Florida
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Abedus immaculatus
Abedus immaculatus is a species of giant water bug in the family Belostomatidae. It is the only Abedus species found in the eastern United States, with a range extending throughout Florida north into Georgia and west along the Gulf Coast to Mississippi. Adults measure 13–14 mm in length, making them the smallest species in the genus Abedus and the smallest belostomatid in the United States. The species is the sole member of the subgenus Microabedus. It is locally common in parts of the Everglades, where it occurs in shorter hydroperiod sites.
giant-water-bugaquatic-insectfreshwaterwetlandEvergladesendemiceastern-United-Statessmallest-belostomatid-USAmale-parental-careBelostomatidaeHemipteraMicroabedushydroperiodFloridaGeorgiaMississippiGulf-CoastThomas-Say1832Abedus-cantrallisynonymywater-bugtrue-bugNepomorphaHeteropteraInsectaArthropodaAnimaliaAcantholyda floridana
Acantholyda floridana is a species of sawfly in the family Pamphiliidae. The genus Acantholyda comprises web-spinning sawflies whose larvae construct silken webs on host plants. This species is endemic to Florida, with records from the northern and central portions of the peninsula. Adults are active in spring and early summer. Larval biology and specific host associations for this species remain poorly documented.
Acharia extensa
Acharia extensa is a species of slug caterpillar moth in the family Limacodidae. It occurs in Mexico and the southern United States, with records from southern Florida. The larvae feed on a documented range of host plants including Inga species, oaks (Quercus), Byrsonima crassifolia, and coffee (Coffea arabica). Like other members of the genus Acharia, the larvae likely possess stinging spines characteristic of the family.
Acrobasis cirroferella
Acrobasis cirroferella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by George Duryea Hulst in 1892. The species is known from Florida and Texas in the United States. Larvae feed on Myrica cerifera (wax myrtle).
Adaina bipunctatus
Three- and Two-dotted Plume Moth
A small plume moth (Pterophoridae) with wingspan of 9–11.5 mm. Adults are pale yellowish-white with brown spotting on the forewings. The species occurs from the southeastern United States through the Caribbean to South America. Larvae feed on multiple asteraceous host plants.
Adaina ipomoeae
Pork Vine Plume Moth
Adaina ipomoeae is a small plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, distributed across the Caribbean and Florida. Adults have a wingspan of 11–13 mm with pale ochreous forewings marked with dark brown patterns. The species is known to be active in January, August, and October. Larvae feed on morning glory relatives Ipomoea tiliacea and Merremia umbellata.
Adaina perplexus
Perplexing Plume Moth
Adaina perplexus is a small plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, characterized by its distinctive wing structure with divided fringes. The species occurs in the southeastern United States, Caribbean, and Trinidad. Adults are active across multiple months, with records from January through October. The specific epithet and common name reflect historical taxonomic uncertainty, as some authors have treated it as synonymous with Adaina ambrosiae.
Adelius floridensis
Adelius floridensis is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, described by Shimbori and Shaw in 2019. The genus Adelius comprises small braconid wasps that are parasitoids of lepidopteran larvae. Species in this genus are generally poorly known, with limited published information on their biology and distribution. The specific epithet "floridensis" indicates a connection to Florida, though the precise type locality and host associations for this species remain undocumented in readily accessible literature.
Agrotis apicalis
Agrotis apicalis is a noctuid moth described by Herrich-Schäffer in 1868. It has a wingspan of approximately 38 mm. The species is restricted to the Caribbean region and Florida, with records from the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Florida. Like other members of the genus Agrotis, it is likely nocturnal and attracted to light sources.
Alapus elongatus
Alapus elongatus is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Beamer and Tuthill in 1935. It belongs to the tribe Paralimnini within the subfamily Deltocephalinae. The species is known from Florida based on distribution records. Like other leafhoppers, it is presumed to feed on plant phloem sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Amedia floridana
Amedia floridana is a species of gall midge (family Cecidomyiidae) described by Jaschhof in 1997. The species belongs to the subfamily Lestremiinae and tribe Strobliellini. As a member of this genus, it is likely associated with fungal substrates, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in available literature.
Ametris nitocris
seagrape spanworm moth, greater inchworm
Ametris nitocris, commonly known as the seagrape spanworm moth, is a geometrid moth species described by Pieter Cramer in 1780. The species occurs throughout the Neotropical region, from the southern United States through Central America to South America, including the Caribbean islands. Its larvae are known locally in Florida as the greater inchworm and feed specifically on seagrape (Coccoloba diversifolia).
Anaea troglodyta
Florida leafwing, Portia, Florida goatweed butterfly, Jamaican tropical leafwing, Cuban red leaf
A Nymphalidae butterfly with a wingspan of 76–90 mm, found in southern Florida and throughout the Caribbean. The species exhibits seasonal polyphenism, with distinct dry-season and wet-season forms. Larvae feed on Croton species, while adults consume rotting fruit, dung, and fluids. Taxonomic status is contested: some authorities recognize over 230 species in the genus Anaea, while others (following Lamas 2004) treat all populations as a single species, Anaea troglodyta.
Anaea troglodyta floridalis
Florida Leafwing
Anaea troglodyta floridalis is a federally endangered subspecies of butterfly endemic to southern Florida. It is one of the most imperiled butterflies in North America, with populations restricted to pine rockland and tropical hardwood hammock habitats in Miami-Dade County and Everglades National Park. The subspecies is highly dependent on its host plant Croton linearis for larval development. Habitat loss, fragmentation, and fire suppression have contributed to its decline, with remaining populations concentrated in protected areas.
Anastrepha suspensa
Caribbean fruit fly, Greater Antillean fruit fly, guava fruit fly, Caribfly
Anastrepha suspensa is a tephritid fruit fly native to the Caribbean region and now established in Florida. Adults are 11–14 mm long with yellow-orange-brown coloration and distinctive wing venation patterns. The species is a significant agricultural pest, infesting over 100 host plants with particular preference for guava, Cayenne cherry, and citrus. Females possess a serrated ovipositor for cutting into fruit to deposit eggs. Mating occurs through lek formation on host fruit, with males establishing territories and producing acoustic signals through wing vibrations.
Anaxipha fultoni
Fulton's Trig
Anaxipha fultoni is a small cricket species in the family Trigonidiidae, commonly known as Fulton's Trig. Described in 2014, it belongs to a genus of ground and bush crickets distributed across tropical and subtropical regions. The species is known from Florida and represents part of the diverse cricket fauna of the southeastern United States. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a small, active cricket associated with vegetation.
Anaxipha imitator
Cuban trig
Anaxipha imitator, commonly known as the Cuban trig, is a species of cricket in the family Trigonidiidae. It was originally described by Saussure in 1878 as Cyrtoxiphus imitator before being transferred to the genus Anaxipha. The species is part of the diverse Grylloidea superfamily, which includes many small, often colorful crickets commonly referred to as 'trigs.'
Anomala flavipennis okaloosensis
Panhandle Beach Anomala Beetle
Anomala flavipennis okaloosensis is a subspecies of scarab beetle described by Potts in 1977. It is currently treated as a synonym in major taxonomic databases, with the accepted name being Paranomala flavipennis. The subspecies epithet "okaloosensis" suggests a geographic association with Okaloosa County or the Florida Panhandle region. Like other members of the genus Anomala, it belongs to the tribe Anomalini within the subfamily Rutelinae, a group commonly known as shining leaf chafers.
Anopheles perplexens
Anopheles perplexens is a native North American mosquito species in the genus Anopheles, first described by Ludlow in 1907. It was documented in Charlotte County, Florida in 2021 during routine public health surveillance, with only a single specimen confirmed to date. As an Anopheles species, it belongs to the group of mosquitoes capable of transmitting Plasmodium parasites, though specific vector competence for this species has not been established. The species was identified through external morphology and confirmed via COI gene sequencing.
Antaeotricha floridella
Antaeotricha floridella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, described in 2015 from peninsular Florida. The species is endemic to Florida's sandhills and scrub habitats, where it was initially confused with the similar but more widespread Antaeotricha albulella. Its immaculately white forewings without any spotting distinguish it from close relatives.
Anthanassa frisia
Cuban Crescent, Cuban Crescentspot, Cuban Checkerspot
A small to medium-sized checkerspot butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, with a complex subspecies structure spanning the Caribbean, southern Florida, and the Neotropics. The nominate subspecies occurs in the West Indies and Florida, while subspecies tulcis (sometimes treated as a separate species) ranges from Argentina to the southwestern United States. Adults fly year-round in tropical regions and have distinct seasonal activity patterns in temperate areas. Larvae feed on specific Acanthaceae host plants.
Anthonomus testaceosquamosus
hibiscus bud weevil
Anthonomus testaceosquamosus, commonly known as the hibiscus bud weevil, is a small curculionid weevil native to northeastern Mexico and southern Texas. The species was first detected as an invasive pest in south Florida in May 2017, where it infests China rose hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) in ornamental production systems. It has three larval instars and completes its life cycle only at 27±1°C. The species is now regulated in Florida due to significant economic damage to the hibiscus industry.
Aristotelia primipilana
Aristotelia primipilana is a small gelechiid moth described by Edward Meyrick in 1923. It belongs to the twirler moth family Gelechiidae, a diverse group of microlepidoptera whose larvae typically feed on specific host plants. The species has been documented in eastern North America with records from Florida and Ontario. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits the bold patterning characteristic of Aristotelia species.
Arphia granulata
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.
Artipus
broad-nosed weevils
Artipus is a genus of broad-nosed weevils (Curculionidae) established by Sahlberg in 1823. The genus comprises approximately ten described species distributed primarily in the Americas, with the best-documented species being Artipus floridanus, commonly known as the little leaf notcher. Members of this genus are associated with herbaceous feeding habits, with A. floridanus documented as a pest of citrus and various weed hosts in Florida. The genus belongs to the tribe Geonemini within the subfamily Entiminae.
Artipus floridanus
little leaf notcher
Artipus floridanus, commonly known as the little leaf notcher, is a broad-nosed weevil in the family Curculionidae. It is native to North America, with documented occurrence in Florida and association with citrus groves and weed hosts. The species has been studied for its distribution patterns on cultivated and wild host plants, and laboratory rearing methods have been developed for biological study. It serves as a host for the tachinid parasitoid Oestrophasia (Cenosoma) sabroskyi.
Asterocampa celtis reinthali
Florida Hackberry Butterfly
Asterocampa celtis reinthali is a subspecies of hackberry butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is recognized as the Florida Hackberry Butterfly, distinguishing it from other subspecies of A. celtis. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with hackberry (Celtis) host plants. The subspecies was described by Friedlander in 1988.
Atheloca subrufella
Palm Bud Moth, Coconut Moth
Atheloca subrufella is a small snout moth (Pyralidae: Phycitinae) known as a significant pest of coconut and other palms. Adults have a wingspan of 14–18 mm and brownish coloration. The species occurs in the southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean islands, and Brazil. Larvae are specialized feeders on developing palm fruits, causing substantial agricultural damage through gallery formation in the mesocarp and premature fruit shedding.
Atlanticus glaber
Atlanticus glaber is a North American katydid (family Tettigoniidae) in the tribe Drymadusini. The species is known from Florida and has been documented as prey of the Great Golden Digger wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus). Like other members of the genus Atlanticus, it belongs to a group of shield-backed katydids with terrestrial habits.
Bakerella angulata
Bakerella angulata is a species of planthopper in the family Delphacidae, described by Beamer in 1950. It belongs to the genus Bakerella within the tribe Delphacini. The species has been recorded from Florida in North America. Like other delphacid planthoppers, it is likely associated with grass or sedge hosts, though specific host plant relationships remain undocumented in the available literature.
Bakerella minuta
Bakerella minuta is a small delphacid planthopper species described by Beamer in 1950. It belongs to the family Delphacidae, a group of true bugs in the order Hemiptera commonly known as planthoppers. The species is recorded from the southeastern and midwestern United States, specifically Florida, Georgia, and Illinois. As with other members of Delphacidae, it is likely associated with grassland or wetland habitats where host grasses occur.
Balclutha caldwelli
Balclutha caldwelli is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, described by Blocker in 1967. It is one of several Balclutha species documented in Florida, United States, where it has been subject to molecular analysis through COI barcode sequencing. The genus Balclutha comprises small, often colorful leafhoppers commonly known as microleafhoppers.
Balclutha flavescens
Balclutha flavescens is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, originally described as Eugnathodus flavescens by Baker in 1903. It has been documented in Florida, United States, where specimens were collected for COI barcode analysis as part of broader studies on the Balclutha fauna. The species was included in phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA to clarify relationships among Western Hemisphere Balclutha species. Type specimens have been illustrated to resolve taxonomic confusion with similar species.
Balclutha jafara
Balclutha jafara is a leafhopper species native to Africa that was introduced to the Western Hemisphere by 2019. First detected in southern Florida in 2020 and in Colombian shipments entering the United States in 2019, it was previously known only from the Seychelles and Aldabra Islands. The species has since been documented across a broader African range including Kenya, South Africa, South Sudan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Molecular analysis using COI barcodes confirmed its identity and revealed connections between populations on multiple continents.
Bembecinus floridanus
sand wasp
Bembecinus floridanus is a small sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Krombein & Willink in 1951. As a member of the genus Bembecinus, it exhibits the characteristic traits of this group: strongly convergent eyes at the bottom of the face and strongly divergent at the top of the head, along with a petiolate or nearly petiolate second submarginal cell in the forewing. The species is found in North America and, like other Bembecinus, is a solitary ground-nesting wasp that provisions its larvae with prey.
Bicilia iarchasalis
Bicilia iarchasalis is a crambid moth described by Francis Walker in 1859. Adults are active during two periods: March through May and August through September. The species has a broad Caribbean-Gulf distribution, with larvae feeding specifically on Rivina humilis.
Blepharomastix achroalis
Blepharomastix achroalis is a small crambid moth distributed across the Caribbean and southeastern United States. Originally described as Pyrausta achroalis by Hampson in 1913, it has been reclassified to the genus Blepharomastix. The species exhibits a multivoltine flight pattern in Florida, with adult activity spanning most of the year except April and September.
Brachymyrmex obscurior
Seaside Rover Ant
Brachymyrmex obscurior is a small ant species in the family Formicidae, commonly known as the Seaside Rover Ant. It is recognized as a globally distributed invasive tramp ant species, particularly prevalent in tropical and subtropical urban environments. The species has been documented in the conterminous United States, Hawaii, and Brazil, among other regions. It is frequently associated with human-modified habitats and is considered part of the community of invasive ant species that dominate urban landscapes in areas such as Florida.
Bruchomorpha tenebrosa
Bruchomorpha tenebrosa is a species of planthopper in the family Caliscelidae, first described by Doering in 1940. It belongs to the tribe Peltonotellini within the subfamily Caliscelinae. The genus Bruchomorpha is part of the diverse Fulgoroidea superfamily, commonly known as planthoppers. This species has been recorded from Florida, though detailed biological information remains limited in the available literature.
Cactoblastis
Cactoblastis is a genus of snout moths (Pyralidae) described by Émile Louis Ragonot in 1901. The genus contains five described species native to South America, with C. cactorum being the most extensively studied due to its historical role as a biological control agent. Larvae are specialized internal feeders on cactus cladodes, and the genus is notable for complex collective behaviors in neonate caterpillars. C. cactorum was famously introduced to Australia in 1925 to control invasive prickly pear cacti, achieving significant success, though later spreading to threaten native Opuntia species in other regions.
LepidopteraPyralidaebiological-controlOpuntiacactus-mothherbivorysocial-behaviorinvasive-speciesclassical-biological-controlSouth-AmericaAustraliaFloridaneonate-aggregationegg-stickinternal-feedermeristem-feedermandibular-gland-markingtrail-followingcontagious-distributionpopulation-regulationhost-specificityecosystem-impacthistorical-ecologypestconservation-concernCalliprora
Calliprora is a genus of gelechiid moths in the subfamily Thiotrichinae, established by Meyrick in 1914. The genus contains approximately 12 described species, primarily Neotropical in distribution. One species, C. leucaenae, has been documented as a significant pest of Leucaena leucocephala in Florida, where larvae function as blotch-miners and leaf-tiers. The genus was transferred to Thiotrichinae based on distinctive genital morphology including anellus lobes and sternum VIII characteristics.
Caloptilia burserella
Caloptilia burserella is a leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species is known from Florida, USA and Cuba. Its larvae feed on leaves of Bursera gummifera, Bursera simaruba, and Persea americana, creating characteristic blotch mines.
Calosima albapenella
Calosima albapenella is a small moth in the family Blastobasidae, recorded from Texas and Florida in the United States. The species has a wingspan of approximately 19 mm or less. Its larvae are associated with dry, beetle-infested citrus fruit, specifically oranges damaged by Arseocerus fasciculatus.
Calosoma splendidum
Splendid Caterpillar Hunter
Calosoma splendidum is a large ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Dejean in 1831. It is distributed across the Caribbean, southeastern United States, and Mexico. The species is notable for its metallic green to golden-green or light brown coloration and its absence of the red elytral border found in related species.
Camponotus floridanus
Florida Carpenter Ant
Camponotus floridanus, the Florida carpenter ant, is a large, conspicuous ant species native to the southeastern United States. It is notable for its striking bicolored appearance—reddish-orange head and mesosoma contrasting with a black gaster—and its highly aggressive defensive behavior. The species exhibits pronounced worker polymorphism with distinct minor and major castes, and maintains an obligate mutualism with the endosymbiotic bacterium Blochmannia floridanus. Colonies are fast-growing and can reach thousands of individuals, with unique behaviors including surgical amputation of injured nestmate limbs to prevent infection.
Carmenta odda
Carmenta odda is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described in 1977 from specimens collected in the southeastern United States. As a member of the genus Carmenta, it belongs to a group of seed-feeding moths whose larvae typically bore into plant tissues. The species is known from a restricted coastal range in the southeastern U.S.
Catocala robinsonii
Robinson's Underwing
Robinson's Underwing (Catocala robinsonii) is a medium-sized underwing moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1872. The species is characterized by cryptic forewings that conceal brightly patterned hindwings, a defensive trait common to the genus Catocala. It occurs primarily in eastern and central North America, with larvae specializing on hardwood trees including hickory, walnut, and oak.
Centris nitida
Shining Oil-digger Bee
Centris nitida is a centridine bee in the family Apidae, commonly known as the Shining Oil-digger Bee. The species is native to Central America and has been introduced to Florida in the United States. It belongs to a genus specialized in collecting floral oils rather than nectar, using these oils to provision nests and feed larvae. Two subspecies are recognized: Centris nitida nitida and Centris nitida geminata.
Ceratina floridana
Florida Small Carpenter Bee
Ceratina floridana is a small carpenter bee endemic to Florida, described by Mitchell in 1962. As a member of the genus Ceratina, it belongs to a group of diminutive bees that nest in dead twigs and stems rather than excavating wood like their larger carpenter bee relatives (Xylocopa). The species has been documented through 226 iNaturalist observations, indicating moderate levels of contemporary detection. Like other Ceratina species, it likely exhibits solitary or weakly social nesting behavior, though specific behavioral details for this species remain poorly documented in published literature.
Ceratocapsus bifurcus
Ceratocapsus bifurcus is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Knight in 1927. It belongs to a genus of small, often dark-colored mirids found primarily in North America. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with vegetation and may be attracted to lights at night. The specific epithet "bifurcus" suggests a forked or divided structure, possibly referring to male genitalia or another diagnostic morphological feature.