Neotropical
Guides
Polyglypta
Polyglypta is a genus of treehoppers (family Membracidae) characterized by pronounced pronotal modifications typical of the family. The genus was established by Burmeister in 1835 and contains at least three described species: P. costata, P. dorsalis, and P. lineata. All three species were described by Burmeister. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Polyglyptini within the subfamily Smiliinae, a group known for diverse and often elaborate pronotal structures.
Polygonus
Polygonus is a genus of spread-winged skippers (family Hesperiidae, subfamily Pyrginae) distributed across the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. The genus was established by Hübner in 1825. Species in this genus are characterized by their distinctive resting posture with wings held partially open rather than folded vertically. The genus is well-represented in citizen science observations, with over 2,700 records documented.
Polymerus testaceipes
Polymerus testaceipes is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae. It has been documented across a broad geographic range spanning the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. The species was first described by Stål in 1860. Available records indicate presence in countries including Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Jamaica, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Surinam, and the United States (Florida), with 51 observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Polyphylla cavifrons
Polyphylla cavifrons is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It occurs in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, including Arizona, California, Nevada, and Baja California. The species belongs to a genus known for large-bodied beetles with fan-like antennae in males, though specific details about this species' biology remain limited in published literature.
Polypsocus
hairy-winged barklice
Polypsocus is a genus of hairy-winged barklice in the family Amphipsocidae, established by Hagen in 1866. The genus contains more than 20 described species distributed primarily in the Americas. These insects are small, soft-bodied psocids associated with bark and lichen habitats. They are part of the diverse Psocodea order, which includes booklice, barklice, and parasitic lice.
Porphyrosela
Porphyrosela is a genus of small leaf-mining moths in the family Gracillariidae, subfamily Lithocolletinae. Species are distributed across multiple continents including the Neotropics, Australia, and Asia. The genus is characterized by larvae that create blotch mines on host plant leaves, primarily in the family Fabaceae. At least 13 species are recognized, with several described from South America and others from Australia and Asia.
Porphyrosela minuta
A tiny leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, Porphyrosela minuta creates distinctive white blotch mines on clover leaves. Native to South America, it has established populations in North America following recent introduction. The species is multivoltine with rapid development, completing its life cycle in approximately 16 days at 25°C. Adults are minute and difficult to observe in the field.
Portentomorpha
Portentomorpha is a monotypic genus of crambid moths established by Hans Georg Amsel in 1956. The genus contains a single species, Portentomorpha xanthialis, and serves as the type genus for the tribe Portentomorphini. The genus is distributed across the southeastern United States, Caribbean islands, and tropical regions of Central and South America.
Preponini
Preponini is a tribe of butterflies within the subfamily Charaxinae (Nymphalidae), comprising approximately 22 recognized species. Molecular systematics studies have significantly revised the group's classification: Anaeomorpha splendida was excluded to maintain tribal monophyly (reinstated as tribe Anaeomorphini), Noreppa was synonymized with Archaeoprepona, and Agrias was synonymized with Prepona. The tribe is distributed in the Neotropical region and includes some of the region's most visually striking butterflies.
Prepops
Prepops is the largest genus in the tribe Restheniini (subfamily Mirinae, family Miridae), containing approximately 190–198 described species of plant bugs. The genus exhibits a predominantly Neotropical distribution with 86% of species occurring in this region, while about 11% extend into the Nearctic. Biogeographic analysis reveals high species richness in subtropical regions, with 23 identified areas of endemism spanning the Nearctic, Mexican Transition Zone, Caribbean, and South American subregions.
Prepops cruciferus
Prepops cruciferus is a plant bug in the family Miridae native to the Neotropics. It was first described from Argentina in 1878 and has been documented across South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The species was newly discovered in the United States (Florida) in the late 20th century, representing a northward range expansion. It is associated with vegetation and has documented host plant relationships.
Prionyx fervens
Prionyx fervens is a solitary thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae. It is a ground-nesting predator that hunts grasshoppers, paralyzes them, and provisions its burrow with living prey for larval development. The species ranges from Argentina to the southern United States, with documented nesting behavior observed in coastal southeastern Brazil.
Proba distanti
plant bug
Proba distanti is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, first described by Atkinson in 1890. It occurs in Central America and North America, with confirmed records from Cuba, Mexico, and Guatemala. As a member of the large and diverse family Miridae, it belongs to one of the most species-rich families of true bugs. The species is documented in entomological collections and has been reported in biodiversity databases, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Proba sallei
Proba sallei is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae. It is distributed across the Neotropical region, with records from Mexico through Central America to South America, including Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. The species was originally described by Carl Stål in 1862 under the name Dagbertus sallei. As a member of the large and diverse family Miridae, it belongs to one of the most species-rich families of true bugs, though specific biological details for this particular species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Proba vittiscutis
Proba vittiscutis is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). It is distributed across much of the Neotropical region, with records from Mexico through Central America to South America. The species was described by Carl Stål in 1860. As a member of the large and diverse family Miridae, it is one of many poorly studied plant bug species whose biology remains largely undocumented.
Promecosoma inflatum
Promecosoma inflatum is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cryptocephalinae, tribe Clytrini. It was described by Lefèvre in 1877. The species has a limited known distribution spanning the southwestern United States (Arizona) and Mexico. As a member of the Clytrini, it belongs to a group of leaf beetles often associated with specific host plants, though detailed biological information remains sparse in the published literature.
Prosoparia
Prosoparia is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Calpinae, established by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1883. The genus contains approximately 17 described species distributed across the Americas, from the southern United States through Central America to South America. Formerly classified within Noctuidae, it was reassigned to Erebidae following taxonomic revisions. The genus includes both temperate and tropical species with varying ecological preferences.
Prostemmatinae
damsel bugs
Prostemmatinae is a subfamily of predatory damsel bugs in the family Nabidae. It contains at least 13 described species in the Americas, organized into two tribes: Phorticini (genera Phorticus, Rhamphocoris) and Prostemmatini (genera Alloeorhynchus, Pagasa, Prostemma). Members are found in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, with documented diversity in Mexico and the southern United States.
Protalebrella
Protalebrella is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Typhlocybinae, and tribe Alebrini. It was established by Young in 1952. The genus contains approximately 11 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region, including Brazil, Panama, and Paraguay. Species in this genus are small, delicate leafhoppers typical of the Typhlocybinae subfamily.
Protambulyx strigilis
streaked sphinx
A large sphinx moth (family Sphingidae) distributed across tropical and subtropical lowlands from Florida through Central and South America. First described by Linnaeus in 1771, it is commonly known as the streaked sphinx. The species exhibits year-round activity in equatorial regions and seasonal flight periods at higher latitudes. Larvae feed on diverse host plants including species of Spondias, Anacardium, and Schinus.
Proteides mercurius
Mercurial Skipper
Proteides mercurius, commonly known as the Mercurial Skipper, is a species of dicot skipper in the butterfly family Hesperiidae. It is found across a broad geographic range including the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. The species was first described by Fabricius in 1787 and includes five recognized subspecies. It is assigned Hodges number 3868 in the North American moth numbering system.
Protoptila
Protoptila is a genus of caddisflies (Trichoptera) in the family Glossosomatidae, subfamily Protoptilinae. The genus is primarily Neotropical in distribution, with numerous species described from Central America, northern South America, and Mexico. Species-level taxonomy relies heavily on male genitalia morphology. The genus has been subject to multiple regional revisions, with 19 species recorded from Costa Rica alone and new species continuing to be described.
Protoptilinae
Protoptilinae is the most diverse subfamily of Glossosomatidae, the saddle- or tortoise-case-making caddisflies. The subfamily contains 18 genera with a strikingly disjunct global distribution: five genera occur in the East Palaearctic and Oriental regions, while the remaining thirteen genera are restricted to the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Members construct portable cases from mineral or plant material. The subfamily has undergone extensive taxonomic revision based on adult morphology and molecular phylogenetics, resulting in several new synonymies and refined generic diagnoses.
Proxys
black stink bugs
Proxys is a genus of stink bugs in the family Pentatomidae, established by Spinola in 1840. The genus comprises at least four described species distributed across the Americas, with Proxys punctulatus (black stink bug) being the most widely documented. Species in this genus are characterized by predominantly black coloration and are associated with leguminous crops, particularly soybeans. The genus has been documented in both North and South America, with some species showing broad geographic ranges extending from the United States through Central America to Brazil and Argentina.
Prytanes
Prytanes is a genus of seed bugs in the family Rhyparochromidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), described by Distant in 1893. It belongs to the tribe Myodochini, a diverse group of ground-dwelling lygaeoid bugs. The genus has been subject to recent taxonomic revision, with new distributional records documented for multiple species. Prytanes is presumably closely related to the newly described genus Prytanoides from Argentina.
Psaliodes
Psaliodes is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae, subfamily Larentiinae. The genus was established by Achille Guenée in 1857. As a member of the Larentiinae, it belongs to a diverse group of carpet moths. The genus contains multiple species, though specific details about most species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Psamatodes abydata
Dot-lined angle, Dot-lined and Dark-shaded Angles and Allies
Psamatodes abydata, commonly known as the dot-lined angle, is a geometrid moth native to the Neotropics and southern United States. The species has been introduced to the Pacific region, with established populations in Hawaii since 1970 and subsequent spread to other Pacific islands. It is recognized as a highly mobile species capable of regular northward dispersal beyond its core range. Taxonomic placement has shifted between the genera Psamatodes and Macaria, with current sources recognizing both names in use.
Psellidotus
Psellidotus is a genus of soldier flies in the family Stratiomyidae, subfamily Stratiomyinae, and tribe Stratiomyini. The genus was established by Rondani in 1863 and contains approximately 50 described species distributed primarily in the New World, with greatest diversity in the Neotropical region. Adults are characterized by patterned eyes with horizontal banding, a trait associated with detection of horizontally polarized light and linked to the aquatic larval habitat typical of stratiomyine flies. The genus is taxonomically challenging, particularly in South America where species boundaries with the related genus Hedriodiscus become unclear.
Psellidotus novella
Psellidotus novella is a soldier fly species in the family Stratiomyidae, subfamily Stratiomyinae. The genus Psellidotus belongs to the tribe Stratiomyini, a group characterized by aquatic larvae and adults that often exhibit striking eye patterns. Species in this genus are poorly known in the Neotropics, with most known only from original descriptions. The specific epithet "novella" suggests a relatively recent description, though detailed published information on this particular species remains limited.
Psepheninae
water-penny beetles
Psepheninae is a subfamily of Psephenidae (Coleoptera: Polyphaga) containing water-penny beetles, named for the distinctive flattened, oval larvae that resemble pennies. The subfamily includes at least six genera: Psephenus, Psephenops, Pheneps, Psephenotarsis, Psephenopalpus, and Belicinus. Members are strictly aquatic and occur in the New World from North America through Central America to South America.
Pseudaugochlora
Pseudaugochlora is a genus of sweat bees in the family Halictidae, tribe Augochlorini. Members are small to medium-sized bees with metallic coloration. The genus occurs in the Neotropical region, with records from Caribbean islands including Providencia. As with other Augochlorini, they are solitary or weakly social ground-nesting bees.
Pseudaugochlora graminea
Grassy Green-Sweat Bee
Pseudaugochlora graminea is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, distributed across the Neotropics from Mexico through Central America to South America. As a member of the tribe Augochlorini, it exhibits the metallic green coloration typical of this group. The species has been documented in 613 iNaturalist observations, indicating it is relatively well-observed within its range.
Pseudisobrachium
flat wasps
Pseudisobrachium is a genus of chrysidoid wasps in the family Bethylidae, commonly known as flat wasps. The genus was erected by Kieffer in 1904 and has undergone substantial taxonomic expansion, particularly from the Brazilian Amazon region where 33 new species were described in a 2024 monograph. The genus now contains approximately 40+ species, with most diversity concentrated in Neotropical regions.
Pseudocanthon perplexus
four-toothed dung beetle
Pseudocanthon perplexus, commonly known as the four-toothed dung beetle, is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is distributed from the United States south through Venezuela, with records from Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Antilles. The species was originally described as Canthon perplexus by LeConte in 1847 and later transferred to the genus Pseudocanthon.
Pseudocharis
lesser wasp moth (for P. minima)
Pseudocharis is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae, tribe Euchromiina. It was erected by Herbert Druce in 1884. The genus contains approximately nine described species distributed primarily in the Neotropics, with at least one species (P. minima) occurring in North America. Species in this genus exhibit wasp-mimicking coloration, a characteristic trait of the Euchromiina.
Pseudochlamys
Pseudochlamys is a genus of warty leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cryptocephalinae. The genus contains at least one described species, P. semirufescens, and is known from Colombia. Detailed natural history information exists for P. megalostomoides, revealing a complex life cycle involving fecal shelter construction, four larval instars, and host-specific feeding on Waltheria plants.
Pseudodynerus
mason wasps, potter wasps
Pseudodynerus is a small Neotropical genus of potter wasps (Eumeninae) currently containing 16 recognized species. These solitary mason wasps are characterized by their striking black and white coloration and their habit of nesting in pre-existing cavities in wood. Females provision their nests with paralyzed caterpillars as food for their developing larvae. The genus extends northward into the eastern United States, where at least one species, P. quadrisectus, is well-documented.
Pseudogaurax
Pseudogaurax is a genus of small flies in the family Chloropidae (frit flies), established by Malloch in 1915. The genus contains approximately 70 described species distributed across all biogeographic regions, with particular diversity in the Neotropics. Larvae are specialized predators and parasitoids of arthropod eggs, with well-documented associations with spider egg sacs, dobsonfly egg masses, mantid oothecae, and—uniquely among Chloropidae—ants. The genus includes the first known ant-parasitizing species in its family, Pseudogaurax paratolmos, discovered in Panama in 2016.
Pseudolimnophila luteipennis
Pseudolimnophila luteipennis is a species of limoniid crane fly first described by Osten Sacken in 1860. The species is widespread across North and Central America, with substantial observational records documenting its presence. As a member of the family Limoniidae, it belongs to one of the most diverse families of crane flies.
Pseudomelanactini
Pseudomelanactini is a tribe of click beetles (Elateridae) within the subfamily Agrypninae, established by Arnett in 1967. The group comprises multiple genera distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. These beetles share morphological features with related elaterid tribes but are distinguished by specific combinations of characters in the adult stage. The tribe is relatively understudied compared to more economically significant elaterid groups.
Pseudomyrmex
Twig Ants, Acacia Ants
Pseudomyrmex is a genus of stinging ants in the subfamily Pseudomyrmecinae, comprising approximately 180-209 species distributed primarily in tropical and subtropical regions of the New World. The genus is characterized by large compound eyes, slender wasp-like bodies, and diurnal activity patterns. Most species are generalist twig nesters that inhabit hollow stems and dead wood, though several species have evolved obligate mutualistic relationships with myrmecophytic plants, most famously with bullhorn acacias (Acacia spp.). These mutualistic species provide aggressive defense of their host plants against herbivores and competing vegetation in exchange for nesting sites and specialized food sources.
Pseudomyrmex caeciliae
Pseudomyrmex caeciliae is a species of twig ant in the genus Pseudomyrmex, described by Forel in 1913. Like other members of this large Neotropical genus, it exhibits an elongate, wasp-like body form and notably large compound eyes relative to head size. The genus Pseudomyrmex contains over 200 described species, many of which are associated with woody vegetation and some with specialized plant mutualisms. Specific ecological details for P. caeciliae remain poorly documented in available literature.
Pseudomyrmex cubaensis
Cuban Twig Ant
Pseudomyrmex cubaensis is a species of twig ant in the family Formicidae. As a member of the genus Pseudomyrmex, it exhibits the characteristic slender, wasp-like body form and large compound eyes typical of this group. The species was originally described from Cuba and has since been recorded across the Caribbean and parts of South America. Like other Pseudomyrmex species, it is associated with arboreal habitats, particularly woody vegetation.
Pseudomyrmex elongatus
Mangrove Twig Ant
Pseudomyrmex elongatus is a small, slender ant species in the family Formicidae, distributed widely from Mexico to Argentina. It belongs to a genus characterized by exceptionally large eyes relative to head size and an elongate, wasp-like body form. The species is commonly known as the Mangrove Twig Ant, suggesting association with coastal or riparian woody vegetation. Workers are small (head width 0.56–0.68 mm) with a predominantly opaque head and elongated eyes.
Pseudomyrmex pallidus
Pallidus-group Twig Ants
Pseudomyrmex pallidus is a small, slender ant species native to the Nearctic and Neotropical realms, with an extensive range from the southern United States through Central America and into South America. Workers are monomorphic and exhibit variable coloration from yellow to orange or brown. The species nests exclusively in hollow stems of dead grasses and woody twigs, typically at the interface of grassy and wooded habitats. Colonies are facultatively polygynous and polydomous, containing 1–15 queens and 20–200 workers.
Pseudomyrmex simplex
Simple Twig Ant
Pseudomyrmex simplex is a Neotropical ant species in the twig ant genus Pseudomyrmex, characterized by its slender, wasp-like body form and notably large compound eyes. The species inhabits tropical and subtropical regions of South America, where it forages arboreally on vegetation. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits an elongate morphology adapted for life among branches and twigs rather than ground-dwelling.
Pseudopamera nitidicollis
dirt-colored seed bug
Pseudopamera nitidicollis is a species of seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae, first described by Stål in 1874. It is characterized by its dull, earth-toned coloration typical of dirt-colored seed bugs. The species has been documented across Central America and North America, with records from the United States and Mexico. As a member of the Myodochini tribe, it belongs to a group of ground-dwelling seed bugs often associated with soil and litter habitats.
Pseudopentarthrum
Pseudopentarthrum is a genus of true weevils (Curculionidae) established by Wollaston in 1873. The genus contains approximately 18 described species, though some sources cite fewer. It belongs to the diverse weevil superfamily Curculionoidea. Members are found in Colombia and potentially other Neotropical regions.
Pseudophanerotoma
A genus of solitary endoparasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, subfamily Cheloninae. Species are known to parasitize tortricid moths, including agricultural pests. The genus occurs from southern Texas through Mexico and Central America to South America (Brazil, Peru, French Guiana). At least four species have been described: P. huichol (Mexico), P. austini (Guatemala), P. paranaensis (Brazil, French Guiana), and P. thapsina (Texas, French Guiana).
Pseudoponera
Pseudoponera Wolf Ants
Pseudoponera is a small genus of ponerine ants established by Emery in 1900. The genus comprises five species, all native to the Neotropics. Pseudoponera stigma has been introduced to Oceania and parts of east and Southeast Asia. The genus is commonly referred to as "Pseudoponera Wolf Ants."