North-american-native
Guides
Perdita fieldi
Perdita fieldi is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1956. It belongs to the large genus Perdita, which contains over 800 species of small, often specialist bees native to North America. Like other Perdita species, it is a solitary ground-nesting bee. The specific epithet honors an individual with the surname Field, though the namesake's identity is not documented in available sources.
Phasgonophora californica
Phasgonophora californica is a species of chalcidid wasp in the family Chalcididae. It belongs to a group of parasitoid wasps that attack woodboring beetle larvae. The species was described by Rohwer in 1917 and is native to western North America.
Philanthus lepidus
Pleasant Beewolf
Philanthus lepidus is a species of beewolf wasp in the family Crabronidae, native to North America. Like other members of the genus Philanthus, females are solitary hunters that provision underground nests with paralyzed bees as food for their larvae. The species has been the subject of limited behavioral study, with at least one published account of its nesting behavior. It is one of approximately 30 Philanthus species occurring in North America.
Philanthus sanbornii
Sanborn's Beewolf
Philanthus sanbornii is a species of beewolf wasp in the family Crabronidae, native to North America. Unlike many congeners that specialize on bees, this species has been documented as a predator of flies (Diptera), particularly small muscoid flies. Females construct simple burrows in sandy soil, capture and paralyze prey, and provision nests for their larval offspring. A five-year study in eastern Massachusetts documented over 3,000 prey items from 108 species of bees and wasps, though subsequent research in Florida identified flies as the primary prey. The species exhibits selective prey capture based on temporal availability, spatial distribution, sex ratio, and body size of available prey.
Phloeosinus pini
Phloeosinus pini is a species of crenulate bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, described by J.M. Swaine in 1915. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia) and the United States. As a bark beetle, it is associated with coniferous trees, though specific host associations and ecological details remain poorly documented in the accessible literature.
Phyllonorycter fitchella
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae with a wingspan of 7.5–8 mm. Larvae create mines in leaves of Quercus (oak) species. Adults are active from March to October in at least some portions of the range.
Polistes dorsalis
Hunter's Little Paper Wasp
Polistes dorsalis is a small social paper wasp native to North America, distinguished by V-shaped yellow markings on the head and, in males, a prominent median tubercle on sternum 7. The species constructs small, open-faced paper nests in sheltered locations close to the ground, such as rock piles, hollow logs, and building eaves. Colonies are founded by one or several females in spring, with a dominance hierarchy establishing a single reproductive queen. The species is known for moderately painful stings and has attracted pharmacological interest due to antimicrobial peptides in its venom.
Pulvinaria innumerabilis
Cottony Maple Scale
A soft scale insect (family Coccidae) commonly known as the cottony maple scale. Adult females are small, flattened, and brown, approximately 3 mm in length. Mature females produce conspicuous white, cottony ovisacs containing up to 1,500 eggs. The species is frequently found on maple trees, particularly silver maple (Acer saccharinum), but has been recorded on numerous other woody plants. Heavy infestations can cause aesthetic damage and minor physiological stress to host plants, though established trees typically tolerate infestations well.
Pyrausta orphisalis
orange mint moth, orange-spotted pyrausta
Pyrausta orphisalis is a small crambid moth native to North America, commonly known as the orange mint moth or orange-spotted pyrausta. Adults have a wingspan of 15–17 mm and are active during summer months. The larvae are specialized herbivores that feed on various mint species, particularly Monarda.
Saucrobotys futilalis
dogbane saucrobotys moth, dogbane webworm
Saucrobotys futilalis, commonly known as the dogbane saucrobotys moth or dogbane webworm, is a crambid moth native to North America. The species is notable for its specialized relationship with dogbane (Apocynum) and milkweed (Asclepias) plants, which serve as exclusive larval hosts. Larvae construct silken nests on host plants and exhibit a striking ontogenetic color change from cryptic green to aposematic orange with black spots as they mature. Both larval and adult stages sequester cardiac glycosides from their host plants for chemical defense against predators. The species has been recorded across a broad geographic range from northeastern North America to British Columbia and south to Texas and California.
Smicronyx amoenus
Smicronyx amoenus is a species of true weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1832. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan) and the United States. Like other members of the genus Smicronyx, this species is associated with sunflower plants (Helianthus spp.), where adults feed on pollen and developing seeds. The larvae develop within sunflower seeds, making this and related species economically significant as pests of commercial sunflower cultivation.
Stenolophus comma
Common Stenolophus Beetle, seedcorn beetle
Stenolophus comma is a small ground beetle commonly known as the Common Stenolophus Beetle or seedcorn beetle. Native to North America, it is primarily associated with agricultural habitats where adults feed on germinating seeds and seedlings of row crops. The species has been extensively studied in Iowa, where it completes two generations annually and overwinters as adults in soil and crop residues.
Stigmus americanus
aphid wasp
Stigmus americanus is a small aphid wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly Pemphredonidae). It is native to North America and is known for nesting in twigs of various trees and shrubs. The species provisions its nests with paralyzed aphids as food for its larvae, and is subject to parasitism by cuckoo wasps in the genus Omalus.
Stilbosis tesquella
Hog-peanut Leaf-sewer
Stilbosis tesquella is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1860. It is distributed across eastern and central North America, with records from 17 U.S. states and Quebec. The species is notable for its specialized larval diet on leguminous plants.
Sumitrosis rosea
leafminer beetle
Sumitrosis rosea is a small leaf-mining beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, commonly known as the leafminer beetle. Adults measure 3.3–4.5 mm and exhibit highly variable coloration, with elytra ranging from pale yellow with faint black markings to black with faint yellow spots. The species is native to North America and has been documented feeding on a range of host plants, particularly in the family Fabaceae.
Tachytes validus
square-headed wasp
Tachytes validus is a solitary square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae, described by Cresson in 1873. As a member of the genus Tachytes, it shares the tribe Larrini's characteristic reduced ocelli appearing as 'scars' with golf club-shaped tails. The species is native to North America, with confirmed records from Canada including Manitoba. Like other Tachytes, it likely exhibits the genus's distinctive green eyes in larger individuals and ground-nesting behavior, though specific biological details for this species remain limited in published literature.
Temnothorax longispinosus
Long-spined Acorn Ant
Temnothorax longispinosus is a small North American ant species, measuring 2–2.5 mm in length, commonly known as the Long-spined Acorn Ant. It inhabits forest environments and nests primarily in preformed cavities within leaf litter, including hollow nuts and acorns. The species exhibits remarkable queen polymorphism with three distinct morphs associated with alternative nest-founding strategies: small queens with reduced flight capacity that practice dependent colony founding by returning to natal nests; large queens with low fat reserves that found colonies via pleometrosis (cooperative founding with multiple queens); and large queens with high fat reserves that practice haplometrosis (solitary founding). This species serves as a host for the slave-making ant Protomognathus americanus and has been extensively studied for its genomic adaptations to climate variation and parasite pressure.
Thorybes pylades
northern cloudywing
Thorybes pylades, commonly known as the northern cloudywing, is a skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is recognized by its uniformly dark brown wings with small triangular clear spots. The species has a broad distribution across North America, with adults flying in spring and summer. Larvae feed on various legumes in the family Fabaceae.
Tinocallis ulmifolii
Elm Leaf Aphid
Tinocallis ulmifolii is an aphid species in the family Aphididae, originally described by Monell in 1879. It is one of eight recognized species in the genus Tinocallis, a small group of aphids primarily associated with the Ulmaceae (elm family). The species is commonly known as the Elm Leaf Aphid.
Trichiotinus piger
Bee-like Flower Scarab, Hairy Flower Chafer
Trichiotinus piger is a flower scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, commonly known as the bee-like flower scarab or hairy flower chafer. Adults are active during summer months and feed on pollen and nectar from flowers of various deciduous trees and shrubs. The species is distributed across eastern and central North America, from southern Canada through the eastern United States. Larvae develop in soil, feeding on plant roots over a multi-year period before pupating.
Xestoleptura octonotata
Long-winged Longhorn Beetle
Xestoleptura octonotata is a species of flower longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae. First described by Thomas Say in 1824, this beetle is native to North America and has been recorded in both the United States and Canada. It belongs to a group of longhorn beetles commonly associated with flowers, where adults frequently feed on pollen and nectar.