HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

Calendar

BugGuide Gathering
Pack Forest
Washington State
July 10-12, 2009
Details...

Photos from the 2009 gathering

Photos from the 2008 gathering in Tennessee

Photos from the 2007 gathering in Minnesota

TaxonomyBrowse

Info

ImagesLinksBooksData

Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles (Polyphaga) » Water Scavenger and Clown Beetles (Hydrophiloidea) » Clown Beetles (Histeridae) » Clown Beetles (Hololepta)

Genus Hololepta - Clown Beetles

Classification · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Hister Beetle, Hololepta yucateca, in rotting Saguaro Cactus - Hololepta yucateca

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

Superfamily Hydrophiloidea (Water Scavenger and Clown Beetles)

Family Histeridae (Clown Beetles)

Genus Hololepta (Clown Beetles)

Numbers

Nearctica.com lists 15 species for North America.

Size

7-10 mm, Eastern species (1), Hololepta yucateca to 20 mm

Identification

Very flattened, oblong. Long mandibles. Head visible from above--not covered by pronotum (1):

Range

Holarctic, apparently. Includes much of North America.

Habitat

Deciduous forests, found beneath bark of recently killed hardwoods.

Food

Adults and larvae eat other insects.

Print References

Dillon, p. 222, plate XXII, illustrates H. fossularis (=aequalis), quadridentata. (1)

White, p. 133, fig. 50 (2)

Arnett, p. 161, fig. 394 (3)

Arnett and Jacques #94 (4)

Salsbury, p. 177--H. aequalis (5)

Brimley, p. 150, lists H. aequalis and H. lucida from North Carolina (6)

Internet References

North Carolina State University lists H. aequalis (18 specimens) and lucida (9 specimens) for that state.

Works Cited

1.	A Manual of Common Beetles of Eastern North America By Dillon, Elizabeth S., and Dillon, Lawrence

2.	Peterson Field Guides: Beetles By Richard E. White

3.	How to Know the Beetles By Ross H. Arnett, N. M. Downie, H. E. Jaques

4.	Simon & Schuster's Guide to Insects By Dr. Ross H. Arnett, Dr. Richard L. Jacques

5.	Insects in Kansas By Glenn A. Salsbury and Stephan C. White

6.	Insects of North Carolina By C.S. Brimley

Contributed by Cotinis on 3 September, 2004 - 5:56am
Last updated 12 June, 2008 - 4:10pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2009 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version