Pontotoc Beetle Survey with Annotations

Coleoptera Collected at the Nature Conservancy's
Pontotoc Ridge Preserve
Pontotoc and Johnson Counties, Oklahoma

Return to Oklahoma Entomology - Compiled by Mike Quinn


The Nature Conservancy's Pontotoc Ridge Preserve is a premier crosstimbers property comprising 2,900-acres in south-central Oklahoma.
This untilled landscape holds bottomland forests, oak savannas, mixed-grass and tallgrass prairies, springs and cool running streams.
Collecting permited by Jona Tucker, Arbuckle Plains and Blue River Project Manager, Stonewall, OK

This page of beetle thumbnail photographs is the product of annual surveys starting on May 11, 2013.
Primary survey methods were beating and sweeping vegetation as well as blacklighting. A few species collected from rotting logs.
One hundred and fifty beetle species are represented in 35 families. Click on or "mouse over" thumbnails for determinations.

For more Oklahoma beetle photos, see Oklahoma Beetle Biota

Carabidae - Hydrophiloidea - Scarabaeoidea - Buprestiodea - Elateroidea - Bostrichoidea - Cleroidae - Cucujoidea - Tenebrionoidea - Chrysomeloidea - Curculionoidea

Carabidae - Ground Beetles

Calosoma wilcoxi LeConte - Calosoma wilcoxi=Calosoma wilcoxi LeConte - Calosoma wilcoxi=Calosoma wilcoxi LeConte - Calosoma wilcoxi Notiobia terminata (Say) - Notiobia terminata Brachinus Lebia viridis Say - Lebia viridis Lebia lobulata LeConte - Lebia lobulata Agonum punctiforme (Say) - Agonum punctiforme
Carabids are a large family of important predatory beetles.

Dytiscidae - Predaceous Diving Beetle

Heterosternuta diversicornis (Sharp) - Heterosternuta diversicornis - Dytiscids are a large family of predaceous aquatic beetles.

HYDROPHILOIDEA

Hydrophilidae - Water Scavenger Beetles

Tropisternus collaris (Fabricius) - Tropisternus collaris Enochrus Berosus - Hydrophilids are a large family of scavenging aquatic beetles.

Histeridae - Clown Beetles

Epierus=Epierus Hister=Hister - Found in rotting wood where they are preditors on small interebrates

Silphidae - Carrion Beetles

Oiceoptoma inaequalis (Fabricius) - Oiceoptoma inaequale=Oiceoptoma inaequalis (Fabricius) - Oiceoptoma inaequale - Silphids are scavengers and carrion feeders.

Staphylinidae - Rove Beetles

Scaphisomatine Bryoporus rufescens LeConte - Bryoporus rufescens Osorius Megalopinus caelatus (Gravenhorst) - Megalopinus caelatus
Staphs comprose a very larve and diverse family. Most adults and larvae are predatory on other invertebrates. Some larvae feed on decaying vegetation.

SCARABAEOIDEA

Passalidae - Bess Beetles

Odontotaenius disjunctus (Illiger) - Odontotaenius disjunctus=Odontotaenius disjunctus (Illiger) - Odontotaenius disjunctus==Odontotaenius disjunctus (Illiger) - Odontotaenius disjunctus
Found in rotting wood where they are important contributors to decomposition. Note that the larvae only have two pairs of thoracic legs.

Trogidae - Hide Beetles

Trox=Trox - Hide beetles are among the last scavengers to visit dry animal remains. They feed on skin, bone, hair, and feathers.

Scarabaeidae - Scarab Beetles

Dichelonyx=Dichelonyx Anomala innuba (Fabricius) - Anomala innuba Serica Phyllophaga micans (Knoch) - Phyllophaga micans Diplotaxis Serica Euphoria fulgida (Fabricius) - Euphoria fulgida Phileurus valgus (Linnaeus) - Phileurus valgus Euetheola humilis (Burmeister) - Euetheola humilis
Scarab larvae are c-shaped white grubs that feed on roots and decomposing material.

BUPRESTOIDEA

Buprestidae - Metallic Wood-boring Beetles

Acmaeodera neglecta Fall - Acmaeodera neglecta Acmaeodera tubulus (Fabricius) - Acmaeodera tubulus Acmaeodera mixta LeConte - Acmaeodera mixta Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) cyanella Gory - Anthaxia cyanella Taphrocerus Taphrocerus Pachyschelus
Agrilus bilineatus (Weber) - Agrilus bilineatus=Agrilus bilineatus (Weber) - Agrilus bilineatus Agrilus lecontei celticola Fisher - Agrilus lecontei Agrilus (cephalicus?) - Agrilus Agrilus paracelti Knull - Agrilus paracelti Agrilus egenus Gory - Agrilus egenus Agrilus limpiae Knull - Agrilus limpiae
A few species of 'bups' are important pests such as the Emerald Ash Borer, but most species are beneficial pollinators and decomposers.

ELATEROIDEA

Elateridae - Click Beetles

Limonius auripilis (Say) - Limonius auripilis Limonius basillaris (Say) - Limonius basilaris Hadromorphus n. sp. (nr. inflatus) - Hadromorphus Aeolus scutellatus (Schaeffer) - Aeolus scutellatus Melanotus communis-complex=Melanotus communis-complex Glyphonyx nanus Smith and Balsbaugh - Glyphonyx nanus Limonius griseus (Beauvois) - Limonius griseus Conoderus lividus (De Geer) - Conoderus lividus
Elaterid larvae are known as 'wireworms'. They are found in soil and rotting wood. Some species, such as corn wireworms, are important pests.

Lampyridae - Fireflies

Pleotomus pallens LeConte - Pleotomus pallens

Lycidae - Net-winged Beetles

Calopteron reticulatum (Fabricius) - Calopteron reticulatum Plateros - Net-winged beetle larvae feed on fungi, adults feed on nectar and honeydew. Both larvae and adults are distasteful and often employ warning coloration.

Cantharidae - Soldier Beetles

Malthinus occipitalis LeConte - Malthinus occipitalis Malthinus occipitalis atripennis LeConte - Malthinus occipitalis Podabrus brunnicollis poricollis LeConte - Podabrus brunnicollis Rhagonycha lineola (Fabricius) - Rhagonycha lineola Podabrus flavicollis LeConte - Podabrus flavicollis Ditemnus=Ditemnus
Adult cantharids are common predacious beetles found on flowers where they also feed on pollen and are important pollinators.

BOSTRICHOIDEA

Dermestidae - Skin Beetles

Dermestes caninus Germar - Dermestes caninus Cryptorhopalum triste-group - Cryptorhopalum triste - This latter species was one of the most common beetles on prairie flowers.
Although dermestids can be important household (and museum) pests, in the wild, they serve as pollinators and decomposers.

Bostrichidae - Horned Powder-post Beetles

Amphicerus bicaudatus (Say) - Amphicerus bicaudatus Xylobiops basilaris (Say) - Xylobiops basilaris Lyctus opaculus LeConte - Lyctus opaculus - Bostrichids attack either living or dead wood.- The latter species is wide-ranging in the eastern US, but has rarely been photograhed.

CLEROIDEA

Cleridae - Checkered Beetles

Phyllobaenus humeralis (Say) - Phyllobaenus humeralis Isohydnocera curtipennis (Newman) - Isohydnocera curtipennis Wolcottia pedalis (LeConte) - Wolcottia pedalis Pelonides quadripunctata (Say) - Pelonides quadripunctata Cymatodera inornata (Say) - Cymatodera inornata - Clerids are predators (note the large eyes) and also important pollinators.

Melyridae - Soft-winged Flower Beetles

Melyrodes basalis (LeConte) - Melyrodes basalis Listrus Trichochrous
Collops quadrimaculatus (Fabricius) - Collops quadrimaculatus Attalus circumscriptus (Say) - Attalus circumscriptus Attalus Attalus rufiventris Horn - Attalus rufiventris Hypebaeus bicolor (LeConte) - Hypebaeus bicolor=Hypebaeus bicolor (LeConte) - Hypebaeus bicolor - male - This family of colorful small beetles are important pollinators.

Trogossitidae - Bark-gnawing Beetles

Tenebroides - These flattened beetles are mostly found under loose bark where they prey on other insects.

CUCUJOIDEA

Nitidulidae - Sap-feeding Beetles

Carpophilus - While some nitidulids are stored product pests, most spp. are saprophagus or mycetophagus feeders among other roles in the environment.

Laemophloeidae - Lined Flat Bark Beetles

Lathropus vernalis Casey - Lathropus vernalis - This minute wide-ranging eastern US species has rarely been photograhed. (Only other photo on BugGuide is of a specimen from Wisconsin.)

Phalacridae - Shining Flower Beetles

Stilbus

Cryptophagidae - Silken Fungus Beetles

Cryptophagus - These fungal feeders are often found in rotting wood and in leaf litter, but can also be beaten from trees and swept from flowers.

Erotylidae - Pleasing Fungus Beetles

Languria bicolor (Fabricius) - Languria bicolor Triplax puncticeps Casey - Triplax puncticeps - Erotylid larvae and adults feed on the fruiting bodies of fungi growing in decaying wood

Bothrideridae - Dry Bark Beetles

Prolyctus exaratus (Melsheimer) - Prolyctus exaratus - rarely encountered species

Coccinellidae - Lady Beetles

Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) - Harmonia axyridis Cycloneda munda (Say) - Cycloneda munda Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville - Hippodamia convergens Cycloneda munda (Say) - Cycloneda munda Brachiacantha quadrillum LeConte - Brachiacantha quadrillum=Brachiacantha quadrillum LeConte - Brachiacantha quadrillum
Immature ladybug larvae resemble tiny alligators. The Harmonia Lady Beetle can be a pest as they attempt to hibernate in people's homes in the fall.

TENEBRIONOIDEA

Melandryidae - False Darkling Beetles

Symphora flavicollis (Haldeman) - Symphora flavicollis Osphya varians (LeConte) - Osphya varians - Some members of this family resemble cantharids.

Mordellidae - Tumbling Flower Beetles

Mordellistena cervicalis LeConte - Mordellistena cervicalis Mordella marginata Melsheimer - Mordella marginata Mordella atrata Melsheimer - Mordella atrata Mordellistena trifasciata (Say) - Mordellistena trifasciata - Mordellids are common on flowers and are important pollinators.

Tenebrionidae - Darkling Beetles

Tenebrionidae=Tenebrionidae=Tenebrionidae Isomira sericea (Say) - Isomira sericea=Isomira sericea (Say) - Isomira sericea Isomira Statira erina Parsons - Statira erina Uloma imberbis LeConte - Uloma imberbis
Larvae of many 'tenebs' are known as 'false wireworms' for their similarity to elaterid larvae.
While most 'tenebs' are black ground-dwelling western beetles, this pale eastern species is common on flowers.

Meloidae - Blister Beetles

Epicauta (Sericans Group) ? - Epicauta=Epicauta (Sericans Group) ? - Epicauta Pyrota invita Horn - Pyrota invita

Scraptiidae - False Flower Beetles

Canifa - Adult scraptiids are associated with flowers.

CHRYSOMELOIDEA

Cerambycidae - Long-horned Beetles

Euderces reichei LeConte - Euderces reichei Euderces pini Olivier - Euderces pini Rhopalophora longipes (Say) - Rhopalophora longipes Stenocorus cinnamopterus (Randall) - Stenocorus cinnamopterus=Stenocorus cinnamopterus (Randall) - Stenocorus cinnamopterus Dorcaschema alternatum (Say) - Dorcaschema alternatum Batyle ignicollis (Say) - Batyle ignicollis Xylotrechus colonus (Fabricius) - Xylotrechus colonus Tetraopes quinquemaculatus Haldeman - Tetraopes quinquemaculatus Oberea tripunctata (Swederus) - Oberea tripunctata Mecas marginella LeConte - Mecas marginella
Most 'bycids' are beneficial as they help breakdown dead wood as larvae and many adults are important pollinators.

Chrysomelidae - Leaf Beetles

Phaedon desotonis Balsbaugh - Phaedon desotonis Tymnes metasternalis (Crotch) - Tymnes metasternalis Anomoea laticlavia (Forster) - Anomoea laticlavia Ophraella communa LeSage - Ophraella communa Xanthonia sp. 3 - Xanthonia Xanthonia furcata Staines & Weisman - Xanthonia furcata  Exema dispar Lacordaire - Exema dispar=Exema dispar Lacordaire - Exema dispar Microrhopala vittata (Fabricius) - Microrhopala vittata Agroiconota bivittata (Say) - Agroiconota bivittata
Kuschelina gibbitarsa (Say) - Kuschelina gibbitarsa Glyptina Longitarsus Capraita sexmaculata (Illiger) - Capraita sexmaculata Diabrotica cristata (Harris) - Diabrotica cristata Cerotoma trifurcata (Forster) - Cerotoma trifurcata Blepharida rhois (Forster) - Blepharida rhois Cryptocephalus quadruplex Newman - Cryptocephalus quadruplex Cryptocephalus notatus Fabricius - Cryptocephalus notatus Pachybrachis nigricornis autolycus Fall - Pachybrachis nigricornis Pachybrachis othonus (Say) - Pachybrachis othonus Pachybrachis vestigialis Fall - Pachybrachis vestigialis Pachybrachis brevicollis LeConte - Pachybrachis brevicollis Pachybrachis Bassareus lituratus (Fabricius) - Bassareus lituratus
Chrysomelids are a very important group of diverse leaf-feeding beetles that generally have a fairly narrow range of plants they host on.

CURCULIONOIDEA

Anthribidae - Fungus Weevils

Trigonorhinus limbatus (Say) - Trigonorhinus limbatus - Adults feed on the pollen of various Asteraceae particularly sneezeweed - Helenium amarum.

Brentidae - Straight-snouted Weevils

Apionine - Brentids are primative weevils with non-elbowed antennae.

Curculionidae - Weevils

Smicronyx quadrifer Casey - Smicronyx quadrifer  Smicronyx spretus Dietz - Smicronyx spretus Glyptobaris lecontei (Champion) - Glyptobaris lecontei Baridine Baridine Anthonomus suturalis LeConte - Anthonomus suturalis Magdalis pandura (Say) - Magdalis pandura Pandeleteius hilaris (Herbst) - Pandeleteius hilaris Pandeleteius cinereus (Horn) - Pandeleteius cinereus Conotrachelus recessus (Casey) - Conotrachelus recessus=Conotrachelus recessus (Casey) - Conotrachelus recessus Ceutorhynchus erysimi (Fabricius) - Ceutorhynchus erysimi Cylindrocopturus adspersus (LeConte) - Cylindrocopturus adspersus=Cylindrocopturus adspersus (LeConte) - Cylindrocopturus adspersus Pseudanthonomus tomentosulus Dietz - Pseudanthonomus tomentosulus Naupactus tesselatus (Say) - Naupactus tesselatus=Naupactus tesselatus (Say) - Naupactus tesselatus Odontocorynus=Odontocorynus
Most weevils have a narrow range of host plants.

November 23, 2015 © Mike Quinn / entomike@gmail.com / Oklahoma Entomology / Beetle Resources / Photo Techniques / Oklahoma Beetle Biota