Forest-specialist
Guides
Abraeus
Abraeus is a genus of small hister beetles in the family Histeridae. Species in this genus are saproxylic, associated with dead and decaying wood. The genus contains at least nine described species distributed across Europe. Abraeus beetles are rarely collected due to their specialized habitat requirements and small size.
Anthocharis sara sempervirens
Sara Orange-Tip
Anthocharis sara sempervirens is a subspecies of the Sara Orange-Tip butterfly, first described in 2008. It belongs to the family Pieridae, which includes the whites and sulphurs. The subspecies epithet "sempervirens" (meaning "evergreen") references the coastal redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests with which this butterfly is associated. Like other orange-tips, males display distinctive orange coloration on the forewing tips.
Celastrina serotina
Cherry Gall Azure
Celastrina serotina is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenidae, commonly known as the cherry gall azure. It occurs across North America from the treeline southward. The species is notable for its unusual larval diet: caterpillars feed on galls produced by eriophyid mites (particularly Eriophyes cerasicrumena) on cherry, and have been reported to consume the mites themselves—one of the few documented cases of carnivory in Lepidoptera. Adults fly in a narrow window between mid-May and mid-June in eastern North America, emerging after the spring azure (C. ladon) and before the summer azure (C. neglecta).
Cicindela sexguttata
Six-spotted Tiger Beetle, Six-spotted Green Tiger Beetle
Cicindela sexguttata is a common North American tiger beetle recognized by its bright metallic-green to blue-green elytra, often bearing six small white spots. Adults are active predators of small arthropods in deciduous forest habitats, where they hunt in sunlit patches on the forest floor. The species exhibits specialized thermal ecology, basking to elevate body temperature and foraging optimally at approximately 32.8°C. Larvae are subterranean ambush predators that construct burrows in sandy soils. The species has been reported to live up to five years total, with approximately one year spent in larval development.
Cordulegaster
Golden-ringed Spiketails, Goldenrings, Spiketails
Cordulegaster is a genus of large dragonflies in the family Cordulegastridae, commonly known as golden-ringed dragonflies or spiketails. The genus contains approximately 30 described species distributed across North America, Europe, and Asia. Members are characterized by their distinctive yellow or golden ring markings on the abdomen and, in females, prominent spikelike ovipositors used for inserting eggs into stream substrates. Several species are habitat specialists associated with forested streams and are of conservation concern, including C. heros, which is protected under the EU Habitats Directive.
Erora laeta
Early Hairstreak
Erora laeta, commonly known as the early hairstreak, is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It occurs in deciduous and mixed woodlands of eastern North America. The species is notable for its early spring emergence and specialized association with American beech as a larval host. Adults have a wingspan of 21–24 mm.
Eustrophinae
Eustrophinae is a subfamily of beetles within the family Tetratomidae, established by Gistel in 1848. These beetles are part of the superfamily Tenebrionoidea and are characterized by their association with fungal habitats. The subfamily includes genera such as Eustrophus and Pseudoholostrophus. Members are small to medium-sized beetles with relatively uniform morphology across the group.
Eustrophopsis
Eustrophopsis is a genus of polypore fungus beetles in the family Tetratomidae, containing approximately seven described species. These beetles are associated with fungal habitats, specifically polypore fungi growing on decaying wood. The genus was established by Champion in 1889 and represents one of several lineages within the Eustrophinae subfamily adapted to fungivory.
Ligidium
Rock Slaters
Ligidium is a genus of small, forest-dwelling woodlice (terrestrial isopods) in the family Ligiidae, containing approximately 46–68 species with ongoing taxonomic revision. The genus exhibits exceptional genetic differentiation and cryptic diversity, with populations often showing high isolation even over short geographic distances. Species are distributed across temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with notable radiations in Japan, Greece, Turkey, the Caucasus, Central Asia, China, Taiwan, and North America. Ligidium has been proposed as a paleogeological marker organism due to its strong correlation between phylogenetic patterns and regional geological history.
Myolepta nigra
Black Pegleg
Myolepta nigra, commonly known as the Black Pegleg, is a syrphid fly species found in the eastern and central United States and eastern Canada. Adults are flower-visiting hoverflies that feed on nectar and pollen. The larvae develop in rot holes of deciduous trees, making this species dependent on mature forest habitats with suitable tree cavities. It is considered uncommon throughout its range.
Ocnaea sequoia
Ocnaea sequoia is a species of small-headed fly in the family Acroceridae, described by Sabrosky in 1948. Small-headed flies are a distinctive group of Diptera characterized by their unusual head morphology and parasitic life history. The specific epithet 'sequoia' suggests a possible association with giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) forests, though this relationship has not been explicitly documented in available sources.
Pieris virginiensis
West Virginia White, Toothwort White
Pieris virginiensis, the West Virginia White, is a small white butterfly endemic to moist deciduous forests of eastern North America. The species is univoltine, with adults active for approximately one month in early spring (April–May). It is threatened by habitat loss, forest fragmentation, and particularly by the invasive plant Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard), which females mistakenly oviposit on due to chemical similarity with native host plants; larvae cannot survive on this toxic invasive. Population declines of 10–70% have been documented across its range.
Pipiza
Pitheads
Pipiza is a genus of hoverflies (Syrphidae) containing approximately 12 European species. Adults are predominantly dark-colored and resemble small bees or wasps. The genus is notable for its specialized larval ecology: larvae are predaceous, feeding exclusively on gall-forming aphids on foliage. Species show strong association with forested landscapes, particularly deciduous forests and forest edges. Climate modeling indicates high distributional stability across Europe, with potential northward shifts in species diversity.
Rhadine caudata
Rhadine caudata is a brachypterous (flightless) ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It was first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1863 as Platynus caudatus and later transferred to Rhadine. The species is considered globally Vulnerable by NatureServe, Imperiled in Alabama, and Vulnerable in Virginia. It is widely distributed across the eastern United States but is rare throughout its range, with low dispersal capability.
Scaphinotus cristatus
ridged thorax snail-eating beetle, ridged snail-eating beetle
Scaphinotus cristatus is a flightless ground beetle in the family Carabidae, commonly known as the ridged thorax snail-eating beetle. It is restricted to western North America, occurring in California and Oregon. The species inhabits mixed and coniferous forests and is specialized for feeding on snails. Adults possess brachypterous (shortened) wings that render them incapable of flight.
Scaphinotus guyotii
Guyot's Snail-eating Beetle
Scaphinotus guyotii is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, commonly known as Guyot's Snail-eating Beetle. It is a specialized snail predator found in the Appalachian region of eastern North America, inhabiting montane coniferous and mixed deciduous forests. Adults are brachypterous (short-winged) and nocturnal, reflecting adaptations to their forest floor habitat and predatory lifestyle. The species is named in honor of Arnold Henry Guyot, a 19th-century geographer and geologist.
Scaphinotus imperfectus
Imperfect Snail-eating Beetle
Scaphinotus imperfectus, commonly known as the imperfect snail-eating beetle, is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae and suborder Adephaga. It is a member of the Cychrini tribe, which includes specialized snail-feeding beetles. The species is found in North America, specifically in the eastern United States including Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Adults are brachypterous (short-winged) and nocturnal, inhabiting deciduous and coniferous forests and thickets along streams.
Scaphinotus marginatus
Margined Snail-eating Beetle
Scaphinotus marginatus is a large, flightless ground beetle in the family Carabidae, commonly known as the margined snail-eating beetle. Adults are brachypterous (short-winged) and nocturnal, preying exclusively on snails and slugs. The species inhabits coniferous, mixed, and deciduous forests across western North America, typically near streams and lakes. It is distinguished from similar Scaphinotus species by subtle elytral margin characteristics and geographic distribution.
Scaphinotus rugiceps
wrinkle-headed snail-eating beetle
Scaphinotus rugiceps is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, native to the Pacific Northwest of North America. Adults are notably brachypterous (short-winged) and nocturnal, inhabiting mixed and coniferous forests in California and Oregon. The species belongs to the Cychrini tribe, commonly known as snail-eating beetles, reflecting their specialized predatory ecology.
Sphaeroderus indianae
Indiana False Snail-eating Beetle
Sphaeroderus indianae is a flightless ground beetle in the tribe Cychrini, known from deciduous forests of the eastern United States. Adults possess reduced wings (brachypterous), restricting dispersal and contributing to its patchy distribution. The species is one of several North American Sphaeroderus with limited range and specific habitat requirements.
Uroctonus mordax
California forest scorpion, western forest scorpion
Uroctonus mordax is a small scorpion species in the family Vaejovidae, endemic to the coastal forests of California and extending into western Oregon and southern Washington. It is strongly associated with Redwood Forests and Oak Woodlands, where it occupies a foundational ecological role. The species exhibits distinctive physical traits including a squat body, slender tail, and sexually dimorphic coloration. It is notable for its mild venom and reclusive, nocturnal behavior.
Zale curema
Black-eyed Zale Moth, Northeastern Pine Zale, Black-eyed Zale
Zale curema is a moth in the family Erebidae, first described by John Bernhard Smith in 1908. The species is strongly associated with pitch pine forests in eastern North America. It has one generation per year, with larvae feeding preferentially on young needles of pitch pine. The species is listed as endangered in Connecticut but considered globally secure.
Zale metatoides
Washed-out Zale Moth, Jack Pine False Looper
Zale metatoides is a moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1943. It is commonly known as the Washed-out Zale or Jack Pine False Looper. The species inhabits barrens and pine woodlands across eastern North America, with a single generation per year. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 35 mm.