Neotropical
Guides
Azya orbigera
globe-marked lady beetle
Azya orbigera, commonly known as the globe-marked lady beetle, is a small lady beetle species in the family Coccinellidae. It is distinguished by its unusual cobalt blue coloration and dense dorsal pubescence, which contrast sharply with the typical red-and-black pattern of most lady beetles. Adults measure 2.90–4.25 mm in length and possess a yellow head with greenish-black dorsum and a characteristic round discal spot on each elytron. The species has a broad distribution across North America, Oceania, and South America, with two recognized subspecies.
Baconia
Baconia is a genus of clown beetles (family Histeridae) comprising 116 species, with 85 species described in a 2013 systematic revision. The genus is renowned for brilliant jewel-like coloration and bizarrely flattened body forms—traits rare and little-appreciated in the Histeridae. Species are primarily distributed across North and South America. Many species are known from extremely few specimens; nearly half are represented by only one or two specimens in museum collections.
Bagisara repanda
Wavy-lined Mallow Moth, Wavy Lined Mallow Moth
Bagisara repanda, commonly known as the Wavy-lined Mallow Moth, is a small noctuid moth with a broad Neotropical and Nearctic distribution. Adults are active year-round in tropical regions, with peak activity in late summer to fall in the southern United States. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1793 and remains relatively understudied despite its wide geographic range.
Bagisarinae
Bagisarinae is a monotypic subfamily of moths within the family Noctuidae, established by Crumb in 1956. The subfamily contains a single genus, Bagisara, which comprises approximately 20 described species distributed primarily in the New World. These moths are classified within the superfamily Noctuoidea and are characterized by distinctive morphological features that separate them from other noctuid subfamilies. The group has received limited specialized study, and many aspects of its biology remain poorly documented.
Balduza
Balduza is a genus of planthoppers in the family Issidae, described by Gnezdilov & O'Brien in 2006. It belongs to the tribe Thioniini within the subfamily Issinae. The genus is part of the diverse Fulgoroidea superfamily, a group of Hemiptera known for their varied and often elaborate head ornamentation. Very few observations of this genus exist in public databases.
Baniana
Baniana is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, established by Walker in 1858. The genus was previously placed in the subfamily Calpinae of the family Noctuidae before taxonomic reclassification. It contains approximately 50 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropics. The genus is characterized by distinctive wing venation and palp structure.
Barce fraterna
Barce fraterna is a thread-legged bug (subfamily Emesinae) in the assassin bug family Reduviidae. The species has a broad distribution spanning the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America, including the Galápagos Islands. Three subspecies are recognized: B. f. annulipes, B. f. banksii, and the nominate B. f. fraterna. Like other emesines, it possesses the characteristic elongated, slender legs adapted for predation on other arthropods.
Barela
Barela is a genus of leafhoppers (family Cicadellidae, subfamily Typhlocybinae, tribe Alebrini) established by Young in 1957. The genus belongs to the diverse group of typhlocybine leafhoppers, which are generally small, delicate insects with reduced wing venation. As a genus-level taxon, Barela encompasses multiple species, though specific biological details for the genus as a whole remain limited in published literature. The genus is part of the Alebrini tribe, whose members are typically associated with feeding on vascular plant tissues.
Basilia
bat flies
Basilia is a genus of ectoparasitic bat flies in the family Nycteribiidae. These highly specialized dipterans are obligate parasites of bats, exhibiting extreme morphological adaptations for life on mammalian hosts. The genus includes species such as Basilia silvae and Basilia ortizi, which have been documented from South and Central America. Members of this genus are characterized by reduced or absent wings, dorsoventrally flattened bodies, and claws adapted for clinging to host fur.
Batrachideinae
groundhoppers, pygmy grasshoppers
Batrachideinae is a taxonomically stable subfamily of pygmy grasshoppers (Tetrigidae) characterized by antennae with 18–22 segments, distinguishing them from other Tetrigidae which have fewer than 16. The subfamily comprises approximately 25 genera in three tribes with pantropical distribution across the Americas, Africa, tropical Asia, and Australia. It is particularly diverse in the Neotropical region, where the genus Scaria exhibits complex biogeographic patterns linked to Amazonian diversification and Andean uplift.
Battus polydamas
Polydamas Swallowtail, Gold Rim Swallowtail, Tailless Swallowtail
Battus polydamas is a tailless swallowtail butterfly distinguished by black wings with yellow submarginal spots and red hindwing lunules. First described by Linnaeus in 1758, it occurs throughout the Neotropics and southern United States. Larvae are obligate specialists on Aristolochia (pipevine) plants, sequestering toxic aristolochic acids for chemical defense against predators.
Bellota
Bellota is a genus of jumping spiders (Salticidae) established by George and Elizabeth Peckham in 1892. The genus is distinguished from the similar genus Chirothecia by its narrower cephalothorax and shorter eye area. The type species, Bellota peckhami, was designated by Galiano in 1978 from a male specimen previously misidentified by the Peckhams. The genus contains nine described species distributed primarily in the Americas, with two species described from Pakistan whose taxonomic placement remains questionable.
Bertamyia notata
Bertamyia notata is the sole described species in the genus Bertamyia, a group of flat-footed flies within the family Platypezidae. The species occurs across a broad geographic range from Canada to Argentina in the Americas. It was originally described by Loew in 1866 under the name Callomyia notata. As a member of Platypezidae, it belongs to a family of small to medium-sized flies whose larvae typically develop in decaying organic matter, particularly fungi.
Biblis
red rim, crimson-banded black
Biblis is a monotypic genus of brush-footed butterflies in the family Nymphalidae, established by Fabricius in 1807. The sole species, Biblis hyperia, is commonly known as the red rim or crimson-banded black. This butterfly is distributed across the Americas from the southern United States through Central America to South America.
Biblis hyperia
red rim, crimson-banded black, Southern Red Rim
Biblis hyperia is a brush-footed butterfly (family Nymphalidae) and the sole member of its genus. Adults display striking velvety-black forewings contrasted with gray hindwings bearing a distinctive pinkish-red marginal band. The species occurs from the southern United States through the Neotropics to Paraguay, with flight activity recorded primarily between March and November. Larvae feed on the spurge family vine Tragia volubilis.
Bicellonycha
Bicellonycha is a genus of fireflies (Lampyridae) comprising more than 40 described species. Species within this genus exhibit diverse ecological tolerances, with some such as B. lividipennis showing adaptation to artificial night lighting and anthropogenic disturbance, while others including B. wickershamorum face conservation threats and have been petitioned for listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The genus occurs primarily in the Americas, with documented presence in Brazil and the United States.
Bicilia
Bicilia is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae. The genus was established by Amsel in 1956 and contains four described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. These moths are relatively poorly studied, with limited published information on their biology and ecology.
Bickelomyia
Bickelomyia is a genus of small flies in the family Dolichopodidae, described by Naglis in 2002. It is currently known from Mexico and Costa Rica. The genus was named in honor of Australian dipterologist Daniel J. Bickel. The genus contains five described species, all described in the same 2002 publication.
Bicyrtes variegatus
sand wasp
Bicyrtes variegatus is a sand wasp species in the family Crabronidae, distributed across Central and South America with established populations in the Galápagos Islands. The species exhibits notable behavioral flexibility, having been documented in diverse vegetation zones from littoral to humid habitats and interacting with both native and introduced flora. As a member of the Bembicinae, it shares the subfamily's characteristic fossorial nesting habits and prey specialization on true bugs, though specific ecological details remain incompletely documented across its broad range.
Billbrownia
Billbrownia is a genus of fungus-growing ants in the family Formicidae, subfamily Myrmicinae, and tribe Attini. The genus was established to accommodate species previously classified under other attine genera, particularly those with distinctive morphological features. These ants engage in the cultivation of fungal gardens, a defining characteristic of the Attini tribe. The genus remains relatively understudied compared to more prominent attine genera such as Atta and Acromyrmex.
Biturix
Biturix is a genus of moths in the subfamily Arctiinae, family Erebidae. It was established by Francis Walker in 1855. The genus contains eight recognized species distributed in the Neotropical region. Species are characterized by distinctive wing patterns and venation.
Blastopsocus
common barklice
Blastopsocus is a genus of barklice in the family Psocidae, established by Roesler in 1943. The genus comprises nine described species distributed in the Americas, from the United States through Central America. These insects are small, winged or wingless psocids that inhabit bark and foliage environments. Species-level taxonomy has been refined through works by Mockford (2002) and other psocid specialists.
Blepharomastix
Blepharomastix is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, described by Julius Lederer in 1863. The genus contains approximately 80 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Many species were described by early 20th century lepidopterists including Hampson, Dyar, and Schaus. The genus is currently treated as a synonym of Lamprosema in some taxonomic databases, reflecting ongoing revisions within the Spilomelinae subfamily.
Blepharomastix undescribed-species
Blepharomastix is a genus of crambid moths in the subfamily Spilomelinae. The designation "undescribed-species" indicates a species that has been recognized by researchers but not yet formally described and named in scientific literature. Specimens may exist in collections or field observations may document its presence, but without a published species description, its formal taxonomic status remains incomplete. The genus Blepharomastix includes species primarily distributed in the Neotropical region.
Bolbocerosoma
earth-boring scarab beetles
Bolbocerosoma is a genus of earth-boring scarab beetles in the family Geotrupidae. The genus contains approximately 13 described species distributed across the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. These beetles are part of the subfamily Bolboceratinae, tribe Odonteini. The genus was established by Schaeffer in 1906 and has been subject to taxonomic revision by Howden (1955).
Bolbonota
seed-mimic treehopper
Bolbonota is a genus of treehoppers in the family Membracidae, tribe Membracini, distributed in the New World tropics and subtropics. Adults are characterized by their dark, globular body form with a corrugated pronotal surface and distinctive red eyes. The genus contains at least a dozen described species in Brazil alone, with many more likely awaiting description. Bolbonota species exhibit complex ontogenetic color changes: early instar nymphs are dark, late instars become mottled or streaked white, and adults revert to dark coloration.
Bolbonota tuberculata
Bolbonota tuberculata is a treehopper species in the family Membracidae, characterized by its globular, tuberculate body form and dark coloration. The species belongs to the New World tribe Membracini and exhibits the pronotal modifications typical of this group—an enlarged, helmet-like structure that extends over the body. Like other members of the genus Bolbonota, adults have been observed with distinctive red eyes. The species occurs in the Neotropical region, with records from French Guiana and Brazil.
Bonchis
snout moths
Bonchis is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Chrysauginae. It was established by Francis Walker in 1862. The genus contains at least four described species distributed across the Neotropical region, including Trinidad, Brazil, and Panama. The type species is Bonchis scoparioides Walker, 1862, described from Pará, Brazil.
Bothriocera
Bothriocera is a genus of planthoppers in the family Cixiidae, tribe Bothriocerini. The genus was established by Burmeister in 1835 and contains species distributed in the Neotropical region. Bothriocera substigmatica, a representative species, is endemic to the Lesser Antilles and has been redescribed based on modern specimens, revealing previously unknown morphological details including male genitalia.
Bothriospilini
Bothriospilini is a tribe of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) within the subfamily Cerambycinae, comprising 11 genera with primarily Neotropical distribution. The tribe was established in 1950 by Frederico Lane and is morphologically allied to Torneutini, sharing distinctive abdominal and thoracic cavity characteristics. Several species have been subjects of chemical ecology research, with sex pheromones identified from Chlorida and Knulliana. The tribe includes notable species such as Knulliana cincta, the banded hickory borer, which extends into eastern North America.
Bothrosternini
Bothrosternini is a tribe of weevils within the subfamily Dryophthorinae, characterized by elongated rostrums and association with woody plants. Members of this tribe are found in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in the Americas. The tribe includes economically significant species that attack palms and other monocots.
Bothynostethini
Bothynostethini is a small tribe of solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae, described by W. Fox in 1894. The tribe is restricted to the Neotropical region. Members are distinguished by unusual structural modifications at the apex of the hind femora. The tribe contains relatively few species and is not well represented in collections.
Brachiacantha barberi
Barber's lady beetle
Brachiacantha barberi is a small lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae, tribe Hyperaspidini. It belongs to the dentipes group within the genus Brachiacantha. The species was described by Gordon in 1985 and is named for H. S. Barber. It is known from North America, with records from Texas and additional Neotropical localities reported in taxonomic revisions.
Brachinus adustipennis
Brachinus adustipennis is a species of bombardier beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Terry Erwin in 1969. It belongs to the genus Brachinus, which is renowned for its remarkable chemical defense mechanism—producing a hot, noxious spray from the abdomen when disturbed. The species occurs across a broad geographic range spanning the Caribbean, Central America, and North America, with confirmed records from Cuba, Mexico, Panama, and the United States.
Brachycara slossonae
Brachycara slossonae is a species of soldier fly in the family Stratiomyidae, subfamily Nemotelinae. Originally described as Euryneurasoma slossonae by Johnson in 1913, it was later transferred to the genus Brachycara. The species is broadly distributed across Brazil, with records from nearly all states and the Federal District. It belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized flies associated with wetland and riparian habitats.
Brachycoryna pumila
Brachycoryna pumila is a small leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Guérin-Méneville in 1844. Adults measure 2.5–3.5 mm in length and exhibit distinctive coloration: black head, brownish-yellow pronotum, and yellow elytra with variable brown markings. The species has been recorded feeding on several plants in the family Malvaceae. Its distribution spans from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America to northern South America, including Caribbean islands.
Brachygastra
Honey Wasps, Mexican Honey Wasps
Brachygastra is a genus of 17 species of social paper wasps in the family Vespidae, commonly known as honey wasps. The genus is notable for being one of the few non-bee insects that produce and store honey in substantial quantities. Species are distributed throughout Central and South America, with one species (B. mellifica) extending into the southwestern United States. The genus exhibits pronounced morphological caste differentiation, with queens typically larger than workers. Nests are arboreal, constructed from chewed plant fibers, and can persist for multiple years in tropical climates.
Brachygastra mellifica
Mexican Honey Wasp
Brachygastra mellifica is a neotropical social wasp and one of the few wasp species known to produce and store honey. Adults are small, measuring 7–9 mm in length, with workers and males displaying alternating yellow and black abdominal bands while queens are dark reddish-brown. The species constructs large paper nests in tree canopies that may persist for years in favorable climates. Colonies are exceptionally large, housing 3,500–18,700 individuals with multiple queens. The species has significant economic value as a pollinator of avocados and as a biological control agent for the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri), a major citrus pest.
Brachypnoea
Brachypnoea is a genus of leaf beetles in the subfamily Eumolpinae, primarily distributed in the Neotropical realm with eight species extending into the Nearctic realm. The genus was established by Gistel in 1848 as a replacement name for the preoccupied Noda (Chevrolat, 1836). Several species have been reclassified to other genera, including Dryadomolpus, Chrysodinopsis, and Spintherophyta. The genus belongs to the tribe Typophorini within the diverse leaf beetle family Chrysomelidae.
Brachystomella villalobosi
Brachystomella villalobosi is a species of springtail described from Brazil in 1962. It belongs to the family Brachystomellidae, a group of small, soil-dwelling hexapods within the order Poduromorpha. The species is documented from northeastern and central Brazil, with records also from the Caribbean mainland. Very few observations exist, with only two records in iNaturalist.
Brasiella
Brasiella is a genus of small to very small tiger beetles (Cicindelidae) containing more than 50 described species. Formerly treated as a subgenus of Cicindela, it is now recognized as a distinct genus based on morphological and behavioral differences. The genus is predominantly Neotropical in distribution, with species occurring from Panama and the West Indies south to Peru and Argentina. Most species are cursorial (running) beetles adapted to open, sandy or muddy habitats. Brasiella argentata is among the most common and widespread species, though it appears to represent a species complex distinguishable primarily by male genitalic characters.
Brasiella wickhami
Sonoran Tiger Beetle
Brasiella wickhami, commonly known as the Sonoran Tiger Beetle, is a small, cursorial tiger beetle species and the only member of its genus to reach the United States. It occurs in southern Arizona and extends southward into Mexico. Adults are active runners found in arid habitats, representing the northernmost extension of an otherwise exclusively Neotropical genus.
Brevitentoria
caddisflies
Brevitentoria is an infraorder of Trichoptera (caddisflies) within the suborder Integripalpia, established by Weaver in 1984. It comprises families of case-making caddisflies characterized by shortened, reduced tentoria in the adult head skeleton. A comprehensive inventory in Espírito Santo State, Brazil documented 40 species from 3,420 adult specimens, including three newly described species in the genera Phylloicus, Helicopsyche (Feropsyche), and Marilia. The estimated total species richness for this infraorder in the state is approximately 72 species.
Bromeloecia
Bromeloecia is a genus of small flies in the family Sphaeroceridae (lesser dung flies), first described by Spuler in 1923. The genus contains four described species: B. bromeliarum, B. seltzeri, B. tarsiglossa, and B. winnemana. The genus name and the species epithet bromeliarum suggest an association with bromeliad plants, though specific ecological relationships remain poorly documented.
Brucita marmorata
Marbled Palm Forest Leaf Beetle
Brucita marmorata is the sole described species in the genus Brucita, a group of skeletonizing leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae. The species is known from Texas in the United States and Guatemala in Central America. The common name "Marbled Palm Forest Leaf Beetle" suggests association with palm forest habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Bruggmanniella
Bruggmanniella is a genus of gall midges (Cecidomyiidae: Asphondyliini) comprising approximately ten species that induce galls on various host plants. The genus is characterized by distinctive morphological features including three-segmented palpi, simple tarsal claws, and male gonostyli with teeth completely divided mesally. Species induce galls on stems, twigs, flower buds, ovaries, and fruits of diverse plant families including Lauraceae, Malpighiaceae, Annonaceae, Fabaceae, Celastraceae, Dilleniaceae, and Sapotaceae. Phylogenetic analysis confirms Bruggmanniella as a monophyletic Neotropical lineage, with Asian species reassigned to the genus Odontokeros.
Bryantopsis
Bryantopsis is a genus of treehoppers (family Membracidae) in the subfamily Smiliinae. It contains a single described species, Bryantopsis ensigera, with two subspecies: B. e. ensigera and B. e. humerosa. The genus was established by Ball in 1937 and is restricted to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Bryodemina
Bryodemina is a genus of bee flies (Diptera: Bombyliidae) in the subfamily Lomatiinae, established by Hull in 1973. The genus occurs in the Neotropical region and was recently revised with two new species described from Brazil and Venezuela. A taxonomic revision synonymized the genus Brachydemia with Bryodemina. Species in this genus are distinguished by morphological features of the adult external anatomy and terminalia.
Bryolymnia
Bryolymnia is a genus of noctuid moths erected by George Hampson in 1908. It is classified within the subfamily Bryophilinae and contains approximately 23 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. The genus name derives from Greek roots suggesting a connection to moss (bryo-) and a type of nymph or maiden (lymnia), though the etymological significance remains unclear. Species within this genus exhibit considerable diversity in wing pattern and coloration.
Buenoa platycnemis
Buenoa platycnemis is a species of backswimmer in the family Notonectidae. It is a predatory aquatic insect found in freshwater habitats across the Americas. The genus Buenoa is distinguished by males producing audible stridulatory sounds, a rare trait among aquatic Heteroptera. This species has been recorded from North, Central, and South America, including multiple states in Brazil.