Flightless
Guides
Abedus
ferocious water bugs
Abedus is a genus of giant water bugs in the family Belostomatidae, found in freshwater habitats of the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America. These brown insects are notable for their exclusive male parental care, where females glue eggs onto the male's back and males carry and tend them until hatching. Most species are flightless or have greatly reduced flight capabilities. They are sit-and-wait predators that capture prey with raptorial front legs and subdue it with a venomous proboscis.
Abedus herberti
toe biter, ferocious water bug
Abedus herberti is a flightless giant water bug native to streams in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Adults measure 2–4 cm and are known for male parental care, where females attach eggs to the male's back and he carries them until hatching. The species is a sit-and-wait predator that captures prey with raptorial front legs and subdues it with venomous saliva. It has been documented in zoo displays and is consumed as food in some cultures, marketed as "Mexican caviar."
Achurum carinatum
long-headed toothpick grasshopper
Achurum carinatum is a small, cryptic grasshopper native to the southeastern United States. It belongs to the slant-faced grasshopper subfamily Gomphocerinae and exhibits strong morphological adaptations for camouflage in grassy habitats. The species is flightless with reduced wings and possesses an elongated, slender body form that closely resembles the grasses it inhabits. Coloration varies, with some individuals displaying green or black spots.
Aegialites californicus
Aegialites californicus is a flightless intertidal beetle in the family Salpingidae. It inhabits the supralittoral zone of rocky shores along the northern Pacific coast, from California to Alaska and across to northern Japan and Kamchatka. The species possesses specialized morphological adaptations for its challenging habitat, including widely separated coxae, long tarsi, and large claws. Its complete mitochondrial genome has been sequenced, representing the first such data for the genus Aegialites.
Aglaothorax
ovate shieldbacks
Aglaothorax is a genus of flightless katydids in the family Tettigoniidae, commonly known as ovate shieldbacks. The genus comprises six described species distributed in the southwestern United States. These insects are characterized by their reduced or absent wings and compact, shield-like body form. The genus was established by Caudell in 1907.
Agonum belleri
Beller's Ground Beetle
Agonum belleri is a flightless ground beetle endemic to Pacific Northwest wetlands. It is metallic-black with copper, blue, or green reflections. The species is restricted to sphagnum bogs and associated wetlands in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. It is listed as endangered by the Xerces Society and a species of greatest conservation need in Washington due to habitat loss from peat mining and development.
Agroecotettix modestus
Modest Aridland Scrub Jumper
Agroecotettix modestus is a species of grasshopper in the family Acrididae, first described by Bruner in 1908. It belongs to a genus of aridland scrub grasshoppers found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species is associated with desert and semi-arid environments, particularly in Texas and northeastern Mexico. Like other members of its genus, it is adapted to hot, dry conditions and exhibits behaviors such as seeking shade during extreme heat.
Agymnastus ingens
Lubberly Band-winged Grasshopper
Agymnastus ingens, known as the lubberly band-winged grasshopper, is a species of band-winged grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is found in North America, with confirmed records from California. Females are flightless, a distinctive trait within this species. The specific epithet 'ingens' is Latin for 'huge' or 'enormous'.
Akalyptoischion
Akalyptoischion is a genus of coccinelloid beetles comprising at least 24 described species. It represents the sole genus of the family Akalyptoischiidae, having been reclassified from Latridiidae based on molecular phylogenetic evidence. The genus is restricted to western North America and exhibits specialized ecological associations with oak leaf litter and rodent nests.
Alaudes moenkopii
Alaudes moenkopii is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, described in 2018 from the southwestern United States. The species epithet refers to the Moenkopi Formation, a geological formation in northern Arizona where the type specimens were collected. It belongs to a small genus of flightless, ground-dwelling beetles adapted to arid environments. As a recently described species, detailed ecological and behavioral information remains limited.
Amaurorhinus bewickianus
Amaurorhinus bewickianus is a weevil species in the family Curculionidae, endemic to the Madeira archipelago. It was first described by Wollaston in 1860 and has been recorded from Madeira Island and the nearby Desertas Islands. The species belongs to a small genus of flightless weevils with restricted distributions in the Macaronesian region. Its island endemism and apparent absence from mainland Europe suggest limited dispersal capability.
Amblonoxia harfordi
Amblonoxia harfordi is a scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Melolonthinae. It is endemic to California and belongs to a genus of flightless, soil-dwelling beetles. The species is poorly documented in scientific literature, with most records coming from citizen science observations. It is active during spring and early summer.
Amblycheila cylindriformis
Great Plains Giant Tiger Beetle
Amblycheila cylindriformis is a flightless tiger beetle native to the Great Plains of North America. It is the largest tiger beetle species in North America, with adults reaching 25–38 mm in length. The species is strictly nocturnal and inhabits grassland environments, where adults walk on bare ground and larvae construct deep burrows in specific soil types.
Amblycheila hoversoni
South Texas giant tiger beetle
Amblycheila hoversoni is a flightless, nocturnal tiger beetle first described in 1990 (published 1991). It holds the distinction of being the largest tiger beetle species in the Western Hemisphere. The species is endemic to south and west-central Texas, where it inhabits grassland and prairie habitats. Like other members of the genus Amblycheila, it exhibits a lumbering, deliberate gait rather than the rapid, jerky movement typical of most tiger beetles.
Amblycheila schwarzi
Mojave giant tiger beetle
Amblycheila schwarzi, the Mojave giant tiger beetle, is a flightless, nocturnal tiger beetle species described by Walther Horn in 1904. It is one of the largest tiger beetles in North America, with adults reaching 25–38 mm in length. The species is considered an adelphotaxon (sister-group) to all other tiger beetles, representing a basal lineage within the group. It inhabits grassland and prairie habitats in the southern United States, where adults are active at night and larvae construct deep burrows in clay soils.
Amblyderus pallens
pale ant-like flower beetle
Amblyderus pallens is a small, flightless ant-like flower beetle in the family Anthicidae. It is restricted to dune and sandy beach habitats across central and eastern North America, with a notable absence from western regions. The species is considered critically imperiled in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada. Adults are active primarily during warmer months but have been observed in winter in some areas.
Ammopelmatus
Jerusalem crickets, potato bugs, North American Jerusalem Crickets
Ammopelmatus is a genus of large, flightless crickets in the family Stenopelmatidae, commonly known as Jerusalem crickets or potato bugs. The genus was erected by Tinkham in 1965 and underwent massive taxonomic revision in 2025, expanding from 12 recognized species to 117 valid species across the western United States and northwestern Mexico. These insects are among the largest in western North America, with some adults exceeding 12 grams. The genus exhibits exceptional species diversity concentrated in Southern and Central California, with most species having limited geographic distributions.
Ammopelmatus kelsoensis
Kelso Dunes Jerusalem Cricket, Kelso Jerusalem cricket
Ammopelmatus kelsoensis is a large, flightless orthopteran insect endemic to the Kelso Dunes of California. It belongs to the family Stenopelmatidae, commonly known as Jerusalem crickets. The species is distinguished from congeners by specific leg spine and spur characteristics, including short, spatulate apical tibial spurs and reduced ventral spines on the fore and hind tibiae. Adults are active in midsummer. The species has been collected exclusively from burrows of Rhachocnemis colonies, where it has been observed preying on nymphs of that genus.
Ammopelmatus nigrocapitatus
Black-headed Jerusalem Cricket
Ammopelmatus nigrocapitatus is a species of Jerusalem cricket in the family Stenopelmatidae, originally described by Tinkham & Rentz in 1969. It is one of 12 previously named taxa recognized as valid in a comprehensive 2025 revision of the genus. The species is endemic to parts of Southern California and is characterized by its distinctive black head. Like other Ammopelmatus species, it is a large, flightless orthopteran adapted to arid and semi-arid environments.
Ammopelmatus pictus
Pictured Jerusalem Cricket
Ammopelmatus pictus, commonly known as the Pictured Jerusalem Cricket, is a species of Jerusalem cricket in the family Stenopelmatidae. It was first described by Scudder in 1899. The species is endemic to California, with documented occurrences in the Central Valley, Diablo Range, and Silicon Valley regions. As a member of the Stenopelmatidae family, it belongs to a group of large, flightless orthopterans often referred to as Jerusalem crickets or potato bugs.
Anabrus
Mormon cricket
Anabrus is a genus of shield-backed katydids in the family Tettigoniidae, comprising four described species including the extinct Anabrus caudelli. The genus is best known for Anabrus simplex, commonly called the Mormon cricket, a large flightless insect famous for forming massive migratory bands that cause significant agricultural damage in western North America. Despite the common name, these insects are not true crickets but katydids characterized by their gregarious behavior, distinctive morphology, and periodic population outbreaks.
Anabrus simplex
Mormon Cricket
Anabrus simplex, commonly known as the Mormon cricket, is a large flightless shieldbacked katydid (family Tettigoniidae, subfamily Decticinae) native to western North America. Despite its common name, it is not a true cricket. The species is notable for its periodic outbreak populations that form large migratory bands, causing significant damage to rangeland forage and cultivated crops. It exhibits a sex-role reversed mating system where males provide nuptial gifts and females compete for mates. The species has been documented from low-elevation sagebrush steppe to alpine tundra above 11,000 feet.
Anillinus fortis
Anillinus fortis is a species of small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, endemic to the Eastern United States. It belongs to the tribe Anillina within the subfamily Trechinae, a group characterized by reduced eyes and adaptations to subterranean or soil-dwelling habits. The species was described by George Henry Horn in 1869. Like other members of its genus, it likely inhabits forest floor litter and soil microhabitats.
Anostostomatidae
wētā, king crickets
Anostostomatidae is a family of large, nocturnal orthopterans in the superfamily Stenopelmatoidea, distributed across the southern hemisphere in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the Americas. Members are commonly known as king crickets in Australia and South Africa, and wētā in New Zealand. The family exhibits considerable size variation, with some species exceeding 8 cm in length. Many species are flightless, though winged forms occur in some Australian and Asian genera. The family is notable for diverse feeding strategies including herbivory, scavenging, predation, and specialized fungal feeding.
Anurogryllus arboreus
Common Short-tailed Cricket, Arboreal Short-tailed Cricket
Anurogryllus arboreus is a burrowing cricket native to the southern and southeastern United States. Adults are pale brown with vestigial ovipositors and shed their wings shortly after maturation, becoming permanently flightless. Males call from elevated perches at night to attract females. The species was separated from the widespread Anurogryllus muticus in 1973 based on male calling behavior and morphological differences.
Apomecynini
Apomecynini is a tribe of small, flightless (apterous) longhorn beetles within the subfamily Lamiinae. Members are commonly associated with leaf litter and subcortical habitats, particularly in the Neotropics. The tribe includes numerous species, many of which remain undescribed due to their cryptic lifestyle and small size.
Appalachia arcana
Michigan bog grasshopper, secretive locust
Appalachia arcana is a short-winged grasshopper endemic to Michigan, United States. It is the only grasshopper species restricted entirely to this state. The species is flightless and does not produce sound. Breeding occurs in September. It inhabits sphagnum bogs surrounded by jack pine trees.
Aptenopedes rufovittata
Aptenopedes rufovittata is a species of grasshopper in the family Acrididae, described by Scudder in 1878. It belongs to the subfamily Melanoplinae, a diverse group commonly known as spur-throated grasshoppers. The species has been documented in scattered locations across the southeastern and western United States. Despite its long taxonomic history, detailed biological information remains limited.
Apterocyclus
Kauai flightless stag beetles
Apterocyclus is a genus of flightless stag beetles endemic to the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The genus comprises five described species, ranging from 14 to 23 mm in length. These beetles represent the only native scarabaeoid beetles in the Hawaiian Islands. Three species (A. honoluluensis, A. kawaii, and A. waterhousei) have been confirmed living since the late 1960s, while others may be extinct. Historical collection data shows a dramatic decline, with over 130 specimens documented between 1871 and 1922 but very few found in recent decades.
Apterocyclus honoluluensis
Kauai Flightless Stag Beetle
Apterocyclus honoluluensis, the Kauai flightless stag beetle, is a flightless stag beetle endemic to the Hawaiian island of Kauai. It is the smallest and most commonly encountered species in its genus, with adults measuring 14–17 mm, rarely reaching 21 mm. The species has declined due to predation by introduced mice and habitat loss, and was considered for protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1994 but was declined due to insufficient data.
Apterocyclus munroi
Apterocyclus munroi is a species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. The species was described from four specimens collected on Kauai, Hawaii in 1897. No confirmed observations have been made since the original collection, and the species is considered possibly extinct. It belongs to a genus of flightless stag beetles endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.
Apterocyclus waterhousei
Apterocyclus waterhousei is a rare, flightless stag beetle endemic to the Hawaiian island of Kauai. It belongs to a genus of flightless beetles found only in the Hawaiian Islands. The species has been documented in several locations on Kauai in recent years.
Areniscythris brachypteris
Oso Flaco Flightless Moth, sand-dune grasshopper moth
Areniscythris brachypteris is a flightless moth in the family Scythrididae, described by Jerry A. Powell in 1976. It is endemic to coastal sand dunes of California and is notable among Lepidoptera for its reduced wings and inability to fly. The species has been observed in 90 iNaturalist records, suggesting it is documented but not abundant.
Asidini
Asidini is a tribe of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae: Pimeliinae) containing more than 30 genera and over 260 described species in North America alone. Members are primarily flightless and inhabit arid and semi-arid environments across western North America and Mexico. The tribe is notable for exhibiting diverse defensive strategies including crypsis and Batesian mimicry of chemically defended Eleodes species.
Bembidiini
Bembidiini is a large tribe of ground beetles (Carabidae) comprising over 120 genera and approximately 3,100 described species. Members are predominantly small to minute beetles, often found in riparian, intertidal, subterranean, and arboreal habitats. The tribe includes notable subtribes such as Xystosomina (arboreal tropical beetles) and Anillina (small litter-dwelling forms), as well as the subtribe Lovriciina containing highly specialized cave-dwelling species. Many species exhibit narrow habitat specificity, including intertidal gravel beaches and tropical forest canopy systems.
Bembidion nigropiceum
Bembidion nigropiceum is a small, flightless ground beetle native to Europe, introduced to Massachusetts in the late 1800s via ship ballast. It occupies a highly specialized intertidal habitat in coarse gravel at the high-tide line. The species was rediscovered in 2007–2008 on Boston Harbor Islands after being presumed extinct in North America since 1897. In Great Britain, it is considered Nationally Scarce and protected under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan due to habitat loss.
Blaptinae
darkling beetles
Blaptinae is a large subfamily of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) containing approximately 283 genera and 4,000 species, classified into 8 tribes. The subfamily was resurrected and redefined in 2021 based on morphological and molecular evidence, with seven tribes transferred from Tenebrioninae. Members are among the most widespread and abundant darkling beetles in arid regions globally, often dominating local invertebrate faunas in desert ecosystems. Ovoviviparity has been documented in at least one tribe (Platynotini), where females carry fully developed first-instar larvae.
Blaptini
Blaptini is a tribe of darkling beetles within the subfamily Blaptinae (Tenebrionidae). The tribe contains more than 30 genera and was moved from Tenebrioninae to the resurrected subfamily Blaptinae in 2021, representing a major taxonomic reclassification. Members are primarily distributed in arid and semi-arid regions of Asia, with notable diversity on the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibetan) Plateau and in the Mediterranean basin. The tribe includes flightless species adapted to high-elevation and xeric environments.
Booneacris glacialis
Wingless Mountain Grasshopper
Booneacris glacialis, commonly known as the wingless mountain grasshopper, is a species of spur-throated grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is endemic to mountainous regions of eastern North America. The species is notable for being flightless, an adaptation to its high-elevation habitat. Three subspecies are currently recognized, varying in geographic distribution across the northern Appalachians and adjacent ranges.
Booneacris polita
Willamette wingless grasshopper
Booneacris polita, commonly known as the Willamette wingless grasshopper, is a flightless species of spur-throated grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is endemic to the Pacific Northwest region of North America, with records primarily from Oregon. As its common name indicates, this species lacks functional wings, a trait that distinguishes it from most other grasshoppers and reflects its adaptation to stable, localized habitats.
Boreus californicus
California Snow Scorpionfly
Boreus californicus is a flightless species of snow scorpionfly endemic to western North America. It is active on snow surfaces across a broad elevation gradient from valley grasslands to alpine areas above tree line. The species exhibits a distinctive life history tied to snow cover, with mating occurring directly on snow surfaces. Surface activity has been documented at temperatures ranging from −5.0°C to 5.5°C, with pairs in copula observed between −0.5°C and 5.5°C.
Brachinus patruelis
Brachinus patruelis is a small ground beetle in the bombardier beetle subfamily Brachininae. The species is endemic to the northeastern United States, with records from Massachusetts. Adults measure 5.7–8.3 mm in body length. Like other members of the genus, it possesses the defensive chemical secretion capability characteristic of bombardier beetles, though specific details of this behavior in B. patruelis have not been separately documented.
Brachystola
grassland lubbers
Brachystola is a genus of large, flightless grassland lubber grasshoppers in the family Romaleidae, distributed across the western United States and Mexico. Members are among the largest grasshoppers in North America, with robust bodies, short non-functional wings, and striking coloration. The genus includes six recognized species, with Brachystola magna (plains lubber grasshopper) being the most studied due to its use in early genetic research and its status as an occasional agricultural pest.
Brachystola magna
Plains Lubber Grasshopper, Western Lubber Grasshopper, Homesteader
Brachystola magna is one of the largest grasshoppers in North America, a flightless species inhabiting the Great Plains from the Canadian border to central Mexico. Adults reach 4–6 cm in length, with females substantially larger and heavier than males. The species exhibits a two-year life cycle, with eggs overwintering twice before hatching. Though primarily herbivorous, adults display notable omnivory including scavenging and predation on other insects. The species has historical scientific significance as the subject of Walter Sutton's pioneering work on reduction division and chromosome theory.
Bradynotes obesa
Slow Mountain Grasshopper, Mountain Lubber Grasshopper, Western Lubber Grasshopper
Bradynotes obesa is a large, flightless spur-throated grasshopper endemic to western North America. It is characterized by its robust, heavy-bodied morphology and slow, deliberate movement. The species inhabits transitional zones between pine savannah and sagebrush desert in mountainous regions, particularly at lower elevations in the Big Horn and Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. It is notable for its very early spring emergence, with adults present primarily in May and June, and its gregarious behavior in localized populations.
Broscus cephalotes
coastal ground beetle
Broscus cephalotes is a nocturnal, flightless ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is native to coastal regions of temperate Europe and western Siberia, and was introduced to eastern Canada around 1975, subsequently spreading into the United States. The species is recognized as beneficial in agricultural contexts due to its predatory habits.
Brunneria borealis
Northern Grass Mantis, Brunner's Mantis, Brunner's Stick Mantis
Brunneria borealis is a slender green mantis native to the southern United States, notable as the only mantis species known to reproduce exclusively through parthenogenesis. All individuals are female; no males have been documented. Adults reach approximately 77 mm in length and possess reduced wings that likely preclude flight. The species inhabits grassland habitats and exhibits stick-like camouflage behavior.
Bryophaenocladius chrissichuckorum
Spooner's Flightless Midge
Bryophaenocladius chrissichuckorum, commonly called Spooner's Flightless Midge, is a chironomid midge endemic to Georgia, United States. Described in 2012 from specimens collected in the late 1990s, this species has only been documented from specific granite outcrop habitats in the Georgia Piedmont region. Its flightless condition represents an unusual adaptation among chironomids.
Calathus ruficollis
Red-collared Harp Ground Beetle
Calathus ruficollis is a flightless ground beetle in the family Carabidae, distributed across western North America from the California Floristic Province to the Pacific Northwest, with introduced populations in Hawaii. The species is nocturnal and predaceous, with four recognized subspecies showing distinct geographic ranges. Phylogeographic studies indicate limited genetic structure across its range despite flightlessness, suggesting recent range expansion or dispersal by walking.
Calathus ruficollis ignicollis
Calathus ruficollis ignicollis is a flightless ground beetle subspecies endemic to the Transverse Ranges of southern California. First described by Casey in 1920, it represents the southern Sierra Nevada population of the broader C. ruficollis complex. Phylogeographic studies indicate this subspecies is genetically distinct from populations south and west, corresponding to a deep mitochondrial split within the species. Despite being flightless, the species shows limited geographic structure, suggesting recent range expansion or gene flow across mountain barriers.