Neotropical
Guides
Pseudorthygia
Pseudorthygia is a genus of flea beetles (family Chrysomelidae) containing two described species, both found in Mexico. The genus was established by Csiki in 1940. Both species were originally described by Jacoby in 1891 and later transferred to this genus.
Pseudoscaeva
Pseudoscaeva is a genus of hoverflies (family Syrphidae) endemic to the Neotropical region. The genus was erected by Vockeroth in 1969 to accommodate species formerly placed in Ocyptamus, which was determined to be polyphyletic. Four species are currently recognized: P. diversifasciata, P. meridionalis, P. schoenemanni, and P. sericea. At least one species, P. meridionalis, has been introduced to Chile and is considered potentially invasive.
Pseudoscaeva diversifasciata
Silver-banded Hover Fly
Pseudoscaeva diversifasciata, commonly known as the Silver-banded Hover Fly, is a species of hoverfly in the family Syrphidae. The genus Pseudoscaeva contains relatively few species and is distinguished from the similar genus Scaeva by subtle morphological differences. This species exhibits Batesian mimicry of stinging Hymenoptera, a common trait among syrphid flies. Observations suggest it occurs in the Americas, though detailed natural history documentation remains limited.
Pseudosphex
Pseudosphex is a genus of tiger moths (subfamily Arctiinae, family Erebidae) established by Jacob Hübner in 1818. The genus comprises species that exhibit exceptional mimicry of stinging Hymenoptera, particularly wasps. These moths display near-perfect morphological and behavioral convergence with their models, including wasp-waisted bodies, yellow-black coloration, transparent wings held folded at rest, and wasp-like antennae. Recent research proposes that this precise mimicry may serve not only to deter vertebrate predators but also to avoid predation by the wasps themselves, which may fail to recognize the moths as prey due to innate conspecific recognition mechanisms.
Pseudosphex leovazquezae
Pseudosphex leovazquezae is a moth in the subfamily Arctiinae (tiger moths) described by Pérez and Sánchez in 1986. The species is known from southern Texas, Mexico, and Guatemala. Adults are active from September to November in Texas. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits wasp mimicry, displaying yellow-black patterning and transparent wings that closely resemble stinging wasps.
Psilopleura
Psilopleura is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae. The genus was established in 1898 and contains approximately 13 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Species within this genus exhibit the characteristic warning coloration typical of tiger moths. The genus has been documented through 335 iNaturalist observations, indicating moderate field recognition.
Psilopleura polia
Psilopleura polia is a moth species in the subfamily Arctiinae, first described by Herbert Druce in 1898. The species has a notably disjunct distribution, occurring from southern Texas through Central America and extending to Vanuatu in the southwestern Pacific. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 38 mm. Limited phenological data indicates adult activity in November in Texas, though broader seasonal patterns across its range remain undocumented.
Psychonoctua
Psychonoctua is a genus of carpenter moths (family Cossidae, subfamily Zeuzerinae) established by Grote in 1865. The genus occurs across the New World from the southwestern United States through Central America to South America, with species documented in California, Texas, the Caribbean, and countries including Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana. Recent taxonomic revisions have expanded the genus to include species transferred from the related genus Schreiteriana.
Psyllipsocus
Psyllipsocus is a genus of cave-dwelling barklice comprising more than 50 described species. Members of this genus inhabit dark, humid microhabitats including caves, rock crevices, and similar subterranean environments. The genus was established by Selys-Longchamps in 1872 and represents one of the most species-rich genera within the family Psyllipsocidae.
Pteronymia
Clearwing butterflies
A genus of clearwing butterflies in the tribe Ithomiini, characterized by reduced wing scaling that creates transparent or semi-transparent wing areas. The genus contains approximately 40 described species distributed in the Neotropics. Members exhibit Müllerian mimicry with other ithomiine genera and are active during daylight hours.
Ptychoglene
Ptychoglene is a genus of moths in the subfamily Arctiinae, tribe Lithosiini, within the family Erebidae. The genus was erected by Felder in 1874 and contains eight described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Members of this genus are characterized by their often striking red or reddish coloration, reflected in species epithets such as 'coccinea' (scarlet), 'erythrophora' (red-bearing), and 'sanguineola' (blood-red). The genus is part of the diverse tiger moth assemblage, though specific biological details for most species remain poorly documented.
Ptycta lineata
Ptycta lineata is a barklouse species in the family Psocidae, described by Mockford in 1974. It occurs across the Caribbean, Middle America, and southern North America. Like other members of its genus, it inhabits dead leaf litter and surface vegetation in humid environments. The species is one of approximately 70 described in the genus Ptycta.
Ptyelini
Ptyelini is a tribe of spittlebugs (family Aphrophoridae, order Hemiptera) characterized by large-bodied nymphs that produce copious amounts of frothy spittle. The tribe contains multiple genera distributed across the Old World tropics, with Cephisus being the sole representative genus in the New World. Members are xylem-feeding insects whose nymphal stage is concealed within protective spittle masses.
Pulex
human flea (for P. irritans)
Pulex is a genus of fleas in the family Pulicidae, established by Linnaeus in 1758. The genus comprises six to seven recognized species, with Pulex irritans (the human flea) being the most notable and widespread. The remaining species are restricted to the Nearctic and Neotropical realms. Members of this genus are laterally compressed, wingless ectoparasites adapted for blood-feeding on mammals.
Puliciphora borinquenensis
Puliciphora borinquenensis is a species of scuttle fly in the family Phoridae, described by Wheeler in 1906. The species has been recorded from the Galápagos Islands and multiple states in Brazil, with some doubtful or rare records from Europe. As with other phorid flies, it is likely associated with decaying organic matter, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species epithet references Borinquen, the indigenous Taíno name for Puerto Rico, suggesting a possible Caribbean origin for the type specimen.
Purius
Purius is a genus of arctiine tussock moths in the family Erebidae, established by Francis Walker in 1855. The genus contains two described species: Purius pilumnia (originally described by Stoll in 1780) and Purius superpulverea (described by Dyar in 1925). As members of the subfamily Arctiinae, these moths possess the characteristic features of tiger moths and tussock moths, though specific details of their biology remain poorly documented in available literature.
Pyrausta augustalis
Pyrausta augustalis is a small crambid moth described by Grote in 1875. It ranges from Texas through Mexico to Central America, with adults recorded active in March, June–July, and November. The wingspan is approximately 18 mm. The species belongs to the genus Pyrausta, which includes several herbivorous species whose larvae feed on flowering plants.
Pyrausta insignitalis
dark-banded pyrausta moth
Pyrausta insignitalis is a small crambid moth commonly known as the dark-banded pyrausta moth. First described by Guenée in 1854, this species is found in the southeastern United States, the West Indies, and extends through Central and South America. It is a member of the snout moth family, characterized by elongated mouthparts projecting from the head.
Pyrisitia dina
Dina Yellow
Pyrisitia dina is a small yellow butterfly in the family Pieridae, distributed across the Caribbean, Middle America, and southern North America. The species is one of several yellows in the genus Pyrisitia, which are often associated with open, sunny habitats. Adults are typically active year-round in tropical regions and during warmer months in temperate areas.
Pyrisitia nise
mimosa yellow
Pyrisitia nise, commonly known as the mimosa yellow, is a small butterfly in the family Pieridae. It ranges from Argentina northward through the southern United States, with established populations in central and southern Florida and along the Texas Gulf Coast. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism in wing patterning and has a documented association with Mimosa pudica as its larval host plant.
Pyrisitia proterpia
little yellow
Pyrisitia proterpia, commonly known as the little yellow, is a small butterfly in the family Pieridae. It occurs across the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America including Colombia. The species is associated with open habitats and has been documented in botanical gardens and natural areas.
Pyrophorini
Headlight Beetles
Pyrophorini is a New World tribe of click beetles (Elateridae: Agrypninae) characterized by bioluminescence in both larvae and adults. The tribe comprises approximately 20 genera including Pyrophorus, Ignelater, and Pyrearinus. Members are known for producing light through specialized organs, with larvae associated with phenomena such as 'luminescent termite mounds' and 'luminous canga caves' in South America. The tribe is believed to be monophyletic and is closely related to Anaissini, which contains some but not all bioluminescent species.
Pyrrhopygini
Firetips, Firetail skippers
Pyrrhopygini is a tribe of skipper butterflies comprising approximately 150 species, commonly known as firetips or firetail skippers. The tribe is distinguished by the red or orange abdominal tip present in many species. Members are exclusively Neotropical in distribution, with a single species extending marginally into the southern United States. They belong to the family Hesperiidae and subfamily Pyrrhopyginae.
Quasimellana eulogius
common mellana
Quasimellana eulogius, commonly known as the common mellana, is a grass skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It has a broad distribution spanning Central America, North America, and South America. The species has been documented in at least 1,451 iNaturalist observations, indicating it is relatively well-encountered in its range.
Quatiella
Quatiella is a genus of moth flies (Psychodidae) established in 1970. The genus is placed within the diverse family of moth flies, characterized by their hairy bodies and broad, hairy wings. Members of this genus are small, delicate flies that inhabit moist environments. The genus has accumulated over 2,200 observations on iNaturalist, indicating moderate documentation in citizen science records.
Quesada
Giant Cicadas
Quesada is a genus of giant cicadas in the family Cicadidae, distributed across South and North America. The genus was established by Distant in 1905 and belongs to the tribe Fidicinini. Species in this genus are among the largest cicadas known, with Quesada gigas reaching body lengths up to 50 mm. The genus is characterized by its substantial size relative to other cicada genera.
Quesada gigas
Giant cicada, chichara grande, coyoyo, coyuyo, coffee cicada
Quesada gigas is a large cicada species native to North, Central, and South America, with the widest geographic range of any cicada in the Western Hemisphere. It is a significant agricultural pest, particularly of coffee (Coffea) in Brazil and paricá (Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum) in the Amazon region, where nymphal feeding on roots can cause substantial yield losses or tree mortality. The species exhibits low selectivity in oviposition site choice, with females documented laying eggs in dry branches of non-host plants such as Conyza spp. weeds, which cannot support complete nymphal development due to their annual life cycle.
Rafaelia rufiventris
Rafaelia rufiventris is a species of flesh fly in the family Sarcophagidae, first described by Charles Townsend in 1917. The genus Rafaelia is placed within the subfamily Sarcophaginae. As with other sarcophagid flies, adults likely exhibit the typical flesh fly morphology including a gray thorax with longitudinal stripes and a checkered abdominal pattern. The specific epithet "rufiventris" refers to a reddish or rufous-colored abdomen or ventral surface.
Rasahus
Rasahus is a genus of assassin bugs in the family Reduviidae, containing 26 described species restricted to the Neotropical region. The genus was established by Amyot & Serville in 1843 and is classified within the subfamily Peiratinae. Species within this genus are predatory true bugs that capture and feed on other arthropods. The genus includes several well-known species such as Rasahus hamatus and Rasahus biguttatus.
Rasahus biguttatus
corsair, assassin bug
Rasahus biguttatus is a species of corsair (assassin bug) in the family Reduviidae. It occurs across a broad geographic range spanning the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. As a member of the subfamily Peiratinae, it shares characteristics typical of corsairs, including raptorial forelegs adapted for capturing prey. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1832.
Rectiostoma
Rectiostoma is a genus of moths in the family Depressariidae, established by Becker in 1982. The genus contains approximately 17 described species, many of which were described by Duckworth in 1971. Species are primarily Neotropical in distribution. The genus is classified within the subfamily Stenomatinae.
Reinwardtiini
Reinwardtiini is a tribe of flies within the family Muscidae, subfamily Muscinae. The tribe comprises 11 recognized genera distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Several genera, notably Philornis and Passeromyia, have attracted research attention due to their specialized ecological associations with birds. The type genus Reinwardtia was established by Brauer & von Bergenstamm in 1890.
Rekoa marius
Marius hairstreak
Rekoa marius, known as the Marius hairstreak, is a Neotropical butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. Adults exhibit sexual dimorphism in wing coloration, with males showing dark iridescent blue uppersides and females gray. The species ranges from Paraguay to northern Mexico, with occasional strays reaching southern Texas and Arizona. Larvae display complex ecological associations including myrmecophily with carpenter ants and feeding on diverse host plants.
Rekoa palegon
gold-bordered hairstreak
Rekoa palegon, known as the gold-bordered hairstreak, is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It ranges from Argentina through Mexico and the West Indies, with rare occurrences in southern Texas. Adults have a wingspan of 23–28 mm and are active from May through December in Mexico, with a single annual generation. The species has been documented feeding on nectar from Senecio and Eupatorium flowers.
Remartinia secreta
Secretive Darner
Remartinia secreta is a species of darner dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae, commonly known as the Secretive Darner. The species was described by Philip Powell Calvert in 1952. It belongs to a small genus of Neotropical darners with limited documentation in scientific literature. Records indicate presence in South America, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Repipta
Repipta is a genus of assassin bugs (Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) established by Stål in 1859. The genus contains at least 25 species, with the majority distributed in the Neotropics and some extending into the Nearctic region. Species in this genus are predatory, with documented life cycles showing five nymphal instars and total development from egg to adult of approximately 2-3 months under laboratory conditions. Two species, R. flavicans and R. taurus, have been studied in detail regarding their immature stages and developmental biology.
Reuteroscopus
A genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, comprising over 50 described species distributed across North, Central, and South America. Members are small true bugs with piercing-sucking mouthparts typical of the family. The genus was established by Kirkaldy in 1905 and represents a diverse lineage within the Cimicomorpha.
Reuteroscopus ornatus
ornate plant bug
Reuteroscopus ornatus, commonly known as the ornate plant bug, is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae. It is characterized by distinctive markings that give it its common name. The species has a broad geographic distribution spanning the Caribbean, Central America, and North America, with records from Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and multiple U.S. states including Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Texas, and West Virginia. It is frequently attracted to blacklights at night.
Reventazonia
Reventazonia is a genus of leafhoppers (Cicadellidae) in the subfamily Deltocephalinae, described by Linnavuori in 1959. The genus name derives from the Reventazón River in Costa Rica, indicating its Neotropical origin. Members are small, active insects that feed on plant phloem. The genus is documented in the leafhopper tribe Deltocephalini, one of the most diverse groups within the family.
Rhabdophloeus
Rhabdophloeus is a genus of small beetles in the family Laemophloeidae, established by Sharp in 1899. The genus contains five described species distributed across the Americas. Laemophloeidae, commonly known as lined flat bark beetles, are characterized by their flattened bodies and association with dead or decaying wood. Species within Rhabdophloeus appear to follow this family pattern, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Rhabdopterus
Rhabdopterus is a genus of leaf beetles in the subfamily Eumolpinae, containing approximately 70 described species distributed across North and South America. Eight species occur north of Mexico, though Nearctic species may not be congeneric with the South American type species. The genus belongs to the family Chrysomelidae, a large group of herbivorous beetles commonly known as leaf beetles. Some species, such as Rhabdopterus jansoni, are significant herbivores in agricultural systems, particularly coffee plantations.
Rhachoepalpus
Rhachoepalpus is a genus of tachinid flies described by Townsend in 1908. The genus comprises approximately 18 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region, with records from South America including Argentina, Peru, and Brazil. Species were described across several decades, with notable contributions by Townsend (1908–1935), Macquart (1844–1846), and Curran (1947). As members of Tachinidae, these flies are presumably parasitoids, though specific host relationships remain undocumented in available sources.
Rhagoletotrypeta
Rhagoletotrypeta is a genus of tephritid fruit flies native to the Americas, established by Aczél in 1951. The genus currently includes nine described species distributed across the Neotropics, with records from Cuba, Argentina, and other regions. Species in this genus are fruit-infesting flies whose larvae develop inside the fruits of Celtis species (Cannabaceae). The genus is notable for its extended pupal dormancy periods, which can last approximately 12 months in some populations.
Rhagovelia
smaller water striders, riffle bugs
Rhagovelia is a large genus of small aquatic bugs in the family Veliidae, with over 390 described species. Members are distinguished by a swimming fan on the distal tarsomere of the middle leg, an adaptation that enables rapid maneuvering on water surfaces. The genus has colonized lotic freshwater systems and coastal marine environments across the Americas, with additional species in Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Evolutionary origins trace to gene duplications ('geisha' and 'mother-of-geisha') that created this propelling fan structure, allowing exploitation of faster-flowing and more turbulent streams than relatives lacking this adaptation.
Rhantus gutticollis
Rhantus gutticollis is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. The species occurs across a broad geographic range spanning North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Like other members of its genus, it inhabits aquatic environments and functions as an active predator. The specific epithet "gutticollis" refers to spotted or marked neck/throat region characteristics.
Rhectocraspeda periusalis
Eggplant Webworm Moth
Rhectocraspeda periusalis is a small crambid moth commonly known as the eggplant webworm moth. It exhibits sexual dimorphism in adult size and is active year-round in tropical and subtropical regions. The species is notable as a pest of solanaceous crops, with larvae feeding on eggplant, tomato, pepper, tobacco, and various nightshades. Its distribution spans the Caribbean, southeastern United States, Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.
Rheumatobates minutus
Rheumatobates minutus is a small water strider (family Gerridae) described by Hungerford in 1936. It belongs to the subfamily Rhagodotarsinae, a group of marine and estuarine water striders adapted to life on the water surface. The species has been recorded across the Caribbean, Middle America, North America, and South America, indicating a broad Neotropical and Nearctic distribution. As with other members of its genus, it likely inhabits coastal marine environments and estuaries rather than freshwater habitats.
Rhinoleucophenga
Rhinoleucophenga is a genus of fruit flies in the family Drosophilidae, endemic to the New World with highest diversity in Neotropical open environments, particularly Brazil. The genus comprises at least 26 nominal species, with recent taxonomic work revealing numerous cryptic species and correcting long-standing misidentifications. One species, R. myrmecophaga, exhibits a remarkable predatory larval stage that exploits ant-plant mutualisms by trapping ants at extrafloral nectaries.
Rhinostomus
yucca weevils, bearded weevil, bottle brush weevil
Rhinostomus is a genus of weevils in the family Dryophthoridae, tribe Rhinostomini. The genus contains approximately eight species distributed across the Neotropics. Several species, particularly R. barbirostris, are significant pests of palms (Arecaceae), causing damage through larval and adult feeding that can lead to palm mortality. The genus was formerly known as Yuccaborus, which was synonymized with Rhinostomus in 2002.
Rhinotragini
Rhinotragini is a tribe of longhorn beetles within the subfamily Cerambycinae, characterized by diverse genera distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. The tribe includes numerous genera with species showing striking wasp-like mimicry and associations with flowers. Taxonomic revisions have described multiple new genera and species, particularly from Bolivia, with ongoing work clarifying generic boundaries and species limits. Members range from small to medium-sized beetles, often with vivid coloration and elongated bodies.