Coleoptera sp. (unidentified)
A small solid black beetle observed in the Lowland Meadow in March 2026, confirmed to have persisted in miniBIOTA for over a year without new introductions; identity has not been determined beyond order Coleoptera.
A small solid black beetle observed in the Lowland Meadow on March 26, 2026, with the observer noting that no individuals of this type had been introduced in over a year. Identity has not been determined beyond the order Coleoptera; the two candidate beetle families on record record are Tenebrionidae (darkling beetles) and Carabidae (ground beetles), which are ecologically distinct groups that share the solid black coloration common in many Florida terrestrial beetles. The species is associated with both the Lowland Meadow and Mangrove Forest biomes in miniBIOTA records, though only the Lowland Meadow observation has a dated observation on file.
Coleoptera (beetles) is the largest order of insects, with over 400,000 described species worldwide and thousands in Florida alone. Many Florida beetle species are solid black in color, making visual identification to family or genus typically impossible without close examination of structural features: the shape of the tarsal segments, the presence and form of antennal club segments, the arrangement of wing venation, and microscopic morphology of the pronotum and elytra.
Tenebrionidae is one of the most species-rich beetle families worldwide, with many Florida representatives. Most darkling beetles are nocturnal, scavenging on dry plant matter, fungal material, decaying wood, and organic debris. They are strongly associated with damp litter and soil layers and are among the most common beetles encountered in South Florida terrestrial habitats. Several Florida Tenebrionidae are uniformly black. Their ecological role as scavengers and processors of dry organic matter places them in a detritivore/omnivore guild consistent with the classification on record.
Carabidae is also among the largest beetle families, with many Florida species uniformly black. Ground beetles are predominantly predatory, hunting other small invertebrates in the soil and litter layer. They are typically nocturnal, fast-moving, and strongly associated with moist soil habitats. In terrestrial ecosystems they function as important invertebrate predators, regulating populations of soil arthropods, larvae, and small soft-bodied invertebrates. Some Florida Carabidae are also known to scavenge on plant material or fungi opportunistically.
The March 2026 observation noted "small solid black beetle" without additional morphological details. The species record's trophic profile (Omnivore, scavenging) is more consistent with Tenebrionidae, but Carabidae cannot be excluded without examination. The observer's original species note and the identity record both explicitly discourage narrowing taxonomy without stronger evidence.
In miniBIOTA's terrestrial biomes, the Black Beetle occupies a scavenging and omnivore role in the soil and litter layer of the Lowland Meadow and Mangrove Forest. If the individual is Tenebrionidae, its ecological function centers on processing dry organic debris, fallen plant material, and fungal material, complementing the leaf-litter detritivore guild shared by Woodlouse, Surinam Cockroach, Earthworm, and Springtail. If the individual is Carabidae, its role would be as a small invertebrate predator, overlapping with the ground-level predator guild of Wolf Spider, Red House Spider, and Hentz Striped Scorpion.
The March 2026 observation confirms that a Black Beetle has persisted in miniBIOTA for at least a year without new introductions, which suggests a self-sustaining individual or population embedded in the terrestrial substrate. Given the cryptic lifestyle of most litter-layer beetles, additional individuals may be present but undetected.
Not documented. The March 26, 2026 observation note explicitly states that "no new individuals of this type have been introduced for over a year," placing the original introduction or self-colonization event no later than approximately March 2025 and possibly earlier, before the notes archive begins. No introduction record, source, or method is on file.
One small solid black beetle observed March 26, 2026 in the Lowland Meadow. Observer confirmed no new individuals of this type introduced in at least the preceding year, establishing that the species has persisted in miniBIOTA since at least March 2025 or earlier. The species is also associated with the Mangrove Forest in miniBIOTA records, suggesting prior undocumented presence in that biome. No population count, reproduction event, or additional observation is on file.
Omnivore and scavenger in the terrestrial litter and soil layer. The trophic profile is consistent with Tenebrionidae (darkling beetles), which are primarily scavengers of dry organic matter and fungal material. If the individual is Carabidae (ground beetles), the feeding role would shift toward active predation of small invertebrates; Carabidae are predominantly predatory. No feeding behavior has been directly observed in miniBIOTA.
South Florida litter-layer beetles are adapted to warm, humid subtropical conditions. Most species require moist litter and soil conditions; they avoid desiccated or compacted substrate. No miniBIOTA-specific tolerance measurements on record.
No reproductive observations in miniBIOTA. The March 2026 observation confirms a beetle persisting for over a year, but whether this reflects a long-lived adult or an established reproducing population is unknown. Holometabolous beetles pass through egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages; larvae are typically cryptic soil-dwellers and could be present undetected.
No ecological interactions involving Black Beetle have been documented in miniBIOTA beyond the March 2026 sighting. In a Tenebrionidae role, the beetle would process dry litter and compete with or complement Woodlouse, Surinam Cockroach, and Earthworm; in a Carabidae role, it would predate soil arthropods including small crickets, roach nymphs, and Springtail.
Follow this species across the habitats where it currently appears in the miniBIOTA biosphere.
