Eastern-north-america
Guides
Acaricoris ignotus
flat bug
Acaricoris ignotus is a species of flat bug in the family Aradidae, described by Harris and Drake in 1944. It inhabits forest floor environments in the eastern United States, where it occupies decaying wood and leaf litter. As a member of the Aradidae, it exhibits the family's characteristic flattened body form and cryptic lifestyle in decomposing organic substrates.
Achalarus lyciades
Hoary Edge
Achalarus lyciades, commonly known as the Hoary Edge, is a skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is a medium-sized species with distinctive wing patterning and is associated with leguminous host plants. The species occurs in eastern North America and is active during the warmer months. Adults are known to visit flowers for nectar.
Acleris minuta
Yellow-headed Fireworm, Lesser Apple Leaf-folder
Acleris minuta is a small tortricid moth native to eastern North America, commonly known as the yellow-headed fireworm or lesser apple leaf-folder. The species is recognized by its forewing length of 6.5–9.5 mm and its multivoltine life cycle with up to three generations annually. Adults are active primarily from June through August, with some individuals recorded in October. The larvae are polyphagous leaf-feeders on a range of woody and ericaceous plants, including economically significant hosts such as apple, pear, and cranberry.
Acmaeops discoideus
Acmaeops discoideus is a flower longhorn beetle (subfamily Lepturinae) distributed across the United States and Canada. The species feeds on Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) as a larva, boring in the wood of this conifer host. Adults are active during autumn and have been observed into December in some regions. The species was formerly spelled A. discoidea, but A. discoideus is now the accepted name.
Acrolophus arcanella
grass tubeworm moth
Acrolophus arcanella, commonly known as the grass tubeworm moth, is a small moth species in the family Acrolophidae. It occurs in eastern North America, where its caterpillars are known to spin silken tubes at the base of grasses or grass roots for concealment while feeding. The species has a wingspan of approximately 25 mm. Like other members of the genus, it was formerly classified in the family Tineidae before being reassigned to Acrolophidae based on revised taxonomic understanding.
Acronicta betulae
birch dagger moth, River Birch Dagger
Acronicta betulae, commonly known as the birch dagger moth or River Birch Dagger, is a noctuid moth native to eastern North America. Adults are characterized by a distinctive wing appearance described as resembling two layers on the forewings. The species exhibits bivoltine flight periods in spring and late summer. Larvae are specialized feeders on birch leaves, with Betula nigra (river birch) documented as a primary host.
Acronicta immodica
Medium Dagger, Medium Oak Dagger
Acronicta immodica is an owlet moth in the family Noctuidae, commonly known as the medium dagger or medium oak dagger. The species occurs in eastern North America. It was renamed from Acronicta modica in a recent taxonomic revision when the type specimen of A. modica was determined to actually represent Acronicta haesitata, necessitating the new name A. immodica for this species.
Acronicta lithospila
Streaked Dagger, streaked dagger moth
Acronicta lithospila is a noctuid moth commonly known as the streaked dagger moth. Described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1874, this species occurs in eastern North America from Canada south to the United States. Adults fly during summer months, and larvae feed on hardwood trees including hickory, oak, and chestnut.
Acronicta retardata
retarded dagger moth, Maple Dagger
Acronicta retardata, commonly known as the retarded dagger moth or Maple Dagger, is a noctuid moth native to eastern North America. Adults have a wingspan of 25–32 mm and are active from April to August depending on location. The species produces multiple generations annually. Larvae are specialized feeders on maple leaves, specifically red maple (Acer rubrum) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum).
Acronicta rubricoma
Hackberry Dagger, ruddy dagger moth
Acronicta rubricoma, commonly known as the Hackberry Dagger or ruddy dagger moth, is a noctuid moth found in eastern and central North America. The species has a wingspan of 38–44 mm. Adults are active from April to October with two generations per year. The larvae feed on elm, hackberry, and sumac.
Acronicta spinigera
Nondescript Dagger, nondescript dagger moth
Acronicta spinigera, commonly known as the nondescript dagger moth, is a noctuid moth native to eastern North America. Adults are active from spring through summer, with flight periods varying by latitude. The species is characterized by its relatively plain, unmarked appearance compared to other dagger moths, hence its common name. It is one of approximately 150 species in the genus Acronicta, a diverse group of owlet moths whose caterpillars often bear distinctive tufts of setae or spines.
Acronicta tritona
Triton dagger moth
Acronicta tritona, commonly known as the Triton dagger moth, is a noctuid moth native to eastern North America. The species was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1818. Adults have a wingspan of 35–40 mm. The larva feeds on specific host plants including Helonias bullata and various Vaccinium species.
Acronicta vinnula
delightful dagger moth
Acronicta vinnula, commonly known as the delightful dagger moth, is a small noctuid moth native to eastern North America. Adults have a wingspan of 28–32 mm and are active from April through August, with at least two generations per year. The species is notable for its larvae feeding exclusively on elm leaves.
Adelesta nova
Adelesta nova is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae, first described by Norton in 1867. It belongs to a group of herbivorous insects commonly known as sawflies, which are distinguished from other Hymenoptera by their broad connection between thorax and abdomen (lacking the wasp waist). The species has been recorded in eastern Canada.
Adoxophyes furcatana
Adoxophyes furcatana is a small tortricid moth native to eastern North America. Adults have forewings measuring 7.5–10.5 mm and are active during June and August. The species is notable for its larval association with Platanus (sycamore) species, where larvae construct leaf rolls for shelter and feeding.
Adranes coecus
Adranes coecus is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It is known from eastern North America. The species belongs to the tribe Clavigerini, whose members are obligate myrmecophiles, living in close association with ant colonies.
Agonopterix atrodorsella
Beggartick Leaffolder Moth
A small moth in the family Depressariidae, first described from North America in 1863. Adults are active year-round depending on location, with a single generation annually. The species overwinters as an adult and is associated with several herbaceous plant genera.
Agonopterix clemensella
Clemens' Agonopterix
Agonopterix clemensella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae. It is distributed across eastern North America from Ontario south to Arkansas and east to the Atlantic states. The species inhabits damp woods and meadows. Larvae are specialized feeders on plants in the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae). Adults overwinter, an unusual life history trait among moths of this group.
Agonopterix robiniella
Four-dotted Agonopterix Moth, Locust Leaf Roller
Agonopterix robiniella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, commonly known as the four-dotted agonopterix moth or locust leaf roller. It is native to eastern North America and is tightly associated with black locust trees. The species is named for the characteristic pattern of four dark spots on its forewings. Larvae are leaf rollers that feed exclusively on Robinia pseudoacacia.
Agonum albicrus
A ground beetle in the Platyninae subfamily described by Dejean in 1828. Long thought restricted to Mount Vernon, Alabama, but subsequent surveys revealed a much broader distribution across the eastern United States. The species was not studied again until Lindroth's work in 1955 and 1966, then rediscovered in multiple states starting in 2008.
Agrilus granulatus granulatus
Eastern Cottonwood Borer
Agrilus granulatus granulatus is a jewel beetle subspecies restricted to eastern North America east of the Rocky Mountains. Adults are commonly associated with cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra 'Italica'), where they can be found on branches of host plants. The species is frequently confused with A. quadriguttatus, which breeds on willow rather than poplar. This subspecies represents the nominate form of A. granulatus, with other populations assigned to separate subspecies.
Agrilus obsoletoguttatus
Beech Borer
Agrilus obsoletoguttatus is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, native to North America. It is among the smallest jewel beetle species utilized as prey by the specialist predatory wasp Cerceris fumipennis, which provisions its underground nests with paralyzed buprestid beetles. The species has been documented in nest caches containing up to 13 individuals, reflecting its small size relative to larger buprestid prey.
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oblongicollis
Oblong-necked Click Beetle
Agriotes oblongicollis is a click beetle species in the family Elateridae, commonly known as the Oblong-necked Click Beetle. Larvae of this genus are known as wireworms and are significant agricultural pests. The species is native to eastern North America, with confirmed records from Ontario and Québec, Canada. As a member of the economically important genus Agriotes, it has potential significance for crop protection and pest management, though specific damage records for this species are not well documented.
Agrotis gladiaria
Swordsman Dart, Claybacked Cutworm
Agrotis gladiaria is a noctuid moth commonly known as the Swordsman Dart or Claybacked Cutworm. The species is distributed across eastern North America, from southeastern Canada through the eastern United States. Adults are active in autumn, with larvae feeding on a broad range of agricultural and wild plants. The larval stage functions as a cutworm, severing plant stems at or near the soil surface.
Aleodorus bilobatus
Two-lobed Minute Rove Beetle
Aleodorus bilobatus is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae) native to eastern North America. Adults measure 2.8–4.1 mm and exhibit variable coloration from light brown to black. The species is associated with wet riparian habitats, particularly vegetation along rivers and ditches. It is classified in the tribe Falagriini within the subfamily Aleocharinae.
Aleurochiton forbesii
Maple whitefly
Aleurochiton forbesii is a whitefly species native to eastern North America that specializes on maple trees (Acer spp.) as its primary host. The species produces two broods annually, with distinctive seasonal differences in puparial appearance. Unlike its European congener Aleurochiton aceris, it rarely reaches population densities that cause significant host damage. The species has been documented as a host for the parasitoid wasp Amitus aleurodinis.
Allotria elonympha
False Underwing
A medium-sized moth in the family Erebidae, known for its cryptic forewings and brightly patterned hindwings. The species is found in eastern North America and is most active during late summer and early autumn. Adults rest with forewings covering the hindwings, concealing the colorful underwing pattern until disturbed.
Amblyctis praeses
Beech False Darkling Beetle
Amblyctis praeses is a small false darkling beetle in the family Melandryidae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1879. It is known from eastern Canada, specifically Ontario and Québec. The species has received limited scientific attention, with minimal published information on its biology and ecology.
Ammophila nigricans
thread-waisted wasp
Ammophila nigricans is a large, striking thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae, recognized by its deep blue-black body with red abdominal banding and black wings. It is one of the largest eastern species in its genus, comparable in size to A. procera but readily distinguished by its coloration. Females are solitary nesters that excavate burrows in clayey or sandy soil and provision them with paralyzed caterpillars as food for their larvae. The species ranges across the eastern United States from Kansas and Texas to New England and south to Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana. It appears less common than most other Ammophila species.
Ampedus melanotoides
Ampedus melanotoides is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, described by W.J. Brown in 1933. It is known from a limited number of records in eastern Canada. As a member of the genus Ampedus, it belongs to a group of click beetles often associated with decaying wood and forest habitats. The species remains poorly documented in published literature.
Ampedus nigricollis
Black-collared Click Beetle
Ampedus nigricollis is a click beetle species distinguished by its black pronotal collar contrasting against reddish-orange elytra. It occurs primarily in eastern North America, with substantial observational records from the Canadian Maritimes and Ontario. The species belongs to a genus whose larvae develop in decaying wood, though specific life history details for this species remain incompletely documented.
Amphibolips nubilipennis
translucent oak gall wasp
Amphibolips nubilipennis is a gall wasp in the family Cynipidae that induces distinctive succulent galls on oak trees. The species exhibits a complex life cycle with alternating sexual and asexual generations, each producing different gall types. The translucent oak gall formed by the sexual generation accumulates exceptionally high concentrations of malic acid, creating extremely acidic tissue conditions. This species has been documented across eastern North America and serves as a model organism for studying gall chemistry and plant-insect interactions.
Anacampsis nonstrigella
Anacampsis nonstrigella is a small gelechiid moth described by August Busck in 1906. It is known from a limited range in the eastern United States. The species is distinguished by its contrasting wing coloration with dark olive basal forewings and blackish brown apical areas.
Anaxipha tinnula
Tidewater Trig
Small swordtail cricket described in 2014. Belongs to a genus of crickets distributed across eastern North America, with many species only recently described. Likely shares acoustic communication traits with congeners, including substrate-borne vibrational signaling.
Anaxipha tinnulacita
Fast-tinkling Trig
Anaxipha tinnulacita is a small swordtail cricket described in 2014 from eastern North America. Males produce both calling songs and distinct courtship songs when in the presence of females. This species exhibits substrate-borne vibrational communication through drumming behavior, which is unique among studied congeners in commonly occurring during calling songs.
Anaxipha vernalis
Spring Trig
Anaxipha vernalis is a small cricket in the family Trigonidiidae, commonly known as the Spring Trig. The species was formally described in 2014, distinguishing it from closely related congeners. It belongs to a genus of winged crickets distributed across the Americas, with this species occurring in eastern North America. The specific epithet 'vernalis' refers to its springtime activity period.
Ancistrocerus unifasciatus
One-banded Mason Wasp
Ancistrocerus unifasciatus is a solitary mason wasp in the family Vespidae, subfamily Eumeninae. Females construct nests in pre-existing cavities such as abandoned mud dauber nests, beetle borings in wood, or hollow twigs. The species hunts leafroller caterpillars (family Tortricidae), using a distinctive behavioral strategy to extract prey from silk-bound leaf rolls. It occurs throughout the eastern United States west to Iowa, Kansas, and Texas, plus southern Ontario, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island in Canada.
Andrena carlini
Carlin's Mining Bee, Carlinville Miner Bee
Andrena carlini is a mining bee species in the family Andrenidae. It is strongly associated with forest habitats in eastern North America, where it serves as an important pollinator of spring-blooming wildflowers and woody plants. The species has been documented as prey for crab spiders and is active primarily during spring.
Andrena erythronii
Trout-lily Mining Bee, Trout Lily Bee, Trout-lily Andrena
Andrena erythronii is a solitary mining bee native to eastern North America. It is strongly associated with trout lilies (Erythronium), earning its common name. Females measure 11–14 mm, males 9–11 mm. The species has been documented visiting additional spring ephemeral wildflowers and early-flowering trees and shrubs.
Antaeotricha leucillana
Pale Gray Bird-dropping Moth
Antaeotricha leucillana, commonly known as the pale gray bird-dropping moth, is a small moth species in the family Depressariidae. First described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1854, it is widely distributed across eastern and central North America. The species exhibits a bird-dropping mimicry coloration as adults and has documented larval associations with several woody plant genera.
Anthophylax viridis
Green Flower Longhorn
Anthophylax viridis is a species of flower longhorn beetle in the subfamily Lepturinae. It is found in eastern North America, including the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. Adults are associated with flowers and are known to visit a variety of blooming plants. The species is one of several in the genus Anthophylax, which are characterized by their flower-visiting behavior and relatively small size among longhorn beetles.
Apantesis parthenice
Parthenice Tiger Moth
The Parthenice Tiger Moth is a nocturnal tiger moth in the family Erebidae, found across eastern North America from southeastern Canada through the eastern United States. Adults are active from June through late September and are readily attracted to artificial light sources. The species is common in open habitats including fields and woodland edges.
Aphaenogaster fulva
Tawny Collared Ant
Aphaenogaster fulva is a species of myrmicine ant in the genus Aphaenogaster, first described by Roger in 1863. It is part of a species complex that has undergone taxonomic revision, with some authorities treating related forms as separate species or subspecies. The species has been studied for its spatial distribution patterns in temperate forests, particularly in relation to environmental gradients such as soil moisture and vegetation cover. Like other Aphaenogaster species, it is a ground-nesting ant with generalist foraging habits.
Aphaenogaster rudis
Winnow Ant
Aphaenogaster rudis is a common woodland ant in eastern North American hardwood forests, known for its distinctive seed dispersal behavior and frequent colony relocations. Colonies are moderate in size and nest in soil under stones or logs. The species exhibits tool use through debris dropping during foraging, a specialized task performed by subsets of workers. A. rudis is an ecologically dominant forest ant with generalized seasonal activity and no strong food preferences, allowing it to maintain broad temporal and spatial niches in sympatry with other ant species.
Aphaenogaster treatae
Treat's Collared Ant
Aphaenogaster treatae, commonly known as Treat's Collared Ant, is a species of ant in the genus Aphaenogaster. Described by Forel in 1886, this species belongs to the tribe Stenammini within the subfamily Myrmicinae. The species has been documented through 188 iNaturalist observations, indicating it is a recognized though not extensively studied member of the eastern temperate forest ant fauna. As with many Aphaenogaster species, it is likely a ground-nesting ant, though specific natural history details remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Apheloria
cherry millipedes, flat-backed millipedes
Apheloria is a genus of large, chemically defended millipedes in the family Xystodesmidae, distributed across eastern North America. These millipedes are notable for producing hydrogen cyanide and benzaldehyde as defensive secretions, which imparts a characteristic cherry or almond odor. The genus participates in Müllerian mimicry rings in the Appalachian Mountains, with species displaying highly variable aposematic coloration involving black backgrounds with contrasting yellow, orange, red, or white markings. Species-level identification requires examination of male gonopod morphology due to extensive color polymorphism and convergent color patterns among co-occurring species.
Apoda biguttata
Shagreened Slug Moth
Apoda biguttata, commonly known as the shagreened slug moth, is a species of slug moth in the family Limacodidae. It is found in eastern North America. The adult has a wingspan of 19–30 mm and is active from April to August. The larvae feed on various deciduous trees including hornbeam, hickory, and oak.
Argyrotaenia mariana
gray-banded leafroller moth
Argyrotaenia mariana is a small tortricid moth known as the gray-banded leafroller moth. The species occurs across eastern and central North America, with adults active from spring through summer. Larvae feed on a diverse array of woody plants including maples, birches, oaks, apples, and blueberries. The species was first described by Fernald in 1882 under the name Lophoderus mariana.
Argyrotaenia quercifoliana
Yellow-winged Oak Leafroller Moth
Argyrotaenia quercifoliana, the yellow-winged oak leafroller moth, is a small tortricid moth found in eastern North America. Adults fly from May to July and are attracted to light. The species is associated with oak and witch-hazel, with larvae feeding on leaves of these host plants. It is one of numerous leafroller moths in the genus Argyrotaenia, many of which are economically significant orchard pests.
Aristotelia roseosuffusella
Pink-washed Aristotelia Moth, Clover Aristotelia Moth, Garden Webworm
Aristotelia roseosuffusella is a small gelechiid moth first described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1860. The species is commonly known as the pink-washed aristotelia, clover aristotelia moth, or garden webworm. It is native to eastern North America, with a wingspan of approximately 11 mm. The forewings display a distinctive pattern of dark brown with roseate suffusion along the inner margin, combined with white spots and bands.