Blog WotD About Glossary

Ecosystem-role

Guides

Ascalapha odorata
black witch, black witch moth, mariposa de la muerte, duppy bat, mariposa-bruxa, ura, money moth, money bat
The black witch moth (Ascalapha odorata) is a large, bat-shaped nocturnal moth and the largest noctuoid in the continental United States. Females reach wingspans up to 24 cm, while males are smaller at approximately 12 cm. The species ranges from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America to Brazil and Argentina, with migratory populations reaching as far north as Canada. It holds prominent cultural significance across Latin America and the Caribbean, where it is widely associated with death, misfortune, and spiritual beliefs.
nocturnal migratory folklore pest caterpillar large-moth legume-feeder fruit-feeder cultural-significance death-omen Caribbean Latin-America Hawaii-introduced moth Lepidoptera Erebidae Ascalapha Ascalapha-odorata black-witch black-witch-moth mariposa-de-la-muerte duppy-bat mariposa-bruxa ura money-moth money-bat Phalaena-odorata Linnaeus-1758 largest-noctuoid continental-US bat-shaped iridescent white-bar green-spot orange-spot comma-spot nine-spot 24-cm-wingspan 12-cm-wingspan 7-cm-caterpillar Acacia Gymnocladus-dioicus Kentucky-coffeetree Senna-alata candle-bush mesquite Ficus banana overripe-fruit rainforest agricultural-pest Mexico Central-America South-America Brazil Argentina United-States Canada Hawaii migration spring summer death misfortune spiritual soul harbinger lottery money hair-loss duppy ghost screwworm Dermatobia-hominis misidentification Silence-of-the-Lambs Buffalo-Bill Kendrick-Lamar To-Pimp-a-Butterfly Thysania-agrippina white-witch Thysania-zenobia owl-moth noctuid Erebinae hexapod arthropod insect animal eukaryote metazoa animalia arthropoda insecta noctuoidea species accepted exact-match 32867-observations iNaturalist GBIF Catalogue-of-Life NCBI Wikipedia entomology guide structured record taxon conservative accurate informative factual clarity usefulness no-speculation no-inference no-fabrication no-repetition unique-content cautious-language direct-sentences concrete-statements high-completeness medium-completeness low-completeness no-inferred-content null-for-unsupported field-intent style-rules quality-rules JSON-schema output-format no-commentary no-extra-fields no-fluff no-filler no-taxonomy-repetition no-technical-jargon no-vague-generalizations no-'like-most-insects'no-'typically-feeds-on-plants'has-been-observed is-known-to supported justified explicitly-justified species-level-traits higher-taxa physical-description-only how-to-distinguish environment-conditions geographic-range-only timing-of-activity feeding-habits developmental-stages notable-actions ecosystem-role interaction-with-humans reason-for-similarity meaningful-misconceptions important-additional-context clear direct concise useful reliable sparse-data well-supported partial most-fields
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
Eucyrtopogon diversipilosis
Eucyrtopogon diversipilosis is a species of robber fly (Asilidae) described by Curran in 1923. The genus Eucyrtopogon contains small to medium-sized predatory flies that can be confused with the related genus Comantella, with which they share similar habitats and seasonal patterns. Very little specific information has been published regarding the biology or ecology of this particular species.
Asilidae robber-fly predator Diptera North-America Eucyrtopogon insect fly Curran-1923 diversipilosis diverse-hairs tibia-spur Comantella identification antennal-segments hair-coloration small-to-medium predatory similar-genera confusion taxonomy revision-needed seasonal-activity spring fall early late overwintering adults ground bare-soil open-fields humpbacked profile march-fly Bibionidae asilid mating wolf-spider Pardosa prey spider British-Columbia Nevada Utah Idaho California Colorado New-Mexico Alberta Front-Range eastern-Colorado Colorado-Springs Portales eastern-New-Mexico western-North-America checklist revision terminal-style third-antennal-segment mane Mohawk thorax legs 10-15-mm protected-places overwinter biology-unknown suspected observed Cannings Cole Dennis Lavigne Knutson Barnes Hull James Barr Stephens Nelson Bug-Eric Fly-Day-Friday March-12 November-29 2011 2013 2017 iNaturalist GBIF Catalogue-of-Life accepted exact-match 1-observation sparse-data inferred-content conservative factual clarity usefulness cautious-language has-been-observed is-known-to null unknown not-clearly-supported do-not-infer do-not-fabricate do-not-repeat unique-content non-overlapping direct-sentences concrete-statements high-level-overview physical-description distinguish environment conditions geographic-range timing feeding-habits developmental-stages notable-actions ecosystem-role interaction-with-humans meaningful important-additional-context clear direct avoid-fluff avoid-filler avoid-repeating-taxonomy avoid-technical-jargon concrete well-supported partial-but-reliable strictly-match JSON-schema no-extra-fields no-commentary entomology-guide accurate informative factual-correctness completeness verbosity speculation justified vague-generalizations like-most-insects typically-feeds-on-plants behaviors diet life-cycle-details host-relationships high medium low true false 3-5-sentences only how-to-distinguish must-include-reason only-if-meaningful only-for-important-additional-context avoid-overly-technical-jargon
Tanyptera dorsalis
Antlered Crane Fly
Tanyptera dorsalis is a species of crane fly in the family Tipulidae, commonly known as the Antlered Crane Fly. Males are distinguished by prominent antler-like projections on the head. The species occurs in eastern North America, with records from Canada and the United States.
crane-fly Tipulidae antlered sexual-dimorphism Nearctic Diptera Nematocera insect male-ornamentation Tanyptera North-America Canada United-States Michigan Vermont Ontario Quebec Minnesota Illinois Tennessee North-Carolina Arkansas Newfoundland Tipulomorpha Hexapoda Pterygota Insecta Arthropoda Animalia Walker-1848 species accepted exact-match observed iNaturalist GBIF distribution biology review male head-projections ornamentation sexual-selection identification diagnostic-trait field-guide entomology natural-history biodiversity taxonomy systematics phylogeny evolution ecology habitat seasonality life-cycle reproduction behavior ecosystem-role human-relevance similar-taxa misconceptions extra-details tags completeness has-inferred-content confidence-notes source evidence metadata full-text abstract title journal subjects DOI paper-summary GBIF-taxonomy-match iNaturalist-taxon Wikipedia-summary observations-count preferred-common-name kingdom phylum class order family genus rank status match-type distribution-records Vermont-US US USA Minn Ont Que Nfld Ill Ark Tenn NC Antlered-Crane-Fly 1220 None Tanyptera-dorsalis Walker,-1848 EXACT Minnesota-to-Ontario,-Quebec-and-Newfoundland,-south-to-Illinois,-Arkansas,-Tennessee-and-North-Carolina high false Abstract-content-was-empty;-metadata-extracted-from-document-structure-only.-Full-text-not-available-in-provided-source.-Distribution-information-limited-to-title-mention-of-Michigan-and-general-'review-of-its-distribution-and-biology.'The-antlered-crane-fly,-Tanyptera-dorsalis-(Walker)-(Diptera:-Tipulidae),-in-Michigan-and-a-Review-of-Its-Distribution-and-Biology Northeastern-Naturalist 10.1656/045.017.0216 {"summary":-"The-antlered-crane-fly,-Tanyptera-dorsalis-(Walker)-(Diptera:-Tipulidae),-is-a-species-of-crane-fly-with-distinctive-antler-like-projections-on-the-head-of-males.-The-source-provides-a-review-of-its-distribution-and-biology-in-Michigan-and-broader-range.",-"habitat":-"",-"distribution":-"Michigan;-broader-distribution-reviewed-in-the-paper",-"diet":-"",-"hostAssociations":-[],-"lifeCycle":-"",-"reproduction":-"",-"notableBehaviors":-"",-"ecosystemRole":-"",-"confidenceNotes":-"Abstract-content-was-empty;-metadata-extracted-from-document-structure-only.-Full-text-not-available-in-provided-source.-Distribution-information-limited-to-title-mention-of-Michigan-and-general-'review-of-its-distribution-and-biology.'"}Matched-scientific-name:-Tanyptera-dorsalis-(Walker,-1848)Canada,-USA-(Minn-to-Ont,-Que-and-Nfld,-south-to-Ill,-Ark,-Tenn-and-NC).;-Nearctic;-Canada,-USA-(Minn-to-Ont,-Que-and-Nfld,-south-to-Ill,-Ark,-Tenn-and-NC).;-Nearctic;-Vermont-US,-US