Beetles are the most diverse order of insects, and are generally considered the most successful group of organisms on Earth. Beetles are characterized by their modified forewings, called 'elytra', which cover the hindwings when not in use. This adaptation has allowed them to diversify into a great diversity of ecological niches, with many plant feeders, predators, fungivores, and scavengers. While many plant-feeding beetles are considered pests, many beetle predators, especially ladybird beetles, are highly beneficial.

 
At Coal Oil Point, beetles can be found anywhere you look, from the intertidal zone among the barnacles, to the sandy beach, up into the dunes. The majority of these species are endemics of coastal habitats, never being found even 100 meters inland. A beetle survey was the initial focus of our Coal Oil Point work, and they are relatively more thoroughly sampled than most of the other orders. One hundred forty-four species of beetles have been found to live at Coal Oil Point so far.

 
More information on California beetles can be found in the California Beetle Project web pages.

Beetle Photos (click to enlarge)
Carabidae - Ground beetles
Cicendela oregona	Omophron sp.	Bembidion tigrinum
Additional pictures and information about Carabidae
Haliplidae - Crawling water beetles
Peltodytes simplex
Dytiscidae - Predaceous diving beetles
Laccophilus maculosus	Stictotarsus striatellus
Histeridae - Clown beetles
Neopachylopus sulcifrons	Hypocaccus lucidulus	Hypocaccus gaudens
Additional pictures and information about Histeridae
Hydrophilidae - Water scavenger beetles
Berosus sp.	Enochrus hamiltoni	Cercyon fimbriatus
Additional pictures and information about Hydrophilidae
Staphylinidae - Rove beetles
Bledius sp.	Cafius canescens	Thinopictus pictus
Additional pictures and information about Staphylinidae
Scarabaeidae - Scarab beetles
Tesarius macleayi	Dichelonyx pusillus
Cantharidae - Soldier beetles
Pacificanthia consors
Phengodidae - Glowworm beetles
Zarhipis integripennis
Anobiidae - Deathwatch beetles
Ozognathus cornutus
Melyridae - Soft-winged flower beetles
Collops sp.
Monotomidae - Root beetles
Phyconomus marinus
Latridiidae - Minute brown scavenger beetles
Aridius australicus
Byturidae - Fruitworm beetles
Xerasia grisescens
Coccinellidae - Ladybird beetles
Hippodamia convergens	Adalia bipunctata	Cycloneda sanguinea
Additional pictures and information about Coccinellidae
Zopheridae - Ironclad beetles
Phloeodes diabolicus
Pyrochroidae - Fire-colored beetles
Pedilus bardi
Oedemeridae - False blister beetles
Copidita quadrimaculata
Scraptiidae - False flower beetles
Anaspis sp.	Naucles? sp.
Anthicidae - Ant-like flower beetles
Notoxus lustrellus	Amblyderus parvicollis	Cyclodinus annectans
Tenebrionidae - Darkling beetles
Coelus ciliatus	Phaleria rotundata	Epantius obscurus
Additional pictures and information about Tenebrionidae
Chrysomelidae - Leaf beetles
Diabrotica undecimpunctata	Trirhabda luteocincta	Trachymela sloanei
Additional pictures and information about Chrysomelidae
Anthribidae - Fungus weevils
unidentified anthribid
Brentidae - Brentid weevils
unidentified apionine
Curculionidae - True weevils
Elassoptes marinus	Trigonoscuta sp.	Sphenophorus sp.
Additional pictures and information about Curculionidae
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