Climate-change-indicator
Guides
Amblyomma americanum
Lone Star Tick, Northeastern Water Tick, Turkey Tick, Cricker Tick
Amblyomma americanum is a three-host hard tick native to eastern North America, notable for its aggressive host-seeking behavior and expanding geographic range. Adult females are distinguished by a silvery-white star-shaped spot on the scutum, while males display white streaks or spots at the shield margins. The species is the primary vector of Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii, and its bite can induce alpha-gal syndrome—a delayed allergic reaction to mammalian meat. Unlike many ticks, A. americanum exhibits active horizontal movement rather than passive questing, traveling up to 9 meters in 24 hours in field conditions.
Ameletus
Upland Summer Mayfly (A. inopinatus)
Ameletus is a genus of mayflies (Ephemeroptera) and the type genus of the family Ameletidae, circumscribed by Rev. A. E. Eaton in 1885. The genus is speciose, with approximately 30 bisexual species recognized in North America and additional species in Europe and Asia. Ameletus species occur in cold-water streams from small headwater brooks to larger rivers, with greatest diversity in mountainous regions of western North America. The genus includes A. inopinatus, the only predominantly montane mayfly species in the UK and a noted climate change indicator species.
Anchomenus
Anchomenus is a genus of ground beetles (Carabidae) established by Bonelli in 1810. The genus is distributed across the Palearctic region, including Europe, the Near East, and North Africa, with 18 extant species and two fossil species. One species, Anchomenus dorsalis, has been studied as a climate change indicator due to its sensitivity to temperature and precipitation variables.
Atalopedes
Sachems and Allies
Atalopedes is a genus of skipper butterflies (family Hesperiidae) containing approximately seven species distributed across North and South America. The genus includes notable species such as Atalopedes campestris (sachem skipper), which has been extensively studied for its response to climate change, and Atalopedes huron (Huron skipper). Species within this genus are associated with grassland and prairie habitats, where adults frequently visit flowers for nectar. The genus was described by Scudder in 1872.
Atalopedes campestris
Field Skipper, sachem
Atalopedes campestris, commonly known as the field skipper or sachem, is a small grass skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. Adults have a wingspan of 35–41 mm. Males are orange with brown edges and a large black stigma on the forewing; females are darker brown with variable lighter markings. The species has undergone significant northward range expansion in North America during the 21st century, attributed to winter warming trends associated with climate change. In 2022, the eastern North American population was designated as a separate species, A. huron (huron sachem).
Attagenus smirnovi
Brown Carpet Beetle, Vodka Beetle
Attagenus smirnovi is a synanthropic dermestid beetle commonly known as the brown carpet beetle. Native to Africa, it has established populations across Central and Northern Europe through human-mediated dispersal. The species is a significant pest of museum collections and households, feeding on keratin-based materials including wool textiles, carpets, fur, and skin. First described by Rustem Devletovich Zhantiev in 1973, it was named after E.S. Smirnov, who first observed it in Moscow in 1961.
Battus
Pipevine Swallowtails and Allies
Battus is a New World genus of swallowtail butterflies in the family Papilionidae. The genus comprises approximately 9 species distributed across the Americas, with the most well-known North American representatives being Battus philenor (pipevine swallowtail) and Battus polydamas (Polydamas swallowtail). All members share a specialized ecological relationship with pipevine plants (Aristolochia), which serve as their exclusive larval host plants. The genus is notable for its aposematic coloration and chemical defense system derived from sequestered toxins.
Battus philenor philenor
Pipevine Swallowtail, Blue Swallowtail
Battus philenor philenor is a subspecies of the pipevine swallowtail butterfly found in North America. Adults display iridescent blue hindwings against a black background, serving as aposematic warning coloration derived from sequestered aristolochic acids from their host plants. The subspecies is univoltine to bivoltine with flight periods from late winter through autumn, peaking before July. Populations have shown resilience to drought conditions in California's Central Valley, in contrast to montane butterfly declines.
Belostoma flumineum
giant water bug, toe biter
Belostoma flumineum is a North American giant water bug reaching 2–2.5 cm in length. This aquatic predator inhabits ponds, wetlands, and marshes with muddy bottoms, where it preys on aquatic invertebrates including backswimmers, water boatmen, dragonfly nymphs, and snails. The species exhibits exclusive paternal care: females deposit eggs on the male's back, and males carry and oxygenate the eggs for 7–14 days until hatching. Recent studies document significant shifts in reproductive phenology, with northeastern populations losing their historical fall breeding peak between 2005–2006 and 2012–2015.
Calanidae
Calanidae is the largest family of calanoid copepods, containing ecologically dominant genera including Calanus, potentially the most abundant metazoan genus on Earth. Members inhabit marine environments from surface waters to depths exceeding 400 m, with distributions spanning polar, temperate, and tropical oceans. The family exhibits significant vertical stratification and seasonal abundance patterns, with some species performing ontogenetic vertical migrations for overwintering. Calanidae species play critical roles in marine food webs as primary consumers and prey for fish and higher trophic levels.
Centris
Oil-diggers
Centris is a genus of approximately 250 large apid bees distributed from the southern United States through South America. Females are specialized oil collectors, possessing morphological adaptations for gathering floral oils from plants, primarily in the family Malpighiaceae, which they use for larval nutrition and cell construction. The genus is sister to the corbiculate bees (honey bees, bumble bees, stingless bees) and represents an important lineage for understanding bee evolution and pollination ecology.
Centris pallida
Pallid Desert-Digger, digger bee, desert bee, pallid bee
Centris pallida is a solitary desert bee native to the Sonoran Desert region of North America. Males exhibit two distinct morphs associated with alternative reproductive tactics: large patrollers that use olfactory cues to locate buried virgin females near the ground, and small hoverers that use visual cues to find females above vegetation. The species has evolved remarkable thermal adaptations to survive extreme desert temperatures, including high thoracic conductance and dorsal solar reflectance in large-morph males. Long-term studies document a persistent decline in male body size since the 1970s, with potential consequences for the stability of alternative reproductive tactics.
Cercopoidea
froghoppers, spittlebugs
The superfamily Cercopoidea comprises hemipteran insects commonly known as froghoppers or spittlebugs. Adults possess powerful hind legs enabling jumps up to 70 cm vertically and 100 times their body length. Nymphs are renowned for producing foam shelters ("cuckoo spit") from excreted xylem sap, within which they develop concealed from predators and environmental extremes. The group exhibits xylem-feeding, an unusual trait among sap-feeding insects requiring symbiotic bacteria to supplement nutrient-poor diet.
Coenonympha tullia california
California Ringlet
Coenonympha tullia california is a subspecies of the Common Ringlet butterfly, historically found in low-elevation areas of central and northern California. According to long-term monitoring by UC Davis professor Art Shapiro, this subspecies was regionally extirpated from the Sacramento Valley and surrounding lowlands by 2007, becoming one of several butterfly species to disappear from Shapiro's study transect between Chico and Stockton. The decline is attributed to climate change disrupting diapause cues and pesticide exposure, particularly neonicotinoids. The subspecies exemplifies broader patterns of butterfly population collapse documented across North America.
Desoria
Desoria is a genus of springtails (Collembola: Isotomidae) characterized by cold-adapted, cryophilic species active in low-temperature environments. Members occur in diverse cold habitats including alpine glaciers, subnivean zones, and Antarctic ice-free areas. The genus is currently considered polyphyletic based on genetic analysis. Several species face elevated extinction risk due to climate change and habitat loss, particularly those restricted to shrinking glacial environments.
Diamesinae
Diamesinae is a subfamily of non-biting midges (Chironomidae) primarily associated with cold-water habitats, particularly glacial-fed streams. The subfamily includes several tribes: Diamesini, Boreoheptagyiini, Protanypini, and two fossil tribes (Cretodiamesini, Eugenodiamesini). Genera such as Diamesa are among the dominant insect colonizers of kryal habitats in alpine regions. Species delimitation in this group often requires integrative approaches combining DNA barcoding with pupal morphology, as adult males of some genera show limited morphological differentiation.
Enallagma civile
Familiar Bluet
Enallagma civile, commonly known as the familiar bluet, is a narrowwinged damselfly native to much of the United States and southern Canada. This species is a habitat generalist and predatory insect that has been extensively studied as a model organism for understanding climate change effects on aquatic invertebrates. Research indicates that rising water temperatures significantly impact its development, survival, and adult body size, with temperatures above 38°C causing substantial mortality. The species produces multiple generations per year and serves as host to various parasites including Arrenurus water mites and gregarine protozoans.
Erebia
alpines, ringlets, arguses
Erebia is a Holarctic genus of brush-footed butterflies in the family Nymphalidae, containing approximately 90–100 species. The genus is notable for its adaptation to cold environments, with most species inhabiting high-altitude or high-latitude regions. Members are predominantly dark brown to black with distinctive reddish-brown, orange, or rarely yellowish wing blotches or bands that typically contain black spots, sometimes with white centers. The genus exhibits complex taxonomic history with over 1300 described taxa, many of which are junior synonyms. Erebia serves as an important model for studying climate change impacts on montane and arctic-alpine insects due to its thermal ecology and distribution patterns.
Euchloe
Dappled Whites, Marbles
Euchloe is a genus of pierid butterflies in the tribe Anthocharini with a Holarctic distribution spanning Europe, Central Asia, and North America. Old World species are commonly called dappled whites, while New World species are known as marbles. The genus includes approximately 30 described species, with several exhibiting narrow endemic ranges and conservation concern. Some species demonstrate remarkable camouflage abilities through background matching and wing-folding behavior.
Euchloe ausonides
Large Marble, Creamy Marblewing
Euchloe ausonides, commonly known as the Large Marble or Creamy Marblewing, is a medium-sized butterfly in the family Pieridae native to western North America. The species exhibits remarkable camouflage behavior, with adults capable of orienting themselves against backgrounds to render nearly invisible despite their contrasting wing patterns. Population declines have been documented in California since the 1980s, particularly in the Central Valley and Bay Area, with the species now considered regionally extinct at low-elevation sites in some areas. One subspecies, E. a. insulanus (Island Marble), is federally endangered and endemic to the San Juan Islands of Washington State.
Euchloe ausonides coloradensis
Large Marble
Euchloe ausonides coloradensis is a subspecies of the Large Marble butterfly, a member of the Pieridae family. This subspecies occurs in the northern Great Plains and Canadian prairie provinces. The Large Marble complex has experienced significant regional declines in parts of its range, particularly in California where related populations have undergone documented crashes attributed to climate change and other factors. Adults display distinctive marbled hindwing undersides that provide effective camouflage when perched.
Euphydryas editha
Edith's Checkerspot
Euphydryas editha is a checkerspot butterfly native to western North America, notable for extensive phenotypic variation across its range including differences in coloration, wing length, and body size. The species has been intensively studied for over 40 years as a model organism for metapopulation ecology, population dynamics, and conservation biology. Many populations are monophagous, relying on specific host plants for larval development. The species exhibits complex population dynamics with frequent local extinctions and recolonizations, and has experienced significant range-wide declines linked to climate change.
Euryurus
flat-backed millipede
Euryurus is a genus of flat-backed millipedes in the family Euryuridae, containing approximately 14 described species. These millipedes are endemic to the Nearctic region and are commonly found in forested habitats. The genus has been subject to ecological research, particularly regarding thermal tolerance in Euryurus leachii, which has a critical thermal maximum of approximately 40.5°C.
Euthyrhynchus floridanus
Florida predatory stink bug
Euthyrhynchus floridanus, commonly known as the Florida predatory stink bug, is a carnivorous shield bug in the family Pentatomidae and the sole species in its genus. Native to tropical and semi-tropical regions of the Americas, it has expanded its range northward in recent decades due to climate warming. This beneficial insect is a generalist predator that feeds on numerous agricultural and garden pests, including caterpillars, beetle larvae, and other stink bugs. Its distinctive orange and black coloration makes it easily recognizable among predatory true bugs.
Gynaephora
Arctic woolly bear moths, grassland caterpillars (Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau species)
A genus of tussock moths (Lymantriinae: Erebidae) distributed across the Holarctic in alpine, Arctic, and Subarctic regions. Best known for exceptionally slow larval development, with some species requiring multiple years to complete their life cycle. Females are flightless or nearly so, while males are strong fliers that actively search for mates. The genus includes both Arctic species (e.g., G. groenlandica, G. rossii) and high-altitude Asian species (e.g., G. alpherakii, G. menyuanensis) that are significant pests of alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
Hylephila
Hylephila is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae, first described by Billberg in 1820. The genus contains approximately 20 recognized species distributed primarily in the Americas, with notable species including Hylephila phyleus (the fiery skipper), which has been extensively studied for its response to climate change. Species within Hylephila are grouped into several species complexes based on morphological and genetic relationships, including the ignorans, venusta, boulleti, and phyleus groups.
Hylephila phyleus
Fiery Skipper
Hylephila phyleus, commonly known as the Fiery Skipper, is a small butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. Adults are approximately 2.5 cm long, with males displaying orange or yellow coloration with black spots and females appearing dark brown with orange or yellow spots. The species has been documented across a broad geographic range including North America, the Caribbean, Middle America, and Oceania. It is known to be active in late winter through fall, with records from January through November in California. The caterpillars feed on various grasses and are sometimes considered pests of turf grasses.
Lycaena xanthoides
great copper
Lycaena xanthoides, the great copper, is a butterfly species in the family Lycaenidae found in North America. The species has experienced significant regional population declines in California, with documented disappearance from low-elevation sites between Chico and Stockton by 2005. Research indicates it is among multiple butterfly species declining due to climate change and pesticide exposure, particularly neonicotinoids.
Meconema meridionale
Southern Oak Bush-cricket
Meconema meridionale is a small bush-cricket in the family Tettigoniidae, native to southern Europe and expanding northward. It measures 14–17 mm in body length (excluding antennae). The species is carnivorous, arboreal, and nocturnal. It has been documented as a predator of the invasive horse-chestnut leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella). Since 2001, it has established populations in the United Kingdom, representing a northward range expansion linked to climate change.
Metrioptera roeselii
Roesel's Bush-cricket
Metrioptera roeselii, commonly known as Roesel's Bush-cricket, is a medium-sized bush-cricket native to continental Europe that has undergone significant range expansion in northern Europe since the 1980s. The species is characterized by a distinctive yellow-green coloration with a prominent yellow stripe along the lateral margin of the pronotum. It exhibits wing dimorphism, with both short-winged (brachypterous) and long-winged (macropterous) forms occurring in populations; the long-winged form is associated with range expansion. The species has been introduced to Britain and Scandinavia, with genetic evidence indicating human-mediated dispersal in some isolated populations.
Neotibicen canicularis
dog-day cicada, dog-day harvestfly, heatbug, Northern Dog-day Cicada
Neotibicen canicularis is an annual cicada species found across much of North America, commonly known as the dog-day cicada or dog-day harvestfly. Unlike periodical cicadas that emerge in synchronized broods every 13 or 17 years, this species appears every summer, though individuals require several years to develop underground. Adults are active during the hot midsummer period traditionally called the "dog days." The species has been documented as a host for multiple flesh fly parasitoids in the family Sarcophagidae, including several first-record associations.
cicadaannual-cicadadog-day-cicadaHemipteraCicadidaeNeotibicenNorth-Americaparasitoid-hostflesh-flySarcophagidaesummersongtymbalnocturnal-emergencenymphroot-feedercarrionEmblemasomaHelicobiaSarcophagaOntarioQuébecOklahomaprairiewoodlandentomologyinsect-photographyMr.-JulyESA-calendarKeith-KennedyTed-MacRaeCatherine-DanaJohn-CooleyGene-Kritskycicada-killerSphecius-speciosusperiodical-cicada-contrastclimate-change-indicatorsoil-temperature-emergencebrood-XIIIbrood-XIXMagicicadaMegatibicenNeotibicen-auriferusNeotibicen-pruinosusNeotibicen-superbusMegatibicen-dorsatusMegatibicen-tremulusMegatibicen-dealbatuscicada-mappingCicada-Safaricitizen-scienceiNaturalistGBIFCatalogue-of-LifeNCBI-Taxonomylate-summerAugustJulyMontréalWoodward-CountyCimarron-CountyMajor-CountyBeaver-CountyAlabaster-Caverns-State-ParkGloss-Mountain-State-ParkBeaver-Dunes-ParkBlack-Mesa-State-Parkshortgrass-prairiehackberrybumeliajunipercanyon-woodlandmesquite-chaparralsand-duneHelianthus-annuusHelianthus-petiolarisProsopis-glandulosaPopulus-deltoidesRhus-aromaticaAsclepias-engelmanniiAsclepias-latifoliaSideroxylon-lanuginosumEuphorbia-marginatajug-trapLindgren-funnelultraviolet-lightmercury-vapor-lightacoustic-communicationpredator-avoidancecamouflagegreen-and-black-colorationcicada-killer-waspparasitoidEmblemasoma-albicomaEmblemasoma-erroHelicobia-rapaxSarcophaga-sarracenioidesSarcophaga-utilisfirst-recordnew-host-associationnew-provincial-recordnutrient-cyclingcarrion-resourcefood-webpredator-preyaerationflaggingtree-pruningclimate-changeearlier-emergencesoil-temperature64-Fahrenheitstraggler-cicadabrood-overlapIllinoisMidwestGreat-Plainseastern-forestannual-emergencesynchronous-emergencemass-emergencebrood-Xbrood-IIbrood-XIVbrood-XXIII17-year-cicada13-year-cicadaMagicicada-septendecimMagicicada-cassiniMagicicada-septendeculaOkanagana-rimosaSay's-cicadaTibicenAbrictaAmphipsaltaAruntaAustrotomaAyuthiaBaeturiaBalintaBasaBrevisanaCacamaCalyriaCicadatraCicadettaCicadivettaCosmopsaltriaCyclochilaDiceroproctaDundubiaEuterpnosiaFidicinaFidicinoidesGaeanaHenicopsaltriaHerreraHuechysHyalessaHylocicadaJassopsaltriaKikihiaLembejaLemurianaMacrotristriaMaoricicadaMoganniaMudaMyerscicadaNeopsaltriaNotopsaltaOkanaganaOkanagodesOligoglenaOnoralnaOudeboschiaPacarinaPahariaPalapsaltaPauropsaltaPictilaPlatypleuraPomponiaPsaltodaPterapsaltaQuesadaQuintiliaRaiateanaSaticulaSemiaSonotympanaSoudaniellaTaipingaTannaTerpnosiaTettigadesTettigettaThophaTibicinaTosenaTryellaUradolichosVenustriaXeropsaltaYezoterpnosiaZammaraZaphsaOchlodes
Ochlodes is a Holarctic genus of skipper butterflies in the family Hesperiidae, tribe Hesperiini. The genus contains approximately 25 species distributed across North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of the Caribbean. Several species have been subject to taxonomic revision, with some forms debated as subspecies or synonyms. The woodland skipper (Ochlodes sylvanoides) and large skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) are among the most frequently referenced species in ecological studies.
Ochlodes agricola
Rural Skipper
Ochlodes agricola, commonly known as the rural skipper, is a grass skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in North America, particularly in mid-elevation habitats and foothills. The species has been identified as declining in western North American populations, with studies documenting a 1.6% annual reduction in butterfly numbers across the region associated with warming fall temperatures.
Oeneis
Arctics, graylings
Oeneis is a genus of butterflies in the subfamily Satyrinae, commonly known as the Arctics or graylings. Members of this genus are remarkable for their adaptation to extreme cold environments, with most species restricted to Arctic, sub-Arctic, or high-altitude alpine habitats. The genus exhibits a disjunct distribution across the Northern Hemisphere, with species found in Europe, Arctic Russia, Siberia, Mongolia, Arctic North America, and the Rocky Mountains. Many species have biennial life cycles, with development typically spanning two years. The genus comprises approximately 32 recognized species arranged into several species groups based on phylogenetic relationships.
Oeneis melissa
Melissa Arctic
Oeneis melissa, the Melissa Arctic, is a Holarctic butterfly species in the family Nymphalidae. It inhabits cold, high-elevation and high-latitude environments including arctic tundra and alpine zones. The species exhibits a biennial or partially biennial life cycle adapted to short growing seasons. Multiple subspecies have been described across its range, including the endemic O. m. semidea in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Osphya
false darkling beetles
Osphya is a genus of false darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Melandryidae: Osphyinae) comprising approximately seven to ten described species. The genus originated in the mid-Cretaceous and exhibits a discontinuous, uneven distribution across the Northern Hemisphere, with highest species richness in the Mediterranean region of Europe. It is considered a relict insect group with conservative ecological preferences.
Oxycera
soldier flies
Oxycera is a genus of soldier flies (family Stratiomyidae) comprising approximately 80 described species distributed across the Palearctic, Afrotropical, and Oriental regions. Species within this genus are associated with wetland habitats, where larvae develop in shallow water or moist substrates. Several species have shown recent range expansions, potentially linked to climate change. The genus is taxonomically well-established within the tribe Oxycerini and serves as a subject of ongoing distributional and ecological research.
Papilionidae
Swallowtails and Parnassians, Swallowtail butterflies
Papilionidae is a family of large, colorful butterflies comprising over 550 species distributed across every continent except Antarctica. The family includes the birdwing butterflies of genus Ornithoptera, the largest butterflies in the world. Members are characterized by distinctive tail-like extensions on the hindwings in many species. The family encompasses three subfamilies: Papilioninae (swallowtails), Parnassiinae (Parnassians or Apollos), and Baroniinae (a monotypic subfamily).
Parnassiinae
snow Apollos, Parnassians
Parnassiinae is a subfamily of swallowtail butterflies (Papilionidae) comprising approximately 50 medium-sized species. Members are predominantly white or yellow in coloration and are strongly associated with high-altitude mountain habitats across the Northern Hemisphere. The subfamily is divided into three tribes: Luehdorfiini, Parnassiini, and Zerynthiini. Phylogenetic studies indicate the group originated in the late Paleocene (ca. 57 Ma) in the Western Palearctic and Western Asia, with subsequent diversification and dispersal to Central Asia, the Himalayas, and North America.
Parnassius
Apollos, snow Apollos
Parnassius is a genus of cold-adapted butterflies found in northern circumpolar regions and high-elevation montane habitats including the Alps and Himalayas. These butterflies exhibit altitudinal melanism—dark bodies and darkened wing bases that facilitate rapid solar warming in cold environments. Despite belonging to the swallowtail family Papilionidae, they lack the characteristic tail extensions. The genus comprises 38–47 disputed species and serves as an important model system for studying metapopulation dynamics, population genetics, and thermal ecology in the context of climate change.
Parnassius clodius
Clodius Parnassian, American Apollo
Parnassius clodius is a cold-adapted white butterfly in the snow Apollo genus, found in western North America from sea level to alpine zones. It inhabits diverse environments including coastal forests, sagebrush meadows, and subalpine habitats. The species is a model organism for studying thermal ecology and climate change impacts on high-elevation insects. Adults are poor dispersers with limited gene flow between populations. Larvae are specialized herbivores of Dicentra species and exhibit behavioral thermoregulation.
Parnassius clodius strohbeeni
Strohbeen's Parnassian
Parnassius clodius strohbeeni is a subspecies of the American Apollo butterfly, a cold-adapted member of the snow Apollo genus in the swallowtail family. As part of the Parnassius clodius species complex, this subspecies inhabits high-elevation environments in western North America. The species is notable for its physiological adaptations to cold climates, with research indicating that overwintering eggs can survive temperatures as low as -30°C. Like other Parnassius species, it is considered vulnerable to climate change due to its specialized alpine habitat requirements and limited dispersal ability.
Paromius
dirt-colored seed bugs
Paromius is a genus of seed bugs in the family Rhyparochromidae containing approximately 15 described species. Members are elongate, parallel-sided bugs with glabrous integument and distinctive pronotal structure. The genus has broad geographic distribution spanning the Afrotropical region and subtropical Eurasia, with at least one species extending into temperate Europe. Some species are associated with grasses (Poaceae) and can be agricultural pests, while others occupy dry, xerothermic habitats.
Penilia avirostris
Penilia avirostris is a marine cladoceran crustacean in the family Sididae, distributed across temperate and tropical coastal waters worldwide. It is a holoplanktonic species that exhibits cyclical parthenogenesis, with populations shifting between asexual and sexual reproduction in response to environmental cues. The species has been observed to undergo diel vertical migration and shows strong sensitivity to temperature, with optimal growth around 18°C but tolerance ranging from 12°C to 30°C. Population dynamics are closely tied to seasonal temperature fluctuations, with dramatic increases reported in warming waters.
Phaneroptera
Sickle-bearing Bushcrickets
Phaneroptera is a genus of bush crickets (katydids) in the family Tettigoniidae, established by Jean Guillaume Audinet-Serville in 1831. It is the type genus of the subfamily Phaneropterinae. Species occur across Europe, Africa, and Asia. The genus includes approximately 40 described species, with Phaneroptera falcata (the sickle-bearing bush-cricket) as the type species. Some species have been documented as florivores, feeding selectively on flowers.
Philaenus
meadow spittlebug, spittlebug, froghopper
Philaenus is a genus of spittlebugs in the family Aphrophoridae containing eight described species. The genus is best known for Philaenus spumarius (meadow spittlebug), a widespread insect in the Northern Hemisphere and the primary vector of Xylella fastidiosa in Europe. Most species exhibit striking color polymorphism with up to sixteen distinct phenotypes including dark, pale, mottled, and striped patterns. Nymphs produce protective foam masses from excreted xylem fluid and glandular secretions. The genus has been extensively studied for genetic diversity, climate change responses, and vector ecology.
Philaenus spumarius
Meadow Spittlebug, Meadow Froghopper
Philaenus spumarius is a small spittlebug (5–7 mm) in the family Aphrophoridae, native to the Palearctic and introduced to North America. The species exhibits extreme color polymorphism with approximately 20 known color varieties ranging from yellowish and brownish to black. Nymphs produce characteristic foam masses for protection, while adults are strong jumpers and capable fliers. It has become economically significant as the primary European vector of Xylella fastidiosa, the bacterium causing Olive Quick Decline Syndrome and Pierce's disease in grapevines.
Pholisora catullus
common sootywing, roadside rambler
Pholisora catullus, commonly known as the common sootywing or roadside rambler, is a small skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. The species has experienced significant population declines in parts of its range, including regional extinction from Davis, California by 2007. It occurs from the central United States south to central Mexico, with vagrant individuals occasionally reaching more northern areas. The species is not found in peninsular Florida.
Phyciodes
crescents, crescent spots
Phyciodes is a genus of butterflies in the brush-footed family Nymphalidae, commonly known as crescents or crescent spots. These small to medium-sized butterflies are characterized by orange and black wing patterns with distinctive crescent-shaped markings on the hindwings. The genus includes approximately 20 species distributed across North America, with larvae that typically feed on plants in the Asteraceae family, particularly asters and thistles. Several species have experienced regional population declines attributed to climate change and pesticide use.
Pieris rapae
small white, cabbage white, cabbage butterfly, small cabbage white, imported cabbageworm (larval stage), white butterfly (New Zealand)
Pieris rapae is a small to medium-sized butterfly in the family Pieridae, native to Europe and Asia and introduced to North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii. Adults are white with black wing markings; females bear two additional black spots on the forewings. The species is a significant agricultural pest in its larval stage, known as the imported cabbageworm, feeding on cruciferous crops. It has been extensively studied for its responses to climate change, with long-term data showing progressively earlier spring emergence in North America.