Amazon
Guides
Acreophthiria
Acreophthiria is a genus of bee flies in the family Bombyliidae, established by Evenhuis in 1986. It belongs to the subfamily Phthiriinae and tribe Phthiriini. The genus is known from the Neotropical region, with species documented primarily from Brazil. As with other bombyliids, members are likely parasitoids, though specific host associations remain poorly documented.
Alcaeorrhynchus grandis
Giant Strong-nosed Stink Bug
Alcaeorrhynchus grandis is a large predatory stink bug reaching approximately 20 mm in length. It is a member of the subfamily Asopinae within Pentatomidae, a group characterized by predatory rather than herbivorous habits. The species has been studied as a potential biological control agent for lepidopteran pests in agricultural systems, particularly in palm oil plantations in the Brazilian Amazon. Its life cycle stages have been documented for field identification purposes.
Amblyomma cajennense
Cayenne tick
Amblyomma cajennense, commonly known as the Cayenne tick, is a hard tick species historically considered to range from the southern United States through Central America and the Caribbean to northern Argentina. Molecular studies have revealed this 'species' is actually a complex of multiple cryptic species, with A. cajennense sensu stricto now restricted to the Amazonian region of South America. The species complex is of significant medical and veterinary importance as a vector of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other rickettsial diseases.
Azeta ceramina
Azeta ceramina is a moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by Hübner in 1806. It belongs to the subfamily Erebinae, a diverse group of nocturnal moths commonly known as underwings. The species is recorded from the Amazon region of Brazil. Available information is limited, with few documented observations.
Camponotus atriceps
Tropical Carpenter Ant
Camponotus atriceps is a large carpenter ant species endemic to the Americas, ranging from the southern United States through Central and South America. In the Amazon region, it has been documented attacking colonies of stingless bees (Melipona flavolineata and M. fasciculata), destroying hives and consuming brood when food resources are scarce. The species occupies diverse moist forested habitats from sea level to 2,290 meters elevation. Research in Brazil has demonstrated that empty hive 'trap boxes' can attract these ants, providing a non-chemical control method for managed bee colonies. Workers of this species have been shown to bioaccumulate heavy metals, indicating potential use as environmental contamination indicators.
Cladochaeta
Cladochaeta is a genus of small flies in the family Drosophilidae, established by Coquillett in 1900. The genus belongs to the tribe Cladochaetini and is part of the diverse acalyptrate fly radiation. At least one species has been documented from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest in association with spittlebug nymphs. The genus is morphologically and ecologically distinct from the homonymous plant genus in Asteraceae.
Cyphoderus similis
Cyphoderus similis is an elongate-bodied springtail species in the family Paronellidae, described by J.W. Folsom in 1927. It is myrmecophilic and has been documented in phoretic association with the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). The species occurs across multiple insular and coastal regions including the Caribbean, Hawaii, Macaronesia, and the Amazon basin.
Desmopachria
Desmopachria is a genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, tribe Hyphydrini. The genus contains over 80 described species distributed primarily in the Americas, from the United States through Central America to South America, with particular diversity in the Amazon basin and Caribbean islands. Species are associated with aquatic habitats including river floodplains and high-altitude forest streams. Multiple new species have been described in recent decades, indicating ongoing taxonomic work and likely remaining undescribed diversity.
Ectomis
Ectomis is a genus of skipper butterflies in the family Hesperiidae, subfamily Eudaminae. The genus was established by Mabille in 1878 and contains approximately 30 recognized species distributed across the Neotropical and southern Nearctic regions. Species within Ectomis exhibit considerable variation in wing pattern and distribution, with many restricted to specific regions of Central and South America. The genus is divided into two subgeneric groupings: Ectomis (Ectomis) and Ectomis (Asina).
Epitausa coppryi
Epitausa coppryi is a species of owlet moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Guenée in 1852. It belongs to the subfamily Eulepidotinae and tribe Panopodini. The species has been recorded in North America with additional presence in the Amazon region of Brazil and French Guiana. It is assigned MONA/Hodges number 8581.1.
Hydaticini
Hydaticini is a tribe of diving beetles (family Dytiscidae, subfamily Dytiscinae) established by Sharp in 1880. Members of this tribe are aquatic predators found in freshwater habitats. The tribe includes the genus Hydaticus, with species documented from the Neotropics including the Amazon basin and Brazilian highlands.
Jubini
Jubini is a tribe of minute rove beetles within the subfamily Pselaphinae (Staphylinidae), first described by Raffray in 1898. Members of this tribe are Neotropical in distribution and are among the most abundant beetles in rainforest leaf litter. The tribe contains genera such as Morphogenia, which exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism. Despite their ecological abundance, the biology and ecological roles of Jubini remain poorly studied due to limited taxonomic expertise.
Lachnophorini
Lachnophorini is a tribe of ground beetles (family Carabidae) comprising approximately 18 genera and more than 190 described species. The tribe exhibits remarkable morphological diversity and divergent ecological habits, with most species being very small (less than 3.74 mm in adult body length). A 2014 taxonomic synopsis added a new genus (Peruphorticus) and 24 new species, significantly expanding known diversity. The tribe shows distinct biogeographic patterns, with Neotropical species in the Amazon Basin and Middle and South America, and additional representatives in the Paleotropics and Australia. Recent research indicates local ecological adaptation and morphological convergence related to habitat use within the Amazon Basin radiation.
Leucotabanus
White Horse Flies
Leucotabanus is a genus of horse flies (family Tabanidae) established by Lutz in 1913. The genus comprises approximately 16 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region, with particular diversity in the Amazon basin. Members are commonly referred to as White Horse Flies. Species-level taxonomy has been revised in recent decades, with several species described by Fairchild in the mid-20th century and a new species, L. fairchildi, described in 2019.
Lucidotini
fireflies, lightning bugs
Lucidotini is the largest tribe of fireflies (Lampyridae), comprising approximately 34 genera and 849 species—nearly one-third of all described firefly species worldwide. The tribe is taxonomically challenging due to overlapping diagnostic features across taxonomic levels and historical reliance on homoplastic morphological characters. Recent phylogenetic studies incorporating terminalia and genital traits have substantially improved genus-level delimitations within the group.
Microcentrini
angle-wing katydids, angle-winged katydids
Microcentrini is a tribe of katydids within the subfamily Phaneropterinae, commonly known as angle-winged katydids. The tribe comprises approximately 17 genera and 102 species with a Neotropical distribution, centered in the Amazon Rainforest. Members are characterized by their distinctive wing morphology, with expanded, often angular forewings. The tribe has been the subject of recent taxonomic revision, with numerous new genera and species described from Amazonian localities.
Neogriphoneura striatifrons
Neogriphoneura striatifrons is a species of lauxaniid fly described by Hendel in 1932. The species is known from limited records in the Brazilian Amazon, specifically from Pará and Roraima states. Lauxaniidae are a family of small to medium-sized flies often associated with decomposing plant matter.
Notocyphus
Notocyphus is a genus of spider wasps and the sole genus in the monotypic subfamily Notocyphinae. These wasps are known to parasitize tarantulas, including arboreal species in the subfamily Aviculariinae and terrestrial species in Theraphosinae. The genus occurs in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, with documented host associations in the Amazon region of Ecuador and Brazil.
Otidocephalini
antlike weevils
Otidocephalini is a tribe of antlike weevils in the family Curculionidae, characterized by morphological adaptations resembling ants. The tribe comprises at least 6 genera including Laemomerus, Micromyrmex, Myrmex, Oopterinus, Otidocephalus, and Ptinopsis. Members occur in North and South America, with notable diversity in the Amazon and Atlantic Forest regions. Formerly classified as a subfamily (Otidocephalinae), the group now holds tribal rank within Curculionidae.
Philosciidae
Philosciid Woodlice
Philosciidae is a family of terrestrial isopod crustaceans commonly known as woodlice. The family exhibits a cosmopolitan distribution with strong representation in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in the Americas, Africa, and Oceania. Species diversity is highest in the Neotropics, with numerous genera and species described from Brazil alone. Several species have adapted to cave environments (troglobitic), including notable examples in the genera Benthana and Benthanoides from iron-ore caves in the Amazon biome. The family is less diverse in the Holarctic realm, where only a few species occur.
Pseudisobrachium
flat wasps
Pseudisobrachium is a genus of chrysidoid wasps in the family Bethylidae, commonly known as flat wasps. The genus was erected by Kieffer in 1904 and has undergone substantial taxonomic expansion, particularly from the Brazilian Amazon region where 33 new species were described in a 2024 monograph. The genus now contains approximately 40+ species, with most diversity concentrated in Neotropical regions.
Stactobiinae
microcaddisflies
Stactobiinae is a subfamily of microcaddisflies within the family Hydroptilidae, comprising 479 species worldwide. The subfamily is taxonomically diverse, with species distinguished primarily by detailed morphological features of adult male genitalia, including the structure of inferior appendages and phallic apex. In Brazil, 15 species have been documented, most of which are endemic to the Amazon rainforest and Atlantic Forest biomes. Recent taxonomic work has expanded knowledge of the subfamily in South America through the description of new species and documentation of new distribution records.
Urania
Urania is a genus of day-flying moths in the family Uraniidae, established by Fabricius in 1807. The genus name derives from Greek mythology, meaning 'heavenly' or 'of heaven,' referencing the muse of astronomy. These moths are notable for their exceptionally bright, iridescent coloration that rivals or exceeds that of butterflies. The genus includes species that exhibit distinctive behaviors such as puddling along riverbanks to obtain mineral salts.