Caribbean-fauna
Guides
Acanthocinus obsoletus
Obsolete Longhorned Beetle
Acanthocinus obsoletus is a longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) in the subfamily Lamiinae, described by Guillaume-Antoine Olivier in 1795. It is known from eastern North America, Cuba, and the Bahamas. The species is associated with pine habitats and has been documented at blacklight stations.
Ancylostomia stercorea
pigeonpea pod borer
Ancylostomia stercorea is a pod-boring moth whose larvae feed on developing seeds of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan). In Trinidad, it is considered the most serious pest of this crop. The species has been documented across the Caribbean, southern Florida, southern Texas, Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. It serves as host to multiple parasitoid species that have been studied for biological control potential.
Cariblatta minima
Least Yellow Cockroach
Cariblatta minima, commonly known as the least yellow cockroach, is a small species in the family Ectobiidae. It was described by Hebard in 1916 and is distributed across North America and the Caribbean region. The species is one of the smallest members of its genus, as indicated by its specific epithet. Like other Ectobiidae, it is a free-living cockroach rather than a domestic pest species.
Carpelimus aridus
Carpelimus aridus is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae) described by Jacquelin du Val in 1857. The species is distributed across the Caribbean region, with records from Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the Cayman Islands, as well as parts of mainland Central America including Mexico and Guatemala. As a member of the spiny-legged rove beetle subfamily Oxytelinae, it belongs to a group characterized by modified legs and association with riparian or moist habitats.
Chinavia marginata
Margined Stink Bug
Chinavia marginata is a species of shield bug (family Pentatomidae) native to Florida, Central America, and the Caribbean. The species belongs to a genus of stink bugs commonly known as green stink bugs, characterized by their green coloration and agricultural pest status. Like other Chinavia species, it possesses piercing-sucking mouthparts used for feeding on plant tissues. The species has undergone taxonomic revision, previously classified under Acrosternum and Pentatoma.
Cosmosoma achemon
Cosmosoma achemon is a moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae, described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1781. It occurs in the Neotropical region, with a range extending from the Antilles through northern South America to Santarém in Pará, Brazil. As a member of the genus Cosmosoma, it belongs to a group of tiger moths often noted for bright coloration and warning patterns associated with chemical defense.
Cyclargus
A genus of lycaenid butterflies established by Vladimir Nabokov in 1945, split from the genus Hemiargus. The genus contains several species distributed across the Caribbean and southern Florida, including the critically endangered Miami blue butterfly (C. thomasi bethunebakeri). Taxonomic validity remains debated among lepidopterists.
Davara caricae
Papaya Webworm Moth
Davara caricae, commonly known as the papaya webworm moth, is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae. It was described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1913. The species is associated with papaya (Carica papaya), as indicated by its specific epithet. It occurs in parts of the Caribbean and southern Florida.
Decadiomus bahamicus
Rubin Vase Lady Beetle
Decadiomus bahamicus is a species of lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It is native to the Caribbean region and has been recorded in southern Florida. The species is known by the common name "Rubin Vase Lady Beetle." Knowledge of this species is limited, with few documented observations.
Diaphania lualis
Diaphania lualis is a small crambid moth with a wingspan of approximately 19 mm. It occurs in the Caribbean, Mexico, and the southern United States. Adults have been documented in Florida during two distinct periods: September through January and May through June.
Empoasca hastosa
Empoasca hastosa is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Typhlocybinae, described by Ross and Moore in 1957. The species is part of the large and economically significant genus Empoasca, which includes several major agricultural pests. Distribution records indicate occurrence in Florida and Cuba (CU), with the DO code likely representing the Dominican Republic. Like other Empoasca species, E. hastosa likely shares the characteristic leafhopper morphology and plant-feeding habits of the genus, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Eulimnichus ater
minute marsh-loving beetle
Eulimnichus ater is a species of minute marsh-loving beetle in the family Limnichidae, first described by LeConte in 1854. The species is widely distributed across the Americas, occurring in the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. As a member of the Limnichidae, it belongs to a family of small beetles typically associated with moist or marshy habitats, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in the available literature.
Eumacrodes yponomeutaria
Eumacrodes yponomeutaria is the sole species in the monotypic genus Eumacrodes, a geometrid moth first described by Achille Guenée in 1858. The species occurs in the Caribbean and North America. As a member of the subfamily Sterrhinae, it belongs to a diverse group of moths commonly known as carpet moths or wave moths. The genus was established by Warren in 1905.
Exelastis dowi
Dow's Plume Moth
Exelastis dowi is a small plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, recognized by its narrow, divided wings characteristic of the family. The species has been documented from Florida, The Bahamas, and Belize, with adult activity recorded in early spring. Its small size and limited geographic range distinguish it from related Exelastis species.
Fissicrambus haytiellus
Carpet-grass Webworm Moth
Fissicrambus haytiellus, commonly known as the carpet-grass webworm moth, is a species in the family Crambidae. First described by Zincken in 1821, it is currently treated as a synonym of Fissicrambus fissiradiellus in some taxonomic databases. The species occurs in the Caribbean and southeastern United States.
Geocoris lividipennis
bigeyed bug
Geocoris lividipennis is a predatory true bug in the family Geocoridae, commonly known as bigeyed bugs. The species is recognized as a beneficial insect in agricultural systems, where it serves as a natural enemy of various crop pests. Adults and nymphs are generalist predators that feed on small arthropods and their eggs. The species has a broad distribution across the Americas and Caribbean islands.
Gonodonta nutrix
Citrus fruitpiercer
Gonodonta nutrix, commonly known as the citrus fruitpiercer, is a moth in the family Erebidae. It was first described by Pieter Cramer in 1780. The species is distributed across the Caribbean and from North to South America, with larvae that feed on Annona species.
Halysidota cinctipes
Florida Tussock Moth, Gartered Halysidota
Halysidota cinctipes is a tussock moth in the family Erebidae, described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1865. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 42 mm. The species occurs across the Caribbean, southeastern and southwestern United States, and possibly extends through Central America to northern South America. Larvae feed on specific host plants including sea grape and hibiscus species.
Hellinsia inquinatus
Black-marked Plume Moth
Hellinsia inquinatus is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, described by Zeller in 1873. It is distributed across much of North America and the Caribbean, with a wingspan of 16–18 mm. The species has been recorded feeding on three species of Ambrosia and Parthenium as larvae.
Hentzia
Long-jawed Jumping Spiders
Hentzia is a genus of jumping spiders (Salticidae) in the subfamily Dendryphantinae, established by G. Marx in 1883 and named after arachnologist Nicholas Marcellus Hentz. The genus contains approximately 22 recognized species distributed primarily in the Caribbean region, with Cuba hosting the greatest diversity (seven species). North American species include the widespread H. palmarum and H. mitrata, along with western outlier species H. poenitens and H. fimbriata. Males exhibit elaborate courtship displays involving leg spreading, abdominal cocking, and zigzag approaches toward females.
Heraeus triguttatus
dirt-colored seed bug
Heraeus triguttatus is a species of dirt-colored seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae, first described by Guérin-Méneville in 1857. The species is distributed across the Caribbean region and North America, with records from the United States, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and various smaller Caribbean islands. As a member of the Myodochini tribe, it belongs to a group of ground-dwelling seed bugs typically associated with soil and leaf litter habitats.
Heterops
Heterops is a genus of longhorn beetles in the family Cerambycidae, tribe Eburiini. The genus was established by Blanchard in 1842 and contains nine recognized species distributed across the Caribbean and parts of Central and South America. Species within this genus are characterized by their elongated bodies and antennae typical of cerambycids.
Horama
Texas wasp moth (H. panthalon only)
Horama is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, established by Jacob Hübner in 1819. The genus contains approximately 11 recognized species distributed primarily in the Americas, with notable diversity in the Caribbean region. Several species exhibit striking wasp mimicry, most famously H. panthalon, known as the Texas wasp moth. The genus has undergone taxonomic revision, with some species formerly placed here reassigned to related genera such as Poliopastea.
Hyalymenus longispinus
broad-headed bug
Hyalymenus longispinus is a species of broad-headed bug in the family Alydidae, first described by Stål in 1870. It belongs to a family of true bugs characterized by broad, flattened heads. The species has been documented in the Caribbean region and Florida, with 268 observations recorded on iNaturalist. As a member of Alydidae, it is likely associated with leguminous plants, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited.
Hydrovatus hornii
Hydrovatus hornii is a species of predaceous diving beetle (family Dytiscidae) described by George Henry Crotch in 1873. It belongs to the subfamily Hydroporinae and tribe Hydrovatini, a group of small to medium-sized diving beetles adapted to aquatic habitats. The species is known from the Caribbean, Middle America, and North America, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Junonia neildi
West Indian Mangrove Buckeye
Junonia neildi, the West Indian Mangrove Buckeye, is a butterfly species in the family Nymphalidae. It was elevated from subspecies status under Junonia genoveva to full species rank in 2004. The species occurs in coastal regions of the southeastern United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean. It is one of three Junonia species currently documented in Florida, alongside J. coenia and J. zonalis.
Kleidocerys virescens
Kleidocerys virescens is a seed bug species in the family Lygaeidae, first described by Fabricius in 1794. It belongs to a genus of small, often greenish-tinged bugs associated with seed feeding. The species has a broad distribution across the Caribbean, Central America, and southern North America.
Lascoria alucitalis
Lascoria alucitalis is a litter moth in the family Erebidae, described by Guenée in 1854. It belongs to the subfamily Herminiinae, a group commonly known as litter moths due to their association with decaying plant material. The species has a broad distribution across the Caribbean, Central America, and the southeastern United States.
Lineodes triangulalis
Lineodes triangulalis is a small crambid moth described by Möschler in 1890. It is distributed across the Caribbean, Central America, northern South America, and the southern United States (Florida and Texas). The forewings measure 7.7–9.7 mm. Larvae have been reared on Capsicum frutescens leaves, indicating a host association with pepper plants.
Micratopus
Micratopus is a genus of small ground beetles in the family Carabidae, established by Casey in 1914. The genus comprises seven described species distributed across the Caribbean, South America, and North America. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Bembidiini and are characterized by their diminutive size, a trait reflected in the genus name. Several species have been described relatively recently, with three new species named in 2021 from the Lesser Antilles.
Microcausta flavipunctalis
Rusty Microcausta Moth
Microcausta flavipunctalis is a small crambid moth with a wingspan of approximately 10 mm. It occurs in the Caribbean region and southeastern United States, with confirmed records from Florida, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Adults are active primarily during winter and spring months, with flight records spanning December through May and October.
Microcrambus discludellus
Microcrambus discludellus is a small grass moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Heinrich Benno Möschler in 1890. The species has a Caribbean-North American distribution pattern, occurring in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Colombia, and the southeastern United States. It belongs to the genus Microcrambus, which contains small, often pale-colored crambid moths.
Microphysetica hermeasalis
Microphysetica hermeasalis is a small crambid moth described by Francis Walker in 1859. It has a wingspan of 9–10 mm and occurs across the Caribbean Basin, including Florida, Mexico, Central America, the Antilles, and northern South America. Adults are active during specific periods in Florida, with flight records from March through June and again from November through December.
Mimorista
Mimorista is a genus of snout moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae. The genus was established by William Warren in 1890 and contains approximately 15 described species distributed primarily in the Americas. Most species were described in the early 20th century by entomologists such as Hampson and Möschler. The genus is placed within the diverse and species-rich subfamily Spilomelinae, one of the largest groups of pyraloid moths.
Neonemobius cubensis
Cuban Ground Cricket
Neonemobius cubensis is a small ground cricket known from the Caribbean region and parts of the southeastern United States. The species is notable for an unusual mating behavior in which females feed on glandular tibial spurs of males during copulation, leaving visible damage on previously mated males. It belongs to the family Trigonidiidae, a group of crickets often associated with ground-dwelling habits.
Oncopeltus cayensis
Keys Milkweed Bug
Oncopeltus cayensis is a seed bug in the family Lygaeidae, commonly known as the Keys Milkweed Bug. It is native to the Caribbean region and parts of North America, with confirmed records from the Bahamas and the United States. As a member of the genus Oncopeltus, it is closely related to the well-studied Large Milkweed Bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus), though specific details of its biology remain poorly documented compared to its more widespread congener.
Platynota calidana
Platynota calidana is a small tortricid moth with a wingspan of approximately 15 mm. The species is known from limited geographic records in Cuba and Florida, USA. As a member of the leafroller moth genus Platynota, its larvae likely feed on plant foliage, though specific host associations remain undocumented.
Pseudisotoma
Pseudisotoma is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Isotomidae, established by Handschin in 1924. Members of this genus are small, soil-dwelling hexapods found across diverse geographic regions including Arctic, European, Caribbean, Southeast Asian, and Hawaiian localities. As part of the diverse Isotomidae family, they contribute to decomposition processes in their habitats.
Sathria internitalis
Sathria internitalis is a species of moth in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae. It was described by Achille Guenée in 1854. The species has a restricted Caribbean and Floridian distribution, occurring on the islands of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, as well as in the southeastern United States (Florida). As a member of the grass moth family Crambidae, it likely exhibits the slender body form and thread-like antennae characteristic of this group.
Sphex jamaicensis
Jamaican Digger Wasp
Sphex jamaicensis is a solitary thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae. It is known from Florida, Cuba, the Bahamas, and Jamaica. Like other members of the genus Sphex, females are fossorial diggers that construct burrows in soil. The species was originally described by Drury in 1773 in the genus Vespa, creating a complex nomenclatural history involving a secondary homonym with a later Fabricius 1775 description.
Stenocrepis duodecimstriata
Stenocrepis duodecimstriata is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, tribe Lebiini. The species was described by Chevrolat in 1836. It occurs in the Caribbean, Central America, and the southern United States. Records span Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the USA.
Symphylus caribbeanus
Symphylus caribbeanus is a seldom-collected shield-backed bug (family Scutelleridae) described by Kirkaldy in 1909. It belongs to a family characterized by an enlarged scutellum that covers most or all of the abdomen and wings. The species has been documented in the Caribbean and North America, though detailed biological information remains limited due to its rarity in collections.
Synchlora cupedinaria
Brown-bordered Emerald
Synchlora cupedinaria is a small emerald moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1880. The species is restricted to the Caribbean region and extreme southeastern United States, with confirmed records from Florida, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, and Martinique. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate form and S. c. guadelupensis described by Herbulot in 1988. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 14–17 mm. Like other members of the genus Synchlora, the larvae are known for their remarkable camouflage behavior, adorning their bodies with fragments of host plant material.
Tagosodes cubanus
Tagosodes cubanus is a planthopper species in the family Delphacidae, first described from Cuba in 1914. It belongs to a genus of small, slender delphacids associated with grasses. Records indicate presence across the Caribbean, Mexico, and the southern United States. Like other delphacids, it likely feeds on grasses and sedges, though specific host associations remain poorly documented.
Valenzuela indicator
lizard barklouse
Valenzuela indicator is a species of lizard barklouse in the family Caeciliusidae, first described by Mockford in 1969. It belongs to the order Psocodea, a group of small insects that includes barklice and booklice. The species has been recorded from the Caribbean region and North America, with specific distribution records from Cuba. Like other members of the genus Valenzuela, it is likely associated with dead leaf litter and bark habitats, though detailed ecological studies remain limited.