Montane
Guides
Dicerca tenebrosa
flatheaded conifer borer, Dark Jewel Beetle
Dicerca tenebrosa, commonly known as the flatheaded conifer borer, is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found across North America, particularly in boreal and montane regions. The species is associated with coniferous trees, especially pines, and has been observed on dead or dying Pinus ponderosa and Pinus monophylla. Two subspecies are recognized: D. t. tenebrosa and D. t. knulli.
Dichelotarsus fissilis
Dichelotarsus fissilis is a soldier beetle (family Cantharidae) described from western North America. Originally described as Podabrus fissilis by Fall in 1926, it was later transferred to the genus Dichelotarsus. The species is known from a limited number of records in boreal and montane regions of Canada and Alaska. Like other Cantharidae, adults are likely active during daylight hours and associated with vegetation.
Dolichovespula arctica
Parasitic Aerial Yellowjacket
Dolichovespula arctica is a social parasitic wasp that lacks a worker caste, consisting only of reproductive females and males. It infiltrates established colonies of its primary host, Dolichovespula arenaria (Aerial Yellowjacket), and exploits the host's worker force to raise its own offspring. The species is rarely observed despite being fairly common across northern North America.
Dysstroma citrata
Dark Marbled Carpet, Northern Marbled Carpet
A Holarctic geometrid moth with highly variable forewing coloration ranging from whitish to dark brown or black. Adults are active in mid-summer. The species occupies mountainous and wetland habitats across a broad latitudinal range from the Arctic to temperate zones.
Eleodes obscura
Obscure Darkling Beetle
Eleodes obscura is a large darkling beetle species in the genus Eleodes, native to western North America. Adults measure 23–31 mm in length and are characterized by dull black coloration with grooved elytra. The species occupies a broad geographic range extending from south-central British Columbia to northern Mexico and eastward to the Great Plains. It is primarily nocturnal and has been observed climbing tree trunks at night.
Eleodes obscura sulcipennis
Eleodes obscura sulcipennis is a subspecies of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae. It has been documented in coniferous woodland habitats of southwestern Utah, where adults are active on the trunks of Ponderosa pine and Utah juniper at night. The subspecies was described by Mannerheim in 1843 and is currently accepted as valid.
Eleodes pimelioides
desert stink beetle, stout darkling beetle
Eleodes pimelioides is a small species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae. It has been observed in alpine coniferous forest habitats, where it is active at night. The species is part of the diverse Eleodes genus, commonly known as desert stink beetles or clown beetles, though this particular species appears to favor cooler, higher-elevation environments rather than true desert conditions.
Epermeniidae
fringe-tufted moths
Epermeniidae, commonly called fringe-tufted moths, is a family of small Lepidoptera containing approximately 14 genera. The family is placed in its own superfamily Epermenioidea, though its systematic position among the apoditrysian group "Obtectomera" remains uncertain. Members are characterized by distinctive projecting scale tufts on the inner margin of the hindwing and whorls of bristles on the legs. The group has been extensively revised by Dr. Reinhard Gaedike, with major genera including Epermenia, Ochromolopis, and Gnathifera.
Ephestiodes monticolus
Ephestiodes monticolus is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by Herbert H. Neunzig in 1990. It is currently known only from the US state of Arizona. As a member of the genus Ephestiodes, it belongs to a group of small moths commonly associated with dried plant materials, though specific biological details for this species remain undocumented.
Epuraea linearis
Epuraea linearis is a small sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae, measuring 2.7–3.0 mm in length. The species has a Holarctic boreal and montane distribution, occurring across northern North America from Alaska and Canada southward to the western and northeastern United States. Adults are active from May through September and have been associated with coniferous hosts, particularly pine and spruce.
Erebia
alpines, ringlets, arguses
Erebia is a Holarctic genus of brush-footed butterflies in the family Nymphalidae, containing approximately 90–100 species. The genus is notable for its adaptation to cold environments, with most species inhabiting high-altitude or high-latitude regions. Members are predominantly dark brown to black with distinctive reddish-brown, orange, or rarely yellowish wing blotches or bands that typically contain black spots, sometimes with white centers. The genus exhibits complex taxonomic history with over 1300 described taxa, many of which are junior synonyms. Erebia serves as an important model for studying climate change impacts on montane and arctic-alpine insects due to its thermal ecology and distribution patterns.
Erebia epipsodea
Common Alpine
Erebia epipsodea, commonly known as the Common Alpine, is a butterfly species in the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Satyrinae. It is distributed across North America from Alaska through the Rocky Mountains to northern New Mexico, and eastward across the Canadian prairie provinces to southwest Manitoba. The species inhabits alpine and montane environments, with adults active from mid-June to early August. Larvae feed on various grass species.
Eristalis bellardii
Mexican mountain drone fly
Eristalis bellardii is an uncommon syrphid fly species first described in 1867. It is found in the Southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America. The species exhibits Batesian mimicry of honeybees, with adults visiting flowers for nectar and pollen. Larval biology remains unknown.
Eudonia albertalis
Eudonia albertalis is a small crambid moth described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1928 (published 1929). The species is restricted to montane and boreal regions of western North America, with records spanning from Alberta and British Columbia southward through Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 18 mm. The specific epithet refers to Alberta, the type locality.
Eulonchus marialiciae
Eulonchus marialiciae is a species of jewelled spider fly in the family Acroceridae, endemic to the Great Smoky Mountains of eastern North America. Unlike its congeners, which are locally abundant across western North America, this species is known from only a few specimens collected within a small contiguous area. Adults are brilliantly coloured pollinators, while larvae are parasitoids of tarantulas.
Eulonchus sapphirinus
Sapphire spider fly
Eulonchus sapphirinus is a species of small-headed fly in the family Acroceridae, commonly known as the sapphire spider fly. Adults are metallic blue in coloration and are specialized flower visitors, particularly abundant on Geranium robertianum in Olympic National Park, Washington. The species exhibits sexually dimorphic flower-visiting behavior related to mating, with females moving more slowly among flowers than males. Like other members of its genus, the larvae are parasitoids of spiders, though specific host records for this species remain unconfirmed.
Euophrys monadnock
Euophrys monadnock is a jumping spider species in the family Salticidae, first described by James Henry Emerton in 1891. It occurs across northern North America, including Canada and the northern United States, with records extending south along the Rocky Mountains to Colorado. Males are notably colorful with distinctive black and orange leg markings, while females are more subdued in coloration. The species inhabits ground-level environments in forested and shrubland habitats.
Euphilotes bernardino
Bernardino blue
Euphilotes bernardino, the Bernardino blue, is a small lycaenid butterfly native to western North America. The species was first described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1916. It occurs in montane habitats, particularly in the San Bernardino Mountains of southern California, though the full extent of its range extends more broadly across North America. The species comprises four recognized subspecies with varying geographic distributions.
Euphilotes enoptes enoptes
dotted blue
Euphilotes enoptes enoptes is the nominate subspecies of the dotted blue butterfly, a small lycaenid found in western North America. It belongs to a species complex with localized, patchy distributions tied to specific host plant communities. The subspecies is less studied than its federally endangered relative E. e. smithi, with most ecological research focusing on that coastal California population.
Euphydryas anicia
Anicia checkerspot, Sacramento Mountains checkerspot
Euphydryas anicia is a checkerspot butterfly (family Nymphalidae) native to the southwestern United States. The species is represented by several subspecies, including E. a. howlandi and E. a. cloudcrofti, the latter being a rare, localized form endemic to the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico. The subspecies E. a. cloudcrofti has been proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act due to its extremely restricted range and vulnerability to habitat changes. Checkerspot butterflies in this genus are typically associated with specific host plants and occupy distinct elevational zones.
Euphydryas anicia brucei
Bruce's checkerspot
Euphydryas anicia brucei is a subspecies of checkerspot butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. Historically treated under the genus Occidryas, it is now classified within Euphydryas. The subspecies is associated with montane habitats in western North America. Like other Euphydryas species, it likely has a complex life cycle involving specific larval host plants and adult nectar sources.
Euphydryas anicia cloudcrofti
Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly
Euphydryas anicia cloudcrofti is a subspecies of checkerspot butterfly endemic to the Sacramento Mountains of south-central New Mexico. It is currently proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act. The subspecies is restricted to high-elevation habitats in the Lincoln National Forest, where it depends on specific larval host plants maintained in protected food plots. Its limited geographic range and specialized habitat requirements contribute to its conservation concern.
Euphydryas anicia cloudcrofti
Sacramento Mountains Checkerspot
Euphydryas anicia cloudcrofti is a subspecies of checkerspot butterfly endemic to the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico. It is currently proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act. The subspecies is known from high-elevation habitats and has been the subject of research on parasitoid interactions, specifically with Cotesia wasps (Braconidae). Its restricted range and specific habitat requirements contribute to its conservation concern.
Euphydryas anicia hopfingeri
Hopfinger's Checkerspot
Euphydryas anicia hopfingeri is a subspecies of checkerspot butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It was described by Gunder in 1934. The subspecies is currently considered a synonym under Occidryas anicia in some taxonomic systems, though it remains recognized as Euphydryas anicia hopfingeri in others. It is part of the Euphydryas anicia species complex, which includes multiple subspecies distributed across western North America. The species complex is associated with specific host plants and has been subject to conservation concern due to habitat requirements and climate sensitivity.
Euphydryas chalcedona
Chalcedon Checkerspot, Variable Checkerspot
Euphydryas chalcedona, commonly known as the Chalcedon Checkerspot or Variable Checkerspot, is a butterfly species in the family Nymphalidae. The species exhibits considerable geographic variation in appearance across its range. It is found in western North America, with populations occurring in diverse habitats from coastal areas to montane regions. Like other members of the genus Euphydryas, it has been affected by the broader declines in butterfly populations documented across the western United States.
Euphydryas chalcedona wallacensis
Euphydryas chalcedona wallacensis is a subspecies of the Variable Checkerspot butterfly, endemic to the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. It represents a geographically isolated population of Euphydryas chalcedona that has adapted to high-elevation habitats. The subspecies is of conservation concern due to its restricted range and vulnerability to climate change impacts on montane ecosystems.
Euphydryas gillettii
Gillett's Checkerspot, Gillette's Checkerspot
Euphydryas gillettii is a medium-sized checkerspot butterfly native to western North America. The species exhibits variable chemical defense through sequestration of iridoid glycosides from host plants, with defensive compound concentrations varying significantly between populations based on host plant use. First described by William Barnes in 1897, this montane butterfly has been the subject of ecological research examining host-plant selection and chemical ecology.
Eupithecia nonanticaria
Eupithecia nonanticaria is a small geometrid moth described by Clifford D. Ferris in 2007. It is restricted to high-elevation mixed coniferous forests in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, specifically the Pinos Altos Range, Black Range, and Chiricahua Mountains. Adults are active during a narrow window from late July to mid-August. The species is one of many Eupithecia "pugs" that are challenging to identify without detailed examination.
Eupithecia pretansata
Pug moth
Eupithecia pretansata is a small geometrid moth in the pug moth genus Eupithecia. It is known from a restricted range in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, specifically the Huachuca Mountains of Arizona and Chihuahua. Like other Eupithecia species, it exhibits the characteristic narrow wings and distinctive resting posture typical of pug moths. The species was described by Grossbeck in 1908.
Eurois occulta
Great Brocade, Great Gray Dart
Eurois occulta, commonly known as the Great Brocade or Great Gray Dart, is a medium-sized noctuid moth with a Holarctic distribution spanning northern Europe, Asia, and North America. Adults display distinctive gray forewings with bold black-and-white patterning and a wingspan of 50–60 mm. The species exhibits notable color polymorphism, including a nearly black mountain form (f. implicata) found in Finland, Germany, and Scotland. Larvae feed on various woody and herbaceous plants including Vaccinium, birch, and willow.
Euryopis argentea
Silver Cobweb Weaver
Euryopis argentea is a small cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, first described by Emerton in 1882. It belongs to the subfamily Hadrotarsinae, a group distinguished by their unique hunting behavior. Unlike typical theridiids that construct tangled prey-catching webs, Euryopis species are active ant predators that use silk in a specialized ambush technique. The species has been recorded from the United States, Canada, and Russia (Kamchatka).
Euxoa campestris
Flat Dart
Euxoa campestris, commonly known as the flat dart, is a species of noctuid moth first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1875. It is found across much of North America, with a broad distribution spanning from Newfoundland to Alaska and southward through mountain ranges and eastern deciduous forests. The species has a single annual generation, with adults active from July to September. The wingspan ranges from 30–34 mm.
Euxoa castanea
Euxoa castanea is a moth species in the family Noctuidae described by J. Donald Lafontaine in 1981. It is found in western North America, with a wingspan of 35–38 mm. Adults are active from July to August, with one generation per year. The species belongs to a large genus of cutworm moths, many of which are agricultural pests.
Euxoa churchillensis
Alpine Dart, Churchill euxoa moth
Euxoa churchillensis, known as the Alpine Dart or Churchill euxoa moth, is a noctuid moth species described by McDunnough in 1932. It is characterized by small forewings measuring 10–13 mm in length. The species occupies a distinctive geographic range spanning subarctic Canada and alpine regions of the Rocky Mountains, suggesting adaptation to cold environments. Limited specific ecological data exists for this species, though its placement in the genus Euxoa indicates likely cutworm-type larval biology.
Evergestis subterminalis
Brown-patched Evergestis
Evergestis subterminalis is a crambid moth species described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1914. It is endemic to western North America, occurring in montane meadow habitats from Alberta to California. Adults are active from mid-summer through autumn and possess distinctive wing patterning that facilitates identification.
Evodinus
Evodinus is a genus of longhorn beetles in the family Cerambycidae, subfamily Lepturinae, and tribe Rhagiini. The genus contains four recognized species distributed primarily in boreal and montane regions of North America and northern Europe. Members are associated with coniferous forests and are characterized by their distinctive elytral sculpturing.
Evodinus monticola
Mountain Flower Longhorn
Evodinus monticola is a species of flower longhorn beetle in the subfamily Lepturinae. It occurs in montane forests of western North America, from the Sierra Nevada to the Rocky Mountains. The species is associated with coniferous forests and has been recorded feeding on flowers. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate E. m. monticola and E. m. vancouveri.
Formica argentea
Silvery Field Ant
Formica argentea is a North American ant species in the fusca group, first described by Wheeler in 1912. It is characterized by a silvery sheen on abdominal pubescence and reddish-brown appendages. The species occurs in western montane regions, including the Sierra Nevada, and has been documented as a host for the slave-making ant Polyergus breviceps. It belongs to the subsericea species complex and is closely related to F. subsericea, with which it overlaps in parts of its range.
Formica glacialis
Icy Mound Ant
Formica glacialis is a cold-adapted ant species in the Formicinae subfamily, described by William Morton Wheeler in 1908. It belongs to the Formica fusca species group and is primarily found in montane and boreal environments of eastern North America. The species is notable for its association with cold, high-elevation habitats, including areas with persistent snow cover.
Formica neorufibarbis
New World Red Bearded Ant
Formica neorufibarbis is an alpine ant species in the genus Formica, described by Emery in 1893. Research indicates this species exhibits worker size polymorphism that affects colony fitness, with colonies showing mean worker head widths ranging from 0.89–1.24 mm. The species has been studied for its nest site selection behavior at high elevations, specifically its use of rock versus soil substrates. It belongs to the fusca group within Formica and has been documented in montane environments of the western United States, including the Sierra Nevada.
Formica podzolica
Podzol Ant
Formica podzolica is a species of mound-building ant in the subfamily Formicinae, described by Francoeur in 1973. The species is associated with podzolic soils and functions as an ecosystem engineer in subalpine and montane environments. Colonies modify soil moisture and nitrogen availability around their nests, creating distinct microhabitats that alter plant community composition and structure.
Gandaritis
Gandaritis is a genus of geometrid moths comprising approximately 22 species, with 16 species recorded from China. The genus was established by Frederic Moore in 1868. Species within this genus are primarily distributed across the Palearctic region, with notable diversity in montane areas of western China. The Barred Straw (G. pyraliata) is the best-studied species, having been sequenced for genomic analysis.
Gazoryctra novigannus
Smooth Ghost Moth
Gazoryctra novigannus, commonly known as the Smooth Ghost Moth, is a species of ghost moth in the family Hepialidae. It was first described by William Barnes and Foster Hendrickson Benjamin in 1926. The species occurs across western and central North America, from Quebec westward to the Rocky Mountains and south to Arizona. As with other hepialid moths, adults are non-feeding and larvae are presumed to feed on roots or decaying organic matter, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Gazoryctra pulcher
Gazoryctra pulcher is a moth species in the family Hepialidae, a group commonly known as ghost moths or swift moths. It is known from the southwestern United States, with records from Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. The species was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1865. Like other hepialid moths, it likely exhibits primitive moth characteristics including reduced mouthparts in adults.
Gazoryctra roseicaput
Gazoryctra roseicaput is a hepialid moth described in 1893 from western North American mountain regions. Adults are medium-small with distinctive dull red-brown forewings marked by silvery-white spots. The species has a narrow seasonal flight period in late summer.
Gehringia
Gehringia is a monotypic genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, containing the single species Gehringia olympica. The genus was established by Philip Jackson Darlington, Jr. in 1933, named in honor of physician John George Gehring. Its sole species is a tiny, shiny-black beetle with distinctive stout bristles, restricted to the Pacific Northwest of North America.
Geostiba
Geostiba is a genus of rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae, tribe Geostibini. The genus contains over 250 described species distributed across Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia. Many species are placed in subgenera including Sibiota, Tropogastrosipalia, Sipalotricha, and Typhlusida. Species are predominantly found in temperate regions, with significant diversity in the Caucasus, Mediterranean, and Appalachian Mountains. Several species have been documented as predators of tick nymphs in soil ecosystems.
Gesneria centuriella
Smoky Gesneria
Gesneria centuriella is a small moth in the family Crambidae with a broad Holarctic distribution spanning Europe, Asia, and North America. The species exhibits considerable geographic variation, with five recognized subspecies adapted to different regions from Eurasia through Alaska to Greenland and the western United States. Adults are active in mid-summer, with North American populations flying from mid-June to July.
Gillmeria albertae
Alberta Pale Plume Moth
Gillmeria albertae is a plume moth (family Pterophoridae) endemic to the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Adults are small white moths with distinctive brownish-grey markings on the forewings and light brownish-grey hindwings. The species was first described in 1921 and is among the more geographically restricted members of its genus.
Gnophaela vermiculata
Police Car Moth, Police-Car Moth, Green Lattice
A day-flying moth of western North America, recognized by its striking black-and-white wing pattern with orange accents near the head. The common name 'Police Car Moth' refers to this coloration, which resembles historical police vehicle markings. Adults are active in late summer and visit flowers for nectar. Larvae feed on plants in the borage family, particularly Mertensia, Lithospermum, and Hackelia species.