North-america
Guides
Brachiacantha arizonica
Arizona lady beetle, Arizona Spurleg
Brachiacantha arizonica, known as the Arizona lady beetle, is a small lady beetle species in the family Coccinellidae. Adults measure approximately 2.90–3.60 mm in length. The species is characterized by distinctive coloration: a yellow anterior margin and anterolateral angle on the pronotum, with black elytra bearing four yellow spots. It has been recorded from Arizona in North America.
Brachiacantha bollii
Boll's lady beetle, Confluent-spotted Spurleg
Brachiacantha bollii, commonly known as Boll's lady beetle, is a small species of lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. Adults measure approximately 2.40–3 mm in length. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in pronotal coloration: males have a black pronotum with the anterior one-third yellow, while females have a black pronotum with a yellow anterolateral angle. The elytra display five large round spots. It has been recorded from Louisiana and Texas in North America.
Brachiacantha decora
Decorated Spurleg, decorated lady beetle
Brachiacantha decora Casey, 1899 is a North American lady beetle (family Coccinellidae) historically recognized as a distinct species. A 2020 taxonomic revision synonymized it with Brachiacantha bistripustulata (Fabricius, 1801), rendering B. decora a junior synonym. The species belongs to the dentipes species group within Brachiacantha. No independent biological data exist for B. decora as a separate taxon; all ecological information refers to the synonymized B. bistripustulata.
Brachiacantha dentipes
Brachiacantha dentipes is a small lady beetle (family Coccinellidae) native to North America. Adults measure 4.75–6.30 mm in length. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in pronotum coloration: males have a black pronotum with yellow or orange anterior margin and lateral areas, while females have a similar pattern but with a black anterior margin. The elytra are black with an orange or yellow apical spot and a median band. The subspecies B. dentipes americana Leng, 1911 has been synonymized with the nominate form.
Brachiacantha felina
Orange-spotted Lady Beetle
Brachiacantha felina is a small lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae, native to eastern and central North America. Adults measure 2.2–3 mm and exhibit distinct sexual dimorphism in pronotum coloration. The species is known from scattered records across its range, with relatively few observations documented.
Brachiacantha indubitabilis
Small-spotted Spurleg
Brachiacantha indubitabilis is a minute lady beetle (Coccinellidae) distinguished by strong sexual dimorphism in coloration. Males display a yellow head and black pronotum with yellow anterior margin, while females have a yellowish-brown head and laterally yellow pronotum. Both sexes share black elytra marked with three yellow spots. The species is recorded from the northeastern and midwestern United States.
Brachiacantha quadrillum
Corner-spotted Spurleg
Brachiacantha quadrillum is a small lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae, first described by LeConte in 1858. It belongs to the dentipes group within the genus Brachiacantha. The species is known from North America, with records from Texas and additional Neotropical localities documented in recent taxonomic revisions. Adults are characterized by distinctive coloration on the pronotum and elytra.
Brachiacantha quadripunctata
Four-spotted Spurleg
Brachiacantha quadripunctata is a small lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae, native to North America. Adults measure 2.5–4.0 mm and exhibit distinct sexual dimorphism in head coloration and elytral spot patterns. The species comprises two recognized subspecies with partially overlapping but distinct geographic ranges in the eastern and southeastern United States.
Brachiacantha quadripunctata flavifrons
A subspecies of lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae, distinguished by its yellowish frontal coloration. The specific epithet "flavifrons" (meaning yellow forehead) refers to this distinguishing facial characteristic. It belongs to a genus of small, often inconspicuous lady beetles that are typically associated with forest habitats and leaf litter environments.
Brachiacantha quadripunctata quadripunctata
Brachiacantha quadripunctata quadripunctata is a subspecies of lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It is native to North America and has been documented in the northeastern United States, including Vermont. The species belongs to a genus characterized by small, often dark-colored lady beetles with distinctive markings.
Brachiacantha rotunda
Brachiacantha rotunda is a small lady beetle species in the family Coccinellidae, described by Gordon in 1985. The species name refers to its rounded body form. Adults measure approximately 3.10–4.00 mm in length. The species has been recorded from multiple states and provinces in eastern North America.
Brachiacantha stephani
Stephan's lady beetle
Brachiacantha stephani, known as Stephan's lady beetle, is a small lady beetle species in the family Coccinellidae. Adults exhibit distinctive coloration with black bodies marked by yellow and reddish-orange patterns on the pronotum and elytra. The species is known from a limited geographic range in North America, specifically recorded from Arizona. It is named in honor of Karl Stephan, collector of part of the type series.
Brachiacantha tau
t-marked larkspur lady beetle, T-marked Spurleg
Brachiacantha tau is a small lady beetle (Coccinellidae) measuring approximately 2–3 mm in length. Adults are oval and shiny. The species is notable for its larval biology: larvae feed on scale insects within ant colonies, making them rarely observed. Adults are sometimes found on flowers or hunting in foliage. The specific epithet "tau" refers to a T-shaped marking on the species.
Brachiacantha testudo
Turtle Lady, Texas Ten-spotted Spurleg
A small North American lady beetle distinguished by its distinctive spotted pattern and turtle-like appearance. Adults measure 2.25–3.30 mm. The species has been recorded from Texas and is known by two common names reflecting its appearance and distribution.
Brachiacantha ursina
ursine spurleg lady beetle, orange-spotted lady beetle
A small North American lady beetle, 3–4 mm in length, recognized by the male's black pronotum with yellow anterior margin and five yellow spots on each elytron. The species has been recorded from Nova Scotia to South Carolina, west to Manitoba and Iowa. It belongs to the genus Brachiacantha, which is characterized by modified hind legs in males.
Brachinus alexiguus
Brachinus alexiguus is a species of bombardier beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Erwin in 1970. As a member of the genus Brachinus, it possesses the characteristic defensive chemical spray mechanism for which these beetles are renowned. The species is known from North America, with confirmed records from the United States.
Brachinus alternans
Brachinus alternans is a species of bombardier beetle in the family Carabidae, characterized by its chemical defense mechanism. The species occurs in Central America and North America, including the United States. Like other members of the genus Brachinus, it possesses the ability to discharge a hot, noxious chemical spray from the abdomen as a defense against predators. The specific epithet 'alternans' refers to some alternating pattern in the original description, though the precise nature of this pattern is not detailed in available sources.
Brachinus americanus
Brachinus americanus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by LeConte in 1844. It belongs to the genus Brachinus, commonly known as bombardier beetles, which are notable for their chemical defense mechanism. The species is distributed across North America, with records from both the United States and Canada. Like other members of its genus, it likely possesses the characteristic defensive glands that produce hot, noxious chemicals when threatened.
Brachinus cibolensis
Brachinus cibolensis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Erwin in 1970. It belongs to the genus Brachinus, commonly known as bombardier beetles, which are renowned for their unique chemical defense mechanism. The species is distributed across Central America and North America, including Mexico and the United States. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to possess the characteristic ability to discharge hot, noxious chemicals from the abdomen as a defense against predators, though specific behavioral observations for this species have not been documented.
Brachinus costipennis
Brachinus costipennis is a species of bombardier beetle in the ground beetle family Carabidae, first described by Motschulsky in 1859. As a member of the genus Brachinus, it possesses the characteristic chemical defense system that defines this group: the ability to spray a hot, noxious mixture of benzoquinones from the abdomen when threatened. The species occurs in Central America and North America, with records from Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States.
Brachinus cyanochroaticus
bombardier beetle
Brachinus cyanochroaticus is a species of bombardier beetle in the ground beetle family Carabidae. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from the United States and Canada. Like other members of the genus Brachinus, it possesses the distinctive defensive chemical reaction that gives bombardier beetles their common name. The species was described by Terry Erwin in 1969.
Brachinus elongatulus
elongated bombardier beetle
Brachinus elongatulus is a species of bombardier beetle in the ground beetle family Carabidae. It is found in Central America and North America, with records from Mexico and the United States. As a member of the genus Brachinus, it possesses the characteristic defensive chemistry that gives bombardier beetles their common name. The species was described by Chaudoir in 1876.
Brachinus fulminatus
Brachinus fulminatus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Erwin in 1969. The species is known from North America, with distribution records from the United States. Like other members of the genus Brachinus, it is expected to possess chemical defense capabilities, though specific details for this species remain undocumented.
Brachinus hirsutus
Brachinus hirsutus is a species of bombardier beetle in the family Carabidae, characterized by its ability to produce defensive chemical sprays. It is found in Central America and North America, with records from Mexico and the United States. Like other members of the genus Brachinus, it possesses specialized defensive glands that can discharge hot, noxious chemicals when threatened.
Brachinus imporcitis
Brachinus imporcitis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Terry Erwin in 1970. It belongs to the genus Brachinus, commonly known as bombardier beetles, which are renowned for their chemical defense mechanism. The species is known to occur in North America, specifically within the United States. Like other members of Brachinus, it likely possesses the characteristic ability to discharge a hot, noxious chemical spray when threatened, though specific behavioral observations for this species have not been documented.
Brachinus janthinipennis
Brachinus janthinipennis is a species of bombardier beetle in the family Carabidae, native to North America. Like other members of the genus Brachinus, it possesses the remarkable defensive ability to discharge a hot, noxious chemical spray from its abdomen when threatened. The species occurs in Canada and the United States, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Brachinus medius
Medial Bombardier Beetle
Brachinus medius is a species of bombardier beetle in the family Carabidae. It is one of approximately 40 species in the genus Brachinus found in North America. Like other members of its genus, it possesses the remarkable defensive ability to discharge a hot, noxious chemical spray from the tip of its abdomen when threatened. The species occurs across much of North America including the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Brachinus phaeocerus
Brachinus phaeocerus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Chaudoir in 1868. It belongs to the bombardier beetle genus Brachinus, notable for its chemical defense mechanism. The species occurs in Central America and North America, including Mexico and the United States. Like other members of its genus, it possesses the characteristic ability to produce and eject defensive chemicals when threatened.
Brachinus puberulus
Brachinus puberulus is a species of bombardier beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Chaudoir in 1868. It belongs to the genus Brachinus, renowned for its chemical defense mechanism that produces a hot, noxious spray from the abdomen when disturbed. The species is recorded from the United States and Middle America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain sparse in the available literature.
Brachinus rugipennis
Brachinus rugipennis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It was described by Chaudoir in 1868 and is known from North America, with records from the United States. Like other members of the genus Brachinus, it belongs to the bombardier beetle group, which are characterized by their remarkable chemical defense mechanism.
Brachinus texanus
Brachinus texanus is a species of bombardier beetle in the family Carabidae. Like other members of its genus, it possesses a remarkable defensive chemical mechanism, spraying a hot, corrosive liquid from its abdomen when disturbed. The species occurs in North America, with records from the United States and Canada.
Brachinus vulcanoides
Brachinus vulcanoides is a species of bombardier beetle in the ground beetle family Carabidae, first described by Erwin in 1969. As a member of the genus Brachinus, it possesses the characteristic defensive chemical spray mechanism that defines this group. The species is known from North America, specifically recorded from the United States, though detailed natural history information remains limited in the available literature.
Brachionycha borealis
Boreal Fan Moth
Brachionycha borealis is a noctuid moth described by Smith in 1899. It occurs across northern North America from Maine and Pennsylvania west to central Alberta. The species has a single annual generation and is active in early spring, with adults flying from April to May. Larvae feed on oak and blueberry species.
Brachycaudonia californica
Brachycaudonia californica is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Pteromalidae, first described by Ashmead in 1904. It is a parasitoid wasp, though specific host relationships remain undocumented in the available literature. The species is known from limited collection records in California and Ontario, Canada, with only two observations recorded in iNaturalist.
Brachycentrus
Grannom Caddisflies, Humpless Casemaker Caddisflies
Brachycentrus is a genus of caddisflies in the family Brachycentridae, commonly known as grannoms or humpless casemaker caddisflies. The genus contains at least 30 described species distributed across North America and Eurasia. Larvae are aquatic filter-feeders that construct portable cases from silk and environmental materials such as sand, small stones, or plant fragments. The genus is ecologically significant as an important prey item for trout and other freshwater fish.
Brachycentrus appalachia
Apple Caddis, humpless casemaker caddisfly
Brachycentrus appalachia is a species of humpless casemaker caddisfly described by Flint in 1984. It belongs to the family Brachycentridae, a group of caddisflies characterized by larvae that construct portable cases from plant material. The species is known from North America, with its specific epithet suggesting association with the Appalachian region. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to have an aquatic larval stage and terrestrial adult stage.
Brachycentrus lateralis
humbles casemaker caddisfly
Brachycentrus lateralis is a species of caddisfly in the family Brachycentridae, commonly known as the humpless casemaker caddisfly. It was first described by Thomas Say in 1823. The species is found in North America and belongs to a family whose larvae construct portable cases from plant material.
Brachycentrus numerosus
humbless casemaker caddisfly
Brachycentrus numerosus is a species of caddisfly in the family Brachycentridae, commonly referred to as a humpless casemaker caddisfly. The species was first described by Thomas Say in 1823. It belongs to an order of aquatic insects whose larvae construct protective cases from environmental materials. The species is documented from North America.
Brachycercus nitidus
Brachycercus nitidus is a species of small squaregill mayfly in the family Caenidae, first described by Traver in 1932. The genus Brachycercus is part of the superfamily Caenoidea, a group characterized by reduced wing venation and other adaptations to lentic (still-water) habitats. As a member of the Caenidae, this species likely exhibits the family's typical traits including small body size, short antennae, and forewings with few crossveins. The specific epithet "nitidus" (Latin for "shiny" or "polished") may refer to a characteristic sheen of the cuticle, though this interpretation is speculative without direct examination of type material.
Brachycoryna
Brachycoryna is a genus of leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cassidinae. It comprises seven described species distributed primarily in North America. Members of this genus are classified among the hispines, a group characterized by spiny or sculptured bodies. The genus was established by Guérin-Méneville in 1844.
Brachycorynus
fungus weevil
Brachycorynus is a genus of fungus weevils in the family Anthribidae, established by Valentine in 1999. The genus contains three described species distributed in North America. Members are characterized by their association with fungi and their distinctive weevil morphology.
Brachycorynus hirsutus
Bristly Fungus Weevil
Brachycorynus hirsutus is a small fungus weevil in the family Anthribidae, characterized by its bristly body covering. The species was described by Valentine in 1998 and is known from North America. Like other members of the genus, it likely feeds on fungal growths on decaying wood, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species is rarely encountered and has only been recorded from a handful of observations.
Brachycorynus rectus
fungus weevil
Brachycorynus rectus is a species of fungus weevil in the beetle family Anthribidae. The species was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1876. As a member of the fungus weevils, it is associated with fungal hosts rather than living plant tissue. The genus Brachycorynus contains multiple North American species, though detailed natural history information remains limited for this particular species.
Brachycybe producta
Brachycybe producta is a species of millipede in the family Andrognathidaefound in North America. It belongs to the order Platydesmida, a group of small, flattened millipedes commonly known as flat-backed millipedes. The species was described by Loomis in 1936. It is part of the Colobognatha, a clade of millipedes characterized by reduced mouthparts.
Brachygluta abdominalis
ant-loving beetle
Brachygluta abdominalis is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. It is found in North America, with records from Canada and the eastern United States. This species inhabits coastal ecosystems, specifically occurring in leaf litter of salt marshes, beaches, and other shoreline environments. The species has a problematic taxonomic history due to a missing type specimen, and its identity has been discussed but not fully resolved in recent revisions.
Brachygluta luniger
Brachygluta luniger is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. The species has been recorded from eastern North America, with distribution records spanning from Canada to the southeastern United States. As with other members of the genus Brachygluta, it is a poorly known species with limited published biological information. The genus belongs to the diverse rove beetle fauna, one of the largest families of beetles.
Brachygluta ulkei
Brachygluta ulkei is a small rove beetle in the subfamily Pselaphinae, a diverse group of minute beetles often associated with leaf litter and soil habitats. The species was described by Brendel in 1866 and occurs in the eastern United States. Like other pselaphines, it is likely a predator or scavenger in microarthropod communities, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Brachygluta wickhami
Brachygluta wickhami is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. It was described as a new species by Bückle in 2015 as part of a comprehensive revision of North American Brachygluta. The species is one of twelve new Brachygluta species described in that monograph. Like other members of this genus, it is a small, presumably litter-dwelling beetle with reduced elytra typical of the subfamily Pselaphinae.
Brachyinsara
least katydid
Brachyinsara is a genus of phaneropterine katydids in the family Tettigoniidae, established by Rehn & Hebard in 1914. The genus contains at least two described species: Brachyinsara hemiptera (least katydid) and Brachyinsara magdalenae. These katydids are part of the tribe Insarini within the subfamily Phaneropterinae, a group known for their often small size and arboreal habits.
Brachyinsara hemiptera
least katydid
Brachyinsara hemiptera, commonly known as the least katydid, is a small phaneropterine katydid species first described by Hebard in 1939. It belongs to the family Tettigoniidae and is characterized by its diminutive size compared to other katydids. The species is distributed in North America, with records from Mexico and California.