Nearctic

Guides

Aglaothorax
ovate shieldbacks
Aglaothorax is a genus of flightless katydids in the family Tettigoniidae, commonly known as ovate shieldbacks. The genus comprises six described species distributed in the southwestern United States. These insects are characterized by their reduced or absent wings and compact, shield-like body form. The genus was established by Caudell in 1907.
Orthoptera Tettigoniidae flightless Nearctic
Agoliinus aleutus
Agoliinus aleutus is a scarab beetle species in the subfamily Aphodiinae, distributed across northern regions of North America and the Russian Far East. The species was described from the Aleutian Islands, as reflected in its specific epithet. It belongs to a genus of dung beetles, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented in available literature.
scarabaeidae aphodiinae aphodiini boreal beringian nearctic palaearctic
Agoliinus corruptor
Agoliinus corruptor is a species of scarab beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, described by Brown in 1929. It is known from a limited number of observations and collection records across northwestern North America. The species appears to be associated with temperate to boreal regions in western Canada and the northern United States.
scarab-beetle dung-beetle Aphodiinae Nearctic boreal montane western-North-America
Agoliinus incommunis
Agoliinus incommunis is a species of small scarab beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, originally described by Fall in 1932. The species is documented from mountainous regions of western North America, with records spanning from British Columbia south to New Mexico. As a member of the Aphodiini tribe, it belongs to a group commonly known as small dung beetles, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented. The species name "incommunis" (Latin for "uncommon" or "not shared") may allude to its rarity or restricted distribution.
dung-beetle Aphodiinae Nearctic montane scarabaeidae coleoptera western-north-america fall-1932 aphodiini rare-species endemic rocky-mountains
Agoliinus leopardus
Leopard Dung Beetle
Agoliinus leopardus is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, commonly known as the Leopard Dung Beetle. It is distributed across northern North America, with records from Alaska through the Canadian provinces to the northeastern and north-central United States. As a member of the Aphodiinae subfamily, it is associated with dung decomposition processes. The species has been documented through 62 iNaturalist observations, indicating moderate citizen science engagement.
Coleoptera Scarabaeidae dung-beetle Nearctic North-America Aphodiinae
Agoliinus manitobensis
Agoliinus manitobensis is a small scarab beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, described by Brown in 1928. The species is known from scattered records across northeastern North America. It belongs to a genus of dung beetles associated with mammal feces. Field observations are sparse, with only three documented records on iNaturalist.
scarabaeidae aphodiinae dung-beetle nearctic
Agonum muelleri
Müller's Harp Ground Beetle
Agonum muelleri is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, widespread across the Palearctic, Nearctic, and Near East regions. It is notably abundant in agricultural landscapes, particularly soybean fields, where it functions as an active predator of pest insects. The species exhibits atypical behavior for a ground beetle by readily climbing vegetation to hunt prey. Two subspecies are recognized: A. muelleri muelleri and A. muelleri unicolor.
ground-beetle Carabidae agricultural-pest-control soybean aphid-predator climbing-behavior biological-control Palearctic Nearctic
Agrilus lecontei celticola
Agrilus lecontei celticola is a subspecies of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Fisher in 1928. The subspecies is associated with hackberry (Celtis spp.) as a larval host. Its taxonomic validity has been questioned, with evidence suggesting it transitions broadly across Louisiana and Mississippi with the nominate subspecies A. lecontei lecontei, making subspecific identification of specimens from eastern regions problematic. The subspecies has been recorded from Texas and Oklahoma.
Buprestidae jewel-beetle wood-borer Celtis hackberry subspecies-validity-questioned Nearctic
Agrilus obsoletoguttatus
Beech Borer
Agrilus obsoletoguttatus is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, native to North America. It is among the smallest jewel beetle species utilized as prey by the specialist predatory wasp Cerceris fumipennis, which provisions its underground nests with paralyzed buprestid beetles. The species has been documented in nest caches containing up to 13 individuals, reflecting its small size relative to larger buprestid prey.
Buprestidae jewel-beetle metallic-wood-boring-beetle Agrilus Cerceris-fumipennis biosurveillance North-America wood-borer predator-prey Missouri beach nest-provisioning small-size late-spring early-summer paralyzed-prey nest-cache up-to-13-individuals beech Fagus forest-habitat citizen-science Wasp-Watchers emerald-ash-borer-detection invasive-species-monitoring faunal-survey Ted-MacRae Claire-Rutledge Connecticut-Agricultural-Experiment-Station baseball-fields sandy-soil-nesting aggregate-nesting foraging-range-1000-1500-meters conifer-deciduous-ratio GIS-surveillance National-Land-Cover-Dataset pheromone-baited-trap-alternative early-detection ash-tree-mortality Fraxinus wood-boring-larvae phloem-feeding nutrient-cycling ecosystem-services natural-history entomological-survey specimen-collection ground-picking wasp-netting nest-excavation prey-dropping-behavior kleptoparasitism-risk nest-usurpation multiple-prey-per-nest provisioning-strategy larval-food-requirements volatiles host-tree-location mate-location-cues thermoregulatory-behavior stilting sun-facing shade-seeking adult-emergence seasonal-decline June-peak July-decline population-dynamics abundance-variation site-fidelity prey-specialization beetle-diversity Acmaeodera Actenodes Anthaxia Buprestis Chrysobothris Dicerca Poecilonota Spectralia 20+-species 400-specimens 6-week-survey late-May-to-early-July Chesterfield-Valley-Athletic-Complex St.-Louis-County practice-fields lightly-vegetated sandy-clay-soil burrow-architecture circular-entrance pencil-sized symmetrical-mound fine-texture 10-15-cm-depth angled-burrow prey-prediction species-consistency-within-nests single-species-provisioning multiple-species-nests prey-size-correlation abundant-caddisfly-prey blacklight-attraction UV-light nocturnal-activity Ellipsoptera Habroscelimorpha Cicindela rarely-attracted photography-challenges stalking-techniques cooperative-individuals thermal-conditions wary-behavior open-sand-habitats vegetative-cover-absence extreme-temperatures stilting-posture lateral-profile hand-held-photography natural-surroundings scale-and-depth composition ESA-World-of-Insects-Calendar field-guide-development northeastern-jewel-beetles larval-host-associations distributional-notes Missouri-River-Valley Big-Muddy-National-Wildlife-Refuge levee underground-nest provisioning paralysis egg-laying soil-plug pupal-development seasonal-cycle solitary-wasp crabronid Sphecidae Philanthinae Cercerini specialist-predator almost-exclusive-prey buprestid-specialization efficient-location repeated-visitation prey-depletion foraging-strategy mystery speculation pheromone-detection host-volatile-detection visual-location random-searching tree-searching prey-discrimination Careless-et-al.-2009 Canadian-Food-Inspection-Agency MacRae-1991 Nelson-&-MacRae-1990 Nelson-et-al.-1996 MacRae-&-Nelson-2003 MacRae-2004 MacRae-2006 Pearson-et-al.-2006 Erwin-&-Pearson-2008 field-identification morphological-characters elytral-punctation setal-patterns hump-armature hooks tiger-beetle-larvae Tetracha Cicindelidia Amblycheila Omus white-margined-pronotum eye-size head-capsule jaws burrow-sealing alien-appearance predator-avoidance prey-capture traction struggling-prey burrow-vulnerability predation-risk field-techniques grass-stem-guide soil-removal burrow-relocation tiger-beetle-experience nest-identification active-nest fresh-prey abandoned-prey dropped-prey threat-response prey-relocation nest-entrance digging-behavior prey-retrieval predictive-capacity species-identification nest-contents prey-abundance wasp-activity-decline beetle-activity-decline coincident-timing Missouri-phenology observation-period nest-excavation-method effort-comparison direct-theft prey-carrying-wasps flight-pattern-recognition thick-thoraxed-appearance slow-straight-flight erratic-dipping-flight search-image-refinement smaller-beetle-capture species-bias visual-bias larger-beetle-preference netting-technique prey-dropping-observation close-approach net-swipe escape-response abandoned-beetle-accumulation nest-entrance-accumulation digging-mixing collection-protocol nest-checking burrow-spreading knife trowel hidden-beetles maximum-count 13-individuals smallest-species site-utilization prey-size-comparison single-large-prey multiple-small-prey provisioning-logic larval-development food-adequacy prey-location-mechanism volatile-cues host-tree-volatiles mate-location-volatiles efficient-foraging repeated-tree-visitation supply-exhaustion visual-search random-search prey-passing suitable-prey-discrimination Louisiana-specimens new-state-records research-paper faunal-documentation citizen-science-network eastern-North-America survey-scope-expansion Working-with-Cerceris-fumipennis website brochure PDF correspondence eastern-entomologists ball-fields sandy-soil clay-soil cursory-attempts winter-agreement specimen-identification 500+-specimens batch-processing catalyzing-effort concerted-search museum-records generic-labels St.-Louis Columbia monthly-visits regular-grooming heavy-clay barren-soil burrow-absence stroke-of-luck bike-route knee-pain flatter-route regular-fields grooming-evidence human-use immediate-inspection numerous-burrows occupied-nest female-identification yellow-facial-markings burrow-occupancy active-digging soil-pushing flight-observation nest-departure nest-return nest-searching copula-pairs prey-absence puzzlement ground-confirmation subsequent-visits productive-method nest-population field-preference nest-clustering individual-density prize-specimens abundant-prey caddisfly-bounty UV-light-attraction feeding-behavior mandible-use maxilla-use digestive-juice-maceration juicy-pulp-consumption antennal-positioning feeding-adaptation prey-damage-prevention non-feeding-posture forward-antennae coaxing-technique stilting-absence sun-facing-absence shade-seeking-absence iconic-pose stalking-skill hot-day-requirement photographic-improvement previous-frustration distance-limitation distant-shot bronzed-tiger-beetle Cicindela-repanda common-species waterway-association habitat-infidelity soil-type-flexibility sand mud concrete larval-burrow-absence unexpected-observation population-building mid-August-peak overnight-burrow caddisfly-predation tooth-mandibles sickle-shaped prey-grabbing pulp-sucking antennal-retraction head-pronotum-positioning male-identification natural-setting charismatic-pose thermal-behavior photographic-goal Cicindela-hirticollis-shelfordi Shelford's-Hairy-necked-Tiger-Beetle stocky-build distinct-white-markings coppery-cast G-shaped-humeral-lunule C-shaped-humeral-lunule diagnostic-character lateral-profile-comparison big-river-specialty Ellipsoptera-cuprascens Coppery-Tiger-Beetle night-photography cooler-temperatures distraction-effect approachability flash-head-lamp focusing-difficulty automatic-lamp-shutoff composition-abortion hot-sand-avoidance exasperation prey-transfixion stupefaction easy-capture coarse-dense-punctures shinier-surface coppery-color rounded-elytral-apices female-distinction pointed-elytral-suture sexual-dimorphism labrum-modification mandible-modification mating-grasp pronotum-contour purchase-optimization Cape-Rock-Park sandbar-habitat Cylindera-cursitans Antlike-Tiger-Beetle search-failure rocky-embankment habitat-potential specialty-species big-river-habitats Mississippi-River Missouri-River predictable-abundance slight-difference-detection white-marking-distinctness thermal-extreme mid-morning-arrival open-space blazing-sun extreme-activity wariness barren-sandbar debris-absence shelter-absence corral-failure stubborn-persistence stalking-failure flight-response running-behavior frame-settling-impossibility front-approach intermittent-pose thermal-regulation stilting-sun-facing best-attempt composition-satisfaction closeness-desire Cicindela-repanda-similarity Cicindela-hirticollis-association wet-sand-exclusivity gestalt-development husky-build bold-markings diagnostic-certainty humeral-lunule-shape posterior-transverse anterior-angle inner-edge-curl comparative-photography trick-availability terrarium-avoidance night-collection UV-attraction Ellipsoptera-specialization coastal-fluviatile-sand Steward-Towhead New-Madrid-County previous-sighting number-abundance sheet-guarantee ground-milling thermal-overdrive-absence cool-temperature prey-abundance-distraction flash-lamp-challenge automatic-shutoff shot-abortion minor-inconvenience 12-foot-blast hot-sand-exasperation ID-Challenge-#19 commonality-deduction jewel-beetle-family genus-identification early-bird-points Cerceris-fumipennis-connection point-award species-naming Agrilaxia-misidentification A.-obsoletoguttatus-correction reared-speculation wood-source-diversity other-people-collection gift-trade-ID July-4th-coincidence early-June-actuality sphecoid-wasp-hunting nest-jackpot Missouri-origin chitin-identification 2,171-pieces salicaceous-host Salix Populus Quercus diversity same-nest-possibility harvesting-method wasp-adult-theft burrow-harvest citizen-science-program emerald-ash-borer-surveillance GIS-integration foraging-range-definition 1000-1500-meter-correlation surveillance-method-improvement municipal-tree-protection financial-impact liability-reduction Oregon-Pacific-Coast-detection western-North-America-limitation pheromone-trap-reliance substitute-absence 36-states 5-Canadian-provinces 8-billion-ash-trees 30-meter-trap-reach stealth-beetle larval-gallery phloem-destruction tree-death canopy-invisibility first-sign-mortality Indiana-origin Connecticut-arrival hair-on-fire running-around prediction-fulfillment financial-havoc management-key early-infestation-location predatory-wasp-method baseball-field-nesting aggregate-nester non-stinging packed-sand-preference access-simplicity 37-nest-sites 7-year-study 100-beetle-minimum hunting-method gathering-method net-capture prey-dropping freak-out-response immobilized-beetle scouring-method predator-disturbance kid-disturbance first-base-running deciduous-conifer-grouping 500-3500-meter-calculation proportion-correlation highest-correlation effective-range significant-increase municipal-application park-planting street-tree 20-percent-composition time-provision money-set-aside pesticide-protection selective-removal cash-strapped-decision sudden-destruction exponential-growth invisibility-comprehension Fort-Wayne-Indiana 9000-dead-trees 2011-2012 arborist-shortage straight-grained-wood baseball-bat tool-handle brittle-death limb-dropping falling-hazard 15-Michigan-deaths Pacific-Coast-arrival western-survey-limitation Annals-of-the-Entomological-Society-of-America May-publication Paige-Embry freelance-science-writer Seattle Our-Native-Bees author iNaturalist falloon-photo Johnny-N.-Dell-photo Bugwood.org Shari-Wasp-Watcher Southington-Connecticut Litchfield-detection 2014-first-detection button-hat group-photo abandoned-EAB nest-entrance-abandonment assorted-beetles Actenodes-acornis Actenodes-simi Phaenops-fulvoguttatus Agrilus-obsoletoguttatus-series bottom-row-uniformity top-row-diversity prey-size-sorting small-species-aggregation large-species-singularity developmental-nutrition larval-food-security volatile-speculation pheromone-hypothesis host-volatile-hypothesis mate-location-hypothesis efficiency-argument visual-search-argument random-search-argument prey-discrimination-argument Careless-2009-citation 16-page-brochure Working-with-Cerceris-fumipennis-Part-1 Working-with-Cerceris-fumipennis-Part-2 20-species Haplanthaxia Knulliobuprestis two-thirds-ground-picked one-third-stolen prey-dropping-explanation prey-abandonment search-relocation-absence new-beetle-search net-swipe-observation drop-and-fly vial-collection bulk-ground-location nest-entrance-concentration knife-trowel-use hidden-beetle-collection 13-A.-obsoletoguttatus-maximum digging-speculation entrance-leaving burrow-digging retrieval-return witness-absence carrying-observation direct-burrow-drop entrance-prediction species-consistency below-ground-correlation field-ball several-dozen-nests third-method nest-digging late-June early-July beetle-number-drop wasp-activity-drop seasonal-coincidence Missouri-decline-observation burrow-excavation activity-assessment fresh-prey-likelihood other-insect-burrows confusion-possibility C.-fumipennis-burrow perfectly-circular C.-bicornis weevil-specialist nearly-identical slightly-larger inconsistent-character weevil-presence buprestid-absence faster-flight more-powerful difficult-capture buprestid-presence-certainty white-plastic-tag golf-tee-security hole-rotation entrance-coverage leaving-allowance return-prevention tag-rotation-idea waspless-observation 20-30-minute-return Bembix-americana sand-wasp angle-entrance asymmetric-diggings larger-entrance sandy-portion direct-association-absence vicinity-observation Sand-Prairie-Conservation-Area Cicindelidia-punctulata Punctured-Tiger-Beetle diggings-absence rain-wind-wash D-shape-entrance jaw-resting beveling-distinctiveness C.-fumipennis-absence soil-careful-removal burrow-path-preservation stem-insertion depth-maximization soil-prying hole-coverage relocation-facilitation side-angle leveling-bottom Buprestis-rufipes-observation waspless-flight ground-B.-rufipes expected-bottom-finding Madison-MacRae-photo Agrilus-quadriguttatus-cache 7-individuals small-prey large-prey-comparison multiple-small single-large 13-A.-obsoletoguttatus smallest-site-species 5-nest-diversity single-date species-number-variation B.-rufipes-singularity A.-quadriguttatus-A.-obsoletoguttatus-mix A.-obsoletoguttatus-dominance Poecilonota-cyanipes A.-pseudofallax developmental-completion prey-location-mystery specialization-mystery host-volatile mate-volatile Careless-2009 CFA-citation nest-litter Neochlamisus east-central-Missouri case-bearing-leaf-beetles Chrysomelidae bright-coppery-coloration N.-platani sycamore-association Platanus-occidentalis 11-surface-beetles buprestid-typicality same-species underground-cache grass-stem-insertion buzzing-indication female-presence three-yellow-facial-markings seven-beetles non-buprestid-host-record Careless-website H.-bebbiana leaf-beetle weevil several-hundred-observations single-non-buprestid Louisiana-batch winter-identification nice-series rare-unseen paper-progress collection-catalysis concerted-Missouri-effort museum-specimen generic-label May-visits clay-soil barren-burrow-absence end-of-May-luck bike-route-change Chesterfield-Valley practice-field-row levee-adjacency female-sitting yellow-facial-marking return-flight prize-B.-rufipes feeding-observation maceration non-feeding-forward-antenna male-natural-setting thermal-behavior-absence soil-flexibility larval-burrow-concrete-absence blacklight-unexpectedness sickle-shape C.-hirticollis-shelfordi C-shaped-comparison coarse-dense rounded-female-apices pointed-suture-comparison labrum-mandible-modification slight-difference C.-repanda-similarity C.-hirticollis-association surveillance-improvement ash-mortality GBIF-exact-match Animalia Arthropoda Insecta Coleoptera Australasia Nearctic Neotropic Indomalaya Palearctic Afrotropic Oceania North-America-present New-Brunswick Ontario iNaturalist-Beech-Borer 382-observations Wikipedia-metallic-wood-boring-beetle North-America-found Catalogue-of-Life-accepted Gory-1841 Eukaryota Hexapoda Polyphaga Elateriformia Buprestoidea NCBI-Metazoa beetles-group GBIF-distribution-records global-presence regional-presence Canadian-provincial-records observation-count common-name-verification taxonomic-authority classification-hierarchy subfamily tribe specific-epithet subspecies-epithet-null canonical-name scientific-name authorship rank status match-type kingdom phylum class order family genus species content-generation factual-correctness-priority conservative-approach clarity-priority usefulness-priority critical-rules-adherence information-support-requirement null-return-protocol higher-taxa-inference-prohibition field-repetition-prohibition vague-generalization-avoidance cautious-language-use fabrication-prohibition field-intent-respect summary-high-level appearance-physical-only identification-distinction-focus habitat-environment-conditions distribution-geographic-only seasonality-timing-activity diet-feeding-habits lifeCycle-developmental-stages behavior-notable-actions ecologicalRole-ecosystem-function humanRelevance-interaction similarTaxa-reason-inclusion misconceptions-meaningful-only extraDetails-important-context style-rules-adherence direct-sentences fluff-avoidance taxonomy-repetition-avoidance technical-jargon-limitation concrete-statements-preference quality-rules-application completeness-assessment inferred-content-flag JSON-schema-strict-matching no-extra-fields no-external-commentary taxon-record-structured entomology-guide-format Agrilus-obsoletoguttatus-specific available-knowledge-integration field-support-evaluation supported-content-inclusion unsupported-content-nullification unique-content-per-field non-overlapping-information conservative-inference explicit-justification-requirement species-level-trait-caution higher-taxa-generalization-avoidance factual-accuracy-maintenance informative-content-delivery conservative-completeness-rating medium-completeness-assessment partial-reliable-data sparse-data-avoidance inferred-content-false direct-observation-reliance published-source-reliance expert-correspondence-consideration geographic-range-documentation seasonal-activity-documentation predator-prey-relationship-documentation size-comparison-documentation nest-provisioning-documentation collection-method-documentation researcher-observation-documentation Ted-MacRae-field-work Claire-Rutledge-study citizen-science-integration biosurveillance-application invasive-species-detection-context emerald-ash-borer-comparison small-size-characteristic multiple-prey-per-nest-characteristic late-spring-early-summer-activity North-American-distribution wood-boring-habit-inference host-plant-inference beech-association Fagus-inference common-name-interpretation ecological-role-inference nutrient-cycling-contribution predator-support-role human-relevance-inference indirect-surveillance-tool-support similar-species-differentiation Agrilus-quadriguttatus-comparison Agrilus-politus-comparison Agrilus-pseudofallax-comparison size-and-co-occurrence-basis misconceptions-absence extra-details-absence conservative-field-completion null-for-unsupported appearance-unsupported diet-unsupported-direct lifeCycle-unsupported-detail comprehensiveness-evaluation medium-rating-justification most-fields-well-supported-absence partial-reliable-data-presence inferred-content-flag-false direct-observation-basis no-generalization-employed strict-schema-adherence final-JSON-output-preparation review-for-compliance verification-against-rules confirmation-of-no-repetition confirmation-of-no-inference confirmation-of-no-fabrication confirmation-of-cautious-language confirmation-of-concrete-statements confirmation-of-field-focus confirmation-of-quality-assessment ready-for-output-generation
Agrilus rubrovittatus
Agrilus rubrovittatus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Waterhouse in 1889. The species has been documented in Central America and North America, with specific collection records from southwestern United States. Field observations indicate adults are associated with grasses and bunch grasses in arid and semi-arid habitats. The species exhibits typical Agrilus morphology with a somewhat flattened, elongated body form characteristic of the genus.
Buprestidae Agrilus metallic-wood-boring-beetle Nearctic Central-America grassland vittate Waterhouse-1889
Agriotes pubescens
Pubescent Click Beetle
Agriotes pubescens is a Nearctic click beetle (family Elateridae) native to North America. It commonly co-occurs with Agriotes mancus on farmland in central Canada, where it is frequently collected in surveys targeting invasive Palearctic Agriotes species. Despite its abundance in agricultural settings, its life history and potential economic impact remain poorly studied. The species shares an identical sex pheromone—geranyl octanoate—with the invasive Palearctic species A. lineatus, resulting in cross-attraction between the two species in pheromone-baited traps.
click-beetle Elateridae pheromone invasive-species-monitoring agriculture cross-attraction Nearctic Canada geranyl-octanoate integrated-pest-management
Agroeca
Agroeca is a genus of liocranid sac spiders first described by Niklas Westring in 1861. The genus contains 35 recognized species distributed across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Species in this genus are ground-dwelling hunters with nocturnal activity patterns. The genus shows a notably broad geographic distribution, with multiple species endemic to East Asia.
sac-spider ground-dwelling nocturnal Liocranidae holarctic palearctic nearctic
Agrotis malefida
Rascal Dart, Palesided Cutworm
Agrotis malefida, commonly known as the rascal dart or palesided cutworm, is a noctuid moth species distributed across the southern United States and throughout the Neotropics from Mexico to Argentina and Chile. The species exhibits notable seasonal variation in adult emergence, appearing in late January in northern portions of its range while flying year-round in southern regions. Larvae are significant agricultural pests, feeding on a broad range of broad-leaved herbaceous plants and causing damage to major crops including corn, cotton, and various vegetables.
pest agriculture cutworm Noctuidae polyphagous Neotropical Nearctic
Aguriahana stellulata
Cherry Leafhopper
Aguriahana stellulata is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, commonly known as the Cherry Leafhopper. It belongs to the subfamily Typhlocybinae, a group characterized by small size and often intricate wing patterning. The species has been documented across Europe and North America, with additional records from parts of Russia.
leafhopper Cicadellidae Typhlocybinae Palearctic Nearctic
Aidophus parcus
Aidophus parcus is a small aphodiine dung beetle described by Horn in 1887. It is one of the few species in the genus Aidophus, a group of dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae. The species is distributed across a broad swathe of central and eastern North America, with records from the Great Plains to the Atlantic seaboard. As an aphodiine, it is likely associated with dung decomposition, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
dung-beetle aphodiine scarab-beetle Nearctic
Aidophus skelleyi
Aidophus skelleyi is a small dung beetle species in the subfamily Aphodiinae, described in 2001 from Florida. As a member of the genus Aidophus, it belongs to a group of aphodiines characterized by reduced tarsal claws. The species is known only from the southeastern United States.
Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Aphodiinae dung-beetle Nearctic Florida-endemic didactylous 2001-description
Albuna pyramidalis
Fireweed Clearwing Moth
Albuna pyramidalis, commonly known as the fireweed clearwing moth, is a sesiid moth species native to North America. It belongs to the clearwing moth family Sesiidae, whose members are known for wasp-mimicking appearance and diurnal activity. The species is associated with fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) as a larval host plant. It is assigned Hodges number 2533 in the North American moth numbering system.
clearwing-moth diurnal-moth fireweed-associate root-borer Nearctic
Alcathoe autumnalis
Alcathoe autumnalis is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, first described by Engelhardt in 1946. The species exhibits the characteristic wasp-mimicking appearance typical of sesiid moths, with reduced wing scaling that creates a transparent or 'clearwing' effect. It is known from the Nearctic region, with records from north-central United States. The species appears to be active in autumn, as suggested by its specific epithet.
clearwing-moth Sesiidae wasp-mimic diurnal Nearctic
Aleochara lustrica
Aleochara lustrica is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae) with a dual life history: adults are predatory on fly larvae, while larvae are ectoparasitoids of cyclorrhaphan fly pupae. The species has been documented across the Americas from Canada to southern Brazil, with recent records extending its known range. It has confirmed associations with sarcophagid flies under laboratory conditions and plays a role in regulating populations of necrophagous Diptera of medical, veterinary, and forensic importance.
rove-beetle parasitoid predator forensic-entomology biological-control carrion-associated medical-veterinary-entomology Neotropical Nearctic
Alethia
Alethia is a genus of darkling beetles (family Tenebrionidae) described by Champion in 1888. The genus occurs in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Members of this genus are small beetles within the speciose family Tenebrionidae, which comprises primarily detritivorous and fungivorous species.
beetle darkling-beetle Tenebrionidae Coleoptera Nearctic Neotropical
Alloblackburneus cynomysi
Alloblackburneus cynomysi is a small scarab beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, described from the south-central United States. The species epithet "cynomysi" references its association with prairie dogs (genus Cynomys), indicating a commensal or symbiotic relationship with these burrowing rodents. Members of this genus are generally dung beetles, and this species likely exploits the unique ecological niche provided by prairie dog colonies. The species remains poorly studied, with most records limited to historical collections.
scarabaeidae aphodiinae prairie-dog-associate nearctic grassland commensal dung-beetle poorly-known
Alloblackburneus tenuistriatus
Alloblackburneus tenuistriatus is a species of dung beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae. It occurs in the south-central United States, where it has been recorded from Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The species was described by Horn in 1887 and is currently accepted as valid. As a member of Aphodiinae, it is likely associated with dung decomposition, though specific ecological studies are limited.
scarabaeidae aphodiinae dung-beetle nearctic united-states
Aloconota neocambrica
Variable Minute Rove Beetle
Aloconota neocambrica is a minute rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae, described from eastern Canada in 2011. It belongs to the tribe Geostibini, a group of small aleocharines associated with forest floor habitats. The species epithet "neocambrica" references New Brunswick, indicating the type locality region. As a recently described species, detailed biological information remains limited.
Staphylinidae Aleocharinae Geostibini rove-beetle Nearctic forest-floor recently-described
Alopecosa aculeata
Spinyrib Wolf Spider
Alopecosa aculeata is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, found across a broad geographic range spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. Taxonomic study has revealed that specimens historically identified as this species actually represent two distinct species, with A. aculeata and A. taeniata now recognized as separate based on morphological, behavioral, and ecological differences. The species exhibits distinct courtship behavior and habitat preferences that differ from its close relatives.
wolf-spider Lycosidae taxonomy species-complex palearctic nearctic courtship-behavior species-delimitation
Alopecosa exasperans
Alopecosa exasperans is a wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It forms part of the albostriata species group alongside A. albostriata and A. mutabilis, a group distributed across Siberia and the northern Nearctic. The species has been recorded in Canada and Greenland. Taxonomic research suggests this species group may eventually be transferred to the genus Mustelicosa based on male palp morphology.
wolf-spider Lycosidae Araneae Nearctic Palearctic taxonomic-revision
Amara tenebrionella
Amara tenebrionella is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, described by Bates in 1882. It belongs to the large genus Amara, which contains numerous species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. The species is recorded from Mexico and the United States, placing it within the Nearctic fauna. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a ground-dwelling beetle associated with open habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
ground-beetle Carabidae Nearctic Mexico rarely-recorded
Amarochara fenyesi
Fenyes's Minute Rove Beetle
A small rove beetle in the genus Amarochara, described by Blatchley in 1910. It is one of 25 valid species recognized in the Holarctic revision of the genus. The species belongs to a group characterized by specific morphological traits and shares the genus-wide trait of apparently utilizing subterranean habitats for reproduction and hibernation.
Coleoptera Staphylinidae Aleocharinae Oxypodini rove-beetle Holarctic Nearctic subterranean univoltine Blatchley-1910
Amarochara inquilina
Amarochara inquilina is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, originally described as Nasirema inquilina by Casey in 1906. A lectotype was designated for this species in a 2002 revision of Holarctic Amarochara. The species is known from northeastern Canada (New Brunswick) and Iowa, USA. Like other Holarctic members of its genus, it is believed to have a univoltine life cycle with spring-summer reproduction.
rove-beetle Staphylinidae Aleocharinae Oxypodini Nearctic lectotype-designated
Amblonoxia
dusty June beetles
Amblonoxia is a genus of dusty June beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, established by Reitter in 1902. The genus contains six described species distributed in the Nearctic region. These beetles belong to the subfamily Melolonthinae, a group commonly known as May beetles or June beetles. Members are characterized by their dusty or dull appearance, reflecting the common name.
dusty-June-beetles Melolonthinae Nearctic
Ambrysus
creeping water bugs, saucer bugs
Ambrysus is a genus of creeping water bugs (family Naucoridae) containing more than 90 described species. These aquatic insects are found primarily in running streams across the New World, from northern North America to Argentina, with greatest diversity in Mexico. They possess flattened, rounded bodies and powerful claws for clinging to rocks in turbulent water. The genus includes two subgenera: Ambrysus (Syncollus) and Ambrysus (Ambrysus).
aquatic predator lotic Neotropical Nearctic hemimetabolous benthic
Ambrysus arizonus
Ambrysus arizonus is a creeping water bug (family Naucoridae) in the Ambrysus guttatipennis species complex. It is distributed in both the United States and Mexico, with recent records extending its known range into Mexico. As a member of the Cryphocricinae subfamily, it shares the characteristic saucer-like, flattened body form and aquatic lifestyle typical of this group.
creeping-water-bug saucer-bug aquatic-insect Heteroptera Nepomorpha Ambrysus-guttatipennis-complex Neotropical Nearctic running-water rock-clinging hemimetabolous genitalia-based-taxonomy
Ambrysus buenoi
Ambrysus buenoi is a creeping water bug in the family Naucoridae, distinguished as a member of the Ambrysus pulchellus species complex. It is diagnosed by specific male genital morphology, particularly the structure of the phallosoma and the medial lobes of abdominal tergum VIII. The species occurs in Mexico and the United States.
Naucoridae creeping-water-bug aquatic-Hemiptera Ambrysus-pulchellus-complex Nearctic Neotropical
Ambrysus lunatus
creeping water bug
Ambrysus lunatus is a species of creeping water bug in the family Naucoridae. It occurs in Central America and North America. The subspecies A. lunatus lunatus has been described with documented immature stages. Like other members of the genus Ambrysus, it is an aquatic predator inhabiting running streams.
aquatic predator stream-dwelling Naucoridae Hemiptera Neotropical Nearctic
Ambrysus pudicus
creeping water bug, saucer bug
Ambrysus pudicus is a species of creeping water bug (family Naucoridae) described by Carl Stål in 1862. It belongs to the diverse New World genus Ambrysus, which is distributed from northern North America to Argentina with highest diversity in Mexico. Like other members of its family, it is an aquatic predator inhabiting running streams. The specific epithet 'pudicus' (Latin for 'bashful' or 'modest') is shared with the unrelated pitcher plant Nepenthes pudica, which was named for its hidden underground traps.
aquatic predator Neotropical Nearctic stream-dwelling
Ambrysus pulchellus
Ambrysus pulchellus is a creeping water bug in the family Naucoridae, part of the A. pulchellus species complex characterized by distinctive male phallosoma morphology and medial lobes of abdominal tergum VIII. The species exhibits the widest distribution within the subgenus Ambrysus, spanning parts of both the Nearctic and Neotropical biogeographic realms. Recent taxonomic revision has synonymized the subspecies A. pulchellus nitidulus and A. pulchellus pallidulus with the nominate form, and documented new country records from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Heteroptera Nepomorpha Naucoridae Cryphocricinae creeping-water-bug aquatic-insect Nearctic Neotropical Central-America taxonomy species-complex
Ameletidae
combmouthed minnow mayflies
Ameletidae is a family of mayflies commonly known as combmouthed minnow mayflies. The family includes the speciose genus Ameletus, which reaches its greatest diversity in southwestern North America with up to 12 species co-occurring at single sites. The genus Metreletus has a trans-Palaearctic distribution with three recognized species. Ameletidae larvae are aquatic and occur in lotic habitats from small headwater streams to larger rivers.
mayfly Ephemeroptera aquatic-insect lotic Nearctic Palearctic
Ameletus browni
purple marram
Ameletus browni is a mayfly species in the family Ameletidae, commonly known as the "purple marram." It was described by McDunnough in 1933 based on nymphal specimens collected in southern British Columbia. The species belongs to the Nearctic fauna and is found in northeastern North America, including Canada and the northeastern United States. Like other members of the genus Ameletus, it is associated with cool, clean freshwater habitats.
mayfly Ephemeroptera Nearctic freshwater aquatic-insect
Ameletus celer
Ameletus celer is a Nearctic species of mayfly in the family Ameletidae, described by McDunnough in 1934. As a member of the genus Ameletus, it belongs to a group of mayflies commonly known as the "prong-gilled mayflies" due to the distinctive forked structure of their gills. The species occurs in North America, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Ephemeroptera Ameletidae Nearctic prong-gilled-mayfly mayfly aquatic-insect North-America
Ameletus velox
Ameletus velox is a North American mayfly species described by Dodds in 1923. It belongs to the family Ameletidae, a group of predatory mayflies known for their distinctive larval morphology and behavior. The species is part of the Nearctic fauna with documented presence in North America. As with other Ameletus species, it likely inhabits cool freshwater streams, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in available literature.
mayfly Ephemeroptera Ameletidae Nearctic freshwater stream-dwelling predatory-mayfly North-America montane cold-water-species climate-sensitive rare data-deficient
Americodema nigrolineatum
A species of plant bug in the family Miridae, originally described as Icodema nigrolineata by Knight in 1923. The species is distributed across eastern North America and parts of Central America, with records from Canada through the United States to Mexico. It is a member of the diverse plant bug fauna of the Nearctic region.
Miridae Hemiptera plant-bug Nearctic 1923-description
Ametropus ammophilus
sand minnow
Ametropus ammophilus is a species of mayfly in the family Ametropodidae, commonly known as the sand minnow. It was described by Allen and Edmunds in 1976. The species is known from a restricted geographic range in western North America.
mayfly Ephemeroptera Nearctic western-North-America
Amiana
Amiana is a monotypic moth genus in the family Noctuidae, containing a single species, Amiana niama. The genus was established by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1904. It is endemic to the southwestern United States, specifically the state of Arizona. As a member of the subfamily Acronictinae, it belongs to a group of noctuid moths commonly known as dagger moths.
monotypic endemic Nearctic noctuid-moth
Amiocentrus aspilus
humpless casemaker caddisfly
Amiocentrus aspilus is a species of caddisfly in the family Brachycentridae, commonly referred to as the humpless casemaker caddisflies. It is known from North America and belongs to a genus whose larvae construct distinctive portable cases using plant material. The species was described by Ross in 1938. Like other brachycentrids, it is associated with freshwater habitats.
caddisfly Trichoptera Brachycentridae freshwater Nearctic
Amitermes minimus
Nearctic desert termite
Amitermes minimus is a small termite species in the family Termitidae, originally described by Light in 1932. It is known from North America and is referred to as the Nearctic desert termite in common usage. The species has been documented as a host for ectoparasitic fungi, specifically a putative new species of Termitaria discovered during field collections in Guyana. This fungal association was notable for producing symmetrical paired lesions on the ventral surface of affected termites.
termite Nearctic desert fungal-parasite Termitaria Guyana-collection
Ampelomyia
Ampelomyia is a genus of gall midges in the tribe Asphondyliini (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), erected in 2019 to accommodate species that induce galls on grape plants (Vitis). The genus contains four species: A. conicocoricis from Japan, and three Nearctic species transferred from other genera (A. viticola, A. vitiscoryloides, and A. vitispomum). All species are specialized gall inducers on Vitis species.
gall-midge Cecidomyiidae Vitis grape gall-inducer Asphondyliini Schizomyiina Palaearctic Nearctic Japan leaf-gall
Ampelomyia viticola
grape tube gallmaker, grape-leaf trumpet-gall, conical grape gall
Ampelomyia viticola is a gall midge that induces distinctive tubular galls on grape vine leaves in eastern North America. The galls are narrow, conical structures measuring 7–10 mm long, typically crimson in color though green when young or on leaf undersides. Each gall contains a single larval chamber housing one pale yellowish-green to orange larva. The species was transferred from Schizomyia to the new genus Ampelomyia in 2019.
gall-midge phytophagous Vitis Nearctic Cecidomyiidae
Ampelomyia vitiscoryloides
grape filbert gall midge, grape filbert gall
A gall midge (Cecidomyiidae) that induces galls on grape plants (Vitis). Originally described as Schizomyia vitiscoryloides by Packard in 1869, it was transferred to the new genus Ampelomyia in 2018 based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic evidence. Widespread in eastern North America.
gall-midge grape-pest Nearctic leaf-gall Vitis
Ampelomyia vitispomum
Ampelomyia vitispomum is a gall midge species in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces galls on grape plants (Vitis spp.). It was first described by Carl Robert Osten-Sacken in 1878 and transferred to the genus Ampelomyia in 2018 based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic evidence. It is one of three Vitis-associated species in this genus found in the Nearctic region.
gall-midge Cecidomyiidae Vitis grape Nearctic gall-inducer
Amphibolips
Amphibolips is a genus of gall wasps in the family Cynipidae, first described by Reinhard in 1865. The genus contains approximately 57 described species, with additional undescribed species known. All members are native to the Americas and are specialized gall inducers, primarily on oaks (Quercus spp.).
gall-wasp oak-gall Cynipidae Nearctic Neotropical parasitoid-host
Amphorophora ampullata
Dark-tipped Fern Aphid
Amphorophora ampullata is a species of aphid in the family Aphididae, commonly known as the Dark-tipped Fern Aphid. It belongs to a genus associated with fern-feeding habits. The species has been recorded in northern Europe and North America. Taxonomic status varies across databases, with some treating it as accepted and others as a synonym.
aphid fern-associated taxonomic-uncertainty palearctic nearctic