Agricultural-associate
Guides
Caenurgina crassiuscula
Clover Looper, Range Grass Moth
Caenurgina crassiuscula, commonly known as the Clover Looper or Range Grass Moth, is a widespread moth species in the family Erebidae. First described by Adrian Hardy Haworth in 1809, it occurs across much of North America from coast to coast, with western populations extending into Alaska, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. Adults are active for much of the year, with flight periods varying by location from March through November. The species is notable for its larval association with clover and various grasses.
Closterotomus fulvomaculatus
spotted plant bug
Closterotomus fulvomaculatus is a small plant bug in the family Miridae, measuring 6–7 mm as an adult. Adults are brownish in coloration, while nymphs are green or yellowish-green. The species completes its development by July in temperate regions. It is known to feed on various herbaceous plants including clover, nettle, and members of the Asteraceae family.
Colaspis floridana
Colaspis floridana is a small leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Charles Schaeffer in 1934 as a variety of Colaspis brunnea and elevated to full species rank by Doris Blake in 1974. It occurs in the southeastern United States, with records from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The species feeds on leaves of various plants including crop species and ornamentals, though it has not been reported as an economically damaging pest.
Jalysus spinosus
spined stilt bug
Jalysus spinosus is a stilt bug in the family Berytidae characterized by extremely long, slender legs and antennae. The species is primarily associated with grasses in the genus Panicum, though it has been documented on tobacco and other crops. It functions as a facultative predator, feeding on small insects and insect eggs while also consuming plant fluids. The species overwinters as eggs and produces multiple generations per year, with peak populations occurring in late summer. It has been studied as a potential biological control agent for agricultural pests.
Nomiinae
Nomiine bees
Nomiinae is a subfamily of sweat bees (Halictidae) comprising approximately 11 genera and at least 550 described species. These bees are morphologically diverse, particularly in males, which often exhibit modified hind legs and metasomal sterna. The subfamily has a global distribution with significant diversity in tropical and subtropical regions. Nomiine bees are ground-nesting pollinators, with documented nesting biology in several genera including Nomia, Dieunomia, and Hoplonomia. They exhibit varied social systems ranging from solitary to communal nesting.
Tetracha virginica
Virginia Metallic Tiger Beetle, Virginia Big-headed Tiger Beetle
Tetracha virginica is a large, nocturnal tiger beetle with metallic green elytra lacking apical markings. It is the most widely distributed Tetracha species in the United States, occurring across the southern two-thirds of the eastern U.S. in diverse habitats including agricultural fields, bottomland forests, and barren clay soils. The species is strictly nocturnal and frequently encountered at building and street lights. Larvae are notable for their large size, white-margined pronotum, and simple thorn-like hooks on the fifth abdominal segment.
Tetramorium bicarinatum
ghost ant, bicarinatum-group fierce ant
Tetramorium bicarinatum is a widely distributed ant species native to Southeast Asia that has become established globally as a common tramp species. It is frequently found in human-modified environments including houses, greenhouses, and landscaped areas. The species forms mutualistic relationships with honeydew-producing insects such as mealybugs, particularly tending the cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis on agricultural crops. Its venom contains pharmacologically active peptides, including the helix ring peptide Tb11a (bicarinalin), which has attracted research interest for potential biomedical applications.
Toxomerus politus
maize calligrapher
Toxomerus politus, commonly known as the maize calligrapher, is a small hoverfly (Diptera: Syrphidae) measuring 8–9 mm. The species is native to North America but has been introduced and is expanding its distribution across Central and South America, with recent records from Chile. Adults and larvae are associated with corn (Zea mays), feeding on pollen. The species has been studied for its male genitalia morphology and sperm ultrastructure using advanced microscopy techniques.