Caribbean
Guides
Buprestis decora
Buprestis decora is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Fabricius in 1775 and is recognized as a valid taxon. It is distributed across the Caribbean Sea region and North America, with records spanning Nearctic, Neotropical, and Palearctic biogeographic realms. As a member of the genus Buprestis, it belongs to one of the most visually striking genera of jewel beetles, though specific details about its biology and appearance remain poorly documented in available sources.
Calosoma splendidum
Splendid Caterpillar Hunter
Calosoma splendidum is a large ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Dejean in 1831. It is distributed across the Caribbean, southeastern United States, and Mexico. The species is notable for its metallic green to golden-green or light brown coloration and its absence of the red elytral border found in related species.
Camponotus zonatus
Caribbean Banded Carpenter Ant
Camponotus zonatus is a species of carpenter ant in the genus Camponotus, first described by Emery in 1894. Originally described as a subspecies of Camponotus extensus, it is now recognized as a full species. The common name 'Caribbean Banded Carpenter Ant' reflects its geographic distribution in the Caribbean region. Like other members of the genus Camponotus, it nests in wood and exhibits the characteristic traits of carpenter ants, including polymorphic worker castes and colony nesting in wooden substrates.
Caribbeana bichorda
Caribbeana bichorda is a moth species in the family Notodontidae, first described by Hampson in 1901. It belongs to a genus endemic to the Caribbean region. The species is documented from limited observations, with iNaturalist records indicating it is rarely encountered. As a member of the Heterocampinae subfamily, it shares morphological traits with related prominents but remains poorly studied in terms of natural history.
Cautethia grotei
Grote's sphinx
Cautethia grotei, or Grote's sphinx, is a small moth in the family Sphingidae described by Henry Edwards in 1882. It occurs in Florida and throughout the Caribbean islands, with multiple generations per year in Florida. Adults are known to nectar at flowers including Asystasia gangetica and Dracaena fragrans. Larvae feed on various Rubiaceae species.
Cedusa inflata
Cedusa inflata is a derbid planthopper in the family Derbidae. Its larvae develop exclusively in decaying palm tissue, a specialized habitat that directly determines where adults occur. Adults are found on living palms, specifically the same palm species where larval development took place. This tight coupling between larval habitat and adult distribution represents a notable ecological pattern among planthoppers.
Cephalospargeta
Cephalospargeta is a monotypic moth genus in the family Nolidae, established by Möschler in 1890. It contains a single species, Cephalospargeta elongata, which occurs in the southern United States (Texas) and Caribbean islands (Puerto Rico, Jamaica). The genus was historically classified in Noctuidae but has been reassigned to Nolidae based on phylogenetic revisions.
Ceraeochrysa smithi
Smith's Green Lacewing
Ceraeochrysa smithi is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae. It is found across the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. As a member of the genus Ceraeochrysa, it belongs to a group known for larvae that construct dorsal packets of debris for camouflage. The species was first described by Navás in 1914.
Ceratocombus vagans
litter bug
Ceratocombus vagans is a species of minute true bug in the family Ceratocombidae, commonly known as litter bugs. The species has been described as one of the most generalized members of Hemiptera: Heteroptera, with predatory feeding habits that support the hypothesis that primitive heteropterans were predaceous. It occupies a wide geographic range across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Ceratophysella gibbosa
Ceratophysella gibbosa is a species of springtail in the family Hypogastruridae. It was originally described as Achorutes gibbosus by Bagnall in 1940. The species has been recorded from the Azores archipelago (Faial, São Miguel, Santa Maria) and Antarctic & Subantarctic regions, as well as the Caribbean mainland. Very little specific biological information is available for this particular species.
Cerchysiella scutellata
Cerchysiella scutellata is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Encyrtidae, described by Howard in 1897. The genus Cerchysiella is part of one of the largest and most important collections of Encyrtidae at the University of California, Riverside. Specimens of this species are represented in major entomological collections and have been documented from point-mounted specimens at UCR.
Cerotoma ruficornis
bean leaf beetle
Cerotoma ruficornis is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, commonly known as the bean leaf beetle. It is found across the Caribbean, Central America, and North America. Two subspecies are recognized: C. r. ruficornis and C. r. sexpunctata. The species is associated with soybean agriculture and has been studied alongside the related C. trifurcata as a pest of legume crops.
Cesonia
Cesonia is a genus of ground spiders in the family Gnaphosidae, first described by Eugène Simon in 1893. The genus contains 31 species distributed across North America, the Caribbean, and parts of the Mediterranean. Despite their common name as "ground spiders," many species are frequently found on vegetation and in arboreal habitats. Cesonia bilineata, the type species, has been documented engaging in predation on spiderlings of other spider species.
Chloropteryx paularia
Fulsome Emerald
Chloropteryx paularia, commonly known as the Fulsome Emerald, is a small geometrid moth with a wingspan of approximately 16 mm. First described by Möschler in 1886, this species is restricted to Florida and the Greater Antilles. The larvae are known to feed on wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera).
Chlorostrymon maesites
Amethyst Hairstreak, Maesites Hairstreak, Verde Azul Hairstreak
Chlorostrymon maesites, commonly known as the Amethyst Hairstreak, is a species of hairstreak butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in the Caribbean and North America. The species was originally described as Thecla maesites by Herrich-Schäffer in 1864 and is now classified under the genus Chlorostrymon.
Chrysobothris tranquebarica
Australian Pine Borer, Mangrove Borer
Chrysobothris tranquebarica is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as the Australian pine borer or mangrove borer. The species has been documented in the Caribbean Sea region and North America. As a member of the genus Chrysobothris, it shares the characteristic metallic coloration and wood-boring larval habits typical of this large and taxonomically challenging group.
Cissites auriculata
big-eared blister beetle
Cissites auriculata is one of two described species in the genus Cissites (family Meloidae), distinguished from the closely related C. maculata by constant morphological features including head shape, antennae length, thorax shape, first metatarsal segment length, and elytral coloration. Mitochondrial COI sequence divergence of 14.5% from C. maculata indicates ancient cladogenetic separation. The species is widely distributed in Central America and the Caribbean, with regional sympatry with C. maculata occurring in central Mexico. It has not colonized South America.
Cligenes distinctus
Cligenes distinctus is a dirt-colored seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae, first described by Distant in 1893. The species has a broad geographic distribution spanning the Caribbean Sea, Central America, and North America. Records indicate presence across numerous Caribbean islands including Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the Lesser Antilles, as well as mainland locations in Mexico, Central America, and the United States. The species belongs to the tribe Antillocorini within the subfamily Rhyparochrominae.
Clubiona maritima
Clubiona maritima is a sac spider species in the family Clubionidae. It occurs across North America from Canada through the United States and into the Caribbean region. As a member of the sac spider group, it constructs silken retreats rather than prey-capture webs and hunts actively. The species was described by Ludwig Carl Christian Koch in 1867.
Coccotrypes distinctus
Coccotrypes distinctus is a species of bark beetle in the family Curculionidae. It has a broad, disjunct distribution spanning tropical and subtropical regions across multiple continents and oceanic islands. The species was described by Wood and Bright in 1992 and has been recorded from Sri Lanka, Pacific Islands from New Guinea to Hawaii, the southern United States, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Suriname, and Guiana. As a member of the genus Coccotrypes, it likely exhibits the typical morphology of small, cylindrical bark beetles adapted for life beneath bark.
Coenobita clypeatus
Caribbean Land Hermit Crab, Soldier Crab, West Atlantic Crab, Tree Crab, Purple Pincher
Coenobita clypeatus is a terrestrial hermit crab native to the western Atlantic and Caribbean region. Adults inhabit coastal environments and can be found considerable distances inland, often burrowing under tree roots. The species exhibits complex social behaviors including shell fighting, vacancy chains for resource acquisition, and size-dependent dominance hierarchies. It relies on scavenged gastropod shells for protection and water retention, with shell availability directly limiting population density and individual growth.
Colliuris caymanensis
Colliuris caymanensis is a small ground beetle in the tribe Odacanthini, endemic to the Cayman Islands. It was originally described by Darlington in 1947 and was previously treated as a subspecies of C. tetrastigma before being elevated to full species status. Like other members of the genus Colliuris, it is a slender, ant-mimicking carabid beetle.
Colliuris pensylvanica
Long-necked Ground Beetle
Colliuris pensylvanica is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, tribe Odacanthini, commonly known as the long-necked ground beetle. Adults measure 5.8–7.2 mm in length. The species has undergone extensive taxonomic revision, with multiple historical names now synonymized under the current valid name. It occurs across a broad geographic range in North America and the Caribbean.
Compsodes
hooded cockroach, sand cockroach
Compsodes is a genus of small, hooded cockroaches in the family Corydiidae, established by Hebard in 1917. The genus contains at least four described species distributed across Central America, the Caribbean, and the southern United States. Members are characterized by a distinctive hood-like pronotal structure that covers much of the head. These cockroaches are primarily associated with sandy habitats.
Conocephalus cinereus
Caribbean Meadow Katydid
Conocephalus cinereus is a species of meadow katydid in the family Tettigoniidae, commonly known as the Caribbean Meadow Katydid. It belongs to the subfamily Conocephalinae, which includes abundant orthopterans in eastern North America and adjacent regions. As with other Conocephalus species, it possesses the characteristic long, thread-like antennae that distinguish katydids from true grasshoppers. The species has been documented across the Caribbean region and parts of Central and North America.
Coptodisca sp. (Conocarpus erectus)
An undescribed species of Coptodisca (family Heliozelidae) that develops as a leaf miner on Conocarpus erectus (button mangrove). The species remains formally unnamed but has been documented from field collections. Heliozelid moths in this genus are characteristically small, with larvae that create distinctive blotch or serpentine mines in host leaves. This species represents part of the poorly known Neotropical heliozelid fauna associated with coastal mangrove vegetation.
Coryphaeschna ingens
Regal Darner
Coryphaeschna ingens, commonly known as the regal darner, is a species of large dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. It occurs across the Caribbean and North America, with a stable population and no immediate conservation concerns. The species is recognized by its substantial size and distinctive coloration typical of the genus Coryphaeschna.
Ctenodactylomyia watsoni
Sea Grape Gall Midge
Ctenodactylomyia watsoni is a gall midge species in the family Cecidomyiidae, commonly known as the Sea Grape Gall Midge. It induces galls on sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera), a coastal shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. The species is well-documented through iNaturalist observations, with over 790 records, indicating it is relatively common and readily observed by naturalists in its range. As a gall-forming insect, it manipulates host plant tissue to create protected structures for larval development.
Ctenotrachelus shermani
Ctenotrachelus shermani is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, subfamily Stenopodainae. It is a predatory true bug found across a broad geographic range spanning the Caribbean, North America, and South America. The species was described by Barber in 1929. Observations suggest it is established and active in tropical and subtropical regions.
Cyclargus ammon
Nickerbean Blue, Lucas' Blue
Cyclargus ammon is a species of blue butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. Commonly known as the Nickerbean Blue or Lucas' Blue, it occurs in the Caribbean and North America. The species was originally described by Lucas in 1856 as Lycaena ammon and later transferred to the genus Cyclargus. It is one of approximately 74 observed species in the genus on iNaturalist.
Cyclosa caroli
Cyclosa caroli is a species of orb-weaving spider in the family Araneidae. It is found in the United States and ranges from the Caribbean Sea to Bolivia. As a member of the genus Cyclosa, it is a trashline orb weaver that incorporates debris into its web architecture. The species was described by Hentz in 1850.
Cylindrocopturinus pictus
Cylindrocopturinus pictus is a species of true weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae, first described by Sleeper in 1963. It belongs to the genus Cylindrocopturinus, a group of weevils within the diverse Curculionidae family. The species has a documented distribution across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Cymaenes trebius
Cymaenes trebius is a synonym of Cymaenes odilia, a skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It was described by Mabille in 1891. The species is known from distribution records on San Andrés, a Colombian island in the Caribbean Sea. As a synonym, this name is no longer in active use for current taxonomy.
Cymaenes tripunctus
Three-spotted Skipper, Dingy Dotted Skipper
Cymaenes tripunctus is a grass skipper (Hesperiidae) distributed across the Caribbean, Central America, Florida, and South America. It is a small butterfly with a wingspan of 29–35 mm. The species is distinguished by three tiny transparent white spots on the leading edge of the forewing upperside near the tip. Two recognized subspecies exist: C. t. tripunctus and C. t. theogenis.
Cyphoderus similis
Cyphoderus similis is an elongate-bodied springtail species in the family Paronellidae, described by J.W. Folsom in 1927. It is myrmecophilic and has been documented in phoretic association with the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). The species occurs across multiple insular and coastal regions including the Caribbean, Hawaii, Macaronesia, and the Amazon basin.
Derolathrus cavernicolus
Jacobson's beetle
Derolathrus cavernicolus is a small beetle in the family Jacobsoniidae, first described from continental North America in 2010. The species is cavernicolous, inhabiting caves and forested habitats in Florida and the Caribbean. It represents the first record of the family Jacobsoniidae for North America. Some populations may have been introduced through horticultural trade.
Desmia tages
Desmia tages is a moth in the family Crambidae, first described by Pieter Cramer in 1777. It occurs in the Caribbean and southeastern United States, with records from Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Florida, Costa Rica, and Mexico. The species belongs to the subfamily Spilomelinae, a diverse group of snout moths. No specific ecological or biological details have been documented for this species beyond its geographic distribution.
Desmopachria
Desmopachria is a genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, tribe Hyphydrini. The genus contains over 80 described species distributed primarily in the Americas, from the United States through Central America to South America, with particular diversity in the Amazon basin and Caribbean islands. Species are associated with aquatic habitats including river floodplains and high-altitude forest streams. Multiple new species have been described in recent decades, indicating ongoing taxonomic work and likely remaining undescribed diversity.
Diacme phyllisalis
Rusty Diacme
Diacme phyllisalis is a small crambid moth first described by Francis Walker in 1859. It occurs across the Caribbean and into the southeastern United States, with records from Jamaica, Cuba, Mexico, Florida, and Georgia. The species is known in English as the Rusty Diacme, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Diaprepes
Diaprepes weevils, citrus root weevils
Diaprepes is a genus of broad-nosed weevils in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Entiminae, tribe Eustylini. It belongs to the Exophthalmus genus complex. The genus contains approximately 16 described species, with Diaprepes abbreviatus being the most economically significant as a major agricultural pest of citrus and other crops in Florida and the Caribbean. The genus is native to the Caribbean region and has expanded its range to include parts of Central America and the southeastern United States.
Diceroprocta biconica
Florida Keys' Scrub Cicada, Key's cicada
Diceroprocta biconica, commonly known as the Florida Keys' Scrub Cicada or Key's cicada, is a species of cicada in the family Cicadidae. It is found in the Caribbean Sea and North America, with confirmed records from Florida and Isla de la Juventud. Like other cicadas, it has piercing-sucking mouthparts and produces sound through tymbal organs. The species belongs to the genus Diceroprocta, which contains several species distributed across North American deserts and subtropical regions.
Dieuches armatipes
Dieuches armatipes is a seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae. Native to Africa, it has established populations in the Western Hemisphere including the Caribbean and Florida. The species was first documented in the Western Hemisphere from Grand Cayman and St. Kitts in 1993, with subsequent records from intercepted specimens in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. It has since been confirmed on the Florida mainland and in Belgium.
Dineutus carolinus
whirligig beetle
Dineutus carolinus is a species of whirligig beetle in the family Gyrinidae. It is found across the Caribbean Sea, Central America, and North America. Whirligig beetles in this genus are among the largest members of the family and are characterized by their distinctive surface-dwelling aquatic lifestyle. The species was described by LeConte in 1868.
Diplochaetus rutilus
Diplochaetus rutilus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is distributed across the Caribbean Sea, Central America, and North America, with confirmed records from the Cayman Islands, Colombia, Cuba, Hispaniola, and the United States. The species was described by Chevrolat in 1863.
Dysdercus andreae
St. Andrew's Cotton Stainer
Dysdercus andreae, commonly known as St. Andrew's Cotton Stainer, is a brightly colored true bug in the family Pyrrhocoridae. The species is named for the distinctive diagonal white cross on its body, resembling Saint Andrew's Cross. It is found in the Caribbean and parts of North America, where it forms aggregations of hundreds of individuals. The insect feeds primarily on seeds and fruits of Thespesia populnea (Pacific rosewood) and has been documented as a pest of cotton in the West Indies and U.S. Virgin Islands.
Eburia stigma
Eburia stigma is a longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae, distributed across the Caribbean, Middle America, and North America. The species belongs to the tribe Eburiini within the subfamily Cerambycinae. Records indicate presence in the Caribbean region, Middle America, and North America, with museum specimens documented from the British Museum.
Elaphidiini
Elaphidiini is a tribe of longhorn beetles (family Cerambycidae) within the subfamily Cerambycinae. The tribe has historically been spelled "Elaphidionini" in some literature. It contains numerous genera distributed across the Americas, with particularly high diversity in the Neotropical region. Recent taxonomic work has described new species from Colombia, Mexico, and the Caribbean, including Sphaerion costae, Mephritus costae, Eurysthea nogueirai, and Eurysthea nakagomei. The genus Elaphidion occurs in the Puerto Rican Bank and Antigua, with known host plant associations and described larval biology for some species.
Elaphidion
Elaphidion is a genus of longhorned beetles (family Cerambycidae) in the tribe Elaphidiini. Species in this genus are primarily Neotropical and Nearctic in distribution, with significant diversity in the Caribbean region including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Antigua. Several species have been described in recent taxonomic revisions, including E. michelii, E. mayesae, and E. antiguensis. Some species are attracted to fermenting baits and have been documented in bait trap studies.
Elaphidion irroratum
Elaphidion irroratum is a species of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1767. It is one of the earliest described cerambycid species in North American entomological literature. The species is characterized by distinctive coloration and antennal structure typical of the genus Elaphidion. It occurs across parts of North America, the Caribbean, and Middle America.
Elateropsis
Elateropsis is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) in the subfamily Prioninae, tribe Solenopterini. The genus was established by Chevrolat in 1862 and contains approximately 22 described species distributed primarily in the Caribbean region and parts of Central and South America. Species in this genus are characterized by their robust, cylindrical bodies and relatively large size typical of prionine cerambycids. The genus includes several island endemics, such as species restricted to the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, and Cuba.