Metallic
Guides
Lebia insulata
Lebia insulata is a species of colorful foliage ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Madge in 1967. The genus Lebia comprises relatively small beetles that draw attention with often bright metallic wing covers. Like other members of this genus, L. insulata is attracted to lights at night. The species occurs in the United States, with records from North America.
Lebia lobulata
A small, metallic ground beetle in the genus Lebia, characterized by its colorful appearance and foliage-associated habits. Members of this genus are frequently attracted to lights at night. The species occurs across North America, with records from both the United States and Canada.
Lebia pectita
Lebia pectita is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by George Henry Horn in 1885. It is native to North America and is one of approximately 175 species in the genus Lebia. Members of this genus are commonly known as colorful foliage ground beetles due to their often bright metallic coloration. The species is documented in the United States, though specific ecological details remain limited.
Lebia pulchella
Beautiful Banded Lebia, beautiful banded lebium
Lebia pulchella is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, known for its colorful metallic appearance. The species occurs across a broad North American range from southern Canada to southern Texas. It is one of many foliage-associated ground beetles in the genus Lebia that are frequently attracted to lights at night.
Lebia scapula
Lebia scapula is a species of foliage ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by George Henry Horn in 1885. The genus Lebia comprises relatively small, often brightly colored beetles that are attracted to lights at night. This species is known from North America, with records from the United States and Mexico.
Lebia subrugosa
Lebia subrugosa is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Chaudoir in 1871. It belongs to the genus Lebia, a group of small, often brightly metallic beetles commonly known as colorful foliage ground beetles. The species has been documented from Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States, indicating a distribution spanning southern North America and Central America. Like other members of its genus, it is likely nocturnal and attracted to lights.
Lebia tricolor
Lebia tricolor is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1823. It is a member of the colorful foliage ground beetle genus Lebia, characterized by small size and often bright metallic coloration. The species is found in North America, with records from the United States and Canada. As with other Lebia species, it is attracted to lights at night.
Lebia viridipennis
green-winged lebia
Lebia viridipennis, the green-winged lebia, is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America, including Canada and the United States. The species belongs to the genus Lebia, a group of colorful foliage ground beetles often noted for their bright metallic wing covers.
Lebia viridis
colorful foliage ground beetle
Lebia viridis is a predatory ground beetle in the family Carabidae, recognized for its small size and bright metallic coloration. Adults measure 5–7 mm in length and are diurnal, often found on flowers and vegetation. The species occurs across North America, extending south through Mexico and Guatemala, with populations also recorded on Cuba. It is sometimes attracted to lights at night.
Lebia vittata
Colorful foliage ground beetle
Lebia vittata is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, commonly known as the colorful foliage ground beetle. It is found in North America, with records from Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The species is attracted to lights at night, suggesting nocturnal activity patterns. Like other members of the genus Lebia, it is relatively small but draws attention with bright metallic wing covers.
Lestes dryas
emerald spreadwing, scarce emerald damselfly, robust spreadwing, turlough spreadwing
Lestes dryas is a Holarctic damselfly species in the family Lestidae, commonly known as the emerald spreadwing or scarce emerald damselfly. It is notable for being the only Lestes species that occurs in both Europe and North America. The species can tolerate extreme environmental conditions, including slightly brackish water, that few other odonates survive. It has experienced significant population declines in parts of its range, particularly in Britain and Ireland, where it was believed extinct before its rediscovery in 1983. Conservation efforts focus on maintaining ditch systems and shallow water habitats that support its aquatic life stages.
Lithariapteryx abroniaeella
Jewel-studded Sand Verbena Sun Moth
Lithariapteryx abroniaeella is a micro-moth species in the family Heliodinidae, commonly known as the Jewel-studded Sand Verbena Sun Moth. It is characterized by its extremely small size and distinctive metallic wing markings. The species has been documented in the Texas Panhandle and is part of the diverse North American micro-lepidoptera fauna.
Lytta aenea
Brassy Blister Beetle
Lytta aenea is a blister beetle (family Meloidae) native to eastern North America, ranging from Texas to New England and westward to the Great Plains. The common name 'Brassy Blister Beetle' refers to its distinctive bronze-colored elytra. It is a flower-feeding species with documented associations to several plant families.
Microdon aurulentus
Golden-haired Ant Fly
Microdon aurulentus is a species of syrphid fly in the family Syrphidae. Commonly known as the Golden-haired Ant Fly, this species belongs to the subfamily Microdontinae, whose larvae are known to develop within ant colonies. The species was described by Fabricius in 1805. Recent research involving specimen collections in Illinois has contributed to updated distribution records for this species.
Microdon craigheadii
Large Metallic Ant Fly
Microdon craigheadii is a species of syrphid fly described by Walton in 1912. As a member of the genus Microdon, it belongs to a group known for their unusual life history: the larvae are inquilines in ant nests, living within ant colonies rather than being free-living predators like most hover fly larvae. The species has been documented in North America, with records contributing to understanding of hover fly diversity and distribution patterns. It is one of approximately 6,200 described species of syrphid flies worldwide.
Microdon ruficrus
spiny-shield ant fly
An uncommon syrphid fly of the eastern United States and adjacent Canada. Adults are metallic greenish or bluish black with distinctive cupreous thoracic stripes and a spiny scutellum. Larvae develop within nests of the ant Lasius americanus. The species is one of approximately 6,200 described syrphid flies worldwide.
Neoascia metallica
Double-banded Fen Fly
Neoascia metallica is a species of hoverfly (family Syrphidae) found across North America. Adults are commonly observed on flowers, where they feed on nectar and pollen. The species is known for its metallic coloration and association with wetland habitats. Larvae are aquatic, a trait that distinguishes this species from many other syrphid flies.
Neoharmonia venusta ampla
V-marked Lady Beetle
Neoharmonia venusta ampla is a subspecies of lady beetle (Coccinellidae) distinguished by its striking metallic blue elytra and orange pronotum. This subspecies has a restricted range in the southwestern United States, occurring from central Arizona to south Texas. It is not commonly encountered in the field. The species name 'venusta' refers to its beautiful appearance, while 'ampla' denotes this larger, more western subspecies.
Ornidia
jewel flies
Ornidia is a small genus of metallic hoverflies (Syrphidae) native to the New World. Species range from 2.3–4.2 mm in body length and display distinctive metallic coloration. Ornidia obesa, the most widespread species, has been introduced to the Pacific, Asia, and Africa through human commerce. The genus comprises four described species.
Orthonevra nitida
Wavy Mucksucker
Orthonevra nitida, commonly known as the Wavy Mucksucker, is a small syrphid fly (4–5 mm) native to eastern and central North America. It is one of three Nearctic Orthonevra species that extends into the Neotropical region. Adults are flower visitors, obtaining nectar and pollen from blooms. The species exhibits distinctive metallic coloration and wing markings that aid in identification. Larvae of this genus are of the rat-tailed type, though O. nitida larvae specifically have not been described.
Parnopes chrysoprasinus
Parnopes chrysoprasinus is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Like other members of this family, it is a parasitoid that lays its eggs in the nests of other solitary wasps. The larvae consume the host's eggs, larvae, and stored food provisions. The genus Parnopes includes species that target sand wasps and other ground-nesting solitary wasps as hosts. Chrysidid wasps are known for their heavily sculptured, brilliantly metallic exoskeletons that serve as armor against host defenses.
Parnopes edwardsii
cuckoo wasp
Parnopes edwardsii is a parasitic cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae, native to western North America. The species exhibits metallic blue-green coloration typical of chrysidid wasps. Females are nest parasites of sand wasps, specifically targeting burrows of species in the genus Steniolia and related crabronid wasps.
Perilampus auratus
Perilampus auratus is a minute parasitic wasp in the family Perilampidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), measuring 1.3–5.5 millimeters in length. The species exhibits brilliant metallic coloration typical of the genus. As a member of Perilampidae, it is a hyperparasitoid, with larvae that parasitize other parasitic insects. New country records have been documented in Romania and Turkey, expanding its known Palaearctic distribution.
Perilampus platigaster
A minute parasitic wasp in the family Perilampidae, measuring 1.3–5.5 mm in length. Many individuals display brilliant metallic green or blue coloration, though some are entirely black. The species is a hyperparasitoid, with larvae that parasitize other parasitic insects, typically tachinid flies, ichneumon wasps, or braconid wasps living inside caterpillars or other insect larvae. Females broadcast eggs on vegetation and bark; hatched planidium larvae actively seek hosts by attaching to moving objects.
Perilampus prothoracicus
Perilampus prothoracicus is a small parasitoid wasp in the family Perilampidae, measuring 1.3–5.5 mm in length. The species exhibits the family's characteristic hyperparasitic lifestyle, with larvae typically parasitizing other parasitoid insects. Females broadcast eggs on vegetation, and the resulting mobile planidium larvae actively seek hosts by attaching to moving objects.
Philodromus marxi
Metallic Crab Spider
Philodromus marxi is a running crab spider in the family Philodromidae, commonly known as the metallic crab spider. The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism: males have a smooth, metallic sheen while females are bristly and colored white and grey. It is found throughout the United States and is frequently encountered in human dwellings, including bathrooms and showers.
Ponana aenea
Ponana aenea is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Iassinae, tribe Gyponini. Described by DeLong in 1942, this species has been recorded from multiple U.S. states including Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, and Missouri. As a member of the Gyponini, it belongs to a group of leafhoppers characterized by their broad, often flattened body form. The specific epithet "aenea" refers to a bronze or coppery metallic coloration typical of many species in this genus.
Pseudaugochlora
Pseudaugochlora is a genus of sweat bees in the family Halictidae, tribe Augochlorini. Members are small to medium-sized bees with metallic coloration. The genus occurs in the Neotropical region, with records from Caribbean islands including Providencia. As with other Augochlorini, they are solitary or weakly social ground-nesting bees.
Tetracha
Metallic Tiger Beetles
Tetracha is a genus of metallic tiger beetles in the family Cicindelidae, containing approximately 100 described species. The genus was formerly treated as a subgenus of Megacephala but was elevated to full generic status based on morphological and molecular evidence. Tetracha species are exclusively New World in distribution, contrasting with the Old World distribution of Megacephala. Four species occur in the United States: T. carolina, T. floridana, T. virginica, and T. impressa.
Tetracha virginica
Virginia Metallic Tiger Beetle, Virginia Big-headed Tiger Beetle
Tetracha virginica is a large, nocturnal tiger beetle with metallic green elytra lacking apical markings. It is the most widely distributed Tetracha species in the United States, occurring across the southern two-thirds of the eastern U.S. in diverse habitats including agricultural fields, bottomland forests, and barren clay soils. The species is strictly nocturnal and frequently encountered at building and street lights. Larvae are notable for their large size, white-margined pronotum, and simple thorn-like hooks on the fifth abdominal segment.