Florida-endemic-fauna
Guides
Blastobasis floridella
Blastobasis floridella is a small moth in the family Blastobasidae, first described by Dietz in 1910 under the name Valentinia floridella. The species is known from the United States, with confirmed records from Florida and Oklahoma. Larvae have been documented feeding on the cones of Zamia pumila, a cycad native to the southeastern United States.
Composia fidelissima
Faithful Beauty, Uncle Sam moth
Composia fidelissima, commonly known as the Faithful Beauty or Uncle Sam moth, is a strikingly colored moth in the family Erebidae. It is notable for its bold red, white, and blue coloration and its diurnal activity pattern, unusual for most moths. The species occurs in southern Florida and the West Indies. It was first described by Herrich-Schäffer in 1866.
Lycochoriolaus lateralis
Lycochoriolaus lateralis is a species of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, subfamily Lepturinae. First described by Guillaume-Antoine Olivier in 1795, this species is notable for its mimicry of lycid beetles (family Lycidae), which are chemically defended and distasteful to predators. The species has been documented in Florida and Mexico, where it occurs in dry oak/pine sandhill woodland habitats. Unlike most cerambycids, adults exhibit reduced skittishness, likely due to the protective advantage conferred by their mimicry.
Mimorista tristigmalis
Mimorista tristigmalis is a crambid moth described by Hampson in 1898. It is found in Cuba and Florida, USA. Adults have a wingspan of 25–28 mm and display distinctive black markings on ochreous-white forewings. The species shows multi-peak adult activity in Florida, occurring in winter, spring, and late autumn.
Odontomachus ruginodis
rough-node snapping ant, rough-node trap-jaw ant
Odontomachus ruginodis is a species of trap-jaw ant native to the southeastern United States, known for its powerful spring-loaded mandibles capable of snapping shut at high speeds. The species has been observed expanding its range northward from its previously known distribution centered on the Orlando, Florida area. Research has revealed that queens of this species use unique cuticular chemical compounds—specifically dialkyltetrahydrofurans—to distinguish themselves from workers, a signaling system distinct from both other Odontomachus species and the broader class of compounds once thought universal among eusocial insects. Like other trap-jaw ants, it is an active predator with a venomous sting.