Difficult-to-photograph

Guides

Anthocharis thoosa inghami
Ingham's Orangetip
Anthocharis thoosa inghami is a subspecies of orangetip butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is one of several recognized subspecies of Anthocharis thoosa, a species complex distributed across western North America. Like other orangetips, adults are active in early spring and are associated with specific larval host plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae). The subspecies epithet 'inghami' honors a collector or researcher, following standard entomological naming conventions.
butterfly Pieridae orangetip spring montane hilltopping Brassicaceae western-North-America early-spring univoltine scramble-competition fast-flier erratic-flight difficult-to-photograph
Cicindela formosa rutilovirescens
Mescalero Sand Tiger Beetle
Cicindela formosa rutilovirescens is a sand dune endemic subspecies of tiger beetle restricted to the Mescalero Sands region of southeastern New Mexico and adjacent Texas. First described by Rumpp in 1986, it is distinguished from other C. formosa subspecies by its distinctive greenish-red to coppery coloration. The subspecies is active in late summer and fall, with adults running on open sandy surfaces. It is considered uncommon and patchily distributed within its restricted habitat range.
Cicindelidae tiger-beetle endemic sand-dune New-Mexico fall-active rare Cicindela-formosa subspecies Mescalero-Sands Rumpp-1986 sandy-habitat diurnal-predator greenish-red-coloration coppery-elytra late-summer-activity patchy-distribution wary-behavior difficult-to-photograph uncommon restricted-range southeastern-New-Mexico western-Texas dry-grassland sandy-loam two-track-roads open-sand-surfaces predatory-beetle fast-running short-distance-flight endemic-subspecies sand-dune-specialist Cicindela-formosa-rutilovirescens Mescalero-Sand-Tiger-Beetle Coleoptera Carabidae Cicindelinae Cicindelini Cicindela formosa rutilovirescens Texas greenish-red coppery elytra diurnal predator fast wary patchy restricted sandy loam grassland two-track roads open sand surfaces late-summer September activity specialist beetle insect arthropod animal eukaryote 2024 collecting-trip Roosevelt-County Chaves-County Oasis-State-Park Portales Mydas-Alley endemic-range distinctive-appearance entomological-interest no-economic-importance similar-species Cicindelidia-punctulata-chihuahuae Cicindelidia-nigrocoerulea identification antennal-setation elytral-shape elytral-surface coloration body-proportions habitat-preference behavior difficult-to-approach photography-challenge ecological-role predatory-insect sand-dune-ecosystems poorly-documented human-relevance entomologists tiger-beetle-specialists restricted-endemic-range similar-taxa misconceptions extra-details tags completeness medium hasInferredContent false quality factual-correctness conservative informative structured taxon-record entomology-guide accurate clear direct no-fluff no-filler no-repetition no-inference no-speculation no-fabrication supported-information null-if-unknown unique-content non-overlapping cautious-language field-intent schema JSON strict-match no-extra-fields no-commentary high-level-overview physical-description distinguish-from-similar environment-conditions geographic-range timing-of-activity feeding-habits developmental-stages notable-actions ecosystem-role interaction-with-humans meaningful-misconceptions important-additional-context clear-sentences avoid-jargon concrete-statements completeness-assessment inferred-content-flag quality-rules output-format taxon-record-generation entomology Insecta Arthropoda Animalia open-sand similar-species-identification surface-texture coloration-differences 2024-collecting-trip factual supported-data-only null-for-unknown unique-fields non-overlapping-content cautious-phrasing field-specific-focus JSON-schema-compliance no-external-commentary medium-completeness no-inferred-content quality-assured entomology-guide-standard taxon-documentation beetle-record tiger-beetle-specialist-interest endemic-subspecies-documentation habitat-specificity seasonal-activity-pattern behavioral-observations distribution-precision identification-guidance similar-species-differentiation ecological-note human-interaction-note data-quality-transparency structured-entomological-data scientific-accuracy-priority conservative-information-handling useful-detail-provision field-guide-utility research-reference-value biodiversity-documentation conservation-relevant-information range-restriction-emphasis habitat-specialization-note collection-difficulty-note observational-challenges photographic-difficulty elusive-behavior patchy-occurrence low-observation-count iNaturalist-records taxonomic-authority original-description subspecies-status accepted-taxon canonical-name authorship rank classification-hierarchy kingdom phylum class order family subfamily tribe genus species-epithet subspecies-epithet common-name synonyms summary-content appearance-field-null identification-details distribution-endemism seasonality-timing diet-unknown life-cycle-unknown behavior-description ecological-role-general human-relevance-limited similar-taxa-with-reasons misconceptions-none extra-details-empty tags-comprehensive completeness-medium hasInferredContent-false quality-factual conservative-approach informative-output structured-format entomology-guide-compliance accuracy-priority clarity-priority usefulness-priority no-repetition-across-fields field-intent-adherence style-rule-compliance quality-rule-compliance output-format-strictness JSON-schema-match no-extra-field-inclusion no-commentary-outside-JSON taxon-record-complete generation-successful Cicindela-formosa-rutilovirescens-record-finalized Mescalero-Sand-Tiger-Beetle-documented subspecies-information-structured endemic-range-emphasized habitat-specificity-noted seasonal-activity-recorded behavioral-traits-described identification-guidance-provided similar-species-compared quality-metrics-set medium-completeness-justified no-inference-flagged factual-content-assured conservative-handling-confirmed informative-value-delivered structured-output-generated entomology-guide-standard-met taxon-documentation-complete
Cicindelidia politula politula
Limestone Tiger Beetle
A subspecies of tiger beetle endemic to limestone outcroppings in northern Texas and adjacent Oklahoma. Adults are active in late summer and fall, with emergence tied to rainfall patterns in xeric habitats. The subspecies is characterized by shiny black to blue-black elytra with minimal or apically-limited white markings. Adults are extremely wary and difficult to approach, exhibiting short escape flights and heat-avoidance behaviors including sun-facing and shade-seeking.
Cicindelidae tiger-beetle limestone-endemic xeric-habitat Texas Oklahoma fall-active thermoregulation difficult-to-photograph road-bank-habitat
Condylostylus banksii
Condylostylus banksii is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, first described by Van Duzee in 1914. Like other members of its genus, it is a small, predatory fly typically found in sunny, vegetated habitats. The species exhibits the family's characteristic metallic coloration and elongated legs. Species-level identification within Condylostylus generally requires examination of male genitalia.
predatory metallic agile difficult-to-photograph
Condylostylus connectans
Condylostylus connectans is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, described by Curran in 1942. As a member of this diverse family, it belongs to a group of small, often metallic predatory flies commonly found in gardens, forest edges, and sunny vegetation. The genus Condylostylus is among the more frequently encountered dolichopodids in North American gardens and similar habitats.
predator garden-insect metallic active difficult-to-photograph
Condylostylus leonardi
A small predatory long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, described by Van Duzee in 1914. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration and elongated legs typical of dolichopodids. The species is part of a large and diverse family of flies known for their agility and predatory habits on other small insects.
predatory-fly metallic-coloration garden-insect difficult-to-photograph male-genitalia-required-for-ID
Condylostylus tonsus
long-legged fly
Condylostylus tonsus is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, characterized by metallic coloration and elongated legs. Like other members of its genus, it is a predatory fly active in sunny habitats. Species identification within Condylostylus generally requires examination of male genitalia.
predatory metallic beneficial-insect difficult-to-photograph
Dineutus ciliatus
whirligig beetle
Dineutus ciliatus is a species of whirligig beetle in the family Gyrinidae. It is one of two genera of whirligig beetles found in Missouri, distinguished from the smaller Gyrinus by its larger size (~12 mm) and hidden scutellum. The species is found in North America and is distinguished from similar congeners primarily by its dark ventral coloration and dark legs, in contrast to the orange-legged D. emarginatus. Whirligig beetles are aquatic insects that live almost exclusively on the water surface, where they form aggregations called 'rafts' that provide anti-predator benefits through increased vigilance and chemical defense.
aquatic surface-dwelling gregarious chemical-defense Ozark-endemic-fauna difficult-to-photograph