Arkansas
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-emergingmaintainlowhighdissolvedoxygenlevelsthroughoutyearUnitedStatesdistributioncenteredextendssoutheasternmonthstypicallythroughthisactivitygivesrisecommonnamedonotprovidesqualitymonitoringnodirecthabitatmorphologysizegenitalicBuprestis lineata
Lined Buprestid Beetle, lined buprestris
Buprestis lineata is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. Adults have been observed on the lower trunks of shortleaf pines (Pinus echinata) in Arkansas, where they congregate to mate. The species is one of several wood-boring beetles associated with pine trees in the southeastern United States.
Callophrys irus hadros
Frosted Elfin
Callophrys irus hadros is a subspecies of Frosted Elfin butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It has been studied in Arkansas where research has examined its distribution and habitat preferences. The subspecies is part of a complex of elfin butterflies that occur in North America. Limited observational data exists, with only 10 records documented on iNaturalist.
Carposina simulator
Carposina simulator is a moth species in the family Carposinidae, described by Donald R. Davis in 1969. The species is known from a single location in Arkansas, USA, and belongs to a family whose larvae typically bore into fruits or plant tissues. Very little is known about its biology, appearance, or ecological role.
Causeyella
Causeyella is a genus of troglobitic (cave-dwelling) millipedes in the family Trichopetalidae, order Chordeumatida. The genus was established by Shear in 2003 and comprises three species: C. causeyae, C. dendropus, and C. youngsteadtorum. These millipedes are restricted to cave habitats in the southern Ozarks region of the United States.
Chrysotus arkansensis
Chrysotus arkansensis is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae. It was described by Van Duzee in 1930 based on six specimens collected from Fayetteville, Arkansas in 1906. As a member of the genus Chrysotus, it belongs to a diverse group of small to medium-sized predatory flies. The species remains poorly known, with no subsequent records or biological studies published since its original description.
Epitrix fuscula
eggplant flea beetle
Epitrix fuscula, commonly known as the eggplant flea beetle, is a flea beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae. It is recognized as a significant agricultural pest of eggplant (Solanum melongena) in North America. The species has been studied specifically in Arkansas production areas where it affects crop yields through feeding damage.
Neotrombidium beeri
Neotrombidium beeri is a species of velvet mite in the family Microtrombidiidae. Its larvae have been documented as subelytral parasites of false mealworm beetles in Arkansas. Like other members of Parasitengona, this species exhibits a complex life history involving parasitic larval stages and predatory adults. The species represents part of the poorly understood diversity of terrestrial parasitengone mites in North America.
Norvellina bicolorata
Norvellina bicolorata is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Ball in 1905. The genus Norvellina belongs to the tribe Platymetopiini within the subfamily Deltocephalinae, a diverse group of leafhoppers characterized by their small size and often colorful appearance. Like other members of the family, this species possesses piercing-sucking mouthparts used to feed on plant sap. The specific epithet "bicolorata" suggests a two-colored coloration pattern, though detailed descriptions of its appearance are not readily available in the provided sources.
Onthophagus cavernicollis
Cave-dwelling Dung Beetle
Onthophagus cavernicollis is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Howden and Cartwright in 1963. The species epithet "cavernicollis" suggests a possible association with cave or subterranean habitats, though specific ecological details remain limited. Like other members of the genus Onthophagus, it is presumed to be a dung-feeding beetle involved in nutrient recycling. The species has been documented in the south-central United States.
Oopterinus distinctus
Oopterinus distinctus is a species of weevil in the family Curculionidae, described by O'Brien in 1985. The species was initially known from only four counties in Arkansas at its discovery but has since been documented in additional counties in Arkansas as well as Louisiana and Alabama by 2016. As a member of the diverse Curculionidae family, it belongs to one of the largest groups of beetles, though specific ecological details remain limited.
Pamphilius middlekauffi
Pamphilius middlekauffi is a species of sawfly in the family Pamphiliidae, suborder Symphyta. It is one of 30 sawfly species newly recorded in Arkansas during field work by Dr. Michael Skvarla, representing a significant range extension from previously known localities. The species belongs to a group of plant-feeding wasps whose larvae develop on plant material.
Pamphilius pallimaculus
Pamphilius pallimaculus is a species of web-spinning sawfly in the family Pamphiliidae. It is one of 30 sawfly species newly documented in Arkansas through field research by Dr. Michael Skvarla, representing a significant range extension from previously known localities. The species belongs to a group of plant-feeding wasps whose larvae spin protective webs on host plants.
Paraphlepsius rileyi
Paraphlepsius rileyi is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Baker in 1898. It belongs to the subfamily Deltocephalinae and tribe Pendarini. The species has been recorded from multiple U.S. states including Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Kansas. Like other leafhoppers, it is a small, plant-feeding insect with piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Parthenicus sedumicola
Parthenicus sedumicola is a plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Henry in 2007. The species is known from Arkansas, USA. The specific epithet "sedumicola" suggests an association with Sedum plants (stonecrops), though direct ecological documentation is limited. It belongs to the large and diverse genus Parthenicus within the plant bug family Miridae.
Periploca cata
Periploca cata is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, described by Ronald W. Hodges in 1962. It is known from a limited distribution in the central United States, specifically Illinois and Arkansas. The species has a documented association with Gymnosporangium galls on Juniperus species, where its larvae feed.
Phyllophaga karlsioei
May beetle, June beetle
Phyllophaga karlsioei is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, one of over 400 species in the genus Phyllophaga found in North America. Like other May beetles, it is likely nocturnal with adults emerging in late spring to early summer. The genus is characterized by larvae that feed on plant roots in soil, earning them the common name 'white grubs.'
Pogonomyrmex comanche
Comanche harvester ant
Pogonomyrmex comanche, the Comanche harvester ant, is an endangered harvester ant species endemic to the western Gulf Coastal Plain of North America. Genetic studies indicate central Texas serves as the center of genetic diversity, consistent with Pleistocene refugia patterns observed in many regional species. Northern populations in Arkansas and Oklahoma exhibit lower genetic diversity and evidence of population contraction rather than recent range expansion. The species shows signs of dispersal limitation, with high genetic diversity and few identical sequences among sampled individuals. Its decline appears driven by a combination of habitat loss and limited dispersal capacity, though exact mechanisms remain under investigation.
Polystoechotes punctata
giant lacewing
Polystoechotes punctata is a giant lacewing in the family Ithonidae, reaching up to two inches in length. The species was considered extirpated from eastern North America by the 1950s but was rediscovered in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2012 when an individual was found on a Walmart facade. The specimen was misidentified until 2020. The species shows evidence of a distributional shift, with eastern populations declining and western populations becoming more prominent.
Scaphinotus parisiana
Ozark Snail-eating Beetle
Scaphinotus parisiana, commonly known as the Ozark Snail-eating Beetle, is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is endemic to the Ozark region, specifically found in Arkansas within the Ouachita Mountains. Adults are brachypterous (short-winged) and nocturnal, inhabiting deciduous forest habitats. The species is one of the snail-eating beetles in the genus Scaphinotus, which are specialized predators of terrestrial mollusks.
Tanyptera dorsalis
Antlered Crane Fly
Tanyptera dorsalis is a species of crane fly in the family Tipulidae, commonly known as the Antlered Crane Fly. Males are distinguished by prominent antler-like projections on the head. The species occurs in eastern North America, with records from Canada and the United States.
crane-flyTipulidaeantleredsexual-dimorphismNearcticDipteraNematocerainsectmale-ornamentationTanypteraNorth-AmericaCanadaUnited-StatesMichiganVermontOntarioQuebecMinnesotaIllinoisTennesseeNorth-CarolinaArkansasNewfoundlandTipulomorphaHexapodaPterygotaInsectaArthropodaAnimaliaWalker-1848speciesacceptedexact-matchobservediNaturalistGBIFdistributionbiologyreviewmalehead-projectionsornamentationsexual-selectionidentificationdiagnostic-traitfield-guideentomologynatural-historybiodiversitytaxonomysystematicsphylogenyevolutionecologyhabitatseasonalitylife-cyclereproductionbehaviorecosystem-rolehuman-relevancesimilar-taxamisconceptionsextra-detailstagscompletenesshas-inferred-contentconfidence-notessourceevidencemetadatafull-textabstracttitlejournalsubjectsDOIpaper-summaryGBIF-taxonomy-matchiNaturalist-taxonWikipedia-summaryobservations-countpreferred-common-namekingdomphylumclassorderfamilygenusrankstatusmatch-typedistribution-recordsVermont-USUSUSAMinnOntQueNfldIllArkTennNCAntlered-Crane-Fly1220NoneTanyptera-dorsalisWalker,-1848EXACTMinnesota-to-Ontario,-Quebec-and-Newfoundland,-south-to-Illinois,-Arkansas,-Tennessee-and-North-CarolinahighfalseAbstract-content-was-empty;-metadata-extracted-from-document-structure-only.-Full-text-not-available-in-provided-source.-Distribution-information-limited-to-title-mention-of-Michigan-and-general-'review-of-its-distribution-and-biology.'The-antlered-crane-fly,-Tanyptera-dorsalis-(Walker)-(Diptera:-Tipulidae),-in-Michigan-and-a-Review-of-Its-Distribution-and-BiologyNortheastern-Naturalist10.1656/045.017.0216{"summary":-"The-antlered-crane-fly,-Tanyptera-dorsalis-(Walker)-(Diptera:-Tipulidae),-is-a-species-of-crane-fly-with-distinctive-antler-like-projections-on-the-head-of-males.-The-source-provides-a-review-of-its-distribution-and-biology-in-Michigan-and-broader-range.",-"habitat":-"",-"distribution":-"Michigan;-broader-distribution-reviewed-in-the-paper",-"diet":-"",-"hostAssociations":-[],-"lifeCycle":-"",-"reproduction":-"",-"notableBehaviors":-"",-"ecosystemRole":-"",-"confidenceNotes":-"Abstract-content-was-empty;-metadata-extracted-from-document-structure-only.-Full-text-not-available-in-provided-source.-Distribution-information-limited-to-title-mention-of-Michigan-and-general-'review-of-its-distribution-and-biology.'"}Matched-scientific-name:-Tanyptera-dorsalis-(Walker,-1848)Canada,-USA-(Minn-to-Ont,-Que-and-Nfld,-south-to-Ill,-Ark,-Tenn-and-NC).;-Nearctic;-Canada,-USA-(Minn-to-Ont,-Que-and-Nfld,-south-to-Ill,-Ark,-Tenn-and-NC).;-Nearctic;-Vermont-US,-USTriorla interrupta
Triorla interrupta is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae. It is the only North American species in the genus Triorla, with a second species occurring from Panama to Argentina. The species is considered the most common robber fly in Arkansas and is widely distributed across eastern North America.
Wespus arkansasensis
Wespus arkansasensis is a species of harvestman (order Opiliones) in the family Phalangodidae. It was described in 1942 by the arachnologists Clarence J. Goodnight and Marie L. Goodnight. The species is known from Arkansas and represents a member of the diverse North American phalangodid fauna. Very few observations of this species exist in public databases.