Decomposer
Guides
Onthophagus durangoensis
Onthophagus durangoensis is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, native to mountainous regions of Mexico and extending into the southwestern United States. It inhabits montane forests and has been documented in states across central and western Mexico, as well as in Arizona and New Mexico. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with mammal dung and plays a role in nutrient cycling in its ecosystems. The species was described by Balthasar in 1939 and is considered valid and accepted in current taxonomy.
Onthophagus knausi
Onthophagus knausi is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Brown in 1927. It belongs to the large genus Onthophagus, which contains numerous species known for their role in dung decomposition and distinctive male horn polymorphisms. The species is recorded from the central United States, with distribution records from Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas.
Onychiurinae
Onychiurinae is a subfamily of springtails (Collembola) in the family Onychiuridae, established by Börner in 1901. Members are characterized by reduced or absent eyes and the presence of a ventral tube (collophore) with distinct structures. The subfamily is primarily soil-dwelling and includes numerous genera distributed across temperate regions. Many species are blind and adapted to subterranean or deep soil habitats.
Orchesella celsa
Orchesella celsa is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Orchesellidae, described by Christiansen and Tucker in 1977. It belongs to a genus characterized by elongated body forms and well-developed furculae (springing appendages). The species occurs in North American and Caribbean regions. As with other Orchesella species, it inhabits soil and leaf litter environments.
Orchesella cincta
Belted Springtail
Orchesella cincta is a relatively large springtail species, averaging 4 mm in length—substantially larger than most springtails, which typically remain under 1 mm. The species is distinguished by its distinctive 'belted' coloration, with a darkly pigmented third abdominal segment contrasting against lighter adjacent segments. Native to Western Europe and North America, it has also been introduced to Saint Helena. This springtail exhibits notable physiological plasticity, including populations with evolved heavy metal tolerance from contaminated mining sites.
Orchestia
Orchestia is a genus of talitrid amphipods comprising approximately 10-15 marine supralittoral species. The genus was revised in 2014, with three new species described from the North Atlantic and South America, and has been redefined to exclude terrestrial species now placed in Cryptorchestia. Species in this genus inhabit coastal environments including sandy beaches, driftwood, and estuaries, with some showing specialized ecological associations. Orchestia species serve as intermediate hosts for parasites and play roles in wrack decomposition.
Oribotritia
Oribotritia is a genus of oribatid mites (also known as beetle mites or moss mites) in the family Oribotritiidae. The genus was established by Jacot in 1924 and contains at least three described species. Oribatid mites in this group are soil-dwelling microarthropods that contribute to decomposition processes.
Oryctini
rhinoceros beetles
Oryctini is a tribe of large, robust scarab beetles within the subfamily Dynastinae, commonly referred to as "rhinoceros beetles." Members range from 25–60 mm in length and are typically dark brown to black. The tribe includes approximately 25 genera distributed worldwide, with particular diversity in the Neotropical region. Several species are economically significant pests, notably in the genus Oryctes, which damages palms and sugarcane. Males frequently possess pronounced horns or armored projections on the head and pronotum, with horn development influenced by larval nutrition.
Orygma luctuosum
A small European fly in the family Sepsidae, restricted to coastal wrack zones where larvae develop in decaying seaweed. The species shows a disjunct distribution with populations in northwestern Europe. Adults are active during warmer months.
Oxelytrum discicolle
Oxelytrum discicolle is a carrion beetle distributed throughout the Neotropical region from Mexico to Argentina. It is one of the most commonly collected silphid beetles in forensic entomology studies in South America. The species exhibits strictly nocturnal activity patterns and shows strong preference for carcasses in advanced stages of decomposition. Adults are attracted to decomposing vertebrate remains where they feed and likely reproduce.
Palpada undescribed-species-near-furcata
An undescribed species in the hoverfly genus Palpada, closely related to P. furcata. As a member of tribe Eristalini, its larvae are rat-tailed maggots—aquatic larvae with an extensible posterior breathing siphon that allows respiration while living in oxygen-poor, organic-rich waters. The genus Palpada includes species commonly found in urban, suburban, and rural areas in putrid standing water.
Palpada vinetorum
Northern Plushback
Palpada vinetorum is a species of syrphid fly in the family Syrphidae, commonly known as the Northern Plushback. It is a medium-sized flower fly native to the Americas, with adults measuring 10–14 mm in length. The species belongs to the vinetorum species group within the genus Palpada, one of three groups established by Thompson (1981). Adults are notable pollinators that visit flowers, while larvae develop in organic-rich aquatic or semi-aquatic environments. The species is widely distributed across North, Central, and South America.
Paracladura trichoptera
winter crane fly
Paracladura trichoptera is a species of winter crane fly in the family Trichoceridae, order Diptera. It was originally described as Trichocera trichoptera by Osten Sacken in 1877. Winter crane flies are a small family of slender, long-legged flies that are active during cooler months, distinguishing them from most other crane flies. The family Trichoceridae is considered primitive within Diptera and is closely related to the Tipulidae (true crane flies).
Parallelostethus
Parallelostethus is a genus of click beetles (Elateridae) established by Schwarz in 1907. One species, P. attenuatus, has been studied in detail: males are strongly attracted to 1,8-octanediol di-hexanoate, a compound that may constitute the species' complete sex pheromone. The clicking mechanism's hinge morphology has been examined scientifically. In Indiana, P. attenuatus inhabits rotten logs where it consumes decaying moist wood tissue.
Parallelostethus attenuatus
Attenuated Click Beetle
Parallelostethus attenuatus is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. Adult males are strongly attracted to 1,8-octanediol di-hexanoate, which may constitute their complete sex attractant pheromone. The species has been studied for the detailed morphology of its thoracic hinge mechanism used in the characteristic "click" jumping behavior of the family. In Indiana, it is commonly found in rotten logs feeding on decaying moist wood tissue.
Paranurini
Paranurini is a tribe of small to minute beetles within the family Anobiidae, commonly known as deathwatch and furniture beetles. Members of this tribe are characterized by their compact body form and association with wood-boring habits. The tribe is distinguished from related groups by specific antennal and pronotal structures. Paranurini represents a relatively poorly studied lineage within the Anobiidae, with limited species-level documentation in many regions.
Parcoblatta bolliana
Boll's Wood Cockroach, Boll's Wood Roach
Parcoblatta bolliana is a small wood cockroach species native to the United States, measuring approximately 11 mm in length. Males are slender with long, functional wings, while females are stouter with reduced tegmina and no functional hindwings. First-instar nymphs have been documented living in ant nests of Cremastogaster lineolata in Kansas, though adults are not found in these associations. The species occupies diverse habitats including pine woods, grasslands, and decaying wood debris.
Parcoblatta caudelli
Caudell's wood cockroach, Caudell's wood roach
Parcoblatta caudelli is a small, pale-colored wood cockroach native to the eastern and central United States. Males exhibit distinctive clay-yellow and brownish-yellow coloration with fully developed tegmina. The species occupies forested habitats and has been recorded from sawmill refuse. Females were historically described as capable of flight, though subsequent observations have questioned this trait.
Parcoblatta pennsylvanica
Pennsylvania Wood Cockroach, Pennsylvanian cockroach
Parcoblatta pennsylvanica, commonly known as the Pennsylvania wood cockroach, is a native North American cockroach species found in eastern and central regions of the continent. Unlike many cockroach pests, this species is primarily associated with outdoor woodland habitats and is not considered a significant household pest. The species is notable as a favored host for the parasitoid wasp Ampulex canaliculata, which uses it as prey for its larvae. Adults are attracted to light and may occasionally enter structures, but do not establish indoor populations.
Parcoblatta virginica
Virginia wood cockroach
Parcoblatta virginica, the Virginia wood cockroach, is a small woodland cockroach species measuring approximately 10 mm as an adult. It is native to deciduous forest habitats in eastern North America, where it inhabits leaf litter and decaying wood. The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism in wing development and coloration. Unlike many cockroach species, it is not a household pest and cannot survive indoors due to low humidity requirements.
Paromalus
Paromalus is a genus of clown beetles in the family Histeridae, first described by Erichson in 1834. The genus comprises at least 60 described species distributed across multiple continents. These beetles are members of the subfamily Dendrophilinae and tribe Paromalini. They are small to medium-sized histerid beetles associated with various decaying organic substrates.
Pauropoda
pauropodans, pauropods
Pauropoda is a class of minute, soft-bodied myriapods comprising approximately 900 species across twelve families worldwide. These animals are characterized by reduced leg numbers compared to other myriapods—most adults possess only nine pairs of legs—and distinctive branching antennae. They inhabit soil and leaf litter environments globally, with documented occurrences from tropical regions to subantarctic islands. Pauropods are gonochoric and exhibit hemianamorphosis, adding leg pairs through successive molts until reaching adult form.
Pauropus
Pauropus is a genus of minute myriapods in the class Pauropoda. These animals are among the smallest soil-dwelling arthropods, measuring less than 2 mm in length. Pauropus species are characterized by branched antennae and a reduced number of legs compared to other myriapod classes. The genus has been documented across multiple continents including Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Pentaphyllus pallidus
Pentaphyllus pallidus is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, described by LeConte in 1866. It belongs to a genus characterized by five-segmented tarsi, a distinctive trait reflected in its name (Greek: penta = five, phyllon = leaf/lobe, referring to tarsal segments). The species is known from eastern Canada, with records from Ontario and Québec. Like other tenebrionids, it likely inhabits decaying organic matter and debris in forested environments, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Petalium bistriatum
Petalium bistriatum is a small beetle in the family Ptinidae (spider beetles), described by Thomas Say in 1825. It is distributed across North America, with records from Canada and the United States. The species includes four recognized subspecies, suggesting regional morphological variation. Like other members of its family, it is likely associated with dry, decaying organic matter.
Phaonia
Phaonia is a large genus of muscid flies comprising over 750 described species with worldwide distribution. Adults are generally medium-sized flies. Larval stages of studied species develop in decomposing organic matter including animal excrements and decaying plant material, functioning as decomposers in nutrient cycling.
Philonthus asper
Philonthus asper is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Horn in 1884. It belongs to the large genus Philonthus, which comprises numerous predatory species commonly found in decaying organic matter, carrion, and fungal habitats. The species is documented from eastern North America, with records spanning Canada and the eastern United States. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a predator of small invertebrates in microhabitats rich in decomposing material.
Phloeocharis californica
A small rove beetle endemic to California, described in 1980 from specimens collected in the state. As a member of the subfamily Phloeocharinae, it belongs to a group of staphylinids typically associated with forest floor habitats and decaying organic matter. The species is known from very few records, reflecting either genuine rarity or limited survey effort in its habitat.
Phloeolaemus
Phloeolaemus is a genus of small beetles in the family Laemophloeidae, established by Casey in 1916. The genus contains at least 16 described species distributed across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. These beetles are associated with dead and decaying plant material, particularly in palm and woody debris habitats.
Phloeonomus suffusus
Phloeonomus suffusus is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Omaliinae. It is documented from coastal regions of western North America, including British Columbia, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with decaying plant matter and fungal habitats in moist forest environments. The species was described by Casey in 1893.
Phloeopora gilbertae
Phloeopora gilbertae is a species of rove beetle in the subfamily Aleocharinae, described from Canada in 2016. It belongs to a genus associated with forest floor habitats and decaying organic matter. The species is known from scattered localities across northern North America.
Phormia regina
Black Blow Fly, Black Blowfly
Phormia regina, commonly known as the black blow fly, is a forensically important necrophagous species in the family Calliphoridae. It is widely distributed across the Holarctic region and is considered one of the most important forensic indicator species in the United States for estimating postmortem intervals. The species exhibits temperature-dependent development with a biological minimum between 10.0–12.5°C. Adults are attracted to decomposing tissue and carrion for oviposition. P. regina is primarily active during cooler seasons, earning it the designation of a "cold weather fly" that moves northward as temperatures increase.
Piestinae
Piestinae is a subfamily of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) characterized by an elongate, flattened body form and antennae inserted beneath shelf-like projections of the frons. Members are primarily associated with decaying wood habitats, where many species occur under bark. The subfamily includes several genera, notably Piestus and Siagonium. Ecologically, they function as saprophages or mycophages in dead wood ecosystems.
Pinodytes gibbosus
Pinodytes gibbosus is a small, eyeless soil-dwelling beetle in the family Leiodidae. It inhabits leaf litter in California and feeds on fungi. The species was formally described in 2011, making it a relatively recent addition to the taxonomic literature. Its lack of eyes and subterranean habits reflect adaptations to a life spent primarily in dark, decomposing organic matter.
Pisenus humeralis
Pisenus humeralis is a species of polypore fungus beetle in the family Tetratomidae, originally described as Cryptophagus humeralis by Kirby in 1837. It is one of approximately 20 described species in the genus Pisenus, which are specialized associates of polypore fungi. The species is documented from eastern North America, with records from Canada (New Brunswick, Ontario, Québec) and the United States.
Pityobius
Pityobius is a genus of click beetles (Elateridae) in the subfamily Pityobiinae. Members of this genus are associated with woody habitats, particularly dead or decaying wood. The genus was established by John Lawrence LeConte in 1853 and is native to North America.
Platydracus
Platydracus is a genus of large rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, containing more than 280 described species worldwide. Species were formerly classified in the genus Staphylinus. The genus includes some of the largest rove beetles, with adults reaching 22–35 mm in body length. Members are predatory and associated with decaying organic matter including fungi, carrion, and rotting wood.
Platydracus cinnamopterus
Cinnamon-winged Rove Beetle
Platydracus cinnamopterus is a large rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, distributed across eastern and central North America. The species is characterized by its cinnamon-colored wing covers (elytra), which provide the specific epithet 'cinnamopterus' (cinnamon-winged). Like other members of the genus Platydracus, it is a predatory beetle commonly associated with decaying organic matter and fungal habitats.
Platydracus fossator
Red-spotted Rove Beetle
Platydracus fossator is a large rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, commonly known as the Red-spotted Rove Beetle. It is one of the larger species in the genus Platydracus, which includes many of North America's most conspicuous rove beetles. The species is widely distributed across eastern and central North America, with records extending from Canada through much of the United States. Like other members of its genus, it is a predatory beetle associated with decaying organic matter and decomposing substrates.
Platydracus maculosus
Brown Rove Beetle
Platydracus maculosus is a large rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, commonly known as the Brown Rove Beetle. It is among the largest members of its family in North America, measuring 22-35 millimeters in length. The species is a predatory insect attracted to decomposing organic matter and fungi, where it hunts other insects. It has been documented across eastern North America and is recognized as a significant presence in forensic entomology contexts due to its attraction to carrion.
Platydracus mysticus
Mystic Rove Beetle
Platydracus mysticus is a large rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, native to eastern North America. It is one of the larger species in the genus Platydracus, which includes many of the most conspicuous rove beetles in the region. Like other members of its genus, it is a predatory beetle attracted to decomposing organic matter where it hunts other insects. The species occurs across a broad range of eastern and central North America, from Canada through the United States.
Platylomalus aequalis
clown beetle
Platylomalus aequalis is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, originally described by Thomas Say in 1825 as Hister aequalis. This small beetle is widely distributed across North America, ranging from eastern Canada to the Rocky Mountains and south to Florida. As a member of the histerid beetles, it is associated with decomposing organic matter and carrion habitats.
Plecia
Lovebugs, March flies
Plecia is a genus of march flies in the family Bibionidae, commonly known as lovebugs. Several species, particularly Plecia nearctica, are notable for their distinctive mating behavior where males and females remain coupled in flight for hours or days. Adults are small flies, typically 6-9 mm long, with sexual dimorphism in head size—males possess large, bulbous compound eyes while females have relatively tiny heads. The genus includes both extant and fossil species, with fossil records dating from the Cretaceous through the Pleistocene. Some species have become significant nuisance pests due to their mass emergences and attraction to automobile exhaust.
Plecia americana
American Lovebug
Plecia americana, commonly known as the American Lovebug, is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae. This species is part of a genus known for conspicuous mating behavior where males and females remain conjoined in copula for extended periods, often flying together as a pair. Adults are small flies with distinctive sexual dimorphism in head morphology. The species is known from the southeastern United States, where adults emerge in seasonal swarms.
Plecia nearctica
lovebug, honeymoon fly, double-headed bug
Plecia nearctica, commonly known as the lovebug or honeymoon fly, is a march fly (family Bibionidae) native to parts of Central America and the southeastern United States. The species is renowned for its mass synchronous emergences of adults, which form conspicuous mating swarms along highways and roads. Males and females remain coupled in copula for 2–3 days, often flying while attached. Adults do not feed and rely entirely on fat reserves accumulated during larval development. The species has expanded its range northward since its original description from Louisiana and Mississippi in 1940.
Pogonognathellus
Pogonognathellus is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Tomoceridae, first described by Paclt in 1944. The genus contains at least two described species: P. flavescens and P. longicornis. It is part of the diverse Entomobryomorpha order, one of the most species-rich lineages of springtails. Members of this genus are found across multiple biogeographic regions including Europe, the Mediterranean, and Arctic zones.
Pogonognathellus dubius
Pogonognathellus dubius is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Tomoceridae, described by Christiansen in 1964. It belongs to a genus characterized by elongated body form and well-developed furcula. The species is part of the diverse North American springtail fauna, with records from northern, southern, and Pacific regions of the continent. As a member of the Tomoceridae, it likely inhabits soil and leaf litter environments typical of this family.
Pogonognathellus elongatus
Pogonognathellus elongatus is a species of springtail in the family Tomoceridae, described by E.A. Maynard in 1951. It belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive mouthpart structures and elongated body forms. The species has been documented across North American regions including the Pacific coast. Springtails in this family are typically found in soil and leaf litter habitats where they contribute to decomposition processes.
Pogonomyrmex tenuispinus
Pogonomyrmex tenuispinus is a species of harvester ant in the genus Pogonomyrmex. Like other members of this genus, it is a seed-collecting ant native to arid regions. The species was described by Auguste Forel in 1914. As a harvester ant, it likely participates in seed dispersal and ecosystem engineering through nest construction, though specific ecological studies for this species are limited.
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Flat-backed Millipedes
Polydesmida is the largest order of millipedes, containing over 5,000 described species. Members are commonly known as flat-backed millipedes due to the presence of lateral keels (paranota) on most body segments. This order includes all millipedes known to produce hydrogen cyanide (HCN) as a chemical defense. Polydesmids are found on every continent except Antarctica and exhibit the highest morphological diversity among millipede orders. They are characterized by a unique developmental mode called teloanamorphosis, in which adults reach a fixed number of segments and cease molting.