Pacific-coast
Guides
Acronicta perdita
Pacific Dagger
Acronicta perdita is a noctuid moth species occurring along the Pacific coast of North America from British Columbia to California. Adults have a wingspan of 42–46 mm and are active from April to July. The larvae feed on Ceanothus and Purshia species.
Acronicta strigulata
Strigulose Dagger
Acronicta strigulata is a moth in the family Noctuidae, commonly known as the Strigulose Dagger. It is a western North American species with a documented range from British Columbia southward to California. The species has a wingspan of approximately 35 mm. Limited published information exists regarding its biology and natural history.
Adelphagrotis indeterminata
A noctuid moth found along the Pacific coast of North America. Adults have a wingspan of 30–40 mm. The species is recognized as having two subspecies: A. i. indeterminata and A. i. innotabilis. Flight activity has been recorded from May through October, with peak occurrence in late summer and autumn.
Adelphagrotis stellaris
Adelphagrotis stellaris is a noctuid moth described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1880. It is a West Coast endemic with a range extending from southern British Columbia through the Cascade Range to the central California Coast Range. The species belongs to the subfamily Noctuinae, a diverse group of owlet moths.
Aegialites californicus
Aegialites californicus is a flightless intertidal beetle in the family Salpingidae. It inhabits the supralittoral zone of rocky shores along the northern Pacific coast, from California to Alaska and across to northern Japan and Kamchatka. The species possesses specialized morphological adaptations for its challenging habitat, including widely separated coxae, long tarsi, and large claws. Its complete mitochondrial genome has been sequenced, representing the first such data for the genus Aegialites.
Agabus lutosus
River beetle
Agabus lutosus is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, native to the Pacific coast of North America. It belongs to the lutosus-group of Agabus species, which are restricted to the Cordilleran and Great Plains regions of temperate western North America. The species hybridizes with A. griseipennis in the Pacific Northwest region.
Agrotis gravis
Agrotis gravis is a noctuid moth species described by Grote in 1874. It is restricted to a highly specialized coastal habitat, occurring exclusively on sandy ocean beaches with foreshore dunes along the Pacific coast of North America. The species has been documented from British Columbia southward through California, with 22 iNaturalist observations recorded. Its narrow ecological niche and specific substrate requirements make it vulnerable to coastal habitat disturbance.
Aleochara pacifica
Aleochara pacifica is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It is distributed along the Pacific coast of North America from British Columbia through California and Oregon to Washington, with records extending into Mexico. The species was originally described as Polistoma pacifica by Casey in 1893. Like other members of the genus Aleochara, it is likely associated with decaying organic matter and may have predatory or parasitoid relationships with fly puparia, though specific ecological studies for this species are limited.
Amblopusa
Amblopusa is a genus of intertidal aleocharine rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, established by Casey in 1893. Members of this genus inhabit marine intertidal zones along Pacific coastlines. The genus includes at least two recognized species: A. brevipes Casey and A. vancouverensis Yoo & Ahn, described from Vancouver Island, Canada.
Amerizus spectabilis
spectacular riverbank ground beetle
Amerizus spectabilis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It occurs along the Pacific coast of North America from Alaska to California. The species is commonly known as the spectacular riverbank ground beetle.
Andricus brunneus
Clustered Gall Wasp
Andricus brunneus is a small oak gall wasp found along the Pacific Coast of North America. Only females of this species are known to exist, indicating reproduction occurs through parthenogenesis. The species induces distinctive round galls on white oak leaves, particularly blue oaks (Quercus douglasii). Adults emerge in autumn.
Andricus pedicellatus
hair stalk gall wasp
Andricus pedicellatus, commonly known as the hair stalk gall wasp, is a cynipid wasp that induces distinctive long, spindly leaf galls on blue oaks (Quercus douglasii). The species is fairly common along the Pacific coast of North America. Like other members of the genus Andricus, it exhibits high host specificity, attacking only one or a few closely related oak species.
Anthocharis sara sara
Sara Orangetip, Pacific Orangetip
Anthocharis sara sara is the nominate subspecies of the Sara orangetip butterfly, ranging along the Pacific coast of North America. Adults display distinctive orange wing tips on otherwise white forewings, with green marbling on the ventral hindwings. The subspecies is associated with coastal and montane habitats where its host plants in the mustard family occur.
Anthocharis sara sempervirens
Sara Orange-Tip
Anthocharis sara sempervirens is a subspecies of the Sara Orange-Tip butterfly, first described in 2008. It belongs to the family Pieridae, which includes the whites and sulphurs. The subspecies epithet "sempervirens" (meaning "evergreen") references the coastal redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests with which this butterfly is associated. Like other orange-tips, males display distinctive orange coloration on the forewing tips.
Argyrotaenia franciscana
orange tortrix, apple skinworm
Argyrotaenia franciscana, commonly known as the orange tortrix or apple skinworm, is a moth in the family Tortricidae. It is native to the Pacific Coast of North America, ranging from California north through Oregon to Washington. The species has forewings measuring 5.6–9.9 mm in length. It produces at least two generations per year, with the potential for additional generations depending on local conditions.
Arla tenuicornis
Arla tenuicornis is a small gelechiid moth described by Clarke in 1942. It is known from the Pacific coastal region of the western United States, with records from Washington southward to California. The species is characterized by its relatively modest size, with a wingspan of 17–23 mm, and distinctive wing patterning featuring a yellowish ground color heavily speckled with fuscous.
Bledius albonotatus
Bledius albonotatus is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Mäklin in 1853. The species belongs to the genus Bledius, a group known for association with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats, particularly sandy shorelines. It occurs along the Pacific coast of North America from Alaska to Mexico. The specific epithet 'albonotatus' refers to white markings on the body.
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.
Burnettweldia washingtonensis
fuzzy gall wasp
Burnettweldia washingtonensis is a cynipid gall wasp that induces distinctive stem galls on white oaks (Quercus sect. Quercus) along the Pacific coast of North America. The species was originally described as Cynips washingtonensis in 1894 and later transferred to Disholcaspis before its current placement in Burnettweldia. It is locally common and among the more frequently observed oak gall wasps in its range, with over 1,400 citizen science records.
Cafius lithocharinus
Cafius lithocharinus is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, tribe Staphylinini, subtribe Philonthina. Originally described as Philonthus lithocharinus by LeConte in 1863, it was later transferred to the genus Cafius. The species occurs along the Pacific coast of North America from British Columbia to Mexico. It is one of approximately 35 species in the genus Cafius, a group predominantly associated with marine and intertidal habitats.
Cafius luteipennis
Cafius luteipennis is a large rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Horn in 1884. The species occurs along the Pacific coast of North America, ranging from British Columbia south to Baja California. As a member of the Philonthina subtribe, it belongs to a group of predatory rove beetles commonly associated with coastal and riparian habitats.
Callirhytis quercussuttoni
Gouty Stem Gall Wasp
Callirhytis quercussuttoni is a gall wasp in the family Cynipidae that induces galls on stems of oaks in the red oak group (section Lobatae). The species is restricted to the west coast of North America, where it has been documented on coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) and interior live oak (Q. wislizeni). Its common name refers to the swollen, irregular galls it produces on host stems.
Camponotus hyatti
Camponotus hyatti is a species of carpenter ant in the family Formicidae. It is native to the Pacific coast of western North America, ranging from Oregon to the Baja California Peninsula. The species is distinguished by specific morphological features including five-toothed mandibles and a smooth, shiny clypeus. It nests in woody plants including sagebrush, Yucca, manzanita, and oak.
Cancer productus
Red Rock Crab, Pearl of the Pacific Northwest
A large, commercially harvested crab native to the eastern Pacific coast of North America. Adults display distinctive brick-red coloration with large pincers bearing black tips. The species inhabits intertidal to subtidal waters and is an opportunistic carnivore, feeding on barnacles, small crabs, and fish. It is subject to sport and commercial fisheries, particularly in California and Washington.
Capnia promota
Pacific Snowfly
Capnia promota is a species of small winter stonefly in the family Capniidae. It is commonly known as the Pacific Snowfly due to its distribution along the Pacific coast of North America. The species was described by Frison in 1937. Like other Capniidae, it is active during the winter months when most other insects are dormant.
Chionodes lophosella
Chionodes lophosella is a small gelechiid moth with a wingspan of approximately 12 mm, distributed along the Pacific coast of North America from Washington to California. The species is distinguished by distinctive raised scale tufts on the forewings and a conspicuous white costal spot. Larvae have been documented feeding on two lupine species, Lupinus chamissonis and Lupinus arboreus.
Cicindela bellissima
Pacific Coast Tiger Beetle
Cicindela bellissima, known as the Pacific Coast Tiger Beetle, is a species of flashy tiger beetle described by Leng in 1902. It belongs to the subfamily Cicindelinae within the ground beetle family Carabidae. The species is found in North America, with three recognized subspecies: C. b. bellissima, C. b. columbica, and C. b. frechini.
Cicindela hirticollis gravida
Pacific Hairy-necked Tiger Beetle
Cicindela hirticollis gravida is a subspecies of tiger beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by LeConte in 1851. As part of the C. hirticollis species complex, it shares the characteristic hairy neck and preference for wet sandy habitats near water bodies. The subspecies is distributed along Pacific coastal regions and associated river systems. Adults are active predators that hunt small arthropods, with larvae constructing burrows in sandy substrates.
Clepsis fucana
Clepsis fucana is a species of leafroller moth in the family Tortricidae, distributed along the Pacific coast of North America from British Columbia to California. The species is characterized by forewings measuring 6.4–10.6 mm in length. As a member of the genus Clepsis, it shares the typical tortricid resting posture with wings held roof-like over the body.
Clytus planifrons
Clytus planifrons is a long-horned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1874. The species occurs along the Pacific coast of North America, with records from California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. As a member of the Clytini tribe, it belongs to a group of beetles often characterized by wasp-mimicking coloration and patterns.
Copablepharon fuscum
sand-verbena moth
Copablepharon fuscum, commonly known as the sand-verbena moth, is a noctuid moth species restricted to sandy ocean beaches along the Pacific coast of North America. The species was described in 1996 by Troubridge and Crabo. Adults have a wingspan of 35–40 mm. The larvae are specialized feeders on Abronia latifolia (yellow sand-verbena), a coastal dune plant. The species has a very limited geographic range and is considered at risk due to habitat loss and degradation of coastal dune ecosystems.
Cymbiodyta pacifica
Cymbiodyta pacifica is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, first described by Leech in 1948. It is found in western North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada, and several western U.S. states including California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Like other members of its family, it is associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. The species is part of the subfamily Enochrinae, which contains many small to medium-sized hydrophilid beetles.
Dasymutilla coccineohirta
Dasymutilla coccineohirta is a species of velvet ant (family Mutillidae) native to western North America. Females are wingless and possess a potent sting, while males are winged. The species exhibits notable variation in female coloration, with setae ranging from red to white. First described by Charles Alfred Blake in 1871 from a California specimen, it was recently synonymized with Dasymutilla clytemnestra. The species can be distinguished from similar taxa by its smaller marginal wing cell and coarser body pilosity.
Dermacentor occidentalis
Pacific Coast tick
Dermacentor occidentalis, commonly known as the Pacific Coast tick, is a hard tick in the family Ixodidae native to western North America. Unfed adults measure approximately 4.5 mm in length with a distinctive silvery-gray exoskeleton. This species is a known vector of several human pathogens including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Pacific Coast tick fever, and tularemia, though it does not transmit Lyme disease. The tick exhibits a three-host life cycle, feeding on a wide range of mammalian, avian, and reptilian hosts throughout its development.
Diarsia esurialis
Diarsia esurialis is a noctuid moth species native to the Pacific coast of North America. It is abundant in wet coastal forests from Alaska through California. Adults fly in midsummer and have a wingspan of approximately 33 mm. The larvae feed on foliage of Corylus (hazelnut) and Alnus (alder).
Diplolepis californica
leafy bract gall wasp
Diplolepis californica is a cynipid gall wasp that induces distinctive club-shaped bud galls on wild roses (Rosa species) along the Pacific coast of North America. The species was originally described as Rhodites californicus by Beutenmüller in 1914 and later transferred to Diplolepis. Its galls are characterized by flat, leafy lobes projecting from the main gall body—structures that resemble aborted leaflets and distinguish this species from other rose gall wasps. Each gall contains multiple larval chambers, indicating communal development within a single gall structure.
Drasteria edwardsii
A moth in the family Erebidae found along the Pacific coast of North America from Washington through Oregon to California. Adults are active in late summer and fall, with bright coloration on the hindwings that is concealed at rest and flashed as a startle defense. The species is named in honor of Henry Edwards, a prominent 19th-century entomologist.
Dyslobus lecontei
A species of broad-nosed weevil in the family Curculionidae, described by Casey in 1895. It belongs to the tribe Byrsopagini within the subfamily Entiminae. The species is distributed along the Pacific coast of North America from British Columbia to California.
Elthusa californica
Elthusa californica is a marine parasitic isopod in the family Cymothoidae. It attaches to the gill chambers of fish hosts and feeds on blood and tissue. The species occurs along the Pacific coast from California to Peru. Originally described as Lironeca californica, it was later transferred to Elthusa following taxonomic revision.
Emerita analoga
Pacific sand crab, Pacific mole crab, coldwater mole crab
Emerita analoga is a small sand-burrowing decapod crustacean inhabiting exposed sandy beaches along temperate Pacific coasts of North and South America. The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism, with females nearly twice the size of males. It is a suspension feeder that captures plankton using specialized antennae extended into retreating waves. The species has been widely studied as an indicator organism for coastal pollution and harmful algal blooms.
Erannis vancouverensis
Vancouver Looper
Erannis vancouverensis is a geometrid moth occurring from northern British Columbia to central California. Larvae feed on young leaves of deciduous trees. Adults emerge during late autumn, with females being wingless. The species occasionally reaches infestation levels and is subject to natural population control through virus disease and tachinid fly parasitism.
Erynnis propertius
Propertius duskywing, Propertius Dusky-Wing
Erynnis propertius, commonly known as the Propertius duskywing, is a skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It occurs along the Pacific coast of North America from southern British Columbia to Baja California Norte and is one of the most frequently encountered skippers in California. The species has been studied at the northern edge of its range, where peripheral populations face habitat loss threats but may contribute to poleward range expansion under warming conditions.
Eucalantica polita
Eucalantica polita is a micro-moth in the family Yponomeutidae, first described by Walsingham in 1881. It represents one of the few Nearctic species in the genus Eucalantica, which is otherwise predominantly Neotropical in distribution. The species is restricted to Pacific coastal regions of western North America.
Eudonia commortalis
Eudonia commortalis is a species of moth in the family Crambidae, first described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1921. It is known from the Pacific coast of North America, ranging from Alaska southward through British Columbia, Washington, and California. Adults are active from spring through late summer, with flight records spanning April to September. The species belongs to the subfamily Scopariinae, a group of small moths commonly known as grass moths.
Eupithecia olivacea
A North American geometrid moth described by Taylor in 1906. The species is notable for its uniform olive-brown forewings and early spring flight period. Larvae are associated with coniferous trees including firs, spruces, and hemlocks, as well as hawthorn. The species has been documented as a nocturnal visitor to apple flowers, suggesting potential pollination activity.
Eurychilopterella pacifica
Eurychilopterella pacifica is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described in 1997. It occurs along the Pacific coast of North America from British Columbia to California. The species belongs to a genus of mirid bugs associated with coniferous vegetation.
Euxoa satiens
Euxoa satiens is a species of noctuid moth described by Smith in 1890. It occurs along the Pacific coast of North America from British Columbia south to California. The wingspan is approximately 34 mm. Like other members of the genus Euxoa, the larvae are likely cutworms that feed on vegetation, though specific life history details for this species remain poorly documented.
Feron parmula
Disc Gall Wasp
Feron parmula, the disc gall wasp, is a cynipid wasp that induces distinctive disc-shaped galls on oak species, particularly white oaks and their hybrids. The galls are small, pale structures with red streaking, reaching up to 3 mm in diameter. Adult females emerge in April. The species has been documented on the Pacific coast of North America.
Formica pacifica
Pacific Field Ant
Formica pacifica is a medium-sized ant species native to the Pacific Coast of North America, ranging from British Columbia to the western United States. It belongs to the Formica fusca species group, a diverse assemblage of morphologically similar ants. Colonies can reach several thousand workers and are known for their fast, aggressive worker behavior and territorial conflicts with neighboring colonies. The species thrives in both forested habitats and human-altered environments.
Gnorimosphaeroma oregonense
Oregon pill bug, Oregon pillbug
Gnorimosphaeroma oregonense is a small intertidal isopod crustacean commonly known as the Oregon pill bug. It inhabits tidal pools and intertidal zones along the Pacific coast from California to Alaska. The species has been documented at depths up to 24 meters.