Boreal
Guides
Boreus nivoriundus
snow-born boreus, snow scorpionfly
Boreus nivoriundus is a wingless snow scorpionfly in the family Boreidae, active during winter months in boreal and temperate regions of North America. Adults are typically 5 mm or less in length and feed on mosses and liverworts. Males possess prominent upward-curving genitalia that resemble a scorpion's stinger, giving the group its common name. The species exhibits a distinctive mating behavior where males carry females on their backs in a 'nuptial ride.' Despite their common name, snow scorpionflies are neither scorpions nor true flies, but belong to the order Mecoptera, believed to be ancestral relatives of fleas.
Boreus reductus
Snow scorpionfly
Boreus reductus is a wingless species of snow scorpionfly in the family Boreidae, order Mecoptera. Adults are active during winter months and can be observed hopping across snow and ice. Unlike many Mecoptera, this species lacks functional wings entirely. Adults and larvae feed on mosses and liverworts. Males possess enlarged, upward-curving genitalia that resemble a scorpion's stinger, giving the group its common name. The species engages in a distinctive mating behavior where males carry females on their backs.
Brachionycha borealis
Boreal Fan Moth
Brachionycha borealis is a noctuid moth described by Smith in 1899. It occurs across northern North America from Maine and Pennsylvania west to central Alberta. The species has a single annual generation and is active in early spring, with adults flying from April to May. Larvae feed on oak and blueberry species.
Brachysomida nigripennis
Black-winged Long-horned Beetle
Brachysomida nigripennis is a long-horned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, subfamily Lepturinae. The species is characterized by its dark, nearly black elytra that distinguish it from congeners with more patterned or lighter coloration. It occurs across northern North America, with records from Canada and the northern United States. The genus Brachysomida contains several species that are often associated with coniferous and deciduous woodlands, where adults are frequently found on flowers or foliage.
Broscodera insignis
Broscodera insignis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, subfamily Broscinae. It was originally described as Miscodera insignis by Mannerheim in 1852 and later transferred to the genus Broscodera. The species is documented from North America, with distribution records including Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States. As a member of the subfamily Broscinae, it belongs to a group of ground beetles often associated with cool, moist habitats.
Bryophacis
Bryophacis is a genus of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae, subfamily Mycetoporinae) established by Reitter in 1909. The genus occurs in both the Palearctic and Nearctic regions, with documented species in Europe and North America. North American species were revised taxonomically in 1993, resulting in the description of new species and generic reassignments from related genera.
Bryotropha galbanella
Bryotropha galbanella is a small gelechiid moth with a broad distribution across northern Europe, extending eastward to Russia and Japan, and westward to Alaska and extreme north-western Canada. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in wingspan, with males measuring 14–18 mm and females 13–16 mm. Larvae are specialized feeders on mosses, particularly Dicranum scoparium, and construct silken tubes for shelter. The species has been incorrectly recorded from Chile.
Carabus taedatus agassii
Carabus taedatus agassii is a subspecies of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by LeConte in 1850. It belongs to the genus Carabus, one of the most species-rich genera of ground beetles. The subspecies is distributed across northern North America including Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States. As a member of the subgenus Tanaocarabus, it inhabits cool temperate to boreal environments.
Carabus vietinghoffii
Vietinghoff's worm and slug hunter
Carabus vietinghoffii is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae with a broad distribution spanning northern regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. The species occurs in boreal forest, sub-Arctic, and Arctic tundra habitats, where it has been documented as far north as 81°N latitude on Ellesmere Island. Research indicates this beetle is a predator, contributing to the high proportion of carnivorous beetles found in northern ecosystems. The species exhibits several recognized subspecies across its range, including C. v. vietinghoffii in North America and Alaska, and C. v. fulgidus and others in Russia and China.
Carsia sororiata
Manchester Treble-bar, Manchester Treble-bar Moth
Carsia sororiata is a geometrid moth with a Holarctic distribution spanning northern and central Europe through Siberia to the Russian Far East and northern Mongolia, with a separate North American range from Alaska to Newfoundland and New Hampshire. Adults are active from July to August. The species exhibits notable wing pattern variation across its range, with several described subspecies.
Catoptria latiradiellus
Two-banded Catoptria Moth, Three-spotted Crambus Moth, Two-banded Catoptria
A small crambid moth native to northern North America, recognized by its distinctive wing pattern with two pale bands. Adults are active during mid-summer in wet, open habitats across a broad transcontinental range. The species was described by Francis Walker in 1863 and remains relatively well-documented through observation records.
Cercyon setulosus
Cercyon setulosus is a small beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, first described by Sharp in 1884. It belongs to the genus Cercyon, a group of water scavenger beetles commonly found in moist or decaying organic matter. The species has a documented distribution across the northern Pacific Rim, including Japan, Russia, western Canada, and the northwestern United States.
Choristoneura albaniana
Choristoneura albaniana is a tortricid moth first described by Francis Walker in 1863. The species occurs across boreal and montane regions of North America and the northern Palearctic. Larvae feed on Prunus pennsylvanica (pin cherry) and Larix species (larches), making it a conifer and hardwood specialist within its genus.
Cicindela limbata
Sandy Tiger Beetle
Cicindela limbata, the sandy tiger beetle, is a North American tiger beetle species specialized for life in dry sand dune habitats. It is characterized by extensive white maculations on the elytra that serve as thermal reflectance adaptations. The species exhibits a fragmented distribution across the Great Plains and boreal regions, with five recognized subspecies showing geographic variation in maculation patterns and body size correlated with local climate conditions. Populations display behavioral thermoregulation through midday burrowing into sand to avoid extreme surface temperatures.
Cicindela limbata hyperborea
Hyperboreal Tiger Beetle
Cicindela limbata hyperborea is a northern subspecies of the sandy tiger beetle, distinguished by reduced white elytral maculations and smaller body size compared to other subspecies. These traits are interpreted as heat conservation adaptations for its far boreal climate. It occurs in open sand habitats within pine and poplar forests of northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and adjacent Northwest Territories, separated from other subspecies populations by significant distributional gaps. The fragmented distribution of C. limbata and its subspecies likely reflects historical climate changes that caused expansion and contraction of open sand habitats.
Cicindela longilabris
Boreal Long-lipped Tiger Beetle, long-lipped tiger beetle
Cicindela longilabris is a North American tiger beetle found in boreal and high-elevation habitats. The species is characterized by elongated mouthparts, reflected in both its scientific and common names. Three subspecies are recognized: C. l. longilabris, C. l. laurentii, and C. l. perviridis. Populations exhibit physiological adaptations to thermal and hydric conditions in their respective habitats.
Cicindela longilabris longilabris
Boreal Long-lipped Tiger Beetle
Cicindela longilabris longilabris, the Boreal Long-lipped Tiger Beetle, is a subspecies of tiger beetle native to boreal regions of North America. It is distinguished from related subspecies by its association with northern forest and prairie habitats, with populations occurring in both continuous boreal zones and isolated climatic refugia. Physiological studies indicate this subspecies exhibits specific thermal and metabolic adaptations to cold environments. The subspecies is known to hybridize with C. l. nebraskana in zones of contact, producing intergrade populations.
Cicindela longilabris perviridis
Green Long-lipped Tiger Beetle
Cicindela longilabris perviridis, commonly known as the Green Long-lipped Tiger Beetle, is a subspecies of tiger beetle in the family Carabidae. It belongs to the C. longilabris species complex, which is characterized by elongated labial palps. This subspecies is distinguished by its green coloration and is part of a group associated with boreal and prairie habitats. The species complex includes intergrades with C. nebraskana in transitional zones.
Clepsis danilevskyi
Clepsis danilevskyi is a small tortricid moth described by Kostyuk in 1973. The species is known from a restricted distribution spanning northern European Russia, the Mongun-Taiga region of Siberia, and Alaska. Adults are active in July and possess a wingspan of 18–23 mm. The specific epithet honors Professor Alexsandr Sergeevich Danilevskii.
Coccinella fulgida
Gleaming Lady Beetle
Coccinella fulgida is a small lady beetle species in the family Coccinellidae, described by Watson in 1954. Adults measure 4.50–5.60 mm in length. The species is found in northern North America, with records from Alaska, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, and Quebec. It is among the less commonly documented members of the genus Coccinella.
Coleophora ledi
Coleophora ledi is a small case-bearing moth (family Coleophoridae) with a wingspan of 10–13 mm. It has a trans-Holarctic distribution, occurring across northern Eurasia from Fennoscandia to Japan, and in North America in eastern Canada, Michigan, and Alaska. The species is notable for its larval specialization on Ericaceae shrubs, particularly Ledum and Chamaedaphne species.
Colias gigantea
Giant Sulphur, Giant Northern Sulfur
Colias gigantea, the giant sulphur, is a medium-sized butterfly in the family Pieridae found across northern North America. It inhabits tundra and willow bog habitats from Alaska eastward across Canada to the Atlantic coast, with disjunct populations in the northern Rocky Mountains. Adults are active from June through early August, with larvae feeding exclusively on willow species (Salix spp.) and adults taking flower nectar.
Colladonus waldanus
Colladonus waldanus is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Ball in 1903. It belongs to the genus Colladonus, a group of leafhoppers found primarily in North America. The species has been recorded from multiple Canadian provinces and U.S. states in western and north-central North America. Like other members of its family, it is a plant-feeding insect with piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Coranarta luteola
Small Dark Yellow Underwing
Coranarta luteola is a small noctuid moth native to boreal North America. First described in 1865, it occurs from Alaska and Labrador south through the Rocky Mountains to Colorado, and eastward to Maine. The species has a forewing length of 11–12 mm. Its larvae feed on laurels (Kalmia species), while adults visit flowers, particularly Andromeda polifolia. The species is listed as endangered in Connecticut.
Corymbitodes lobatus
Alaskan Click Beetle
A click beetle species in the family Elateridae, known from high-latitude regions of North America. The species is documented from Alaska and the Northwest Territories of Canada. Adults are active during the brief Arctic summer. The common name reflects its association with Alaskan habitats, though its range extends into northern Canada.
Cucujus puniceus
Red Flat Bark Beetle
Cucujus puniceus is a species of flat bark beetle in the family Cucujidae, distributed across northern North America. The species has been extensively studied for its exceptional cold tolerance mechanisms. Larvae survive winter temperatures through deep supercooling and vitrification, with documented survival to at least –100°C. The species is treated as a synonym of Cucujus clavipes by some authorities, or as a distinct species or subspecies by others.
Diarsia dislocata
Dislocated Dart
Diarsia dislocata, commonly known as the Dislocated Dart, is a noctuid moth species described by Smith in 1904. It occurs across boreal and montane regions of North America, with a transcontinental Canadian distribution and scattered records in Alaska, Washington, and Colorado. The species belongs to the diverse genus Diarsia, which contains numerous similar-looking dart moths. Its common name likely refers to a distinctive wing pattern feature that separates it from congeners.
Dicerca tenebrosa
flatheaded conifer borer, Dark Jewel Beetle
Dicerca tenebrosa, commonly known as the flatheaded conifer borer, is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found across North America, particularly in boreal and montane regions. The species is associated with coniferous trees, especially pines, and has been observed on dead or dying Pinus ponderosa and Pinus monophylla. Two subspecies are recognized: D. t. tenebrosa and D. t. knulli.
Dicheirotrichus cognatus
Kindred Ground Beetle
Dicheirotrichus cognatus is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae with a broad holarctic distribution spanning Europe, Northern Asia, and North America, including Alaska and Canada. The species has also been recorded in Central America. It is known from 52 observations on iNaturalist and is recognized by the common name "Kindred Ground Beetle."
Dichelotarsus fissilis
Dichelotarsus fissilis is a soldier beetle (family Cantharidae) described from western North America. Originally described as Podabrus fissilis by Fall in 1926, it was later transferred to the genus Dichelotarsus. The species is known from a limited number of records in boreal and montane regions of Canada and Alaska. Like other Cantharidae, adults are likely active during daylight hours and associated with vegetation.
Dictyna alaskae
Alaska mesh web weaver
Dictyna alaskae is a small spider species in the family Dictynidae, commonly known as mesh web weavers. The species was described in 1947 and has a Holarctic distribution spanning boreal and subarctic regions. It constructs irregular, mesh-like webs to capture prey. The specific epithet references Alaska, where the species was first described.
Diplocentria rectangulata
Diplocentria rectangulata is a sheet web spider in the family Linyphiidae, first described by Emerton in 1915. The species occurs across northern regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including North America and Eurasia. As with other linyphiids, it constructs horizontal sheet webs to capture prey. It is among the smaller spiders, consistent with the dwarf spider morphology typical of this family.
Diplous
Diplous is a genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, tribe Patrobini. The genus contains more than 20 described species distributed primarily in boreal North America and Asia. North American Diplous species form a monophyletic group based on morphological and molecular evidence. These beetles are associated with riparian habitats in northern forested regions.
Dismodicus decemoculatus
Dismodicus decemoculatus is a sheet-web weaving spider in the family Linyphiidae, first described by Emerton in 1882. It is a small-bodied species with a circumboreal distribution across northern North America and Greenland. The specific epithet "decemoculatus" (Latin for "ten-eyed") refers to its eye arrangement. Like other linyphiids, it constructs horizontal sheet webs to capture prey.
Dodia tarandus
Woodland Tiger Moth
Dodia tarandus is a moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Macaulay and Schmidt in 2009. It is endemic to Canada, occurring in boreal black spruce bogs and adjacent open pine uplands across central to northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Yukon. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in forewing length, with males measuring approximately 15.5 mm and females 14.3 mm. Larval biology and specific host plants remain unknown, though potential hosts are suspected to include Salix and Ericaceae species common in peatland habitats.
Eanus striatipennis
Eanus striatipennis is a click beetle species (family Elateridae) described by W.J. Brown in 1936. The specific epithet 'striatipennis' refers to striated or grooved elytra. Very little published information exists on this species beyond taxonomic records and scattered distribution reports from northwestern North America.
Eido trimaculella
Three-spotted Concealer
Eido trimaculella is a small moth in the family Oecophoridae, commonly known as the Three-spotted Concealer. The species was originally described by Fitch in 1856 as Chaetochilus trimaculella. It is recorded from parts of Canada (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan) and the northern United States (Vermont). As a member of the concealer moth family, it likely occupies a concealed lifestyle in larval stages, though specific natural history details remain poorly documented.
Elaphrus americanus americanus
A subspecies of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, Elaphrus americanus americanus is the nominate subspecies of the E. americanus species complex. The complex comprises two Nearctic species: E. americanus and E. finitimus. This subspecies is distinguished from a western subspecies, E. americanus sylvanus, through morphometric analysis of body proportions and other phenetic characters.
Emblyna borealis
Emblyna borealis is a spider species in the family Dictynidae, distributed across boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The species occurs in Arctic and subarctic environments including Greenland, northeastern Siberia, Canada, and the United States. As a member of the mesh-web weavers, it constructs characteristic tangled webs.
Emblyna borealis cavernosa
Emblyna borealis cavernosa is a subspecies of mesh-web weaver spider in the family Dictynidae. It is known from high-latitude and high-altitude regions of the northern hemisphere, including Greenland, northern Canada, and northeastern Siberia. The subspecies designation suggests cave-associated or subterranean habitat preferences, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. Like other dictynid spiders, it constructs irregular mesh webs for prey capture.
Epinotia radicana
Red-striped Needleworm Moth
Epinotia radicana is a small tortricid moth known for its association with coniferous forests across northern North America. The species is recognized by its common name referencing the reddish larval stripes and needle-feeding habits. It has been documented from western Canada through to the northeastern United States, with a life cycle tightly synchronized to the phenology of its host trees. The species is not considered a significant forest pest despite its widespread occurrence in spruce-fir ecosystems.
Epinotia solicitana
Birch Shootworm Moth
Epinotia solicitana is a small tortricid moth commonly known as the Birch Shootworm Moth. The species is recognized for its association with birch trees as a larval host, with larvae feeding internally on shoots and causing characteristic damage. Adults are typically active during summer months across northern North America. The species has been documented from Alberta, Manitoba, and Vermont, with additional records likely across the broader boreal and northern temperate regions of the continent.
Epuraea linearis
Epuraea linearis is a small sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae, measuring 2.7–3.0 mm in length. The species has a Holarctic boreal and montane distribution, occurring across northern North America from Alaska and Canada southward to the western and northeastern United States. Adults are active from May through September and have been associated with coniferous hosts, particularly pine and spruce.
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 fasciata
banded alpine
Erebia fasciata, commonly known as the banded alpine, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Satyrinae. It is distributed across high-latitude regions of the Northern Hemisphere, ranging from central Siberia through Alaska, Yukon, and the Canadian Arctic to Hudson Bay, with additional populations on Banks Island and Victoria Island. The species exhibits a wingspan of 38–53 mm. Adults are active from May to late July depending on location, with larvae feeding on Carex species.
Estrandia grandaeva
Estrandia grandaeva is a small sheet-web spider in the family Linyphiidae, first described by Keyserling in 1886. It has a broad circumboreal distribution spanning northern North America, Europe, and Asia. Like other linyphiids, it constructs flat, horizontal sheet webs with a retreat area and an overlying tangle of threads to knock down prey. The species is found in cool, moist habitats across boreal and montane regions.
Eucnecosum
Eucnecosum is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Omaliinae) established by Reitter in 1909. The genus comprises three valid holarctic species: E. brachypterum, E. tenue, and E. brunnescens, all transferred from the genus Arpedium. These beetles occur in both Europe and North America, with E. tenue having been previously described under multiple synonyms including E. meybohmi.
Eucnecosum brachypterum
Eucnecosum brachypterum is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Omaliinae) with a Holarctic distribution, occurring across boreal and temperate regions of North America and Eurasia. The species was originally described in the genus Arpedium and later transferred to Eucnecosum, a generic placement confirmed by taxonomic revision. It is one of three holarctic Eucnecosum species recognized in North America. The species name refers to its short-winged (brachypterous) condition.
Eucnecosum brunnescens
Eucnecosum brunnescens is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Omaliinae. The species was originally described by Sahlberg in 1871 under the genus Arpedium, and later transferred to Eucnecosum. It has a Holarctic distribution, occurring across northern Europe, Russia, and North America from Alaska through Canada to the northern United States.
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.