Florida-keys
Guides
Cephalotes varians
Northern Caribbean Turtle Ant, turtle ant
Cephalotes varians is a strongly polyphenic turtle ant with three distinct female castes: small-bodied minor workers, larger phragmotic soldiers with shield-shaped heads used as living doors to block nest entrances, and reproductive gynes. The species exhibits gliding behavior, steering falls from trees using aerodynamic control. Native to the Neotropical region, it has been documented in the Florida Keys and listed as adventive in North America. Brain structure differs markedly among castes, with minor workers possessing disproportionately larger mushroom bodies associated with learning and memory, while soldiers and gynes have enlarged optic lobes.
Cotinis aliena
Keys green June beetle
Cotinis aliena, commonly known as the Keys green June beetle, is a critically imperiled scarab beetle endemic to extreme southern Florida. The species has not been observed since 1998 and is known from only four localities: three in the Florida Keys and one in southern peninsular Florida. Its extreme rarity and apparent extirpation risk make it one of North America's most endangered beetle species.
Cyclargus
A genus of lycaenid butterflies established by Vladimir Nabokov in 1945, split from the genus Hemiargus. The genus contains several species distributed across the Caribbean and southern Florida, including the critically endangered Miami blue butterfly (C. thomasi bethunebakeri). Taxonomic validity remains debated among lepidopterists.
Empicoris subparallelus
thread-legged assassin bug
Empicoris subparallelus is a species of thread-legged assassin bug in the family Reduviidae. It was first described in 1925 by McAtee and Malloch. The species is known from Cuba and the southern United States (Florida and Texas). In Florida, it was first documented in 2007 from light traps used for mosquito surveillance in the Florida Keys. It has been proposed as a potential biocontrol agent for mosquitoes, though direct predation on mosquitoes has not been confirmed.
Tripudia calusa
Tripudia calusa is a species of owlet moth in the family Noctuidae, described by Troubridge in 2020. The species was documented from bycatch collected during mosquito surveillance in the Florida Keys. It belongs to a genus of small noctuid moths found in the Nearctic region. Like other members of Eustrotiinae, it is likely a nocturnal moth with cryptic coloration.