Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

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Possible 2026 BugGuide gathering in Texas?

National Moth Week was July 19-27, and the Summer 2025 gathering in Louisiana, July 19-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Species Brachypterolus pulicarius - Toadflax Flower-eating Beetle

Representative Images

Kateretidae? - Brachypterolus pulicarius Nitidulid? - Brachypterolus pulicarius Short-winged Flower Beetle - Brachypterolus pulicarius Short-winged Flower Beetle - Brachypterolus pulicarius beetle, lateral - Brachypterolus pulicarius Beetle - Brachypterolus pulicarius Coleoptera - Brachypterolus pulicarius Nitidulidae - Colopterus niger? - Sap-feeding beetle - Brachypterolus pulicarius

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga
No Taxon (Series Cucujiformia)
Superfamily Cucujoidea
No Taxon (Nitidulid series)
Family Kateretidae (Short-winged Flower Beetles)
Genus Brachypterolus
Species pulicarius (Toadflax Flower-eating Beetle)

Other Common Names

Antirrhinum Beetle

Explanation of Names

Brachypterolus pulicarius (Linnaeus 1758)

Size

Adult ~2 mm, larva up to 4 mm

Range

native to Europe, introduced into NA prior to 1920; abundant and common in all Canadian provinces that support yellow and Dalmatian toadflax varieties

Food

on toadflax

Remarks

may have been introduced with imported toadflax plants (first NA record: NY 1919)(1); now used to control its host plant

Internet References

Fact sheets: Robbins (2000)(2), Hansen(3), anon.(1)

Works Cited

1.Invasive plants with biocontrol -- BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
2.Breitenfeldt T., ed. (1999-) Montana war on weeds
3.Biological control: A guide to natural enemies in North America
Contributed by Phillip Harpootlian on 2 December, 2005 - 7:15pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, v belov
Last updated 6 January, 2015 - 12:41pm

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