stick insects
Anisacanthidae is a family of stick insects in the superfamily Bacilloidea. The family is reported from its known members in Madagascar and list several genera, including Anisacantha, Parectatosoma, Leiophasma, and others. The family is credited to Günther and was established in 1953. details such as body size, color, and host plants can vary among its constituent species.
Anthaxia dichroa is a metallic wood-boring beetle (family Buprestidae) described by Bílý in 1991. It is found in North America and has been documented in ethanol-only bait traps in Illinois, where it occurs alongside related Anthaxia species. The genus Anthaxia includes species associated with Cercocarpus (mountain mahogany) and other woody hosts, though specific host relationships for A. dichroa remain unconfirmed.
Southern Yellow-winged Grasshopper, Southern Yellowwinged Grasshopper
Arphia granulata is a band-winged grasshopper in the family Acrididae, commonly known as the southern yellow-winged grasshopper. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from Florida and Georgia. The species belongs to the genus Arphia, which includes several other yellow-winged and red-winged grasshoppers with similar flight displays and habitat preferences.
None provided
Bellardia is a genus of flies in the family Calliphoridae, subfamily Calliphorinae. The genus was established by Robineau-Desvoidy in 1863. It belongs to the order Diptera and class Insecta.
tiger beetles
Cicindelinae is a subfamily of predatory beetles commonly known as tiger beetles. Adults are characterized by large eyes, long slender legs, and powerful mandibles adapted for capturing fast-moving prey. They exhibit a distinctive run-stop-run hunting pattern necessitated by their visual processing limitations at high speeds. The subfamily contains approximately 2,822 species in 120 genera distributed worldwide, though they are most diverse in tropical and subtropical regions. Many species show strong habitat specificity, with some restricted to particular sand dune systems, riparian zones, or rock outcrops.
Efferia cana is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Hine in 1916. The genus Efferia belongs to a group of large, predatory flies commonly known as robber flies or assassin flies. Members of this genus are characterized by their robust build, prominent compound eyes, and predatory behavior. Efferia cana is part of a diverse assemblage of Asilidae species found in North America, where these flies occupy important roles as aerial predators in various terrestrial habitats.
Epanusia is a genus of encyrtid wasps established by Girault in 1913. It belongs to the subtribe Platencyrtina within the tribe Discodini. The genus is part of the large and diverse family Encyrtidae, which contains numerous parasitoid species associated with various insect hosts. A redescription of Epanusia xerophila from Canada has been published, but biological information remains limited.
mayflies, Canadian soldiers, shadflies, fishflies, up-winged flies
Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) represent the oldest known winged insects, with fossil evidence dating to approximately 350 million years ago in the lower Carboniferous. The order contains over 3,000 described species across more than 400 genera and 42 families worldwide. Adults are characterized by short lifespans—typically hours to days—and a unique subimaginal stage where the winged but sexually immature subimago undergoes a final molt to become a reproductive imago. Larvae are exclusively aquatic and serve as important indicators of water quality in freshwater ecosystems.
Eucerceris superba is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly placed in Philanthidae). It is native to North America, with records from Canada and the United States. The genus Eucerceris was revised by entomologist George R. Ferguson, who specialized in the taxonomy of these wasps.
Eucoilidae is the historical family name for a group now generally treated as the subfamily Eucoilinae within Figitidae, a lineage of parasitoid wasps. Taxonomic databases place the name in Hymenoptera and associate it with Cynipoidea. Members are best known for developing in other insects rather than living as free-feeding predators. The group is diverse: more than 1,000 Eucoilinae species have been described, although the true diversity is likely greater.
Glyphonyx championi is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. The genus Glyphonyx comprises small to medium-sized click beetles characterized by their ability to produce an audible clicking sound through a prosternal process that snaps into a mesosternal groove, allowing them to right themselves when flipped onto their backs. Species within this genus are typically associated with soil and decaying organic matter in various terrestrial habitats.
Eucalyptus Weevils, Eucalyptus Snout Beetles, Eucalyptus Snout Weevils
Gonipterus is a genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae, comprising approximately 20 described species native primarily to Australia. These insects are obligate plant feeders, with many species exhibiting high host specificity. Several species, notably Gonipterus platensis, G. pulverulentus, and G. gibberus, have become significant pests of Eucalyptus plantations globally, having spread to regions where these trees have been introduced. Taxonomic confusion has historically plagued the genus, with DNA studies in 2012 clarifying that populations previously identified as G. scutellatus in New Zealand, North America, western Europe, Africa, and eastern Europe actually represent distinct species. The genus has substantial economic importance in forestry, driving research into biological control agents such as the egg parasitoid Anaphes nitens.
Gymnopternus vockerothi is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, described by Robinson in 1964. It belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive wing venation and elongated legs typical of the family. The species epithet honors Canadian entomologist John R. Vockeroth.
Hellinsia is a genus of plume moths in the family Pterophoridae, established by J.W. Tutt in 1905 and named in honor of entomologist John Hellins. The genus comprises numerous species distributed across the Holarctic region, with documented occurrences in North America, Europe, and Asia. Species identification relies heavily on genitalia morphology and wing pattern characteristics. Notable biological findings include the first documented case of ovoviviparity in an Arctic population of H. albilobata.
Helosciomyzidae is a small family of flies in the order Diptera. The family is restricted to the Southern Hemisphere, with most genera recorded from Australia and New Zealand and one genus, Sciogriphoneura, in South America. Its taxonomic history includes an earlier placement as a subfamily of Sciomyzidae and later recognition at family rank. Available references emphasize classification, species descriptions, and identification rather than natural history.
Mastigitae is a supertribe of ant-like stone beetles within the rove-beetle family Staphylinidae and the subfamily Scydmaeninae. It brings together several distinctive lineages rather than one uniform body form or way of life. Descriptions of the group cover adult structures, larvae, fossils, habitats, and feeding behavior. The group includes both very small adults and some of the largest adults known among Scydmaeninae.
Megaphorus flavidus is a species of robber fly (Diptera: Asilidae) in the tribe Apocleini. It was described by Cole in 1964 and is currently accepted as a valid species. The genus Megaphorus comprises medium to large predatory flies known for their powerful flight and ambush hunting behavior. Information specific to this species is limited in the provided sources.
Mira mucora is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae, subfamily Tetracneminae. It was described by Schellenberg in 1803, making it one of the earlier described species in this family. The genus Mira is a small genus within the Encyrtidae, a family known for their role as parasitoids of scale insects and other homopteran pests. Specimens of this species are present in major entomological collections including the University of California, Riverside Encyrtidae holdings.
Nannocyrtopogon vanduzeei is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Wilcox and Martin in 1936. It belongs to the subfamily Brachyrhopalinae and tribe Ceraturgini. Like other robber flies, this species is predatory, though specific behavioral and ecological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Neurochaetidae is a family of true flies in the order Diptera. Members are often called upside-down flies because they maintain a head-down orientation while walking on vertical or steeply sloping surfaces. The family has living representatives in the Old World tropics and subtropics, along with a fossil record reaching back to the Eocene–Oligocene boundary. This guide treats the family as a group: details such as body size, feeding, and immature biology can differ among its genera and species.
Nevadasilus blantoni is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) in the genus Nevadasilus. It is a predatory dipteran endemic to the western United States, specifically associated with Nevada and surrounding arid regions. The species is named in honor of entomologist John Blanton. As with other Asilidae, it is presumed to be an aerial predator of other insects, though detailed studies of its biology remain limited.
Pediodectes daedalus is a species of shieldback katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. The genus Pediodectes comprises wingless or short-winged katydids distributed across the Great Plains of North America. Adults of this genus are typically found in prairie and grassland habitats, often associated with herbaceous vegetation. Species in Pediodectes are known for their cryptic coloration, though some individuals may exhibit more contrasting markings. The genus is taxonomically challenging, with species identification often requiring examination of morphological details beyond external coloration.
Poecilanthrax effrenus is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, subfamily Anthracinae, tribe Villini. The species was described by Coquillett in 1887. It has been documented in the southwestern United States, particularly in Texas. The genus Poecilanthrax comprises predatory bee flies whose larvae develop as parasitoids or predators of other insects.
Proctacanthella willistoni is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Fisher and Wilcox in 1987. Robber flies in this genus are predatory insects that hunt other arthropods. The specific epithet honors entomologist Samuel Wendell Williston, a prominent figure in early American dipterology.
Selenia is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae, erected by Jacob Hübner in 1823. As of 1999, approximately 24 species were recognized within the genus. The taxon has been documented in at least 12,479 iNaturalist observations.
Sphecomyia oraria is a species of hoverfly (Syrphidae) described in 2019. It belongs to the S. pattonii species group within the Holarctic genus Sphecomyia, which comprises large wasp-mimicking flies in subtribe Criorhinina. The species exhibits Batesian mimicry of vespid wasps, particularly yellowjackets. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to have larvae that develop in rotting wood or tree holes, though this has not been confirmed for S. oraria specifically.
Caribbean Darner
Triacanthagyna caribbea is a species of darner dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae, described by Williamson in 1923. It is endemic to the Caribbean region, with confirmed records from Colombia (departments of Antioquia, Bolívar, Magdalena, and Sucre) and broader Caribbean distribution. The species is part of the genus Triacanthagyna, which is characterized by three-spined abdominal appendages in males. As with other aeshnids, it is likely a strong flier adapted to tropical environments.
Zale Moths
Zale is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, established by Hübner in 1818. The genus contains numerous species of owlet moths distributed primarily in North America. Larvae of several Zale species are known hosts for parasitoid wasps, including the sphecid wasp Ammophila nigricans. The genus is taxonomically well-established but individual species-level biology remains incompletely documented for many members.
