North-america

Guides

  • Bolbocerosoma ritcheri

    Bolbocerosoma ritcheri is a species of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae, first described by Howden in 1955. The species belongs to a genus characterized by their burrowing behavior and association with soil substrates. It occurs in parts of North America including Texas and northeastern Mexico.

  • Bolbocerosoma tumefactum

    Bolbocerosoma tumefactum is an earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae, native to eastern North America. The species is characterized by its distinctive tumescent (swollen) appearance, reflected in its specific epithet. Like other geotrupids, adults are typically associated with mammal dung and soil-burrowing activities. The species occurs across a broad range of eastern and mid-Atlantic states in the United States.

  • Bollmaniulus

    Bollmaniulus is a genus of cylindrical millipedes in the family Parajulidae, order Julida. The genus was established by Verhoeff in 1926 and contains approximately 14 described species distributed primarily in western North America. Members of this genus are small to medium-sized juliform millipedes characterized by their relatively simple gonopod structure compared to related genera.

  • Boloria alaskensis

    Alaskan Fritillary, Mountain Fritillary

    Boloria alaskensis is a fritillary butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, described by William Jacob Holland in 1900. It occurs in North America and North European Russia. The species is very similar to Boloria pales, requiring careful identification. Two subspecies are recognized: B. a. alaskensis and B. a. halli. The larvae feed on specific host plants in the genus Polygonum.

  • Boloria chariclea butleri

    Butler's Fritillary

    Boloria chariclea butleri is a subspecies of fritillary butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, commonly known as Butler's Fritillary. It belongs to a genus of butterflies typically associated with northern and montane habitats. The species Boloria chariclea has a Holarctic distribution, with subspecies butleri occurring in North America. Like other Boloria species, it is likely associated with moist meadow and tundra-edge habitats where larval host plants in the Violaceae family occur.

  • Boloria epithore

    Pacific Fritillary

    Boloria epithore, the Pacific Fritillary, is a small to medium-sized fritillary butterfly endemic to western North America. It is distinguished from other Boloria species by its geographic restriction to the Pacific coastal region and associated mountain ranges. The species completes its life cycle in association with Viola ocellata as the sole documented larval host plant. Adults are active during a relatively brief flight period in early summer.

  • Boloria freija freija

    Freija Fritillary

    The Freija Fritillary (Boloria freija freija) is a subspecies of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in both Europe and North America, with distribution records from Belarus and broader European regions as well as North American localities. As a member of the genus Boloria, it shares characteristics with other fritillary butterflies, including complex life cycles with specific host plant relationships. The subspecies is relatively poorly documented compared to congeners such as Boloria selene.

  • Boloria kriemhild

    Relict Fritillary

    Boloria kriemhild, the relict fritillary, is a North American butterfly species in the family Nymphalidae. It is a grassland-associated fritillary within the genus Boloria, which includes other species such as the silver-bordered fritillary (B. selene) and small pearl-bordered fritillary (B. selene). The species has been recorded in 212 iNaturalist observations. Its common name "relict" suggests association with remnant or isolated habitats, though specific ecological details remain limited in published sources.

  • Boloria natazhati

    Beringian fritillary, cryptic fritillary, Pleistocene fritillary

    Boloria natazhati is a small fritillary butterfly endemic to northwestern North America. It is found in alpine and subalpine habitats from northwestern Canada to northern British Columbia. The species has a narrow flight period in mid-summer and is associated with rocky, open terrain. Its common names reference its Beringian distribution and cryptic appearance.

  • Bolotoperla rossi

    Smoky Willowfly

    Bolotoperla rossi is a species of stonefly in the family Taeniopterygidae, commonly known as the Smoky Willowfly. Originally described as Brachyptera rossi by Frison in 1942, it was later transferred to the genus Bolotoperla. This species belongs to the winter stonefly group, which are active during cold months when most other insects are dormant.

  • Bolteria

    Bolteria is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae containing approximately 18 described species. The genus was established by Uhler in 1887 and is distributed in North America, with species recorded from the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Canada. Species-level identification relies on examination of male genitalia. Host plant associations have been documented for some species, though specific hosts are not widely published.

  • Bolteria luteifrons

    Bolteria luteifrons is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, first described by Knight in 1921. It is one of several North American species in the genus Bolteria, which are small predatory or phytophagous true bugs. The species has been documented across eastern and central North America, with Canadian records confirmed in Ontario. Male genitalia morphology has been illustrated in taxonomic revisions to aid species identification.

  • Bombus affinis

    Rusty-patched Bumble Bee, Rusty Patched Bumble Bee

    Bombus affinis, the rusty-patched bumble bee, is a large eusocial bumble bee endemic to North America. Once among the most common bumble bees in the eastern and upper Midwest United States and southern Canada, it has declined by approximately 87-90% across its historical range since the late 1990s. It was listed as endangered in Canada in 2010 and became the first bee in the continental United States to receive federal protection under the Endangered Species Act in January 2017. The species is distinguished by a distinctive rust-colored patch on the second abdominal segment of workers and has notably shorter tongues than other bumble bee species.

  • Bombus fervidus

    golden northern bumble bee, yellow bumblebee

    Bombus fervidus is a North American bumble bee distinguished by its predominantly yellow coloration on the abdomen and thorax. The species is a long-tongued specialist that forages on flowers with deep corollas, and has been documented visiting over 20 plant genera including milkweeds, goldenrods, and blueberries. It exhibits complex social behavior including coordinated nest defense and worker-queen conflict over male production. Populations have declined significantly across most of its range, with habitat loss to agricultural intensification identified as the primary threat; it is currently classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

  • Bombus neoboreus

    Active Bumble Bee

    Bombus neoboreus, commonly known as the active bumble bee, is an arctic species of bumblebee described by Sladen in 1919. Its range spans northern Canada and extends westward into Alaska. The species is adapted to cold, high-latitude environments. It is among the less-studied North American bumble bees, with relatively few documented observations.

  • Bombus perplexus

    Perplexing Bumble Bee, Confusing Bumblebee

    Bombus perplexus is a bumble bee species native to northern North America, ranging across Canada and into the eastern United States. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism in coloration, with queens being predominantly black with pale hairs while workers and males display more extensive yellow and white hair patterns. It occupies diverse habitats including taiga, tundra, temperate forests, and urban gardens. The species has been documented visiting a variety of flowering plants for nectar and pollen collection.

  • Bombus rufocinctus

    red-belted bumblebee

    Bombus rufocinctus, commonly known as the red-belted bumblebee, is a North American bumble bee species characterized by striking color polymorphism in abdominal patterning. Queens measure 16-18 mm, workers 11-12 mm, and males 12-13 mm. The species inhabits wooded areas, urban parks, and gardens across Canada and the western, midwestern, and northeastern United States. Males exhibit perching behavior and possess cephalic labial glands that secrete complex chemical mixtures likely involved in mating signaling. Nests are typically constructed on or above ground level.

  • Bombus suckleyi

    Suckley's Cuckoo Bumble Bee, Suckley's Bumble Bee

    Bombus suckleyi is a cuckoo bumble bee (subgenus Psithyrus) and obligate social parasite of other Bombus species. It lacks corbiculae (pollen baskets) on its hind legs, having lost the ability to collect pollen and nectar for its own brood. The species invades host colonies, kills or subdues the resident queen, and manipulates host workers to provision its offspring. Native to northwestern North America, it has experienced severe population declines of approximately 77% and is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN and NatureServe.

  • Bombus sylvicola

    Forest Bumble Bee, Forest Bumblebee

    Bombus sylvicola, the forest bumble bee, is a North American bumble bee species with a broad distribution across Canada and Alaska, extending into the western contiguous United States. In California, it occurs only at high elevations, making it a high-altitude specialist. The species has been identified as particularly vulnerable to climate change, with rising summer temperatures threatening its populations. Research indicates that B. sylvicola is among the cool-adapted bumble bee species experiencing decline due to warming temperatures.

  • Bombus ternarius

    Tricolored Bumble Bee, Orange-belted Bumblebee

    Bombus ternarius is a small, slender bumblebee distinguished by its striking tricolor pattern of yellow, orange, and black bands. It is a ground-nesting, eusocial species with an annual colony cycle lasting one season. The species is common throughout the northeastern United States and much of Canada, where it serves as an important pollinator of native plants including Rubus, goldenrods, Vaccinium, and milkweeds.

  • Bombus terricola

    Yellow-banded Bumble Bee, Yellow-banded Bumblebee

    Bombus terricola, the yellow-banded bumble bee, is a North American bumble bee native to southern Canada and the eastern and midwestern United States. The species has experienced significant population declines since the late 1990s, with range contractions particularly severe in its southern distribution. It is now classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and listed on the Xerces Society Red List of endangered bees. The species exhibits complex behavioral traits including thermoregulation for cold-weather flight and adaptive responses to queenless nests.

  • Bombus variabilis

    Variable Cuckoo Bumble Bee, Variable Cuckoo Bumblebee

    Bombus variabilis is a parasitic bumble bee (subgenus Psithyrus) native to North America. It lacks the ability to collect pollen or establish its own colonies, instead infiltrating nests of host bumble bees to reproduce. The species is critically dependent on Bombus pensylvanicus as its primary host, making its survival tightly linked to host population trends. Bombus variabilis has experienced significant decline due to habitat loss and climate change affecting its host.

  • Bombyliomyia soror

    Bombyliomyia soror is a species of bristle fly in the family Tachinidae. It is found in North America, with recorded distribution spanning Canada, the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. As a tachinid fly, it likely functions as a parasitoid, though specific host relationships remain undocumented. The species was first described by Williston in 1886.

  • Bombylius mexicanus

    bee fly

    Bombylius mexicanus is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, characterized by its bee-like appearance and long proboscis. The species is widespread across North America, from Canada through the United States to Mexico, despite its specific epithet suggesting a Mexican origin. Adults are active in spring and are known to be skittish and difficult to approach. Like other bee flies, they likely parasitize the larvae of solitary bees.

  • Bombylius pygmaeus

    Pygmy Bee Fly

    Bombylius pygmaeus is a small species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, commonly known as the Pygmy Bee Fly. The species was described by Fabricius in 1781 and is currently recognized as a valid species. It is reported from North America (Canada and the United States) and also from China, though details of its biology remain poorly documented. As a member of the genus Bombylius, it likely shares the general life history pattern of parasitism on solitary bee larvae, but specific host associations have not been established.

  • Bombylius texanus

    Bombylius texanus is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, described by Painter in 1933. As a member of the genus Bombylius, it shares the characteristic fuzzy appearance and long proboscis typical of bee flies, which serve as adaptations for nectar feeding and mimicry of bees. The species is placed within the tribe Bombyliini, whose members are generally active as adults during spring. Like other Bombylius species, B. texanus likely exhibits hovering flight behavior and parasitic larval development, though specific life history details for this species remain poorly documented.

  • Bondia comonana

    prune limb borer

    Bondia comonana, known as the prune limb borer, is a small moth in the family Carposinidae. It was described by William D. Kearfott in 1907. The species occurs across western and northern North America, from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic. Its larvae are known to bore into the limbs of Prunus and Quercus species.

  • Bonneyana

    Bonneyana is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Deltocephalinae, and tribe Platymetopiini. The genus was established by Oman in 1949. Members of this genus are small to medium-sized Hemiptera with characteristic leafhopper morphology. The genus is part of the diverse leafhopper fauna of North America, with species distributed primarily in the western and southwestern United States.

  • Bonneyana osborni

    Bonneyana osborni is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Deltocephalinae, and tribe Platymetopiini. It was described by Ball in 1900. The species is known from the western Great Plains region of North America, with records from Colorado and Nebraska. Like other members of the Platymetopiini, it likely inhabits grassland environments.

  • Boopedon auriventris

    short-winged boopie

    Boopedon auriventris, commonly known as the short-winged boopie, is a species of slant-faced grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is native to North America, with records from Arkansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. As a member of the genus Boopedon, it shares characteristics with related species but is distinguished by specific morphological features. The species has been documented in 113 iNaturalist observations, indicating moderate detection by naturalists.

  • Bootanomyia

    Bootanomyia is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Megastigmidae. Members are small chalcidoid wasps that develop as parasitoids within oak galls induced by cynipid gall wasps. Two European species morphologically keyed to B. dorsalis have been introduced to North America: one clade found in New York, and another in the Pacific Northwest. These introductions represent the first documented cases of Bootanomyia establishment in North America.

  • Boraria deturkiana

    Boraria deturkiana is a species of flat-backed millipede in the family Xystodesmidaedescribed by Causey in 1942. The genus Boraria is part of the tribe Rhysodesmini within the subfamily Rhysodesminae. Like other members of the order Polydesmida, this species possesses laterally expanded dorsal segments (paranota) that give it a flattened appearance. The taxonomic status of this species has been debated, with some sources treating it as a synonym of Howellaria deturkiana.

  • Boraria stricta

    Boraria stricta is a flat-backed millipede in the family Xystodesmidae, characterized by its dorsoventrally flattened body form typical of the order Polydesmida. The species is native to North America and belongs to a genus known for aposematic coloration warning of chemical defenses. Like other xystodesmid millipedes, it possesses paranota—lateral extensions of body segments that contribute to its flattened appearance.

  • Boreogalba gladifer

    Boreogalba gladifer is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, described by Mackauer in 1962. The genus Boreogalba is a small group within the ichneumonoid wasps, and this species is known from North America. Braconid wasps in this genus are presumed to be parasitoids of other insects, though specific host records for B. gladifer are not well documented.

  • Boreothrinax

    Boreothrinax is a genus of flies in the family Pyrgotidae, established by Steyskal in 1978. The genus is currently considered a synonym of Pyrgota by some sources, though this status remains uncertain. It contains five described species distributed in North America.

  • Boreus brumalis

    mid-winter boreus, snow scorpionfly

    Boreus brumalis, commonly known as the mid-winter boreus or snow scorpionfly, is a small, wingless insect in the family Boreidae. Despite its common name, it is neither a scorpion nor a fly, but belongs to the order Mecoptera. Adults are active during winter months and can be observed running across snow and ice. This species is found in North America, including the northeastern United States. Males possess distinctive upward-curving genitalia that resemble a scorpion's stinger, though the insect cannot sting. Snow scorpionflies are believed to be ancient relatives of fleas.

  • Boreus elegans

    snow scorpionfly

    Boreus elegans is a species of snow scorpionfly in the family Boreidae, described by Carpenter in 1935. Like other members of its genus, it is adapted to cold environments and is active during winter months when most other insects are dormant. The species is found in North America. Snow scorpionflies are characterized by their reduced wings and distinctive jumping ability.

  • Boros unicolor

    conifer bark beetle

    Boros unicolor is a conifer bark beetle in the family Boridae, first described by Thomas Say in 1827. It is one of the few species in the small family Boridae, which is placed within the superfamily Bostrichoidea. The species is documented from North America, with records from Canada and the United States.

  • Boschella fasciata

    Boschella fasciata is a species of checkered beetle in the family Cleridae. It was described by LeConte in 1852 and is currently accepted as valid. The species is known from North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada. It belongs to the genus Boschella, which is part of the diverse Cleridae family of predatory beetles commonly known as checkered beetles.

  • Bostaera balli

    Bostaera balli is a species of delphacid planthopper in the family Delphacidae, first described by Penner in 1952. It belongs to the genus Bostaera, a group of small planthoppers characterized by their reduced wings and association with grasses and sedges. The species is known from limited records in the southeastern United States.

  • Bothrideres geminatus

    Bothrideres geminatus is a species of dry bark beetle in the family Bothrideridae. The species is found in North America, with records from Ontario, Canada and the United States. Its larvae develop under dry bark of dead trees, where they function as parasitoids of Chrysobothris beetle larvae. The species is part of a family whose members are predominantly parasitoids of wood-boring insects.

  • Bothrideres montanus

    Bothrideres montanus is a species of dry bark beetle in the family Bothrideridae, described by Horn in 1878. The species is known from North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented. Members of the genus Bothrideres are typically associated with dead or decaying wood, where they likely feed on fungal hyphae or other microfauna. The specific epithet 'montanus' suggests a possible association with mountainous regions, though this has not been confirmed.

  • Bothriocera cognita

    Bothriocera cognita is a species of planthopper in the family Cixiidae, described by Caldwell in 1943. It belongs to the tribe Bothriocerini, a group characterized by distinctive morphological features within the Cixiinae subfamily. The species has been documented across multiple eastern and midwestern U.S. states based on occurrence records. As with other cixiid planthoppers, it likely exhibits a life cycle involving root-feeding nymphal stages and winged adult dispersal.

  • Bothriocyrtum

    California trap-door spiders

    Bothriocyrtum is a genus of mygalomorph spiders in the family Halonoproctidae, established by Eugène Simon in 1891. The genus comprises three recognized species native to North America and Taiwan. These spiders are commonly known as trap-door spiders, constructing burrows with hinged silk-lidded doors. The genus was separated from Cyrtocarenum based on distinct morphological features including eye arrangement and width of separation between certain structures.

  • Bothropolys multidentatus

    Bothropolys multidentatus is a centipede species in the family Lithobiidae, found in central-eastern North America. It is a lithobiomorph centipede, meaning it has 15 pairs of legs as an adult. The species was described by Newport in 1845 and is documented from Ontario, Canada and the central-eastern United States.

  • Botocudo modestus

    dirt-colored seed bug

    Botocudo modestus is a species of dirt-colored seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae, a group of true bugs characterized by their generally dull coloration and seed-feeding habits. The species was described by Barber in 1948 and is known from North America, with records primarily from the United States. As a member of the Antillocorini tribe, it belongs to a lineage of rhyparochromid bugs that are typically associated with ground-level habitats and seed resources.

  • Bourletiella juanitae

    Bourletiella juanitae is a species of globular springtail described by E.A. Maynard in 1951. It belongs to the family Bourletiellidae, a group of springtails characterized by their rounded, compact body form. The species has been documented in western and southern North America. As with other symphypleonan springtails, it possesses a furcula (springing organ) that enables leaping locomotion.

  • Bourletiella rustica

    Bourletiella rustica is a species of globular springtail described by E.A. Maynard in 1951. It belongs to the family Bourletiellidae, a group of small, rounded Collembola characterized by their compact body form. The species is part of the diverse springtail fauna of North America, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.

  • Boyeria grafiana

    Ocellated Darner

    Boyeria grafiana, the ocellated darner, is a dragonfly species in the family Aeshnidae. It is found in North America. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern with a stable population.

  • Boyeria vinosa

    fawn darner

    Boyeria vinosa, the fawn darner, is a dragonfly species in the family Aeshnidae. It inhabits rivers and streams in eastern North America, from southeastern Canada through the eastern United States. Adults are crepuscular, being most active at dusk. The species has a univoltine life cycle with egg diapause and approximately 10 months of larval development.