Nearctic
Guides
Canthon
tumblebugs, dung rollers
Canthon is a genus of ball-rolling dung beetles (telocoprids) commonly known as tumblebugs, distributed across the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Adults are known for their distinctive behavior of forming dung balls and rolling them away from source material for feeding or nesting. The genus exhibits notable behavioral diversity, with some species employing 'sit and wait' perching strategies to detect dung through chemoreception, while others actively follow animals. Several species show color polymorphism that may be linked to thermal adaptation and elevational distribution.
Canthon blumei
Canthon blumei is a dung beetle species in the tribe Canthonini, described by Halffter & Halffter in 2003. It is known from Texas, USA, within the Nearctic region. As a member of the genus Canthon, it belongs to a group of beetles commonly referred to as "tumblebugs" for their behavior of rolling dung into balls.
Canthon cyanellus
Dung beetle
Canthon cyanellus is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by LeConte in 1859. The species belongs to the genus Canthon, a group of dung beetles commonly known as "tumblebugs" for their behavior of rolling dung into balls. It occurs across a broad geographic range spanning the southern United States through Mexico and Central America into northern South America. The species has been recorded from Texas in the Nearctic realm and from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil in the Neotropical realm.
Canthon floridanus
Canthon floridanus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Brown in 1946. It is native to the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, occurring in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Like other members of the genus Canthon, it is a dung-rolling beetle that constructs brood balls from fecal material.
Cantura
Cantura is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Deltocephalinae, and tribe Scaphoideini. The genus was established by Oman in 1949. It belongs to the large and diverse leafhopper fauna of the New World.
Caphys
snout moths
Caphys is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Chrysauginae. It was established by Francis Walker in 1863 with Caphys bilinea (now a junior synonym of C. bilineata) as the type species. The genus contains eight described species distributed primarily in the Americas, ranging from the southwestern United States through Central America.
Capnia zukeli
Idaho snowfly
Capnia zukeli, known as the Idaho snowfly, is a small winter stonefly species in the family Capniidae. It was described by Hanson in 1943. The species is known from Idaho and the broader Nearctic region of North America. As a member of Capniidae, it belongs to a group of cold-adapted stoneflies active during winter months.
Carmenta armasata
Carmenta armasata is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, first described by Herbert Druce in 1892. It is known from Texas in the southern United States. The species belongs to a genus of seed-feeding clearwing moths primarily distributed in the Americas. Like other sesiids, adults likely mimic wasps or hornets in appearance.
Carmenta engelhardti
Carmenta engelhardti is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described from Arizona in 1973. The species was collected on Brickellia foliage along small creeks in the Patagonia and Huachuca mountains. As a member of the genus Carmenta, it belongs to a group of seed-feeding clearwing moths primarily distributed in the Americas. The species has been documented in August.
Carmenta laurelae
Carmenta laurelae is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described in 1985 from specimens collected in Florida. The species has forewings measuring 9–10 mm in length. It belongs to a genus of seed-feeding clearwing moths primarily distributed in the Americas.
Carmenta ogalala
Carmenta ogalala is a clearwing moth (family Sesiidae) described by Engelhardt in 1946. The species is known from Colorado in the western United States. Like other members of its genus, it likely exhibits wasp-mimicry through transparent wings and a slender body form. Very few documented observations exist, with only three records reported to iNaturalist.
Carmenta pallene
Carmenta pallene is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described by Herbert Druce in 1889 from specimens collected in Tabasco, Mexico. The species is also known from Arizona in the United States. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits the characteristic wasp-mimicking appearance of sesiid moths, with reduced wing scaling that leaves much of the wing membrane transparent. The original description and limited subsequent records provide sparse information on its biology and ecology.
Carmenta phoradendri
Mistletoe Borer, Mistletoe Borer Moth
Carmenta phoradendri is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described by George Paul Engelhardt in 1946. Larvae are known to feed internally on Phoradendron tomentosum, a mistletoe species parasitizing mesquite trees. The species has been subject to taxonomic revision, with some authorities placing it in the genus Synanthedon based on larval characters. Adults are active in late summer.
Carmenta prosopis
Carmenta prosopis is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described by Henry Edwards in 1882. It occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The larvae feed on mesquites (Prosopis species). As a member of the clearwing moth group, it exhibits wasp-mimicking appearance and diurnal activity patterns typical of the family.
Carmenta querci
Carmenta querci is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described by Henry Edwards in 1882. The species is known from the southwestern United States, specifically Colorado and Arizona. Larvae develop within galls on oaks, with documented associations to Quercus arizonica and Quercus oblongifolia. As a member of the Carmenta genus, it exhibits the transparent wings and wasp-mimicking appearance typical of sesiid moths.
Carmenta subaerea
Carmenta subaerea is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described by Henry Edwards in 1883. The species is documented from Arizona, USA, and belongs to a genus of seed-feeding clearwing moths distributed primarily in the Americas. Like other sesiids, it likely exhibits wasp-mimicry through transparent wings and a slender body form.
Carmenta wielgusi
A clearwing moth species described by Eichlin in 1987. Like other members of the genus Carmenta, it belongs to the family Sesiidae, a group of moths characterized by wasp-mimicking appearance and diurnal activity. The species is known from the Nearctic region. Specific details regarding its biology, host plants, and distribution remain poorly documented in available literature.
Carpilis
dirt-colored seed bugs
Carpilis is a genus of true bugs in the family Rhyparochromidae, commonly known as dirt-colored seed bugs. The genus was established by Stål in 1874 and contains at least three described species: C. barberi, C. consimilis, and C. ferruginea. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Myodochini within the subfamily Rhyparochrominae. Like other rhyparochromids, they are ground-dwelling seed bugs with typically dull coloration.
Carynota marmorata
marbled treehopper
Carynota marmorata, commonly known as the marbled treehopper, is a Nearctic treehopper species first described by Thomas Say in 1830. It is characterized by a moderately elevated, rounded pronotum with distinctive mottled coloration. The species feeds on multiple tree genera including alder, birch, hazelnut, cottonwood, and oak. It occurs in the midwestern and eastern United States and eastern Canada.
Caryocolum cassella
Caryocolum cassella is a small gelechiid moth with a broad Palearctic distribution extending from Western Europe through Scandinavia to Eastern Europe and Russia, with additional populations in western North America. The species shows sexual dimorphism in forewing length, with males slightly larger than females. Adults are active during summer months, while larvae develop in spring on Stellaria nemorum.
Caryomyia subulata
Hickory Awl-shaped Gall Midge
A species of gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae, described by Gagné in 2008. Known by the common name "Hickory Awl-shaped Gall Midge," this species induces distinctive galls on hickory trees. As a member of the genus Caryomyia, it belongs to a group specialized on Carya (hickory) hosts. The specific epithet "subulata" refers to the awl-shaped form of the gall it produces.
Caudatella heterocaudata
A species of spiny crawler mayfly in the family Ephemerellidae, originally described by McDunnough in 1929. The species has undergone taxonomic revision, with Caudatella circia previously treated as distinct but now recognized as a synonym. Larvae possess diagnostic morphological characters that allow separation from the related C. hystrix complex.
Cecrita
prominent moths
Cecrita is a genus of prominent moths in the family Notodontidae, established by Francis Walker in 1855. The genus contains approximately eight described species distributed across North, Central, and South America. These moths are part of the subfamily Heterocampinae. Two species, Cecrita guttivitta (saddled prominent) and Cecrita biundata (wavy-lined heterocampa), are relatively well-known and frequently encountered.
Celypha cespitana
Celypha Moth
Celypha cespitana is a small tortricid moth with a wingspan of approximately 15 mm, distributed across the Palearctic and Nearctic realms. The species exhibits variable forewing coloration ranging from silvery-white to ochreous, greyish, or reddish tones with distinctive dark markings. Adults are active from late May through September in western Europe. The larvae feed on herbaceous plants, though specific host associations remain incompletely documented.
Cenocorixa dakotensis
Cenocorixa dakotensis is a species of water boatman (family Corixidae) described by Hungerford in 1928. It belongs to a genus of aquatic true bugs found in northern regions. The species is known from North America, particularly in the Nearctic region.
Cenophengus
glowworm beetles
Cenophengus is a genus of glowworm beetles (family Phengodidae) comprising 30 valid species distributed across the Nearctic and Neotropical regions from the southwestern United States through Central America. Males are the only known life stage; females and immature stages remain undiscovered for all species. The genus was revised taxonomically in 2021, with new species described and geographic records expanded to include Belize and Honduras for the first time.
Centrodontus atlas reticulatus
Centrodontus atlas reticulatus is a subspecies of treehopper in the family Membracidae, first described by Cook in 1952. As a member of the subfamily Centrotinae, it possesses the distinctive pronotal extensions characteristic of this group. The species Centrodontus atlas occurs within the Nearctic region, and this subspecies represents a geographically or morphologically distinct population. Treehoppers in this genus are typically associated with woody host plants.
Centromerita bicolor
Centromerita bicolor is a species of sheetweb spider in the family Linyphiidae, first described by John Blackwall in 1833. It is a small spider with a trans-Palearctic native distribution and has been introduced to North America. The species is known to occur in a variety of habitats across its range. Like other linyphiids, it constructs sheet webs for prey capture.
Centromerus cornupalpis
Eastern Spurred Sheetweaver
Centromerus cornupalpis is a sheetweb spider in the family Linyphiidae, known as the Eastern Spurred Sheetweaver. It is native to North America and exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism in genital morphology. Males possess a distinctive horn-like projection on the paracymbium, while females have a characteristic narrow, smooth scape on the epigynum. These structural differences are the primary means of distinguishing the species from congeners.
Cephalocyclus luteolus
Cephalocyclus luteolus is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It is native to the southwestern United States, with confirmed records from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. The species was described by George Henry Horn in 1887. Like other members of the genus Cephalocyclus, it belongs to the dung beetle tribe Aphodiini, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Cephalodynerus
Cephalodynerus is a small genus of potter wasps in the subfamily Eumeninae, containing six species. The genus is restricted to the Nearctic region. Species in this genus construct characteristic mud nests with pot-shaped cells. The genus was established by Parker in 1965.
Ceraclea tarsipunctata
Ceraclea tarsipunctata is a species of caddisfly in the family Leptoceridae, described by Vorhies in 1909. It belongs to a genus known for having antennae longer than the body, a distinctive trait within Trichoptera. The species is recorded from North America with limited observational data available.
Ceranisus americensis
Ceranisus americensis is a Nearctic species of parasitoid wasp in the family Eulophidae. It is one of several thrips-attacking species placed in the genus Ceranisus. The species was described from North America and has been recorded from Canada and the United States. Like other members of the genus, it is a parasitoid of thrips (Thysanoptera).
Ceratagallia agricola
American Clover Leafhopper
Ceratagallia agricola is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, commonly known as the American Clover Leafhopper. The species is known from limited observations, with records primarily from North America. As a member of the tribe Agalliini, it is associated with herbaceous vegetation. The genus Ceratagallia was historically treated as a subgenus of Aceratagallia, and this species is still listed under the synonym Aceratagallia agricola in some databases.
Ceratagallia clino
Ceratagallia clino is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae. The genus Ceratagallia belongs to the tribe Cicadellini, a group of leafhoppers characterized by their association with host plants and often distinctive morphological features. Members of this genus are native to the Nearctic region. As with many leafhoppers, detailed species-level biological information for C. clino remains limited in published literature.
Ceratagallia dondia
Ceratagallia dondia is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, described by Oman in 1933. It belongs to the tribe Agalliini, a group of small, often inconspicuous leafhoppers associated with herbaceous vegetation. The species is recorded from the southwestern United States.
Ceratagallia lobata
Ceratagallia lobata is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Oman in 1933. It belongs to the tribe Agalliini, a group of small, often host-specific leafhoppers. The species has been documented in the southwestern United States, with records from Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with herbaceous or shrubby vegetation, though specific host plants remain undocumented.
Ceratocanthus aeneus
shining ball scarab beetle, round fungus beetle
Ceratocanthus aeneus is a small pill scarab beetle in the family Hybosoridae, commonly known as the shining ball scarab beetle or round fungus beetle. The species is native to eastern and southeastern North America. Like other members of its subfamily, it exhibits a highly compact, rounded body form adapted for conglobation (rolling into a ball).
Cercyon impressus
Cercyon impressus is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. The species has a broad distribution spanning Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. It belongs to a genus of small beetles commonly associated with moist or aquatic environments.
Ceroptresini
Ceroptresini is a tribe of inquiline gall wasps in the family Cynipidae, containing two genera: Ceroptres (with 43 species) and Buffingtonella (with one species). First established as a tribe in 2015, these wasps are predominantly found in North America, though some species occur in the Eastern Palearctic and Oriental regions. Members of this tribe do not induce their own galls but instead inhabit galls created by other cynipid wasps, primarily on oaks (Quercus spp.), with some species reared from cecidomyiid midge galls.
Ceutorhynchini
Ceutorhynchini is a tribe of true weevils within the subfamily Baridinae of the family Curculionidae. Members of this tribe are small to medium-sized weevils with characteristic rostrate heads. The tribe contains numerous genera distributed across multiple continents, with documented diversity in North America, the Palearctic region, tropical Africa, and Asia. Several subtribes have been recognized within Ceutorhynchini, including Oxyonychina.
Ceutorhynchus subpubescens
minute seed weevil
Ceutorhynchus subpubescens is a minute seed weevil in the family Curculionidae, first described by LeConte in 1876. It is a Nearctic species with documented records from Canadian provinces including Alberta and Manitoba. The species belongs to a large genus of weevils associated with various host plants, though specific biological details for this species remain limited in accessible literature.
Chaetocnema minuta
Chaetocnema minuta is a Nearctic flea beetle in the subfamily Alticinae. Historically associated with grasses, it has been recently documented causing economic damage to turfgrass in the southwestern United States, including perennial ryegrass and hybrid bermudagrass. The species is among the smallest flea beetles in North America, with adults measuring approximately 1–1.6 mm in length.
Chaetogaedia
Chaetogaedia is a genus of tachinid flies comprising approximately 14 described species. The genus was established by Brauer & Bergenstamm in 1891 and is classified within the tribe Goniini of the subfamily Exoristinae. Species are distributed across the Americas, with records from North, Central, and South America. As with other tachinids, members are presumed to be parasitoids, though specific host associations for most species remain undocumented.
Chaetoplagia
Chaetoplagia is a genus of tachinid flies in the tribe Voriini, subfamily Dexiinae. The genus contains a single described species, Chaetoplagia atripennis, recorded from Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Tachinid flies in this group are parasitoids, though specific host associations for Chaetoplagia remain undocumented.
Chalcosyrphus nemorum
Dusky-banded Leafwalker
Chalcosyrphus nemorum is a common species of syrphid fly with a Palearctic and Nearctic distribution. Adults are medium-sized hoverflies with distinctive enlarged, swollen hind femora bearing ventral spines and curved hind tibiae—adaptations associated with their association with dead wood. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males having holoptic (contiguous) eyes. Larvae develop under the bark of conifers (Larix, Pinus) and various hardwoods, where they function as saprophages in decaying wood. Adults are flower visitors, obtaining nectar and pollen from diverse plant species including white umbellifers, Caltha, Anemone nemorosa, and Ranunculus.
Chalepus
tortoise beetles, hispines
Chalepus is a genus of tortoise beetles and hispines in the family Chrysomelidae, established by Thunberg in 1805. The genus contains more than 90 described species distributed primarily in the Americas, from North America through Central America to South America. Members of this genus are associated with the subfamily Cassidinae, which includes beetles known for their often flattened or expanded body forms and association with leaf-feeding habits.
Chariessa
checkered beetles
Chariessa is a genus of checkered beetles in the family Cleridae, containing approximately six to seven described species. These beetles are carnivorous predators typically associated with oak trees (Quercus), where they likely prey on wood-boring insects. The genus has a broad distribution spanning North, Central, and South America, with some species also occurring in the Palearctic region. Species such as Chariessa pilosa demonstrate this wide range, occurring across both North America and Eurasia.
Cheilotrichia
Cheilotrichia is a genus of crane flies in the family Limoniidae, subfamily Chioneinae. The genus was established by Rossi in 1848 and contains two recognized subgenera: Cheilotrichia and Empeda. Species within this genus have been documented across the Palearctic region, with some extending into the Nearctic. One species, C. (E.) umiat, was originally described from Alaska and has recently been recorded from the Putorana Plateau in northern East Siberia, representing a significant range extension.
Cheilotrichia stigmatica
Cheilotrichia stigmatica is a species of crane fly in the family Limoniidae, originally described as Empeda stigmatica by Osten Sacken in 1869. It belongs to a genus of small, delicate crane flies characterized by reduced wing venation. The species occurs in the Nearctic region across Canada and the eastern United States.