Beetles in Kansas

Kansas is home to several beetle species belonging to different families. The giant stag beetle, thriving in the southeastern part of the state, is one of the largest, the males identified by their big, powerful jaws. There are also many blister beetle species here, mostly spotted near alfalfa plantations, being harmful to horses.

One of the common pests, infesting horticultural plants, the Japanese beetle, inhabits eastern and central Kansas. Another beetle of the same family, the Green June beetle, is seen between May and July, making a loud buzzing noise while flying around. The smaller carpet beetles and wheat weevil are major house pests.

Beetles in Kansas (KS)

Largest Beetles: Giant Stag Beetle, Green June Beetle, Japanese Beetle

Smallest Beetles: Black Carpet Beetle, Varied Carpet Beetle, Wheat Weevil Beetle

Most Common Beetles: Giant Stag Beetle, Japanese Beetle, Notch-tipped Flower Longhorn Beetle, Locust Borer Beetle

Ladybird Beetles  

  • Mexican Bean Beetle (Epilachna varivestis)
  • Two-spotted Ladybird Beetle (Adalia bipunctata)
  • Twice-stabbed Ladybug (Chilocorus stigma)

True Weevils

  • Alfalfa Weevil Beetle (Hypera postica)
  • Plum Curculio Beetle (Conotrachelus nenuphar)
  • Wheat Weevil Beetle (Sitophilus granaries)

Stag Beetles

  • Giant Stag Beetle (Lucanus elaphus)

Longhorn Beetles

  • Locust Borer Beetle (Megacyllene robiniae)
  • Notch-tipped Flower Longhorn Beetle (Typocerus sinuatus)
  • Asian Long-horned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis)

Blister Beetles

Scarab Beetles

  • Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica)
  • Green June Beetle (Cotinis nitida)
  • Delta Flower Beetle (Trigonopeltastes delta)

Leaf Beetles

  • Striped Cucumber Beetle (Acalymma vittatum)
  • Reddish-brown and Black Leaf Beetle (Anomoea laticlavia)
  • Sumac Flea Beetle (Blepharida rhois)
  • Argus Tortoise Beetle (Chelymorpha cascol3a)
  • Elm Leaf Beetle (Xanthogaleruca luteola)
  • Sunflower Beetle (Zygogramma exclamationis)

Jewel Beetles

  • Bronze Birch Borer Beetle (Agrilus anxius)
  • Honeylocust Agrilus Beetle (Agrilus difficilis)

Click Beetles

Skin Beetles

  • Varied Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus verbasci)
  • Black Carpet Beetle (Attagenus unicolor)

Soldier Beetles

Darkling Beetles