Bug FAQDacne californica
Dacne californica · Order: Coleoptera · Family: Erotylidae
Dacne californica is a very small pleasing fungus beetle, only 2 to 3.5 mm long and under 1.5 mm wide. It lives in the southwestern part of the continent and is one of only two Nearctic Dacne species.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The beetle’s back shows a round reddish spot near the base of each wing case, while its head, pronotum, legs and antennae are reddish.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults measure about 2 to 3.5 mm in length and 0.9 to 1.5 mm in width, making them among the smallest Erotylidae in their range.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs in the southwestern region of the continent.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Newly emerged adults are entirely yellow after they leave the pupa.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Dacne californica is native to the southwest of North America. It is one of only two Nearctic Dacne species remaining in the genus.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Unlike the other North American Dacne, D. quadrimaculata, D. californica usually has an almost rectangular pronotum. A 1916 study of nine specimens showed the full range of pronotum shape and size variation in this species.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 5 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, New Mexico.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What does Dacne californica look like?
It is a tiny beetle (2 to 3.5 mm long) with reddish-brown to brownish-black coloring, a round reddish spot on each elytron, and reddish head, pronotum, legs and antennae.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is Dacne californica found?
It lives in the southwestern part of the continent and is native to that region of North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Do they make any sound?
Male beetles have structures on the back of the neck that rub together when they wiggle their heads, creating a squeaking noise.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I tell it apart from other Dacne beetles?
Its pronotum is usually almost rectangular, unlike D. quadrimaculata, and studies have documented the range of pronotum shapes in this species.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Erotylidae)
Blue Fungus BeetleGibbifer californicus
Pleasing Fungus BeetleMegalodacne heros
Red-banded Fungus BeetleMegalodacne fasciata
Four-spotted Fungus BeetleIschyrus quadripunctatus
Clover Stem BorerLanguria mozardiDamages trees, gardens or crops
Slender Lizard BeetleAcropteroxys gracilisDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacne_californica
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-26 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-26.