Darwin-tree-of-life
Guides
Acrobasis suavella
Thicket Knot-horn, Blackthorn Knot-horn
Acrobasis suavella is a small pyralid moth native to Europe, with an established introduced population in southwestern Canada. Adults fly nocturnally during summer months and are readily attracted to light. The larva is a concealed feeder, constructing a silken gallery within which it feeds on host plant material over an extended autumn-to-spring period. The species has been the subject of genome sequencing as part of the Darwin Tree of Life Project.
Cantharis rufa
soldier beetle
Cantharis rufa is a soldier beetle (family Cantharidae) measuring 8–11 mm in length. It is widely distributed across the Palaearctic region and has been introduced to North America, where it is expanding its range. The species has an annual life cycle with two 'prolarval' and six larval instars. Adults are active from mid-May to mid-July.
Ditula
Ditula is a genus of tortricid moths in the tribe Archipini, established by Stephens in 1829. The genus contains two recognized species: Ditula angustiorana (Red-barred Tortrix or Leaf roller) and Ditula saturana. D. angustiorana has been the subject of behavioral and genomic studies, revealing atypical diel periodicity in female calling behavior.
Dromius
Dromius is a genus of small arboreal ground beetles in the family Carabidae, comprising approximately 108 species distributed across the Palearctic, Nearctic, Near East, and North Africa. Members of this genus are characterized by their tree-dwelling habits, inhabiting trunks and bark of deciduous and coniferous trees rather than ground-level environments. The genus includes the well-studied species Dromius quadrimaculatus, known as the Great Four-spot Treerunner, which has served as a model for understanding canopy-dwelling carabid ecology.
Eutomostethus luteiventris
Yellow-bellied Rush-cutter
A small sawfly measuring 5–7 mm, characterized by a black head and thorax contrasting with an orange-yellow abdomen marked with black dorsal patterns. The species is notable for its parthenogenetic reproduction in Britain and Ireland, where only females have been recorded. It completes a single generation per year in the UK, with adult activity restricted to spring. The genome has been sequenced as part of the Darwin Tree of Life project, revealing a haploid assembly of 272.06 Mb.
Gymnocheta
Gymnocheta is a genus of tachinid flies comprising approximately 12 described species distributed across the Palaearctic region. The genus is distinguished by metallic green coloration in some species, a trait shared with only one other European tachinid genus. Members are parasitoids of Lepidoptera, with larvae developing inside host caterpillars. The genome of G. viridis was sequenced as part of the Darwin Tree of Life Project.
Labia minor
lesser earwig, small earwig
Labia minor is a small earwig species, 4–7 mm in length including pincers, distinguished by its dull yellow-brown to chocolate brown coloration and less shiny appearance compared to the common earwig. It is notable as the first Dermapteran species to have its genome sequenced by the Darwin Tree of Life project. The species exhibits exceptional maternal care behavior, with females guarding eggs and feeding offspring for 1–2 weeks after hatching—a rarity among insects. Unlike many earwigs, it flies frequently and possesses visible hind wings.
Notodonta
prominent moths
Notodonta is a genus of prominent moths in the family Notodontidae, established by Ferdinand Ochsenheimer in 1810. Species within this genus are distributed across the Palearctic region, with multiple species occurring in Europe and Asia. Several species have been subjects of genomic research through the Darwin Tree of Life Project, including the iron prominent (N. dromedarius) and pebble prominent (N. ziczac). The genus exhibits variation in brood number across latitudes, with double-brooded populations in southern regions and single-brooded populations in northern areas.
Pollenia angustigena
Narrow-cheeked Clusterfly
Pollenia angustigena is a medium-sized cluster fly in the family Polleniidae, measuring 4.5–9.5 mm. Formerly classified in Calliphoridae, this species is now placed in Polleniidae based on morphological and molecular evidence. Adults display variable coloration with chequered abdominal dusting and distinctive golden crinkly thoracic hairs. The species is widely distributed in Britain and parts of continental Europe, with records from Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Portugal (Madeira). Adults are active from March to October, though they may be recorded year-round indoors during winter. Like other Pollenia species, adults feed on flower nectar and may contribute to pollination, while larvae are parasitoids or predators of earthworms.
Pollenia griseotomentosa
cluster fly
Pollenia griseotomentosa is a Palaearctic cluster fly and the smallest British species in the genus Pollenia, measuring 4.5–8.0 mm in body length. It is distinguished from congeners by specific morphological characters including lack of pale wing tuft, yellow to pale brown posterior thoracic spiracle lappets, dark palpi and basicosta, and characteristic bristle patterns. Like other cluster flies, adults overwinter in sheltered locations including buildings, where they aggregate in large numbers and may become nuisance pests. The species has been introduced to North America, with records from Canada and the northeastern United States.
Polydrusus cervinus
Deer Broad-nosed Weevil
Polydrusus cervinus is a European weevil in the broad-nosed weevil subfamily Entiminae. The species has been the subject of genome sequencing as part of the Darwin Tree of Life Project, yielding a chromosomally complete 713.4 Mb assembly. It is commonly known as the Deer Broad-nosed Weevil and has been recorded across multiple European countries.
Stictoleptura
Stictoleptura is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) distributed across the Holarctic region, with species in Europe, Asia, and North America. The genus includes medium-sized beetles typically associated with broadleaved woodland habitats. The first genome sequence for the genus was published for Stictoleptura scutellata, a scarce species in Britain associated with ancient woodland and wood pasture.
Sussaba pulchella
Sussaba pulchella is a small ichneumonid wasp in the subfamily Diplazontinae, with forewings approximately 4 mm in length. It is the first species in its genus to have a high-quality genome sequenced, completed as part of the Darwin Tree of Life project. The species is a parasitoid of hoverfly larvae (Diptera: Syrphidae) and has a broad geographic distribution across the Palaearctic, Nearctic, and India.
Toxonevra
flutter flies
Toxonevra is a genus of small flies in the family Pallopteridae, commonly known as flutter flies. The genus contains approximately eight described species distributed across Europe and North America. Members are characterized by distinctive wing patterns and male courtship behavior involving wing vibration. One species, T. muliebris, has been sequenced as part of the Darwin Tree of Life Project.
Toxonevra muliebris
flutter fly
Toxonevra muliebris is a small pallopterid fly native to Europe with introduced populations in western North America. Adults are recognized by their distinctive wing pattern featuring broad brown bands. Males exhibit characteristic wing-fluttering behavior that gives the family its common name. The species is associated with tree bark habitats and has been increasingly observed indoors, particularly in North American residences.