Andes
Guides
Ancognatha
Ancognatha is a genus of rhinoceros beetles (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini) comprising 22 described species. It represents the fourth most species-rich genus of Neotropical cyclocephaline scarabs. Species in this genus are distinguished from related taxa by their predominance in montane habitats at high elevations, in contrast to the lowland preferences of most other cyclocephalines.
Arequipa
Arequipa is a genus of cacti in the family Cactaceae, established by Britton & Rose in 1922. The genus is named after the city of Arequipa in southern Peru, a major center for cactus diversity in the Andes. Species in this genus are characterized by their columnar or shrubby growth habit and are native to arid and semi-arid regions of southern Peru and northern Chile. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revision, with some species transferred to related genera such as Weberbauerocereus.
Callicorini
Eighty-eights and Allies
Callicorini is a tribe of nymphalid butterflies within the subfamily Biblidinae, commonly known as "eighty-eights and allies" due to distinctive wing patterns resembling the numerals "88" in some species. The tribe includes the genus Perisama, a species-rich group predominantly restricted to Neotropical cloud forests in the Andes, as well as Diaethria and related genera. Phylogenetic studies indicate Miocene divergence between major lineages, with subsequent radiation correlated to Andean orogeny. Members exhibit diverse wing color patterns, though these have proven less geographically stable than historically assumed.
Cremastobombycia
A genus of micromoths in the family Gracillariidae, subfamily Lithocolletinae. Species are leaf miners primarily associated with Asteraceae host plants. The genus was established by Braun in 1908 and includes at least nine described species distributed across the Americas, with recent discoveries extending its range to South American high-elevation Andean habitats. Several species have been investigated for biological control of invasive plants.
Hemiosus
Hemiosus is a genus of water scavenger beetles in the family Hydrophilidae, tribe Berosini. The genus was established by Sharp in 1882. Species within this genus are found in the Neotropical region, particularly in the Andes of Colombia. Recent taxonomic work has described new species based on detailed examination of male genitalia and other morphological features.
Hypoptinae
carpenter moths, goat moths
A subfamily of carpenter moths (Cossidae) distributed primarily in the Neotropical region, with some genera extending into North America. The subfamily includes approximately 10 recognized genera, including Givira, Langsdorfia, and Hypopta. Hypoptinae are characterized by their generally robust body form and nocturnal habits. Many species exhibit distinctive wing patterns ranging from dark, mottled coloration to pale, nearly white forms. The subfamily has been subject to recent taxonomic revision, with new species and genera described from Andean and Brazilian localities.
Lampyrini
glowing fireflies, continuous-light fireflies
Lampyrini is a tribe of fireflies (subfamily Lampyrinae) containing the typical 'glowing' or 'continuous-light' fireflies of the Holarctic region. The tribe includes the type genus Lampyris and formerly recognized Pleotomini, which molecular evidence indicates is a specialized offshoot nested within Lampyrini. Some derived genera, including Paraphausis and Pyrocoelia, have secondarily lost bioluminescent organs and communicate using pheromones instead. The tribe occurs across the Holarctic and includes Andean-endemic lineages such as Pseudolychnuris and Alychnus.
Liodessus
Liodessus is a genus of small diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, tribe Bidessini. Species occur across the Americas from North America through the Andes to southern South America, with notable diversity in high-altitude wetlands and páramo ecosystems. Many species inhabit shallow, exposed pools and temporary water bodies, showing phenotypic plasticity in body form correlated with habitat permanence. The genus contains numerous species, with several new species described from the high Andes of Peru and Colombia in recent years. Taxonomic resolution relies heavily on male genital morphology.
diving-beetleaquatic-insecthigh-altitudepáramoAndesphenotypic-plasticityBidessiniHydroporinaeDytiscidaeColeopterawetlandtemporary-poolpeatlandsubantarctictaxonomymale-genitaliaCOI-barcodecryptic-speciesincipient-speciationhybridizationgeometric-morphometricsenvironmental-sentineldrought-indicatorSouth-AmericaNorth-AmericaFijiNavarino-IslandMagallanesPeruColombiaChileArgentinaBoliviaBogotáJunínCuscoHuánucoCundinamarcaSumapazPunasteppepeat-bogshallow-poolpuddlealtitude-3400-4900mL.-affinis-complexL.-bogotensis-complexL.-chilensisL.-affinisL.-obscurellusL.-noviaffinisL.-saratogaeL.-picinusL.-santarositaL.-alpinusL.-hauthiL.-rhigosL.-thespesiosGuignot-1939ZimmermannSharpLeConteSaySteinheilRégimbartBiströmMillerBalkeFranciscoloSanfilippoPederzaniNilssonYoungClarkHatchMannerheimCaseyAubéBalfour-BrowneBrinckPeschetSolierWhiteZootaxaZooKeysInsect-Systematics-&-EvolutionAnales-del-Instituto-de-la-PatagoniaPLoS-ONEGBIFiNaturalistCatalogue-of-LifeNCBI-TaxonomyBOLDBarcode-of-Life-Data-SystemCOImitochondrial-DNAphylogeographypopulation-structurerange-expansionlineagegenetic-structuresubspecieslectotypeneotypesynonymynew-speciesnew-subspeciesrevisionmorphometricsallometrybody-sizebody-shapeelytrapronotumstriaecolorationpunctationhabitusoccipital-linegenital-morphologyaedeagusparamerediagnosisidentification-keytype-localitytype-specimenetymologybionomicsnatural-historygeographic-distributiondistribution-mapNearcticNeotropicalPatagoniaCape-Horn-Biosphere-Reservedroughtclimate-changeenvironmental-changesentinel-speciesplasticityadaptationphenotypic-variationhydrological-landscapewater-permanencepoolbogAltiplanoAndeanhigh-elevationmontanealpineaquaticfreshwaterlenticloticinsectbeetleAdephagaLiodessusLispinus
Lispinus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Osoriinae) established by Erichson in 1839. Species occur primarily in the Neotropics, with documented diversity in premontane forests of the eastern Peruvian Andes. The genus comprises at least 21 species in Peru alone, distributed across six zoogeographic patterns ranging from endemic to Pan-Neotropical.
Metrichia
Metrichia is a genus of microcaddisflies in the family Hydroptilidae, established by Ross in 1938. The genus belongs to the tribe Ochrotrichiini and is distributed across northern South America, with confirmed records from Colombia. As with other hydroptilids, adults are minute with reduced wing venation and larvae construct portable, silken cases.
Nectopsyche
White Miller Caddisflies, White Millers
Nectopsyche is a genus of caddisflies in the family Leptoceridae, commonly known as white millers. The genus contains at least 70 described species distributed across the Americas, with records from North America through the tropical Andes. Species occupy diverse freshwater habitats ranging from lentic (still-water) environments to lotic (flowing) highland streams. Several species have been studied as bioindicators of aquatic pollution due to their sensitivity to pesticides and heavy metals.
Xylophanes
Xylophanes is a genus of hawkmoths (Sphingidae) containing over 120 described species, making it the most taxonomically diverse genus in the family. The genus originated in Caribbean-Mesoamerica during the Late Miocene and subsequently diversified across Neotropical bioregions through a two-phase pattern involving high speciation rates in the Andes and Caribbean-Mesoamerica followed by dispersal to Amazonia. Members are strong fliers with high dispersal ability and function as pollinators in their ecosystems.