Massachusetts
Guides
Acentrella nadineae
small minnow mayfly
Acentrella nadineae is a small minnow mayfly in the family Baetidae. The species was described in 2009 and remained known only from nymphs until successful rearing produced the first documented adults. It inhabits cool, clean, swift rocky streams across parts of the eastern and midwestern United States. Near final instar nymphs exhibit unusual madicolous behavior, living in thin water films on rock surfaces.
Aulogymnus io
Aulogymnus io is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Eulophidae, first described by Girault in 1916. It belongs to a group of parasitoid wasps known for their role in biological control of other insects. The genus Aulogymnus is part of the diverse Eulophinae subfamily, whose members are typically small parasitoids associated with various host insects. Available distributional records indicate presence in Massachusetts.
Colpotrochia trifasciata
A small ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Metopiinae, averaging 6-10 millimeters in body length. Females possess a very short ovipositor used to lay eggs in caterpillars, particularly leafrollers in the family Tortricidae. The wasp larva develops inside the host, consuming it without disrupting the caterpillar's life cycle until after it pupates; an adult wasp emerges from the host pupa rather than a moth. One of two Colpotrochia species recorded in Massachusetts, with a range extending from the Atlantic coast to barely west of the Mississippi River.
Dalmosella tenuis
Dalmosella tenuis is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. It is a small beetle belonging to the tribe Trichonychini within the diverse Pselaphinae, a group known for their compact bodies and reduced elytra. The species was described by Thomas L. Casey in 1897 and occurs across eastern North America.
StaphylinidaePselaphinaerove-beetleNorth-AmericaCasey-1897TrichonychiniDalmosellaColeopterabeetleinsectarthropodAnimaliaInsectaPolyphagaStaphyliniformiaStaphylinoideaEuplectitaeTrimiinaNew-BrunswickAlabamaDistrict-of-ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaKentuckyLouisianaMassachusettsMaineMississippiNorth-CarolinaNew-HampshireNew-JerseyOhioOklahomaPennsylvaniaTennesseeVirginiaUSACanadaeastern-North-AmericaEratoneura parallela
Eratoneura parallela is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Typhlocybinae, described by McAtee in 1924. Like other members of the genus Eratoneura, it is a small, plant-feeding insect. The species has been recorded in the northeastern United States, specifically in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. As a typhlocybine leafhopper, it likely shares characteristics with congeners including the production of brochosomes—microscopic, hydrophobic proteinaceous spheres that coat the cuticle.
Fucellia assimilis
Fucellia assimilis is a species of fly in the family Anthomyiidae, described by Malloch in 1918. The species has been documented as occurring in New England, where it has been observed entering homes in autumn and winter. It belongs to a genus whose members are often associated with coastal and shoreline habitats. Available information on this species is limited, with only six observations recorded on iNaturalist and minimal published biological data.
Haplaxius glyphis
Haplaxius glyphis is a species of planthopper in the family Cixiidae, described by Kramer in 1979. It belongs to a genus of small, inconspicuous insects that inhabit forested and vegetated environments. The species is recorded from northeastern North America, with documented occurrences in the United States and Canada.
Homoneura incerta
Homoneura incerta is a species of fly in the family Lauxaniidae, originally described as Sapromyza incerta by Malloch in 1914. The species has been documented in association with decaying organic matter, including pumpkins and other fermenting fruits. It exhibits a distinctive orange coloration that has been noted by observers. Distribution records indicate presence in the northeastern United States, particularly Vermont.
Homoneura trochantera
Homoneura trochantera is a species of small fly in the family Lauxaniidae, described by Miller in 1977. The genus Homoneura is known for species that often display bright orange or yellow coloration. One individual observed in South Deerfield, Massachusetts exhibited pumpkin-orange coloration while visiting a decaying jack-o'-lantern, suggesting attraction to fermenting organic matter. The family Lauxaniidae comprises small to medium-sized flies commonly found in diverse habitats.
Longistigma caryae
Giant Bark Aphid
Longistigma caryae, commonly known as the giant bark aphid, is the largest aphid species native to the United States. First described in 1841 from pignut hickory in Massachusetts, this species was later placed in its own genus due to its distinctive extremely long, slender stigma that extends around the end of the wing. It feeds on the bark of hickory trees and has been documented across eastern and central North America.
Losiusa angusticollis
Losiusa angusticollis is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Seevers in 1978. It belongs to the subfamily Aleocharinae and tribe Oxypodini. The genus Losiusa is part of the subtribe Dinardina. Very little specific information is published about this species beyond its taxonomic description.
Osbornellus unicolor
Osbornellus unicolor is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Osborn in 1900. It belongs to the tribe Scaphoideini within the subfamily Deltocephalinae. The species has been documented in the northeastern United States, with records from Massachusetts and New Hampshire. As a member of the Auchenorrhyncha, it is a sap-feeding insect with piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Papaipema sulphurata
Water-willow Stem Borer, Decodon Stem Borer, Swamp Loosestrife Borer Moth
Papaipema sulphurata is a noctuid moth endemic to southeastern Massachusetts, including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. The species is an obligate specialist on Decodon verticillatus (water-willow or swamp loosestrife), with larvae that tunnel into stems and feed on vascular tissue. Adults fly in autumn, with a wingspan of 32–38 mm. The species is considered rare due to its restricted range and specific host plant requirements.
Phytosciara greylockensis
Phytosciara greylockensis is a species of dark-winged fungus gnat in the family Sciaridae, described in 2018 from Massachusetts. The species epithet references Mount Greylock, the highest point in the state. Like other members of the genus Phytosciara, it belongs to a group of small, delicate flies associated with moist habitats and fungal substrates. The species is known from a limited number of observations, reflecting both its recent description and the general undersampling of sciarid diversity.
Pseudoseioptera albipes
Pseudoseioptera albipes is a picture-winged fly in the family Ulidiidae, a group known for their distinctive wing patterns and display behaviors. The species name 'albipes' refers to white feet, suggesting pale tarsi that may aid in identification. Like other ulidiids, it likely exhibits characteristic wing-flicking behavior during courtship. The species has been documented in Massachusetts, indicating an eastern North American distribution.