Oregon
Guides
Phytocoris varipes
long-legged plant bug
Phytocoris varipes is a plant bug in the family Miridae, characterized by pinkish-brown to red-brown coloration with longitudinal markings on the upper surface. Adults and nymphs inhabit herbaceous plants and grasses, feeding primarily on flowers and immature fruits. The species has a broad distribution across Europe, extending east to the Caucasus and Iran, with an introduced population in Oregon, USA. Adults are active from June through October, with mating and oviposition occurring in mid-summer.
Platyceroides viriditinctus
Platyceroides viriditinctus is a species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae, described by Benesh in 1942. It is known from the Pacific Northwest region of North America, with confirmed records from Oregon and Washington. Like other members of the genus Platyceroides, it belongs to a group of small stag beetles that are less well-studied than their larger relatives in the genus Lucanus.
Pleocoma simi
Pleocoma simi is a rain beetle in the family Pleocomidae, described by Davis in 1934. The species is known from Oregon in the western United States. As with other Pleocoma species, adults are active during autumn rains and males fly to locate flightless females. Larval stages remain underground, feeding on roots.
Pleromella opter
Pleromella opter is a moth species and the sole member of the monotypic genus Pleromella within the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to western North America, occurring in southern Oregon, California, and Baja California. The species was first described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1921. It is one of approximately 124 observed records documented in natural history databases.
Priocnemis oregona
Priocnemis oregona is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, first described by Banks in 1933. As a member of the genus Priocnemis, it belongs to a group of solitary wasps that hunt spiders to provision nests for their larvae. The species epithet suggests an association with Oregon or the Pacific Northwest region. Specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Proserpinus lucidus
Pacific green sphinx, bear sphinx
Proserpinus lucidus is a small sphinx moth native to the Pacific coast of North America. Adults are active in winter from December to April, during which they do not feed. The species exhibits unusual seasonal timing among North American sphinx moths, with adults emerging and mating during the coldest months. Larvae feed on specific evening primrose relatives in the genera Clarkia and Camissonia, and possess a distinctive "bullseye" spot in place of the typical horn found in most sphinx moth caterpillars.
Saprinus scabriceps
Saprinus scabriceps is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, described by Casey in 1916. Like other members of the genus Saprinus, it is likely associated with carrion and decomposing organic matter. The species has been recorded from the western United States, specifically Nevada and Oregon. As with most histerids, it is presumed to be predatory on other insects, particularly fly larvae, in its habitat.
Steiroxys strepens
Noisy Shield-backed Katydid, noisy shieldback, shield-backed katydid
Steiroxys strepens is a shield-backed katydid in the family Tettigoniidae, first described by Fulton in 1930. It is known from limited observations in North America, particularly Oregon. The species belongs to a genus characterized by a distinctive dorsal shield-like structure formed by the pronotum extending over the abdomen.
Stenoptilia exclamationis
Exclamatory and Colorado Plume Moths
Stenoptilia exclamationis is a moth complex in the family Pterophoridae, commonly known as the Exclamatory and Colorado Plume Moths. It occurs in the western United States, with records from California and Oregon. The complex designation indicates this taxon may encompass multiple closely related species or subspecies that require further taxonomic clarification. As a plume moth, it belongs to a family characterized by distinctive wing morphology.
Sympistis sokar
Sympistis sokar is a moth species in the family Noctuidae, described by James T. Troubridge in 2008. It is known only from Oregon in the western United States. As a recently described species with limited observation records, much of its biology remains undocumented.
Taracus marchingtoni
Taracus marchingtoni is a troglobiotic harvestman species endemic to lava caves in central Oregon. First collected in 1965 but not formally described until 2016, it exhibits classic cave-adapted traits including reduced eyes and depigmentation. The species is notable for its extremely elongated chelicerae, which in males can exceed body length. It has been documented feeding on troglophilic millipedes.
Taracus silvestrii
Taracus silvestrii is a species of harvestman in the family Taracidae, described by Roewer in 1929. It belongs to the suborder Dyspnoi, a group of long-legged arachnids commonly known as harvestmen or daddy longlegs. Members of the genus Taracus are characterized by their elongated body form and exceptionally long, slender legs relative to body size. The species is known from limited collection records in North America.
Telamona vestita vestita
Telamona vestita vestita is a subspecies of treehopper in the family Membracidae, native to western North America. As a member of the tribe Telamonini, it possesses the characteristic enlarged pronotum typical of the genus Telamona. The subspecies was described by Ball in 1925 and is known from California and Oregon. Like other treehoppers, it is presumed to feed on plant sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts, though specific host plant associations for this subspecies have not been documented in the available literature.
Tipula siskiyouensis
Tipula siskiyouensis is a species of crane fly in the family Tipulidae, described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1949. The species epithet refers to the Siskiyou Mountains, suggesting a geographic association with this mountain range along the California-Oregon border. Like other Tipula species, it belongs to a large and diverse genus of crane flies commonly known as "daddy longlegs" due to their elongated legs and slender bodies. The species is documented from Oregon in the Nearctic region.
Trichodezia californiata
California Black
Trichodezia californiata is a moth species in the family Geometridae, subfamily Larentiinae. It is endemic to western North America with a range spanning from Washington through Oregon to California. The common name 'California Black' refers to its dark coloration. The species was first described by Packard in 1871.
Troglomethes
false soldier beetles
Troglomethes is a genus of false soldier beetles in the family Omethidae, established by Wittmer in 1970. The genus contains at least two described species: Troglomethes leechi and Troglomethes oregonensis, both described in the same year. Members of this genus are part of a small family of beetles sometimes referred to as false soldier beetles due to their resemblance to the soldier beetles (Cantharidae).
Trogloraptor
Cave robber
Trogloraptor is a genus of large cave-dwelling spiders endemic to southwestern Oregon, representing the sole genus in the family Trogloraptoridae. The genus contains one described species, Trogloraptor marchingtoni, distinguished by unique hook-like claws on the tarsi of its legs. Discovered in 2010 and described in 2012, this represents one of only three new spider families described since 1990. The genus name combines Greek and Latin roots meaning "cave robber," referencing both its habitat and predatory appendages.
Trogloraptor marchingtoni
cave robber spider
Trogloraptor marchingtoni is a large cave-dwelling spider and the sole species in the family Trogloraptoridae, the first new spider family described from North America since the 1890s. Discovered in 2010 in caves of southwestern Oregon, this species is distinguished by extraordinary hook-like claws on its legs used to capture prey. It represents a remarkable evolutionary lineage with no close known relatives among living spiders. The species name honors Neil Marchington, the deputy sheriff and amateur biologist who first brought the spiders to scientific attention.
Tymnes oregonensis
Oregon Leaf Beetle
Tymnes oregonensis is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, tribe Alticini. It is native to western North America. The species was originally described by Crotch in 1873 and has been historically treated under the genus Phyllotreta as a synonym. Available records indicate presence in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Manitoba, with broader distribution across North America. Like other members of the Alticini, it possesses enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping.