Aptery
Guides
Allocapnia rickeri
Midwest Snowfly
Allocapnia rickeri is a small winter stonefly in the family Capniidae, commonly known as the Midwest Snowfly. It is one of numerous small, dark stoneflies in the genus Allocapnia that emerge during cold months when few other insects are active. The species has been documented across the central and eastern United States. Like other capniids, it is associated with clean, cold streams and is an important indicator of water quality.
winter-stoneflybioindicatorcoldwaterPlecopteraCapniidaeAllocapnialoticemergencebrachypteryapterygenitalia-identificationFrison-1942Midwestsoutheastern-USclean-water-indicatorJanuary-Marchsmall-stoneflywingless-femalestream-insectshreddergathererseasonal-resourcewater-qualityaquatic-insectterrestrial-adultshort-lived-adultovipositionsubmerged-eggshigh-dissolved-oxygenlow-temperaturecentral-USeastern-USAlabamaArkansasDelawareGeorgiaIllinoishexapodhemimetabolousEuholognathaNemouroideaArctoperlariaInsectaArthropodaAnimaliaGBIFCatalogue-of-LifeiNaturalistNCBItaxonomyaccepted-species1942FrisonRickerMidwest-Snowflysnowflysmall-dark-stoneflyclean-streamsriverswell-oxygenatedlotic-habitatcold-monthswinter-activitywing-reductionfemale-apterymale-flightepiproctparaproctterminaliataxonomic-revisioncongenersdistribution-recordsobservations9-observationseukaryotemetazoanarthropodinsectstoneflywinter-emergingJanuaryFebruaryMarchcold-weathernear-freezingbelow-freezingwater-surfacesubmerged-substratesallochthonous-organic-materialstream-ecosystemsseasonal-food-resourceinsectivorous-birdspredatorsscarce-preyunpollutedno-economic-importancestream-monitoringwater-quality-indicatorhigh-quality-coldwatermicroscopic-examinationtaxonomic-keysmale-terminaliareliable-separationgenitalic-examinationoverlapping-distributionsimilar-habitatsmall-sizeunder-10-mmbody-lengthreduced-wingsabsent-wingsfully-developed-wingsspecific-identificationpublished-descriptionsillustrationssubsequent-revisionscharacteristicfamily-Capniidaecommon-nameextended-nymphal-periodone-to-two-yearsshort-liveddoes-not-feedaquatic-nymphclean-cold-streamslow-temperaturesyear-roundwinter-monthsJanuary-through-Marchfamilycentered-Midwestextends-southeasternUnited-Statesdocumentedappearsmost-reliablydistinguishedsubtle-differencesterminal-abdominal-structuresshould-be-comparedagainstpublishedsubsequentgenus-levelcharacterizedreducedabsentfemalesfully-developedmalesrequires-examinationmale-genitaliastructureparaproctsreliableseparationoverlapssimilarmanyexternallydefinitivereliesmicroscopicexaminationcomparisonkeysusedbiologicalindicatorprogramspresenceindicatescoldconditionsno-directeconomicimportanceshreddersgatherersprocessingallochthonousorganicmaterialstreamecosystemsseasonalfoodresourceinsectivorousbirdsotherwhenalternativepreyscarceserveshigh-qualityhabitatsdevelopmentaquaticnymphalstagesterrestrialadultstagenymphsdevelopstreamsextendedperiodlikelyonetwoyearsbasedrelatedspeciesadultsdo-notfeedactiveduringweatherairtemperaturesmaynearbelowfreezingwingedcapableflightwinglessshort-wingedremainwatersurfacematingoccurwinterenteringdepositeggssubmergedsubstratessmallcommonlyknownnumerousdarkemergefewinsectscentraleasternassociatedcleanimportantundermmbodylengthmembersgenuswingspossessfullydevelopedspecificidentificationlevelwithinrequiresmalegenitaliaparticularlymostreliablysubtledifferencestheseterminalabdominalstructuresshouldcompareddescriptionstaxonomicrevisionswinter-emergingmaintainlowhighdissolvedoxygenlevelsthroughoutyearUnitedStatesdistributioncenteredextendssoutheasternmonthstypicallythroughthisactivitygivesrisecommonnamedonotprovidesqualitymonitoringnodirecthabitatmorphologysizegenitalicColaspidea
Colaspidea is a genus of leaf beetles in the subfamily Eumolpinae. The genus exhibits a disjunct distribution, occurring in the Mediterranean region and in western North America (California and the southwestern United States). A notable morphological distinction exists between regional species: North American species possess fully developed wings, while Mediterranean species are wingless. Recent phylogenetic hypotheses suggest that Mediterranean Colaspidea may be sister to Chalcosicya, with Colaspina sister to both combined; North American species may represent a separate genus. The genus currently contains 19 described species.
Cysteodemus armatus
inflated beetle, inflated blister beetle
Cysteodemus armatus is a flightless blister beetle in the family Meloidae, distinguished by its dramatically inflated elytra that form a rounded, dome-like covering. The species occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of southwestern North America and Central America. Its fused wing covers render it incapable of flight, an unusual trait among beetles. The beetle's distinctive appearance and defensive chemistry align with typical meloid characteristics, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Dipara
Dipara is a genus of minute parasitoid wasps in the family Diparidae (Chalcidoidea), first described by Walker in 1833. The genus exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism: females are typically wingless (apterous) or short-winged (brachypterous) with clavate antennae, while males are fully winged (macropterous) with filiform antennae. Species are collected primarily from leaf litter and soil habitats using yellow pan traps. Despite flightless females suggesting limited dispersal, some species show minimal phylogeographic structure across broad geographic ranges.
Floritettix aptera
Wingless Florida Grasshopper
Floritettix aptera, commonly known as the wingless Florida grasshopper, is a species of spur-throated grasshopper in the family Acrididae. The specific epithet "aptera" refers to its wingless condition, a distinctive trait among grasshoppers. The species is endemic to Florida and belongs to the genus Floritettix, which is part of the diverse Melanoplinae subfamily.
Georissidae
minute mud-loving beetles
Georissidae is a small family of beetles commonly known as minute mud-loving beetles, containing the single genus Georissus. Members are tiny insects typically found in wet soil and riparian environments near water. Some species have been documented in atypical habitats such as cloud forest leaf litter. The family exhibits notable morphological and behavioral diversity, including psammophory (sand adherence for camouflage) in some subgenera and aptery (winglessness) in certain species.
Georissus
minute mud-loving beetles
Georissus is the sole genus in the family Georissidae, comprising approximately 75 described species of minute beetles. Members are distinguished by their habit of psammophory—actively covering their elytra with sand or mud particles as a defensive adaptation. The genus exhibits notable ecological flexibility, with most species inhabiting riparian mud and sand, while some populations occupy tropical rainforest leaf litter and cloud forest terrestrial habitats. The genus is divided into three subgenera: Georissus, Neogeorissus, and Nipponogeorissus.
Lagriinae
Long-jointed Beetles
Lagriinae is a subfamily of darkling beetles within the family Tenebrionidae, comprising more than 270 genera grouped into 11 tribes. Adults are medium-sized (5–12 mm) with characteristic Tenebrionidae features including a 5-5-4 tarsal formula and antennal bases concealed by canthi. The subfamily is notable for its defensive symbiosis with Burkholderia bacteria that produce the antifungal compound lagriamide, protecting eggs and larvae from antagonistic fungi. This symbiosis has evolved through multiple independent horizontal acquisition events rather than strict co-diversification.
Stenopodainae
Stenopodainae is a subfamily of assassin bugs (Reduviidae) containing approximately 113 genera and ~770 species worldwide. Members are predominantly tropical, with many species associated with soil or sand substrates. The subfamily is characterized by distinctive morphological features including prominent mandibular plates and a modified antennal structure. Many species exhibit wing reduction (aptery) and cryptic coloration. Some species have been observed to use plant-derived resin on their forelegs to aid in prey capture.
Tychobythinus
Tychobythinus is a genus of small rove beetles in the subfamily Pselaphinae (Staphylinidae). The genus is widely distributed across the Palearctic region, including North Africa, southern and Central Europe, the Caucasus, Japan, far eastern Russia, and southeastern China. Several species exhibit troglobitic adaptations, including reduced pigmentation, microphthalmia, winglessness, and elongated appendages. The genus contains at least 44 species and subspecies in Italy alone, with ongoing taxonomic revisions clarifying species boundaries and synonymies.