Neotropical
Guides
Ciminius
Ciminius is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, tribe Cicadellini. The genus was established by Metcalf and Bruner in 1936 and contains ten described species distributed across the Neotropical and Nearctic regions. A 2025 morphological phylogenetic study confirmed Ciminius as monophyletic with high support and described three new species. The genus belongs to the Articulate Stem Clade alongside Tylozygus and the monotypic genus Arcanus, characterized by unique connective morphology.
Cionopsis
Cionopsis is a genus of true weevils (Curculionidae) established by Champion in 1903. The genus comprises five described species, all described by Burke in the early 1980s except for the type species C. palliatus, described by Champion in 1903. Species in this genus are characterized by distinctive sculpturing on the elytra, including crispate (wavy), echinulate (spiny), or linear patterns that are reflected in their species epithets. The genus is part of the hyperdiverse weevil family Curculionidae, which contains over 40,000 described species worldwide.
Cladochaeta
Cladochaeta is a genus of small flies in the family Drosophilidae, established by Coquillett in 1900. The genus belongs to the tribe Cladochaetini and is part of the diverse acalyptrate fly radiation. At least one species has been documented from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest in association with spittlebug nymphs. The genus is morphologically and ecologically distinct from the homonymous plant genus in Asteraceae.
Cliniodes
Cliniodes is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Odontiinae. First described by Achille Guenée in 1854, the genus was long synonymized with Idessa Walker but restored to validity through taxonomic revision. The genus contains approximately 30 described species arranged into multiple subgenera and species groups, with distribution centered in the Neotropical region. Recent taxonomic work has clarified relationships with related genera including Metrea, Basonga, and Sobanga.
Clinodiplosis
Clinodiplosis is a genus of gall midges (Cecidomyiidae, Diptera) established by Kieffer in 1894. Species in this genus are gall inducers that form stem galls on host plants across multiple families including Asteraceae, Myrtaceae, and Urticaceae. The genus has been documented in Brazil and has distribution records in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the United States (Vermont).
Clistopyga
Clistopyga is a genus of ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Pimplinae, first described by Gravenhorst in 1829. The genus contains approximately 50 described species, with the majority distributed in the Neotropical region. Species are characterized by specialized adaptations for parasitizing spiders, including modified ovipositors used for clinging to hosts and felting spider silk to seal nest openings. Several species groups have been established within the genus based on morphological and distributional patterns.
Cnesinus
Cnesinus is a genus of bark beetles in the subfamily Scolytinae, family Curculionidae. Species occur across the Americas from North America through Central America to South America. The genus was established by J.L. LeConte in 1868. As a member of Scolytinae, species in this genus are associated with woody plants and are likely to be found in forested habitats.
Cochlorhinini
Cochlorhinini is a tribe of leafhoppers (family Cicadellidae) established by Oman in 1943. The tribe is classified within the subfamily Deltocephalinae, one of the largest and most diverse subfamilies of leafhoppers. Members of this tribe are true bugs (Hemiptera) characterized by piercing-sucking mouthparts and hind legs modified for jumping. The group is primarily known from the Western Hemisphere.
Cochylini
Cochylini is a tribe of tortrix moths (Tortricidae) containing approximately 1,000 described species in about 80 genera. Formerly classified as the subfamily Cochylinae, molecular research by Regier et al. (2012) suggests it may represent a monophyletic lineage within Euliini, warranting subtribe rank as Cochylina. The tribe has a global distribution with highest diversity in the Holarctic and Neotropical realms.
Cocytius
Cocytius is a genus of hawkmoths in the family Sphingidae, established by Hübner in 1819. Species in this genus are large-bodied moths with robust flight capabilities. The genus includes Cocytius antaeus, which has been documented from Isla del Coco, Costa Rica.
Cocytius antaeus
giant sphinx
Cocytius antaeus is a large sphinx moth with a wingspan of 126–178 mm, found from Brazil through Central America to the southern United States. The species is notable for its exceptionally long proboscis, which was once thought to be the only insect proboscis long enough to pollinate the ghost orchid in North America. It is very rare in the United States, with records limited to southern California, Texas, and Florida.
Codatractus
long-tailed skippers
Codatractus is a genus of skipper butterflies in the family Hesperiidae, subfamily Eudaminae. It comprises approximately 13 species distributed across the Neotropical and Nearctic regions. The genus was established by Lindsey in 1921. Several species possess distinctive long hindwing tails characteristic of the Eudaminae.
Codocera gnatho
Codocera gnatho is a species of sand-loving scarab beetle in the family Ochodaeidae, first described by Fall in 1907. It belongs to a small family of beetles specialized for sandy habitats. The species occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Coeini
Cecropians and Allies
Coeini is a tribe of brush-footed butterflies (family Nymphalidae) restricted to the Neotropical realm. The tribe comprises six recognized genera: Baeotus, Colobura, Historis, Pycina, Smyrna, and Tigridia. Members are commonly referred to as "Cecropians and Allies" in reference to their association with Cecropia trees. The group is characterized by reduced forelegs typical of the Nymphalidae family.
Coelocephalapion
Coelocephalapion is a genus of small weevils in the family Brentidae (subfamily Apioninae) established by Wagner in 1914. Species in this genus exhibit diverse feeding strategies including florivory, seed predation, and gall induction. The genus is primarily Neotropical in distribution, with documented associations spanning multiple plant families including Leguminosae, Euphorbiaceae, Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, and Verbenaceae. Several species have been investigated as biological control agents for invasive plants.
Coelocephalapion persimile
Coelocephalapion persimile is a species of straight-snouted weevil in the family Brentidae, subfamily Apioninae. Members of this genus are characterized by their compact body form and elongated rostrum. The species epithet "persimile" suggests close resemblance to another taxon. Like other brentids, it likely develops in plant tissues, though specific host associations remain undocumented.
Coelotrachelus
Coelotrachelus is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It was established by Schmidt in 1914. The genus is known from the Neotropical region. As a member of Aphodiinae, it likely consists of dung-associated beetles, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Coelotrachelus rudis
Coelotrachelus rudis is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, specifically within the subfamily Aphodiinae. The species was described by LeConte in 1878 and is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It belongs to a genus of dung beetles, though specific ecological details about this particular species remain limited in the available literature.
Cogia calchas
mimosa skipper
Cogia calchas, commonly known as the mimosa skipper, is a dicot skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It occurs across a broad geographic range spanning North, Central, and South America. The common name references its association with plants in the genus Mimosa. It is a member of the subfamily Eudaminae, which includes many skipper species with distinctive rapid flight patterns.
Cogia hippalus
Acacia Skipper
Cogia hippalus, commonly known as the Acacia Skipper, is a species of skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is distributed across the Americas from the southwestern United States through Mexico and Central America into South America. The species is associated with acacia habitats and has been documented in arid and semi-arid regions.
Colaspis
Colaspis is a large genus of leaf beetles in the subfamily Eumolpinae, containing over 200 species distributed across North and South America. The genus includes significant agricultural pests, such as the grape colaspis (Colaspis brunnea), which damages crop roots and foliage. Several species have been documented from Eocene fossil deposits in Colorado, USA. Taxonomic history of the genus has been complicated by nomenclatural disputes, particularly regarding the synonymy of Maecolaspis.
Coleosoma acutiventer
Coleosoma acutiventer is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae. It has been recorded across a broad geographic range spanning from the United States through Central America to Argentina. The species was originally described as Achaea acutiventer by Keyserling in 1884. As a theridiid spider, it constructs irregular, tangled webs for prey capture.
Collaria
grass bugs
Collaria is a genus of grass-feeding plant bugs (Miridae: Mirinae: Stenodemini) established by Provancher in 1872. The genus comprises 14 recognized species distributed across the Neotropical and Afrotropical regions, with several species documented as agricultural pests of forage grasses and wheat. Species such as C. scenica and C. columbiensis have been studied extensively in Colombia, where they impact dairy production in the Bogotá plateau region. The genus is characterized by its association with Poaceae (grasses) and its potential for significant population increases under favorable climatic conditions, particularly during El Niño events.
Miridaegrass-bugpasture-pestagricultural-pestNeotropicalAfrotropicalColombiaclimate-sensitivityEl-NiñoEPGelectrical-penetration-graphspatial-distributionaggregated-distributionPoaceaewheat-pestdairy-productionintegrated-pest-managementStenodeminiProvancher-1872taxonomygenitalic-morphologyheat-unitsthermal-amplitudeprecipitation-dependentBogotá-plateauAltiplano-CundiboyacenseC.-scenicaC.-columbiensisC.-schwartziC.-oleosaC.-bolivianaC.-villiersiC.-improvisaC.-obscuricornisColliuris
Long-necked Ground Beetles
A genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, tribe Odacanthini, containing more than 90 described species. Species exhibit wing dimorphism as an adaptive trait. Some species resemble tiger beetles in appearance, which can lead to misidentification by collectors.
Colobura
Colobura is a genus of butterflies in the family Nymphalidae containing two recognized species: Colobura dirce (zebra mosaic) and Colobura annulata (new beauty). The genus ranges from Mexico through Central America to South America. Larvae of at least one species have been documented feeding on Cecropia obtusifolia (Urticaceae).
Colobura annulata
new beauty
Colobura annulata, commonly known as the new beauty, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. The species was described in 2001 by Willmott, Constantino, and Hall. It ranges from Central America into northern South America, with records extending as far north as southern California and northern Texas. Historical records from Suriname have contributed to understanding of its biology, including corrections to erroneous early hostplant records.
Colonus
Colonus is a genus of jumping spiders in the family Salticidae, first described by F. O. Pickard-Cambridge in 1901. Species in this genus are found exclusively in the Americas, with a range extending from New York in the United States south to Argentina. A distinctive morphological feature of all members is the presence of two pairs of bulbous spines on the ventral side of the first tibiae, whose function remains unknown. The genus was briefly synonymized with Thiodina by Eugène Simon in 1903, but this decision was later reversed by Bustamante, Maddison, and Ruiz.
Coloradia
pinemoths
Coloradia is a genus of large saturniid moths comprising nine described species distributed in Mexico and eastern North America. Adults are predominantly grey in coloration. Larvae feed primarily on pines (Pinaceae), though Coloradia pandora has been recorded on aspen (Populus). Members are commonly referred to as pinemoths. The genus was established by C. A. Blake in 1863.
Compacta hirtalis
A small crambid moth with a wingspan of approximately 21 mm, ranging from the southern United States through Central America to South America. Adults are active during summer months in the northern part of its range. First described by Guenée in 1854 from the original basionym Botys hirtalis.
Compsobracon
Compsobracon is a genus of braconid parasitoid wasps. One species, C. mirabilis, has been observed parasitizing wood-boring Lepidoptera larvae by inserting its ovipositor directly through woody branches to reach hosts concealed inside. The genus belongs to the diverse family Braconidae, which contains thousands of parasitoid species attacking various insect hosts.
Compsolechia
Compsolechia is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, subfamily Anacampsinae. The genus contains approximately 90 described species distributed primarily in the Americas, with some species known from tropical and subtropical regions. Larvae of at least some species construct leaf rolls as shelters, a behavior that provides protection from desiccation and predators. Two species have been documented in association with Casearia (Flacourtiaceae) in coastal dry-forests of western Mexico.
Compsus auricephalus
golden-headed weevil
Compsus auricephalus is a broad-nosed weevil in the family Curculionidae, native to the southern United States and Central America. It is the northernmost species of the predominantly Neotropical genus Compsus and the only native representative of the genus in the USA. The species exhibits two distinct color morphotypes: a typical green form with pink to coppery head and legs, and a uniformly white to pale brown form. It shows considerable morphological variation across its range, including body shape, elytral apices, and pronounced sexual size dimorphism.
Concana
Concana is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae (subfamily Calpinae), established by Francis Walker in 1858. The genus contains at least four described species distributed from the southeastern United States through the Caribbean and Central America to Brazil. Species within this genus have been documented from Florida, Costa Rica, and various Antillean islands. The genus belongs to the diverse noctuoid moth fauna of the Neotropical and Nearctic regions.
Conchylodes diphteralis
Conchylodes diphteralis is a small crambid moth described by Carl Geyer in 1832. The species exhibits a broad geographic distribution spanning the southeastern United States, the West Indies, and South America. Adults have a wingspan of 24–29 mm and are active nearly year-round in Florida. Larvae feed on Cordia species.
Conchylodes salamisalis
Blush Conchylodes Moth
Conchylodes salamisalis, commonly known as the Blush Conchylodes Moth, is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It was first described by Herbert Druce in 1895. The species is distributed across Central America and the southern United States, with confirmed records from Ecuador, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, Mexico, and Texas. The moth exhibits distinctive wing patterning with silky hyaline white forewings and hindwings marked with dark brown streaks, bands, and spots.
Condylorrhiza vestigialis
Alamo Moth, Brazilian Poplar Moth
A crambid moth native to the Americas, known as the Alamo Moth or Brazilian Poplar Moth. Larvae are specialized feeders on Populus species, making this species a significant pest of poplar and cottonwood plantations in Brazil. Adults exhibit well-documented calling behavior, with virgin females releasing sex pheromones during specific nighttime hours to attract males. The species has been extensively studied for biological control applications, particularly for baculovirus production.
Condylostylus
long-legged flies
Condylostylus is a large genus of predatory flies in the family Dolichopodidae, comprising over 250 species and representing the second largest genus in the subfamily Sciapodinae. The genus exhibits exceptional diversity in the Neotropical realm, where approximately 70% of species occur. Members are small to medium-sized dolichopodids, typically displaying metallic coloration and characteristic long-legged morphology. The genus includes species with documented potential as biological control agents in agricultural settings.
Condylostylus villosus
Condylostylus villosus is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, described by Parent in 1928. Like other members of the genus, it is a predatory fly, though specific behavioral observations for this species are limited. The species is recorded from Brazil (Pará state).
Coniceromyia
Coniceromyia is a genus of scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) primarily distributed in the Neotropical region. The genus exhibits substantial morphological diversity, with recent taxonomic work describing 41 new species and highlighting complex male secondary sexual characteristics. Species identification relies heavily on male genitalic structures and leg modifications. The true diversity of the genus remains poorly understood due to high rates of singleton and doubleton specimens in collections.
Conoderinae
Conoderinae is a diverse subfamily of true weevils (Curculionidae) comprising approximately 2,400 described species across more than 210 genera in 15 tribes. The group exhibits worldwide distribution with particular diversity in tropical regions, especially the Neotropics. Members are characterized by active, alert behavior and frequent association with mimicry complexes. Classification within the subfamily remains chaotic with no robust phylogenetic hypotheses, and many genera are likely not monophyletic.
Conura
Conura is a large genus of chalcidid wasps comprising over 300 described species, with approximately 295 species occurring in the New World. The genus is divided into three subgenera and 63 species groups based on morphological patterns. Species exhibit diverse life history strategies including primary parasitism of lepidopteran pupae and hyperparasitism through other parasitoid wasps.
Conura lasnierii
Conura lasnierii is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Chalcididae, first described by Guérin-Méneville in 1844. The genus Conura comprises parasitoid wasps, and members of this genus are known to attack pupae of Lepidoptera. This species has been documented from a limited number of observations, with records primarily from the Neotropical region.
Copestylum
Bromeliad Flies
Copestylum is one of the largest genera of hoverflies (Syrphidae) in the Americas, comprising more than 300 species. The genus is neotropical in origin, with only four species recorded outside the Americas, likely introduced through cactus trade. Larvae are saprophagous and develop in decaying tissues of columnar cacti and other succulent plants, playing important roles in nutrient recycling in xeric environments. Adults are commonly known as bromeliad flies.
Copestylum opalescens
Opalescent Bromeliad Fly
Copestylum opalescens is a syrphid fly species in the tribe Volucellini, commonly known as the Opalescent Bromeliad Fly. It is one of approximately 50 species in the genus Copestylum, a group of New World flower flies predominantly associated with bromeliad microhabitats. The species was originally described by Townsend in 1901 under the genus Volucella. Like other Copestylum species, adults are likely flower visitors, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Copestylum sexmaculatum
Six-spotted Bromeliad Fly
Copestylum sexmaculatum, commonly known as the six-spotted bromeliad fly, is a species of hoverfly in the family Syrphidae. The common name references its association with bromeliad plants, which serve as hosts for its larval development. As a member of the genus Copestylum, it belongs to a group of syrphid flies whose larvae are typically found in phytotelmata—water-holding structures of plants such as bromeliads. Adults are flower visitors and contribute to pollination. The species has been documented across a broad geographic range with numerous observations recorded.
Cophura rozeni
Cophura rozeni is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Wilcox in 1965. It belongs to the subfamily Brachyrhopalinae, a group of predatory flies known for their aerial hunting behavior. The species is part of the genus Cophura, which contains approximately 50 described species distributed primarily in the Americas.
Copris arizonensis
Copris arizonensis is a dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Schaeffer in 1906. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other members of the genus Copris, it is associated with dung processing and soil burrowing behaviors typical of scarabaeine dung beetles.
Copris macclevei
Copris macclevei is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Warner in 1990. It belongs to the genus Copris, a group of dung beetles known for their role in nutrient cycling and soil aeration through dung burial behaviors. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
Coptoborus
Coptoborus is a genus of ambrosia beetles in the weevil family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae, tribe Xyleborini. These tiny beetles bore into trees and cultivate fungus as food, a behavior characteristic of ambrosia beetles. The genus contains more than 70 described species, with many new species discovered in Central and South America in recent years. Some species are economically significant pests, particularly of balsa trees in Ecuador.
Corixinae
water boatman
Corixinae is a subfamily of aquatic true bugs comprising at least 130 described species. Members are commonly known as water boatmen and are found in freshwater habitats worldwide. The subfamily includes the genera Corixa and Sigara, among others. Larvae develop through five instars, with distinct morphometric and chaetotaxy characteristics separating developmental stages.