List of subgroups of the order Coleoptera explained

This article classifies the subgroups of the order Coleoptera (beetles) down to the level of families, following the system in "Family-group names in Coleoptera (Insecta)", Bouchard, et al. (2011), with corrections and additions from 2020,^[1] with common names from bugguide.net.

Order Coleoptera
- Suborder †Protocoleoptera
  - Superfamily †Tshekardocoleoidea Rohdendorf, 1944
    - Family †Tshekardocoleidae Rohdendorf, 1944
    - Family †Labradorocoleidae Ponomarenko, 1969
    - Family †Oborocoleidae Kukalová, 1969
  - Superfamily †Permocupedoidea Martynov, 1933
    - Family †Permocupedidae Martynov, 1933
    - Family †Taldycupedidae Rohdendorf, 1961
  - Superfamily †Permosynoidea Tillyard, 1924
    - Family †Ademosynidae Ponomarenko, 1968
    - Family †Permosynidae Tillyard, 1924
- Suborder Archostemata
  - Superfamily Cupedoidea Laporte, 1836
    - Family Crowsoniellidae Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1983
    - Family Cupedidae Laporte, 1836
    - Family Micromalthidae Barber, 1913
    - Family Ommatidae Sharp and Muir, 1912
    - Family Jurodidae Ponomarenko, 1985
    - Family †Triadocupedidae Ponomarenko, 1966
    - Family †Magnocoleidae Hong, 1998
    - Family †Obrieniidae Zherikhin and Gratshev, 1994
  - Superfamily †Asiocoleoidea Rohdendorf, 1961
    - Family †Asiocoleidae Rohdendorf, 1961
    - Family †Tricoleidae Ponomarenko, 1969
  - Superfamily †Rhombocoleoidea Rohdendorf, 1961
    - Family †Rhombocoleidae Rohdendorf, 1961
  - Superfamily †Schizocoleoidea Rohdendorf, 1961 (formerly Schizophoroidea Ponomarenko, 1968)
    - Family †Phoroschizidae Bouchard and Bousquet, 2020 (formerly Schizophoridae Ponomarenko, 1968)
    - Family †Catiniidae Ponomarenko, 1968
    - Family †Schizocoleidae Rohdendorf, 1961
- Suborder Myxophaga
  - Superfamily Lepiceroidea Hinton, 1936 (1882)
    - Family Lepiceridae Hinton, 1936 (1882)
  - Superfamily Sphaeriusoidea Erichson, 1845
    - Family Torridincolidae Steffan, 1964
    - Family Hydroscaphidae LeConte, 1874
    - Family Sphaeriusidae Erichson, 1845
- Suborder Adephaga
  - - Family †Tritarsusidae Hong, 2002 (formerly Tritarsidae Hong, 2002)
    - Family Gyrinidae Latreille, 1810 (whirligig beetles)
    - Family Trachypachidae Thomson, 1857 (false ground beetles)
    - Family Rhysodidae Laporte, 1840
    - Family Carabidae Latreille, 1802 (ground beetles)
    - Family Haliplidae Aubé, 1836 (crawling water beetles)
    - Family †Triaplidae Ponomarenko, 1977
    - Family †Colymbotethidae Ponomarenko, 1994
    - Family †Parahygrobiidae Ponomarenko, 1977
    - Family †Coptoclavidae Ponomarenko, 1961
    - Family †Liadytidae Ponomarenko, 1977
    - Family Meruidae Spangler and Steiner, 2005
    - Family Noteridae Thomson, 1860 (burrowing water beetles)
    - Family Amphizoidae LeConte, 1853
    - Family Aspidytidae Ribera, Beutel, Balke and Vogler, 2002
    - Family Hygrobiidae Régimbart, 1879 (1837)
    - Family Dytiscidae Leach, 1815 (predaceous diving beetles)
- Suborder Polyphaga
  - Infraorder Staphyliniformia
    - Superfamily Histeroidea Gyllenhal, 1808 ^[2]
      - Family Histeridae Gyllenhal, 1808
      - Family Sphaeritidae Shuckard, 1839
      - Family Synteliidae Lewis, 1882
    - Superfamily Hydrophiloidea Latreille, 1802 ^[3]
      - Family Epimetopidae Zaitzev, 1908
      - Family Georissidae Laporte, 1840
      - Family Helophoridae Leach, 1815
      - Family Hydrochidae Thomson, 1859
      - Family Hydrophilidae Latreille, 1802 (water scavenger beetles)
      - Family Spercheidae Erichson, 1837
    - Superfamily Staphylinoidea Latreille, 1802
      - Family Hydraenidae Mulsant, 1844
      - Family Ptiliidae Erichson, 1845
      - Family Agyrtidae Thomson, 1859
      - Family Leiodidae Fleming, 1821
      - Family Silphidae Latreille, 1806
      - Family Staphylinidae Latreille, 1802 (rove beetles)
  - Infraorder Scarabaeiformia
    - Superfamily Scarabaeoidea Latreille, 1802
      - Family Pleocomidae LeConte, 1861 (rain beetles)
      - Family Geotrupidae Latreille, 1802 (earth-boring scarab beetles)
      - Family Belohinidae Paulian, 1959
      - Family Passalidae Leach, 1815 (bess beetles)
      - Family Trogidae MacLeay, 1819 (hide beetles)
      - Family Glaresidae Prudhomme de Borre, 1886
      - Family Diphyllostomatidae Holloway, 1972
      - Family Lucanidae Latreille, 1804 (stag beetles)
      - Family Ochodaeidae Streubel, 1846 (sand-loving scarab beetles)
      - Family Hybosoridae Erichson, 1847
      - Family Glaphyridae MacLeay, 1819 (bumble bee scarab beetles)
      - Family Scarabaeidae Latreille, 1802 (scarab beetles)
      - Family †Coprinisphaeridae Genise, 2004 (ichnotaxon)
      - Family †Pallichnidae Genise, 2004 (ichnotaxon)
  - Infraorder Elateriformia
    - Superfamily Scirtoidea Fleming, 1821
      - Family Decliniidae Nikitsky, Lawrence, Kirejtshuk and Gratshev, 1994
      - Family Eucinetidae Lacordaire, 1857
      - Family Clambidae Fischer von Waldheim, 1821
      - Family Scirtidae Fleming, 1821
      - Family †Elodophthalmidae Kirejtshuk and Azar, 2008
      - Family †Mesocinetidae Kirejtshuk and Ponomarenko, 2010
    - Superfamily Dascilloidea Guérin-Méneville, 1843 (1834)
      - Family Dascillidae Guérin-Méneville, 1843 (1834)
      - Family Rhipiceridae Latreille, 1834
    - Superfamily Buprestoidea Leach, 1815
      - Family Schizopodidae LeConte, 1859
      - Family Buprestidae Leach, 1815
    - Superfamily Byrrhoidea Latreille, 1804
      - Family Byrrhidae Latreille, 1804
      - Family Protelmidae Jeannel, 1950
      - Family Elmidae Curtis, 1830
      - Family Dryopidae Billberg, 1820 (1817)
      - Family Lutrochidae Kasap and Crowson, 1975
      - Family Limnichidae Erichson, 1846
      - Family Heteroceridae MacLeay, 1825
      - Family Psephenidae Lacordaire, 1854
      - Family Cneoglossidae Champion, 1897
      - Family Ptilodactylidae Laporte, 1836
      - Family Podabrocephalidae Pic, 1930
      - Family Chelonariidae Blanchard, 1845
      - Family Eulichadidae Crowson, 1973
      - Family Callirhipidae Emden, 1924
    - Superfamily Elateroidea Leach, 1815
      - Family Artematopodidae Lacordaire, 1857
      - Family Brachypsectridae Horn, 1881
      - Family Cantharidae Imhoff, 1856 (1815) (soldier beetles)
      - Family Cerophytidae Latreille, 1834
      - Family Elateridae Leach, 1815 (click beetles; includes former Drilidae, Omalisidae, and Plastoceridae)
      - Family Eucnemidae Eschscholtz, 1829
      - Family Lampyridae Rafinesque, 1815 (fireflies)
      - Family Lycidae Laporte, 1836
      - Family Omethidae LeConte, 1861 (includes former Telegeusidae)
      - Family Phengodidae LeConte, 1861
      - Family Rhagophthalmidae Olivier, 1907
      - Family Sinopyrophoridae Bi, 2018
      - Family Throscidae Laporte, 1840 nomen protectum
      - Family †Berendtimiridae Winkler, 1987
      - Family †Praelateriidae Dolin, 1973
    - Superfamily Rhinorhipoidea Lawrence, 1988
      - Family Rhinorhipidae Lawrence, 1988
  - Infraorder Bostrichiformia
    - Superfamily Derodontoidea LeConte, 1861
      - Family Derodontidae LeConte, 1861
      - Family Nosodendridae Erichson, 1846
      - Family Jacobsoniidae Heller, 1926
    - Superfamily Bostrichoidea Latreille, 1802
      - Family Dermestidae Latreille, 1804 (carpet beetles)
      - Family Endecatomidae LeConte, 1861
      - Family Bostrichidae Latreille, 1802
      - Family Ptinidae Latreille, 1802
  - Infraorder Cucujiformia
    - Superfamily Lymexyloidea Fleming, 1821
      - Family Lymexylidae Fleming, 1821
    - Superfamily Cleroidea Latreille, 1802
      - Family Phloiophilidae Kiesenwetter, 1863
      - Family Trogossitidae Latreille, 1802
      - Family Chaetosomatidae Crowson, 1952
      - Family Metaxinidae Kolibáč, 2004
      - Family Thanerocleridae Chapin, 1924
      - Family Cleridae Latreille, 1802 (checkered beetles)
      - Family Acanthocnemidae Crowson, 1964
      - Family Phycosecidae Crowson, 1952
      - Family Prionoceridae Lacordaire, 1857
      - Family Mauroniscidae Majer, 1995
      - Family Melyridae Leach, 1815 (soft-winged flower beetles)
    - Superfamily Cucujoidea Latreille, 1802
      - Family †Parandrexidae Kirejtshuk, 1994
      - Family †Sinisilvanidae Hong, 2002
      - Family Boganiidae Sen Gupta and Crowson, 1966
      - Family Byturidae Gistel, 1848
      - Family Helotidae Chapuis, 1876
      - Family Protocucujidae Crowson, 1954
      - Family Sphindidae Jacquelin du Val, 1860
      - Family Biphyllidae LeConte, 1861
      - Family Erotylidae Latreille, 1802
      - Family Monotomidae Laporte, 1840
      - Family Hobartiidae Sen Gupta and Crowson, 1966
      - Family Cryptophagidae Kirby, 1826
      - Family Agapythidae Sen Gupta and Crowson, 1969
      - Family Priasilphidae Crowson, 1973
      - Family Phloeostichidae Reitter, 1911
      - Family Silvanidae Kirby, 1837
      - Family Cucujidae Latreille, 1802
      - Family Myraboliidae Lawrence and Britton, 1991
      - Family Cavognathidae Sen Gupta and Crowson, 1966
      - Family Lamingtoniidae Sen Gupta and Crowson, 1969
      - Family Passandridae Blanchard, 1845
      - Family Phalacridae Leach, 1815
      - Family Propalticidae Crowson, 1952
      - Family Laemophloeidae Ganglbauer, 1899
      - Family Tasmosalpingidae Lawrence and Britton, 1991
      - Family Cyclaxyridae Gimmel, Leschen and Ślipiński, 2009
      - Family Kateretidae Kirby, 1837
      - Family Nitidulidae Latreille, 1802
      - Family Smicripidae Horn, 1880
      - Family Bothrideridae Erichson, 1845
      - Family Cerylonidae Billberg, 1820
      - Family Alexiidae Imhoff, 1856
      - Family Discolomatidae Horn, 1878
      - Family Endomychidae Leach, 1815
      - Family Coccinellidae Latreille, 1807 (ladybirds or lady beetles)
      - Family Corylophidae LeConte, 1852
      - Family Akalyptoischiidae Lord, Hartley, Lawrence, McHugh, Whiting and Miller, 2010
      - Family Latridiidae Erichson, 1842
    - Superfamily Tenebrionoidea Latreille, 1802
      - Family Mycetophagidae Leach, 1815
      - Family Archeocrypticidae Kaszab, 1964
      - Family Pterogeniidae Crowson, 1953
      - Family Ciidae Leach, 1819
      - Family Tetratomidae Billberg, 1820
      - Family Melandryidae Leach, 1815
      - Family Mordellidae Latreille, 1802 (tumbling flower beetles)
      - Family Ripiphoridae Laporte, 1840
      - Family Zopheridae Solier, 1834
      - Family Ulodidae Pascoe, 1869
      - Family Promecheilidae Lacordaire, 1859
      - Family Chalcodryidae Watt, 1974
      - Family Trachelostenidae Lacordaire, 1859
      - Family Tenebrionidae Latreille, 1802 (darkling beetles)
      - Family Prostomidae Thomson, 1859
      - Family Synchroidae Lacordaire, 1859
      - Family Stenotrachelidae Thomson, 1859
      - Family Oedemeridae Latreille, 1810
      - Family Meloidae Gyllenhal, 1810 (blister beetles)
      - Family Mycteridae Perty, 1840 (palm beetles and flower beetles)
      - Family Boridae Thomson, 1859
      - Family Trictenotomidae Blanchard, 1845
      - Family Pythidae Solier, 1834
      - Family Pyrochroidae Latreille, 1806
      - Family Salpingidae Leach, 1815
      - Family Anthicidae Latreille, 1819
      - Family Aderidae Csiki, 1909
      - Family Scraptiidae Gistel, 1848
    - Clade Phytophaga
      - Superfamily Chrysomeloidea Latreille, 1802
        Family Oxypeltidae Lacordaire, 1868
        
        Family Vesperidae Mulsant, 1839
        
        Family Disteniidae Thomson, 1861
        
        Family Cerambycidae Latreille, 1802 (longhorn beetles)
        
        Family Megalopodidae Latreille, 1802
        
        Family Orsodacnidae Thomson, 1859
        
        Family Chrysomelidae Latreille, 1802 (leaf beetles)
      - Superfamily Curculionoidea Latreille, 1802
        Family Nemonychidae Bedel, 1882
        
        Family Anthribidae Billberg, 1820
        
        Family †Ulyanidae Zherikhin, 1993
        
        Family Belidae Schönherr, 1826
        
        Family Caridae Thompson, 1992
        
        Family Attelabidae Billberg, 1820
        
        Family Brentidae Billberg, 1820
        
        Family Brachyceridae Billberg, 1820
        
        Family Curculionidae Latreille, 1802 (snout beetles, weevils, and bark beetles) ^[4]

References

Lawrence, J.F., Newton, A.F. Jr. (1995) Families and subfamilies of Coleoptera (with selected genera, notes, references, and data on family-group names), pp. 779–1006. In: Pakaluk, J., Slipinski, S.A. (eds.), Biology, phylogeny, and classification of Coleoptera: Papers celebrating the 80th birthday of Roy A. Crowson. Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii PAN, Warszawa.
Ross H. Arnett, Jr. and Michael C. Thomas, American Beetles (CRC Press, 2001–2002)

Notes and References

Bouchard. P.. Bousquet. Y.. 2020. Additions and corrections to "Family-group names in Coleoptera (Insecta)". ZooKeys. 922. 65–139. 10.3897/zookeys.922.46367. 32256157. 7113323. free.
Mckenna. Duane D.. Farrell. Brian D.. Caterino. Michael S.. Farnum. Charles W.. Hawks. David C.. Maddison. David R.. Seago. Ainsley E.. Short. Andrew E. Z.. Newton. Alfred F.. Thayer. Margaret K.. 2015. Phylogeny and evolution of Staphyliniformia and Scarabaeiformia: forest litter as a stepping stone for diversification of nonphytophagous beetles. Systematic Entomology. en. 40. 1. 35–60. 10.1111/syen.12093. 83304675. 1365-3113. free.
Short. Andrew Edward Z.. 2018. Systematics of aquatic beetles (Coleoptera): current state and future directions. Systematic Entomology. 43. 1. 1–18. 10.1111/syen.12270. 90159079. 1365-3113. free.
Chamorro. Maria Lourdes. Medeiros. Bruno A. S. de. Farrell. Brian D.. 2021. First phylogenetic analysis of Dryophthorinae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) based on structural alignment of ribosomal DNA reveals Cenozoic diversification. Ecology and Evolution. en. 11. 5. 1984–1998. 10.1002/ece3.7131. 2045-7758. 7920784. 33717436.