Bog-habitat
Guides
Araneus corticarius
Humped bog orbweaver
Araneus corticarius is a small orb-weaving spider in the family Araneidae, commonly known as the humped bog orbweaver. The species is distributed across the United States and Canada, with records from Alberta and British Columbia. As a member of the diverse genus Araneus, it constructs spiral orb webs typical of the family, though specific details of its biology remain poorly documented.
Bibarrambla
bog bibarrambla moth (sole species)
Bibarrambla is a monotypic genus of moths in the family Depressariidae, containing only Bibarrambla allenella, commonly known as the bog bibarrambla moth. The genus was established by Clarke in 1941, though the sole species was described earlier by Walsingham in 1882. The species occurs in eastern and central North America, with larvae feeding on Alnus and Betula species.
Coenonympha tullia mcisaaci
Coenonympha tullia mcisaaci is a subspecies of the common ringlet butterfly, a member of the family Nymphalidae. It belongs to a genus of small brown butterflies commonly associated with grassland and bog habitats. The subspecies is part of a widespread Holarctic species complex with variable taxonomy across its range.
Endothenia hebesana
Verbena Bud Moth
Endothenia hebesana is a small tortricid moth commonly known as the verbena bud moth. The species has a broad North American distribution spanning from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific. Larvae develop inside the flower stalks and seed heads of numerous plant species, particularly in the genera Verbena and Penstemon. Fourth and fifth instars overwinter within host plant stems, with pupation occurring in late spring.
Erebia discoidalis
Red-disked Alpine
Erebia discoidalis, known as the red-disked alpine, is a butterfly in the subfamily Satyrinae of family Nymphalidae. It has a transcontinental distribution spanning North America and Asia, occurring in boreal and arctic-alpine habitats. The species is associated with open, acidic wetlands where its larvae feed on cottongrass (Eriophorum) species.
Erebia mancinus
Taiga Alpine
Erebia mancinus, known as the taiga alpine, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Satyrinae. It inhabits subarctic and boreal regions of North America, with a disjunct population extending south to the Rocky Mountains. The species is associated with wetland habitats, specifically black spruce-sphagnum bogs. Adults are active during a brief flight period in mid-summer.
Eristalis hirta
Black-footed Drone Fly
Eristalis hirta, commonly known as the black-footed drone fly, is a syrphid fly species first described by Loew in 1866. It is a common species in Western North America and also occurs in Northern Europe. Like other Eristalis species, it exhibits Batesian mimicry of honey bees, providing protection from predators. The larvae are aquatic filter-feeders with the characteristic rat-tailed morphology, developing in standing water habitats.
Eupithecia gelidata
Frosted Pug
Eupithecia gelidata is a small geometrid moth with a wingspan of 17–22 mm, distributed across northern boreal and arctic regions. Adults are active from June to mid-July, with one generation per year. Larval host plant associations vary geographically: South Bohemian populations are obligatorily associated with Ledum palustre, while subarctic and boreal populations use Salix spp. as alternative hosts. The species has been documented visiting apple flowers, contributing to nocturnal pollination services.
Exyra
Pitcher Plant Moths
Exyra is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae commonly known as pitcher plant moths. Species in this genus are specialists associated with pitcher plants (Sarracenia), with larvae feeding on and developing within these carnivorous plants. The genus includes species such as E. rolandiana, E. ridingsii, and E. semicrocea, which have been documented in bog habitats across eastern North America.
Exyra fax
Pitcher Plant Moth, Epauletted Pitcher Plant Moth
Exyra fax, commonly known as the Pitcher Plant Moth, is a small noctuid moth specialized on pitcher plants. It occurs in eastern North America from Manitoba through the Great Lakes region to the Atlantic Coastal Plain, with a range extending from Nova Scotia south to Georgia. The species is in decline due to habitat disruption and is listed as threatened in Connecticut. Adults are active during summer months, and larvae are obligate feeders on Sarracenia purpurea.
Exyra semicrocea
Pitcher Plant Mining Moth
Exyra semicrocea, commonly known as the Pitcher Plant Mining Moth, is a small noctuid moth specialized on pitcher plants in the genus Sarracenia. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States coastal plain, where it completes its entire life cycle within pitcher plant pitchers. Its larvae are miners that feed internally on pitcher plant tissue, making this one of the few moth species adapted to this unusual habitat.
Kaestneria pullata
Bog Sheet-web Weaver
Kaestneria pullata is a sheetweb spider in the family Linyphiidae, commonly known as the Bog Sheet-web Weaver. It has been documented across a broad geographic range spanning North America, Europe, and Asia, including Russia from European regions to the Far East, as well as China, Mongolia, and Japan. The species is one of approximately 4,600 described species in Linyphiidae, the second largest family of spiders.
Liodessus cantralli
Cantrall's bog beetle, Cantrall's Bog-beetle
Liodessus cantralli, known as Cantrall's bog beetle, is a small predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It belongs to the tribe Bidessini within the subfamily Hydroporinae. The species was described by Young in 1953 and was originally placed in the genus Bidessus. It occurs in bog habitats in parts of North America, with confirmed records from the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Manitoba.
Mocyta sphagnorum
Mocyta sphagnorum is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described in 2015 from Canadian material. The species is associated with Sphagnum moss habitats, as indicated by its specific epithet. It belongs to the large subfamily Aleocharinae, one of the most diverse groups within the rove beetles. The species has been documented from multiple Canadian provinces and Alaska.
Nannothemis bella
Elfin Skimmer
Nannothemis bella, commonly known as the elfin skimmer, is the smallest dragonfly in North America. It is the sole species in the monotypic genus Nannothemis. Males are powdery blue, while females are black and yellow with wasp-like coloration. The species inhabits bogs and sedge fens across eastern North America, from Quebec south to Florida and west to Minnesota and Louisiana. Southern populations are disjunct and rare, making the species of conservation concern in that region.
Neochlamisus chamaedaphnes
Neochlamisus chamaedaphnes is a case-bearing leaf beetle in the tribe Chlamisini, commonly known as warty leaf beetles. Members of this genus are renowned for their remarkable frass-mimicry crypsis—when disturbed, they retract their head, legs, and antennae into precisely matched grooves, becoming nearly indistinguishable from caterpillar droppings. The species epithet references its association with leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata), a bog plant in the Ericaceae family. This species occurs in eastern Canada and presumably adjacent northeastern United States.
Oligia minuscula
Small Brocade, Bog Oligia
Oligia minuscula, commonly known as the Small Brocade or Bog Oligia, is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It was first described by Morrison in 1875 under the basionym Orthosia minuscula. The species is found in North America, with two recognized subspecies: O. m. minuscula and O. m. grahami. It is assigned MONA/Hodges number 9416.
Parhelophilus divisus
Yellow-legged Bog Fly
Parhelophilus divisus is a rare syrphid fly species known as the yellow-legged bog fly, documented primarily from the northeastern United States. The species exhibits the characteristic hoverfly ability to remain nearly motionless in flight. Adults are flower-associated, feeding on nectar and pollen, while larvae possess the distinctive long-tailed "rat-tailed" morphology typical of many Eristalinae.
Parhelophilus integer
Shiny Bog Fly
Parhelophilus integer, commonly known as the shiny bog fly, is a rare syrphid fly species found in the Eastern United States. Adults are flower-associated, feeding on nectar and pollen. The species exhibits typical hoverfly flight behavior, capable of remaining nearly motionless in flight. Larvae develop in aquatic or semi-aquatic environments with the characteristic long-tailed 'rat-tailed' morphology shared by other members of the genus.
Sericomyia
Pond Flies
Sericomyia is a genus of large hoverflies in the family Syrphidae, commonly known as pond flies. Species within this genus are notable bee mimics, displaying both short-pile and long-pile coloration patterns. The genus is widespread across boreal forests of the Holarctic region, extending southward at higher elevations into the Oriental and Neotropical regions. Larvae are of the rat-tailed maggot type, specialized for aquatic life in oxygen-poor environments.
Sericomyia flagrans
Spot-winged Pond Fly
Sericomyia flagrans is a North American species of flower fly (Syrphidae) commonly known as the Spot-winged Pond Fly. The genus Sericomyia belongs to the tribe Milesiini within subfamily Eristalinae. Larvae of this genus develop in bog mat pools, where they exhibit the characteristic "rat-tailed maggot" morphology with an extensible posterior breathing siphon. Adults are pollinators that visit flowers for nectar and pollen.
Sericomyia harveyi
Harvey's Pond Fly
Sericomyia harveyi is a hoverfly species in the family Syrphidae, subfamily Eristalinae. The genus Sericomyia is part of the tribe Milesiini and is characterized by larvae that inhabit bog mat pools and other wetland habitats. Adults are pollinators that visit flowers for nectar and pollen. The species was described by Osburn in 1908.
Sericomyia militaris
Narrow-banded Pond Fly
Sericomyia militaris, commonly called the narrow-banded pond fly, is a North American syrphid fly (hoverfly) found across northern regions of the continent. Adults range from 11.7–17.1 mm in length and are primarily black with narrow yellow abdominal markings. The species belongs to a genus whose larvae are known as rat-tailed maggots, possessing a distinctive posterior breathing siphon.
Sericomyia nigra
Polar Pond Fly
Sericomyia nigra is a species of hoverfly (family Syrphidae) described by Portschinsky in 1873. It belongs to the tribe Milesiini within subfamily Eristalinae. The species is known from Scandinavia (Norway and Sweden) based on distribution records. As a member of the genus Sericomyia, its larvae likely develop in bog mat pools, though this specific habitat association has not been directly documented for S. nigra itself. Adults are presumably pollinators, as is characteristic of the family.
Sericomyia sexfasciata
Six-banded Pond Fly
Sericomyia sexfasciata is a species of syrphid fly (family Syrphidae) commonly known as the Six-banded Pond Fly. It belongs to the subfamily Eristalinae and tribe Milesiini. Like other members of its genus, the larvae develop in aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1849.
Sericomyia slossonae
Slosson's Pond Fly
Sericomyia slossonae is a species of hoverfly (family Syrphidae) in the tribe Milesiini. The genus Sericomyia is part of the group commonly known as "rat-tailed maggots" due to their larvae possessing an extensible posterior breathing siphon. Larvae of Sericomyia species are known to inhabit bog mat pools. Adults are pollinators that visit flowers for nectar and pollen. The species was described by Curran in 1934 and is accepted as valid.
Sericomyia transversa
Yellow-spotted Pond Fly
Sericomyia transversa is an uncommon syrphid fly found in northeastern North America. Adults, known as hoverflies or flower flies, are capable of nearly motionless flight and are commonly observed visiting flowers for nectar and pollen. The species belongs to a genus whose larvae are known as rat-tailed maggots, possessing an extensible posterior breathing siphon that allows them to inhabit aquatic environments. The species was first described by Osburn in 1926.