Pantropical
Guides
Alloscopus
Alloscopus is a springtail genus in the family Orchesellidae, recorded chiefly from tropical regions. Its species occupy varied moist settings, from forest soil and litter to caves and the forest canopy. A combination of antennal segmentation, a postantennal sensory organ, and spines on the furcula’s dens helps identify the genus. Thai species include both eyeless forms and species with pigmented eye patches.
Anatrachyntis rileyi
pink cornworm, pink bud moth, pink scavenger, Pink Scavenger Caterpillar Moth
A small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, described from the southern United States in 1882 but likely introduced to North America from elsewhere. It has established populations across warm and tropical regions worldwide, including the Americas, Pacific islands, and parts of Africa and Asia. The species is known by multiple common names reflecting its association with corn and its scavenging habits.
Archeocrypticidae
cryptic fungus beetles, Ancient Fungus Beetle
Archeocrypticidae is a small family of beetles comprising approximately 10 genera and 50 species worldwide. Commonly referred to as cryptic fungus beetles, members of this family are saprophagous, with adults and larvae typically found in plant litter and associated with fungal substrates. The family exhibits a predominantly pantropical distribution, with notable diversity in Australia and relative absence from temperate Palearctic and Nearctic regions.
Artema atlanta
giant daddy-long-legs spider, Giant Cellar Spider
Artema atlanta is a large cellar spider and the largest known pholcid, with a body length of 8–11 mm. It has a pantropical distribution and has been introduced to temperate regions including North America and Europe. The species is commonly known as the giant daddy-long-legs spider. It constructs tangled webs in dark, sheltered locations and exhibits characteristic pholcid behavior of rapid, vibrating movement when disturbed.
Atteva
ermine moths, ailanthus webworms
Atteva is the sole genus in the family Attevidae, a group of small to medium-sized moths within the superfamily Yponomeutoidea. The genus has a pantropical distribution with approximately 70 described species. Most species occur in tropical regions of the Americas, Asia, and Oceania, though Atteva aurea has expanded into temperate North America following the introduction of its host plant, Ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven). Adults are often strikingly patterned in orange, black, and white, and several species are diurnal nectar feeders rather than nocturnal.
Batrachideinae
groundhoppers, pygmy grasshoppers
Batrachideinae is a taxonomically stable subfamily of pygmy grasshoppers (Tetrigidae) characterized by antennae with 18–22 segments, distinguishing them from other Tetrigidae which have fewer than 16. The subfamily comprises approximately 25 genera in three tribes with pantropical distribution across the Americas, Africa, tropical Asia, and Australia. It is particularly diverse in the Neotropical region, where the genus Scaria exhibits complex biogeographic patterns linked to Amazonian diversification and Andean uplift.
Caryedon serratus
Groundnut Bruchid, Groundnut Borer
Caryedon serratus is a bruchid beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, commonly known as the groundnut bruchid or groundnut borer. It is a major pest of stored groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea) and also develops on seeds of wild legumes such as Piliostigma thonningii. The species has a broad pantropical and subtropical distribution spanning Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania. Its life cycle is strongly influenced by temperature and humidity, with development rates varying significantly across environmental conditions.
Cerataphis orchidearum
Fringed Orchid Aphid
Cerataphis orchidearum is an aphid species in the family Aphididae, commonly known as the fringed orchid aphid. It has been recorded on orchid hosts (Orchidaceae) and on Daemonorops lewisiana, a rattan palm. The species has been observed in association with yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes), which tend the aphids. Its distribution spans multiple continents, including Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania.
Corethrella
frog-biting midges
Corethrella is the sole genus in the family Corethrellidae, comprising 132 extant and 10 fossil species. These midges are unique among Diptera in using acoustic cues to locate hosts. Adult females are hematophagous and feed on frog blood, while larvae are aquatic predators. The genus has a predominantly pantropical distribution with fossil records extending to the Lower Cretaceous.
Cosmopterix attenuatella
Cosmopterix attenuatella is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, first described by Francis Walker in 1864. It exhibits an exceptionally broad geographic distribution spanning tropical and subtropical regions across both the Old and New World. The species is notable for its leaf-mining larvae that feed on grasses and sedges. Adults are diminutive, with a wingspan of approximately 9 mm.
Crossopriza lyoni
Tailed Cellar Spider, Tailed Daddy Longlegs Spider, Box Spider
Crossopriza lyoni is a cosmopolitan cellar spider (Pholcidae) characterized by extremely long, fragile legs and a distinctive box-shaped abdomen. Females reach 3–7 mm in body length, males 2.5–6 mm, with leg spans up to 6 cm. The species is synanthropic, thriving in human dwellings worldwide, particularly in tropical to subtropical regions. It constructs extensive, irregular cobweb-like webs and is often regarded as both a household pest and beneficial predator of mosquitoes and other arthropods. Native range unknown; now pantropical through human-mediated introduction.
Ctenostylidae
Ctenostylidae is a small and rarely collected family of flies in the order Diptera. Fewer than 20 described species are placed in seven genera, and the family has a pantropical distribution. Its members are notable for lacking ocelli and functional mouthparts, while their antennal aristae can have two or more branches. The family's higher placement has been debated, so it is best treated as a distinctive lineage whose relationships remain an active taxonomic question.
Dysodia
Window-winged moths
Dysodia is a pantropical genus of moths in the family Thyrididae, described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1860. The genus is found on all continents except Australia and contains approximately 30 species. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to lights. Larvae are leaf-rollers that use silk to tie leaves of host plants.
Epipleminae
Scoopwing Moths, Epiplemiine Moths
Epipleminae is the largest and most diverse subfamily of the family Uraniidae (Lepidoptera), comprising over 600 species in approximately 70 genera. These small, drab-colored nocturnal moths are distinguished by several unique morphological and behavioral traits, including a sexually dimorphic tympanal organ with structural details unlike any other lepidopteran group. The subfamily exhibits a primarily pantropical distribution with limited extension into temperate regions. Historically, Epipleminae were frequently misclassified within Geometridae or Drepanidae due to superficial phenetic similarities.
Franklinothrips
Franklinothrips is a pantropical genus of predatory thrips in the family Aeolothripidae, comprising 14 recognized species. The genus is distinguished by striking ant-mimicry, particularly in females, which exhibit fast-running behavior and body forms resembling ants or bethylid wasps. Most species are bisexual with localized distributions, though F. vespiformis is notably unisexual and widespread. Several species have been developed as biological control agents against pest thrips in greenhouses and agricultural systems.
Franklinothrips vespiformis
Vespiform Thrips, Vespiform Thrip
Franklinothrips vespiformis is a predatory thrips species in the family Aeolothripidae, notable for its ant-mimicking adult morphology and distinctive red, humped-back larvae. It is widely distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide and has been extensively studied as a biological control agent for various agricultural and greenhouse pests. The species exhibits myrmecomorphy—mimicking ants in appearance and fast, erratic movement behavior—which likely serves as a defense against predation. It is primarily parthenogenetic, with males being rare.
Garella nilotica
Black-olive Caterpillar Moth, Bungee Caterpillar
A small moth of the family Nolidae with a pantropical distribution spanning North America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Pacific islands. The species is known for its larvae, which feed on a broad range of woody plants across at least five plant families. First described by Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer in 1881, it has become established in numerous regions through human-mediated transport or natural dispersal.
Gibbium aequinoctiale
smooth spider beetle
Gibbium aequinoctiale, commonly known as the smooth spider beetle, is a small beetle in the family Ptinidae (subfamily Ptininae). It has a pantropical distribution spanning the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, and parts of Asia. The species feeds primarily on dead organic materials and is frequently associated with stored products and warm, humid environments. It is morphologically similar to G. psylloides, from which it can be distinguished by pronotal shape and elytral punctation.
Hemipeplus
Hemipeplus is a genus of beetles in the family Mycteridae, subfamily Hemipeplinae. The genus contains 57 described species distributed across pantropical regions. Species are primarily mycophagous, feeding on fungi. The genus has been subject to recent taxonomic revision, with numerous new species described in 2025.
Hercinothrips femoralis
Banded Greenhouse Thrips
Hercinothrips femoralis is a pantropical thrips species and significant agricultural pest known as the banded greenhouse thrips. It infests a wide range of crops including bananas, cotton, pineapple, sugar beet, sugar cane, and ornamentals, causing characteristic silver streaking and discoloration of leaf tissue through its piercing-sucking feeding. The species exhibits remarkable phenotypic plasticity with a "phenotype explosion" phenomenon—multiple color morphs and forms that facilitate successful colonization of new regions. Under laboratory conditions at 25°C, it completes development from egg to adult in approximately 21 days with high fecundity (averaging 133 offspring per female), enabling rapid population growth in greenhouses.
Heteropoda
Giant Huntsman Spiders
Heteropoda is a genus of huntsman spiders (family Sparassidae) comprising approximately 189 species, primarily distributed across tropical Asia and Australia. The genus includes some of the largest living spiders, with H. maxima reaching legspans up to 30 cm. H. venatoria, the pantropical huntsman spider, has achieved cosmopolitan distribution through human transport and is frequently encountered in international cargo, particularly banana shipments.
Holocompsa
*Holocompsa* Burmeister, 1838 is a cockroach genus in Corydiidae; a 2023 synopsis treated 12 described species across the Americas, Asia, and Africa. The genus is recognized by forewings whose basal half is hardened and leathery while the apical half is membranous. Its species include both cave-associated and above-ground records. The two groups described in the American revision differ in forewing coloration, from black-and-yellow patterns to uniform metallic tones.
Hypsopygia nostralis
southern hayworm moth, southern hayworm
Hypsopygia nostralis, the southern hayworm moth, is a snout moth species described by Achille Guenée in 1854. It is notable for its exceptionally wide distribution spanning multiple continents and oceanic islands. The species belongs to the family Pyralidae, a large group of small to medium-sized moths often characterized by their elongated labial palps that form a snout-like projection.
Immidae
Immidae is a family of moths in the lepidopteran superfamily Immoidea. The family is the only family currently placed in that superfamily. Published overview material describes about 250 species in ten genera, although counts can vary as classifications and species inventories are revised. The group is pantropical, and many members are reported to be brightly coloured and active during the day.
Leucauge
Orchard Spiders, Orchard Orbweavers, Long-jawed Orb Weavers
Leucauge is a genus of long-jawed orb-weaving spiders in the family Tetragnathidae, comprising over 170 species with pantropical distribution. The genus was established by Adam White in 1841 based on a specimen collected by Charles Darwin. Leucauge spiders are characterized by their distinctive silver, black, yellow, and green coloration, horizontal or slanted orb webs, and two rows of long, slender curved hairs on the femurs of the fourth leg. The genus underwent significant taxonomic revision in 2010 to resolve historical confusion surrounding the type species.
Lymexyloidea
ship-timber beetles
Lymexyloidea is a superfamily of beetles containing the single family Lymexylidae, commonly known as ship-timber beetles. These beetles are characterized by highly reduced elytra that expose the elongated abdomen and leave hind wings uncovered. The superfamily has a pantropical distribution with records from Africa, Central America, South America, and other regions. Members of this group have historically been considered among the most primitive beetles due to their simple morphology, though current phylogenetic analyses place them within or near the Tenebrionoidea. The oldest known fossil is a primitive Atractocerus from 100 million-year-old Burmese amber, earning the group the moniker 'living fossils.'
Macrodiplax
Coastal Pennants
Macrodiplax is a genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae, commonly known as Coastal Pennants. The genus contains only two species and is distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, with the notable exception of Africa. Members of this genus are characterized by their coastal habitat preferences and distinctive wing markings.
Maruca vitrata
legume pod borer, maruca pod borer, bean pod borer, soybean pod borer, mung moth, spotted pod borer
Maruca vitrata is a pantropical moth and major agricultural pest of leguminous crops, particularly affecting cowpea, pigeon pea, mung bean, and soybean. Larvae feed on flower buds, flowers, and young pods, causing yield losses of 20–80% in susceptible cowpea varieties. The species has low genetic differentiation across its range due to high gene flow, with populations in India showing evidence of recent demographic expansion. It serves as host for several parasitoid wasps (Braconidae, Ichneumonidae) and flies (Tachinidae) that provide biological control.
Megalorhipida leucodactylus
Spiderling Plume Moth
A pantropical plume moth recognized by its distinctive split-wing morphology and white to pale coloration. Adults are frequently encountered in warm regions worldwide, including the Galápagos Islands, Australia, Brazil, and the Arabian Peninsula. The species is one of the most widely distributed members of the Pterophoridae family. It is commonly known as the Spiderling Plume Moth.
Melittomma
Melittomma is a genus of ship-timber beetles (family Lymexylidae) comprising approximately 20 described species distributed pantropically. The genus is notable for larvae that bore into hardwoods and palm stems, with some species forming symbiotic associations with ambrosia fungi. Melittomma insulare is a serious pest of coconut palms in the Seychelles and Madagascar, causing structural damage that can lead to tree collapse. Adult females deposit fungal spores in a sticky matrix with their eggs, and larvae carry spores into wood on their bodies.
Micropholcus
cellar spiders
Micropholcus is a genus of cellar spiders (Pholcidae) characterized by long legs and relatively fragile bodies. It is one of only two pholcid genera with both Old and New World distributions, though morphological and ecological differences exist between geographic groups. The genus currently contains at least 29 species, with major taxonomic revisions in 2014 (transfers from Leptopholcus) and 2024 (description of twelve new Old World species). The type species M. fauroti has a pantropical distribution and has been introduced globally.
Micropholcus fauroti
cellar spider
Micropholcus fauroti is a cellar spider (family Pholcidae) with a pantropical distribution. The species has been introduced to Europe, with established records in Belgium and Germany. Approximately 87% of global records fall between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. It is a small-bodied spider associated with human-modified environments in its introduced range.
Modisimus culicinus
cellar spider
Modisimus culicinus is a cellar spider (family Pholcidae) native to South America that has become established across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide through human-mediated dispersal. It is considered a pantropical, synanthropic species strongly associated with human structures. The species was previously classified under the genus Hedypsilus, which has been synonymized with Modisimus.
Oligoneuriidae
Brushlegged Mayflies, Brushleg Mayflies
Oligoneuriidae is a family of mayflies characterized by specialized filtering structures on their nymphs' forelegs, earning them the common name "brushlegged mayflies." The family exhibits a pantropical distribution with at least 68 described species across over a dozen genera, including both extant and extinct lineages from the Cretaceous period. Nymphs possess two rows of setae on the forelegs used for filter feeding and tufts of gills at the base of their maxillae. The family has been documented from freshwater habitats across Africa, South America, the Mediterranean region, and the Middle East, with some species showing extended multiyear life cycles.
Ozarba
Ozarba is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Acontiinae, established by Francis Walker in 1865. The genus contains over 200 described species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, with particularly high diversity in sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and parts of Asia. Species exhibit considerable variation in wing pattern and coloration, though many share characteristic forewing markings. The genus has been subject to extensive taxonomic revision, particularly by Hacker and colleagues in the 2010s.
Philoponella
Philoponella is a genus of uloborid spiders characterized by the absence of venom glands, a trait shared by all members of family Uloboridae. These spiders are obligate web-dwellers that capture prey using silk rather than venom. The genus exhibits notable behavioral diversity, including both solitary and social species, with some demonstrating cooperative prey capture. Philoponella species are primarily pantropical in distribution.
Plusiodonta
Plusiodonta is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Calpinae, erected by Achille Guenée in 1852. The genus comprises approximately 40 described species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World and the Americas. Adults are characterized by distinctive wing morphology with angled outer margins and specialized scaling patterns. Larvae possess two pairs of abdominal prolegs, a trait that distinguishes them from many other moth larvae.
Pseudocaecilius citricola
false lizard barklouse, citrus barklouse
Pseudocaecilius citricola is a species of false lizard barklouse in the family Pseudocaeciliidae. It constructs silken webs on leaf surfaces and deposits egg-batches within these protective structures. The species has a remarkably broad pantropical and subtropical distribution spanning Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania, with records from over 30 countries and island groups. It has been documented on host plants including mango (Mangifera indica) and Cordia collococca in Jamaica.
Pseudoponera stigma
Pantropical Wolf Ant
A pantropical ant species in the subfamily Ponerinae, commonly known as the Pantropical Wolf Ant. The species has been documented across tropical regions including South America and parts of the United States, with 42 iNaturalist observations supporting its broad distribution. It belongs to a genus of ground-dwelling ants characterized by solitary foraging behavior and predatory habits.
Rhomphaea projiciens
Rhomphaea projiciens is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, first described by O. Pickard-Cambridge in 1896. It exhibits a broad native range across the Americas, from the United States south to Argentina, and has established introduced populations in India. The species belongs to a genus characterized by unusual body proportions and modified legs. Records indicate presence across multiple Brazilian states and other South American countries.
Sogatella kolophon
Sogatella kolophon is a delphacid planthopper species with a broad pantropical and subtropical distribution spanning Africa, Australia, the Caribbean, Central America, North America, Oceania, South America, and Southern Asia. It is a documented vector of at least two significant plant viruses: Digitaria striate virus (a rhabdovirus) and pangola stunt virus (a fijivirus), both affecting pasture grasses in the genus Digitaria and related grasses. The species has three recognized subspecies: S. k. atlantica, S. k. kolophon, and S. k. meridiana. Immature stages have been described, though detailed biological information remains limited in accessible literature.
Sphenarches
Sphenarches is a genus of plume moths in the family Pterophoridae. Species are distributed across pantropical regions, with records from Japan and southern Canada. The genus includes at least eight described species, with Sphenarches anisodactylus being the most studied. Host plant associations have been documented for several species.
Stegasta
rednecked peanutworm moths
Stegasta is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, established by Edward Meyrick in 1904. The genus contains approximately 15 described species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The best-known species, Stegasta bosqueella (rednecked peanutworm), is a significant agricultural pest of peanut crops in South and Central America. Larvae of this species feed within closed leaflets, causing characteristic symmetrical damage patterns. Other species in the genus appear to be associated with various host plants, though detailed biology remains poorly documented for most.
Stenochiinae
Stenochiinae is a subfamily of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) comprising over 390 genera. It is divided into three tribes: Cnodalonini, Stenochiini, and Talanini. The subfamily has a mainly pantropical distribution with some species extending to higher latitudes. Recent phylogenetic studies suggest that tribal classifications within Stenochiinae may require systematic rearrangement, as morphological characters shared between Stenochiini and Cnodalonini complicate their separation.
Stenosini
darkling beetles
Stenosini is a tribe of darkling beetles (family Tenebrionidae, subfamily Pimeliinae) containing over 40 genera. Members are generally small-bodied and have a pantropical distribution. The tribe is characterized by specific morphological features including non-divided eyes and distinctive antennal proportions. Some species are associated with ants, rodent nests, and soil.
Thyridoidea
Picture-winged Leaf Moths, Window-winged Moths
Thyridoidea is a superfamily of Lepidoptera containing a single family, Thyrididae, commonly known as picture-winged or window-winged moths. These moths are distinguished by distinctive translucent, square or rectangular spots on their wings that create a 'window' effect. The group is predominantly pantropical in distribution, with approximately 760 described species worldwide and over 400 additional species awaiting description. Only about 12 species occur in North America.
Thyris
window-winged moths
Thyris is a genus of window-winged moths in the family Thyrididae, characterized by distinctive square or rectangular translucent spots in their wings that give the group its common name. These small, often diurnal moths are primarily pantropical in distribution, with approximately 12 species known from North America among over 760 species worldwide. The genus includes species such as Thyris maculata, which ranges widely across North America from Ontario to Georgia, Texas, and west to Colorado, Idaho, and Montana. Adults typically fly between March and October, with peak activity in May through July.
Willowsia
Willowsia is a genus of slender springtails in the family Entomobryidae, containing approximately six described species. The genus exhibits a pantropical to cosmopolitan distribution, with notable diversity in Asia and multiple species present in the Americas. Some species, particularly W. nigromaculata, are among the most abundant and widely distributed springtails in the northern hemisphere. Phylogenetic studies indicate that Willowsia is polyphyletic, with some species showing closer relationships to other entomobryine taxa. The genus includes both native New World endemics and potentially introduced populations.