Florida
Guides
Idioderma virescens
Idioderma virescens is a treehopper species in the family Membracidae, first described by Van Duzee in 1909. The species has been recorded from Florida and Panama. A dedicated study on its systematics and biology was published in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America, though detailed biological information requires access to the full article.
Incisitermes schwarzi
Schwarz's Drywood Termite
Incisitermes schwarzi is a drywood termite species in the family Kalotermitidae, commonly known as Schwarz's Drywood Termite. It inhabits dry, dead wood in intact branches and exhibits a one-piece nesting ecology where colonies remain within their food source. Colonies are relatively small, typically containing 50–250 individuals with mixed developmental stages. The species shows strong social disease resistance mechanisms, with grouped individuals significantly more resistant to fungal infection than isolated ones.
Junonia zonalis
Northern Tropical Buckeye
Junonia zonalis, the northern tropical buckeye, is a butterfly species in the family Nymphalidae. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of Junonia evarete but was elevated to full species status based on phylogenetic and DNA research. The species occurs in Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and tropical South America.
Kelisoidea versa
Kelisoidea versa is a species of planthopper in the family Delphacidae, described by Beamer in 1950. It belongs to the genus Kelisoidea within the tribe Delphacini. The species is part of the diverse Auchenorrhyncha suborder of Hemiptera, which includes many economically significant agricultural pests. As a delphacid planthopper, it likely shares the family's characteristic association with grasses and sedges, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
Languria discoidea
lizard beetle
Languria discoidea is a species of lizard beetle in the family Erotylidae. It is known from Florida and the southeastern United States. The species was described by LeConte in 1854. Like other members of the genus Languria, it is characterized by an elongated body form and association with grasses.
Lea
Lea is a monotypic genus of katydids in the family Tettigoniidae, established by Caudell in 1906. The genus contains a single species, Lea floridensis, commonly known as the Florida true katydid. These insects belong to the subfamily Pseudophyllinae and tribe Pterophyllini. The genus is native to the southeastern United States, with confirmed records from Florida and Georgia.
Leichenum canaliculatum
Madagascar beetle
Leichenum canaliculatum is a darkling beetle (family Tenebrionidae) commonly known as the Madagascar beetle. It has a cosmopolitan distribution and has been documented in sandy habitats in Florida. The species was originally described as Opatrum canaliculatum by Fabricius in 1798. It is one of the more frequently observed tenebrionids, with over 200 iNaturalist records.
Leichenum canaliculatum variegatum
Madagascar Beetle
Leichenum canaliculatum variegatum is a cosmopolitan darkling beetle (family Tenebrionidae) originally from Madagascar. It has become established in sandy areas of Florida and other regions. This subspecies is part of a group of beetles commonly referred to as the Madagascar Beetle.
Leiopsammodius malkini
Leiopsammodius malkini is a species of aphodiine dung beetle described by Cartwright in 1946. It is one of approximately 50 species in the genus Leiopsammodius, a group of small scarab beetles commonly known as psammodiines or sand-loving dung beetles. The species is documented from the Nearctic region, with confirmed records from Florida, USA. Like other members of the tribe Psammodiini, it is associated with sandy habitats.
Leptinotarsa defecta
Twoline Satansbos Leaf Beetle
Leptinotarsa defecta is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, closely related to the notorious Colorado potato beetle (L. decemlineata). Unlike its congener, L. defecta is not a major agricultural pest and has been observed feeding on Solanum species in Florida. The species has a broad geographic distribution spanning North America, Middle America, and Africa, though detailed natural history information remains sparse.
Leptofreya ambigua
Leptofreya ambigua is a species of jumping spider (family Salticidae) first described by Carl Ludwig Koch in 1846. Native to the Amazon basin of South America, it has been introduced to the United States, with established populations in Florida and Texas. The species is characterized by the typical salticid body plan with enlarged anterior median eyes and jumping locomotion.
Leptotes cassius
Cassius blue, tropical striped blue
Leptotes cassius is a small, strikingly blue butterfly in the family Lycaenidae, distributed across the southern United States, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South America. The species exhibits facultative myrmecophily, with larvae tended by Camponotus ants, though ant presence does not significantly influence oviposition decisions. Caterpillars are florivorous, developing inside flower buds of leguminous host plants. Multiple subspecies are recognized, with L. c. theonus serving as the type species of the genus Leptotes.
Leuronota fagarae
Wild Lime Psyllid
Leuronota fagarae (Wild Lime Psyllid) is a psyllid species in the family Triozidae, native to Paraguay and invasive in Florida, USA since 2001. It feeds on Zanthoxylum fagara (wild lime), a citrus relative in the Rutaceae family, causing characteristic rolled leaf edges that shelter developing nymphs. The species is taxonomically related to Diaphorina citri, the vector of Huanglongbing (citrus greening), and their ranges overlap in Florida's transition zones between wild and cultivated citrus habitats. A novel Wolbachia endosymbiont strain (wLfag-FL, supergroup B) has been characterized from this species, revealing potential nutritional provisioning roles and informing research on symbiont-based pest control strategies.
Libellula jesseana
Purple Skimmer
Libellula jesseana, the purple skimmer, is a threatened dragonfly endemic to Florida, United States. Adults measure approximately 5 centimeters in length. The species is restricted to infertile, clear, sandy-bottomed lakes with specific shoreline vegetation, and is critically imperiled due to habitat degradation from human development.
Limenitis archippus floridensis
Florida Viceroy
Limenitis archippus floridensis, commonly known as the Florida Viceroy, is a subspecies of the Viceroy butterfly found in the southeastern United States. This butterfly is renowned for its mimicry of the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), though recent research indicates it is also unpalatable to predators, making this Müllerian rather than Batesian mimicry. The Florida subspecies is notably larger and darker than typical Viceroys, adaptations that allow it to mimic the Queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus) which replaces the Monarch as the model species in Florida. Males are highly territorial, patrolling areas and perching frequently—a behavior not observed in Monarchs.
Liriomyza commelinae
Liriomyza commelinae is a leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, first described by Frost in 1931. The species is associated with Commelina plants (dayflowers) and has been studied primarily for its role in supporting parasitoid populations that also attack the economically important pest Liriomyza huidobrensis. Research indicates it experiences high mortality rates (over 96%) from parasitoids, predatory ants, and competition-related factors. Its distribution includes Florida, the broader Neotropical region, and parts of Brazil.
Lissohypnus texanus
Lissohypnus texanus is a rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Casey in 1906. It belongs to the tribe Xantholinini within the subfamily Staphylininae. The species is known from scattered records in the southern United States and Mexico. Like other staphylinids, it likely inhabits moist terrestrial environments where it functions as a predator or scavenger, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Loxomorpha cambogialis
Loxomorpha cambogialis is a small moth in the family Crambidae, first described by Achille Guenée in 1854. The species has a wingspan of approximately 18 mm and occurs across a broad geographic range in the Neotropics and subtropical North America, including Brazil, Venezuela, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Florida. Adults are active from June to September. The larval biology and host associations remain undocumented.
Lymire edwardsii
Edwards' Wasp Moth, rubber tree caterpillar
Lymire edwardsii is a moth in the family Erebidae (subfamily Arctiinae) described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1881. The species is known for its caterpillars, which feed on Ficus species and frequently cause extensive injury to these trees, earning the common name 'rubber tree caterpillar.' Adults have a wingspan of 35–40 mm with bluish-gray wings and are active year-round in southern Florida.
Macalla thyrsisalis
mahogany webworm moth, mahogany webworm
Macalla thyrsisalis, known as the mahogany webworm moth, is a snout moth in the family Pyralidae described by Francis Walker in 1859. The larval stage is a strikingly colored caterpillar that feeds on West Indies mahogany, causing damage to the host plant. The species is distributed across southern Florida, the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America.
Macrancylus linearis
Macrancylus linearis is a terrestrial weevil in the family Curculionidae. The species is believed to have originated in the Pacific region and has been introduced to mainland United States. It has been documented in shoreline habitats, specifically in association with driftwood.
Madoryx pseudothyreus
False-windowed Sphinx
Madoryx pseudothyreus, the false-windowed sphinx, is a hawkmoth in the family Sphingidae. The species was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1865. It occurs in southern Florida, Cuba, and surrounding Caribbean islands. The common name refers to its resemblance to the windowed sphinx (Madoryx oiclus), from which it can be distinguished by subtle wing pattern differences.
Mansonia titillans
Mansonia titillans is a neotropical mosquito species in the tribe Mansoniini. It is the most abundant Mansoniini species in central Florida phosphate regions and has shown recent northern range expansion into South Carolina. The species is distinguished by its unique underwater oviposition behavior, where females deposit eggs on the undersurfaces of aquatic plant leaves. Larval development occurs in association with floating vegetation, particularly water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes).
Mantoida maya
Little Yucatán Mantis
Mantoida maya, commonly known as the little Yucatán mantis, is a species of praying mantis in the family Mantoididae. The species was described by Saussure and Zehntner in 1894. It represents one of the smaller mantid species and has been documented in both Middle America and North America.
Marimatha tripuncta
Three-spotted Lemon Moth
Marimatha tripuncta is a small noctuid moth described by Heinrich Benno Möschler in 1890. It occurs in the Caribbean and southern Florida, with adults active from late April through mid-October. The species belongs to the subfamily Acontiinae, a group of generally small, often yellowish moths. The common name "Three-spotted Lemon Moth" refers to the characteristic three dark spots on the pale yellow forewings.
Megamelus toddi
Megamelus toddi is a species of delphacid planthopper in the family Delphacidae, described by Beamer in 1955. The genus Megamelus comprises small planthoppers primarily associated with wetland and aquatic habitats, with many species feeding on monocotyledonous plants. Megamelus toddi is known from the southeastern United States, specifically recorded from Florida and Louisiana. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with emergent aquatic vegetation, though specific host plant records for this species are not well documented in the available literature.
Melanoplus davisi
Melanoplus davisi is a species of spur-throated grasshopper in the family Acrididae, described by Hebard in 1918 from the southeastern United States. It belongs to the large genus Melanoplus, which contains numerous economically and ecologically significant grasshopper species. The species appears to be relatively poorly documented in the primary grasshopper literature of the western United States, suggesting it may be of limited distribution or abundance compared to more widespread Melanoplus species.
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gurneyi
Gurney's short-wing grasshopper, Gurney's spurthroat grasshopper
Melanoplus gurneyi is a species of spur-throated grasshopper in the family Acrididae, first described by Strohecker in 1960. It is a member of the large and diverse genus Melanoplus, which contains many North American grasshopper species. The species is characterized by reduced wing development, reflected in its common name. It has been documented in Florida and is considered part of the North American grasshopper fauna.
Melanoplus indicifer
spinecercus short-wing grasshopper, east coast scrub grasshopper
Melanoplus indicifer is a species of spur-throated grasshopper endemic to a restricted range in Florida. It inhabits scrub habitats on the Atlantic Coastal Ridge in Palm Beach County. The species is characterized by short wings, a trait reflected in one of its common names. Its limited distribution makes it vulnerable to habitat loss from development and fire suppression.
Melanoplus nanciae
Ocala clawcercus grasshopper
Melanoplus nanciae, known as the Ocala clawcercus grasshopper, is a species of spur-throated grasshopper described by Deyrup in 1997. It belongs to the diverse genus Melanoplus within the family Acrididae. The species is known from a restricted geographic range in Florida. Published records indicate it is rarely encountered, with limited observational data available.
Melanoplus peninsularis
Melanoplus peninsularis is a species of grasshopper in the family Acrididae, described by Hubbell in 1932. The specific epithet "peninsularis" refers to its restricted distribution on the Florida peninsula. It is a member of the large genus Melanoplus, which contains many North American grasshopper species. The species appears to be uncommon, with limited observation records.
Melanoplus puer
least short-wing grasshopper, Florida spur-throat grasshopper, least short-winged locust
Melanoplus puer is a species of spur-throated grasshopper in the family Acrididae, commonly known as the least short-wing grasshopper or Florida spur-throat grasshopper. It is a North American species with a documented presence in Florida. The species belongs to the large and diverse genus Melanoplus, which contains many economically significant grasshopper species. Information specific to this species is limited compared to better-studied congeners such as M. lakinus.
Melanoplus rotundipennis
Round-winged Grasshopper, round-winged spur-throat grasshopper, round-winged locust
Melanoplus rotundipennis is a species of spur-throated grasshopper in the family Acrididae, known by the common name round-winged grasshopper. It is characterized by its rounded wing shape, a distinctive trait among Melanoplus species. The species occurs in North America, with documented records from Florida and broader North American distribution. As a member of the subfamily Melanoplinae, it possesses the diagnostic spur on the ventral surface of the pronotum typical of this group.
Melanoplus withlacoocheensis
Withlacoochee Grasshopper
Melanoplus withlacoocheensis is a species of spur-throated grasshopper in the family Acrididae, described in 1998 from Florida. It belongs to a large genus of North American grasshoppers that includes many economically significant agricultural pests. The species is named for the Withlacoochee River region of central Florida, where the type specimens were collected. It appears to be a localized endemic with limited distribution records.
Melanotus communis
corn wireworm
Melanotus communis is a click beetle (Elateridae) whose larvae, known as corn wireworms, are significant agricultural pests in the eastern United States. Adults are reddish-brown and approximately 13 mm long. The species has been studied extensively for its pest status in sugarcane, potato, and other crops, with research focusing on entomopathogen susceptibility, pheromone-based monitoring, and soil habitat preferences.
Melormenis basalis
West Indian Flatid Planthopper
Melormenis basalis is a species of flatid planthopper in the family Flatidae, commonly known as the West Indian Flatid Planthopper. It belongs to the order Hemiptera, the true bugs, and is characterized by the flattened, often leaf-like body form typical of the family Flatidae. The species has been recorded from several Caribbean islands and has established populations in Florida and Hawaii, indicating potential for human-mediated dispersal. Like other planthoppers, it feeds on plant sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Melyrodes floridana
Florida Soft-winged Flower Beetle
Melyrodes floridana is a species of soft-winged flower beetle in the family Melyridae, endemic to Florida. The genus Melyrodes is small and poorly documented, with limited information available on its biology and ecology. This species appears to be rarely encountered, with minimal observational records.
Meristopsis melanosteptos
Meristopsis melanosteptos is a species of planthopper in the family Delphacidae, described from specimens collected in Florida and Oaxaca, Mexico. The species belongs to a genus of small delphacid planthoppers characterized by reduced wing venation and distinctive male genitalia. It was formally described in 2012 as part of a taxonomic revision of New World delphacine genera. Like other members of Delphacidae, it is presumed to feed on monocotyledonous plants, though specific host associations remain undocumented.
Mesovelia polhemusi
Mesovelia polhemusi is a marine water treader (family Mesoveliidae) described from Belize in 1990. It occupies a highly specialized habitat in tidal mangrove forests, an environment where few other aquatic insects occur. The species has been documented in southern Florida, expanding its known range beyond the type locality. It was named in honor of heteropteran specialist John T. Polhemus.
Metachroma floridanum
Metachroma floridanum is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is native to the southeastern United States, with records spanning from Florida to North Carolina. The species was described by Crotch in 1873. As a member of the genus Metachroma, it belongs to a group of small leaf beetles whose biology remains poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Metamasius callizona
Mexican bromeliad weevil
Metamasius callizona is an invasive weevil native to southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Panama that was first documented in Florida in 1989. Adult females chew slits in bromeliad leaves near feeding sites and deposit single eggs within these wounds. Larvae mine meristematic tissue and flower stalks, typically killing host plants, while adult leaf feeding is generally non-fatal. Florida populations have grown dramatically larger than native-range densities and now threaten multiple native and endangered bromeliad species.
invasive-speciespestbiological-controlbromeliad-specialistFloridaMexicoGuatemalaPanamaTillandsiaAnanasLixadmontia-frankiholometabolousmultivoltineepiphyteconservation-concernendangered-species-threatgardening-industry-vectorparasitoid-introductionBeauveria-bassiana-(native-range-pathogen-not-present-in-Florida)Metamasius mosieri
Florida bromeliad weevil
Metamasius mosieri is a small weevil in the family Dryophthoridae, commonly known as the Florida bromeliad weevil. It feeds on bromeliads but occurs at very low population densities in natural habitats and is considered only an occasional, minor pest on ornamental species. It is native to Florida and Cuba and is frequently confused with the more destructive Mexican bromeliad weevil (Metamasius callizona).
Monoceromyia floridensis
Rufous Wasp Fly
Monoceromyia floridensis is a species of hoverfly in the family Syrphidae, described by Shannon in 1922. As a member of the tribe Cerioidini, it belongs to a group of wasp-mimicking syrphid flies. The species is known from Florida and surrounding regions of the southeastern United States. Like other members of its genus, it likely exhibits Batesian mimicry of stinging Hymenoptera, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Moodnodes plorella
Moodnodes plorella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, and the sole member of its genus. It was first described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1914 from specimens collected in Panama, and later recorded from Florida. The genus Moodnodes was established by Herbert H. Neunzig in 1990 to accommodate this species.
Myllocerus
oriental broad-nosed weevils, ash weevils, grey weevils, Sri Lankan weevils
Myllocerus is a large genus of oriental broad-nosed weevils in the family Curculionidae, comprising at least 330 described species. Species within this genus are predominantly distributed across the Indian subcontinent and surrounding regions, with several species recognized as significant agricultural pests. Notable pest species include Myllocerus undecimpustulatus undatus (Sri Lankan weevil), M. maculosus (cotton grey weevil), and M. viridanus (ash weevil), which attack diverse crop plants including cereals, legumes, vegetables, and fruit trees. The genus exhibits typical weevil morphology with broad rostrums and root-feeding larval stages combined with foliage-feeding adults.
Myllocerus undecimpustulatus
Sri Lanka weevil, yellow-headed ravenous weevil
Myllocerus undecimpustulatus is an oriental broad-nosed weevil (Curculionidae: Entiminae) native to Sri Lanka and the Indian subcontinent. It is a polyphagous pest with a wide host range that has established invasive populations in Florida, USA, since at least 2000. The species exhibits distinctive sexual behavior including female abdominal rocking as a mate-strength test and prolonged copulatory guarding by males. It shows seasonal variation in cold tolerance and feeding activity, with winter-collected adults consuming more leaf material after cold exposure than summer-collected individuals.
Myllocerus undecimpustulatus undatus
Sri Lankan weevil
Myllocerus undecimpustulatus undatus, the Sri Lankan weevil, is a polyphagous curculionid pest native to Sri Lanka that has spread to India, Pakistan, and the United States. It was first identified in Florida in 2000 on Citrus species and has since established populations in the state. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism with females typically larger than males. Research has documented its cold tolerance limitations, mating behavior involving female abdominal rocking and prolonged copulatory guarding, and susceptibility to certain biopesticides.
Myrmex floridanus
antlike weevil, Florida antlike weevil
Myrmex floridanus is a species of antlike weevil in the family Curculionidae, characterized by morphological adaptations that mimic ants. The species was described by Casey in 1892 and is currently treated as a synonym of Otidocephalus floridanus in some taxonomic databases. It occurs in North America, with records primarily from the southeastern United States. The genus Myrmex belongs to the tribe Myrmecini, a group of weevils known for their ant-mimicking appearance.
Nealyda kinzelella
Nealyda kinzelella is a minute gelechiid moth described by August Busck in 1900, named in honor of botanist F. Kinzel. The species is known only from Florida and is distinguished by its striking forewing pattern of light brown basal, dark velvety median, and silvery-white apical regions. The larvae are leaf miners on Guapira obtusata, forming distinctive trumpet-shaped blotch mines on the upper leaf surface.
Negosiana globosa
Negosiana globosa is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Iassinae, described by DeLong in 1942. The species epithet 'globosa' suggests a rounded or globular body form. It is a member of the Gyponini tribe, a group of leafhoppers whose taxonomy and natural history remain relatively understudied. The genus Negosiana is part of a diverse assemblage of New World leafhoppers with limited published biological information.