Forest-insect
Guides
Dipogon
spider wasps
Dipogon is a genus of small spider wasps (Pompilidae) characterized by ant-mimicking dark-banded wings and a distinctive 'beard' of hairs on the maxillary palps used to transport nesting materials. These solitary wasps are primarily forest-dwelling, hunting spiders on tree trunks and constructing multi-celled nests in pre-existing tubular cavities such as beetle tunnels or hollow plant stems. The genus exhibits notable behavioral plasticity in nest construction, using mud, leaf fragments, insect parts, and even stolen bee provisions to form cell partitions.
Dipogon calipterus nubifer
Dipogon calipterus nubifer is a subspecies of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, recognized as a valid taxon by Catalogue of Life and GBIF. As part of the Dipogon calipterus species complex, it shares the general biology of this ant-mimicking wasp group: females hunt spiders to provision nest cells in pre-existing cavities, while males perch to defend territories. The subspecies is distinguished from other D. calipterus subspecies by slight differences in color and pattern.
Disholcaspis quercusglobulus
Round Bullet Gall Wasp
Disholcaspis quercusglobulus, commonly known as the round bullet gall wasp, is a species of cynipid gall wasp that forms distinctive round, detachable galls on oak twigs. Unlike many gall wasps that affect leaves, this species targets twigs of white oak and related species. The species exhibits an unusual reproductive strategy: all galls produce only female wasps, which emerge in fall and immediately lay eggs in twigs to produce the next generation without males. This parthenogenetic life cycle has been documented across multiple Disholcaspis species.
Dryocoetini
Dryocoetini is a tribe of small bark beetles within the weevil family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae. Members are characterized by their compact body form and association with woody hosts. The tribe includes economically significant species that colonize both coniferous and broadleaf trees.
Dryocosmus quercuspalustris
Succulent Oak Gall Wasp
Dryocosmus quercuspalustris, commonly known as the Succulent Oak Gall Wasp, is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. The species was described by Osten Sacken in 1861. It induces galls on oak trees, with the specific epithet referencing Quercus palustris (pin oak) as a host. The species has been recorded from eastern North America including Canada and the northeastern United States.
Dyslobus verrucifer
Dyslobus verrucifer is a species of broad-nosed weevil in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Entiminae. It was described by Casey in 1895. The species is known from the Pacific Northwest region of North America, with records from British Columbia south through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Like other members of the tribe Byrsopagini, it is a flightless weevil with a compact, heavily sclerotized body form.
Ecyrus dasycerus
Rough-coated Longhorned Beetle
Ecyrus dasycerus is a species of longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1827. It is known from North America, with records from the United States and Mexico. The species exhibits two recognized subspecies: the nominate E. d. dasycerus and E. d. floridanus described by Linsley in 1935. Like other members of the subfamily Lamiinae, it is a wood-associated beetle whose larvae develop in dead or dying woody plants.
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hyalinus
Elipsocus hyalinus is a species of barklouse in the family Elipsocidae, characterized by yellowish-black coloration. It is widely distributed across Europe, with additional records from North America, North Africa, and parts of Asia. The species feeds on diverse plant material including fruits, berries, and foliage of numerous tree and shrub species.
Enchenopa on-tilia-americana
Enchenopa on-tilia-americana is a species of treehopper in the family Membracidae. Like other members of the genus Enchenopa, this species is characterized by a pronotum that extends posteriorly into a distinctive crest or "thorn-like" shape, providing effective camouflage on plant stems. The specific epithet suggests an association with American linden or basswood (Tilia americana), though detailed host records for this particular species remain limited. Treehoppers in this genus are known for their remarkable morphological diversity and specialized plant associations.
Enoclerus bimaculatus
two-spotted checkered beetle
Enoclerus bimaculatus is a species of checkered beetle in the family Cleridae, found in North America. The species is characterized by two distinct spots on the elytra. As a member of the genus Enoclerus—the largest genus in the Cleridae family in North America north of Mexico—this beetle is a predator of other woodboring beetles, particularly bark beetles in the weevil subfamily Scolytinae. The species was first described by Skinner in 1905.
Ernoporini
Ernoporini is a tribe of weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Members of this tribe are small, wood-boring beetles associated with dead or dying wood. The tribe contains several genera, though it remains relatively poorly studied compared to other curculionid groups.
Erythroneura aclys
Three-banded Leafhopper
Erythroneura aclys is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by McAtee in 1920. It belongs to the genus Erythroneura, a diverse group of small, colorful leafhoppers commonly known as microleafhoppers or sharpshooters. Like other members of its genus, E. aclys is associated with woody plants and is active during the growing season in temperate North America. The species is characterized by distinct wing patterning that aids in identification.
Erythroneura acuticephala
Erythroneura acuticephala is a species of microleafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Robinson in 1924. It belongs to the genus Erythroneura, a diverse group of small leafhoppers commonly known as microleafhoppers, many of which are associated with woody plants. The species epithet 'acuticephala' refers to its pointed head shape. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a phloem-feeding insect that inhabits deciduous forest and woodland edge habitats.
Erythroneura infuscata
Leafhopper
Erythroneura infuscata is a small leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Typhlocybinae. Adults measure 2.8-3.0 mm in length and exhibit distinctive dark coloration with contrasting pale and red markings. The species is primarily black with small pale spots on the wings and body, a prominent white patch on the costal margin of each wing followed by a red mark, and whitish legs and face. It inhabits mixed hardwood forests and is attracted to light at night. The species is known from several eastern and central U.S. states.
Fenusa pumila
birch leafminer, Birch Leafminer Sawfly
Fenusa pumila is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae, commonly known as the birch leafminer. Native to Europe, it has been introduced to North America where it has become established. The species is a specialist leaf-mining herbivore on birch trees, with larvae feeding internally within leaf tissue. In North America, populations may complete two to four generations annually, with adult emergence triggered by accumulated growing degree-days.
Geotrupes splendidus
Splendid Earth-boring Beetle
A large, metallic earth-boring beetle in the family Geotrupidae, native to eastern North America. Adults are most commonly encountered in late fall and early winter, walking clumsily on trails through high-quality woodlands in search of mammal dung for feeding and oviposition. The species exhibits notable color polymorphism, with eastern populations typically bright green and western populations (including Missouri) ranging from yellow-green with golden or reddish hints to dark purple. Unlike true dung beetles, adults frequently feed on fungus and leaf litter, though dung remains important for larval development.
Grylloprociphilus
woolly beech aphid, boogie-woogie aphid, beech blight aphid
Grylloprociphilus is a genus of woolly aphids in the family Aphididae, established by Smith & Pepper in 1968. The genus contains at least one described species, G. imbricator, commonly known as the woolly beech aphid or boogie-woogie aphid. These aphids are notable for producing dense white waxy secretions that cloak host tree branches, and for their distinctive defensive behavior of synchronized posterior swaying when disturbed. The genus exhibits heteroecious holocyclic life cycles with host alternation between primary and secondary hosts.
Grylloprociphilus imbricator
Beech Blight Aphid, Woolly Beech Aphid, Boogie-Woogie Aphid
Grylloprociphilus imbricator, commonly known as the beech blight aphid or boogie-woogie aphid, is a small sap-feeding insect in the family Aphididae. It forms dense colonies on American beech trees (Fagus grandifolia), covering branches with thick blankets of fluffy white wax produced from specialized abdominal glands. The species exhibits a complex life cycle involving both beech and cypress hosts, with parthenogenetic reproduction on beech and root-feeding stages on cypress. When disturbed, colonies perform a distinctive synchronized swaying behavior that gives rise to their common name.
Hadrobregmus
Hadrobregmus is a genus of small wood-boring beetles in the family Ptinidae (formerly placed in Anobiidae). Species in this genus are associated with dead and decaying wood. The genus was established by C.G. Thomson in 1859 and includes approximately ten described species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere.
Harmandiola
Harmandiola is a genus of gall midges (family Cecidomyiidae) comprising 14 described species distributed across the Holarctic region. These small flies are notable for inducing galls on woody host plants, specifically species of poplar (Populus), chestnut (Castanea), and hickory (Carya). The genus was established by Skuhravá in 1997. Species-level taxonomy has been revised multiple times, with several species transferred from related genera.
Helcon
Helcon is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, first described by Nees in 1812. Members of this genus belong to the subfamily Helconinae, a group characterized by their association with wood-boring beetle larvae as hosts. The genus is found in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with documented occurrences in Scandinavia. As with other braconid wasps, species in Helcon are likely solitary parasitoids, though specific biological details for most species remain poorly documented.
Hemipenthes seminigra
Hemipenthes seminigra is a North American bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, measuring 8–12 mm in length. The species was described by Loew in 1869, with H. eumenes (Osten Sacken, 1886) synonymized in a 2009 taxonomic revision. Larvae of the genus Hemipenthes are hyper-parasites, parasitizing the larvae of ichneumon wasps, tachinid flies, and other parasitoids that themselves attack caterpillars of butterflies and moths.
Heterachthes quadrimaculatus
Four-spotted Hickory Borer
Heterachthes quadrimaculatus is a species of longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Haldeman in 1847. The common name "Four-spotted Hickory Borer" reflects both its distinctive markings and its known association with hickory trees. Its host plant has been documented as Carya glabra (pignut hickory). The species occurs in eastern North America, with records from Canada (Ontario, Québec) and the United States.
Himacerus apterus
tree damsel bug
Himacerus apterus, commonly known as the tree damsel bug, is a predatory hemipteran in the family Nabidae. It is native to Eurasia and was first recorded in North America from eastern Nova Scotia between 1943 and 1989. The species exhibits wing polymorphism, with most individuals being brachypterous (short-winged). It is a generalist predator of small arthropods and has been considered for biological control applications, though cannibalism complicates mass rearing efforts.
Hylobiini
Hylobiini is a tribe of weevils within the subfamily Molytinae (Curculionidae). The tribe includes approximately 89 species in the genus Heilipus, which are distributed across the Americas. Members of this tribe are primarily associated with the plant family Lauraceae, with some species functioning as seed predators in fruits and others as bark-boring pests. The tribe contains three subtribes: Epistrophina, Hylobiina, and Incertae sedis.
Hylobius warreni
Warren's rootcollar weevil, Warren rootcollar weevil
Hylobius warreni is a flightless weevil native to boreal forests of Canada, where it is a significant pest of coniferous trees. Adults feed on bark of spruce, pine, and other conifers before oviposition, while larvae tunnel in the root collar region, often girdling and killing young trees. The species has emerged as a particular concern in areas affected by mountain pine beetle outbreaks due to increased reforestation efforts. Population levels are influenced by stand density, tree age, and depth of duff material around tree bases.
Hypoprepia miniata
Scarlet-winged Lichen Moth, Scarlet Lichen Moth
A small lichen moth with bright scarlet forewings marked by black bands. Adults are active from spring through late summer depending on region, with western populations peaking in mid-summer and eastern populations appearing earlier and persisting longer. The species was first described in 1837 and remains common across much of North America.
Iassus lanio
oak leafhopper
Iassus lanio is a leafhopper species in the subfamily Iassinae, tribe Iassini, and the type species of its genus. It is distributed across Europe, including the British Isles, through to Russia and Northern Africa. The species feeds on oak trees (Quercus robur and Quercus petraea) in forest habitats and possesses a complex microbiome including obligate bacterial and fungal symbionts that supplement its nutrient-poor phloem-sap diet.
Ibalia
Ibalia is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ibaliidae, comprising approximately 13-14 described species. All species are specialized parasitoids of siricid woodwasps (family Siricidae), attacking the larval stages of their hosts within dead or decaying wood. Females locate host larvae by detecting volatile compounds emitted by symbiotic fungi that siricids cultivate for nutrition. The genus is notable for its laterally compressed abdomen, giving a distinctive flattened appearance, and for its role as a biological control agent against invasive woodwasps such as Sirex noctilio.
parasitoidwoodwasp-parasitoidbiological-controlforest-insectCynipoideaproovigenicolfactory-foragingcuticular-hydrocarbonesalkane-pheromonesSiricidae-parasitoidAmylostereumCerrenavolatileshost-finding-behaviorpatch-foragingcon-specific-interferenceflight-capacitylaterally-compressed-abdomenIbalia-ancepsIbalia-leucospoidesIbalia-drewseniIbalia-japonicaIbalia-rufipesIbalia-ruficollisIbalia anceps
Ibalia anceps is a parasitoid wasp in the family Ibaliidae, widely distributed across North America. Adults are active primarily in late May and early June. The species is a specialized parasite of horntail woodwasps in the family Siricidae, most commonly Tremex columba. Females locate host larvae tunneling in dead or weakened deciduous hardwoods and lay eggs on or near the host. The resulting larva initially feeds internally, then exits to complete development as an external parasite.
Inocelliidae
Square-headed Snakeflies, inocelliid snakeflies
Inocelliidae is a small family of snakeflies (order Raphidioptera) containing eight extant genera plus fossil taxa. Members are commonly known as square-headed snakeflies due to their distinctive head shape. The family is distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, with extant species found in temperate forests of Eurasia and North America. Inocelliidae are holometabolous predators with larvae that inhabit bark and wood of coniferous and deciduous trees, where they prey on other insects. The family includes notable fossil representatives such as Fibla carpenteri from Baltic amber, the largest known snakefly species.
Ischnus inquisitorius atricollaris
Ischnus inquisitorius atricollaris is a subspecies of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. It was first described by Walsh in 1873. The subspecies is distinguished from the nominate form by its dark collar marking. It belongs to a genus of parasitoid wasps whose members attack wood-boring beetle larvae.
Lachesilla pallida
Lachesilla pallida is a species of fateful barklouse in the family Lachesillidae. It is known from North America, with records from the United States and Canada. As a member of the order Psocodea, it is a small, winged or wingless insect associated with bark and lichen habitats. The species was described by Chapman in 1930.
Laricobius rubidus
Laricobius rubidus is a native North American beetle in the family Derodontidae, commonly known as tooth-necked fungus beetles. It is a predator of adelgids (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), specifically feeding on pine bark adelgid and balsam woolly adelgid. The species has gained attention in biological control research due to its potential hybridization with Laricobius nigrinus, a congener being deployed against the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid. Its native range spans eastern North America.
Lonchaeidae
Lance Flies
Lonchaeidae, commonly known as lance flies, is a family of acalyptrate dipteran flies comprising approximately 611 described species across 10 genera. These small, robust flies are characterized by blue-black or metallic bodies and are predominantly associated with wooded habitats worldwide. The family exhibits diverse larval ecology, with most species being phytophagous on damaged plant tissues, though coprophagous, mycophagous, saprophagous, and predatory habits are also documented. Several species are significant agricultural pests, particularly of figs, cassava, and conifer seeds, while others develop in bark beetle tunnels, decaying wood, or fungal fruiting bodies.
Lophocampa maculata
spotted tussock moth, yellow-spotted tussock moth, mottled tiger, spotted halisidota
Lophocampa maculata is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, commonly known as the spotted tussock moth despite not being a true tussock moth (family Lymantriidae). The species was first described by Harris in 1841. Adults fly from May to July with one generation per year. The caterpillar is notable for its distinctive coloration: black at both ends with a yellow or orange middle section marked with black spots in some populations. The species is found across Canada, the western United States, and southward in the Appalachians to South Carolina and Kentucky.
Lucanus capreolus
reddish-brown stag beetle, pinching beetle
Lucanus capreolus is a large stag beetle in the family Lucanidae, native to eastern North America. Males possess elongated, curved mandibles resembling sickles or deer antlers, which they use in combat with other males at breeding sites. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism, with males larger and more dramatically mandibled than females. Larvae develop in decaying wood of deciduous trees, taking approximately two years to mature.
Lymantor decipiens
Deceptive Bark Beetle
Lymantor decipiens is a species of bark beetle in the weevil family Curculionidae, described by Wood & Bright in 1992. It is a small wood-boring beetle native to eastern North America. The species is known from scattered records in Canada, with observations documented in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Québec. As a member of the genus Lymantor, it is associated with coniferous or deciduous tree hosts, though specific host relationships remain poorly documented.
Macrodiplosis qoruca
Oak Vein Pocket Gall Midge
Macrodiplosis qoruca is a gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae, known for inducing pocket-like galls on oak leaf veins. The species is widely distributed in North America and has been documented through over 1,300 observations. Adults are small, delicate flies typical of the family. The specific epithet 'qoruca' derives from the Cherokee word for oak.
Magdalis gentilis
wedge-shaped bark weevil
Magdalis gentilis is a species of wedge-shaped bark weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae. It is found in North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia) and the United States. The species was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1876. As a member of the genus Magdalis, it is associated with woody plants, though specific host associations for this species remain poorly documented.
Megischus texanus
Texas Crown Wasp
Megischus texanus, commonly known as the Texas Crown Wasp, is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Stephanidae. Crown wasps are characterized by their distinctive elongated, crown-like projection on the head and their parasitoid lifestyle targeting wood-boring beetle larvae. This species represents one of relatively few documented members of this ancient wasp family in North America.
Melalgus plicatus
Groove-sided Bostrichid
Melalgus plicatus is a species of horned powder-post beetle in the family Bostrichidae. It occurs across the Americas from North America through Central America to South America. The species is characterized by grooved lateral sides, which gives rise to its common name. As a member of the Bostrichidae, it belongs to a family of wood-boring beetles often associated with dead or dying wood.
Mesopsocus laticeps
middle barklouse
Mesopsocus laticeps is a species of middle barklouse in the family Mesopsocidae. It is widely distributed across Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), North America, and Southern Asia. As a member of the order Psocodea, it belongs to a group of insects commonly known as barklice or booklice, though barklice specifically refers to the free-living species found on vegetation and bark rather than the domestic pests.
Metylophorus novaescotiae
Speckled Barklouse
Metylophorus novaescotiae is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae, commonly known as the Speckled Barklouse. It is one of the most frequently observed barklice in North America, with substantial iNaturalist documentation. The species was originally described by Francis Walker in 1853 under the basionym Psocus novaescotiae. It inhabits wooded environments where it feeds on lichens, algae, and organic debris on tree bark.
Micracis
Micracis is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, established by LeConte in 1868. The genus contains over 60 described species. Members are small weevils that inhabit woody substrates and are associated with phloem-feeding habits common to bark beetle lineages.
Mindarinae
Mindarinae is a small subfamily of aphids within the family Aphididae, established by Tullgren in 1909. The subfamily is characterized by distinctive morphological features that separate it from other aphid subfamilies. It includes the genus Mindarus, which contains species associated with coniferous trees.
Monaphis
Monaphis is a genus of aphids in the family Aphididae, established by Walker in 1870. The genus belongs to the tribe Calaphidini within the subfamily Calaphidinae. Species in this genus are associated with birch trees (Betula spp.) as host plants. The genus is distributed across northern Europe and parts of Asia.
Monarthrum fasciatum
Yellow-vested Timber Beetle
Monarthrum fasciatum is a small bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the Yellow-vested Timber Beetle. It develops in dying and dead oak trees and produces three generations annually in Missouri. The species has been studied for its life history and gallery construction, with females outnumbering males approximately 2:1. No association has been found between this beetle and oak wilt disease.
Monocesta
larger elm leaf beetle
Monocesta is a genus of skeletonizing leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae. The genus contains at least three described species, with Monocesta coryli being the most well-known and commonly encountered in eastern North America. These beetles are characterized by their feeding behavior that removes soft leaf tissue between veins, creating a distinctive skeletonized appearance on host leaves. The genus is primarily associated with elm trees and related woodland vegetation.
Monochamus notatus
northeastern pine sawyer, notable sawyer
Monochamus notatus is a large longhorned beetle (Cerambycidae) native to North America, occurring in Canada and the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. Adults are active from late spring through summer and are attracted to dead and dying conifers, particularly pines. The species is notable for its pronounced sexual dimorphism: males possess antennae up to twice their body length and elongated forelegs with expanded tarsi, while females have shorter antennae and unmodified legs. Like other Monochamus species, it responds to the aggregation pheromone monochamol and male-produced 2-(undecyloxy)-ethanol for mate location.