Nocturnal
Guides
Ceuthophilus guttulosus nigricans
Ceuthophilus guttulosus nigricans is a subspecies of camel cricket in the family Rhaphidophoridae. Like other members of the genus Ceuthophilus, it is wingless, nocturnal, and adapted to dark, humid environments. The subspecies designation indicates darker coloration compared to the nominate form. It has been recorded in the eastern United States from Indiana to North Carolina.
Ceuthophilus guttulosus thomasi
Utah camel cricket
Ceuthophilus guttulosus thomasi is a subspecies of camel cricket in the family Rhaphidophoridae. It is a native North American camel cricket belonging to the genus Ceuthophilus, which includes approximately 90 species. The subspecies was described by Hubbell in 1936. Like other camel crickets, it is wingless, nocturnal, and adapted to dark, damp environments. It is found in the eastern United States, with records from Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, New York, and Ohio.
Ceuthophilus hesperus
San Diego camel cricket
Ceuthophilus hesperus, commonly known as the San Diego camel cricket, is a species of camel cricket in the family Rhaphidophoridae. It is native to North America, with confirmed presence in California. Like other members of its genus, it is wingless and adapted to dark, moist habitats. The species was described by Hubbell in 1936.
Ceuthophilus maculatus
spotted camel cricket
Ceuthophilus maculatus, commonly known as the spotted camel cricket, is a wingless camel cricket in the family Rhaphidophoridae. It is distinguished by its humpbacked profile, spotted coloration, and notably long antennae. The species is native to North America and is frequently encountered in dark, humid microhabitats. Unlike many Orthoptera, males do not produce sound.
Ceuthophilus nodulosus
camel cricket, cave cricket
Ceuthophilus nodulosus is a species of camel cricket in the family Rhaphidophoridae. It is a wingless, humpbacked insect with exceptionally long antennae adapted for navigating dark environments. The species is found in North America, with records from Missouri, New Mexico, and Texas. Like other members of its genus, it inhabits cool, damp, dark microhabitats and is primarily nocturnal.
Ceuthophilus pallidus
plains camel cricket
Ceuthophilus pallidus, the plains camel cricket, is a native North American camel cricket in the family Rhaphidophoridae. It is distinguished from other Ceuthophilus species by its pale coloration and association with plains and grassland habitats rather than caves. The species is wingless and nocturnal, with exceptionally long antennae adapted for navigation in dark environments. It belongs to a genus of approximately 90 North American species, many of which are habitat specialists.
Ceuthophilus uhleri
Uhler's camel cricket
Ceuthophilus uhleri is a North American species of camel cricket in the family Rhaphidophoridae. Like other members of its genus, it is wingless and possesses exceptionally long antennae adapted for navigating dark environments. The species is found in the eastern and central United States, with records from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri. It inhabits cool, damp, dark microhabitats and is primarily nocturnal.
Ceuthophilus utahensis
Utah camel cricket
Ceuthophilus utahensis, the Utah camel cricket, is a wingless orthopteran in the family Rhaphidophoridae. The species is native to western North America, with documented occurrences in Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. Like other camel crickets, it is adapted to dark, moist microhabitats. The species was described by Thomas in 1876.
Chalcoela iphitalis
Sooty-winged Chalcoela, Sooty-winged Chalcoela Moth
Chalcoela iphitalis is a small moth in the family Crambidae that functions as a brood parasite of social paper wasps. The species is notable for its striking coloration: the head, thorax, and anterior forewings are yellow-orange, while the posterior forewings and hindwings are gray-silver with black marginal spots. Adults are active from May to August across North America. The larvae are specialized predators of wasp pupae and pre-pupae within Polistes and Mischocyttarus nests, and represent a rare case of a lepidopteran acting as a parasitoid of hymenopterans.
Chalcoela pegasalis
wasp parasitizer moth
Chalcoela pegasalis, commonly known as the wasp parasitizer moth, is a small pyralid moth in the family Crambidae. The species was described by Francis Walker in 1859. It is notable for its parasitoid lifestyle, with larvae developing inside the nests of paper wasps (Polistes species). The moth occurs across the Caribbean and eastern North America, with adults active during the warmer months.
Chanbria rectus
windscorpion, sun spider
Chanbria rectus is a species of solifuge (windscorpion or sun spider) in the family Eremobatidae, described by Muma in 1962. As a member of the order Solifugae, it is an arachnid characterized by large, powerful chelicerae and rapid movement. The species occurs in North America and is placed in the subfamily Therobatinae. Like other eremobatids, it is a fast-moving, primarily nocturnal predator adapted to arid and semi-arid environments.
Chauliodes
Spring and Summer Fishflies
Chauliodes is a genus of fishflies in the family Corydalidae, commonly known as spring and summer fishflies. The genus contains approximately five described species distributed in North America, including the well-known spring fishfly (C. rastricornis) and summer fishfly (C. pectinicornis). Adults are nocturnal and frequently attracted to lights. The genus is distinguished from other fishflies by specific antennal and wing characteristics.
Cheiracanthium
Longlegged Sac Spiders, Yellow Sac Spiders
Cheiracanthium is a genus of araneomorph spiders in the family Cheiracanthiidae, first described by Carl Ludwig Koch in 1839. Commonly known as longlegged sac spiders or yellow sac spiders, the genus contains over 230 accepted species. These spiders are notable for their pale coloration, nocturnal hunting behavior, and habit of constructing silken retreats rather than permanent webs. They are frequently encountered in human dwellings, particularly in temperate regions, and have been the subject of controversy regarding their medical significance.
Cheiracanthium inclusum
black-footed yellow sac spider, American yellow sac spider, Agrarian Sac Spider
Cheiracanthium inclusum is a small, pale yellow spider native to the Americas, commonly known as the black-footed yellow sac spider or American yellow sac spider. It is an active nocturnal hunter that does not construct webs to capture prey, instead relying on speed and agility to pursue arthropods. The species builds small silk retreats during daylight hours and is frequently encountered both in natural vegetation and human dwellings. Despite historical misconceptions, its bite produces only localized symptoms without necrosis.
Cheiracanthium mildei
Northern Yellow Sac Spider, Long-legged Sac Spider
Cheiracanthium mildei is a medium-sized spider native to Europe and North Africa, introduced to North America and parts of South America. Adults measure 7–10 mm in body length with pale green or tan coloration, darker palpi and chelicerae, and characteristically long front legs up to twice the length of others. It constructs silken retreats rather than capture webs, hunting actively at night. The species is frequently encountered in human dwellings, particularly in northern regions of its introduced range, and has been documented to bite humans with generally mild effects.
Chihuahuanus
Chihuahuanus is a genus of scorpions in the family Vaejovidae, established in 2013 and endemic to northern Mexico. The genus comprises medium-sized scorpions that are not considered medically important to humans. Two described species, C. coahuilae and C. crassimanus, have been characterized for venom composition, revealing toxic fractions with lethal effects in mammals and insects and antimicrobial activity against bacterial pathogens.
Chihuahuanus coahuilae
Lesser Stripetail Scorpion
Chihuahuanus coahuilae, the Lesser Stripetail Scorpion, is a small scorpion species measuring 35–55 mm. It occurs in the Chihuahuan Desert region of Mexico and the southwestern United States. The species was originally described as Vaejovis coahuilae in 1968 and later transferred to the genus Chihuahuanus. It is a member of the family Vaejovidae, one of the most diverse scorpion families in North America.
Chilopoda
Centipedes
Chilopoda is a class of venomous, predatory arthropods comprising the centipedes. These elongated metameric animals possess one pair of legs per body segment, with leg counts ranging from 30 to 354 depending on species. Centipedes are distinguished from millipedes (class Diplopoda) by their single pair of legs per segment, flattened body profile, and venomous forcipules derived from modified first leg pairs. The class contains four extant orders: Scutigeromorpha (house centipedes), Lithobiomorpha (stone centipedes), Geophilomorpha (soil centipedes), and Scolopendromorpha (giant centipedes). All are obligate carnivores with predatory lifestyles.
Chimoptesis n-sp
Chimoptesis n-sp is an undescribed sheetweb weaver spider in the family Linyphiidae, recorded from Door County, Wisconsin. The specimen was observed on June 24, 2019, during a nocturnal survey of building exteriors. Linyphiidae spiders construct flat, convex, or concave sheet webs and hang inverted beneath them to capture prey.
Chlaenius
Vivid Metallic Ground Beetles
Chlaenius is a large and diverse genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, comprising approximately 1,000 recognized species worldwide. The genus is most diverse in the Oriental and Afrotropical regions, though it also occurs extensively in the Palearctic, Near East, North Africa, and Nearctic realms. Members are commonly known as vivid metallic ground beetles due to their often striking metallic coloration. The genus is divided into numerous subgenera and includes species that serve as important biological indicators of soil health and agricultural practices.
Chlaenius ruficauda
Chlaenius ruficauda is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, native to North America with confirmed records from the United States and Mexico. As a member of the large genus Chlaenius, which contains approximately 1,000 species worldwide, this species shares the characteristic metallic coloration and predatory habits typical of the genus. The specific epithet 'ruficauda' refers to the reddish coloration of the abdomen or tail region. Like other Chlaenius species, it possesses chemical defense glands that emit aromatic compounds when disturbed.
Chlaenius tomentosus
Brown Chlaenius Carabid
Chlaenius tomentosus is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, native to North America. The species belongs to a large and diverse genus of predatory beetles found across multiple continents. Like other members of Chlaenius, it likely exhibits rapid running behavior and possesses chemical defense capabilities. The specific epithet "tomentosus" refers to a hairy or woolly appearance.
Chlaenius tricolor
Tricolored Harp Ground Beetle, Vivid Metallic Ground Beetle
Chlaenius tricolor is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, recognized by its vivid metallic coloration. The species ranges from southern Canada to Guatemala, with two recognized subspecies divided by the Rocky Mountains. It has been documented as a predator of slugs in agricultural settings and is considered sensitive to soil disturbance, making it a useful bioindicator of farming practices.
Chlorotabanus crepuscularis
Green Horse Fly
Chlorotabanus crepuscularis is the only green tabanid horse fly in North America. It is a blood-feeding species active primarily at night, with females using carbon dioxide sensing to locate mammalian hosts. The species has been recorded from Texas to Delaware, with peak adult activity in Florida occurring from May to mid-July. Larvae are predaceous and develop in moist soil and aquatic edge habitats.
Choristoneura obsoletana
Obsolete-banded Leafroller Moth
Choristoneura obsoletana is a leafroller moth in the family Tortricidae, found across the eastern and central United States with scattered western records. Adults have a wingspan of 21–24 mm and are active from April through December. The larvae feed on a diverse range of host plants including pawpaw, huckleberry, strawberry, blackberry, cattail, and several woody species such as paper birch, leatherleaf, and chokeberry.
Choristostigma
Choristostigma is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae, established by Warren in 1892. The genus contains approximately ten described species distributed across North America, including C. roseopennalis, which has been documented at ultraviolet and mercury-vapor light traps in mountain oak woodland habitats. Species within this genus are small to medium-sized crambid moths, though detailed morphological and biological information remains limited in the published literature.
Choristostigma elegantalis
Choristostigma elegantalis is a small crambid moth described by Warren in 1892. It is known from the western United States, with confirmed records from Arizona, California, and Washington. Adults are active from spring through early autumn, with forewings measuring 9–11.5 mm in length. The species exhibits distinctive pale yellow forewings marked with tawny patterns and yellowish-white hindwings with a dark central spot.
Choristostigma roseopennalis
Choristostigma roseopennalis is a small crambid moth described by George Duryea Hulst in 1886. It is distributed across the southern and eastern United States and Mexico, with records from Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas. The species is distinguished by its bright coloration and has been documented at ultraviolet and mercury-vapor light traps in mountain oak woodland habitats.
Chrysina
Jewel Scarabs
Chrysina is a genus of large, charismatic scarab beetles commonly known as jewel scarabs. Adults are noted for their brilliant metallic iridescence, with coloration ranging from silver and gold to green, blue, and purple. The genus contains approximately 100 species distributed from the southwestern United States through Mexico and Central America to northern South America. Adults are nocturnal and readily attracted to lights. Larvae develop in decaying wood.
Chrysina gloriosa
glorious beetle, glorious scarab, Glorious Jewel Scarab
Chrysina gloriosa is a metallic green scarab beetle renowned for its striking iridescent appearance. Adults measure 20–30 mm in length and display bright green elytra with silver longitudinal stripes, though rare red and purple color forms occur. The species inhabits sky island mountain ranges in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where adults feed primarily on juniper foliage and larvae develop in decaying wood of Arizona sycamore. Active both diurnally and nocturnally, adults are most frequently encountered from June through August and are strongly attracted to ultraviolet light sources. The beetle's structural coloration arises from cholesteric liquid crystal organization of chitin molecules in the cuticle, producing optical properties that change with light incidence angle.
Chrysoperla rufilabris
Red-lipped Green Lacewing
Chrysoperla rufilabris, the red-lipped green lacewing, is a predatory insect in the family Chrysopidae native to eastern North America. Larvae are voracious predators of soft-bodied insects, particularly aphids, and are widely used as biological control agents in agricultural and ornamental systems. Adults are primarily nocturnal and are commonly attracted to artificial lights. The species has been extensively studied for its potential in integrated pest management, with research demonstrating its effectiveness against diverse prey including aphids, scale insects, and lepidopteran eggs.
Chrysoteuchia topiarius
Topiary Grass-veneer, Subterranean Sod Webworm, Cranberry Girdler
Chrysoteuchia topiarius is a small crambid moth with a wingspan of 17–20 mm, distributed across most of North America. Adults are active from late June to early August in a single annual generation. The species is known by multiple common names reflecting its larval habits: subterranean sod webworm refers to its grass-feeding larvae that live in silk-lined tunnels, while cranberry girdler indicates damage to cranberry plants. The species was first described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1866.
Chyphotes
Chyphotes is a genus of wasps in the family Chyphotidae comprising more than 50 described species distributed in the United States and Mexico. All females are wingless, and some males are also wingless. The genus is notable for its nocturnal activity pattern. Chyphotidae was formerly treated as a subfamily within Bradynobaenidae but is now recognized as a distinct family.
Chyphotidae
Chyphotid Wasps
Chyphotidae is a small family of wasps in the order Hymenoptera, recently separated from Bradynobaenidae based on molecular and morphological studies. The family contains two subfamilies: Chyphotinae (nocturnal) and Typhoctinae (diurnal). Females are wingless and resemble velvet ants (Mutillidae), but can be distinguished by a visible suture between the pronotum and mesonotum. Biological knowledge remains extremely limited, with only a single confirmed host association documented.
Chytolita morbidalis
Morbid Owlet, Morbid Owlet Moth
Chytolita morbidalis is a litter moth in the family Erebidae, commonly known as the Morbid Owlet. It is widely distributed across North America, ranging from coast to coast in the northern United States and Canada, extending south to North Carolina, Texas, and Florida. The species inhabits deciduous woodlands and forest edges. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to light.
Cicindelidia tenuisignata
Thin-lined Tiger Beetle
A tiger beetle species in the genus Cicindelidia, found in alkaline wetland margins and lake shores in the southwestern United States. Adults are active during late summer and fall, with records from September in New Mexico. The species is less commonly encountered than related alkali-adapted tiger beetles and is attracted to ultraviolet light at night.
Cicinnus
sack-bearer moths
Cicinnus is a genus of sack-bearer moths (family Mimallonidae) in the subfamily Cicinninae. Species in this genus are characterized by their uniformly pink or pale coloration and relatively simple wing patterns. The genus includes C. chambersi, described in 2020 from southeastern Arizona, which represents the first U.S. Cicinnus species described in nearly 50 years. C. melsheimeri is the most widespread North American species, while other species occur primarily in Mexico.
Cimex
bed bugs, bedbugs
Cimex is a genus of obligate hematophagous insects in the family Cimicidae, commonly known as bed bugs. The genus includes species specialized on different hosts, with C. lectularius (common bed bug) feeding primarily on humans and C. hemipterus (tropical bed bug) occurring in warmer regions. Other species such as C. pipistrelli, C. pilosellus, and C. adjunctus specialize on bats. Bed bugs are wingless, nocturnal parasites that have undergone global resurgence since the late 1990s, likely due to insecticide resistance, changes in pest control practices, and increased international travel.
Cisthene angelus
angel lichen moth
Cisthene angelus is a small moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae, described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1904. It belongs to the lichen moth tribe Lithosiini, characterized by larvae that feed on lichens. The species occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Like other tiger moths in the genus Cisthene, it likely produces ultrasonic clicks as a defense against bat predation, though this specific behavior has not been directly documented in C. angelus.
Cithaeronidae
Curly-legged Ground Spiders
Cithaeronidae is a small family of araneomorph spiders in the superfamily Gnaphosoidea, established by Simon in 1893. The family contains two genera—Cithaeron and Inthaeron—with approximately ten described species. Members are small, pale yellowish, fast-moving nocturnal hunters that construct silken retreats under rocks. Several species, notably Cithaeron praedonius, have been introduced to the Americas and Australia through human activity.
Clavigeritae
Clavigeritae is a supertribe of minute rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) comprising approximately 370 described species. These beetles are obligate myrmecophiles, living socially parasitic lives within ant colonies. The group exhibits extreme morphological specialization for this lifestyle, including body segment fusions and unique glandular structures. The 52-million-year-old fossil Protoclaviger trichodens from India represents the oldest known myrmecophilous beetle and reveals transitional features between ancestral and modern forms.
Clemensia umbrata
Little Shaded Lichen Moth
Clemensia umbrata is a moth in the family Erebidae, described by Packard in 1872. It is known as the Little Shaded Lichen Moth and occurs in forested regions of North America. The species belongs to the lichen moth tribe Lithosiini, whose larvae feed on lichens. Adults are nocturnal and are attracted to light.
Clepsis anderslaneyii
Clepsis anderslaneyii is a small tortricid moth described in 2009 from montane regions of southeastern Arizona. The species is known from three mountain ranges at elevations between 1,490 and 1,770 meters. Adults fly during summer months, with records from July to August. The species name honors the marriage of Sara Anderson and Malcolm Slaney.
Clepsis melaleucanus
Black-patched Clepsis Moth
Clepsis melaleucanus, the black-patched clepsis, is a tortricid moth species distributed across northern and eastern North America. As a member of the leafroller moth family Tortricidae, it shares the characteristic larval behavior of rolling or folding leaves to create shelters. The species has been recorded from Alberta to Newfoundland, extending south to North Carolina and Missouri. It is attracted to ultraviolet light sources, making it a regular visitor at moth observation events.
Clepsis peritana
garden tortrix, strawberry garden tortrix
Clepsis peritana is a small tortricid moth commonly known as the garden tortrix or strawberry garden tortrix. It occurs across North America from southern Canada through the United States, with additional populations in Spain and Cuba. The species is multivoltine, with adults active from March through September. Its larvae are leafrollers that feed on a diverse range of host plants including strawberries, citrus, and various ornamental and weedy species.
Clepsis virescana
Greenish Apple Moth, Light Brown Apple Moth
Clepsis virescana is a small tortricid moth native to North America. It inhabits shrubby open areas and aspen parkland across southern Canada and much of the United States. Adults fly from spring through late summer, with larvae feeding on leaves of Prunus and Rosa species.
Clivina fossor
Digger Slope-rumped Beetle
Clivina fossor is a ground beetle in the subfamily Scaritinae, described by Linnaeus in 1758. It is the largest species in its subfamily, characterized by fossorial (digging) adaptations including broad tarsal segments on the forelegs. The species exhibits a widespread Palaearctic distribution with introduced populations in North America, and shows flexible habitat use across grasslands, wetlands, woodlands, and agricultural areas. Adults are nocturnal and subterranean by day, while larvae live entirely underground.
Clubiona abboti
Clubiona abboti is a species of sac spider in the family Clubionidae, found in the United States and Canada. It is a nocturnal hunter that does not construct webs to capture prey. The species was described by L. Koch in 1866 and includes two recognized subspecies: C. a. abboti and C. a. abbotoides.
Clubiona johnsoni
Johnson's Sac Spider
Clubiona johnsoni is a species of sac spider in the family Clubionidae, described by Gertsch in 1941. It is found in the United States and Canada, with records from Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario in Canada. Like other members of the genus Clubiona, it is a nocturnal hunting spider that does not build webs to capture prey. The species is distinguished from similar genera by possessing a distinct groove in the center of its carapace and a tuft of curved setae on the front edge of the abdomen.
Clubiona lutescens
yellow sac spider, sac spider
Clubiona lutescens is a sac spider in the family Clubionidae, found across Europe, Turkey, the Caucasus, Russia through Kazakhstan, Korea, and Japan. It has been introduced to North America. The species constructs silken retreats rather than prey-capture webs and hunts actively on foot. It is primarily nocturnal and has been observed in both natural and human-modified habitats.