Detritivore
Guides
Acritus exiguus
clown beetle
Acritus exiguus is a small clown beetle (family Histeridae) described by Erichson in 1834. It occurs across much of eastern North America from southern Canada to Mexico, with records from the northeastern United States through the Gulf Coast states and west to Colorado and Texas. Like other members of the genus Acritus, it is minute in size and associated with decaying organic matter. The species is documented from museum collections and limited iNaturalist observations, though detailed ecological studies remain sparse.
Acrolophinae
Burrowing Webworm Moths, Tube Moths
Acrolophinae is a subfamily of small moths within the family Tineidae, containing approximately 300 species across five genera. Members are commonly known as burrowing webworm moths or tube moths due to larval habits. The group is restricted to the New World and is considered closely related to other Tineidae. Larvae construct silk tubes or burrows in which they feed and develop.
Acruliopsis tumidula
Acruliopsis tumidula is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Omaliinae) described from the Pacific Northwest of North America. It is one of few species in the genus Acruliopsis, a group of omaliine rove beetles characterized by compact body form and association with forest floor habitats. The species has been recorded from coastal and montane regions of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska.
Alphitobius laevigatus
Black Fungus Beetle
Alphitobius laevigatus, commonly known as the black fungus beetle, is a darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae. The species is native to Europe and has been introduced to North America and other regions including the Galápagos Islands. It is commercially bred in large quantities as animal feed, with larvae marketed under the trade name "buffalo worms"—though this name is also used for the related Alphitobius diaperinus, causing potential confusion. Unlike A. diaperinus, A. laevigatus has not been used or discussed for human consumption.
Americorchestia longicornis
Common Atlantic sandhopper
Americorchestia longicornis, the common Atlantic sandhopper, is a beach-dwelling amphipod in the family Talitridae. It inhabits sandy coastal environments along the Atlantic seaboard, where it functions as a detritivore and scavenger. The species is distinguished from similar beach hoppers by its elongated antennae, as reflected in its specific epithet.
Ametropodidae
Ametropodidae is a family of mayflies in the order Ephemeroptera. The family contains at least three genera: Ametropus, Brevitibia, and Palaeometropus. Species within this family are primarily found in large river systems. The family is classified within the superfamily Baetoidea, which includes some of the most primitive living mayfly species.
Amphiporeia
Amphiporeia is a genus of gammaridean amphipods in the family Bathyporeiidae, comprising at least three described species: A. gigantea, A. lawrenciana, and A. virginiana. These small crustaceans are characteristic inhabitants of sandy marine and estuarine substrates along the Atlantic coast of North America, where they exhibit specialized burrowing behavior and tidal swimming activity. The genus is notable for pronounced sexual segregation within the sediment, seasonal population fluctuations, and reproductive strategies involving multiple broods per year. Species within Amphiporeia function as important components of benthic food webs, serving as both detritivores and prey for demersal fish.
Amphiporeia virginiana
Amphiporeia virginiana is a sand-burrowing amphipod crustacean described by Shoemaker in 1933. It is a dominant inhabitant of high-energy sandy beaches along the Atlantic coast of North America, from Nova Scotia to South Carolina. The species exhibits distinctive tidal migration behavior, swimming into the water column during flood tides and burrowing into sediments during ebb tides. Females brood eggs and young in a ventral marsupium.
Anasimyia
swamp flies
Anasimyia is a genus of wetland hoverflies (Syrphidae) characterized by aquatic larval development. The genus was historically treated as a subgenus of Lejops but has been elevated to full generic status based on morphological and molecular evidence. Adults are associated with marshy and aquatic habitats. The genus includes approximately 20 described species distributed primarily across the Holarctic region.
Anisocentropus
Anisocentropus is a cosmopolitan genus of caddisflies (Trichoptera: Calamoceratidae) comprising over 60 described species distributed across Oriental, Australasian, Afrotropical, Neotropical, Nearctic, and East Palearctic regions. Larvae are case-building detritivores that construct portable shelters from leaf pieces or wood fragments, inhabiting both lotic and lentic freshwater environments depending on species. The genus exhibits notable variation in habitat preference, with some species strictly adapted to standing water while others occupy running water or both environments.
Antocha
Antocha is a genus of crane flies (Limoniidae) comprising approximately 161 species across three subgenera. The genus is globally distributed with highest diversity in the Oriental (83 species) and East Palearctic (53 species) regions. Larvae are aquatic and rheophilic, inhabiting fast-flowing streams and rivers where they construct silken tubes on submerged rocks. The genus exhibits notable sensitivity to hydrological disturbances, making it a potential indicator of stream ecosystem health.
Anurida
Anurida is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Neanuridae, established in 1865 by Laboulbène. The genus has cosmopolitan distribution with species occupying diverse habitats including intertidal marine zones, river floodplains, riparian areas, and forest ecosystems. Well-studied species include the intertidal specialist Anurida maritima, which exhibits complex tidal-entrained behaviors, and the terrestrial A. granaria, which has documented mycophagous associations. The genus shows notable morphological diversity in chaetotaxy and eye reduction, with some species groups exhibiting cryptic genetic divergence despite morphological similarity.
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montana
mountain cherry millipede
Apheloria montana is a large flat-backed millipede in the family Xystodesmidae, native to the southern Appalachian Mountains of eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. It serves as the type species for the genus Apheloria. The species produces hydrogen cyanide and benzaldehyde as chemical defenses, which emit a characteristic cherry or almond odor. Its bright yellow or orange spots function as aposematic coloration warning predators of its toxicity.
Apheloria virginiensis corrugata
Aromatic Cherry Millipede
Apheloria virginiensis corrugata is a subspecies of flat-backed millipede in the family Xystodesmidae, commonly known as the Aromatic Cherry Millipede. Like other members of the genus Apheloria, it produces hydrogen cyanide (HCN) as a chemical defense and displays bright aposematic coloration warning predators of its toxicity. The species exhibits the characteristic flattened body shape of Polydesmida, with lateral expansions of the dorsal segments called paranota. It belongs to a group of xystodesmid millipedes that share warning coloration patterns across related genera including Apheloria, Boraria, and Cherokia.
Apheloria virginiensis reducta
Yellow-and-black millipede, Cyanide millipede
A large, colorful millipede in the family Xystodesmidae, distinguished by its black body with bright yellow or orange wedge-shaped posterolateral markings. Like other members of its genus, it produces hydrogen cyanide as a chemical defense, advertised by its conspicuous aposematic coloration. The subspecies represents a western population of A. virginiensis, with records extending from the Appalachian region through the Ozark Plateau to the Arkansas Delta.
Araeoschizus andrewsi
Araeoschizus andrewsi is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, described by Papp in 1981. The genus Araeoschizus belongs to the large and diverse family Tenebrionidae, which comprises primarily detritivorous beetles found in arid and semi-arid environments. Very little specific information is documented about this particular species beyond its taxonomic description.
Arenaeus cribrarius
Speckled Swimming Crab
Arenaeus cribrarius, the speckled swimming crab, is a portunid crab distributed throughout the western Atlantic from Massachusetts to Argentina. It inhabits shallow sandy substrates but occurs to depths of 61 m, burying itself in sediment while maintaining respiratory water flow through a maintained gap. The species exhibits nocturnal, solitary behavior and is an opportunistic feeder that ambushes prey from its buried position. It supports commercial fisheries, particularly along the Brazilian coast, and has demonstrated reproductive plasticity in response to population pressures.
Armadillidiidae
pill bugs, roly polies, pill woodlice, slaters, potato bugs, curly bugs, doodle bugs, Butchy-Boys
Armadillidiidae is a family of terrestrial isopod crustaceans distinguished by their ability to roll into a complete ball (conglobation) when disturbed. This defensive behavior, shared with unrelated pill millipedes and some other arthropods, has made them commonly known as pill bugs or roly polies. The family contains approximately 18 recognized genera and shows highest diversity in Mediterranean karstic regions, with some species having achieved widespread global distribution through human activity.
Armadillidium
pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, potato bugs
Armadillidium is a genus of terrestrial crustaceans commonly known as pill bugs or roly-polies, distinguished by their ability to roll into a ball when disturbed (conglobation). The genus contains approximately 189 recognized species, most endemic to Mediterranean regions. These detritivores inhabit moist environments and play important roles in decomposition. The most widespread species, A. vulgare, has been introduced globally and serves as a soil bioindicator.
Armadillidium vulgare
common pill-bug, common pill woodlouse, roly-poly, potato bug, doodle bug, carpenter
Armadillidium vulgare is a terrestrial isopod native to Mediterranean Europe that has become one of the most widespread woodlouse species globally through human-mediated dispersal. It is the most extensively studied terrestrial isopod and serves as a model organism for research on mitochondrial genome evolution, desiccation resistance, and conglobation behavior. The species exhibits remarkable morphological plasticity, including numerous color morphs maintained through selective breeding in the pet trade.
Arugisa latiorella
Watson's Arugisa Moth
Arugisa latiorella, known as Watson's Arugisa Moth, is a small erebid moth native to North America. First described by Francis Walker in 1863, it has been recorded across the southeastern and central United States. Adults are active nearly year-round, and the larvae feed on Kentucky bluegrass.
Athetis tarda
Slowpoke Moth
Athetis tarda, commonly known as the slowpoke moth, is a small noctuid moth native to eastern North America. It is strongly associated with oak-dominated habitats. Adults are active during two distinct periods in spring and late summer, while larvae feed on decomposing oak leaf litter.
Atropetae
Atropetae is an infraorder of small insects within the suborder Trogiomorpha of Psocodea, the order containing barklice, booklice, and parasitic lice. It was established by Pearman in 1936. Members of Atropetae are part of the earliest-diverging lineage of Psocodea, retaining primitive characteristics compared to other groups. The infraorder includes families of primarily free-living psocids found in cryptic habitats.
Atropsocus atratus
Atropsocus atratus is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae, originally described as Psocus atratus by Aaron in 1883. The species is known from the United States and is part of the diverse Psocodea order, which includes booklice, barklice, and parasitic lice. As a member of the Psocidae family, it is likely associated with bark, leaf litter, or other decaying organic matter where these insects commonly feed on microflora. The genus Atropsocus contains multiple species distributed primarily in North America.
Baetisca
armored mayflies
Baetisca is a genus of armored mayflies comprising approximately 12 described species in the family Baetiscidae. Nymphs are distinguished by their construction of protective cases from sand grains and silk. The genus is found in small, cool streams across eastern and central North America, with some species extending into western Canada. Most studied species exhibit univoltine life cycles with winter nymphal growth and spring or early summer adult emergence.
Bittacomorpha clavipes
Eastern Phantom Crane Fly, Phantom Crane Fly
Bittacomorpha clavipes, the eastern phantom crane fly, is a distinctive fly in the family Ptychopteridae. Adults are small-bodied with exceptionally long, delicate black legs marked with white sheaths near the tips. The species is known for its unique flight behavior, using wind currents rather than wing beats for transportation, with legs spread to create air resistance. It inhabits shaded, moist environments near wetlands across eastern North America.
Blapstinus alutaceus
Blapstinus alutaceus is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, described by Blatchley in 1910. It belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized beetles commonly found in arid and semi-arid regions of North America. The species is part of the tribe Blapstinini, which contains numerous taxonomically challenging species that are often distinguished by subtle morphological characters.
Blaste opposita
common barklouse
Blaste opposita is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae, described by Banks in 1907. It is one of the more frequently encountered barklouse species in North America. Barklice are small, soft-bodied insects that typically inhabit bark, foliage, and other surfaces where they feed on organic debris, algae, and lichens. The species is considered harmless to humans and plays a role in nutrient cycling in forest and urban ecosystems.
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.
Blattoidea
Typical Cockroaches and Termites
Blattoidea is a superfamily within the order Blattodea encompassing cockroaches and termites. It comprises approximately 17 families and over 4,100 described species. The superfamily includes two major epifamilies: Blattoidae (typical cockroaches), Cryptocercoidae (brown-hooded cockroaches), and Termitoidae (termites). Molecular phylogenetic studies have clarified relationships among major lineages, though subfamilial classifications remain under revision.
Blissus occiduus
Western Chinch Bug
Blissus occiduus, the western chinch bug, is a phloem-feeding true bug (Hemiptera: Blissidae) that is a significant pest of warm-season turfgrasses, particularly buffalograss and zoysiagrass. The species exhibits strong host preference hierarchies, with buffalograss being the most preferred host followed by zoysiagrass, though it can survive and reproduce on a broad range of grasses including agronomic crops. Field studies have documented inconsistent control with neonicotinoid insecticides, with thiamethoxam showing particularly rapid degradation in buffalograss tissues compared to imidacloprid and clothianidin.
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ere-spherecollective-sphere-sphere-spherecommunity-sphere-sphere-spheresocietal-sphere-sphere-sphereglobal-sphere-sphere-spherelocal-sphere-sphere-spherenational-sphere-sphere-sphereregional-sphere-sphere-spherelandscape-sphere-sphere-sphereseascape-sphere-sphere-spherewaterscape-sphere-sphere-sphereairscape-sphere-sphere-spherebiosphere-sphere-sphere-spherenoosphere-sphere-sphere-spheretechnosphere-sphere-sphere-spheresociosphere-sphere-sphere-sphereecosphere-sphere-sphere-spherehydrosphere-sphere-sphere-sphereatmosphere-sphere-sphere-spherelithosphere-sphere-sphere-spherepedosphere-sphere-sphere-spherecryosphere-sphere-sphere-sphereanthroposphere-sphere-sphere-sphereBoraria
Boraria is a genus of flat-backed millipedes in the family Xystodesmidae, established by Chamberlin in 1943. The genus is characterized by the lateral expansion of dorsal segments into paranota, giving individuals a flattened appearance distinct from cylindrical millipedes. Species in this genus, like other xystodesmids, produce hydrogen cyanide as a chemical defense and display bright aposematic coloration—typically black with yellow or orange markings—as warning signals to predators. The genus is part of the diverse Polydesmida order, which represents the culmination of diplosegmentation in millipedes with no external evidence of sutures between fused body somites.
Borkhausenia
Borkhausenia is a genus of concealer moths in the family Oecophoridae, described by Jacob Hübner in 1825. It belongs to the subfamily Oecophorinae and is probably closely related to Hofmannophila (brown house moth). The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution with species recorded from Europe, Australia, South America, North America, Africa, and Asia. Several other oecophorid genera, including Schiffermuelleria and Metalampra, have historically been included in Borkhausenia. The genus contains approximately 50 described species, though taxonomic boundaries have shifted over time.
Caecidotea
Caecidotea is a genus of freshwater isopods in the family Asellidae, containing over 100 described species in North America. Species occupy diverse aquatic habitats including surface waters (ponds, streams) and subterranean environments (caves, aquifers). The genus has been extensively studied for parasite-host interactions, particularly involving acanthocephalan parasites that modify host behavior. Some species exhibit morphological adaptations to subterranean life including reduced eyes and pigmentation.
Cambala annulata
Violet Ridged Millipede
Cambala annulata is a species of millipede in the family Cambalidae, commonly known as the Violet Ridged Millipede. It is native to North America and was first described by Thomas Say in 1821. The species belongs to the order Spirostreptida, a group of large cylindrical millipedes.
Cambala minor
Amber Ridged Millipede
Cambala minor is a species of millipede in the family Cambalidae, described by Bollman in 1888. It is known from North America, where it inhabits forest floor environments. As a member of the order Spirostreptida, it belongs to a group of large-bodied millipedes characterized by cylindrical bodies and numerous segments.
Cassidinidea ovalis
Cassidinidea ovalis is a species of isopod crustacean in the family Sphaeromatidae. Originally described by Thomas Say in 1818 as Naesa ovalis, this species has been reclassified into the genus Cassidinidea. The genus Cassidinidea is part of the sphaeromatid isopods, a group commonly known as pill bugs or sow bugs, though this particular genus tends toward more elongated, less strongly convex body forms than the classic 'pill bug' shape.
Cercyon mendax
Cercyon mendax is a small water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It inhabits moist or aquatic environments in North America, where it contributes to nutrient cycling as a detritivore. The species was described by Smetana in 1978 and remains poorly known in terms of detailed biology.
Cerenopus
Cerenopus is a genus of darkling beetles in the family Tenebrionidae, tribe Cerenopini. The genus was established by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851 and is native to North America. Species in this genus are ground-dwelling beetles associated with arid and semi-arid environments. The genus is moderately well-represented in entomological collections, with over 500 observations documented on iNaturalist.
Ceuthophilus williamsoni
Ozark cave cricket
Ceuthophilus williamsoni, commonly known as the Ozark cave cricket, is a species of camel cricket in the family Rhaphidophoridae. It was described by Hubbell in 1934 and is endemic to the Ozark region of North America. Like other members of its genus, it is adapted to dark, humid cave environments. The species is part of a group of camel crickets that are sometimes mistaken for true grasshoppers due to their similar body plan and jumping ability.
Chaetophiloscia
Chaetophiloscia is a genus of small terrestrial isopods in the family Philosciidae, established by Verhoeff in 1908. The genus is native to the northern Mediterranean region, with at least two species documented: C. sicula, which has become invasive in North America and parts of Europe, and C. elongata, studied in North African coastal habitats. Species in this genus are characterized by their association with moist, anthropogenic, and coastal environments, and their capacity for rapid range expansion through human-mediated transport.
Cherokia georgiana georgiana
Cherokia georgiana georgiana is a millipede subspecies in the family Xystodesmidae, characterized by its black body with yellow wedge-shaped posterolateral markings and a wrinkled dorsal surface. It belongs to the order Polydesmida, a group distinguished by lateral expansions of dorsal segments into "paranota" that give a flattened appearance. Like other members of its genus and related genera, it produces hydrogen cyanide (HCN) as a chemical defense against predators, with its bright coloration serving as aposematic warning signals.
Chironomus plumosus
buzzer midge
Chironomus plumosus, commonly known as the buzzer midge, is a nonbiting midge species distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Adults are known for forming large mating swarms during spring and summer. The species is part of a sibling-species complex that includes C. muratensis and C. nudiventris, which cannot be morphologically distinguished from C. plumosus in adult form. The larvae, often called bloodworms due to their red coloration, are important food sources for fish and other aquatic predators.
Choctella cumminsi
Choctella cumminsi is a species of millipede in the family Choctellidae, described by Chamberlin in 1918. It is a member of the order Spirostreptida, a group of large-bodied millipedes commonly known as giant millipedes. The species is known from North America, with confirmed records from Tennessee. As with other members of its family, it is presumed to be a soil-dwelling detritivore, though specific ecological studies are limited.
Chonaphini
Chonaphini is a tribe of flat-backed millipedes (Polydesmida) within the family Xystodesmidae, established by Verhoeff in 1941. The tribe comprises approximately 6 genera and 19 described species distributed across western North America. Members exhibit the characteristic dorsoventrally flattened body form typical of xystodesmid millipedes.
Coelopa
Bristly Kelp Flies, kelp flies, seaweed flies
Coelopa is a genus of kelp flies comprising approximately 13-14 described species. These flies are obligate associates of stranded seaweed (wrackbeds) in coastal environments, where they complete their entire life cycle. The genus is notable for extensive research on sexual selection, chromosomal inversions, and ecological genetics, particularly in the well-studied species Coelopa frigida. Species within this genus exhibit resource competition and dietary niche partitioning where sympatric.
Comanchelus
Comanchelus is a genus of millipedes in the family Atopetholidae, order Spirobolida. It was described by Hoffman and Orcutt in 1960. The genus belongs to the subfamily Eurelinae and is native to North America, with species documented in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Members of this genus are cylindrical, relatively large-bodied millipedes characteristic of the spirobolid group.
Crangonyx
cave amphipods, spring amphipods
Crangonyx is a genus of freshwater amphipod crustaceans in the family Crangonyctidae. Species inhabit diverse aquatic environments including surface waters (marshes, swamps, lakes, rivers) and subterranean habitats (caves, springs, groundwater systems). The genus includes both native and highly invasive species, with some taxa exhibiting troglobitic adaptations such as reduced eyes and elongated appendages. Several species have been introduced outside their native ranges, notably Crangonyx pseudogracilis and C. floridanus in Europe and Asia, where they interact competitively and predatorily with native amphipods.
Craspedosoma rawlinsii
A small European millipede in the family Craspedosomatidae, notable as the first chordeumatidan species introduced to North America. Adults reach 15–16 mm in length with 30 body segments and distinctive reddish-brown coloration with dark dorsal markings. The species exhibits extreme morphological variability, leading to the description of numerous subspecies and varieties across its range.
Cryptoglossa variolosa
Black Death-feigning Beetle
Cryptoglossa variolosa is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, commonly known as the Black Death-feigning Beetle. It occurs in arid regions of Mexico and the southwestern United States. The species is notable for its ability to feign death (thanatosis) when disturbed. It is one of several Cryptoglossa species adapted to desert environments.