Biennial-life-cycle
Guides
Amara fulva
Amara fulva is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae native to Europe. A detailed life history study in the southwest forest zone of the East European Plain found that adults are active from June through October, with peak activity in August. The species has a facultatively-biennial life cycle lasting 254-328 days including the winter period. Larvae and adults exhibit spatial segregation in overwintering sites within floodplain habitats.
Arhopalus rusticus
rust pine borer
Arhopalus rusticus is a longhorned beetle (Cerambycidae: Spondylinae) native to coniferous forests of the Northern Hemisphere. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to light, hiding under bark during daylight. The species has been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, and South America through global trade and is considered a significant forestry pest. It is a suspected vector of the pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, though research indicates its oviposition behavior does not facilitate nematode transmission. Males produce an aggregation-sex pheromone, (S)-fuscumol, which has potential applications for detection and monitoring.
Boloria freija
Freija fritillary
Boloria freija is a circumboreal fritillary butterfly found in Arctic and subarctic habitats across the Northern Hemisphere. The species exhibits a two-year life cycle, with larvae feeding on specific bog and tundra plants including cloudberry and various Ericaceae. Adults are active during brief summer periods in northern latitudes.
Boloria polaris
Polaris Fritillary
Boloria polaris is a high-arctic butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, occurring across the northernmost regions of the Palearctic and Nearctic. It is notable for its extreme northern distribution, being one of only six butterfly species recorded on Canada's Ellesmere Island. The species exhibits a two-year life cycle, with adults flying in late June to mid-July. Its larvae feed on specific tundra plants including Dryas octopetala and Vaccinium species.
Brachystola
grassland lubbers
Brachystola is a genus of large, flightless grassland lubber grasshoppers in the family Romaleidae, distributed across the western United States and Mexico. Members are among the largest grasshoppers in North America, with robust bodies, short non-functional wings, and striking coloration. The genus includes six recognized species, with Brachystola magna (plains lubber grasshopper) being the most studied due to its use in early genetic research and its status as an occasional agricultural pest.
Curculio caryae
pecan weevil
Curculio caryae, the pecan weevil, is a specialized nut-feeding weevil native to North America and a major economic pest of pecan (Carya illinoinensis) and hickory (Carya species) production. Adults emerge from soil in August and September, feed on developing nuts, and females use their elongated proboscis to drill through shells and deposit eggs into kernels. Larvae develop inside nuts for approximately 42 days before emerging through clean, round exit holes and burrowing into soil to pupate. The life cycle typically spans two years, though approximately 10% of individuals require three years. The species has been observed to occasionally infest Persian walnut (Juglans regia).
Liogma nodicornis
Liogma nodicornis is a species of cylindrotomid crane fly native to North America. Larvae inhabit wet environments including streams, marshes, and saturated soils beneath alders, where they function as detritivores. The species exhibits an approximately two-year life cycle with adults emerging during summer months.
Oedomerus corallipes
Redshanked Grasshopper
Oedomerus corallipes is a large grasshopper species found in western North America. It was formerly classified under the genus Xanthippus but has been reclassified to Oedomerus based on modern taxonomic revisions. The species exhibits geographic variation in its life cycle, with northern populations requiring two years to develop while southern populations complete their cycle in one year. Adults are present in spring and are known for their conspicuous flight displays accompanied by loud crepitation.
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.
Xanthippus corallipes
Red-shanked Grasshopper, Redshanked Grasshopper, Red Shanks
Xanthippus corallipes, commonly known as the red-shanked grasshopper, is a large band-winged grasshopper native to western North America. Adults are conspicuous in spring, producing loud crepitation during flight and displaying yellow, dark-banded wings. The species exhibits geographic variation in life cycle duration, with northern populations requiring two years to develop and southern populations completing development in one year. Though typically occurring at low densities, occasional population outbreaks have caused significant damage to rangeland grasses and cultivated crops.
Xanthippus corallipes leprosus
Redshanked Grasshopper
Xanthippus corallipes leprosus is a subspecies of the redshanked grasshopper, a large rangeland species native to western North America. Adults are conspicuous in spring, producing loud crepitation during evasive flight and displaying yellow, dark-banded wings. The subspecies exhibits geographic variation in life cycle duration, with northern populations completing development in two years and southern populations in one year. Adults feed almost exclusively on grasses and sedges, and while typically present at low densities, populations occasionally erupt to damaging levels.