beetle Dytiscus marginalis

When still in larval form, the beetles vary in size from about 1 to 5 cm (0.5 to 2.0 in). The larval bodies are shaped like crescents, with the tail long and covered with thin hairs. Six legs protrude from along the thorax, which also sports the same thin hairs. The head is flat and square, with a pair of long, large pincers. When hunting, they cling to grasses or pieces of wood along the bottom, and hold perfectly still until prey passes by, then they lunge, trapping their prey between their front legs and biting down with their pincers. The larvae are also known to partially consume prey and discard the carcass if another potential prey swims nearby. Their usual prey includes tadpoles and glassworms, among other smaller water-dwelling creatures. As the larvae mature, they crawl from the water on the sturdy legs, and bury themselves in the mud for pupation. After about a week, or longer in some species, they emerge from the mud as adults. Adult diving beetles have been found to oviposit their eggs within frog spawn in highly ephemeral habitats, with their eggs hatching within 24 hours after the frogs and the larvae voraciously predating on the recently hatched tadpoles.

## Edibility[edit]

Adult Dytiscidae, particularly of the genus Cybister, are edible. Remnants of C. explanatus were found in prehistoric human coprolites in a Nevada cave, likely sourced from the Humboldt Sink.[9] In Mexico, C. explanatus is eaten roasted and salted to accompany tacos. In Japan, C. japonicus has been used as food in certain regions such as Nagano prefecture. In the Guangdong Province of China, the latter species, as well as C. bengalensis, C. guerini, C. limbatus, C. sugillatus, C. tripunctatus, and probably also the well-known great diving beetle (D. marginalis) are bred for human consumption, though as they are cumbersome to raise due to their carnivorous habit and have a fairly bland (though apparently not offensive) taste and little meat, this is decreasing. Dytiscidae are reportedly also eaten in Taiwan, Thailand, and New Guinea.[10]

Dytiscidae sp.

## Diving beetle conservation[edit]

The greatest threat to diving beetles is the degradation and disappearance of their habitats due to anthropogenic activities.[1] For example, urbanisation has led to the decreasing quantity and quality of dytiscid habitats,[8] which consequentially has increased the distance between habitats.[11] Thus, dytiscids may be exposed to high predation risks during dispersal.

Dytiscid adults are eaten by many birds, mammals, reptiles, and other vertebrate predators, despite their arsenal of chemical defenses.[12] But by far the most important predator of diving beetles are fish, which limit the occurrence of most diving beetle species to fishless ponds, or to margins of aquatic habitats. Although the larvae of a few dytiscid species may become apex predators in small ponds, their presence is also often incompatible with fish. Therefore, the main focus of water beetle conservation is the protection of natural, fish-less habitats. In the European Union, two species of diving beetles are protected by the Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, and thus serve as umbrella species for the protection of natural aquatic habitats: Dytiscus latissimus and Graphoderus bilineatus.

## Cultural significance[edit]

The diving beetle plays a role in a Cherokee creation story. According to the narrative, upon finding nowhere to rest in the "liquid chaos" the beetle brought up soft mud from the bottom. This mud then spread out to form all of the land on Earth.[9]

## Ethnobiology[edit]

Adult Dytiscidae, as well as Gyrinidae, are collected by young girls in East Africa. It is believed that inducing the beetles to bite the nipples will stimulate breast growth.[9] The effect of that habit has not been tested, but it is notable that the defense glands of diving beetles contain many types of bioactive steroids.[12]

## Parasites[edit]

Dytiscidae are parasitised by various mites. Those in genera Dytiscacarus and Eylais live beneath the elytra of their hosts,[13][14] those in genus Acherontacarus attach to the mesosternal regions[15] and those in genus Hydrachna attach to various locations.[16] These mites are parasitic as larvae with the exception of Dytiscacarus, which are parasitic for their entire life cycle.[13]

## Systematics[edit]

The following taxonomic sequence gives the subfamilies, their associated genera.[17][18][19][20]

Subfamily Agabinae Thomson, 1867

* Agabinus Crotch, 1873
* Agabus Leach, 1817
* Agametrus Sharp, 1882
* Andonectes Guéorguiev, 1971
* Hydronebrius Jakovlev, 1897
* Hydrotrupes Sharp, 1882
* Ilybiosoma Crotch, 1873
* Ilybius Erichson, 1832
* Leuronectes Sharp, 1882
* Platambus Thomson, 1859
* † Platynectes Régimbart, 1879

Subfamily Colymbetinae Erichson, 1837

* Anisomeria Brinck, 1943
* Senilites Brinck, 1948
* Carabdytes Balke, Hendrich & Wewalka, 1992
* Bunites Spangler, 1972
* Colymbetes Clairville, 1806
* Hoperius Fall, 1927
* Meladema Laporte, 1835
* Melanodytes Seidlitz, 1887
* Neoscutopterus J.Balfour-Browne, 1943
* Rhantus Dejean, 1833
* Rugosus García, 2001

Subfamily Copelatinae Branden, 1885

* Agaporomorphus Zimmermann, 1921
* Aglymbus Sharp, 1880
* Copelatus Erichson, 1832
* Exocelina Broun, 1886
* Lacconectus Motschulsky, 1855
* Liopterus Dejean, 1833
* Madaglymbus Shaverdo & Balke, 2008
* Rugosus García, 2001

Subfamily Coptotominae Branden, 1885

* Coptotomus Say, 1830

Subfamily Cybistrinae

* Austrodytes Watts, 1978
* Cybister Curtis, 1827
* Megadytes Sharp, 1882
* Onychohydrus Schaum & White, 1847
* Regimbartina Chatanay, 1911
* Spencerhydrus Sharp, 1882
* Sternhydrus Brinck, 1945

Subfamily Dytiscinae Leach, 1815

* Acilius Leach, 1817
* Aethionectes Sharp, 1882
* Austrodytes Watts, 1978
* Dytiscus Linnaeus, 1758
* Eretes Laporte, 1833
* Graphoderus Dejean, 1833
* Hydaticus Leach, 1817
* Hyderodes Hope, 1838
* Megadytes Sharp, 1882
* Miodytiscus Wickham, 1911
* Notaticus Zimmermann, 1928
* Onychohydrus Schaum & White, 1847
* Regimbartina Chatanay, 1911
* Rhantaticus Sharp, 1880
* Sandracottus Sharp, 1882
* Spencerhydrus Sharp, 1882
* Sternhydrus Brinck, 1945
* Thermonectus Dejean, 1833
* Tikoloshanes Omer-Cooper, 1956
* †Ambarticus Yang et al. 2019 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)

Subfamily Hydrodytinae K.B.Miller, 2001

* Hydrodytes K.B.Miller, 2001
* Microhydrodytes K.B.Miller, 2002

Subfamily Hydroporinae Aubé, 1836

* Africodytes Biström, 1988
* Agnoshydrus Biström, Nilsson & Wewalka, 1997
* Allodessus Guignot, 1953
* Allopachria Zimmermann, 1924
* Amarodytes Régimbart, 1900
* Amurodytes Fery & Petrov, 2013
* Andex Sharp, 1882
* Anginopachria Wewalka, Balke & Hendrich, 2001
* Anodocheilus Babington, 1841
* Antiporus Sharp, 1882
* Barretthydrus Lea, 1927
* Bidessodes Régimbart, 1895
* Bidessonotus Régimbart, 1895
* Bidessus Sharp, 1882
* Boreonectes Angus, 2010
* Borneodessus Balke, Hendrich, Mazzoldi & Biström, 2002
* Brachyvatus Zimmermann, 1919
* Brancuporus Hendrich, Toussaint & Balke, 2014
* Canthyporus Zimmermann, 1919
* Carabhydrus Watts, 1978
* Celina Aubé, 1837
* Chostonectes Sharp, 1880
* Clypeodytes Régimbart, 1894
* Coelhydrus Sharp, 1882
* Comaldessus Spangler & Barr, 1995
* Crinodessus K.B. Miller, 1997
* Darwinhydrus Sharp, 1882
* Deronectes Sharp, 1882
* Derovatellus Sharp, 1882
* Desmopachria Babington, 1841
* Dimitshydrus Uéno, 1996
* Ereboporus K.B. Miller, Gibson & Alarie, 2009
* Etruscodytes Mazza, Cianferoni & Rocchi, 2013
* Fontidessus K.B. Miller & Spangler, 2008
* Geodessus Brancucci, 1979
* Gibbidessus Watts, 1978
* Glareadessus Wewalka & Biström, 1998
* Graptodytes Seidlitz, 1887
* Haideoporus Young & Longley, 1976
* Hemibidessus Zimmermann, 1921
* Heroceras Guignot, 1949
* Herophydrus Sharp, 1880
* Heterhydrus Fairmaire, 1869
* Heterosternuta Strand, 1935
* Hovahydrus Biström, 1982
* Huxelhydrus Sharp, 1882
* Hydrocolus Roughley & Larson in Larson, Alarie & Roughley, 2000
* Hydrodessus J. Balfour-Browne, 1953
* Hydroglyphus Motschulsky, 1853
* Hydropeplus Sharp, 1882
* Hydroporus Clairville, 1806
* Hydrovatus Motschulsky, 1853
* Hygrotus Stephens, 1828
* Hyphoporus Sharp, 1880
* Hyphovatus Wewalka & Biström, 1994
* Hyphydrus Illiger, 1802
* Hypodessus Guignot, 1939
* Iberoporus Castro & Delgado, 2001
* Incomptodessus K.B. Miller & García, 2011
* Kakadudessus Hendrich & Balke, 2009
* Laccornellus Roughley & Wolfe, 1987
* Laccornis Gozis, 1914
* Leiodytes Guignot, 1936
* Limbodessus Guignot, 1939
* Liodessus Guignot, 1939
* Lioporeus Guignot, 1950
* Megaporus Brinck, 1943
* Metaporus Guignot, 1945
* Methles Sharp, 1882
* Microdessus Young, 1967
* Microdytes J. Balfour-Browne, 1946
* Morimotoa Uéno, 1957
* Nebrioporus Régimbart, 1906
* Necterosoma W.J. Macleay, 1871
* Neobidessodes Hendrich & Balke, 2009
* Neobidessus Young, 1967
* Neoclypeodytes Young, 1967
* Neoporus Guignot, 1931
* Oreodytes Seidlitz, 1887
* Pachydrus Sharp, 1882
* Pachynectes Régimbart, 1903
* Papuadessus Balke, 2001
* Paroster Sharp, 1882
* Peschetius Guignot, 1942
* Petrodessus K.B. Miller, 2012
* Phreatodessus Ordish, 1976
* Platydytes Biström, 1988
* Porhydrus Guignot, 1945
* Primospes Sharp, 1882
* Pseuduvarus Biström, 1988
* Psychopomporus Jean, Telles & K.B. Miller, 2012
* Pteroporus Guignot, 1933
* Queda Sharp, 1882
* Rhithrodytes Bameul, 1989
* Sanfilippodytes Franciscolo, 1979
* Scarodytes Gozis, 1914
* Schistomerus Palmer, 1957
* Sekaliporus Watts, 1997
* Sharphydrus Omer-Cooper, 1958
* Siamoporus Spangler, 1996
* Siettitia Abeille de Perrin, 1904
* Sinodytes Spangler, 1996
* Spanglerodessus K.B. Miller & García, 2011
* Sternopriscus Sharp, 1880
* Stictonectes Brinck, 1943
* Stictotarsus Zimmermann, 1919
* Stygoporus Larson & LaBonte, 1994
* Suphrodytes Gozis, 1914
* Tepuidessus Spangler, 1981
* Terradessus Watts, 1982
* Tiporus Watts, 1985
* Trichonectes Guignot, 1941
* Trogloguignotus Sanfilippo, 1958
* Tyndallhydrus Sharp, 1882
* Typhlodessus Brancucci, 1985
* Uvarus Guignot, 1939
* Vatellus Aubé, 1837
* Yola Gozis, 1886
* Yolina Guignot, 1936
* † Calicovatellus K.B. Miller & Lubkin, 2001
* † Kuschelydrus Ordish, 1976
* † Procoelambus Théobald, 1937

Subfamily Laccophilinae Gistel, 1856

* Africophilus Guignot, 1948
* Agabetes Crotch, 1873
* Australphilus Watts, 1978
* Japanolaccophilus Satô, 1972
* Laccodytes Régimbart, 1895
* Laccophilus Leach, 1815
* Laccoporus J. Balfour-Browne, 1939
* Laccosternus Brancucci, 1983
* Napodytes Steiner, 1981
* Neptosternus Sharp, 1882
* Philaccolilus Guignot, 1937
* Philaccolus Guignot, 1937
* Philodytes J. Balfour-Browne, 1939

Subfamily Lancetinae Branden, 1885

* Lancetes Sharp, 1882

Subfamily Matinae Branden, 1885

* Allomatus Mouchamps, 1964
* Batrachomatus Clark, 1863
* Matus Aubé, 1836

Subfamily †Liadytiscinae Prokin & Ren, 2010

* † Liadroporus Prokin & Ren, 2010 Yixian Formation, China, Early Cretaceous (Aptian)
* † Liadytiscus Prokin & Ren, 2010 Yixian Formation, China, Aptian
* † Mesoderus Prokin & Ren, 2010 Yixian Formation, China, Aptian
* † Liadyxianus Prokin, Petrov, B. Wang & Ponomarenko, 2013 Yixian Formation, China, Aptian
* † Mesodytes Prokin, Petrov, Wang & Ponomarenko, 2013 Yixian Formation, China, Aptian

Subfamily Incertae sedis

* † Cretodytes Ponomarenko, 1977 Doronino Formation, Russia, Early Cretaceous (Barremian), Kzyl-Zhar, Kazakhstan, Late Cretaceous (Turonian)
* † Palaeodytes Ponomarenko, 1987 Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan, Late Jurassic (Oxfordian), Durlston Formation, United Kingdom, Early Cretaceous (Berriasian), Zaza Formation, Russia, Aptian
* † Sinoporus Prokin & Ren, 2010 Yixian Formation, China, Aptian

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d G.N. Foster; D.T. Bilton (2014). "The Conservation of Predaceous Diving Beetles: Knowns, Unknowns and Anecdotes". In D.A. Yee (ed.). Ecology, Systematics, and the Natural History of Predaceous Diving Beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae). pp. 437–462. ISBN 978-94-017-9109-0.
2. ^ "Dytiscidae - Hurdan, the answer engine". Archived from the original on 2015-05-21. Retrieved 2015-05-19.
3. ^ G.C. McGavin (2010). Insects. pp. 86–87. ISBN 978-1-4053-4997-0.
4. ^ Nilsson, A.N. (2013). "A World Catalogue of the Family Dytiscidae, or the Diving Beetles (Coleoptera, Adephaga)" (PDF). University of Umeå. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
5. ^ Yee, D.A. (2014). "An Introduction to the Dytiscidae: Their Diversity, Historical Importance, Cultural Significance, and Other Musings". Ecology, Systematics, and the Natural History of Predaceous Diving Beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae): 1–16. doi:10.1007/978-94-017-9109-0_1. ISBN 978-94-017-9108-3.
6. ^ a b Lundkvist, E.; Landin, J.; Karlsson, F. (2002). "Dispersing diving beetles (Dytiscidae) in agricultural and urban landscapes in south-eastern Sweden". Annales Zoologici Fennici.
7. ^ Law, A.; Baker, A.; Sayer, C.; Foster, G.; Gunn, I.D.; Taylor, P.; Blaikie, James; Willby, N.J. (2019). "The effectiveness of aquatic plants as surrogates for wider biodiversity in standing fresh waters" (PDF). Freshwater Biology. 64 (9): 1664–1675. doi:10.1111/fwb.13369. hdl:1893/30068. S2CID 202032378.
8. ^ a b c Liao, W.; Venn, S.; Niemelä, J. (2020). "Environmental determinants of diving beetle assemblages (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) in an urban landscape". Biodiversity and Conservation. 29 (7): 2343–2359. doi:10.1007/s10531-020-01977-9.
9. ^ a b c Miller, Kelly; Bergsten, Johannes (3 October 2016). Diving Beetles of the World: Systematics and Biology of the Dytiscidae. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 20.
10. ^ De Foliart (2002), Jäch (2003), CSIRO (2004)
11. ^ Liao, W.; Venn, S.; Niemelä, J. (2022). "Diving beetle (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) community dissimilarity reveals how low landscape connectivity restricts the ecological value of urban ponds". Landscape Ecology. 37 (4): 1049–1058. doi:10.1007/s10980-022-01413-z.
12. ^ a b Konrad Dettner (2014). "Chemical Ecology and Biochemistry of Dytiscidae". In D.A. Yee (ed.). Ecology, Systematics, and the Natural History of Predaceous Diving Beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae). pp. 235–306. ISBN 978-94-017-9109-0.
13. ^ a b Mortazavi, Abdolazim; Hajiqanbar, Hamidreza; Lindquist, Evert E (2018-10-20). "A new family of mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Raphignathina), highly specialized subelytral parasites of dytiscid water beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Dytiscinae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 184 (3): 695–749. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx113. ISSN 0024-4082.
14. ^ Aiken, R. B. (1985-02-01). "Attachment sites, phenology, and growth of larvae of Eylais sp. (Acari) on Dytiscus alaskanus J. Balfour-Browne (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)". Canadian Journal of Zoology. 63 (2): 267–271. doi:10.1139/z85-041. ISSN 0008-4301.
15. ^ Aykut, Medeni; Esen, Yunus; Taşar, Gani Erhan (2016-07-03). "New host-parasite association of Acherontacarus rutilans (Acari, Hydrachnidia, Acherontacaridae) on Scarodytes halensis (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)". International Journal of Acarology. 42 (5): 242–246. doi:10.1080/01647954.2016.1174304. ISSN 0164-7954. S2CID 88103217.
16. ^ Arjomandi, Elham; Zawal, Andrzej; Hajiqanbar, Hamidreza; Filip, Ewa; Szenejko, Magdalena (2019-07-22). "New record of a parasitising species of Hydrachna (Acari, Hydrachnidia) on water beetles Eretes griseus (Fabricius, 1781) (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Dytiscinae, Eretini)". ZooKeys (865): 31–38. doi:10.3897/zookeys.865.34532. ISSN 1313-2970. PMC 6663934. PMID 31379442.
17. ^ "Dytiscidae". GBIF. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
18. ^ Nilsson, A.N. A World Catalogue of the Family Dytiscidae, or the Diving Beetles (Coleoptera, Adephaga) (PDF) (Report). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-07-26. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
19. ^ Bouchard, Patrice; Bousquet, Yves; Davies, Anthony E.; Alonso-Zarazaga, Miguel A.; et al. (2011). "Family-group names in Coleoptera (Insecta)". ZooKeys (88): 1–972. doi:10.3897/zookeys.88.807. ISSN 1313-2989. PMC 3088472. PMID 21594053.
20. ^ "Dytiscidae Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2019-06-17.

* Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) (2004): Water for a Healthy Country - Family Dytiscidae. Version of 2004-JUL-02. Retrieved 2008-AUG-04
* De Foliart, Gene R. (2002): Chapter 26 - Eastern Asia: China, Japan, and other countries. In: The Human Use of Insects as a Food Resource: A Bibliographic Account in Progress.
* Jäch, Manfred A. (2003): Fried water beetles Cantonese style. American Entomologist 49(1): 34-37. PDF fulltext
* Larson, D.J., Alarie, Y., and Roughley, R.E. (2000): Predaceous Diving Beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) of the Nearctic Region, with emphasis on the fauna of Canada and Alaska. NRC Research Press, Ottawa. ISBN 978-0-660-17967-4.

## External links[edit]

* Media related to Dytiscidae at Wikimedia Commons
* Data related to Dytiscidae at Wikispecies

* v
* t
* e

Extant Coleoptera families

* Kingdom: Animalia
* Phylum: Arthropoda
* Class: Insecta
* Subclass: Pterygota
* Infraclass: Neoptera
* Superorder: Endopterygota

Suborder Archostemata

* Crowsoniellidae (Crowsoniella relicta)
* Cupedidae (reticulated beetles)
* Jurodidae (Sikhotealinia zhiltzovae)
* Micromalthidae (telephone-pole beetle)
* Ommatidae

Suborder Adephaga

| Extant families|

* Amphizoidae (trout-stream beetles)
* Aspidytidae
* Carabidae (ground beetles)
* Cicindelidae (tiger beetles)
* Dytiscidae (predaceous diving beetles)
* Gyrinidae (whirligig beetles)
* Haliplidae (crawling water beetles)
* Hygrobiidae
* Meruidae (Meru phyllisae)
* Noteridae (burrowing water beetles)
* Trachypachidae (false ground beetles)

|

Suborder Myxophaga

* Hydroscaphidae (skiff beetles)
* Lepiceridae
* Sphaeriusidae
* Torridincolidae

Suborder Polyphaga

| Bostrichiformia|

| Bostrichoidea|

* Bostrichidae (auger beetles)
* Dermestidae (skin beetles)
* Jacobsoniidae (Jacobson's beetles)
* Nosodendridae (wounded-tree beetles)
* Ptiniidae (furniture beetles, death watch beetles, spider beetles)

|

Derodontoidea|

* Derodontidae (tooth-necked fungus beetles)

Cucujiformia|

| Chrysomeloidea|

* Cerambycidae (longhorn beetles)
* Chrysomelidae (leaf beetles)
* Disteniidae
* Megalopodidae
* Orsodacnidae
* Oxypeltidae
* Vesperidae

|

Cleroidea|

* Acanthocnemidae (Acanthocnemus nigricans)
* Chaetosomatidae
* Cleridae (checkered beetles)
* Mauroniscidae
* Melyridae (soft-wing flower beetles)
* Metaxinidae
* Phloiophilidae (Phloiophilus edwardsi)
* Phycosecidae
* Prionoceridae
* Thanerocleridae
* Trogossitidae (bark-gnawing beetles)

Cucujoidea|

* Alexiidae
* Biphyllidae (false skin beetles)
* Boganiidae
* Bothrideridae (dry bark beetles)
* Byturidae (fruitworm beetles)
* Cavognathidae
* Cerylonidae (minute bark beetles)
* Coccinellidae (lady beetles, or God's cows)
* Corylophidae (minute fungus beetles)
* Cryptophagidae (silken fungus beetles)
* Cucujidae (flat bark beetles)
* Cyclaxyridae
* Discolomatidae
* Endomychidae (handsome fungus beetles)
* Erotylidae (pleasing fungus beetles)
* Helotidae
* Hobartiidae
* Kateretidae (short-winged flower beetles)
* Laemophloeidae (lined flat bark beetles)
* Lamingtoniidae (Lamingtonium binnaberrense)
* Latridiidae (minute brown scavenger beetles)
* Monotomidae (root-eating beetles)
* Myraboliidae
* Nitidulidae (sap beetles)
* Passandridae (parasitic flat bark beetles)
* Phalacridae (shining flower beetles)
* Phloeostichidae
* Propalticidae
* Protocucujidae
* Silvanidae (silvanid flat bark beetles)
* Smicripidae (palmetto beetles)
* Sphindidae (dry-fungus beetles)

Curculionoidea
(weevils)|

* Anthribidae (fungus weevils)
* Attelabidae (leaf-rolling weevils)
* Belidae (primitive weevils)
* Brentidae (straight snout weevils, New York weevil)
* Caridae
* Curculionidae (true weevils, bark beetles, ambrosia beetles)
* Nemonychidae (pine flower weevils)

Lymexyloidea|

* Lymexylidae (ship-timber beetles)

Tenebrionoidea|

* Aderidae (ant-like leaf beetles)
* Anthicidae (ant-like flower beetles)
* Archeocrypticidae (cryptic fungus beetles)
* Boridae (conifer bark beetles)
* Chalcodryidae
* Ciidae (minute tree-fungus beetles)
* Melandryidae (false darkling beetles)
* Meloidae (blister beetles)
* Mordellidae (tumbling flower beetles)
* Mycetophagidae (hairy fungus beetles)
* Mycteridae (palm and flower beetles)
* Oedemeridae (false blister beetle)
* Perimylopidae, or Promecheilidae
* Prostomidae (jugular-horned beetles)
* Pterogeniidae
* Pyrochroidae (fire-coloured beetles)
* Pythidae (dead log bark beetles)
* Ripiphoridae (wedge-shaped beetles)
* Salpingidae (narrow-waisted bark beetles)
* Scraptiidae (false flower beetles)
* Stenotrachelidae (false longhorn beetles)
* Synchroidae (synchroa bark beetles)
* Tenebrionidae (darkling beetles)
* Tetratomidae (polypore fungus beetles)
* Trachelostenidae
* Trictenotomidae
* Ulodidae
* Zopheridae (ironclad beetles, cylindrical bark beetles)

Elateriformia|

| Buprestoidea|

* Buprestidae (jewel beetles, or metallic wood-boring beetles)
* Schizopodidae

|

Byrrhoidea|

* Byrrhidae (pill beetles)
* Callirhipidae (cedar beetles)
* Chelonariidae (turtle beetles)
* Cneoglossidae
* Dryopidae (long-toed water beetles)
* Elmidae (riffle beetles)
* Eulichadidae (forest stream beetles)
* Heteroceridae (variegated mud-loving beetles)
* Limnichidae (minute mud beetles)
* Lutrochidae (travertine beetles)
* Psephenidae (water-penny beetles)
* Ptilodactylidae

Dascilloidea|

* Dascillidae (soft bodied plant beetles)
* Rhipiceridae (cicada beetle, cicada parasite beetles)

Elateroidea|

* Artematopodidae (soft-bodied plant beetles)
* Brachypsectridae (Texas beetles)
* Cantharidae (soldier beetles)
* Cerophytidae (rare click beetles)
* Elateridae (click beetles)
* Eucnemidae (false click beetles)
* Jurasaidae
* Lampyridae (fireflies)
* Lycidae (net-winged beetles)
* Omethidae (false fireflies, long-lipped beetles)
* Phengodidae (glowworm beetles)
* Rhagophthalmidae
* Sinopyrophoridae
* Throscidae (false metallic wood-boring beetles)

Rhinorhipoidea|

* Rhinorhipidae (Rhinorhipus tamborinensis)

Scirtoidea|

* Clambidae
* Decliniidae (Declinia relicta)
* Eucinetidae (plate-thigh beetles)
* Scirtidae

Scarabaeiformia|

| Scarabaeoidea|

* Belohinidae (Belohina inexpectata)
* Bolboceratidae
* Diphyllostomatidae (false stag beetles)
* Geotrupidae (dor beetles)
* Glaphyridae (bumble bee scarab beetles)
* Glaresidae (enigmatic scarab beetles)
* Hybosoridae (scavenger scarab beetles)
* Lucanidae (stag beetles)
* Ochodaeidae (sand-loving scarab beetles)
* Passalidae (betsy beetles)
* Pleocomidae (rain beetles)
* Scarabaeidae (scarabs)
* Trogidae (hide beetles)

|

Staphyliniformia|

| Histeroidea|

* Histeridae (clown beetles)
* Sphaeritidae (false clown beetles)
* Synteliidae

|

Hydrophiloidea|

* Epimetopidae
* Georissidae (minute mud-loving beetles)
* Helophoridae
* Hydrochidae
* Hydrophilidae (water scavenger beetles)
* Spercheidae

Staphylinoidea|

* Agyrtidae (primitive carrion beetles)
* Hydraenidae
* Leiodidae (round fungus beetles)
* Ptiliidae (feather-winged beetles)
* Silphidae (carrion beetles)
* Staphylinidae (rove beetles)

List of subgroups of the order Coleoptera

Taxon identifiers|

* Wikidata: Q327149
* Wikispecies: Dytiscidae
* ADW: Dytiscidae
* AFD: Dytiscidae
* BioLib: 4591
* BOLD: 1168
* BugGuide: 195
* CoL: 9JJ
* EoL: 7447
* EPPO: 1DTSCF
* Fauna Europaea: 11011
* Fauna Europaea (new): ab35662b-0ff1-4f78-be34-7d0077e9baf7
* Fossilworks: 346388
* GBIF: 7824
* iNaturalist: 57659
* IRMNG: 100157
* ITIS: 111963
* NBN: NHMSYS0001718020
* NCBI: 50515
* NZOR: e3c6e4f5-658e-44cc-a9e3-e647b2d4bedb
* Plazi: 921787F1-F106-994C-B3F2-FBD9FDB4BDF4
* WoRMS: 150718

|

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template