Neotropical
Guides
Phyllophilopsis
Phyllophilopsis is a genus of tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) established by Townsend in 1915. The genus contains at least 16 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Species have been recorded from various localities including Mexico, Central America, and South America. As members of the tribe Blondeliini, these flies are parasitoids, though specific host associations remain poorly documented.
Physea
Physea is a genus of ground beetles (Carabidae) established by Brullé in 1835. It belongs to the subfamily Paussinae and tribe Ozaenini, a group known for specialized morphological adaptations. The genus contains five described species distributed in the Americas. Members of Ozaenini, including Physea, are often associated with ant colonies or termite nests, though specific ecological details for Physea remain poorly documented.
Physegenua
Physegenua is a genus of small to medium-sized flies in the family Lauxaniidae, a group commonly known as lauxaniid flies. The genus is restricted to the Neotropical region and contains 11 described species. Like other lauxaniids, these flies are likely associated with decaying vegetation and fungi, though specific ecological details for this genus remain poorly documented. The genus was established by Macquart in 1848.
Physemus
minute marsh beetles
Physemus is a genus of minute marsh beetles in the family Limnichidae, first described by LeConte in 1854. The genus contains six described species of small beetles associated with wetland and riparian habitats. These beetles are part of the diverse assemblage of insects inhabiting moist, marginal environments.
Physoclypeus
A genus of small flies in the family Lauxaniidae, restricted to the Neotropical region. Contains 14 recognized species, including seven described in a 2008 revision. Most species are known only from type specimens collected at specific localities across Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Mexico.
Physoclypeus coquilletti
A species of fly in the family Lauxaniidae, genus Physoclypeus, originally described by Hendel in 1908 as a replacement name for Lauxania lutea Coquillett. The genus is restricted to the Neotropical region. This species has been redescribed in a 2008 taxonomic revision that included seven new species descriptions for the genus.
Physoconops
thick-headed flies
Physoconops is a genus of thick-headed flies (family Conopidae) containing approximately 13 described species. Members are wasp mimics, resembling potter wasps in appearance and behavior. The genus occurs primarily in the Neotropical and Andean regions, with some species in North America. Like other conopids, Physoconops species are endoparasitoids of bees and aculeate wasps.
Physonota alutacea
wild olive tortoise beetle
Physonota alutacea, commonly known as the wild olive tortoise beetle, is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It belongs to the tortoise beetle subfamily Cassidinae, characterized by the distinctive domed body shape typical of this group. The species has been documented across a broad geographic range spanning North, Central, and South America. It is associated with wild olive (Cordia boissieri) and related host plants.
Phytocoris tibialis
Phytocoris tibialis is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, first described by Reuter in 1876. The species has a broad distribution across the Americas, with records from the Caribbean, Central America, and North America including the eastern and southern United States. Like other members of the genus Phytocoris, it is primarily associated with vegetation and feeds on plants.
Pieriballia
painted white, viardi white
Pieriballia is a monotypic genus of pierid butterflies erected by Alexander Barrett Klots in 1933. Its sole species, Pieriballia viardi, occurs from Mexico southward through Central and South America to Bolivia and Paraguay. The genus is characterized by moderate size, with wingspans around 57 mm, and association with rainforest and cloud forest habitats. Larval development has been documented on Capparis pseudocacao.
Piesocorynini
fungus weevils
Piesocorynini is a tribe of fungus weevils (family Anthribidae) established by Valentine in 1960. The tribe contains at least two genera, Brachycorynus and Piesocorynus, with approximately eight described species. Members of this tribe are distributed in the Neotropical region, with records from Nicaragua, Brazil, and Ecuador. A key diagnostic feature used to distinguish genera within this tribe is mandible shape.
Piezocera
Piezocera is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) in the tribe Piezocerini, established by Audinet-Serville in 1834. The genus contains at least fifteen described species, with three new species described in 2025 from Brazil and Bolivia. South America exhibits the highest species richness for the genus, with potential distribution modeling indicating suitability across most of the continent except the Andes region and most of Argentina.
Piezocera monochroa
Piezocera monochroa is a species of longhorn beetle (family Cerambycidae) described by Henry Walter Bates in 1885. It belongs to the tribe Piezocerini within the subfamily Cerambycinae. The species is known from limited records in Central America, with distribution confirmed in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Pintalia
Pintalia is a genus of planthoppers in the family Cixiidae, first described by Carl Stål in 1862. The genus contains at least 50 described species distributed across the Americas. Members are small to medium-sized insects with the characteristic morphology of cixiid planthoppers, including a distinct head structure and wing venation pattern.
Pissonotus festucae
Pissonotus festucae is a species of planthopper in the family Delphacidae, described by Bartlett in 2000. It belongs to a genus of small, grass-associated delphacids found primarily in the Americas. The specific epithet 'festucae' suggests an association with Festuca (fescue) grasses. Distribution records indicate presence in the southwestern United States (Arizona) and Mexico (Distrito Federal, Jalisco).
Placonotus modestus
lined flat bark beetle
Placonotus modestus is a species of lined flat bark beetle in the family Laemophloeidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1827 under the basionym Cucujus modestus. The species is distributed across the Caribbean, Central America, and North America. Like other members of Laemophloeidae, it is associated with bark habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Plagioneurus
Plagioneurus is a monotypic genus of long-legged flies (family Dolichopodidae) containing a single species, Plagioneurus univittatus. It is the sole member of the subfamily Plagioneurinae. The genus is distinguished by an unusual wing venation pattern: the medial vein M converges obliquely with radial vein R4+5, a trait reflected in its etymology from Greek 'plágios' (oblique) and 'neûron' (nerve). Adults display metallic green thorax with a central black stripe and black abdomen with white pruinose posterior bands.
Plagioneurus univittatus
Plagioneurus univittatus is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae. It is the sole member of the genus Plagioneurus and the only species in the subfamily Plagioneurinae. The species was described by Loew in 1857. It is distinguished from all other dolichopodid flies by its unique subfamily-level classification.
Planipollex
Planipollex is a genus of katydids (family Tettigoniidae) in the subfamily Phaneropterinae, tribe Dichopetalini. It was described in 2014 from material collected in the southwestern United States and Mexico. The genus name refers to the flattened, broadened fore tarsi characteristic of these insects. Members of this genus are arboreal bush-crickets found in arid and semi-arid regions.
Planolinoides neotomae
A small dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. The species epithet "neotomae" indicates an association with woodrats (genus Neotoma), suggesting a specialized ecological relationship with these rodents. The species is known from western North America and Mexico.
Platandria
Platandria is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae, tribe Hoplandriini. Established by Casey in 1893, this genus belongs to a diverse group of small to medium-sized beetles characterized by shortened elytra. The genus has been recorded from the Chingaza region, suggesting a Neotropical distribution. Platandria species are likely associated with soil and leaf litter habitats, as is common for aleocharine rove beetles, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Platycotis tuberculata
A species of treehopper in the family Membracidae, characterized by an enlarged and modified pronotum typical of the genus. The species occurs in western North America and parts of Central America. Like other members of tribe Hoplophorionini, it exhibits pronounced pronotal ornamentation. Specific biological details remain poorly documented in the literature.
Platylabops faciens
Platylabops faciens is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Ichneumoninae. The species was described by Townes in 1971. It belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive labial morphology. Like other ichneumonids, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations remain undocumented.
Platynota rostrana
Omnivorous Platynota Moth
Platynota rostrana is a small tortricid moth with a wingspan of 13–17 mm, distributed across the Americas from the United States through Central America to South America, with established populations in the West Indies and occasional records in Europe via accidental importation. The species is known to be a pest of citrus and other crops, with larvae that feed on a variety of plant materials.
Platynota zapatana
Platynota zapatana is a species of tortricid moth described by Powell & Brown in 2012. It belongs to the diverse leafroller moth genus Platynota, whose larvae are known to feed on various plants. The species occurs in the southern United States and northern Mexico, representing a relatively recently described member of this economically significant moth family.
Platynotini
Platynotini is a tribe of darkling beetles within the family Tenebrionidae, containing more than 70 genera distributed across multiple biogeographic regions including North and South America, the southern Palaearctic, the Afrotropical region, and the Indomalayan realm. The tribe is distinguished from other Blaptinae tribes by the presence of a stridulatory gula used for sound production. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies have strongly supported the monophyly of Platynotini. Members of this tribe exhibit considerable morphological diversity, with some African species such as Anomalipus being heavily built and armored, adapted to dense bush-covered savanna habitats.
Platyomus
broad-nosed weevils
Platyomus is a genus of broad-nosed weevils in the family Curculionidae, first described by Sahlberg in 1823. The genus contains at least 40 described species and belongs to the tribe Naupactini within the subfamily Entiminae. These weevils are distributed in parts of South America, with records from Colombia and Peru.
Platyplastinx sycophantos
Platyplastinx sycophantos is a species of moth fly in the family Psychodidae. It belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive wing venation and body flattening. Very few records exist for this species, with only one observation documented on iNaturalist. Its biology and ecology remain largely undocumented.
Platystethus spiculus
Platystethus spiculus is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae) first described from South America in 1840. The species has established an exceptionally broad distribution across the Neotropics and has been introduced to the Galápagos Islands and Tahiti. Its spread to oceanic islands suggests human-mediated dispersal, likely through agricultural or horticultural trade. The species belongs to the subfamily Oxytelinae, whose members are often associated with decaying organic matter and moist microhabitats.
Platythyrea punctata
Common Silvery Hunter Ant
Platythyrea punctata is a neotropical ant species distinguished by its remarkable reproductive flexibility. Most populations reproduce through thelytokous parthenogenesis, where unmated workers produce female offspring from unfertilized eggs, resulting in colonies with clonal genetic structure. The species also exhibits facultative sexual reproduction, with occasional queens, gamergates (mated reproductive workers), and males appearing in some populations. This combination of alternative reproductive tactics is unique among ants and has made the species a model for studying social evolution, division of labor, and the transition between sexual and asexual reproduction.
Platytomus longulus
Platytomus longulus is a small aphodiine dung beetle described by Cartwright in 1948. It belongs to the tribe Psammodiini, a group often associated with sandy or loose substrates rather than dense dung. The species occurs across a broad geographic range spanning the southeastern United States and much of South America.
Platyvelia
smaller water striders
Platyvelia is a genus of smaller water striders in the family Veliidae, established by J. Polhemus and D. Polhemus in 1993. The genus contains seven described species distributed in the Americas. These insects are small semiaquatic true bugs that inhabit the surface film of water bodies.
Platyvelia brachialis
smaller water strider
Platyvelia brachialis is a species of small water strider in the family Veliidae, distinguished from larger members of the related family Gerridae by its more compact body form. It inhabits freshwater surface habitats across a broad Neotropical and Nearctic range spanning the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. The species is one of approximately 15 recognized species in the genus Platyvelia.
Plaumannimyia
Plaumannimyia is a genus of fruit flies in the family Tephritidae, established by Hering in 1938. The genus contains three described species distributed in Mexico, Guatemala, and Brazil. As members of Tephritidae, these flies likely exhibit the characteristic wing patterning and body form typical of the family, though specific morphological details for the genus remain poorly documented in available literature.
Plectoptera
Plectoptera is a genus of cockroaches in the family Ectobiidae and tribe Plectopterini, established by Saussure in 1864. It contains at least two described species: Plectoptera picta (pictured beetle cockroach) and Plectoptera poeyi (Florida beetle roach). The genus is distributed across the Americas, with records from Mexico, the Caribbean, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Florida. These cockroaches are commonly referred to as 'beetle roaches' or 'beetle cockroaches' due to their appearance.
Plectris
May beetles, Junebugs
Plectris is a large genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, commonly known as May beetles or Junebugs. The genus contains over 360 described species, making it one of the more species-rich genera within the subfamily Melolonthinae. Members of this genus are distributed across the Neotropical region. The genus was established by Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau and Audinet-Serville in 1828.
Pleuroprucha asthenaria
Asthene Wave, asthene wave moth
Pleuroprucha asthenaria, commonly known as the Asthene Wave or asthene wave moth, is a geometrid moth described by Francis Walker in 1861. It belongs to the subfamily Sterrhinae, a group often characterized by wavy wing patterns. The species has a broad distribution spanning North America, the Caribbean, and South America.
Pnirontis infirma
Pnirontis infirma is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, first described by Stål in 1859. It has a broad geographic distribution spanning the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. As a member of the subfamily Stenopodainae, it belongs to a group of reduviids commonly known as feather-legged bugs.
Pocobletus coroniger
Pocobletus coroniger is a species of sheet-web weaving spider in the family Linyphiidae, described by Eugène Simon in 1894. It belongs to a genus of small-bodied spiders found in the Neotropical region. The species has been recorded from scattered localities across Central America and northern South America, with some records from the southern United States. Like other linyphiids, it constructs flat, horizontal sheet webs with a retreat area. Very little is known of its specific biology or ecology.
Poeciloderas quadripunctatus
Poeciloderas quadripunctatus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. The species is distributed from Mexico to Argentina, with numerous records across Brazil. Like other tabanids, it belongs to a family of biting flies known for their blood-feeding behavior.
Poecilognathus
Poecilognathus is a genus of bee flies (family Bombyliidae) distributed across North, Central, and South America. The genus contains at least 20 described species. These flies are members of the subfamily Phthiriinae and tribe Poecilognathini. As with other bee flies, adults are typically flower visitors, though detailed biological information for most species remains limited.
Poecilopompilus algidus
Spider Wasp
Poecilopompilus algidus is a spider wasp (family Pompilidae) widespread across the Americas, from southern Canada to Argentina. The species exhibits remarkable geographic variation in coloration due to Müllerian mimicry of sympatric wasps—resembling paper wasps (Polistes) in the south and dark spider wasps (Anoplius) in the north. Females hunt orb-weaver spiders (Araneidae) to provision underground nests, paralyzing prey with a sting and dragging it backwards to burrow sites in sandy soils. The species includes five recognized subspecies with varying distributions across North and South America.
Pogonodaptus
Pogonodaptus is a genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, tribe Stenolophini. The genus was established by G. Horn in 1881 and contains two described species: Pogonodaptus mexicanus (Bates, 1878) and Pogonodaptus rostratus Darlington, 1935. Members of this genus occur in the Neotropical region.
Polana
Polana is a genus of leafhoppers (Cicadellidae) in the tribe Gyponini, established by DeLong in 1942. The genus includes multiple subgenera (Polana, Nihilana, Polanana, Hobemanella, Bulbusana, Varpulana) with over 34 species described in the nominate subgenus alone. Species occur primarily in the Neotropical region, with documented diversity in Brazil, Costa Rica, and surrounding areas. The group has undergone extensive taxonomic revision, with numerous new combinations proposed to clarify subgeneric placement.
Polistes canadensis
red paper wasp, Neotropical red paper wasp
Polistes canadensis is a primitively eusocial paper wasp native to the Neotropical region, recognized as the most widely distributed American species in its genus. Colonies are founded by groups of females in spring, with a single dominant queen and multiple foundresses averaging 9.1 individuals. The species exhibits a distinctive nesting strategy: rather than reusing combs, it continuously constructs new ones—averaging about 38 per colony—moving brood rearing to fresh structures as older combs are abandoned. This multiple-comb tactic functions as a defense against infestation by tineid moth larvae, which prey on wasp pupae. Workers display age-related task division (temporal polyethism), performing 22 distinct behavioral acts throughout their lives, with foraging typically beginning around the fifth week. Males adopt alternative mating strategies: territorial defense of landmark sites on ridgelines, or patrolling when territories are scarce. The species is notable for its confrontational dominance hierarchy, with queens aggressively suppressing subordinate reproduction through physical attacks rather than pheromonal control.
Polistes carnifex
executioner wasp, executioner paper wasp, kava mainomby, kava alazán, kava sa'yju, a'ma xtíya cháda
Polistes carnifex is a large Neotropical paper wasp and the largest member of its genus in the region, with body lengths reaching up to 33 mm. It is commonly known as the executioner wasp, a name derived from the Latin epithet carnifex meaning "executioner." The species establishes small eusocial colonies founded by solitary queens, building open-faced paper nests suspended from branches or under building eaves. Despite its imposing size and formidable common name, it is relatively non-aggressive toward humans.
Polistes major
Horse Paper Wasp, avispa de caballo
Polistes major is a Neotropical social paper wasp, one of the largest species in its genus. It ranges from South America north into the southern United States. The species is known locally as 'avispa de caballo' (horse wasp) in the Dominican Republic. Five subspecies are recognized, with variation in coloration from yellow-striped forms to entirely reddish-brown individuals.
Polistes major major
horse's wasp
Polistes major major is a neotropical eusocial paper wasp subspecies most commonly found on Hispaniola Island and within Central America. It is known locally as "avispa de caballo" (horse's wasp) in the Dominican Republic. As a member of the genus Polistes, it is a social wasp that constructs exposed paper nests and lives in colonies with a reproductive hierarchy.
Polpochila
Polpochila is a genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, tribe Stenolophini. The genus contains approximately 24 described species distributed primarily in the Americas. It was established by Solier in 1849. Species in this genus are small to medium-sized carabid beetles.
Polycesta
jewel beetles
Polycesta is a genus of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) in the subfamily Polycestinae, tribe Polycestini. The genus contains approximately 60 described species distributed across North America, the Neotropics, and parts of the Palearctic region. Several species have been documented breeding in dead wood of various host plants, particularly in oak and mesquite habitats. The genus was established by Dejean in 1833 and includes notable species such as P. arizonica, P. californica, and P. cazieri, the latter having been reared from Cercocarpus (mountain mahogany).