Cryptic-species-pair
Guides
Acleris effractana
Hook-winged Tortrix Moth
Acleris effractana is a tortricid moth with a Holarctic distribution, found across northern Europe, northwestern Russia, Japan, Canada, and the northwestern United States. It is externally indistinguishable from Acleris emargana, requiring genital examination for positive identification. Adults are active from July to October. The species has historically been underreported due to confusion with its more common congener.
Amaurobius similis
Lace-Weaver Spider, lace-webbed spider
Amaurobius similis is a small spider in the family Amaurobiidae, commonly known as the lace-weaver spider. It is frequently found in human dwellings, particularly near windows and in wall crevices. The species is visually similar to A. fenestralis, with which it has been historically confused, and reliable identification requires microscopic examination of genitalia. It has a Holarctic distribution, native to Europe and the Caucasus, and has been introduced to North America.
Anoplius cleora
Anoplius cleora is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. It is closely related to and morphologically similar to Anoplius aethiops, requiring microscopic examination to distinguish between the two. The species is associated with open sand dune habitats, where it replaces its congener A. aethiops. Like other members of the genus, it is a solitary hunter that provisions underground nests with paralyzed wolf spiders as food for its larvae.
Cicindela lengi
blowout tiger beetle
Cicindela lengi, the blowout tiger beetle, is a flashy tiger beetle species endemic to dry sand habitats of the central and northern Great Plains of North America. Despite its common name suggesting exclusive association with barren sand blowouts, it occupies a broader range of sandy environments including dune margins, sand flats, and sandy roadsides. The species is uncommon throughout most of its range, though locally abundant in certain areas of Nebraska. It is frequently mistaken for the more common Cicindela formosa due to similar coloration, representing a case of convergent evolution between distantly related taxa.
Madoryx pseudothyreus
False-windowed Sphinx
Madoryx pseudothyreus, the false-windowed sphinx, is a hawkmoth in the family Sphingidae. The species was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1865. It occurs in southern Florida, Cuba, and surrounding Caribbean islands. The common name refers to its resemblance to the windowed sphinx (Madoryx oiclus), from which it can be distinguished by subtle wing pattern differences.
Plusia putnami
Putnam's Looper Moth, Lempke's Gold Spot
Plusia putnami is a noctuid moth with a trans-Holarctic distribution, occurring across northern Eurasia from Japan to western Europe and throughout much of North America. Adults are active from July to August in western Europe and May to October in northern North America. The species is notable for requiring genitalic dissection to reliably distinguish it from the similar Plusia festucae, as wing pattern differences between the two are not constant. The wingspan ranges from 32–42 mm.
Typocerus velutinus nobilis
Typocerus velutinus nobilis is a subspecies of the flower longhorn beetle T. velutinus, belonging to the subfamily Lepturinae. Adults are diurnal and visit flowers for feeding. The species is part of a complex of similar-looking Typocerus species that can be difficult to distinguish in the field. Based on the parent species, adults likely have distinct transverse yellow elytral bands and a continuous band of dense yellow pubescence along the basal margin of the pronotum.