Central-america
Guides
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 croesus
lizard barklouse
Valenzuela croesus is a species of barklouse in the family Caeciliusidae, first described by Chapman in 1930. It belongs to the order Psocodea, a group of small, often overlooked insects commonly known as barklice or booklice. The species has been documented in parts of Central America and North America.
Valenzuela perplexus
lizard barklouse
Valenzuela perplexus is a species of lizard barklouse in the family Caeciliusidae, a group of small, winged insects commonly associated with bark and foliage habitats. The species was described by Chapman in 1930 and is distributed across Central America and North America, with records from Mexico. Like other members of the genus Valenzuela, it is likely associated with dead leaf and bark microhabitats. The specific epithet "perplexus" suggests taxonomic complexity in its original description.
Vanduzea albifrons
Vanduzea albifrons is a species of treehopper described by Fowler in 1895. It belongs to the family Membracidae, a group of insects known for their highly modified pronotum that often extends into elaborate projections. The species has been documented in North and Central America, with distribution records from California, Baja California, and Bocas del Toro. Like other treehoppers, it is presumed to feed on plant sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts, though specific host plant associations have not been documented in the available sources.
Vanduzea laeta
Vanduzea laeta is a small treehopper species in the family Membracidae, described by Frederic Webster Goding in 1893. Adults are active primarily from May through August. The species is recognized as a pest of common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and other Helianthus species, feeding on plant sap. It is frequently confused with the related species V. segmentata.
Vazquezitocoris repletus
Vazquezitocoris repletus is a species of leaf-footed bug in the family Coreidae. The species was described by Van Duzee in 1925. It is known from the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Villa lateralis
Villa lateralis is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, characterized by distinctive yellow and black banding on the abdomen and yellow thoracic hair. The species is widely distributed across North America and Central America. Like other bee flies, it is a parasitoid, though specific host relationships for this species remain poorly documented.
Virbia marginata
Virbia marginata is a moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae. It was described by Herbert Druce in 1885. The species is considered a synonym of Virbia rubicundaria in some taxonomic treatments, though this status appears unresolved across sources. Records indicate presence in parts of North America and Central America.
Xanthocampsomeris hesterae
Xanthocampsomeris hesterae is a scoliid wasp described by Rohwer in 1927. It is distributed from southern Mexico through Central America to northern South America, with records from Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. The species belongs to a genus characterized by yellow coloration, distinguishing it from related scoliid genera. Like other scoliids, it is likely a parasitoid of scarab beetle larvae, though specific host records for this species are not documented.
Xenochalepus ater
Xenochalepus ater is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in Central America and North America, with records from the United States (Arizona, Texas) and Mexico (Guerrero, Jalisco, Morelos). The species has been recorded feeding on cultivated legumes including soybean (Glycine max) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Adults have also been collected on Robinia species, Rhamnus betulifolia, and Platanus wrightii.
Xeracris minimus
least desert grasshopper
Xeracris minimus, commonly known as the least desert grasshopper, is a species of slant-faced grasshopper in the family Acrididae. The species is found in Central America and North America. It belongs to a genus adapted to arid environments, as indicated by the genus name 'Xeracris' (from Greek xeros, dry, and Acris, a related grasshopper genus).
Xubida
Xubida is a genus of grass moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Crambinae. The genus was established by Schaus in 1922 and contains approximately 20 described species distributed primarily in the Americas. Most species were described in the early 20th century based on specimens from the United States and Central America. The genus remains understudied, with limited ecological and biological information available for most species.
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.
Xylocopa micheneri
Michener's Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa micheneri is a carpenter bee species in the family Apidae, described by Hurd in 1978. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. Two subspecies are recognized: X. m. micheneri and X. m. decipiens. As a member of the genus Xylocopa, it shares the characteristic wood-nesting behavior of carpenter bees, though specific biological details for this species remain limited in published literature.
Xylophanes falco
Falcon Sphinx
Xylophanes falco is a medium-sized sphinx moth in the family Sphingidae, commonly known as the Falcon Sphinx. It occurs from Central America through Mexico into the southwestern United States. Adults are distinguished from similar species by their pale brown-beige coloration, more falcate forewings, and sharply defined wing pattern lines. The species inhabits oak woodlands and riparian corridors.
Zabrotes chavesi
Zabrotes chavesi is a small leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Kingsolver in 1980. The species was named in honor of Franklin Chaves, director of Santa Rosa National Park in Costa Rica, which serves as its type locality. It is distributed across the Americas from northern South America through Central America to the southwestern United States.
Zammara smaragdula
Sparse Emerald Cicada
Zammara smaragdula is a strikingly colored cicada species in the family Cicadidae, known for its vivid turquoise or emerald green coloration. The species was described by Francis Walker in 1858 and belongs to the genus Zammara, which contains several brightly colored Neotropical cicadas. It has been documented from multiple Central American countries including Panama and parts of South America. The species has gained attention in recent cicada literature due to its distinctive appearance among North American cicada fauna.
Zopherini
A tribe of beetles within the family Zopheridae, characterized by heavily sclerotized bodies and a primarily New World distribution. The tribe comprises multiple genera including Noserinus, Nosoderma, Phloeodes, Sesaspis, and Verodes. A 2008 phylogenetic analysis revised the generic classification, elevated Sesaspis from synonymy, and described two new Central American species.
Zopherus championi
Zopherus championi is a species of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae. It was described by Triplehorn in 1972 and occurs in Central America and North America. Like other members of the genus Zopherus, it is adapted to wood-boring and possesses the heavily sclerotized exoskeleton characteristic of ironclad beetles.
Zopherus granicollis
ironclad beetle
Zopherus granicollis is a species of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae, characterized by exceptionally hard, fused elytra that make specimens notoriously difficult to pin. The species occurs in Central America and North America, with two recognized subspecies: Z. g. granicollis and Z. g. ventriosus. Like other members of the genus, it exhibits nocturnal activity on tree trunks, though specific behavioral details for this species remain poorly documented.
Zopherus nodulosus
Ironclad beetle
Zopherus nodulosus is a species of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae, named for the nodular bumps on its dorsal surface. The species occurs in Central America and North America, with recognized subspecies including Z. n. haldemani (Texas ironclad beetle) and Z. n. nodulosus. These beetles possess exceptionally hardened exoskeletons that make them notoriously difficult to pin, a trait shared with other members of the genus Zopherus.
Zopherus tristis
ironclad beetle
Zopherus tristis is a species of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae. The species is characterized by an exceptionally dense, well-armored exoskeleton that makes specimens difficult to pin for collection. It occurs in Central America and North America. The family Zopheridae was formerly classified within Tenebrionidae (darkling beetles) but is now recognized as distinct.
Zygoballus rufipes
Hammer-jawed Jumping Spider
Zygoballus rufipes is a small jumping spider distributed from Canada through the United States to Central America. Adult females measure 4.3–6 mm in body length, while males are smaller at 3–4 mm. Males exhibit body-size dimorphism with two distinct size classes, a trait linked to alternative life-history strategies. The species was first described from Guatemala in 1885 and later synonymized with Z. bettini in 1980.