Arctic
Guides
Gynaephora rossii
Ross' tussock moth
Gynaephora rossii is a cold-adapted tussock moth distributed across the Holarctic tundra and alpine regions. The species is notable for its extended larval development period of 7–11 years and its ability to survive freezing temperatures. Adults are active during daylight hours in summer, with males actively searching for females while females are largely sedentary. The caterpillars feed primarily on Saxifraga species and certain willows.
Hahnia glacialis
Hahnia glacialis is a species of dwarf sheet spider in the family Hahniidae, first described by Sørensen in 1898. It is among the smallest members of its family, with adult body lengths under 4 millimeters. The species has a Holarctic distribution, occurring in cold-adapted regions of northern North America and Eurasia. Like other hahniids, it possesses the distinctive comb-like arrangement of spinnerets that gives the family its common name.
Hermanniidae
Hermanniidae is a family of oribatid mites in the order Sarcoptiformes, containing at least three genera—Hermannia, Neohermannia, and Galapagacarus—with approximately 80 described species. Members are primarily soil-dwelling mites with holarctic and pantropical distributions, including significant diversity in Australian wet forests and the Philippines. The family is characterized by stocky body morphology and distinctive setal arrangements that vary among species.
Hippodamia arctica
Arctic lady beetle
Hippodamia arctica is a small lady beetle species in the family Coccinellidae with a Holarctic distribution spanning Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. Adults measure approximately 4–4.5 mm and display a distinctive black body with yellowish-red markings. The species inhabits northern boreal and arctic-alpine regions, with records from British Columbia, Labrador, Yukon, Alaska, and across northern Eurasia.
Hybauchenidium
dwarf spiders
Hybauchenidium is a genus of dwarf spiders in the family Linyphiidae, first described by Å. Holm in 1973. The genus contains four species distributed across high-latitude regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including boreal and arctic areas of North America, Europe, and Asia. Species in this genus are small-bodied spiders characteristic of the sheet-web building Linyphiidae.
Hybauchenidium gibbosum
Hybauchenidium gibbosum is a dwarf spider in the family Linyphiidae, originally described from Greenland by Sørensen in 1898. It has a broad Holarctic distribution spanning northern Eurasia and North America. As with most linyphiids, it is small-bodied and ground-dwelling, though detailed natural history remains poorly documented.
Hypoderma tarandi
Reindeer Warble Fly, Reindeer Botfly, Caribou Bot Fly
Hypoderma tarandi is a parasitic warble fly (Diptera: Oestridae) that infests reindeer and caribou across Arctic and subarctic regions. Adult females lay eggs on host hair shafts; larvae penetrate the skin and develop in subcutaneous tissues, creating warble lesions. The species has exceptionally strong flight capacity in females, with maximum lifetime flight distances estimated at 600–900 km, an adaptation linked to the migratory behavior of its host. Adults do not feed; they rely entirely on fat reserves accumulated during larval development. The species causes economic damage to hides, meat, and milk production in domesticated herds and has been documented causing ophthalmomyiasis in humans.
Hypogastrura
snow fleas
Hypogastrura is a large genus of springtails in the family Hypogastruridae, comprising at least 150 described species with a cosmopolitan distribution. The genus includes the well-known "snow fleas" such as Hypogastrura nivicola, which are conspicuous on snow surfaces in winter. Members are small, typically 1–3 mm, with the characteristic springtail body plan including a furcula for jumping and a ventral collophore. The genus occupies diverse habitats from Arctic tundra to caves and forest floors.
Hypogastrura tooliki
toolik snow flea
Hypogastrura tooliki, commonly known as the toolik snow flea, is a species of springtail in the family Hypogastruridae. It belongs to the genus Hypogastrura, which contains species often found active on snow surfaces during winter months. The species was described by Fjellberg in 1985. Like other members of its genus, it possesses cryoprotectant proteins that enable activity in subfreezing conditions.
Isotoma arctica
Isotoma arctica is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Isotomidae, first described by H. Schött in 1893. The species epithet 'arctica' indicates its association with Arctic regions. Springtails are small, wingless hexapods that play important roles in soil decomposition and nutrient cycling. As a member of the genus Isotoma, it likely exhibits the elongated body form typical of this group, though specific morphological details for this species require direct examination of type specimens or specialized literature.
Isotoma riparia
Isotoma riparia is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Isotomidae, first described by Nicolet in 1842. The specific epithet 'riparia' refers to its association with riparian (riverbank) habitats. It belongs to a diverse genus of elongate-bodied springtails commonly found in moist terrestrial environments. The species has a broad distribution across Arctic, sub-Arctic, and temperate regions of Europe and northern Eurasia.
Isotoma viridis pomona
Isotoma viridis pomona is a subspecies of springtail described by J.W. Folsom in 1937. It belongs to the family Isotomidae, a diverse group of elongate-bodied springtails. Records indicate presence on several Azorean islands (Pico, São Miguel, Terceira) as well as in Arctic, Sub-arctic, and African Indian Desert regions. As a subspecies of the widespread Isotoma viridis, it likely shares the general ecology of this soil-dwelling group, though specific biological details for this particular subspecies remain poorly documented.
Lasionycta leucocycla
Lasionycta leucocycla is a noctuid moth with a broad Holarctic distribution spanning Scandinavia, Siberia, and northern North America. Adults are active from June to July and have been observed feeding on nectar from specific flowering plants. The species exhibits notable subspecific variation across its range, with multiple described subspecies, some of which may represent distinct species.
Lasionycta phoca
Lasionycta phoca is a species of noctuid moth described by Möschler in 1864. It is endemic to eastern and central Canada, occurring from Labrador westward to the coast of Hudson Bay. Adults are active during June and July, exhibiting both diurnal and nocturnal flight patterns over tundra habitats. The species is attracted to light.
Lepthyphantes turbatrix
Lepthyphantes turbatrix is a sheetweb spider in the family Linyphiidae, first described by O. Pickard-Cambridge in 1877. It is known from high-latitude regions including Greenland and North America. Like other linyphiids, it constructs flat, horizontal sheet webs to capture prey. The species has been documented through limited observations, with 17 records on iNaturalist.
Metisotoma
Metisotoma is a genus of elongate-bodied springtails in the family Isotomidae. The genus includes at least four described species, with Metisotoma grandiceps recognized as the only veritable predator among springtails. Species occur primarily in Arctic, subarctic, and montane tundra habitats across the Holarctic region. The genus was established by Maynard in 1951.
Miscodera
A monotypic genus of ground beetles (Carabidae) containing only Miscodera arctica. The genus has a circumpolar Arctic distribution with disjunct populations in northern New England. Its taxonomic placement has been historically disputed, currently assigned to subfamily Broscinae though formerly placed in Trechinae.
Miscodera arctica
Miscodera arctica is a ground beetle (family Carabidae) and the sole species in its genus. It has a Holarctic distribution, occurring across northern regions of North America and Eurasia. The species is placed in the subfamily Broscinae, a group of carabid beetles often associated with cool or montane habitats. As the only member of Miscodera, it represents a monotypic lineage within the diverse ground beetle fauna.
Neohypdonus restrictulus
Restricted Click Beetle
Neohypdonus restrictulus is a click beetle species in the family Elateridae, first described by Mannerheim in 1853. The species is known by the common name Restricted Click Beetle. It is distributed across high-latitude regions of North America, including Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Quebec. As a member of Elateridae, it possesses the family's characteristic click mechanism for righting itself when overturned.
Ochlerotatus implicatus
Ochlerotatus implicatus is a mosquito species in the family Culicidae, first described by Vockeroth in 1954. It has been documented in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of North America, where recent surveillance studies have recorded new distribution records for this species. The species belongs to the Aedes genus complex, which includes many floodwater mosquitoes. Research in northern Canada detected Jamestown Canyon virus in this species, indicating potential vector competence for California serogroup viruses.
Ochlerotatus provocans
Ochlerotatus provocans is a mosquito species in the family Culicidae, first described by Walker in 1848. The species has been documented in North America, with confirmed presence in Vermont. It is part of the Ochlerotatus genus, which was formerly treated as a subgenus of Aedes but is now recognized as distinct by many authorities. The species is known to occur north of the 60th parallel, placing it within Arctic and sub-Arctic regions where it has been investigated as a potential vector for Jamestown Canyon virus.
Odontellidae
springtails
Odontellidae is a family of springtails (Collembola) in the order Poduromorpha, established by Massoud in 1967. The family comprises approximately 9 genera and more than 50 described species, distributed across diverse biogeographic regions including subantarctic, arctic, and temperate zones. Species-level identification relies heavily on chaetotaxy, particularly the number and arrangement of sensilla and chaetae on antennae, tibiotarsi, and the dens.
Oeneis
Arctics, graylings
Oeneis is a genus of butterflies in the subfamily Satyrinae, commonly known as the Arctics or graylings. Members of this genus are remarkable for their adaptation to extreme cold environments, with most species restricted to Arctic, sub-Arctic, or high-altitude alpine habitats. The genus exhibits a disjunct distribution across the Northern Hemisphere, with species found in Europe, Arctic Russia, Siberia, Mongolia, Arctic North America, and the Rocky Mountains. Many species have biennial life cycles, with development typically spanning two years. The genus comprises approximately 32 recognized species arranged into several species groups based on phylogenetic relationships.
Oeneis alpina
sentinel Arctic, Eskimo Arctic
Oeneis alpina is a butterfly in the subfamily Satyrinae, commonly known as the sentinel Arctic or Eskimo Arctic. The species has a wingspan of approximately 40 mm and exhibits sexual dimorphism in size and coloration. It occurs in a single annual generation during June and July, with males congregating on hilltops and rocky tundra features while females oviposit in wet boggy areas. The species is distinguished from its congener Oeneis chryxus by the number of hindwing eyespots.
Oeneis bore
white-veined Arctic, Arctic grayling
Oeneis bore is a circumpolar butterfly in the subfamily Satyrinae, occurring across Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia. It inhabits cold, open environments including tundra, taiga, and alpine slopes. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in wing coloration and is univoltine with a two-year life cycle in many populations. Larvae feed on sedges and grasses, while adults nectar on available flowers.
Oeneis jutta
Jutta Arctic, Baltic grayling
Oeneis jutta, known as the Jutta Arctic or Baltic grayling, is a butterfly of the subfamily Satyrinae with a Circumboreal distribution spanning northern Eurasia and North America. The species inhabits cold, open environments including bogs and tundra. Larvae feed primarily on sedges and cottongrass, while adults nectar on Ledum palustre. The species exhibits a flexible life cycle with one generation every one to two years depending on location.
Oeneis melissa
Melissa Arctic
Oeneis melissa, the Melissa Arctic, is a Holarctic butterfly species in the family Nymphalidae. It inhabits cold, high-elevation and high-latitude environments including arctic tundra and alpine zones. The species exhibits a biennial or partially biennial life cycle adapted to short growing seasons. Multiple subspecies have been described across its range, including the endemic O. m. semidea in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Oeneis nevadensis
Great Arctic, Nevada Arctic, great grayling, Felder's Arctic, Pacific Arctic
Oeneis nevadensis, commonly called the great Arctic, is the largest western Arctic butterfly with a wingspan of 5.1–6.3 cm. It is distinguished by its biennial life cycle, with adults appearing only in even-numbered years for most populations. The species occurs in high-elevation habitats of the Cascade Mountains from southern British Columbia to northern California, where it represents the southernmost range limit for this Arctic group in western North America.
Oeneis philipi
Philip's Arctic
Oeneis philipi, known as Philip's Arctic, is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae described by Troubridge in 1988. It belongs to the genus Oeneis, commonly referred to as the Arctics, which are associated with high mountain habitats across western North America. The species is part of a group that has been noted for its ecological sensitivity to habitat disturbance, including wildfire. Like other Oeneis species, it likely exhibits the reduced wing patterns and cryptic coloration characteristic of alpine butterflies.
Oeneis uhleri
Uhler's Arctic
Oeneis uhleri, commonly known as Uhler's Arctic, is a butterfly species in the family Nymphalidae. It is a member of the 'Arctic' group of butterflies, named for their association with high-elevation and northern habitats. The species exhibits a univoltine life cycle with fourth-instar larvae overwintering. Larvae feed on specific grass genera including Festuca, Koeleria, and Poa. The species is distributed across western North America from Alaska to northern New Mexico, with multiple recognized subspecies occupying distinct geographic ranges.
Oreoneta
A genus of dwarf spiders (family Linyphiidae) established in 1894, comprising approximately 30 species distributed across cold-temperate and Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Most species inhabit high-latitude or high-altitude environments. The genus was revised extensively by Saaristo & Marusik in 2004, resulting in numerous new species descriptions.
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groenlandica
Groenland Wolf Spider, Greenland Wolf Spider
Pardosa groenlandica is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, commonly known as the Groenland Wolf Spider or Greenland Wolf Spider. It is one of approximately 65 Pardosa species recognized in the United States and 75 species north of Mexico. The species has a notably broad distribution spanning arctic and subarctic regions across multiple continents.
Parnassius
Apollos, snow Apollos
Parnassius is a genus of cold-adapted butterflies found in northern circumpolar regions and high-elevation montane habitats including the Alps and Himalayas. These butterflies exhibit altitudinal melanism—dark bodies and darkened wing bases that facilitate rapid solar warming in cold environments. Despite belonging to the swallowtail family Papilionidae, they lack the characteristic tail extensions. The genus comprises 38–47 disputed species and serves as an important model system for studying metapopulation dynamics, population genetics, and thermal ecology in the context of climate change.
Parnassius eversmanni
Eversmann's parnassian
Parnassius eversmanni, or Eversmann's parnassian, is a high-altitude butterfly in the swallowtail family Papilionidae. It occurs across a broad transcontinental range spanning eastern Russia, Mongolia, Japan, Alaska, and the Yukon. The species was named in honor of Eduard Friedrich Eversmann. Like other Parnassius species, it exhibits complex wing pattern variation with numerous described subspecies and forms, making identification challenging without examination of structural characters.
Pelophila borealis
boreal mud-loving beetle
Pelophila borealis is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Nebriinae, first described by Gustaf von Paykull in 1790. It is a small, shiny black beetle measuring 9.5–10.1 mm in length. The species has a Holarctic distribution, occurring across northern Eurasia and North America.
Pemphigus populiglobuli
poplar bullet gall aphid
Pemphigus populiglobuli is a Nearctic aphid species known for forming bullet-shaped galls on poplar leaves during its primary generation. The Svalbard High Arctic population represents a remarkable secondary generation that has lost its primary host association and adapted to year-round root-feeding on grasses. Molecular analyses confirmed these specimens belong to P. populiglobuli rather than the historically assumed P. groenlandicus. The study proposes synonymizing P. groenlandicus and its subspecies crassicornis under P. populiglobuli based on morphometric similarity across Arctic and European populations.
Pieris angelika
Arctic White
Pieris angelika, commonly known as the Arctic White, is a cold-adapted butterfly in the family Pieridae. It occurs in subarctic and boreal regions of northwestern North America. The species was described by Eitschberger in 1984, though its taxonomic status may be subject to revision due to potential earlier descriptions. It is one of the few Pieris species specialized for high-latitude environments.
Pilophorus
Matchstick Lichens, Ant-mimicking plant bugs
Pilophorus is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Cladoniaceae, commonly known as matchstick lichens due to their distinctive upright, stalked fruiting bodies. The genus contains approximately 11 species with a widespread distribution, particularly in temperate regions. Some species occur in Arctic environments, including recently deglaciated zones. The genus name is also shared with a group of ant-mimetic plant bugs (Hemiptera: Miridae), but these are unrelated taxa.
Platycheirus hyperboreus
Pearly Sedgesitter
Platycheirus hyperboreus, commonly known as the Pearly Sedgesitter, is a small hoverfly (Syrphidae) distributed across boreal and arctic regions of North America and northern Europe. Adults are 5.3–8.7 mm in length and exhibit distinctive abdominal patterning with pale spots on dark segments. The species is recognized by its modified front legs, which are yellow with gradually dilated tibiae—an adaptation associated with its common name. It occurs in northern latitudes ranging from Alaska and Greenland through Scandinavia to northern Siberia.
Platypalpus
dance fly, hybotid dance fly
Platypalpus is a large genus of hybotid dance flies comprising at least 580 described species worldwide, with over 200 species in Europe alone. These small predatory flies are characterized by their compact bodies, enlarged compound eyes that occupy most of the head, and raptorial front legs adapted for seizing prey. Adults are active predators that feed on small insects, while larvae occupy diverse microhabitats including leaf litter, soil, and aquatic environments. The genus has been documented in agricultural ecosystems, particularly cereal crops and greenhouses, where they may contribute to pest regulation.
Polistes dominula
European Paper Wasp
Polistes dominula is a highly successful invasive social wasp native to Eurasia that has established populations across North America, South America, New Zealand, South Africa, and other regions. First detected in North America near Boston in 1978, it has become one of the most abundant wasps on the continent. The species builds small, exposed paper nests in protected locations and preys primarily on live insects, particularly caterpillars. Unlike yellowjackets, it does not scavenge for meat or sugar. Its rapid spread has been attributed to ecological flexibility, superior competitive ability, and tolerance of human-altered environments.
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Praestigia is a genus of sheet-weaving spiders (family Linyphiidae) described by Alfred Frank Millidge in 1954. The genus is distinguished by a unique male cephalic projection bearing a detachable cap composed of interconnected fibers bound with a waxy substance. Eight species are recognized, distributed across boreal and arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The etymology combines Latin 'prae' (before/in front) and Greek 'stigios' (awl), referencing this distinctive projection.
Ptenothrix palmata
Ptenothrix palmata is a species of globular springtail in the family Dicyrtomidae, first described by Folsom in 1902. As a member of the order Symphypleona, it possesses the rounded, globular body form characteristic of this group. The species has been documented from Arctic, subarctic, and northern North American regions, including Pacific North America. Like other dicyrtomids, it inhabits moist microhabitats in forest floor environments.
Pterostichus brevicornis
Woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus brevicornis is a circumpolar ground beetle in the family Carabidae, subgenus Cryobius. It is one of the most abundant and widespread tundra beetles, occurring across Arctic and Subarctic regions from Newfoundland to the Kola Peninsula and Arctic Ocean islands. The species exhibits high genetic and morphological variability across its range, with 23 documented COI haplotypes. It is cold-adapted with a two-year life cycle involving summer breeding and winter hibernation of both adults and larvae.
Sitona aquilonius
Sitona aquilonius is a species of weevil in the family Curculionidae, described by Bright in 1994. It is known from high-latitude regions of North America including Alaska, the Yukon Territory, and the Northwest Territories. Like other members of the genus Sitona, it is expected to be associated with leguminous plants, though specific host records for this species are not documented in available sources.
Stenoptilia mengeli
Mengel's Plume Moth
Stenoptilia mengeli is a small plume moth (family Pterophoridae) described by Fernald in 1898. It is known from Arctic regions of Greenland and Nunavut, Canada. The species is characterized by its ashy grey coloration with distinctive dark markings on the wings. It is among the least genetically divergent Stenoptilia species, showing close relationship to Stenoptilia islandicus.
Sympistis lapponica
Sympistis lapponica is a small noctuid moth first described by Thunberg in 1791. It occurs across boreal and arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including Fennoscandia, northern Russia, Asia, and northern North America. The species is notable for its two-year life cycle, overwintering first as an egg and again as a pupa.
Symplecta
Symplecta is a genus of crane flies in the family Limoniidae, established by Meigen in 1830. The genus contains multiple subgenera, with subgenus Symplecta sensu stricto comprising Arctic and partly Arctic distributed species. Species-level taxonomy within this group has undergone recent revision, with several species redescribed, new species described from Canada and Russia, and taxonomic synonyms resolved. The genus is characterized by distinctive male and female terminalia morphology used for species identification.
Symplecta cana
Symplecta cana is a crane fly species in the family Limoniidae, subgenus Symplecta sensu stricto. It has a broad distribution across northern North America, extending from Alaska and Arctic Canada southward throughout the contiguous United States, and reaching into Mexico and Guatemala. Taxonomic revision has clarified its distinction from the closely related S. hybrida, with which it occurs sympatrically and syntopically in some regions.
Syngrapha alticola
Alticola Looper Moth, Alpine Beauty
Syngrapha alticola is a small noctuid moth found in high-elevation and Arctic environments across North America. The species occurs above treeline from Newfoundland to Alaska, with disjunct populations extending southward in the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada to central California and Colorado. Adults are active during mid-summer, with two generations per year in at least part of the range. The species is one of relatively few Lepidoptera specialized for life in alpine tundra habitats.