Nearctic
Guides
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.
Dirhagini
Dirhagini is a tribe of false click beetles within the family Eucnemidae, subfamily Melasinae. The tribe is distributed across the Palaearctic and Nearctic regions. Recent taxonomic work has clarified nomenclature and species boundaries, including descriptions of new species from the Russian Far East and redescriptions of poorly known taxa. Members of this tribe are characterized by specific larval morphological traits that distinguish them from other Eucnemidae.
Discothyrea testacea
Discothyrea testacea is a species of ant in the subfamily Proceratiinae, described by Roger in 1863. It is native to the Southeastern United States, with additional records from Caribbean islands and the Yucatán Peninsula. The genus Discothyrea is characterized by a highly specialized morphology and cryptic lifestyle, making species in this genus poorly represented in museum collections.
Disholandricus truckeensis
Disholandricus truckeensis is a species of oak cynipid gall wasp in the tribe Cynipini. The species was originally described by Ashmead in 1896 as Holcaspis truckeensis and was transferred to the new genus Disholandricus in 2021. It is one of four species in the genus, which was established based on morphological and molecular data. As a member of Cynipini, it induces galls on oak species (Quercus).
Dolbogene hartwegii
Hartweg's Sphinx
Dolbogene hartwegii is a rare sphinx moth (Sphingidae) found from the southwestern United States through Mexico to Guatemala. The species was originally described as Dolba hartwegii in 1875. Few specimens have been collected, and its biology remains poorly documented.
Dolerini
Dolerini is a tribe of sawflies in the subfamily Selandriinae, comprising two genera: Dolerus Panzer and Prionourgus Goulet. Dolerus, the dominant genus, contains 72 Nearctic species organized into seven subgenera and one species group, while Prionourgus is monotypic. Members are distinguished by structural characters used in cladistic analyses to reconstruct species relationships. The tribe has undergone extensive taxonomic revision, with numerous new species and subgenera described from across the Nearctic region.
Dolichodynerus
Dolichodynerus is a Nearctic genus of potter wasps (subfamily Eumeninae) established by Bohart in 1939. The genus contains three recognized species: D. tanynotus, D. turgiceps, and D. vandykei. These solitary wasps construct mud nests and provision them with paralyzed caterpillars for their larvae.
Dolichognatha pentagona
Dolichognatha pentagona is a species of long-jawed orb-weaver spider in the family Tetragnathidae, first described by Hentz in 1850. It occurs from the United States through Central America to Venezuela. The genus Dolichognatha is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions. As a tetragnathid, it likely constructs orb webs for prey capture, though specific behavioral details for this species remain poorly documented.
Dolichopeza carolus
Dolichopeza carolus is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae. It belongs to the genus Dolichopeza, a group characterized by exceptionally elongated legs and bodies among crane flies. The species was described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1940. It is distributed across eastern North America.
Doliodesmus
Doliodesmus is a genus of darkling beetles (family Tenebrionidae) described by Spilman in 1967. The genus is native to the Nearctic region and is represented by a small number of species. Very little has been published on its biology or ecology. Records indicate extremely limited observational data, with only two documented observations on iNaturalist.
Doratura
Doratura is a genus of leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in the tribe Chiasmini, distributed across the Palearctic and Nearctic realms. The genus contains 23 valid species following recent taxonomic revision, including four species described in 2021–2022. Species exhibit wing reduction polymorphism (brachyptery) as a dispersal strategy. The genus has been subject to detailed taxonomic study focusing on genital morphology, species group relationships, and distribution patterns.
Draeculacephala savannahae
Draeculacephala savannahae is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, described by Hamilton in 1985. It belongs to the genus Draeculacephala, a group of sharpshooters within the tribe Cicadellini. The species is known from the southeastern United States, with records from Georgia. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with grassland or savanna habitats, though specific ecological details remain limited.
Drepanaphis
Painted maple aphids
Drepanaphis is a Nearctic genus of aphids comprising 18 species, all native to North America. These insects are narrow oligophages primarily associated with maple trees (Acer spp.), with one species (D. monelli) recorded on buckeye. The genus is characterized by distinct dorsal abdominal tubercles, very long antennae, and reduced leg chaetotaxy. Drepanaphis acerifoliae, the painted maple aphid, has the broadest distribution and is the only species introduced to Europe. Unlike many aphids, Drepanaphis species do not form dense colonies and are not attended by ants.
Drunella spinifera
Western Slate Olive
Drunella spinifera is a species of spiny crawler mayfly in the family Ephemerellidae. It is found in southwestern and northern Canada, the western United States, and Alaska. The common name "Western Slate Olive" reflects its regional distribution and likely coloration. Like other members of the genus Drunella, it belongs to a group of mayflies commonly targeted by fly fishermen, though specific angling references for this species are limited.
Druon
Druon is a genus of cynipid gall wasps re-established in 2021, containing 15 Nearctic species that induce galls on oak trees (Quercus). Most species are known only from asexual generations, though two species (D. ignotum and D. quercuslanigerum) have documented alternating sexual and asexual generations. The genus was previously synonymized under Andricus but restored based on morphological and molecular evidence. Species are characterized by woolly galls and specific metasomal sculpturing patterns.
Druon laceyi
Druon laceyi is a cynipid gall wasp described in 2022 from Texas, USA. The species is placed in the genus Druon, which contains gall-forming wasps associated with oaks (Quercus). As a recently described species, detailed biological information remains limited. The species epithet honors botanist Robert Lacey.
Druon quercusflocci
Druon quercusflocci is a Nearctic cynipid gall wasp that induces galls on oak trees (Quercus). The species was originally described by Walsh in 1864 as Cynips quercus flocci, later placed in Andricus, and transferred to the re-established genus Druon in 2022. It is known only from its asexual generation; no sexual generation has been documented.
Druon quercuslanigerum
Druon quercuslanigerum is a cynipid gall wasp that alternates between sexual and asexual generations on live oaks. The sexual generation forms small galls on catkins in spring, while the asexual generation produces distinctive woolly galls on leaf undersides. It is one of only two species in the genus Druon with documented alternating generations.
Dryas
Julia heliconians
Dryas is a monotypic genus of brush-footed butterflies (Nymphalidae) containing the single species Dryas iulia, commonly known as the Julia butterfly or Julia heliconian. Native from Brazil through Central America to the southern United States, this species has been observed as far north as eastern Nebraska during summer months. The genus is notable for its specialized feeding behavior, with adults known to drink tears from reptiles and eye secretions from sleeping birds to obtain salts and amino acids. Over 15 subspecies have been described across its broad Neotropical and Nearctic range.
Dynastini
True Rhinoceros Beetles
Dynastini is a tribe of large scarab beetles commonly known as true rhinoceros beetles. The group includes some of the largest and most iconic beetles in the world, with males typically bearing prominent horns on the head and pronotum used in combat. Notable genera include Dynastes (Hercules beetles), Megasoma, and Golofa. Members are primarily tropical and subtropical in distribution, with some species reaching temperate regions of North America.
Dyscinetus picipes
Dyscinetus picipes is a species of rhinoceros beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Dynastinae. It belongs to the tribe Cyclocephalini, a group of scarab beetles commonly known as rhinoceros beetles. The species has been recorded across the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, with distribution spanning the south-central and southwestern United States, Mexico, and various Caribbean islands. Available information on this species is limited, with few detailed biological studies published.
Eantis pallida
Pale Sicklewing
Eantis pallida is a skipper butterfly (family Hesperiidae) commonly known as the Pale Sicklewing. The species was first described by Felder in 1869 and has undergone taxonomic revisions, with some authorities placing it in the genus Achlyodes. It occurs in the Americas, with documented presence in Colombia and North America. The common name refers to the characteristic sickle-shaped wing appearance typical of this group.
Eantis tamenund
sickle-winged skipper
Eantis tamenund, commonly called the sickle-winged skipper, is a spread-wing skipper in the family Hesperiidae. The species occurs across a broad range from Argentina through tropical America and the West Indies to the southern United States, with occasional strays reaching as far north as Arkansas and Kansas. The common name refers to the distinctive wing shape characteristic of this species. Taxonomic history includes placement in the genus Achlyodes, with which it shares many morphological traits.
Eanus estriatus
Estriate Click Beetle
Eanus estriatus is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. It is known from scattered records across Canada. The common name 'Estriate Click Beetle' refers to its striated (grooved) elytra. Like other members of Elateridae, it possesses the characteristic clicking mechanism for righting itself when overturned. The species was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1853.
Ecliptopera silaceata
Small Phoenix
Ecliptopera silaceata, known as the Small Phoenix, is a geometrid moth widespread across Europe, Asia, and parts of North America. It is the only representative of its genus in Britain and Ireland. Adults display two main colour forms and exhibit distinctive resting postures. The species is associated with willowherb-rich habitats and typically produces two generations annually in temperate regions.
Ectecephala
grass flies
Ectecephala is a genus of small flies in the family Chloropidae, commonly known as grass flies. The genus contains approximately six described species, first established by Macquart in 1851. Species within this genus are found in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions.
Ectoedemia clemensella
Ectoedemia clemensella is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, characterized by its extremely small size and leaf-mining larval habit. It is known from a restricted range in the eastern United States. The species completes three generations annually and is tightly associated with American sycamore as its sole documented host plant.
Ectoedemia nyssaefoliella
Ectoedemia nyssaefoliella is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, known for its leaf-mining larvae that feed exclusively on black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica). The species has been documented in Kentucky, Ohio, and North Carolina, with two to three generations annually. First-generation larvae complete development in June.
Ectoedemia platanella
sycamore leaf blotch miner
Ectoedemia platanella is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, commonly known as the sycamore leaf blotch miner. It is restricted to the eastern United States, where its larvae create distinctive blotch mines in leaves of Platanus species. The species is highly host-specific and represents one of many specialized leaf-mining moths in this diverse family.
Ectoedemia quadrinotata
Ectoedemia quadrinotata is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, first described by Annette Frances Braun in 1917. It occurs in the eastern United States and Canada, with records from Ohio, Kentucky, Vermont, and the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec. The species is notable for its larval leaf-mining behavior on specific host plants.
Ectoedemia similella
Broken-banded Ectoedemia Moth
Ectoedemia similella is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, commonly known as the Broken-banded Ectoedemia Moth. It is native to eastern North America, with confirmed records from Ohio and Kentucky. The species has a wingspan of only 5–6 mm. Its larvae are leaf miners that feed exclusively on pin oak (Quercus palustris).
Edwardsiana lethierryi
Edwardsiana lethierryi is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Typhlocybinae. Originally described by Edwards in 1881, this species has been recorded from multiple localities including England, British Columbia (Canada), Connecticut (USA), and New Zealand (Canterbury/Christchurch region). The genus Edwardsiana belongs to the tribe Typhlocybini, a group of small leafhoppers often associated with woody plants. As a member of the Typhlocybinae, it likely feeds on plant phloem sap, though specific host plant associations for this species remain poorly documented.
Efferia davisi
Davis Hammertail
Efferia davisi is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, first described by Wilcox in 1966. It belongs to a large genus of predatory flies commonly known as 'hammertails' due to the swollen male genital capsule. The species is part of the diverse Nearctic fauna of Efferia, which contains numerous species distributed across North America. Like other robber flies, E. davisi is an aerial predator that captures other insects in flight.
Efferia pernicis
Efferia pernicis is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Coquillett in 1893. As a member of the genus Efferia, it belongs to a diverse group of predatory flies characterized by their robust build, large eyes, and raptorial legs adapted for capturing prey in flight. The species is part of the Asilinae subfamily, which contains many of the larger and more conspicuous robber flies in North America.
Eichlinia gloriosa
thistledown velvet ant
Eichlinia gloriosa is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, first described by Edwards in 1880. The species belongs to a family whose members are known for mimicking wasps or hornets through their transparent wings and wasp-like body shape. As with other sesiid moths, adults are diurnal and often visit flowers for nectar. The genus Eichlinia is part of the tribe Melittiini within the subfamily Sesiinae.
Eichlinia snowii
Clearwing Borer Moth
Eichlinia snowii is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, commonly known as the Clearwing Borer Moth. It belongs to a group of moths that exhibit Batesian mimicry of wasps and hornets through transparent wings and wasp-like coloration. The species was described by Edwards in 1882 and is native to North America. Like other sesiid moths, adults are diurnal and often visit flowers.
Eidalimus
Eidalimus is a genus of soldier flies (family Stratiomyidae) in the subfamily Pachygastrinae. The genus was established by Kertész in 1914 and contains eight described species distributed in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Species of this genus are small to medium-sized flies with relatively few detailed studies on their biology.
Eilica bicolor
Eilica bicolor is a species of ground spider in the family Gnaphosidae, first described by Nathan Banks in 1896. The species has a broad geographic range spanning from the United States through Central America to the Caribbean. Like other gnaphosids, it is a nocturnal hunting spider that does not build webs to capture prey. The specific epithet "bicolor" likely refers to a two-toned color pattern, though detailed morphological descriptions are sparse in the literature.
Elacatis
false tiger beetles
Elacatis is a genus of false tiger beetles in the family Salpingidae, containing approximately 13 described species. The genus was established by Pascoe in 1860. Seven species are recognized in the Nearctic region north of Mexico, including two recently described species: E. larsoni from Nebraska and E. stephani from Arizona. The genus is classified within the subfamily Othniinae.
Elacatis immaculatus
Elacatis immaculatus is a small beetle in the family Salpingidae, first recorded from north of Mexico in a 2018 taxonomic revision of Nearctic Elacatis species. The species was originally described by Champion from Central America. The revision recognizes seven Nearctic species in the genus, with E. immaculatus representing one of two species newly documented from the region. No specific biological or ecological information is available for this species in published literature.
Elachista freyerella
Elachista freyerella is a small moth in the family Elachistidae, described by Hübner in 1825. The species is widespread across Europe (excluding the Balkan Peninsula) and occurs in North America. It is a grass-mining species whose larvae develop within the leaves of various Poaceae hosts.
Elachista glenni
Elachista glenni is a small moth in the family Elachistidae, described by Kaila in 1996. It is known from limited records in the United States, specifically Illinois and Florida. As a member of the genus Elachista, it belongs to a large group of microlepidoptera commonly known as grass-miner moths, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Elachista neithanella
Elachista neithanella is a species of microlepidopteran moth in the family Elachistidae, described by Kaila in 1999. It is known from the Canadian Prairie provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. As with other members of the genus, it is a small moth with reduced wing venation.
Elachista subalbidella
buff grass-miner
Elachista subalbidella is a small moth in the family Elachistidae with a wingspan of 10–13 mm. It is characterized by ochreous-yellow forewings and dark grey hindwings. The species is widely distributed across Europe and North America, where its larvae mine the leaves of various grasses and sedges. Adults are active in June. The common name "buff grass-miner" refers to both its coloration and larval feeding habit.
Elachista tuorella
Elachista tuorella is a species of microlepidopteran moth in the family Elachistidae. It was described by Kaila in 1999. The species is known only from Idaho in the western United States. As a member of the large genus Elachista, it likely exhibits the characteristic small size and narrow wings typical of the group, though specific details remain undocumented.
Elaphria alapallida
Pale-winged Midget
Elaphria alapallida is a small owlet moth in the family Noctuidae, described in 2003 when it was split from the similar E. festivoides. It occurs across southern Canada and the northern United States. Adults fly from May to July and are attracted to light sources.
Elaphrus americanus americanus
A subspecies of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, Elaphrus americanus americanus is the nominate subspecies of the E. americanus species complex. The complex comprises two Nearctic species: E. americanus and E. finitimus. This subspecies is distinguished from a western subspecies, E. americanus sylvanus, through morphometric analysis of body proportions and other phenetic characters.
Elliptera tennessa
Elliptera tennessa is a species of limoniid crane fly described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1926. The species epithet references Tennessee, indicating its type locality. As a member of Limoniidae, it belongs to a diverse family of delicate, long-legged flies often mistaken for mosquitoes. Published records for this species are sparse.
Ellipteroides slossonae
Ellipteroides slossonae is a species of crane fly in the family Limoniidae, described by Alexander in 1914. It belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive wing venation patterns. The species occurs across a broad range in North and Central America, with records extending from the central United States through Mexico to Panama and Jamaica.
Emblyna annulipes
Mesh Web Weaver
Emblyna annulipes is a small spider species in the family Dictynidae, commonly known as mesh web weavers. The species was first described by Blackwall in 1846 under the name Ergatis annulipes. It has been recorded across a broad geographic range spanning North America, Europe, Turkey, the Caucasus region, and the Russian Far East. As with other dictynids, it constructs irregular, mesh-like webs rather than the spiral orb webs characteristic of many spiders.