Canada
Guides
Platypalpus holosericus
Platypalpus holosericus is a small predatory fly in the family Hybotidae, commonly known as hybotid dance flies. The species was described by Melander in 1924. Like other members of the genus Platypalpus, it likely occupies specific feeding niches and exhibits the characteristic predatory behavior of the family. Adults are known to seize prey with modified front legs and use extraoral digestion.
Plesiocis cribrum
Plesiocis cribrum is a small beetle species in the family Ciidae (minute tree-fungus beetles), described by Casey in 1898. It is the sole member of its genus, which is distinguished from other ciid genera by specific morphological features of the elytra and antennae. The species has been documented in western Canada, with records from Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. Like other Ciidae, it is presumed to be associated with fungal decay in wood, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Pnigalio minio
Pnigalio minio is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Eulophidae, first described by Walker in 1847. It is a small parasitoid wasp belonging to a genus known for attacking leaf-mining insects. The species has been recorded across multiple Canadian provinces. Like other eulophids, it likely plays a role in biological control of herbivorous insects.
Pococera aplastella
Aspen Webworm Moth
Pococera aplastella is a moth species in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Epipaschiinae. Commonly known as the Aspen Webworm Moth, it occurs in western and central Canada. Larvae are web-forming caterpillars that feed on aspen and related host plants. The species has been documented in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
Pococera baptisiella
Pococera baptisiella is a moth species in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Epipaschiinae. It was first described by Fernald in 1887. The species is distributed across parts of Canada including Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. It belongs to a genus whose larvae are known to feed on various woody plants.
Poecilanthrax monticola
Poecilanthrax monticola is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, described by Johnson & Johnson in 1957. The species is distributed in western North America, ranging from British Columbia and Alberta southward to Nebraska, Utah, and Colorado. As a member of the genus Poecilanthrax, it likely shares the parasitic larval lifestyle typical of the genus, developing inside caterpillars of noctuid moths, though specific life history details for this species remain undocumented.
Poecilonota thureura
Poecilonota thureura is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species is found in North America, with records from Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan) and the United States. It has been collected as prey by the biosurveillance wasp Cerceris fumipennis, which specializes in capturing buprestid beetles. The species is considered uncommon in collections.
Polemius canadensis
Polemius canadensis is a soldier beetle in the family Cantharidae, described by W.J. Brown in 1940. It occurs in North America with confirmed records from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario in Canada. As a member of Cantharidae, it shares the general characteristics of soldier beetles, including soft elytra and a somewhat flattened body form.
Polypedilum ontario
Polypedilum ontario is a non-biting midge species in the family Chironomidae, described by Walley in 1926. As a member of the genus Polypedilum, it belongs to one of the most diverse and widespread genera of chironomid midges. The species name reflects its type locality in Ontario, Canada. Like other chironomids, its larvae are aquatic and serve as important indicators of water quality in freshwater ecosystems.
Populicerus aureus
Populicerus aureus is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Eurymelinae, described by Hamilton in 1980. The genus Populicerus belongs to the tribe Idiocerini, a group of leafhoppers often associated with woody host plants. This species has been recorded across multiple Canadian provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Québec. Very limited biological information is available for this species specifically.
Praestigia kulczynskii
Kulczynski's Dwarf Weaver
Praestigia kulczynskii is a dwarf spider in the family Linyphiidae, described by Eskov in 1979. The species has a transcontinental distribution spanning the Palearctic and Nearctic regions, with records from Russia, Japan, and Canada. As a member of the sheet-web weavers, it belongs to one of the most species-rich spider families, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Priognathus monilicornis
Necklace-horned Dead Log Beetle
A small beetle in the family Pythidae, commonly known as the Necklace-horned Dead Log Beetle. Found in decaying wood habitats across western and central Canada. The common name refers to the beaded or necklace-like appearance of its antennae.
Pristiphora bivittata
Pristiphora bivittata is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae, order Hymenoptera. The species was described by Norton in 1861. It is known from multiple Canadian provinces including British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Records indicate it has been observed at least six times on iNaturalist. Beyond basic taxonomic and distribution data, detailed biological information for this species remains limited in available sources.
Pristiphora mollis
Gentle Bilberry Sawyer
Pristiphora mollis is a Holarctic sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae, commonly known as the Gentle Bilberry Sawyer. The species occurs across northern regions of both North America and Eurasia, with documented records in Canada and the United Kingdom. Like other members of the genus Pristiphora, it is associated with woody plants, though specific host relationships require further documentation.
Procambarus acutus
White River Crayfish
Procambarus acutus, commonly known as the white river crayfish, is a freshwater crayfish species in the family Cambaridae native to eastern North America. The species exhibits a disjunct native distribution spanning from the Atlantic Slope to the Gulf of Mexico drainages. It has been introduced to multiple regions outside its native range, including parts of Europe and Africa, where it poses potential ecological and economic risks. Two subspecies are recognized: P. a. acutus and P. a. cuevachicae.
Proctorus decipiens
Proctorus decipiens is a species of true weevil in the family Curculionidae. It occurs in North America with records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick) and the United States. As a member of the true weevils, it possesses the characteristic elongated rostrum typical of this large beetle family.
Promecotarsus densus
Promecotarsus densus is a species of true weevil in the family Curculionidae, first described by Thomas L. Casey in 1892. It is recorded from western Canada, specifically Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. As a member of Curculionidae, it possesses the characteristic elongated snout (rostrum) typical of weevils. Available information on this species is limited.
Proteoteras crescentana
Black-crescent Proteoteras Moth
A small tortricid moth found in northern North America, with records from the Canadian prairies and Vermont. The species belongs to a genus whose larvae are known to bore into maple plant tissues. Adults are attracted to light.
Protogygia postera
cutworm moth, dart moth
Protogygia postera is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae, described by Fauske & Lafontaine in 2004. It is known from the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. The genus Protogygia comprises a small group of noctuid moths distributed in North America.
Psammotettix beirnei
Psammotettix beirnei is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, described by Greene in 1971. It belongs to the genus Psammotettix, which comprises small, grass-associated leafhoppers. The species is recorded from Canada, consistent with the genus's generally Holarctic distribution.
Pseudacontia crustaria
Pseudacontia crustaria is a species of noctuid moth described by Morrison in 1875. It belongs to the genus Pseudacontia within the subfamily Noctuinae. The species is known from the Canadian prairie provinces and appears to have a restricted distribution in western North America. Available information on its biology and ecology remains limited.
Pseudagolius coloradensis
Pseudagolius coloradensis is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It is distributed across the Nearctic region from the Canadian prairies through the western and central United States to central Mexico. The species was described by Horn in 1870. Limited behavioral and ecological information is available for this species.
Pseudanostirus ochreipennis
Ochre Click Beetle
Pseudanostirus ochreipennis, known as the Ochre Click Beetle, is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. The species was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1863. It is found across northern and western Canada, with records from Alberta, British Columbia, Labrador, Manitoba, and Newfoundland. The specific epithet "ochreipennis" refers to the yellowish-ochre coloration of the wing covers.
Pseudanthonomus rufulus
Pseudanthonomus rufulus is a species of true weevil in the family Curculionidae. It was described by Dietz in 1891. The species is documented from North America, with specific records from Manitoba and Québec in Canada. Little detailed biological information is available for this species.
Pseudoholostrophus discolor
Pseudoholostrophus discolor is a species of polypore fungus beetle in the family Tetratomidae, first described by Horn in 1888. It is one of few species in the genus Pseudoholostrophus, which belongs to a small family of beetles associated with fungal fruiting bodies. The species has been documented in eastern North America, with records from Canada including New Brunswick and Québec.
Pseudoloxops coccineus
Pseudoloxops coccineus is a small plant bug in the family Miridae, originally described from Europe in 1843. The species has been introduced to North America, with established populations documented in Ontario, Canada since approximately 1973. Its introduction is believed to have occurred accidentally via nursery stock importations of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior). The species belongs to a genus that has undergone significant taxonomic revision in recent years, with integrative approaches revealing substantial cryptic diversity in Pacific island populations.
Pseudostrangalia cruentata
Pseudostrangalia cruentata is a species of longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) native to eastern North America. It belongs to the subfamily Lepturinae, a group commonly known as flower longhorns due to their frequent association with flowers. The species was first described by Haldeman in 1847 and has been documented in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Québec.
Pterostichus ebeninus
woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus ebeninus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Dejean in 1828. It is classified as a woodland ground beetle and is found in North America, specifically in Canada and the United States. The species belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which contains numerous similar-looking ground beetle species that require careful examination for identification. Information on its specific biology and ecology remains limited.
Pterostichus empetricola
Pterostichus empetricola is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is distributed across the Holarctic region, with records from Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America including Alaska, Canada, and the United States. The species is part of the diverse genus Pterostichus, which contains numerous ground beetle species.
Pterostichus kotzebuei
Pterostichus kotzebuei is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It was described by Ball in 1962. The species is found in North America, with records from Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States. Like other members of the genus Pterostichus, it is a woodland ground beetle.
Pyla aenigmatica
Pyla aenigmatica is a species of moth in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. It was described by Heinrich in 1956. The species is known from Alberta, Canada, based on distribution records. Like other members of the genus Pyla, it belongs to a group of snout moths, though specific ecological and biological details remain poorly documented.
Pyrgus scriptura
Small Checkered-Skipper, small checkered skipper
Pyrgus scriptura is a small skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae, commonly known as the small checkered skipper. It occurs across the western and central United States and southern Canada. The species has two generations per year and is associated with open, dry habitats. Larvae feed on plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae), particularly Sida hederacea.
Rhagonycha sylvatica
Rhagonycha sylvatica is a soldier beetle in the family Cantharidae, native to North America. The species was described by Green in 1941 and is known from Ontario and Québec in Canada. Like other members of the genus Rhagonycha, this species is likely associated with forested habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species has been recorded in only a handful of observations, indicating it may be uncommon or undercollected.
Rhagonycha tantilla
Rhagonycha tantilla is a species of soldier beetle in the family Cantharidae. It is distributed across North America, with confirmed records in Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario in Canada. As a member of the soldier beetles, it belongs to a family characterized by soft, flexible elytra and predatory or omnivorous feeding habits, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Rhinoncus longulus
Smartweed Node Weevil
Rhinoncus longulus is a small weevil in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the Smartweed Node Weevil. The species is documented from multiple Canadian provinces and is associated with Polygonaceae host plants. Like other members of the genus Rhinoncus, this species likely develops within the stems or nodes of its host plants. The specific epithet 'longulus' refers to its somewhat elongated body form relative to congeners.
Rhinosimus pallipes
Rhinosimus pallipes is a species of narrow-waisted bark beetle in the family Salpingidae, first described by Boheman in 1858. The species is recorded from British Columbia, Canada, based on GBIF distribution data. Members of the genus Rhinosimus are associated with dead or decaying wood, though specific ecological details for R. pallipes remain undocumented in the available sources.
Rhyncolus knowltoni
Rhyncolus knowltoni is a species of weevil in the family Curculionidae, described by Thatcher in 1940. The genus Rhyncolus belongs to the true weevils, a large and diverse group of beetles characterized by their elongated snouts. This species is known from limited collection records across the Canadian Prairie Provinces.
Sachalinobia rugipennis
flower longhorn beetle
Sachalinobia rugipennis is a species of flower longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was first described by Newman in 1844 under the basionym Evodinus rugipennis. The species is distributed across eastern and central Canada.
Sanfilippodytes brumalis
Sanfilippodytes brumalis is a small predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, described by Brown in 1930. The species belongs to the subfamily Hydroporinae, a group of generally small dytiscids. It occurs in northern North America, with records from Labrador and Québec in Canada. As a member of Dytiscidae, it is aquatic and predatory, though specific natural history details remain poorly documented.
Sanfilippodytes edwardsi
Sanfilippodytes edwardsi is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, first described by Wallis in 1933. The species is endemic to western North America, with records from Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. As a member of the subfamily Hydroporinae, it inhabits freshwater aquatic environments where it preys on small invertebrates.
Saperda fayi
Thorn-limb Borer
Saperda fayi is a species of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Bland in 1863. It belongs to the genus Saperda, a group of medium-sized cerambycids commonly associated with woody plants. The species is known from Canada and the United States, with records from New Brunswick, Ontario, and Québec in Canada. Two infraspecific varieties have been described: var. shoemakeri and var. immaculipennis. As a member of the Lamiinae subfamily, it likely develops as a larva in living or recently dead woody tissue.
Sarata nigrifasciella
Sarata nigrifasciella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. Described by Ragonot in 1887, it is a small moth with limited documented information. The species has been recorded from Manitoba, Canada, but its biology and ecology remain poorly known.
Sarpedon scabrosus
Sarpedon scabrosus is a species of false click beetle in the family Eucnemidae, first described by Bonvouloir in 1875. The genus Sarpedon belongs to a group of beetles commonly known as false click beetles due to their resemblance to true click beetles (Elateridae) while lacking the functional clicking mechanism. Species in this family are typically associated with decaying wood and forest habitats. S. scabrosus has been recorded from multiple provinces in Canada including British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.
Scambus pterophori
Scambus pterophori is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Pimplinae. The species epithet "pterophori" suggests an association with plume moths (family Pterophoridae), likely indicating host specificity. Like other Scambus species, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of concealed lepidopteran larvae. The genus Scambus has been subject to taxonomic revision, with some species previously considered distinct now recognized as seasonal morphs of single species.
Schizotus cervicalis
Flaming-pillow Beetle
A small to medium-sized beetle in the family Pyrochroidae, commonly known as the Flaming-pillow Beetle. The species is characterized by its distinctive coloration and is known from multiple Canadian provinces. It belongs to a family whose larvae are often associated with decaying organic matter.
Sciota fernaldi
A small moth species in the family Pyralidae, distributed across the Canadian prairie provinces. Very limited biological information is available for this taxon.
Scopula cacuminaria
Frosted Tan Wave
Scopula cacuminaria, commonly known as the frosted tan wave, is a small geometrid moth described by Herbert Knowles Morrison in 1874. Adults have a wingspan of 18–23 mm and are active in July in Alberta, Canada. The species occurs across southern Canada from the Maritimes to southern British Columbia, extending south to Texas.
Scotinotylus pallidus
Scotinotylus pallidus is a species of sheet web spider in the family Linyphiidae. It was first described by James Henry Emerton in 1882. The species is known from Canada and the United States, with records from Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario in Canada. Like other linyphiids, it constructs horizontal sheet webs to capture prey. The specific epithet 'pallidus' refers to its pale coloration.
Scotochroa basalis
Basal False Darkling Beetle
Scotochroa basalis is a species of false darkling beetle in the family Melandryidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1874. It is known from western and central Canada, with confirmed records in Alberta, British Columbia, and Newfoundland. The species is rarely encountered, with only five observations documented on iNaturalist as of the available data. Like other members of Melandryidae, it likely inhabits forested environments where it develops in decaying wood.
Scymnus caurinus
northwestern lady beetle
Scymnus caurinus, commonly known as the northwestern lady beetle, is a species of dusky lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It is a small predatory beetle native to western North America, with records from the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. As a member of the genus Scymnus, it belongs to a group of lady beetles generally associated with aphid predation, though specific prey relationships for this species remain poorly documented. The species was described by Horn in 1895.