While we already have a thread for Beetles (Coleoptera), I have always wanted to present this, a practical guide to the principal family groups of Coleoptera. The focus is to highlight the variety in beetle families/groups offered as figures, and the companies that make them!
For simplicity, I am using the classification in American Beetles (2001) although I am aware some changes at the family/superfamily level have taken place.
Enjoy!
Suborder: AdephagaFamily: Carabidae (tiger and ground beetles).
This group is not commonly represented but there are a few gems out there
Left to right, top to bottom:
1.
Cicindela japonica (Kaiyodo)
2.
Damaster blaptoides (Kaiyodo)
3.
Carabus auratus (Bullyland)
4.
Mormolyce sp. (unknown mfr.)
Family: Dystiscidae (predaceous water beetles).
Left to right:
1.
Cybister japonicas (Kaiyodo)
2.
Dystiscus marginalis (Funrise Toys)
3. Dytiscidae, gen. sp. (unknown mfr for Disney’s A Bug’s Life)
Suborder: PolyphagaSuperfamily: HydrophiloideaFamily: Hydrophilidae (water scavenger beetles)This figure from an unknown mfr is a tentative ID as a hydrophilid larva, possibly
Berosus sp. (cannot think of what else it can be):
Family: Histeridae (clown beetles)Left to right:
1. Histeridae, gen. sp. (unknown mfr.)
2.
Hister quadrimaculatus (XX)
Superfamily: StaphylinoideaFamily: Silphidae (carrion beetles)1.
Nicrophorus sp. (Play Visions)
Family: Staphylinidae (rove beetles)All three figures are from unknown mfrs; the one on the far left resembles
Oxyporus while the one on the far right looks like a member of Aleocharinae.
Superfamily: ScarabaeoideaThis is by far the most commonly-made group of beetles, so selecting a few good examples was not an easy task.
Family: Lucanidae (stag beetles)Left to right, top to bottom:
1.
Chiasognathus granti (Sega)
2.
Cyclommatus elephus (Kabaya)
3.
Mesotopus tarandus (Sega)
4.
Dorcus hopei (F-toys)
5.
Platycerus acuticollis (Kaiyodo)
6.
Lucanus maculifemoratus (Yujin)
Family: Scarabaeidae (dung, scarab, rhinoceros beetles; chafers)
Here I tried to select one from each major subfamily.
Left to right, top to bottom:
1. APHODIINAE:
Aphodius fimetarius (XX)
2. DYNASTINAE:
Dynastes hercules (Takara Tomy A.R.T.S.)
3. SCARABAEINAE:
Scarabaeus typhon (Kaiyodo)
4. MELOLONTHINAE:
Melolontha melolontha (Bullyland)
5. RUTELINAE:
Anoplognathus punctulatus (Yowies)
6. CETONIINAE:
Goliathus goliathus (Furuta)
Superfamily: BuprestoideaFamily: Buprestidae (metallic wood-boring, jewel beetles)For a family of flashy beetles, not quite as well-represented as one might think!
Left to right:
1.
Chrysochroa fulgidissima (Yujin)
2.
Temognatha murrayi (Yowies)
3.
Anthaxia nitidula (XX)
Superfamily: ElateroideaContains my favorite family, the click beetles (Elateridae) , which isn’t well-represented…
Left to right:
1. Family: Elateridae (click beetles):
Ampedus sp. (Funrise Toys)
2. Family: Lampyridae (fireflies):
Luciola cruciate (Kaiyodo)
3. Family: Cantharidae (soldier beetles):
Podabrus tomentosus (XX)
Superfamily: CleroideaFamily: Cleridae (checkered beetles)Left to right:
1. Cantharidae, gen. sp. (unknown mfr—sold specifically as a soldier beetle) EDIT 3/1/2017: this is actually a cantharid beetle, or so it was marketed as (I had the common name mis-remembered)
2.
Chariessa elegans (unknown mfr—XX knock-off)
Superfamily: CucujoideaFamily: Coccinellidae (lady beetles)Very common among generic toy bugs, but becoming common among major companies as well!
Left to right, top to bottom:
1.
Coccinella novemnotata (XX)
2.
Coccinella hasegawai (Kaiyodo)
3.
Anatis sp. (Great Explorations)
4.
Coccinella transversalis (Yowies)
5.
Harmonia axyridis (Kaiyodo)
6.
Olla v-nigrum (Kitan Club)

Misc. Cucujoidea. Left to right:
1. Family: Erotylidae (pleasing fungus beetles): Erotylidae, gen. sp. (Play Visions)
2. Family: Nitidulidae (sap beetles):
Glichrocheilus japonicas (Kaiyodo)
Superfamily: TenebrionidaeFamily: Tenebrionidae (darkling beetles)1. Life cycle of the mealworm beetle,
Tenebrio molitor (Insect Lore)

Miscellaneous Tenebrionoidea:
Left to right, top to bottom:
1. Family: Zopheridae (ironclad beetles):
Zopherus haldemanni (XX)
2. Family: Mordellidae (tumbling flower beetles): Mordellidae, gen. sp. (Imperial Toys)
3. Family: Ripiphoridae (wedge-shaped beetles): Ripiphoridae, gen. sp. (Imperial Toys)
4. Family: Meloidae (blister beetles):
Cissites cephalotes (Kaiyodo)
5. Family: Meloidae: Meloidae, gen. sp. (unknown mfr.)
6. Family: Meloidae:
Meloe sp. (unknown mfr.)
Superfamily: ChrysomeloideaFamily: Chrysomelidae (leaf beetles)Left to right, top to bottom:
1. Chrysomelidae, gen. sp. (unknown mfr)
2.
Omaspides erichsoni (unknown mfr)
3.
Agenysa connectens (unknown mfr.)
Family: Cerambycidae (long-horned beetles)Another large, popular family that is not as well-represented as one might think.
Left to right, top to bottom:
1.
Rosalia batesi (Yujin)
2.
Cerambyx sp., cf.
cerdo (AAA)
3.
Macrodontes cervicornis (Kabaya)
4.
Rosenbergia straussi (Play Visions)
5.
Phosphorus jansoni (XX)
Superfamily: CurculionoideaFamily: Attelabidae (leaf-rolling weevils)Left to right:
1.
Trachylephorus giraffe (unknown mfr.)
2. Attelabidae, gen. sp. (unknown mfr.)
Family: Curculionidae (weevils, snout and bark-and-ambrosia beetles)For one of the largest families, not well represented (at least by major companies).
Left to right:
1.
Eupholus sp. (Play Visions)
2.
Lixus sp. (Funrise Toys)
3.
Hyposiplaus gigas (Yujin)
