2018-description
Guides
Alaudes coloradoensis
Alaudes coloradoensis is a darkling beetle species described in 2018 from Colorado. It belongs to the genus Alaudes in the family Tenebrionidae. The species was erected based on morphological distinctions from congeners. No ecological or behavioral studies have been published.
Alaudes moenkopii
Alaudes moenkopii is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, described in 2018 from the southwestern United States. The species epithet refers to the Moenkopi Formation, a geological formation in northern Arizona where the type specimens were collected. It belongs to a small genus of flightless, ground-dwelling beetles adapted to arid environments. As a recently described species, detailed ecological and behavioral information remains limited.
Calycomyza artemisivora
Calycomyza artemisivora is a leaf-mining fly species in the family Agromyzidae, described in 2018. The species name refers to its association with Artemisia host plants. As a member of Calycomyza, it is part of a genus containing numerous leaf-miner species that create distinctive feeding patterns within plant tissues.
Calycomyza avira
Calycomyza avira is a species of leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, described from North America in 2018. Like other members of its genus, it likely produces serpentine or blotch mines in living leaf tissue. The species was established based on morphological distinctions from congeners and associated host plant records. It represents part of a diverse radiation of Calycomyza species specialized on Asteraceae hosts.
Epeolus axillaris
Epeolus axillaris is a species of cuckoo bee described in 2018 by Thomas Onuferko. It belongs to the cleptoparasitic genus Epeolus, whose members lay eggs in the nests of host bees rather than constructing their own nests or collecting pollen. The species is one of fifteen new Epeolus species described from North America in a comprehensive revision of the genus.
Epinotia wrighti
Gammarus seideli
Seidel's Scud
Gammarus seideli is a species of freshwater amphipod in the family Gammaridae, described in 2018. It is one of numerous Gammarus species found in North American freshwater systems. The species is recognized by iNaturalist with the common name "Seidel's Scud" and has been documented in a small number of observations. As a relatively recently described species, detailed ecological and biological information remains limited.
Liriomyza ivorcutleri
Liriomyza ivorcutleri is a species of leafminer fly in the family Agromyzidae, described by Eiseman and Lonsdale in 2018. The species is part of the diverse Liriomyza genus, which includes numerous leafmining species, many of which are significant agricultural pests. Like other members of its genus, L. ivorcutleri likely has larvae that feed internally within leaf tissue, creating characteristic mines. The specific epithet honors Ivor Cutler.
Litaneutria elongata
Litaneutria elongata is a ground mantid species described by Anderson in 2018. As a member of the genus Litaneutria, it belongs to a group of cursorial (running) mantids that actively pursue prey rather than employing the ambush strategy typical of most mantids. The genus is represented in the United States by multiple species, with members characterized by rounded eyes and cryptic brown or gray coloration adapted to arid environments. This species is part of the family Amelidae within the order Mantodea.
Lucaina greeni
Lucaina greeni is a net-winged beetle in the family Lycidae, described in 2018 from Mexico. It belongs to a genus of beetles characterized by soft bodies and elytra with distinctive reticulate venation. The species is known from limited collection records.
Melaphis asafitchi
Melaphis asafitchi is a North American aphid species in the subtribe Melaphidina, described in 2018 following molecular and morphometric analysis that revealed cryptic species diversity within what was previously considered Melaphis rhois. It is one of at least three sympatric cryptic melaphidine species on the continent. The species exhibits ovoviviparity in sexual females, a notable reproductive trait among aphids.
Niditinea sabroskyi
Niditinea sabroskyi is a species of clothes moth described in 2018. It belongs to the family Tineidae, a group known for larvae that feed on keratinous materials. The species was named in honor of entomologist Curtis W. Sabrosky. Like congeners, it likely occupies habitats where animal-derived materials accumulate.
Phytomyza confusa
Phytomyza confusa is a species of leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, described by Eiseman and Lonsdale in 2018. Like other members of its genus, it develops as a larva within plant leaf tissue, creating distinctive feeding galleries. The species is part of a diverse group of agromyzid flies whose larvae are specialized herbivores on particular host plants. As a recently described species, detailed information about its biology and distribution remains limited.
Phytomyza tarnwoodensis
Phytomyza tarnwoodensis is a species of leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, described from Vermont, USA in 2018. The species is known from limited collection records and appears to be associated with woody plants. Like other Phytomyza species, it likely produces serpentine or blotch mines in leaves during larval development. The specific epithet references the type locality.
Phytosciara greylockensis
Phytosciara greylockensis is a species of dark-winged fungus gnat in the family Sciaridae, described in 2018 from Massachusetts. The species epithet references Mount Greylock, the highest point in the state. Like other members of the genus Phytosciara, it belongs to a group of small, delicate flies associated with moist habitats and fungal substrates. The species is known from a limited number of observations, reflecting both its recent description and the general undersampling of sciarid diversity.
Renocera cressoni
Renocera cressoni is a species of fly in the order Diptera, described by Mathis and Knutson in 2018. The genus Renocera is part of the family Sciomyzidae (marsh flies or snail-killing flies), though the family assignment is not explicitly confirmed in the provided sources. The species epithet 'cressoni' honors the entomologist Cresson.
Sandalus randyi
Sandalus randyi is a species of click beetle relative in the family Rhipiceridae, described from Florida in 2018. It belongs to a small genus of beetles known for their distinctive appearance and association with wood-boring beetle larvae. The species was named in honor of Randy Hardy, a coleopterist who contributed significantly to the study of North American beetles. Like other members of Sandalus, it is likely a predator or parasitoid of wood-boring beetle larvae, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Schizoptera rileyi
Schizoptera rileyi is a species of minute litter bug in the family Schizopteridae, described in 2018. Members of this family are among the smallest true bugs, typically inhabiting leaf litter and soil habitats. The species epithet honors Edward Riley, a prolific coleopterist and collector. The genus Schizoptera belongs to the infraorder Dipsocoromorpha, a group of cryptic, ground-dwelling true bugs that are poorly known due to their small size and concealed habits.
Telamona stephani
Telamona stephani is a species of treehopper in the family Membracidae, described by Wallace in 2018. It belongs to the genus Telamona, a group of North American treehoppers characterized by their enlarged pronotum that forms distinctive helmet-like or horn-like structures. As a recently described species, detailed biological information remains limited. Treehoppers in this genus are generally associated with woody host plants and are known for their complex pronotal morphology.