Nocturnal
Guides
Nabis vanduzeei
Nabis vanduzeei is a species of damsel bug in the family Nabidae, a group of small predatory true bugs. Like other members of the genus Nabis, this species is a nocturnal predator that subdues insects often larger than itself using raptorial forelegs. The species is documented from limited observations, with 14 records on iNaturalist. Damsel bugs in this genus are economically significant as biological control agents in agricultural systems.
Nadata gibbosa
White-dotted Prominent, Rough Prominent, Tawny Prominent
Nadata gibbosa is a common moth in the family Notodontidae, found across North America from northern boreal forests to Florida. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to lights, with flight activity beginning soon after dusk. The species is most abundant in deciduous forests at elevation. Its caterpillars serve as hosts for the parasitoid wasp Ammophila procera.
Nalassus
A genus of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) comprising more than 70 species distributed across the Palearctic and North America. Species occupy diverse habitats from coniferous forests to alpine zones and steppe landscapes. The genus exhibits pronounced ecological specialization, with distinct species groups adapted to forest, alpine, or steppe environments and corresponding trophic niches.
Nallachius
pleasing lacewings
Nallachius is a genus of pleasing lacewings in the family Dilaridae, established by Navás in 1909. The genus contains more than 20 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Members are characterized by their distinctive wing venation and relatively broad wings compared to other dilarid genera. Adults are typically nocturnal and attracted to light.
Neandra
pole borer
Neandra is a genus of longhorned beetles in the family Cerambycidae, subfamily Parandrinae. The genus contains at least two described species: Neandra brunnea and Neandra marginicollis. These beetles are atypical for cerambycids, possessing short, bead-like antennae rather than the elongated antennae characteristic of most longhorned beetles. They are known to bore in decaying wood and are attracted to lights at night.
Neandra brunnea
pole borer, longhorned beetle
Neandra brunnea, commonly known as the pole borer, is a species of longhorn beetle in the subfamily Parandrinae. It is unusual among cerambycids for its relatively short, bead-like antennae rather than the elongated antennae typical of the family. Adults range from 8–20 mm in length and are yellowish-brown to reddish-brown in coloration. The species is distributed across eastern North America, with adults active from March through November. Larvae bore into decaying wood, including wooden poles and posts in contact with moist soil.
Nebria coloradensis
Colorado gazelle beetle
Nebria coloradensis is a flightless ground beetle endemic to the mountainous regions of Colorado. Adults possess reduced wings (brachypterous) and are active nocturnally. The species inhabits wet ground in alpine and subalpine environments.
Nebria diversa
sea beach gazelle beetle
Nebria diversa is a coastal ground beetle endemic to sandy Pacific beaches of western North America. Adults are brachypterous (short-winged), restricting dispersal to coastal habitats. The species is nocturnal and occupies a narrow ecological niche beneath driftwood and debris on open sandy shorelines.
Nebria eschscholtzii
Eschscholtz's gazelle beetle
Nebria eschscholtzii, commonly known as Eschscholtz's gazelle beetle, is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae. It occurs in western North America, ranging from Alaska through the Pacific Northwest to California. The species inhabits riparian zones along stream edges from lowland to upland elevations. Adults are nocturnal and carnivorous.
Nebria frigida
frigid gazelle beetle
Nebria frigida is a ground beetle species in the subfamily Nebriinae, described by R.F. Sahlberg in 1844. It exhibits a Holarctic distribution spanning the Palearctic and Nearctic realms. Adults are nocturnal and carnivorous. The species inhabits cold-temperate and boreal regions, with populations established across northern Eurasia and western North America.
Nebria gebleri
Gebler's gazelle beetle
Nebria gebleri is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Dejean in 1831. It is found in North America, with a distribution spanning Alaska, Canada, and the western United States. The species comprises six recognized subspecies, each associated with specific mountain ranges. Adults are nocturnal and carnivorous.
Nebria gregaria
gregarious gazelle beetle
Nebria gregaria is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, commonly known as the gregarious gazelle beetle. Adults are brachypterous (short-winged), nocturnal, and carnivorous. The species is restricted to riparian habitats and is found in Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, eastern Russia, and China.
Nebria kincaidi
Kincaid's gazelle beetle
Nebria kincaidi is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, first described by Schwarz in 1900. Adults are brachypterous (short-winged), nocturnal, and carnivorous. The species comprises two recognized subspecies with distinct geographic distributions in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.
Nebria labontei
Labonte's gazelle beetle
Nebria labontei is a ground beetle endemic to the mountains of Oregon, United States. It belongs to the genus Nebria, a group commonly known as gazelle beetles for their running speed. The species was described by Kavanaugh in 1984 and is one of several Nebria species restricted to western North American mountain ranges.
Nebria lacustris
Lacustrine Gazelle Beetle
Nebria lacustris is a small ground beetle in the subfamily Nebriinae, commonly known as the lacustrine gazelle beetle. The species is characterized by its black body and orange legs, with adults measuring 9–12 mm in length. It is known for its rapid movement and nocturnal activity pattern. The species occurs in southern Canada and the eastern and central United States.
Nebria lituyae
Lituya's gazelle beetle
Nebria lituyae, known as Lituya's gazelle beetle, is a ground beetle species in the subfamily Nebriinae. It is endemic to a restricted alpine region spanning Alaska and British Columbia. The species inhabits moist ground on hill summits at high elevations. Adults are brachypterous (short-winged), nocturnal, and carnivorous.
Nebria mannerheimii
Mannerheim's gazelle beetle
Nebria mannerheimii, commonly known as Mannerheim's gazelle beetle, is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae. It occurs in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, where it inhabits riparian environments along streams and rivers. Adults are nocturnal predators.
Nebria ovipennis
oval gazelle beetle
Nebria ovipennis is a ground beetle endemic to California and Nevada, where it inhabits meadows and snowfield margins in upland and mountainous areas. Adults are brachypterous (short-winged), nocturnal, and carnivorous. The species belongs to the subfamily Nebriinae, a group often associated with cool, moist habitats at higher elevations.
Nebria pallipes
Pale-legged Gazelle Beetle
Nebria pallipes is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, distributed across eastern North America from lowland to upland areas. Adults are nocturnal, gregarious, and carnivorous. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1823.
Nebria suturalis
seamed gazelle beetle
Nebria suturalis, commonly known as the seamed gazelle beetle, is a flightless ground beetle in the family Carabidae. The species exhibits wing dimorphism with both forms incapable of flight. Adults are strictly nocturnal and carnivorous. It is restricted to high-elevation habitats, occurring on mountain tops across a disjunct range in northeastern North America and the Rocky Mountains.
Nebria vandykei
Van Dyke's gazelle beetle
Nebria vandykei is an alpine ground beetle in the family Carabidae, endemic to the Pacific Northwest of North America. Adults are brachypterous (short-winged), nocturnal, and carnivorous. The species occupies a specialized niche along stream margins and snowfield edges, habitats subject to extreme environmental stress. Research indicates this species has undergone adaptive evolution in response to cold, heat, and desiccation stress, with selection acting on stress response pathways despite a history of rapid demographic shifts.
Nectopsyche albida
White Miller Caddisfly
Nectopsyche albida is a species of long-horned caddisfly in the family Leptoceridae. It is found in North America. The species is associated with lentic (still-water) habitats including lakes and ponds.
Nectopsyche diarina
White Miller Caddisfly
Nectopsyche diarina is a species of caddisfly in the family Leptoceridae, first described by Ross in 1944. The genus Nectopsyche is commonly referred to as "white millers," a name derived from the pale coloration of adults. Like other members of this genus, N. diarina is attracted to ultraviolet light, making it observable during nocturnal blacklight surveys. The species occurs in North America within the Nearctic region.
Nectopsyche exquisita
exquisite long-horned caddisfly
Nectopsyche exquisita is a species of long-horned caddisfly in the family Leptoceridae, characterized by its distinctive wing patterning and banded antennae. Adults are medium-sized caddisflies with striking yellow and white hair patterns on the wings. The species is found in eastern North America near slow-moving aquatic habitats. Adults are attracted to light and have been documented in urban settings.
Neivamyrmex harrisii
Harris' Legionary Ant
Neivamyrmex harrisii is a species of legionary ant in the family Formicidae. Like other members of the genus Neivamyrmex, it is a nomadic, mostly nocturnal ant that raids the nests of other ant species to prey on larvae and pupae. The species is part of a group of ants that includes army ants, characterized by their raiding behavior and lack of permanent nests. Colonies are known to be sedentary during winter months.
Neivamyrmex mandibularis
legionary ant
Neivamyrmex mandibularis is a species of legionary ant in the subfamily Dorylinae. Like other Neivamyrmex species, it is nomadic and primarily nocturnal, raiding nests of other ant species to prey on larvae and pupae. The species is part of a genus containing the only army ants native to North America north of Mexico. Workers are subterranean and rarely observed by the general public, while winged reproductive males are occasionally attracted to lights at night.
Neivamyrmex nigrescens
Black Legionary Ant
Neivamyrmex nigrescens is a North American army ant and the most widely distributed species in its genus across the United States. Colonies are nomadic and primarily nocturnal, conducting raids on other ant nests to prey on larvae and pupae. The species has been extensively studied due to its broad range, making it one of the best-known Neivamyrmex species. Colony relocation events have been observed during morning hours in cooler seasons, contrasting with strictly nocturnal emigrations in summer.
Neivamyrmex opacithorax
army ant
Neivamyrmex opacithorax is a species of army ant in the family Formicidae. It is one of two army ant species documented in Missouri, where it has been observed in dolomite glades. The species is strictly nocturnal during summer months but has been observed on the surface during cool, overcast fall days. Like other legionary ants, it exhibits nomadic behavior and raids nests of other ant species.
Nemesiidae
Tubetrapdoor and Wishbone Spiders, wishbone spiders
Nemesiidae is a family of mygalomorph spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1889 and elevated to family status in 1985, having previously been considered part of Dipluridae. The family comprises relatively large, darkly colored spiders with elongated bodies and robust legs, commonly known as wishbone spiders due to the distinctive shape of their burrows. Members are primarily fossorial, constructing silk-lined burrows often equipped with hinged trapdoors for ambush predation. The family includes ten genera and approximately 195 species distributed across diverse habitats including coastal sands, forests, and mountainous regions on multiple continents.
Neococytius cluentius
Cluentius sphinx
Neococytius cluentius, commonly known as the Cluentius sphinx, is a large hawkmoth in the family Sphingidae. It is the sole species in its genus. The species has a broad distribution across the Neotropics, extending northward into the southern United States. Adults are powerful fliers and are attracted to light.
Neoconocephalus ensiger
Sword-bearing Conehead, Swordbearer
Neoconocephalus ensiger is a katydid species in the conehead tribe Copiphorini, recognized by the male's elongated, sword-like ovipositor-like structure at the abdomen tip. Males produce loud, distinctive songs through stridulation of modified forewings. The species occurs in grassland and prairie habitats across eastern and central North America. It is primarily nocturnal and has been observed molting to adulthood at night near ultraviolet light sources.
Neohermes californicus
California fishfly
Neohermes californicus is a species of fishfly in the family Corydalidae, first described by Walker in 1853 as Chauliodes californicus. It belongs to the order Megaloptera, a small group of primitive holometabolous insects that includes fishflies, dobsonflies, and alderflies. The species is found in North America, particularly in western regions including California. Fishflies in this genus are associated with aquatic habitats during their larval stages. Adults are typically nocturnal and attracted to lights.
Neoligia subjuncta
Connected Brocade
Neoligia subjuncta, commonly known as the Connected Brocade, is a species of noctuid moth in the subfamily Noctuinae. It occurs across northern North America, with documented populations in the Canadian prairies and northern New England. The species is assigned MONA/Hodges number 9412. As a member of the cutworm moth group, it is presumed to have nocturnal adult activity and larval development in herbaceous habitats.
Neomida
Neomida is a genus of darkling beetles (family Tenebrionidae) containing approximately 18 described species. The genus was established by Latreille in 1829. At least one species, Neomida bicornis, has been documented in residential areas in the central United States, where adults are attracted to artificial light sources at night.
Neomida bicornis
Two-horned Darkling Beetle
Neomida bicornis, commonly known as the Two-horned Darkling Beetle, is a small species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae. The species is characterized by the distinctive horn-like projections on its head, from which its specific epithet derives. It has been documented across eastern and central North America, with observations ranging from Canada to the United States. The species is attracted to artificial light sources at night.
Neoscona
Spotted Orb-weavers, Barn Spiders
Neoscona is a genus of orb-weaver spiders (Araneidae) containing over 100 described species, commonly known as spotted orb-weavers and barn spiders. The genus was erected by Eugène Simon in 1895 to separate species from the obsolete genus Epeira. Neoscona species are among the most common orb-weavers in North America and are found throughout most parts of the world. They construct vertical orb webs with approximately twenty radii and an open hub, typically hunting at night and retreating to the web periphery or a curled leaf during the day.
Neoscona crucifera
Hentz orbweaver, spotted orbweaver, barn spider
Neoscona crucifera is a large orb-weaver spider in the family Araneidae, commonly known as the Hentz orbweaver or spotted orbweaver. The species is notable for its large, conspicuous webs built on buildings and other structures near outdoor lights, where it captures nocturnal flying insects. Females are significantly larger than males and exhibit considerable color variation, most commonly appearing rusty-red or golden orange. The spider is widespread across eastern and central North America, with populations extending into the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is most visible in late summer and early fall when mature females become diurnal to maximize prey capture.
Neoscona domiciliorum
Red-femured Spotted Orbweaver, Spotted Orbweaver, Redfemured Spotted Orbweaver
Neoscona domiciliorum is a medium-sized orbweaver spider endemic to the eastern and southeastern United States. The species name 'domiciliorum' (Latin for 'of dwellings') reflects its frequent occurrence on buildings, though it also inhabits moist woodlands. Females construct large vertical orb webs up to 50 cm in diameter, typically building at dusk and dismantling before dawn. The spider is recognized by distinctive coloration including red femora on the legs and a pale cruciform pattern on the abdomen.
Neoscona oaxacensis
Western Spotted Orbweaver, Zig-zag Spider
Neoscona oaxacensis is a large orb-weaving spider distributed across the Americas from the United States to South America, including the Galápagos Islands. Females reach 9–18 mm in body length, males 6–13 mm. The species exhibits highly variable dorsal abdominal patterning, with a distinctive black-and-white pattern that aids identification. It constructs spiral orb webs to capture flying insects and is active primarily from late spring through autumn. The species was first described from Oaxaca, Mexico in 1863.
Neoxorides
Neoxorides is a genus of ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Poemeniinae. The genus was established by Clément in 1938 and has undergone taxonomic revision, with some species formerly placed here now reassigned to other genera such as Podoschistus. Members are ectoparasitoids of wood-boring beetle larvae. The genus has a Holarctic distribution, with records from Europe and North America.
Nephelodes minians
Bronzed Cutworm Moth, Shaded Umber Moth
Nephelodes minians is a noctuid moth commonly known as the Bronzed Cutworm Moth or Shaded Umber Moth. The species is widely distributed across North America, with adults active from mid-summer through autumn. Larvae are recognized agricultural pests that feed on grasses and cereal crops.
Netelia
Orange Ichneumon Wasp, Netelia Wasp
Netelia is a large genus of ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Tryphoninae, comprising over 330 described species grouped into 12 subgenera. These medium to large wasps are typically orange to brownish-yellow in coloration with conspicuously long antennae and legs. Females possess a prominent ovipositor used to parasitize caterpillar hosts. Unlike many ichneumonids, Netelia females can deliver a painful sting when handled carelessly, using it to temporarily paralyze hosts before egg deposition. The genus is cosmopolitan in distribution and frequently attracted to artificial lights at night.
Netelia johnsoni
Netelia johnsoni is a species of ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Tryphoninae, described by Ashmead in 1900. It is a nocturnal parasitoid wasp with a painful defensive sting that has been documented from Edmonton, Canada, though the genus Netelia is more broadly distributed across North America north of Mexico with 73 species in six subgenera. Females use their sting primarily to temporarily paralyze caterpillar hosts for oviposition, but will sting humans if handled carelessly or trapped against skin.
Netelia leo
Netelia leo is a species of ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Tryphoninae, first described by Cushman in 1924. Like other members of the genus Netelia, females possess a functional sting and are capable of delivering painful stings when handled or trapped against skin. The species is nocturnal and frequently attracted to artificial lights. Females are koinobiont ectoparasitoids of caterpillars, temporarily paralyzing hosts with their sting before laying stalked eggs on the exterior of the larva.
Nicrophorus americanus
American burying beetle, giant carrion beetle
Nicrophorus americanus is a federally threatened burying beetle endemic to North America and the largest member of its genus. Adults are nocturnal, strong fliers capable of traveling up to one kilometer per night while searching for carrion. The species exhibits elaborate biparental care, with both sexes cooperating to locate, bury, and prepare vertebrate carcasses for their offspring. Once abundant across 35 U.S. states and parts of Canada, it now occupies less than 10% of its historic range due to habitat loss, carrion scarcity, and other factors.
Nippononebria altisierrae
high sierra false gazelle beetle
Nippononebria altisierrae, commonly known as the high sierra false gazelle beetle, is a black-colored ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It was originally described as Nebria altisierrae by Kavanaugh in 1984 and later transferred to the genus Nippononebria. The species belongs to the subgenus Vancouveria and is endemic to California's mountainous regions.
Nippononebria virescens
greenish false gazelle beetle
Nippononebria virescens is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, commonly known as the greenish false gazelle beetle. It is native to western North America, where it inhabits meadow habitats. Adults are nocturnal and carnivorous. The species is relatively poorly documented, with limited observational records.
Nocloa rivulosa
Rivulet Nocloa
Nocloa rivulosa is a noctuid moth described by Smith in 1906. The common name "Rivulet Nocloa" refers to the wavy, stream-like patterning on the forewings. It belongs to the subfamily Amphipyrinae and tribe Psaphidini within the owlet moth family. The species is documented across North America with over 120 iNaturalist observations.
Noctuidae
owlet moths, cutworms, armyworms
Noctuidae is a large family of moths in the superfamily Noctuoidea, currently comprising approximately 1,089 genera and 11,772 species. The family is taxonomically unstable, having recently lost several subfamilies (Lymantriinae, Catocalinae, Calpinae) to the family Erebidae, making it now the second-largest family in Noctuoidea rather than the largest in Lepidoptera. Adults are predominantly nocturnal with cryptic brown, grey, or black coloration, though some tropical subfamilies exhibit bright coloration. Larvae are commonly known as cutworms or armyworms, with many species being significant agricultural pests.
Nomophila nearctica
Lucerne Moth, Clover Nomophila, False Webworm, Celery Stalkworm, American Celery Webworm
Nomophila nearctica is a crambid moth with broad distribution across North America and southward into the Neotropics. Adults are active from spring through late autumn. The species is notable for its narrow, elongated wing profile and association with low-growing herbaceous vegetation. Larvae feed on a range of plants including grasses, legumes, and celery, making it occasionally significant in agricultural contexts.