Cosmopolitan
Guides
Acalyptris
Acalyptris is a genus of minute moths in the family Nepticulidae, established by Meyrick in 1921. It represents the second largest genus of Nepticulidae in the Americas and contains approximately 100 described species distributed across six continents. The genus is characterized by leaf-mining larvae that create distinctive mines in host plant foliage. Species are organized into multiple species groups based on morphology and host associations, with nine revised species groups recognized in the American fauna.
Acaridae
Stored Products Mites, Mold Mites, Grain Mites
Acaridae is a family of mites in the order Sarcoptiformes, commonly known as stored products mites or mold mites. The family includes over 400 species across multiple genera, with cosmopolitan distributions. Many species are generalists inhabiting both natural environments (soil, litter, animal nests, decomposing plant material) and artificial environments (human dwellings, granaries, greenhouses). Several genera contain significant agricultural and stored product pests, including *Acarus*, *Tyrophagus*, and *Rhizoglyphus*, which cause economic damage to crops, bulbs, and stored foodstuffs.
Acidocerinae
Acidocerinae is a cosmopolitan subfamily of water scavenger beetles (Hydrophilidae) containing over 500 species in 23-24 genera, making it one of the largest and most morphologically heterogeneous lineages in the family. The subfamily occupies a key phylogenetic position as sister to the largely terrestrial Cylominae+Sphaeridiinae clade. Recent taxonomic revisions (2013, 2021) have substantially restructured generic boundaries, establishing new genera such as Colossochares, Novochares, Aulonochares, Ephydrolithus, and Primocerus while synonymizing former subgenera of Helochares.
Acroceridae
small-headed flies, hunch-back flies, spider flies
Acroceridae are a small family of approximately 520 species in 50 genera, characterized by their distinctive hump-backed thorax and disproportionately small head. Adults are primarily nectar feeders with exceptionally long proboscises, while larvae are obligate endoparasitoids of spiders. Many species exhibit bee or wasp mimicry. The family is cosmopolitan but nowhere abundant, with most species known from fewer than 10 specimens.
Acylophorus
Acylophorus is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, tribe Staphylinini, subtribe Acylophorina. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution with documented species across sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, the Mascarene Islands, and northern Europe. Taxonomic revisions have established numerous species synonymies and described multiple new species from African and insular populations. The genus is characterized by morphological features including distinctive forebody structure, maxillary palpi, antennae, and aedeagus morphology used in species-level identification.
Ageniellini
Mud-nesting Spider Wasps
Ageniellini is a cosmopolitan tribe of spider wasps (subfamily Pepsinae) comprising 17 genera. Members are commonly known as mud-nesting spider wasps due to their frequent construction of thimble-shaped mud nests, often communally. The tribe exhibits exceptional behavioral diversity, with three distinct nesting strategies: mud nest construction, dry soil excavation, and kleptoparasitic nest usurpation. These strategies have evolved independently multiple times from nest-constructing ancestors. Like all Pompilidae, females provision nests with paralyzed spiders as larval food, with most Ageniellini species characteristically removing spider legs before transport.
Aglossa caprealis
Stored grain moth
Aglossa caprealis, commonly known as the stored grain moth, is a pyralid moth of presumably western Palearctic origin that has achieved global distribution through human commerce. Adults are small moths with a wingspan of 23–27 mm, flying during summer months. The species is notable for its remarkably broad larval diet, which extends beyond typical stored products to include decaying organic matter and fatty animal materials.
Ahasverus
Ahasverus is a genus of beetles in the family Silvanidae. The genus is best known for Ahasverus advena (foreign grain beetle), a cosmopolitan stored product pest found in 110 countries. Ahasverus species are primarily fungal feeders, with larvae capable of developing on fungi alone. The genus includes at least two other species found in stored products, though A. advena dominates ecological and economic literature.
Ahasverus advena
Foreign grain beetle
Ahasverus advena, commonly known as the foreign grain beetle, is a small silvanid beetle approximately 2 mm in length with a reddish-brown to black coloration. It is a cosmopolitan species of American origin now reported from 110 countries, where it occurs in stored products facilities and diverse outdoor habitats. The species is uniquely adapted to fungal feeding, with larvae capable of developing on fungi alone and elevated tolerance to aflatoxins compared to other stored product beetles. It serves as an indicator of damp, moldy conditions rather than a direct pest of grain, as it does not feed on intact grain kernels but rather on associated fungal growth.
Aloconota
Aloconota is a genus of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) in the tribe Geostibini, subfamily Aleocharinae. The genus was established by Carl Gustaf Thomson in 1858. It has a cosmopolitan distribution with records from Europe, including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Six species are currently recognized: A. currax, A. debilicornis, A. gregaria, A. insecta, A. planifrons, and A. sulcifrons.
Alphitobius diaperinus
lesser mealworm, litter beetle, buffalo worm
Alphitobius diaperinus is a darkling beetle (family Tenebrionidae) with cosmopolitan distribution. It evolved as a scavenger in bird nests and bat caves but has become a major pest in poultry production facilities and stored grain products. The species is a significant vector of poultry pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Its larvae are approved as novel food in the European Union and marketed as "buffalo worms" for human consumption and animal feed.
Alphitophagus bifasciatus
Two-banded fungus beetle
Alphitophagus bifasciatus is a small darkling beetle (family Tenebrionidae) with an almost cosmopolitan distribution. The species is frequently associated with stored products and organic matter, and has been documented as an intermediate host for the poultry tapeworm Raillietina cesticillus. It is distinguished from the rare congener A. obtusangulus by its two pale transverse bands on the elytra.
Amaurobiidae
Hackledmesh Weavers, Night Spiders, Laceweavers
Amaurobiidae is a family of three-clawed spiders found worldwide, containing approximately 286 species in 51 genera. Members are characterized by possessing either a cribellum (a silk-spinning plate) or being ecribellate, and are often difficult to distinguish from related families such as Agelenidae, Desidae, and Amphinectidae. The family's taxonomic boundaries and internal relationships have been historically contentious, with genera frequently reassigned between families based on morphological and molecular studies. Australian representatives are small to medium-sized entelegyne spiders with minimal sheet webs, while North American species include relatively large, powerful hunters.
Ammophila
Thread-waisted Sand Wasps
Ammophila is a large, cosmopolitan genus of solitary hunting wasps in the family Sphecidae, comprising over 200 species distributed across warmer regions of all continents except Antarctica. These thread-waisted wasps are characterized by their elongated, slender petiole connecting the thorax and abdomen, and their distinctive nesting behavior involving burrow excavation and caterpillar provisioning. Females construct underground nests in sandy or compact soils, paralyze caterpillars with their sting, and provide this food source for their developing larvae. The genus serves as a host for Strepsiptera endoparasites and is subject to nest parasitism by satellite flies and other organisms.
Anarete
Anarete is a genus of non-biting midges in the family Cecidomyiidae, established by Irish entomologist Alexander Henry Haliday in 1833. The genus contains 38 described species with a cosmopolitan distribution. Several species, particularly Anarete pritchardi, have been extensively studied for their swarming behavior. Swarming in this genus involves males forming aerial aggregations with measurable kinematic properties, including characteristic looping and zigzag flight patterns while maintaining relatively constant distance from the swarm center.
Anisolabididae
Anisolabididae is a family of earwigs (order Dermaptera, suborder Neodermaptera) comprising 38 genera across 13 subfamilies. Members include both cosmopolitan and geographically restricted species, with some showing specialized adaptations for subcortical or coastal habitats. Several genera, particularly Euborellia, are recognized for their predatory behavior and potential as biological control agents of agricultural pests. The family exhibits diverse morphologies ranging from typical earwig body plans to dorsoventrally flattened forms adapted for life under bark.
Anisolabis maritima
maritime earwig, seaside earwig
A cosmopolitan, wingless earwig species found on coastal beaches worldwide. Males possess asymmetrical forceps used for mating, prey capture, and defense. Exhibits notable maternal care behavior, with females guarding eggs and nymphs for up to 28 days and progressively provisioning offspring. Displays complex social dynamics including sex-specific aggression patterns and size-based dominance in shelter competition.
Anomaloninae
Anomaloninae is a cosmopolitan subfamily of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. Members are slender, ranging from small to large, and typically black or brownish with yellow markings on the face and legs. The subfamily is divided into two tribes: Anomalonini, which parasitize Coleoptera larvae (Tenebrionidae and Elateridae) and some Lepidoptera larvae (Noctuidae and Tortricidae), and Gravenhorstiini, which parasitize Lepidoptera larvae. They are distinguished from other ichneumonid subfamilies by a highly reticulated propodeum, slender metasoma, fore wing with vein 3 rs-m absent, and swollen hind tarsi in males.
Anthrenus scrophulariae
common carpet beetle, buffalo carpet beetle
Anthrenus scrophulariae is a small dermestid beetle native to the Palaearctic region that has become cosmopolitan through human commerce. Adults feed on pollen and nectar, particularly from white or whitish flowers, while larvae are destructive pests of animal-derived materials including carpets, woolens, furs, and museum specimens. The species is notable for its distinctive patterned elytra with black, orange, and white scales that wear away with age, and for the medical irritation its larval hairs can cause in sensitive individuals.
Anthrenus verbasci
Varied Carpet Beetle
Anthrenus verbasci is a cosmopolitan pest species in the family Dermestidae, commonly known as the varied carpet beetle. Adults are small (2–4 mm), rounded beetles with distinctive patterned elytra bearing bands or spots of brown, black, and white scales. Larvae are covered in dense setae and feed on dried proteinaceous material, causing damage to household items, museum collections, and stored agricultural products. The species exhibits circannual control of its life cycle, with photoperiod serving as the primary zeitgeber for synchronizing pupation and adult emergence in spring. Adults feed on pollen and nectar, particularly from umbelliferous plants (Apiaceae) and Asteraceae, and use both olfaction and vision in host plant selection.
Anystidae
whirligig mites
Anystidae is a family of predatory mites comprising over 100 species, commonly known as whirligig mites. They are active generalist predators found in soils and on vegetation worldwide. The family includes notable genera such as Anystis, Tarsotomus, and Chaussieria. Several species have been investigated for biological control potential against agricultural pests including thrips, aphids, and spider mites.
Aperileptus
Aperileptus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Arnold Förster in 1869. The genus has an almost cosmopolitan distribution. Two species are currently recognized: Aperileptus albipalpus and Aperileptus impurus. As ichneumonids, members of this genus are presumed to be parasitoids of other insects, though specific host associations remain poorly documented.
Aphaereta
Aphaereta is a cosmopolitan genus of braconid wasps in the tribe Alysiini, comprising approximately 48 described species worldwide. Members are endoparasitoids of Diptera, with documented associations including dung-breeding flies, blow flies, shore flies, and fruit flies. The genus has been recorded across multiple continents including Europe, Asia, North America, South America, and Oceania. Several species have been studied for their potential in biological control programs targeting pest flies.
Aphanisticus
metallic wood-boring beetles
Aphanisticus is a large genus of metallic wood-boring beetles in the family Buprestidae, comprising more than 360 described species distributed across every continent except Antarctica. The genus exhibits remarkable cosmopolitan distribution, with species inhabiting diverse environments from tropical to temperate regions. Adults are typically small and often exhibit metallic coloration characteristic of the family.
Aphis craccivora
cowpea aphid, groundnut aphid, black legume aphid
Aphis craccivora is a small, dark-colored aphid of probable Palearctic origin that has become a cosmopolitan agricultural pest. It is polyphagous but shows strong preference for leguminous plants, particularly cowpea, groundnut, and alfalfa. The species reproduces primarily through parthenogenesis, with winged forms developing for dispersal. It is a significant pest due to direct feeding damage, honeydew production that promotes sooty mold growth, and its role as a vector for multiple plant viruses.
Aphis nasturtii
Buckthorn Aphid, Buckthorn-Potato Aphid
Aphis nasturtii is a cosmopolitan aphid species known primarily as a pest of agricultural crops, particularly potatoes, sunflowers, lettuce, and beets. It is a phloem-feeding insect that extracts plant sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts. The species is of significant economic concern due to its direct feeding damage and its role as a vector for at least 15 plant viruses. Common names reflect its association with buckthorn (likely a primary or overwintering host) and potato (a major agricultural host).
Araecerus fasciculatus
Coffee Bean Weevil
Araecerus fasciculatus, commonly known as the coffee bean weevil, is a polyphagous stored product pest in the family Anthribidae. Adults measure 3–5 mm with a dome-shaped, dark-brown body mottled with light and dark pubescence. The species has been documented on over 100 host plants including coffee, maize, cassava, nutmeg, dried fruits, and various nuts. It completes its life cycle inside seeds and stored products, with development times varying from 29 to 57 days depending on humidity and temperature. Through international trade, it has achieved cosmopolitan distribution in tropical and subtropical regions and is considered economically significant due to damage and contamination of stored commodities.
Argiope
Garden Orbweavers, St Andrew's Cross Spiders, Writing Spiders, Garden Spiders
Argiope is a genus of large, colorful orb-weaving spiders in the family Araneidae. The name derives from Greek, meaning 'silver-faced,' referring to the silvery cephalothorax characteristic of many species. Females are notably larger than males and often display striking abdominal color patterns in yellow, black, and silver. These spiders construct spiral orb webs that frequently include a conspicuous zigzag silk structure called a stabilimentum. The genus has a worldwide distribution, with species found across tropical and temperate regions on every continent except Antarctica.
Argiope trifasciata
banded garden spider, banded orb weaving spider, banded argiope, whitebacked garden spider
A large orb-weaving spider with a nearly cosmopolitan distribution, native to the Americas but now found across six continents. Females construct distinctive spiral orb webs up to 60 cm in diameter, often decorated with zigzag stabilimentum patterns. The species exhibits notable thermoregulatory behavior through strategic web orientation and body positioning. Recent phylogeographic research suggests A. trifasciata may represent a complex of cryptic species rather than a single widespread species.
Arrenurus
water mites
Arrenurus is the largest genus of water mites, comprising approximately 950 species with cosmopolitan distribution in lentic freshwater habitats. Adults are heavily sclerotized, predatory, and exhibit marked sexual dimorphism—males possess diagnostic caudal modifications used in mating, while female taxonomy remains problematic. The life cycle includes seven stages: egg, inactive prelarva, parasitic larva, protonymph, deutonymph, tritonymph, and adult. Larvae are ectoparasites of aquatic insects, particularly Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), but also Diptera and Coleoptera, utilizing hosts for both nutrition and phoretic dispersal.
Asiloidea
asiloid flies
Asiloidea is a large superfamily of true flies (Diptera: Brachycera) with cosmopolitan distribution. It comprises approximately 11 families including the well-known Asilidae (robber/assassin flies), Bombyliidae (bee flies), Therevidae (stiletto flies), Mydidae (mydas flies), and Scenopinidae (window flies). Adult morphology is characterized by antennae with no more than 4 flagellomeres, leg empodium usually setiform or absent, and wing venation featuring an elongate cell cup with vein CuA2 ending freely or meeting A1 near the wing margin. Larval synapomorphies include posterior spiracles arising dorsally from the penultimate abdominal segment and, in most families except Bombyliidae and Hilarimorphidae, a modified cranium forming a hinged metacephalic rod.
DipteraBrachyceraAsiloidearobber-fliesbee-fliesstiletto-fliesmydas-flieswindow-fliescosmopolitanarid-habitatspredatory-larvaeflower-visitorsparasitoidsbiological-controlAsilidaeBombyliidaeTherevidaeMydidaeScenopinidaeApioceridaeApsilocephalidaeApystomyiidaeEvocoidaeHilarimorphidaeMythicomyiidaeProtapioceridaephylogenysystematicsvenomouspredatorymystaxmetacephalic-roddichopticholopticJurassicCretaceoustherevoid-cladeNamib-DesertCanary-IslandsSaudi-ArabiaDominicaChileGermanyfossilcybertaxonomyopen-accessZooKeysBohart-MuseumWorld-Robber-Fly-DayAtanygnathus
Atanygnathus is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Jakobson in 1909. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution and includes at least three described species: A. bicolor, A. terminalis, and A. poussereaui. It belongs to the subtribe Tanygnathinina within the tribe Staphylinini. As with other staphylinid beetles, members of this genus are characterized by their shortened elytra that leave much of the abdomen exposed.
Atractodes
Atractodes is a cosmopolitan genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Gravenhorst in 1829. The genus has been historically classified in different subfamilies, with some species groups placed in Phygadeuontinae and others in Cryptinae. Multiple species groups have been defined to accommodate morphologically similar species, particularly in the Neotropical region where recent taxonomic revisions have described numerous new species. The genus exhibits considerable diversity in the Americas, with records from North America, Central America, and South America, as well as Europe.
Attagenus fasciatus
Banded Black Carpet Beetle, Tobacco Seed Beetle, Wardrobe Beetle
Attagenus fasciatus is a cosmopolitan carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae, commonly known as the banded black carpet beetle, tobacco seed beetle, or wardrobe beetle. It occurs in North America, Oceania, Europe, and tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The species is a significant pest of stored products, textiles, and animal materials, with larvae feeding on keratin-containing substrates.
Aulacigastridae
Sap Flies
Aulacigastridae is a small family of true flies (Diptera) commonly known as sap flies. The family was redefined in 1984 when Stenomicridae was separated from it. Members are found globally across all ecoregions. Both larvae and adults have specialized feeding habits associated with tree sap and fermenting substances.
Baeus
micro-flea wasp
Baeus is a genus of minute parasitoid wasps in the family Scelionidae, remarkable for extreme sexual dimorphism. Females are wingless, highly compact, and flea-like in appearance with reduced or fused body segments, while males possess wings and a more typical scelionid morphology. All species are endoparasitoids of spider eggs, developing inside the oothecae (egg sacs) of diverse spider families. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution across all continents except Antarctica, with greatest species diversity documented along the eastern seaboard of Australia.
Batrachedra
Batrachedra is the largest genus in the moth family Batrachedridae, containing approximately 114 species as of 2018. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution with particularly high diversity in the Indomalayan realm. The name derives from Greek 'batrachos' (frog) and 'edra' (seat), referring to the frog-like resting posture of adults. Early stages remain unknown for most species.
Biphyllidae
False Skin Beetles
Biphyllidae, commonly known as false skin beetles, is a family of small beetles in the superfamily Cleroidea. The family contains approximately 195 described species distributed globally except New Zealand. Members are primarily found in concealed microhabitats including under bark of dead trees and in leaf litter. The family includes 11 extant genera plus one fossil genus from Late Cretaceous Taimyr amber.
Blacini
Blacini is a tribe of braconid parasitoid wasps within the subfamily Brachistinae. Members are minute, dark-colored wasps with distinctive non-cyclostome mouthparts and a carina along the posterior head margin. The tribe was elevated from subfamily status in 2011 based on molecular phylogenetic evidence. The genus Blacus dominates the tribe with approximately 40 described New World species and cosmopolitan distribution, while remaining genera are largely restricted to South and Central America.
Blaesoxipha
Grasshopper Flesh Flies
Blaesoxipha is a genus of flesh flies (Sarcophagidae) with cosmopolitan distribution. Species in this genus are parasitoids, primarily attacking grasshoppers and related orthopterans. Some species have been documented as agents of myiasis in vertebrates. The genus includes notable species such as B. plinthopyga, which can cause myiasis, and B. redempta, a parasitoid of Stauroderus scalaris distributed across the Palearctic realm.
Blastobasidae
Blastobasid Moths
Blastobasidae is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea, containing approximately 30 genera and hundreds of species distributed worldwide. Adults are generally slender, reddish-brown moths with wingspans of 12–24 mm, lacking conspicuous markings. Larvae feed on dead organic matter, though some species are pests of stored products or cultivated crops. The family's taxonomy remains unstable, with relationships among genera poorly resolved and various arrangements placing Blastobasidae as a subfamily of Coleophoridae or including Symmocidae within it.
Blatta orientalis
Oriental Cockroach, Waterbug
Blatta orientalis is a large, dark-colored cockroach and a significant urban pest. Adult males measure 18–29 mm and females 20–27 mm. Females appear wingless but are brachypterous with non-functional wing pads; males have reduced wings that do not cover the abdomen. The species thrives in dark, damp environments such as basements, crawl spaces, and sewers. It is a major vector for pathogens including E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Salmonella, and proteins from this species can trigger allergic reactions and asthma.
Blattella
Blattella is a genus of small cockroaches in the family Ectobiidae, distributed worldwide. The genus includes both domestic pest species, notably the German cockroach (Blattella germanica), and wild species such as the Asian cockroach (Blattella asahinai) and Japanese field roach (Blattella nipponica). Species within this genus exhibit diverse ecological preferences, ranging from human dwellings to outdoor habitats including mountainous regions and field environments.
Brachymeria podagrica
Brachymeria podagrica is a cosmopolitan parasitoid wasp in the family Chalcididae, known from Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, and multiple other regions worldwide. The species is a solitary idiobiont parasitoid of dipteran pupae, particularly flesh flies (Sarcophagidae) and blow flies (Calliphoridae). It has been documented attacking Sarcodexia lambens, Peckia collusor, Hemilucilia flavifacies, Chrysomya albiceps, and Sarcophaga dux, among other hosts. Development from egg to adult emergence takes approximately 20–27 days under favorable conditions, with overwintering generations requiring 155–180 days. Adults are commonly observed near aphid colonies feeding on honeydew, and occasionally visit flowers such as wild carrot. The species has forensic significance due to its predictable emergence from fly pupae on decomposing corpses.
Braula
bee lice, bee louse
Braula is a genus of wingless, highly modified flies in the family Braulidae. Adults are obligate commensals of honey bees (Apis mellifera), living on the bodies of workers, queens, and drones and stealing food during trophallaxis. Larvae tunnel through wax honeycomb. The genus is cosmopolitan and contains five described species, with Braula coeca being the most studied.
Bryoporus
Bryoporus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Tachyporinae: Bolitobiini) established by Kraatz in 1857. The genus has an almost cosmopolitan distribution with records from Europe, North America, and other regions. Taxonomic revisions have clarified its relationship to related genera Bryophacis, Bolitopunctus, and Neobolitobius, particularly for North American species. The genus includes multiple species, with Bryoporus cernuus (Gravenhorst, 1806) being a representative species.
Calodera
Calodera is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Mannerheim in 1830. It contains at least seven described species and has a cosmopolitan distribution. Members belong to the subfamily Aleocharinae, tribe Oxypodini, and are characterized by the typical short elytra and flexible abdomen of staphylinid beetles.
Campsomerini
mammoth wasps
Campsomerini is a cosmopolitan tribe within the family Scoliidae (Hymenoptera), currently classified under subfamily Scoliinae. Members are commonly known as mammoth wasps. The tribe's higher-level taxonomy has been unstable, having been treated historically as subfamily Campsomerinae before being demoted to tribal status. Recent phylogenetic studies using ultraconserved element (UCE) data support Campsomerini sensu stricto (excluding Colpa and allies) as monophyletic, with the Australasian genus Trisciloa as sister to remaining members.
Cartodere nodifer
Swollen Fungus Beetle, minute brown scavenger beetle
Cartodere nodifer is a minute beetle in the family Latridiidae, commonly known as the Swollen Fungus Beetle. The species was originally described from Europe but has become cosmopolitan through human-mediated dispersal. It is now established on multiple continents including Australia, New Zealand, and the Azores archipelago. The species belongs to a group commonly called 'minute brown scavenger beetles' due to their small size and ecological habits.
Cephalops
A genus of small flies in the family Pipunculidae with cosmopolitan distribution. Species are known to be endoparasitoids of planthoppers (Hemiptera: Delphacidae). Adult females locate hosts by detecting substrate-borne vibrations produced by host calls. The genus contains over 150 described species, with new species continuing to be described from under-sampled regions.