Caribbean
Guides
Spalacopsis filum
Spalacopsis filum is a species of longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) first described by Johann Christoph Friedrich Klug in 1829. The species belongs to the subfamily Agapanthiinae and is native to the Caribbean region. Limited biological information is available for this species.
Spartocera diffusa
leaf-footed bug
Spartocera diffusa is a leaf-footed bug species in the family Coreidae, characterized by the expanded, leaf-like hind tibiae typical of this group. It is native to North America and the Caribbean, with records from the southeastern United States (Florida, Georgia, Texas) and the Windward Islands. The species was originally described by Thomas Say in 1832. Like other coreids, it is a plant-feeding true bug with piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Sphacelodes vulneraria
Hübner's Olive
Sphacelodes vulneraria is a geometrid moth known as Hübner's Olive, distributed across the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. It is a well-documented species with over 2,300 observations on iNaturalist. The species is assigned MONA/Hodges number 6800 in North American moth classification systems.
Sphecius hogardii
Caribbean cicada killer, Caribbean Cicada-killer Wasp
Sphecius hogardii, commonly known as the Caribbean cicada killer, is a large solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is one of four North American species in the genus Sphecius, all of which specialize in hunting cicadas to provision underground nests. The species is found in the Caribbean region and extends into southern Florida. Like other cicada killers, females paralyze cicadas with venom and transport them to burrow cells as food for their developing larvae.
Stemmops bicolor
Stemmops bicolor is a small spider species in the family Theridiidae (cobweb spiders), first described by O. Pickard-Cambridge in 1894. The species is known from the Caribbean region and parts of Central and North America, with records from Cuba, Mexico, the Bahamas, and the southern United States through Panama. As a member of the genus Stemmops, it belongs to a group of theridiid spiders characterized by their compact body form and specialized web-building behavior.
Stenocranus dorsalis
Stenocranus dorsalis is a delphacid planthopper in the family Delphacidae. It is found in the Caribbean and North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia) and the United States (Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia). As a member of the Delphacidae, it shares the family characteristic of a movable spur on the hind tibia.
Stenodontes chevrolati
Chevrolat's tropical long-horned beetle
Stenodontes chevrolati is a species of long-horned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, subfamily Prioninae. It is one of the largest cerambycid species in North America, with males reaching substantial size. The species occurs in the Caribbean and southern North America, where adults are attracted to lights and have been documented in oak woodland habitats. Larval development occurs in living oak trees, with adults emerging after several years of subterranean feeding on roots.
Sympherobius amiculus
Sympherobius amiculus is a species of brown lacewing in the family Hemerobiidae. It was first described by Fitch in 1855 under the basionym Hemerobius amiculus. The species is found in North America and the Caribbean.
Synchlora herbaria
White-dotted Emerald
Synchlora herbaria is a small emerald moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1794. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 13 mm. The species is notable for its Caribbean distribution, with records from Florida and multiple Caribbean islands. Larvae have been documented feeding on Lantana camara, and like other Synchlora species, they camouflage themselves by attaching plant material to their bodies.
Synchlora xysteraria
Singed Emerald
Synchlora xysteraria is a small geometrid moth in the emerald moth genus Synchlora. First described by George Duryea Hulst in 1886, this species has a restricted distribution limited to the southeastern United States (Georgia and Florida) and the Caribbean islands of Cuba and Hispaniola. Like other members of its genus, larvae are known for their remarkable camouflage behavior, adorning their bodies with plant material from their host plants. The species is one of approximately 12 Synchlora species found in North America.
Syndelphax nigripennis
Syndelphax nigripennis is a species of planthopper in the family Delphacidae, first described by Crawford in 1914. The species is characterized by dark wing coloration as indicated by its specific epithet. It belongs to a genus of small, delicate planthoppers typically associated with grass and sedge habitats. Records indicate occurrence in the Caribbean region and Texas.
Syspira
prowling spiders
Syspira is a genus of prowling spiders in the family Miturgidae, first described by Simon in 1895. These active, nocturnal hunters are characterized by their leggy appearance and body lengths of 10–18 mm. The genus occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean, with highest diversity in western North America. Taxonomic revision is ongoing, with species historically placed in Clubionidae and some specimens of S. pallida potentially belonging to the unrelated genus Zorocrates.
Tachys pumilus
Tachys pumilus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is distributed across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The genus Tachys contains numerous small, fast-running ground beetle species, though specific biological details for T. pumilus remain poorly documented in published literature.
Tachys scitulus
Tachys scitulus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by LeConte in 1848. The species is distributed across North America and the Caribbean region. Like other members of the genus Tachys, it belongs to a group of small, fast-running ground beetles often associated with moist habitats. Beyond basic taxonomic and distribution data, detailed biological information for this specific species remains limited in published sources.
Tachytes distinctus
green-eyed wasp, square-headed wasp
Tachytes distinctus is a solitary square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae, notable for the large green eyes characteristic of many larger Tachytes species. Females excavate underground burrows with branching tunnels and multiple cells, provisioning them with paralyzed orthopteran prey. Males emerge before females and defend territories from perches, using their prominent eyes to detect mates and rivals. The species occurs across North America and the Caribbean.
Taeniapterinae
Taeniapterinae is a subfamily of stilt-legged flies within the family Micropezidae, comprising at least nine described species across five genera: Calobatina, Grallipeza, Hoplocheiloma, Rainieria, and Taeniaptera. Members of this subfamily are characterized by their elongated legs and are distributed across the Neotropical region, with some Caribbean endemic species showing regional endemism patterns. The genus Grallipeza has been documented from the Lesser Antilles, where males exhibit territorial behavior in low vegetation.
Tafalisca eleuthera
Silent Bush Cricket
Tafalisca eleuthera is a species of cricket in the family Oecanthidae, commonly known as the Silent Bush Cricket. The species was described in 2009 from the Bahamas. It belongs to a genus of bush crickets known for reduced or absent calling songs in males.
Tagosodes wallacei
Tagosodes wallacei is a species of planthopper in the family Delphacidae, described by Muir and Giffard in 1924. It belongs to the large group of true bugs known as planthoppers, which are characterized by their jumping hind legs and association with grasses and other monocot plants. The genus Tagosodes is part of the diverse planthopper fauna of the Americas, with this species recorded from regions including Florida, Mexico, and Brazil.
Telegonus alardus
Frosted Flasher
Telegonus alardus, commonly known as the frosted flasher, is a dicot skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. The species is broadly distributed across the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. Three subspecies are recognized, with the nominate subspecies described by Stoll in 1790.
Tetartopeus tetricus
Tetartopeus tetricus is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Casey in 1905. It belongs to the genus Tetartopeus, a group within the subfamily Paederinae. The species has a broad distribution across eastern North America, with records extending from Canada through the United States to the Caribbean.
Tetragnatha caudata
tailed long-jawed orbweaver
Tetragnatha caudata is a species of long-jawed orb-weaving spider in the family Tetragnathidae. The species is characterized by its elongated body form and exceptionally long chelicerae, traits shared with other members of the genus Tetragnatha. It occurs across a broad geographic range in the Americas and Caribbean. Like other tetragnathids, it constructs orb webs in a horizontal or near-horizontal orientation.
Tetramorium lanuginosum
Downy Pennant Ant
Tetramorium lanuginosum is a species of ant in the family Formicidae, first described by Mayr in 1870. The species is distributed across the Caribbean region and the Galápagos Islands, with confirmed presence in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Cuba, and Spain (likely referring to the Canary Islands). It belongs to the genus Tetramorium, a diverse group of myrmicine ants commonly known as pavement ants or pennant ants. The common name "Downy Pennant Ant" refers to the species' characteristic appearance.
Tettigidea lateralis
black-sided pygmy grasshopper, black-sided grouse locust, sedge grouse locust
Tettigidea lateralis is a species of pygmy grasshopper in the family Tetrigidae, commonly known as the black-sided pygmy grasshopper or sedge grouse locust. It is one of the most frequently observed pygmy grasshoppers in North America, with over 4,000 iNaturalist observations. The species is notable for its relatively large size among Tetrigidae, reaching approximately 15 mm in length, and for its distinctive bold white femoral markings that contrast with otherwise cryptic coloration. It occurs across a broad geographic range including North America, the Caribbean, and parts of Central America.
Theridion flavonotatum
Theridion flavonotatum is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae. The species is documented from the United States, Cuba, and Turks & Caicos. Like other members of the genus, it constructs irregular three-dimensional webs. Published information on its biology and ecology remains sparse.
Theridion rabuni
Theridion rabuni is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae. It is known from the United States and the Bahama Islands. Little specific information is available about its biology, ecology, or behavior beyond its taxonomic placement and geographic distribution.
Theridion submissum
Theridion submissum is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae. The species was described by Gertsch and Davis in 1936. It is found in the United States, Mexico, the Bahama Islands, and Jamaica. Like other members of the genus Theridion, it constructs irregular three-dimensional webs.
Thione championi
Thione championi is a beetle species in the family Monotomidae, first described by Sharp in 1899. The species belongs to a small family of beetles commonly known as root-eating beetles, though specific ecological details for this particular species remain poorly documented. It has been recorded across multiple regions including the Caribbean, Middle America, and North America, suggesting a broad geographic distribution in the Neotropical and Nearctic realms.
Thymoites pallidus
Thymoites pallidus is a species of comb-footed spider in the family Theridiidae, first described by Emerton in 1913. This species is known from Cuba, the United States, and the Caribbean region extending to Venezuela. Like other theridiid spiders, it possesses the characteristic comb-like serrated bristles (setae) on the tarsi of the hind legs used for manipulating silk. The species epithet 'pallidus' refers to its pale coloration.
Tilloclytus
Tilloclytus is a genus of longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae) established by Bates in 1885, currently comprising 14 recognized species distributed across North America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. The genus is notable for containing ant-mimicking species, most notably Tilloclytus geminatus, which exhibits Batesian mimicry of small ants through body shape, coloration, and behavior. Adults are typically small (<10 mm), with some species occasionally found on flowers though they appear less frequently associated with floral visitation than related ant-mimicking genera such as Molorchus and Euderces.
Tivyna
Tivyna is a genus of cribellate araneomorph spiders in the family Dictynidae, established by R. V. Chamberlin in 1948. The genus contains four species, all but one restricted to the United States. One species, T. spatula, has a broader Caribbean distribution including Mexico, Cuba, and the Bahamas. These spiders are characterized by the presence of a cribellum, a silk-producing organ used to create woolly, non-sticky capture silk.
Tolidomordella
Tolidomordella is a genus of tumbling flower beetles established by Ermisch in 1950. The genus contains at least two described species: Tolidomordella discoidea, distributed in North America with two recognized subspecies, and Tolidomordella sexguttata, found in the Caribbean. Members of this genus belong to the family Mordellidae, a group characterized by their ability to execute backward tumbling jumps when disturbed.
Triacanthagyna caribbea
Caribbean Darner
Triacanthagyna caribbea is a species of darner dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae, described by Williamson in 1923. It is endemic to the Caribbean region, with confirmed records from Colombia (departments of Antioquia, Bolívar, Magdalena, and Sucre) and broader Caribbean distribution. The species is part of the genus Triacanthagyna, which is characterized by three-spined abdominal appendages in males. As with other aeshnids, it is likely a strong flier adapted to tropical environments.
Triachus cerinus
Triachus cerinus is a case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1880. The species is known to occur in North America and the Caribbean region. As a member of the tribe Clytrini, it likely constructs protective cases from fecal material and plant debris, a characteristic behavior of this group. Information on its biology and ecology remains limited in published literature.
Trichocorixa minima
Trichocorixa minima is a small water boatman in the family Corixidae, first described by Abbott in 1913. It belongs to a genus of aquatic true bugs found in various freshwater habitats. The species is recorded from North America and the Caribbean, though detailed ecological information remains limited. Like other Corixidae, it is adapted to life in water with oar-like hind legs for swimming.
Tripudia grapholithoides
Florida Tripudia Moth
Tripudia grapholithoides is a species of owlet moth (family Noctuidae) in the subfamily Eustrotiinae. It was described by Möschler in 1890. The species has a broad distribution spanning the Caribbean, North America, and South America. It is catalogued under Hodges number 9004 in the North American moth numbering system.
Turpilia
narrow-beaked katydid (for T. rostrata)
Turpilia is a genus of phaneropterine katydids in the family Tettigoniidae, established by Stål in 1874. The genus comprises nine described species distributed in the Caribbean, Florida, and parts of Mexico. Species in this genus are characterized by their placement in the tribe Turpiliini, a group within the subfamily Phaneropterinae. The genus includes the narrow-beaked katydid (T. rostrata), one of the few species with a documented common name.
Urgleptes sandersoni
Urgleptes sandersoni is a species of longhorn beetle (family Cerambycidae) described by Gilmour in 1963. It belongs to the subfamily Lamiinae, tribe Acanthocinini. The species is known from the Caribbean region, with records from the Dominican Republic and Haiti. As a member of the genus Urgleptes, it is part of a group of small to medium-sized cerambycids.
Uropelma formosum
Uropelma formosum is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Eupelmidae, described by Sharkov in 1988. The genus Uropelma belongs to the chalcidoid wasp superfamily, a diverse group of tiny parasitoids. Distribution records indicate presence in Cuba (CU). The family Eupelmidae comprises species that are primarily parasitoids of insect eggs and larvae.
Vacusus vicinus
Common Anthicid
Vacusus vicinus is a species of antlike flower beetle in the family Anthicidae. It has a broad geographic distribution spanning the Caribbean, Central America, North America, Oceania, and South America. The species is commonly encountered, with over 600 observations documented on iNaturalist.
Valenzuela micanopi
lizard barklouse
Valenzuela micanopi is a species of barklouse in the family Caeciliusidae, first described by Mockford in 1965. It belongs to the order Psocodea, a group of small insects commonly found on vegetation, bark, and leaf litter. The species has been documented in the Caribbean Sea region and North America. As a member of the Caeciliusidae family, it is part of a diverse group of barklice that inhabit forested and vegetated environments.
Valenzuela tamiami
Valenzuela tamiami is a species of barklouse in the family Caeciliusidae, described by Mockford in 1965. It belongs to the order Psocodea, a group of small, often overlooked insects commonly known as barklice or booklice. The species has been recorded in Cuba and North America, with extremely limited observational data.
Wamba crispulus
Wamba crispulus is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, originally described as Theridion crispulum by Eugène Simon in 1895. The species has an exceptionally broad distribution spanning the Americas from Canada to Brazil and throughout the Caribbean. It belongs to the genus Wamba, which contains relatively few described species.
Xenomyrmex floridanus
Florida Flattened Tree Ant
Xenomyrmex floridanus is a species of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae, known from Florida, the Caribbean, and parts of Mexico and Central America. The species belongs to a small genus of arboreal ants sometimes referred to as flattened tree ants. Two subspecies are recognized: X. f. floridanus and X. f. skwarrae.
Xyleborus xylographus
Xyleborus xylographus is a species of bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1826. It belongs to the tribe Xyleborini, which includes ambrosia beetles that cultivate symbiotic fungi in wood galleries. The species has been recorded in North America, the Caribbean, and Southern Asia. Like other members of its genus, it likely engages in fungus-farming behavior, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in published literature.
Xylobiops parilis
Xylobiops parilis is a species of wood-boring beetle in the family Bostrichidae, first described by Lesne in 1901. Members of the genus Xylobiops are known as false powderpost beetles, characterized by their association with dead or dying wood. The species has been recorded from North America, Middle America, and the Caribbean. Like other bostrichids, it likely develops in hardwood substrates and contributes to wood decomposition.
Xylobiops texanus
Texas Brown-shouldered Bostrichid
Xylobiops texanus is a species of horned powder-post beetle in the family Bostrichidae. It is distributed across the Caribbean, Central America, and North America. As a member of the powder-post beetles, it is associated with wood-boring habits typical of this family. The species was first described by Horn in 1878.
Zaplous
Zaplous is a genus of longhorn beetles in the subfamily Lamiinae, tribe Pogonocherini. The genus contains two described species: Zaplous annulatus and Zaplous baracutey. It was established by LeConte in 1878. Species in this genus are native to the Caribbean region, with Z. baracutey endemic to Cuba.
Zaplous annulatus
Zaplous annulatus is a species of longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae. Originally described by Louis Alexandre Auguste Chevrolat in 1862 under the genus Ecyrus, it was later transferred to the genus Zaplous. The species is known from Cuba and the United States, with records from the Caribbean and North America. As a member of the subfamily Lamiinae, it belongs to a diverse group of wood-boring beetles commonly known as flat-faced longhorns.