Palaearctic
Guides
Pristiphora geniculata
mountain ash sawfly, rowan leaf sawfly, Ebereschen-Blattwespe
Pristiphora geniculata is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae, native to the Palaearctic region and introduced to North America. It is a specialized herbivore of Sorbus species, particularly mountain ash (rowan). The species exhibits facultative parthenogenesis and shows pronounced sexual dimorphism in larval development, with females having five instars compared to four in males. In eastern Canada, it typically produces two generations annually, though only one in northern Quebec and at higher elevations in Europe. The species has been the target of successful classical biological control programs using the parasitoid wasp Olesicampe geniculatae.
Promalactis
A genus of small moths in the family Oecophoridae, established by Edward Meyrick in 1908. The genus comprises approximately 179 valid species with highest diversity in China (101 species). Members are characterized by distinctive genitalia morphology and metallic head coloration. Larvae have been reported feeding on decaying wood and bark of conifers and other trees.
Protaxymyia
Protaxymyia is a genus of flies in the family Axymyiidae, established by Mamaev and Krivosheina in 1966. This genus belongs to a small, relictual family of Diptera whose members are associated with decaying wood and fungal habitats. Species within Protaxymyia are poorly known, with limited published biological information available.
Protoptilinae
Protoptilinae is the most diverse subfamily of Glossosomatidae, the saddle- or tortoise-case-making caddisflies. The subfamily contains 18 genera with a strikingly disjunct global distribution: five genera occur in the East Palaearctic and Oriental regions, while the remaining thirteen genera are restricted to the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Members construct portable cases from mineral or plant material. The subfamily has undergone extensive taxonomic revision based on adult morphology and molecular phylogenetics, resulting in several new synonymies and refined generic diagnoses.
Protosmia
Protosmia is a genus of solitary bees in the family Megachilidae, tribe Osmiini, containing over 30 described species. The genus includes several subgenera, notably Chelostomopsis and Nanosmia. Species within the subgenus Chelostomopsis are broad pollen generalists that nest in preexisting cavities in dead wood or pine cones, using pure resin to construct nest partitions. The genus has a primarily Palaearctic distribution with some species extending into the Nearctic region.
Psammodius pierottii
A small scarab beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, described from the Mediterranean region in 1979. The species belongs to a genus of sand-dwelling beetles typically associated with sandy substrates. It has been introduced to North America, with established populations in Quebec, Canada.
Pseudodineura
Pseudodineura is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae. The genus contains approximately eight described species distributed across Europe and North America. Larvae of all species are leaf-miners in plants of the family Ranunculaceae. Some species are difficult to distinguish based on morphological characters alone, though each species appears to have a distinct COI barcode sequence.
Pseudolathra
Pseudolathra is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Paederinae) established by Casey in 1905. The genus comprises approximately 13 species in the East Palaearctic and Oriental regions, with six species described in 2012 from Thailand, India, Pakistan, and Nepal. Species are currently divided between two subgenera: Allolathra for East Palaearctic/Oriental species and Pseudolathra for West Palaearctic species, reflecting separate phylogenetic lineages. The genus has undergone recent taxonomic revision including species revalidations, synonymies, and transfers from related genera.
Pyrrhocoris
firebugs, cotton stainers
Pyrrhocoris is a genus of true bugs in the family Pyrrhocoridae, commonly known as firebugs or cotton stainers. The genus contains approximately eight described species, with Pyrrhocoris apterus (the firebug) being the most extensively studied. Species in this genus are primarily distributed across the Palaearctic realm, with some records from North America and East Asia. The genus is notable for its gregarious behavior and has served as an important model organism in studies of insect behavioral ecology, developmental plasticity, and wing polymorphism.
Rhysothorax rufus
Rhysothorax rufus is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aegialiinae. It has been recorded across the Palaearctic and Nearctic regions, with documented occurrences in Europe from Belgium to Russia, and in North America from Canada through the northern United States. The species was described by Fabricius in 1792. Available records indicate broad geographic distribution but limited observational data.
Rhyssemus puncticollis
Rhyssemus puncticollis is a small dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Brown in 1929. The species has been recorded from both the Palaearctic region (central and eastern Europe) and the Nearctic region (Ontario, Canada), indicating a transatlantic distribution. It belongs to the tribe Psammodiini, which typically includes species associated with sandy or psammophilous habitats. The specific epithet 'puncticollis' refers to punctation on the pronotum.
Ropalopus
Ropalopus is a genus of long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae: Callidiini) comprising approximately 20 species distributed across Eurasia, with one species (R. sanguinicollis) occurring in northeastern North America. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revision, particularly the R. ungaricus/insubricus species group in the western Palaearctic, where elevation has been identified as a key factor in species delimitation alongside geographic barriers.
Rosenus abiskoensis
Rosenus abiskoensis is a leafhopper species described by Lindberg in 1926 from the genus Rosenus within the family Cicadellidae. It is currently treated as a synonym of Rosenus laciniatus. The species is known from high-latitude and high-altitude localities across northern Eurasia and Alaska, suggesting an association with cold-climate habitats.
Saetheria
Saetheria is a genus of non-biting midges in the family Chironomidae, established by Jackson in 1977. It belongs to the subfamily Chironominae and is distributed across the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions, including Europe and the Russian Far East. The genus comprises at least four described species. Taxonomic revisions have provided detailed morphological descriptions of adult males, pupae, and larvae for multiple species.
Scaeva
Scaeva is a genus of hoverflies (family Syrphidae) comprising approximately seven described species distributed across the Palaearctic region. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revision alongside related genera Simosyrphus and Ischiodon. Adults are pollinators, while larvae are predominantly aphidophagous predators. Scaeva pyrastri has been extensively studied for its biological control potential against agricultural aphid pests.
Scenopinus
window flies
Scenopinus is a genus of small flies in the family Scenopinidae, commonly known as window flies. Species are typically dark-colored with clear wings and are associated with bird nests, buildings, and forest habitats. Larvae are predatory, feeding on other arthropods including moth and flea larvae. The genus occurs across the Palaearctic region, with records from Europe and boreal forest zones.
Schizophilus
Schizophilus is a genus of false click beetles (family Eucnemidae) established by Bonvouloir in 1871. It is the type genus of the subfamily Schizophilinae, a small group within the Elateroidea superfamily. The genus contains relatively few described species and remains poorly known in terms of biology and ecology. Specimens are rarely collected, contributing to limited understanding of their natural history.
Schizotus
fire-colored beetles
Schizotus is a genus of fire-colored beetles in the family Pyrochroidae, established by Newman in 1838. The genus contains at least three described species distributed across the Palaearctic region. Adults are small beetles, 7–9 mm in length, with distinctive pectinate (comb-like) antennae. Members are associated with dead and decaying wood, where larvae develop beneath loose bark.
Sciaphilus
Sciaphilus is a genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Entiminae, tribe Sciaphilini. The genus contains at least two described species: Sciaphilus asperatus and S. costulatus. Species are distributed across Europe, Northern America, and parts of Asia. The best-studied species, S. asperatus, is wingless, parthenogenetic, and polyphagous.
Sphenoptera
A large genus of jewel beetles (Buprestidae) comprising over 1,000 described species. Species occupy diverse ecological niches including stem borers, gall formers, and root borers across multiple continents. Several species are economically significant as pests of agricultural crops, forestry trees, and medicinal plants, while others have been investigated for biological control of invasive weeds.
Stenichnus
Stenichnus is a genus of minute rove beetles in the subfamily Scydmaeninae, characterized by distinctive larval morphology with complex chaetotaxy (setal patterns). The genus is distributed across the Palaearctic region with some Nearctic representatives. Larvae have been studied through shed skins and rearing to adults, revealing significant morphological variation between species that complicates homology assessments.
Stenometopiini
Stenometopiini is a tribe of leafhoppers in the subfamily Deltocephalinae (family Cicadellidae), first established by Baker in 1923. The tribe includes the genus Stirellus, which has been described as grassland-dwelling leafhoppers with a broad geographic distribution spanning multiple continents. Species within this tribe have been documented from the Americas, Africa, Madagascar, Australia, and Asia, with recent taxonomic work expanding known diversity and distributional records.
Sunius
Sunius is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Paederinae) in the Palaearctic region, currently comprising approximately 138 described species and two subspecies. The genus exhibits notable diversity in Turkey, where 25 species have been documented. Multiple species are micropterous (wingless) and appear to be locally endemic, particularly in Anatolia. Taxonomic revisions continue to expand the known fauna, with recent descriptions from Turkey, Iran, and Iraq.
Suragina
Water Snipe Flies
Suragina is a genus of flies in the family Athericidae, commonly known as Water Snipe Flies. The genus is widely distributed across the Afrotropical, Oriental, and Palaearctic regions, with approximately 50 described species. Afrotropical species were recently revised, with eight new species described and two synonymies established. The genus is characterized by distinctive morphological features that separate it from related athericid genera.
Swammerdamella
Swammerdamella is a genus of minute black scavenger flies in the family Scatopsidae (Diptera). The genus was established by Enderlein in 1912 and is distributed across the western Palaearctic, with records from Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, Sweden) and recent first records from Mexico. The genus includes at least one newly described species, S. grogani, from southeastern Mexico.
Sylvicola
wood gnats, window gnats, window midges, window flies
Sylvicola is a genus of wood gnats in the family Anisopodidae containing over 80 described species. The genus is widely distributed across the western Palaearctic, with some species introduced to North America and oceanic islands. Adults are active year-round in temperate regions and are frequently observed indoors near windows, earning them the common name 'window gnats.' The most thoroughly documented species, S. cinctus, serves as a representative for understanding genus-level traits.
Symbiocladius
Symbiocladius is a genus of non-biting midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) in the subfamily Orthocladiinae. Species in this genus are obligate ectoparasites of mayfly nymphs (Ephemeroptera), attaching to first instar hosts to feed on haemolymph and associated tissues. The genus is known from the Palaearctic region, with records across Central and Eastern Europe. Symbiocladius rhithrogenae is the most studied species, documented to prevent host moulting and potentially cause sterility or death.
Sympycnus
Sympycnus is a genus of long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae) established by Loew in 1857. Species occur across Europe and the East Palaearctic, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Taxonomic revision has resolved substantial confusion in European species, particularly consolidating multiple synonyms under S. pulicarius and describing S. septentrionalis as a distinct northern species.
Synema
Synema is a genus of crab spiders (Thomisidae) with a wide distribution across most parts of the world. The genus includes species with high morphological variability, as demonstrated by integrative studies combining molecular and morphological data. Some species, such as S. globosum, exhibit deep mitochondrial divergence without corresponding nuclear or morphological differentiation, complicating species delimitation. Members of this genus are typically found in leaf-dwelling habitats and exhibit ballooning behavior as juveniles, which contributes to their broad geographic range.
Syntormon
Syntormon is a genus of long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae) comprising approximately 110 species worldwide, with over half described from the Palaearctic realm. The genus is distinguished by a unique antennal structure where the pedicel bears a thumb-shaped projection inserting into the postpedicel. First described by Loew in 1857, the genus includes two recognized subgenera: Syntormon and Drymonoeca. Recent work has expanded known distributions to include Inner Mongolia, China.
Teratocoris
Teratocoris is a genus of plant bugs (family Miridae) first described by Fieber in 1858. Species occur in the Palaearctic and Nearctic biogeographic realms. The genus includes at least eleven described species, with Teratocoris antennatus designated as the type species. These mirid bugs are associated with wetland and grassland habitats.
Ticrania
Ticrania is a genus of planthoppers in the family Dictyopharidae, described by Emeljanov in 2006. It belongs to the tribe Orgeriini, a group of flightless, often subterranean planthoppers with fossorial (burrowing) forelegs. Members of this genus are poorly known and likely inhabit sandy or loose soil environments associated with plant roots.
Tipula carinifrons
Tipula carinifrons is a species of crane fly in the family Tipulidae, described by Holmgren in 1883. The species belongs to the large genus Tipula, which contains hundreds of species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. Crane flies in this genus are characterized by their elongated bodies and extremely long, fragile legs. Like other tipulids, the larvae likely develop in moist soil or decaying organic matter, though specific details for this species remain poorly documented.
Tipula triplex
Tipula triplex is a species of crane fly in the family Tipulidae, first described by Francis Walker in 1848. It belongs to the large and diverse genus Tipula, which contains over 2,000 species worldwide. Like other crane flies, it is characterized by its elongated legs and slender body form. The species is part of the Palaearctic fauna, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain limited in available literature.
Trigoniophthalmus
Trigoniophthalmus is a genus of jumping bristletails in the family Machilidae, order Archaeognatha. The genus was erected by Verhoeff in 1910 and contains approximately 11-14 described species distributed across the Palaearctic region. Taxonomic revision in 2019 established two subgenera: Trigoniophthalmus s. str. and Silvestrius subgen. nov. Species within this genus are distinguished by morphological features of the compound eyes, ocelli, and ovipositor structure.
Trixoscelis
Trixoscelis is a genus of small to minute flies in the family Heleomyzidae. The genus contains approximately 94 species and is widely distributed across the Palaearctic region. These flies are primarily associated with warm, semi-arid environments including sand dunes, dry grasslands, and shrubby habitats. They belong to the subfamily Trixoscelidinae, which is named for this genus.
Ulidiini
picture-winged flies
Ulidiini is a tribe of picture-winged flies in the family Ulidiidae, comprising three genera and approximately 100 species. Members are small, mostly black and brown, and inhabit arid and sub-arid regions of the Palaearctic. The tribe was established in 1835 with Ulidia as its type genus.
Urophora
thistle gall flies, gall flies
Urophora is a genus of tephritid flies distributed across the Palaearctic Region, with species exhibiting close associations with Asteraceae plants. Larvae of many species induce galls on stems or other plant parts of thistles and related plants. The genus includes at least 13 species in Karaman Province, Türkiye alone, with new species continuing to be documented. Urophora cardui, a well-studied species, forms multi-chambered stem galls on Cirsium spp. and serves as host for multiple parasitoid wasps.
Xanthogramma
Harlequin Flies
Xanthogramma is a genus of medium-sized hoverflies (Syrphidae) commonly known as harlequin flies. Most species exhibit black and yellow coloration with somewhat wasp-like appearance. Larvae are aphidophagous predators, feeding on aphid populations in agricultural and natural ecosystems. Adults visit flowers but do not share the predatory habits of larvae. The genus occurs across the Palaearctic region including Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
Xanthorhoe
Xanthorhoe is a genus of carpet moths in the family Geometridae, subfamily Larentiinae. The genus was established by Jacob Hübner in 1825 and contains numerous species distributed across the northern Palaearctic region. Several species are widespread and common, while others have restricted endemic distributions. The genus is characterized by distinctive wing patterns with bands or lines, and larvae are typically associated with herbaceous plants. Some species have experienced population declines, including Xanthorhoe bulbulata in New Zealand, which is feared possibly extinct.
Xanthorhoe decoloraria
Red Carpet
Xanthorhoe decoloraria, commonly known as the red carpet, is a small geometrid moth described by Eugenius Johann Christoph Esper in 1806. The species exhibits considerable wing pattern variation and is distributed across northern Europe, Asia, and North America, with southern populations restricted to mountainous regions. Adults are active during mid-summer, and larvae feed on Alchemilla species.
Xenarcha
Xenarcha is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the subfamily Exothecinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). The genus was established by Förster in 1863. Taxonomic revisions have synonymized the names Pseudophanomeris and Shawiana with Xenarcha, treating them as subgenera. The Palaearctic fauna includes 28 known species. Recent taxonomic work from the Korean Peninsula has described additional species and clarified subgeneric classification.