Nocturnal
Guides
Grotella blanca
Grotella blanca is a species of owlet moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by William Barnes in 1904. It belongs to the genus Grotella, which comprises small to medium-sized nocturnal moths. The species is known from North America with its type locality in Arizona.
Grotella soror
Grotella soror is a species of owlet moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by William Barnes and James Halliday McDunnough in 1912. It is a North American species with its type locality in Arizona. The species belongs to the genus Grotella, a small group of moths within the subfamily Grotellinae. Like other members of its genus, it is nocturnal and attracted to ultraviolet light sources.
Grotella vagans
Grotella vagans is a species of owlet moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by William Barnes and Foster Hendrickson Benjamin in 1922. It belongs to the genus Grotella, a small group of moths within the subfamily Grotellinae. The species is known from western North America, with Nevada as its type locality. Like other noctuid moths, it is nocturnal and attracted to light sources.
Grotellaforma lactea
Grotellaforma lactea is a small noctuid moth described by Stretch in 1885. The species was originally placed in the genus Cisthene before being transferred to the monotypic genus Grotellaforma. It is known from arid regions of the southwestern United States, with type specimens collected in California and Arizona. The specific epithet 'lactea' refers to the milk-white coloration of the adult.
Gryllacrididae
raspy crickets, leaf-rolling crickets
Gryllacrididae is a family of non-jumping orthopterans in the suborder Ensifera, commonly known as raspy crickets or leaf-rolling crickets. The family occurs worldwide and contains over 600 species across more than 90 genera, organized into two subfamilies: Gryllacridinae and Hyperbaeninae. Members are distinguished by their unique ability to produce silk independently from other insects, which they use to construct shelters from folded leaves or to seal burrows in soil, sand, or wood. Historically, the family was broadly defined to include Stenopelmatidae and Rhaphidophoridae, which are now recognized as separate families.
Gryllidae
True crickets
Gryllidae, commonly known as true crickets, is a family of insects in the order Orthoptera, suborder Ensifera. Members are characterized by long, thread-like antennae, cylindrical bodies, enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping, and forewings modified for sound production. The family has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with many former subfamilies (including tree crickets, ground crickets, and sword-tail crickets) elevated to family status. True crickets exhibit worldwide distribution except Antarctica and are known for their acoustic communication, with males producing species-specific calling songs to attract females.
Gryllita
Gryllita is a genus of crickets in the family Gryllidae, subfamily Gryllinae, established by Hebard in 1935. The genus contains at least 26 described species, with most described by Otte & Perez-Gelabert in 2009. Species are distributed in the southwestern United States and Mexico, with some Caribbean records. The type species is Gryllita arizonae, commonly known as the Arizona cricket.
Grylloblatta campodeiformis
Northern Rock Crawler
Grylloblatta campodeiformis, the northern rock crawler, is a wingless, cold-adapted insect endemic to western North America. It was the first grylloblatid species described scientifically (Walker, 1914) and serves as the type species for both its genus and family. The species occupies a broader range of habitats than previously assumed, from high-altitude glacial margins to subalpine forests and even low-elevation dry zones. Four subspecies are currently recognized, distributed across the Canadian Rockies and adjacent mountain ranges in British Columbia, Alberta, Montana, and Washington.
Gyponana gladia
Gyponana gladia is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by DeLong in 1942. Like other members of its genus, it possesses distinctive brochosomes—nanoparticles produced in the Malpighian tubules that create a superhydrophobic, anti-reflective coating on the body and wings. The species has been documented at blacklight traps in autumn, suggesting nocturnal activity patterns. It is one of many small, often overlooked leafhopper species that contribute to the high diversity of Hemiptera in North American temperate regions.
Habroscelimorpha
Habro Tiger Beetles
Habroscelimorpha is a genus of tiger beetles in the family Cicindelidae, established by Dokhtouroff in 1883. The genus historically contained approximately seven species distributed across the Neotropical and Nearctic regions, though recent taxonomic revisions have transferred most Neotropical species to other genera. Species remaining in Habroscelimorpha are primarily associated with coastal and saline habitats, including salt marshes, mud flats, and sandy beaches. Several species exhibit strong attraction to ultraviolet light, a trait that distinguishes them from many other tiger beetle genera and facilitates nocturnal observation and collection.
Hadrurus
Giant Hairy Desert Scorpion, Desert Hairy Scorpion
Hadrurus is a genus of large scorpions in the family Hadruridae, native to sandy deserts and xeric habitats of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Members of this genus rank among the largest scorpions in the world, exceeded in size only by Hadogenes, Pandinus, Heterometrus, and Hoffmannihadrurus. The genus currently contains seven recognized species, including the well-known Hadrurus arizonensis, commonly called the Giant Hairy Desert Scorpion. These scorpions are characterized by their robust, hairy bodies with yellowish coloration, though Hadrurus spadix notably exhibits a dark, nearly black prosoma and mesosoma.
Hadrurus anzaborrego
Anza-Borrego Hairy Scorpion
Hadrurus anzaborrego is a large scorpion endemic to the western Colorado Desert of southern California and extreme northern Baja California. It is a medium-sized member of the genus Hadrurus, reaching up to 11 cm in length. The species exhibits two distinct color phenotypes: light individuals are pale yellow, while dark individuals have a melanic posterior carapace and mesosoma. Both forms display a characteristic dark, v-shaped pattern near the eyes. The species name derives from Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, where the holotype was collected.
Hadrurus arizonensis
giant desert hairy scorpion, giant hairy scorpion, Arizona Desert hairy scorpion
Hadrurus arizonensis is the largest scorpion in North America, reaching up to 14 cm in length. This arachnid inhabits the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, where it constructs elaborate burrows up to 2.5 meters deep. It is a nocturnal predator that employs a 'sit and wait' hunting strategy, using sensory hairs to detect ground vibrations. Despite its imposing size, its venom is relatively mild with an LD50 of 168-198 mg/kg, comparable in pain to a honeybee sting. The species is viviparous, with young remaining on the mother's back for over a week after birth.
Hadrurus spadix
Black Hairy Scorpion, Black-back Scorpion
Hadrurus spadix is a large scorpion reaching approximately 15 cm in length, native to the southern deserts of North America. It is distinguished from the closely related giant desert hairy scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis) by its entirely black prosoma (cephalothorax). This species is a dedicated burrower, spending considerable time excavating and enlarging subterranean galleries in sandy substrates. Its venom is considered low in toxicity to humans, though the sting remains painful.
Hahncappsia fordi
Hahncappsia fordi is a small moth in the family Crambidae, described by Hahn William Capps in 1967. The species is restricted to the southwestern United States and adjacent northwestern Mexico, with records from California, Arizona, and Sonora. Adults are active from spring through early autumn, with a wingspan of 17–20 mm. Sexual dimorphism in size is minimal, with males averaging slightly larger than females.
Haimbachia squamulellus
Scaled Haimbachia Moth
Haimbachia squamulellus is a small moth in the family Crambidae, first described by Zeller in 1881. It occurs in eastern and central North America, ranging from Maryland south to Florida and west to Texas and Illinois. The species is one of approximately 15 recognized species in the genus Haimbachia, a group of grass-associated crambid moths. Adults are active during warmer months, though specific phenology varies across its range.
Halobates micans
Common Sea Skater
Halobates micans is a wingless marine water strider and the only pelagic insect genus member found in the Atlantic Ocean. It is circumglobal in tropical and subtropical seas, living exclusively at the sea-air interface. Adults measure 3.6–4.5 mm with males larger than females. The species exhibits remarkable adaptations for open ocean life including water-repellent body hairs, UV-absorbent cuticle, and exceptional skating agility. It is the most widespread Halobates species, occurring from approximately 40°N to 40°S in the Atlantic and also present in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Halocoryza
Halocoryza is a genus of small, intertidal ground beetles (Carabidae) restricted to tropical and subtropical coastal habitats. The genus comprises four described species distributed across shorelines of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, including Caribbean islands and the Gulf of Mexico. All species are nocturnal predators associated with sandy or coralline substrates near mangroves, coral reefs, or seaweed accumulations. The genus is characterized by reduced flight capability, slow running speed, and adaptations for burrowing in coastal sediments.
Halonoproctidae
Saddle-legged Trapdoor Spiders
Halonoproctidae is a family of mygalomorph spiders elevated from subfamily status in 2018 based on molecular phylogenetic studies that demonstrated Ctenizidae was paraphyletic. The family includes six genera and approximately 145 species of trapdoor spiders distributed across North and Central America, the Caribbean, southern Europe, North Africa, Asia, and Australasia. These spiders construct silk-lined burrows with trapdoors and are characterized by medium to large body size, somber coloration, and distinctive morphological features including sigillae on the sternum and modified spines on the legs.
Haplidus
Haplidus is a genus of longhorned beetles in the family Cerambycidae, subfamily Cerambycinae, and tribe Hesperophanini. The genus was established by LeConte in 1873 and contains seven described species distributed in North America. Species in this genus are associated with coniferous hosts, particularly pines. Haplidus testaceus, the type species, has been collected from dead Pinus edulis (Colorado pinyon pine) branches, suggesting larval development in dead or dying pine wood.
Harpalini
ground beetles
Harpalini is a large tribe of ground beetles (family Carabidae, subfamily Harpalalinae) containing over 1,900 described species across approximately 103 genera. Members are predominantly nocturnal ground beetles distributed across all major biogeographic regions including the Palaearctic, Oriental, Afrotropical, Neotropical, Nearctic, and Australian regions. The tribe includes economically significant genera such as Harpalus, a diverse group with numerous Palaearctic species, and Trichotichnus, which comprises over 260 species worldwide. Taxonomic research on Harpalini focuses heavily on species descriptions, distribution records, and generic revisions, with recent work describing new species from China, Brazil, India, and Australia.
Harpalus
Harpalus is a large and diverse genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, containing over 420 described species and subspecies. It is the largest genus of the tribe Harpalini and one of the most diverse genera in the entire ground beetle family. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, with species found across multiple continents. A recent worldwide classification based on adult morphology divides Harpalus into seventy subgenera grouped into nineteen subgroups and ten groups, including thirty-six newly described subgenera. Members of this genus are primarily ground-dwelling predators and granivores found in agricultural fields, grasslands, and open habitats.
Harpalus cordifer
Harpalus cordifer is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, subfamily Harpalalinae, described by Notman in 1919. It belongs to the large genus Harpalus, one of the most diverse genera of ground beetles in North America. The species is documented from Alaska and northern North America, with records extending into Canada and the contiguous United States. Like other members of the genus, it is a nocturnal ground beetle likely associated with open, disturbed habitats where it preys on small invertebrates and may consume seeds.
Harpalus retractus
Harpalus retractus is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, subfamily Harpalinae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1863. It is recorded from Mexico and the United States. Like other members of the genus Harpalus, it is a nocturnal ground beetle. The species is part of a large genus containing over 400 species worldwide, with many species being granivorous as adults.
Harpalus rubripes
Red-legged Harpalus
Harpalus rubripes is a medium-sized ground beetle in the subfamily Harpalinae, characterized by its distinctive reddish legs that give the species its name. Native to the Palearctic region, it has established populations across much of Europe, extending eastward through Siberia and Central Asia to Anatolia. The species was introduced to North America, with records dating from 1987 onward. Like other members of the genus Harpalus, it is primarily nocturnal and ground-dwelling.
Harpalus texanus
Harpalus texanus is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Harpalinae, described by Casey in 1914. As a member of the large genus Harpalus, it belongs to the family Carabidae, one of the most diverse beetle families. The species is known from the United States, with records indicating presence in North America. Like other Harpalus species, it is likely a nocturnal ground-dwelling beetle, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Harpalus ventralis
Harpalus ventralis is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, subfamily Harpalinae. It was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1848. The species is native to North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of the genus Harpalus, it is a nocturnal, ground-dwelling beetle.
Heliocheilus julia
Barbie Moth
Heliocheilus julia is a noctuid moth species described by Grote in 1883. The species is known from limited geographic records in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Its life history remains undocumented, including unknown larval host plants and immature stages. Adults are attracted to lights and fly during late summer. The proposed common name "Barbie Moth" has not achieved formal recognition.
Hellinsia longifrons
Snout Plume Moth
Hellinsia longifrons is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, commonly known as the Snout Plume Moth. It occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Adults have a wingspan of 25–28 mm and display distinctive gray-brown coloration with white markings on the thorax and abdomen. The species is associated with the host plant Acourtia microcephala.
Hemeroblemma
Hemeroblemma is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Calpinae, erected by Jacob Hübner in 1818. The genus contains six recognized species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Species within this genus are nocturnal and belong to the diverse owlet moth assemblage.
Hemeroblemma opigena
Hemeroblemma opigena is a moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by Dru Drury in 1773. It is distributed from Florida through the Caribbean to Brazil. Females have a wingspan of approximately 80 mm. Adults are active in March in Florida.
Hemeroplanis incusalis
Anvil-wing Moth
Hemeroplanis incusalis is a moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by Grote in 1881. It is commonly known as the Anvil-wing Moth, a name likely referencing the shape of its forewings. The species belongs to the subfamily Boletobiinae and tribe Phytometrini. It is a nocturnal insect with established populations across North America.
Hemerotrecha
windscorpion, sun spider, camel spider
Hemerotrecha is a genus of solifuges (windscorpions) in the family Eremobatidae, first described by Nathan Banks in 1903. The genus comprises more than 30 described species distributed in arid regions of North America. These fast-moving, non-venomous arachnids are characterized by their large chelicerae and lack of silk-producing structures. They are active predators that hunt primarily at night.
Herpyllus
Parson spider
Herpyllus is a genus of ground spiders in the family Gnaphosidae, first described by Nicholas Marcellus Hentz in 1832. The genus contains 33 species distributed across North America, Central America, and parts of Asia. Members are commonly known as 'parson spiders' due to their distinctive black-and-white coloration resembling clerical vestments. The most well-known species, Herpyllus ecclesiasticus (Eastern Parson Spider), is widespread in eastern North America and frequently enters human dwellings.
Herpyllus cockerelli
Herpyllus cockerelli is a ground spider in the family Gnaphosidae, distributed across the United States and Mexico. Like other Herpyllus species, it is nocturnal and frequently associated with human structures. The species was described by Nathan Banks in 1901.
Hesperumia
sulphur moth
Hesperumia is a genus of geometrid moths established by Packard in 1873. The genus contains four recognized species distributed across western North America, with adults typically active during summer months. Larval stages are poorly documented, but the genus is associated with various host plants including buckwheat and other herbaceous vegetation. Adults of at least one species, H. sulphuraria, are attracted to light sources.
Heterophleps triguttaria
three-spotted fillip
Heterophleps triguttaria, commonly known as the three-spotted fillip, is a small geometrid moth in the subfamily Larentiinae. The species is recognized by the three dark spots on its forewings that give it its common name. It is widely distributed across North America and is among the more frequently observed geometrid moths, with thousands of citizen science records.
Heteropoda
Giant Huntsman Spiders
Heteropoda is a genus of huntsman spiders (family Sparassidae) comprising approximately 189 species, primarily distributed across tropical Asia and Australia. The genus includes some of the largest living spiders, with H. maxima reaching legspans up to 30 cm. H. venatoria, the pantropical huntsman spider, has achieved cosmopolitan distribution through human transport and is frequently encountered in international cargo, particularly banana shipments.
Hibana
ghost spiders, yellow ghost spider
Hibana is a genus of anyphaenid sac spiders established by Antônio Brescovit in 1991. The genus contains 18 described species distributed from the United States through Central America to Brazil, including the Caribbean. These small, pale, nocturnal spiders are commonly known as ghost spiders due to their coloration and elusive habits. Hibana includes the yellow ghost spider (Hibana velox), formerly classified under Aysha. The genus is notable for its cursorial hunting behavior and restricted area searching following food consumption.
Hibana cambridgei
Hibana cambridgei is a small ghost spider in the family Anyphaenidae. Like other members of its genus, it is pale in coloration and nocturnal in habit. The species is native to North America and has been recorded from the United States and Mexico. Very few specific observations of this species have been documented in scientific literature.
Hibana futilis
ghost spider
Hibana futilis is a small cursorial spider in the family Anyphaenidae, commonly known as ghost spiders. Adults reach a maximum body length of slightly over 8 millimeters. The species is nocturnal, hunting insects on foliage at night and hiding in silk-lined curled leaves by day. It is found from the United States through Central America to Venezuela and Cuba. Research has documented its restricted area searching behavior following consumption of both prey and non-prey food, suggesting cognitive flexibility in foraging.
Hibana gracilis
garden ghost spider, ghost spider
Hibana gracilis, commonly known as the garden ghost spider, is a small nocturnal hunting spider in the family Anyphaenidae. Adults reach a maximum body length of about 8 millimeters, with most individuals around 6 millimeters. The species is found throughout the United States and Canada, where it hunts insects on foliage and constructs silken retreats in curled leaves during daylight hours.
Hibana incursa
ghost spider
Hibana incursa is a species of ghost spider in the family Anyphaenidae, first described by Chamberlin in 1919. It is a small, pale-colored, nocturnal hunting spider distributed from the United States through Panama. Like other ghost spiders, it does not build webs to capture prey but instead actively prowls vegetation for insects.
Hibana velox
Yellow Ghost Spider
Hibana velox, commonly known as the yellow ghost spider, is a small nocturnal hunting spider native to North America. Formerly classified as Aysha velox, this species belongs to the family Anyphaenidae and is recognized for its pale coloration and active predation on small insects. It occupies diverse habitats ranging from natural vegetation to human dwellings, and has been documented as an effective biological control agent against agricultural pests such as the citrus leafminer.
Hippolytidae
broken-back shrimp, cleaner shrimp, anemone shrimp, hump-backed shrimps
Hippolytidae is a family of marine caridean shrimp commonly known as broken-back shrimp, cleaner shrimp, or anemone shrimp. The family was redefined in 2023, with several former genera transferred to other families (Bythocariidae, Lysmatidae, Merguiidae, Thoridae), leaving 16 genera in Hippolytidae sensu stricto. Some members engage in cleaning symbiosis with fish, removing parasites and debris from host bodies. The family shows both diurnal and nocturnal activity patterns, with behavioral differences in cleaning site preferences.
Histeridae
clown beetles, hister beetles
Histeridae is a cosmopolitan family of predatory beetles containing more than 410 genera and 4,800 described species worldwide. Members are commonly known as clown beetles or hister beetles. They are immediately recognizable by their shortened elytra that leave two abdominal tergites exposed, and their elbowed antennae with clubbed, lamellate ends. The family exhibits remarkable ecological diversity, with species occupying niches ranging from carrion and dung to ant and termite colonies, forest litter, and tree bark. Their predatory habits on fly larvae and other arthropods have made them valuable for biological control and forensic entomology.
Hogna antelucana
Hogna antelucana is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It is a ground-dwelling, nocturnal hunter found in the United States. As a member of the genus Hogna, it is a relatively large wolf spider with well-developed eyes adapted for low-light conditions. The species was described by Montgomery in 1904.
Hogna carolinensis
Carolina wolf spider, giant wolf spider
Hogna carolinensis, the Carolina wolf spider, is the largest wolf spider in North America. Females reach 22–35 mm in body length, males 18–20 mm. This species inhabits self-made or appropriated burrows in open habitats across a broad geographic range. Females carry egg sacs attached to their abdomen during the approximately two-week incubation period, and spiderlings cling to the mother's back for several days after hatching. The species is notable for its eye shine when illuminated at night, effective thermoregulation abilities, and unique venom containing lycotoxins with antimicrobial properties.
Hogna lenta
Field Wolf Spider
Hogna lenta is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, commonly known as the Field Wolf Spider. It is native to the southeastern United States, with particular abundance in Florida. This large, ground-dwelling spider constructs vertical burrows in sandy substrates and hunts using vibration detection. The species has been used in neuroanatomical research to study catecholaminergic neuron distribution in spider central nervous systems.
Hogna osceola
Hogna osceola is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, first described by Gertsch and Wallace in 1937. It is a burrow-living wolf spider found in sandy habitats of western Texas and adjacent regions. Like other members of the genus Hogna, it exhibits the characteristic eye arrangement of wolf spiders with enlarged posterior median eyes that produce eyeshine visible at night when illuminated. The species appears to be associated with sand dune systems, where individuals construct silk-lined burrows.