Oak-associated
Guides
Acmaeodera chiricahuae
Acmaeodera chiricahuae is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Barr in 1972. It is known from the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona and adjacent regions of southwestern North America. Adults are associated with oak woodlands, particularly Quercus arizonica (Arizona white oak), where they have been collected by beating fresh foliage. The species is one of many oak-associated Agrilus and related buprestids that emerge prior to the summer monsoon season in the Sky Islands region.
Acronicta cryptica
Cryptic Oak Dagger
Acronicta cryptica, commonly known as the Cryptic Oak Dagger, is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. As a member of the dagger moth genus Acronicta, it shares the characteristic forewing pattern elements typical of this group, though specific details of its biology remain poorly documented. The species epithet 'cryptica' suggests a concealing or camouflaged appearance. Available records are sparse, with limited observational data documenting its occurrence.
Agnippe laudatella
Agnippe laudatella is a small gelechiid moth with a wingspan of approximately 10.5 mm, endemic to California. The species is characterized by distinctive white forewings with complex brownish fuscous patterning. Larvae feed on Quercus (oak) species.
Agrilaxia arizonae
Agrilaxia arizonae is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle (family Buprestidae) native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species is currently treated as a synonym of Agrilaxia flavimana, though this status remains ambiguous in some taxonomic sources. It is associated with oak habitats in montane regions of Arizona and has been collected by sweeping foliage of Quercus arizonica (Arizona white oak) and other oak species.
Agrilaxia texana
Agrilaxia texana is a species of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is known from scattered records in the south-central United States, with documented collections from northeastern Texas and northwestern Oklahoma. The species appears to be associated with oak habitats, particularly Quercus havardii (shinnery oak). Like other members of the genus Agrilaxia, it is presumed to be a wood-boring beetle with larvae developing in dead or dying woody host material.
Agrilus abditus
Agrilus abditus is a North American jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) described by George Henry Horn in 1891. The species belongs to the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, which contains thousands of species worldwide. Based on field observations, adults have been collected by sweeping foliage of Quercus arizonica (Arizona white oak) in southeastern Arizona. The species appears to be associated with oak habitats in montane regions of the southwestern United States.
Agrilus angelicus
oak twig girdler, Pacific oak twig girdler
Agrilus angelicus, known as the oak twig girdler or Pacific oak twig girdler, is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species is found in North America. It belongs to the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, which contains nearly 4,000 described species and is perhaps the largest genus in the animal kingdom. Like other members of the genus, it is a twig and branch borer, with larvae developing in recently dead wood.
Agrilus audax
Audacious Elm Agrilus
Agrilus audax is a large, striking jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae, distinguished by its black elytra and red pronotum with a densely pubescent median channel. First described from Texas in 1891, it remained exceptionally rare for over a century, with confirmed records from only a handful of specimens across Texas, Arizona, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Ohio. The species is associated with hardwood trees, particularly bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) and slippery elm (Ulmus rubra), and is considered one of the most elusive North American buprestids.
Agrilus frosti
Agrilus frosti is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Knull in 1920. It is found in North America, with documented occurrences in Canada (Manitoba, Nova Scotia) and the United States. The species is poorly known and rarely collected; in Missouri, only two specimens have been documented—one beaten from post oak at Lichen Glade Natural Area and another captured in a malaise trap in central Missouri.
Agrilus quercicola
Agrilus quercicola is a species of jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) described by Fisher in 1928. The specific epithet "quercicola" indicates an association with oak (Quercus), a pattern consistent with many Agrilus species that develop in woody plants. Like other members of this hyperdiverse genus, it is presumed to be a wood-boring beetle with larval development in oak tissue. The species is recorded from North America.
Agrilus quercus
Agrilus quercus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Schaeffer in 1905. The specific epithet "quercus" (Latin for oak) indicates an association with oak trees (Quercus spp.), a pattern common among Agrilus species. Like other members of this large genus, it likely develops as a larva in the phloem and outer wood of host trees. The species occurs in North America, with records from the southwestern United States including Arizona.
Agrilus restrictus
Agrilus restrictus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Waterhouse in 1889 and occurs in Central America and North America. Field observations indicate it is associated with oak woodlands, specifically collected by beating Emory oak (Quercus emoryi). The species appears to be uncommon and has been noted as a desirable target for collectors in the southwestern United States.
Akalyptoischion
Akalyptoischion is a genus of coccinelloid beetles comprising at least 24 described species. It represents the sole genus of the family Akalyptoischiidae, having been reclassified from Latridiidae based on molecular phylogenetic evidence. The genus is restricted to western North America and exhibits specialized ecological associations with oak leaf litter and rodent nests.
Ancylis burgessiana
Oak Leaffolder Moth
Ancylis burgessiana is a small tortricid moth commonly known as the Oak Leaffolder Moth. It belongs to the family Tortricidae, a large group of moths often called leafroller moths. The species is associated with oak habitats and has been recorded across parts of North America. Adults are active during the growing season, with larvae that fold or roll leaves of their host plants.
Aneflus
Aneflus is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) established by LeConte in 1873. The genus comprises approximately 25 described species distributed primarily in western North America, with concentrations in the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico. Species are associated with woody vegetation, particularly oaks and desert shrubs. The genus belongs to the tribe Elaphidiini, a diverse group of cerambycine beetles often characterized by relatively small to medium size and cryptic habits.
Anelaphus formerly-parallelus-maybe-undescribed
A putative undescribed species within the genus Anelaphus, closely related to or possibly distinct from Anelaphus parallelus. The informal designation suggests morphological similarity to A. parallelus but with characteristics that may warrant separate species status pending formal taxonomic description. Members of this genus are woodboring beetles commonly known as twig pruners.
Antaeotricha albulella
vestal moth
Antaeotricha albulella, commonly known as the vestal moth, is a small moth species in the family Depressariidae. First described by Francis Walker in 1864, it is distributed across the southeastern and mid-Atlantic United States. The species is characterized by predominantly white forewings with distinctive dark markings. It has been historically confused with the closely related Antaeotricha floridella, which occurs in drier sandhill habitats of peninsular Florida.
Antaeotricha floridella
Antaeotricha floridella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, described in 2015 from peninsular Florida. The species is endemic to Florida's sandhills and scrub habitats, where it was initially confused with the similar but more widespread Antaeotricha albulella. Its immaculately white forewings without any spotting distinguish it from close relatives.
Aphaenogaster mariae
Mary's Collared Ant
Aphaenogaster mariae is a rarely collected arboreal ant species endemic to the eastern United States. First described in 1886 from specimens collected in Florida by Mary Treat, it remained poorly known until 2021 when the first complete nest was documented in North Carolina. Unlike most congeners that nest in soil or rotting logs, this species inhabits dead branches and under live bark of mature hardwoods, particularly oaks. The first males were photographed and described in 2023, enabling a complete taxonomic redescription of the caste.
Arge quidia
Willow Oak Sawfly
Arge quidia is a sawfly species in the family Argidae, described by Smith in 1989. It is commonly known as the Willow Oak Sawfly, indicating an association with willow oak (Quercus phellos) or related oak species. The species has been documented in eastern Canada, specifically Ontario and Quebec. As a member of the suborder Symphyta, adults lack the narrow waist characteristic of most other Hymenoptera. Larvae of Argidae are typically external leaf feeders on woody plants.
Ariotus
Ariotus is a genus of ant-mimicking leaf beetles in the family Aderidae. The genus contains at least four described species, all named in the late 19th century by Thomas Casey and E.A. Schwarz. Members of this genus are small beetles that exhibit morphological convergence with ants, a common defensive strategy within Aderidae. The genus has been documented in North America, with species associated with oak habitats.
Ariotus quercicola
Ariotus quercicola is a species of ant-like leaf beetle in the family Aderidae, described by Schwarz in 1878. It is a small beetle with a distribution in North America. Members of this genus and family are characterized by their compact, ant-like appearance and association with decaying plant matter. The specific epithet "quercicola" suggests an association with oak (Quercus) habitats.
Athetis tarda
Slowpoke Moth
Athetis tarda, commonly known as the slowpoke moth, is a small noctuid moth native to eastern North America. It is strongly associated with oak-dominated habitats. Adults are active during two distinct periods in spring and late summer, while larvae feed on decomposing oak leaf litter.
Atractotomus quercicola
Atractotomus quercicola is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Stonedahl in 1990. It is associated with oak trees (Quercus), as indicated by its specific epithet. The species is known from northeastern Mexico and Texas.
Atymna
Atymna is a genus of treehoppers in the family Membracidae, first described by Stål in 1867. The genus comprises at least ten recognized species distributed primarily in North America. Members of this genus are characterized by their enlarged pronotum, a defining feature of treehoppers that extends over the body. Several species have been documented feeding on oaks and other woody plants.
Atymna querci
Atymna querci is a species of treehopper in the family Membracidae. The species name "querci" refers to its association with oak trees (Quercus). Treehoppers in this family are known for their enlarged pronotum that extends over the body, often forming elaborate structures. This species has been documented across the eastern and midwestern United States.
Bothrideres cryptus
dry bark beetle
Bothrideres cryptus is a dry bark beetle in the family Bothrideridae. It is found in North America, with records from Ontario, Canada. This species inhabits the dry bark of dead oaks, where it functions as a parasitoid of cerambycid beetle larvae in the genus Parelaphidion.
Brachys barberi
Brachys barberi is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species is associated with oak hosts, particularly Quercus havardii (shin oak), and has been collected from sand dune habitats in the southwestern United States. Adults are active during spring and early summer, with observations and collections spanning from May to June. The species is part of the genus Brachys, a group of oak-associated buprestids that are typically collected by sweeping or beating foliage of host trees.
Brachys cephalicus
Brachys cephalicus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Schaeffer in 1909. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. Field observations from southeastern Arizona indicate adults are active in late spring (early June), where they have been collected by sweeping foliage of Quercus arizonica (Arizona white oak) and Quercus emoryi (Emory oak). Like other members of the genus Brachys, it is associated with oak foliage and appears to be most readily collected when host trees have freshly flushed new leaves.
Brachys floccosus
Brachys floccosus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, originally described by Mannerheim in 1837. The species occurs in Central America and North America. Records indicate it has been collected from oak woodland habitats in montane regions of southeastern Arizona, specifically from Quercus hypoleucoides (silverleaf oak).
Brachys howdeni
Brachys howdeni is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Hespenheide in 2016. It belongs to the genus Brachys, a group of small buprestids associated with oak foliage. The species is relatively recently described and appears to be distributed in southwestern North America. Like other Brachys species, it likely develops as a larva in oak branches and is attracted to fresh oak foliage as an adult.
Brachys querci
Brachys querci is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Knull in 1952. The species is found in North America, with documented occurrences in the southwestern United States including Arizona and New Mexico. It is associated with oak species (Quercus), particularly gray oak (Quercus grisea), and has been collected by beating or sweeping foliage of trees with newly flushed leaves. The species is part of a genus that is taxonomically challenging and has been subject to recent revisionary work.
Brachys rileyi
Brachys rileyi is a recently described species of jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) in the genus Brachys. The species was described based on specimens collected from Quercus gambelii (Gambel's oak) in high-elevation mountain locations in southeastern New Mexico and west Texas. Field observations indicate it occurs in alpine meadow and oak-juniper woodland habitats above 8000 feet elevation. The species is known from very few observations, with iNaturalist records documenting only two observations as of the source date.
Brachys wellsoi
Brachys wellsoi is a species of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae, tribe Trachyini. Members of this genus are leaf-miners of hardwood trees, primarily oaks (Quercus). The tribe Trachyini exhibits a distinctive flattened, compact, wedge-shaped body form compared to the more typical elongate, cylindrical shape of other buprestids. This morphology is associated with their unique larval habit of mining within leaf tissue rather than boring through wood.
Camponotus laevigatus
Hairless Smooth Carpenter Ant
Camponotus laevigatus is a California endemic carpenter ant species that nests in dead oak branches, particularly of Quercus wislizeni (interior live oak). It maintains an obligate mutualism with the bacterial endosymbiont Blochmaniella, with which it shows strong codiversification patterns. Population genetic studies reveal three phylogeographic clusters with the Central Valley acting as a significant barrier to gene flow, and Pleistocene climatic cycles have shaped its current distribution.
Capraita quercata
Capraita quercata is a flea beetle (Chrysomelidae: Alticini) native to North America. The species epithet "quercata" indicates an association with oak (Quercus). As a member of the Alticini tribe, it possesses enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. Observation records are sparse, with limited documentation of its biology and ecology.
Catastega timidella
Oak Trumpet Skeletonizer Moth
Catastega timidella is a small tortricid moth in the tribe Eucosmini. The common name references larval feeding behavior that produces distinctive trumpet-shaped shelters on oak leaves. Records indicate a transcontinental distribution across northern North America. Adult moths are active during summer months.
Catocala benjamini
Benjamin's underwing
Catocala benjamini, or Benjamin's underwing, is a moth in the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Auburn Edmund Brower in 1937. It was formerly considered a subspecies of Catocala andromache but is now recognized as a distinct species. Adults are active in June with likely one generation per year.
Catocala ophelia
Ophelia Underwing
Catocala ophelia is a moth in the family Erebidae, commonly known as the Ophelia Underwing. It inhabits dry forests in the southwestern United States. Adults are active from July to October with likely one generation per year. The species exhibits the characteristic underwing pattern of dull forewings concealing brightly colored hindwings.
Cerococcus quercus
Oak Wax Scale
Cerococcus quercus is a scale insect in the family Cerococcidae, commonly known as the Oak Wax Scale. This species is associated with oak trees (Quercus spp.), as indicated by its specific epithet. Like other cerococcids, it produces a waxy covering for protection. The species was first described by Comstock in 1882 and is native to North America, with records from the United States.
Chariessa
checkered beetles
Chariessa is a genus of checkered beetles in the family Cleridae, containing approximately six to seven described species. These beetles are carnivorous predators typically associated with oak trees (Quercus), where they likely prey on wood-boring insects. The genus has a broad distribution spanning North, Central, and South America, with some species also occurring in the Palearctic region. Species such as Chariessa pilosa demonstrate this wide range, occurring across both North America and Eurasia.
Chinaola quercicola
Chinaola quercicola is a species of minute plant bug in the family Microphysidae, described by Blatchley in 1928. The species epithet 'quercicola' suggests an association with oak (Quercus). It is known from North America.
Chionodes gilvomaculella
Chionodes gilvomaculella is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, first described by Clemens in 1863. It is distributed across northeastern North America, ranging from Nova Scotia and southern Ontario south to West Virginia and Ohio. The species is associated with oak habitats, with larvae feeding on Quercus species.
Chrysobothris axillaris
Chrysobothris axillaris is a North American jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Horn in 1886. Based on field observations in the Davis Mountains of Texas, adults have been collected from Quercus grisea (gray oak) with fresh foliage, suggesting an association with oak hosts. The species appears to be active in late spring to early summer.
Chrysobothris chalcophoroides
sculptured oak borer
Chrysobothris chalcophoroides, commonly known as the sculptured oak borer, is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Horn in 1886 and is distributed across North America. Like other members of its genus, it develops in oak wood, with adults active during warmer months. The species exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration and sculptured elytra typical of Chrysobothris.
Chrysobothris chrysoela chrysoela
A subspecies of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae. Members of the species Chrysobothris chrysoela occur in Florida and are associated with oak habitats. The subspecies is part of a genus containing numerous economically important wood-boring beetles, many of which are difficult to identify due to reliance on suites of subtle morphological characters rather than single diagnostic features.
Chrysobothris costifrons
Chrysobothris costifrons is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Waterhouse in 1887. It belongs to a large genus of jewel beetles whose larvae typically develop in woody plants. The species is distributed across Central America and North America, with three recognized subspecies. Adults are attracted to recently dead or stressed woody hosts.
Chrysobothris quadriimpressa
Four-impressed Chrysobothris
Chrysobothris quadriimpressa is a jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae, belonging to the Chrysobothris femorata species group. This species was originally described in 1837, subsequently synonymized, and resurrected in the 2007 revision by Wellso and Manley. It occurs across eastern North America west to the Continental Divide and is primarily associated with oak (Quercus) hosts. The species is distinguished from closely related members of the C. femorata group by subtle morphological characters of the pygidium and elytra.
Chrysobothris rugosiceps
Chrysobothris rugosiceps is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Melsheimer in 1845. It belongs to the taxonomically challenging C. femorata species group, which was revised in 2007 to include twelve species. The original type specimen is lost, and a neotype has been designated. Adults are active on dead oak branches and trunks during daylight hours.
Chrysobothris shawnee
Chrysobothris shawnee is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described in 2007 as part of a revision of the Chrysobothris femorata species group. It occurs in the eastern United States west to Colorado. The species is primarily associated with oak (Quercus) hosts, though it has also been reared from willow (Salix) and Prunus. Adults are active on large branches and trunks of dead oak trees.