Neotropical
Guides
Hemiphrynus
Hemiphrynus is a genus of flea beetles (family Chrysomelidae) comprising 8 described species distributed across the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. The genus was established by Horn in 1889. Species within this genus exhibit the characteristic enlarged hind femora that enable flea beetles to jump when disturbed.
Henicomyia
Henicomyia is a genus of stiletto flies (family Therevidae) established by Coquillett in 1898. The genus contains approximately seven described species, most described by Lyneborg in 1972. Species occur in the Neotropical region, with records from South America. The genus is classified in the subfamily Xestomyzinae.
Henryana
Henryana is a monotypic genus of chalcidoid wasps in the family Eulophidae, subfamily Tetrastichinae. The genus was described by Yoshimoto in 1983 and is distributed in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. As a monotypic genus, it contains a single described species. Members of this genus are parasitoid wasps, though specific host associations remain poorly documented.
Heraeus plebejus
dirt-colored seed bug
Heraeus plebejus is a species of dirt-colored seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae, first described by Carl Stål in 1874. It is distributed across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. As a member of the Rhyparochromidae, it belongs to a family of true bugs commonly associated with seeds and ground-level habitats. The species has been documented in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, Haiti, and various Caribbean islands.
Hermetia relicta
Hermetia relicta is a species of soldier fly in the family Stratiomyidae. It is one of approximately 30 species in the genus Hermetia, which is best known for the widely studied black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens). The species was described by Carl Robert Osten Sacken in 1886. Very little specific biological information is documented for this particular species.
Hermetia sexmaculata
Hermetia sexmaculata is a species of soldier fly in the family Stratiomyidae. It is one of several species in the genus Hermetia, which includes the well-studied black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens). The species name "sexmaculata" refers to six spots, likely describing a distinctive marking pattern on the adult fly. Like other soldier flies, adults are typically wasp-mimics with dark coloration.
Hermeuptychia
Hermeuptychia is a genus of small brown satyrine butterflies in the family Nymphalidae, distributed across the Neotropical realm and eastern North America. The genus is notable for its cryptic species diversity, with multiple species that are virtually indistinguishable by wing patterns alone but readily separable by genital morphology and DNA sequences. Recent genetic studies have revealed substantially greater species diversity than previously recognized, including the discovery of two new North American species in 2014 that had been hiding in plain sight due to their near-identical wing patterns to the common Carolina Satyr.
Hesperoctenes
Hesperoctenes is a genus of parasitic bugs in the family Polyctenidae, first described by Kirkaldy in 1906. Members of this genus are ectoparasites of bats (Chiroptera). The genus is distributed in Colombia and likely broader Neotropical regions, though published records are limited. As polyctenids, they represent a specialized lineage of hemipteran parasites adapted to mammalian hosts.
Heterelmis obesa
riffle beetle
Heterelmis obesa is a species of riffle beetle in the family Elmidae, first described by Sharp in 1882. It is one of the most widely distributed species in the genus Heterelmis, occurring across Central America, North America, and South America. The species is recognized as having two subspecies: Heterelmis obesa obesa and Heterelmis obesa plana Hinton, 1936. Like other elmid beetles, it is adapted to aquatic environments with flowing water.
Heterelmis simplex
Heterelmis simplex is a species of riffle beetle (family Elmidae) described by Sharp in 1882. As a member of the genus Heterelmis, it shares characteristics with other riffle beetles including an aquatic lifestyle and dependence on well-oxygenated water. The species has been recorded in the Caribbean, Middle America, and South America. Unlike the well-studied endangered congener Heterelmis comalensis from Texas, detailed biological information for H. simplex appears limited in published sources.
Heteronemiidae
walkingsticks, stick insects
Heteronemiidae is a family of stick insects (order Phasmatodea) comprising approximately 14 genera and at least 80 described species. The family is primarily distributed in the Neotropics, with significant diversity in Brazil, though some species occur in the Nearctic region including the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Members of this family exhibit camouflage morphology, with some species described as 'mossy stick insects' due to their crypsis in forest habitats.
Heterops
Heterops is a genus of longhorn beetles in the family Cerambycidae, tribe Eburiini. The genus was established by Blanchard in 1842 and contains nine recognized species distributed across the Caribbean and parts of Central and South America. Species within this genus are characterized by their elongated bodies and antennae typical of cerambycids.
Heterothrips
Heterothrips is a genus of thrips in the family Heterothripidae, containing more than 60 described species. The genus has not been adequately defined and species-level taxonomy relies heavily on morphological characters. Many species are associated with flowers of specific host plants, including economically important fruit trees and ornamental species. The genus is distributed primarily in the Neotropics, with documented diversity in Central America, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.
Hexacylloepus
riffle beetles
Hexacylloepus is a genus of riffle beetles in the family Elmidae, established by Hinton in 1940. The genus contains approximately 19 described species. As with other elmid beetles, members of this genus are associated with aquatic habitats, particularly flowing water systems.
Heza similis
Heza similis is a species of assassin bug described by Carl Stål in 1859. It belongs to the family Reduviidae, a diverse group of predatory true bugs. The species has a broad distribution spanning the Caribbean Sea, Central America, North America, and South America. As a member of the Harpactorinae subfamily, it likely exhibits the typical assassin bug predatory lifestyle, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Hilarocassis
Hilarocassis is a genus of tortoise beetles and hispines in the leaf beetle family Chrysomelidae. It contains approximately 10 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. The genus was established by Spaeth in 1913 and belongs to the subfamily Cassidinae, tribe Mesomphaliini. Species in this genus exhibit the characteristic tortoise beetle body form with a broad, flattened shape and expanded elytral margins.
Hileithia
Hileithia is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae. The genus was described by Snellen in 1875 and contains approximately 20 described species. Species are distributed across the Neotropical region, with records from Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. The genus is characterized by relatively small to medium-sized moths with typical crambid morphology.
Hippopsis
Hippopsis is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) in the subfamily Agapanthiinae. The genus was established in 1825 and contains multiple species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. One species, Hippopsis lemniscata, has been documented exhibiting thanatosis (death-feigning behavior) when disturbed. Members of this genus are characterized by their elongated body form typical of the subfamily.
Hister servus
clown beetle
Hister servus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, characterized by its compact, shiny black body typical of the genus. It belongs to the H. servus species group, a Neotropical radiation centered in Mexico and Central America with some lineages extending into the southeastern United States. The species has been documented across a broad geographic range spanning the Caribbean, Central America, and North America.
Historis acheronta
Tailed Cecropian
Historis acheronta, commonly known as the tailed cecropian, is a butterfly species in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in North America, with distribution extending into Central and South America. The species has been recorded in at least 962 observations on iNaturalist, indicating it is relatively well-documented.
Hologymnetis
fruit and flower chafers
Hologymnetis is a genus of fruit and flower chafers in the scarab beetle family Scarabaeidae, comprising approximately eight described species. The genus was established by Martinez in 1949 and is classified within the subfamily Cetoniinae and tribe Gymnetini. Species in this genus are distributed in the Neotropical region.
Hololepta minuta
clown beetle
Hololepta minuta is a species of clown beetle (family Histeridae) first described by Erichson in 1834. It belongs to the genus Hololepta, a group characterized by their flattened, compact bodies adapted for living in tight spaces. The species has a broad distribution across the Americas, ranging from the southern United States through Central America and into South America, including Caribbean islands.
Hololepta quadridentata
clown beetle
Hololepta quadridentata is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, characterized by its flattened body form typical of the genus. It is widely distributed across the Americas, from the southern United States through Central America and into South America. The species has also been introduced to Spain. Like other members of Histeridae, it is associated with decaying organic matter.
Holoplagia guamensis
A minute black scavenger fly in the family Scatopsidae. Described from Guam and subsequently recorded from the Hawaiian Islands, the Galápagos Islands, and widely across Brazil. The species is one of the few Holoplagia with documented occurrence outside its type locality.
Homostinea curviliniella
Curved-lined Homostinea Moth
Homostinea curviliniella is a small moth species described by Dietz in 1905. It is widely distributed across the eastern United States, with additional records from Arizona, Cuba, and Manitoba. The species is characterized by distinctive wing markings including a curved black line in the apical third of the forewing. It belongs to family Meessiidae (sometimes treated as Tineidae in older sources).
Hoplia mucorea
Hoplia mucorea is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It has been recorded from multiple U.S. states (California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina) and Sonora, Mexico. The species belongs to the genus Hoplia, which comprises small to medium-sized scarab beetles often associated with flowers and vegetation.
Hoplitimyia subalba
Hoplitimyia subalba is a species of soldier fly in the family Stratiomyidae, first described by Walker in 1854. The genus Hoplitimyia comprises species with aquatic larvae, and adults are known for their wasp-mimicking appearance and patterned compound eyes. This species occurs in South America, with records from the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Pará. Adults are reportedly flighty and difficult to photograph, exhibiting behavior consistent with nectar or pollen feeding when provided sugar solutions in captivity.
Hoplophorionini
Hoplophorionini is a tribe of treehoppers (Membracidae) comprising 105 species in 10 genera, distributed from Canada to Chile with highest diversity in the Neotropics. Members are characterized by elaborate pronotal modifications and, uniquely among Membracidae, are apparently subsocial and lack mutualistic associations with honeydew-collecting ants. Parental investment includes specialized defensive kicking behavior and construction of extra-ovipositional punctures in host tissue through which nymphs feed.
Hoplosphyrum
scaly crickets
Hoplosphyrum is a genus of scaly crickets comprising approximately six described species. Members of this genus are distributed across Africa and the Americas, with records from Mexico, the southwestern United States, and southern South America. The genus was established by Rehn & Hebard in 1912 and belongs to the family Mogoplistidae, a group characterized by minute crickets with distinctive scale-like body covering.
Horama panthalon
Texas Wasp Moth
Horama panthalon, commonly called the Texas Wasp Moth, is a moth in the subfamily Arctiinae (family Erebidae) known for its striking mimicry of paper wasps. The species was described by Fabricius in 1793 and occurs across a broad Neotropical and Nearctic range. Adults are active year-round in warmer regions and possess a wingspan of 32–34 mm. The species exhibits Batesian mimicry, resembling Polistes wasps in coloration and flight behavior as a defense against predators.
Horama plumipes
Horama plumipes is a moth in the subfamily Arctiinae, first described by Dru Drury in 1773. It is distributed from southern Texas through Mexico and Central America to Nicaragua. The species exhibits distinctive black and white coloration with prominent tufted hind legs that give it its specific epithet 'plumipes' (feather-footed). The original description provides detailed morphological information including a wingspan of approximately 45 mm.
Horismenus
Horismenus is a large genus of eulophid wasps (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) comprising over 400 described species, primarily distributed in the Americas. Species are predominantly parasitoids, with documented associations including bruchid beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) in bean seeds, cerambycid beetles, mantid oothecae, and other insects. Several species exhibit hyperparasitoid behavior. The genus has been the subject of recent taxonomic revision due to cryptic species diversity revealed through molecular analysis.
Hortensia
Hortensia is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Cicadellinae, and tribe Cicadellini. The genus was established by Metcalf and Bruner in 1936. Species in this genus are distributed primarily in the Neotropical region, with records from South America including Argentina. Some species, such as Hortensia similis, are associated with agricultural crops including maize and have been studied as vectors of plant diseases.
Hortensia similis
Common Green Leafhopper
Hortensia similis is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, originally described as Tettigonia similis by Walker in 1851. It is commonly known as the Common Green Leafhopper and has a wide distribution across the Americas, from the southwestern United States through Central America to South America. The species has been documented in California, Arizona, the British Virgin Islands, and several South American locations including Amazonas and Bahia. It is an agricultural pest associated with maize cultivation in parts of its range, where it serves as a host for various egg parasitoid wasps.
Hoterodes
Hoterodes is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae, established by Guenée in 1854. The genus contains three recognized species distributed in the Neotropical region: Hoterodes ausonia, Hoterodes albiceps, and Hoterodes violescens. Two former species have been reassigned to other genera. The genus is characterized by distinctive wing patterns and is part of the diverse grass moth lineage within Crambidae.
Hoterodes ausonia
Hoterodes ausonia is a small crambid moth described by Pieter Cramer in 1777. It is distributed across the Caribbean and mainland Neotropics, ranging from Florida through Central America to northern South America. The species is characterized by a wingspan of approximately 32 mm. It belongs to the subfamily Spilomelinae, a diverse group of grass moths.
Huaca
Huaca is a genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae, described by Carl Johan Schoenherr in 1833. The genus belongs to the hyperdiverse weevil family, one of the largest families of organisms with over 40,000 described species. As a historically established genus in early coleopteran taxonomy, Huaca represents part of the 19th-century effort to classify the immense diversity of Neotropical weevils. The genus is currently accepted in modern taxonomic catalogs, though specific species-level diversity and biological details remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
Huleechius
Huleechius is a genus of riffle beetles in the family Elmidae, established by Brown in 1981. The genus contains at least two described species: Huleechius marroni and Huleechius spinipes. Like other elmids, these beetles are associated with freshwater habitats, particularly flowing water environments.
Huleria
Huleria is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Deltocephalinae, tribe Athysanini. It was erected by Ball in 1902. The genus belongs to the diverse leafhopper fauna of the Western Hemisphere, with species occurring in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. As a member of the Athysanini, it shares the tribe's characteristic features including a pronotum that extends to the tegulae and specific wing venation patterns.
Hyalistata
Hyalistata is a genus of small flies in the family Drosophilidae, described by Wheeler in 1960. It belongs to the subfamily Steganinae and tribe Gitonini, placing it within a group of drosophilids often associated with decomposing plant matter and fungal substrates. The genus is characterized by distinctive morphological features of the head and wing venation. Species within Hyalistata are poorly known and rarely encountered in general collections.
Hyalorista
Hyalorista is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, established by Warren in 1892. The genus contains five described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Members of this genus are classified within the subfamily Pyraustinae, a diverse group of grass moths and related lineages. The genus is characterized by specific wing pattern elements that distinguish it from related genera, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Hyalorista taeniolalis
Hyalorista taeniolalis is a moth in the family Crambidae, subfamily Pyraustinae. It was described by Achille Guenée in 1854 based on specimens from South America. The species is recorded from French Guiana, Brazil, and Colombia. It belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized crambid moths.
Hyboptera
Hyboptera is a genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, established by Chaudoir in 1873. The genus comprises fourteen described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Several species have been described relatively recently, with seven named between 2004 and 2017, indicating ongoing taxonomic work. Members of this genus are classified within the subtribe Agrina of the tribe Lebiini.
Hybosorinae
Scavenger Scarab Beetles
Hybosorinae is a subfamily of small scarab beetles in the family Hybosoridae. The subfamily contains at least one extant genus, Hybosorus, along with several extinct genera. Members are commonly referred to as scavenger scarab beetles. At least some species are termitophilous, living in association with termite colonies.
Hybothecus
Hybothecus is a genus of ground beetles (Carabidae) established by Chaudoir in 1874. The genus contains seven described species distributed in the Neotropical region. Species have been recorded from Central and South America, with some described from Ecuador. The genus belongs to the subtribe Pterostichina within the tribe Pterostichini.
Hydaticini
Hydaticini is a tribe of diving beetles (family Dytiscidae, subfamily Dytiscinae) established by Sharp in 1880. Members of this tribe are aquatic predators found in freshwater habitats. The tribe includes the genus Hydaticus, with species documented from the Neotropics including the Amazon basin and Brazilian highlands.
Hydririni
Hydririni is a tribe of moths in the subfamily Spilomelinae (family Crambidae) comprising approximately 104 species across eight genera. The tribe is primarily Neotropical in distribution, with most species described from tropical Central and South America. Adults range from narrow- to broad-winged, with wing patterns varying from inconspicuous brown and ochre to more colorful displays. Hydririni is characterized by distinctive genitalic synapomorphies: females possess an appendix bursae on the corpus bursae, and males typically exhibit hair scale patches on the anterior edge of abdominal sternite 8. The tribe forms part of the paraphyletic 'non-euspilomeline' group within Spilomelinae.
Hydrodytinae
Hydrodytinae is a subfamily of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, established by K. B. Miller in 2001. It contains at least two genera and four described species. The genus Hydrodytes occurs in North America and the Neotropics, while Microhydrodytes is restricted to the Neotropics. This subfamily represents a relatively recently recognized lineage within the diverse diving beetle fauna.
Hydrophilus ensifer
Hydrophilus ensifer is a large water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, distributed throughout the Americas from Argentina to the southern United States. Adults typically measure 30–37 mm in length, making them among the largest aquatic insects. Two subspecies are recognized: H. e. ensifer and H. e. duvali, though their distinguishing characteristics remain poorly understood.
Hydrophilus insularis
Hydrophilus insularis is a water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It is distributed across a broad geographic range from northern South America through the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico into the southern United States. The species is aquatic and belongs to a genus known for scavenging behavior in freshwater habitats.