Behavioral-plasticity
Guides
Agrypnia
Agrypnia is a genus of caddisflies in the family Phryganeidae, established by Curtis in 1835. Larvae construct portable protective cases and have been observed modifying their behavior based on case quality and availability. The genus is distributed across northern Europe and parts of North America. Most available literature on 'Agrypnia' refers to a human sleep disorder (agrypnia excitata), not this insect genus.
Ammophila wrightii
thread-waisted wasp, caterpillar hunter
Ammophila wrightii is a species of thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae, notable for its ant-mimicking appearance and behavior. It is one of the smaller members of its genus, measuring under 20 mm, and exhibits a distinct reddish-brown coloration. The species is known for its unusual nesting behavior among Ammophila wasps: females excavate burrows only after capturing prey, rather than before. It specializes in hunting inchworm caterpillars (Geometridae) to provision its nests.
Diaphania hyalinata
melonworm moth, melonworm
Diaphania hyalinata, commonly known as the melonworm moth, is a crambid moth species and a significant agricultural pest of cucurbit crops. Native to the Neotropics, it has established permanent populations in the southern United States and disperses northward annually during warmer months. The species exhibits behavioral plasticity in feeding habits: in Florida and tropical regions, larvae primarily feed on leaves, while in more northern latitudes such as Virginia, they frequently burrow directly into fruits. Laboratory studies indicate a complete life cycle of approximately 20–23 days under warm conditions.
Diaphania nitidalis
pickleworm, pickleworm moth
Diaphania nitidalis is a significant agricultural pest of cucurbit crops, particularly damaging to squash, cucumbers, and melons. Adults are nocturnal moths with iridescent brown wings marked by yellow bands and white borders. Larvae feed voraciously on reproductive tissues, flowers, and fruits, often burrowing into fruit flesh. The species is tropical in origin and intolerant of cold temperatures, limiting its permanent range to southern North America and tropical regions, though it migrates northward seasonally.
Gryllus lineaticeps
Variable Field Cricket
Gryllus lineaticeps, the variable field cricket, is a North American field cricket species distinguished by its flexible mate-searching behavior. Females exhibit phonotaxis toward male calling songs and adjust their preferences based on acoustic experience, rejecting lower-quality songs after exposure to more attractive alternatives. Males produce energetically costly calls, with oxygen consumption increasing 2.7 times basal rates during chirping. The species undergoes flight muscle histolysis during the transition from dispersal to reproduction, with autophagy selectively breaking down dorsal longitudinal flight muscles while preserving dorsoventral muscles for walking. Thermal preferences vary across the diel cycle and shift in response to starvation, reflecting life history trade-offs between activity and energy conservation.
Halictus ligatus
Ligated Furrow Bee, sweat bee
Halictus ligatus is a primitively eusocial sweat bee native to North and Central America. It nests in ground burrows or rotting wood, forming colonies with reproductive division of labor between queens and workers. The species exhibits remarkable behavioral plasticity: northern populations have annual colony cycles with distinct worker and reproductive broods, while subtropical populations show continuous brooding and reduced social hierarchy. Queens establish dominance through aggression and pheromonal suppression of worker reproduction. The species is polylectic, collecting pollen from diverse flowering plants, and serves as an important native pollinator.
Halictus poeyi
Poey's Furrow Bee
Halictus poeyi is a primitively eusocial sweat bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as Poey's furrow bee. The species exhibits notable geographic variation in colony cycle phenology: northern and central Florida populations are univoltine with annually brooded colonies, while southern Florida and Florida Keys populations are multivoltine with continuously brooded colonies. This plasticity appears driven by environmental conditions rather than genetic differentiation. Males form nighttime roosting clusters on vegetation, showing area fidelity within approximately 1.5 meters. The species is morphologically indistinguishable from Halictus ligatus, requiring genetic or detailed behavioral analysis for separation.
Macrosaccus robiniella
Black Locust Leafminer
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, native to North America and invasive in Europe since 1983. Adults have a wingspan of 5.5–6.5 mm. Larvae are highly specialized miners of black locust (Robinia) leaves, producing distinctive blotch mines. Recent research has documented unexpected behavioral plasticity, with larvae capable of producing four distinct mine types that vary in position and appearance.
Mycetomoellerius turrifex
Turret Fungus-farming Ant
Mycetomoellerius turrifex is a fungus-farming ant in the tribe Attini, known for cultivating mutualistic fungi in subterranean gardens. The species was transferred from Trachymyrmex to the newly erected genus Mycetomoellerius in 2019 based on molecular phylogenetic evidence. Colonies exhibit complex social dynamics, including the presence of non-inseminated queens that adopt worker-like behaviors. Colony foundation involves pleometrosis, where multiple queens cooperate to establish new nests.
Myrmeleon crudelis
antlion
Myrmeleon crudelis is a pit-building antlion species whose larvae construct conical traps in fine-grained soil to capture small arthropods. Research on this species has focused on its behavioral plasticity in trap construction and prey capture kinematics. Larvae demonstrate sophisticated modulation of mandible velocity during strikes and adjust pit architecture in response to prey availability and soil conditions. The species occurs in tropical dry forests of Costa Rica and has been recorded from Middle and North America.
Oxybelus uniglumis
square-headed wasp
Oxybelus uniglumis is a solitary digger wasp in the family Crabronidae, tribe Oxybelini. The species is specialized for hunting flies (Diptera), capturing them with an extremely concentrated stinging pattern that targets the prey's nervous system. Unlike many related wasps that deliver multiple stings to thoracic ganglia, O. uniglumis typically delivers only a single thoracic sting behind one foreleg base, reflecting the reduced ganglionic structure of fly prey. The species uses its sting apparatus not only for prey paralysis but also for transporting captured flies to nest sites.
Periplaneta
Periplaneta is a genus of large cockroaches in the family Blattidae, containing several species with cosmopolitan distributions that have become significant urban pests worldwide. The genus includes well-known species such as Periplaneta americana (American cockroach), Periplaneta lateralis (Turkestan cockroach), and Periplaneta japonica (Asian cockroach). These species are characterized by their relatively large size, flattened bodies, and long antennae. Many Periplaneta species have been spread globally through human commerce and travel, with some showing remarkable adaptability to diverse climates including cold-tolerant species capable of surviving freezing temperatures.
Phanaeus vindex
Rainbow Scarab, Rainbow Dung Beetle
Phanaeus vindex is a medium-sized tunneling dung beetle native to eastern and central North America. Adults are sexually dimorphic and exhibit striking metallic coloration, with males bearing a prominent curved horn. The species creates complex underground tunnel systems beneath dung deposits, constructing both brood balls for reproduction and food caches for adult feeding. It is the most widespread Phanaeus species in the United States and demonstrates behavioral plasticity in response to temperature, adjusting burial depth of food caches under warmer conditions. The species provides important ecosystem services through dung removal, nutrient cycling, and secondary seed dispersal.