Perching-behavior
Guides
Amphiagrion
Red Damsels
Amphiagrion is a genus of small damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae, endemic to North America. The genus contains two recognized species: Amphiagrion abbreviatum (western red damsel) and Amphiagrion saucium (eastern red damsel). Males exhibit bright red coloration with black markings; females are duller. The genus is notable for its association with geothermal springs and specific perching site requirements.
Bombus griseocollis
brown-belted bumblebee, brown-belted bumble bee
Bombus griseocollis is a widespread North American bumblebee species commonly known as the brown-belted bumblebee. It is notable for its flexible habitat use, occurring in both natural and heavily urbanized environments including densely populated cities. The species maintains stable populations across much of its range, in contrast to many declining North American bumblebees. It exhibits primitively eusocial colony organization with temporal division of labor among workers.
Bombus rufocinctus
red-belted bumblebee
Bombus rufocinctus, commonly known as the red-belted bumblebee, is a North American bumble bee species characterized by striking color polymorphism in abdominal patterning. Queens measure 16-18 mm, workers 11-12 mm, and males 12-13 mm. The species inhabits wooded areas, urban parks, and gardens across Canada and the western, midwestern, and northeastern United States. Males exhibit perching behavior and possess cephalic labial glands that secrete complex chemical mixtures likely involved in mating signaling. Nests are typically constructed on or above ground level.
Brachymesia
Tropical Pennants
Brachymesia is a genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae, commonly known as tropical pennants. The genus contains multiple species distributed across the Americas, with B. gravida restricted to the United States and other species occurring throughout South America, the West Indies, and southern USA states. One species, B. herbida, has been studied in insular populations where it exhibits distinct behavioral patterns compared to sympatric libellulids.
Canthidium
Canthidium is a genus of small dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, containing at least 170 described species. Species in this genus are primarily neotropical and exhibit a characteristic "sit and wait" foraging strategy, perching on leaves to detect dung through chemoreception. They are classified as tunnelers, constructing burrows beneath dung deposits. Their small body size (often under 10 mm) influences their foraging ecology and resource partitioning strategies within diverse dung beetle communities.
Canthidium macclevei
Canthidium macclevei is a small dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Kohlmann and Solis in 2006. The genus Canthidium comprises small-bodied tunnelers, with most species measuring under 10 mm. Members of this genus are known to employ "sit and wait" perching behavior as a foraging strategy.
Canthon
tumblebugs, dung rollers
Canthon is a genus of ball-rolling dung beetles (telocoprids) commonly known as tumblebugs, distributed across the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Adults are known for their distinctive behavior of forming dung balls and rolling them away from source material for feeding or nesting. The genus exhibits notable behavioral diversity, with some species employing 'sit and wait' perching strategies to detect dung through chemoreception, while others actively follow animals. Several species show color polymorphism that may be linked to thermal adaptation and elevational distribution.
Celithemis elisa
Calico Pennant
Celithemis elisa, commonly known as the calico pennant, is a dragonfly species in the family Libellulidae native to eastern North America. Adults are small to medium-sized (24–34 mm body length) with distinctive brown spots at the wing bases and tips. The species inhabits calm freshwater bodies with emergent vegetation and exhibits spatial partitioning of perching microhabitats when co-occurring with congeners.
Eudioctria albius
Eudioctria albius is a small robber fly species in the family Asilidae, measuring approximately 6–8 mm in length. It is one of four Eudioctria species occurring in eastern North America, with the genus being primarily western in distribution. The species belongs to the subfamily Stenopogoninae and is among the tiniest North American robber flies.
Eudioctria disjuncta
A small robber fly in the subfamily Stenopogoninae, measuring 6–8 mm in length. One of the tiniest North American robber flies, superficially resembling Cerotainia species but distinguished by shorter antennae and behavioral perching preferences. The genus Eudioctria is primarily western in distribution, with E. disjuncta being one of four eastern species.
Eudioctria nitida
Eudioctria nitida is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, subfamily Stenopogoninae. It is one of the smallest North American robber flies, measuring approximately 6–8 mm in length. The genus Eudioctria contains 14 species, with most distributed in the western United States; four species (including E. nitida) extend into eastern North America. Species identification within the genus requires examination of facial gibbosities and pollinosity patterns.
Eudioctria propinqua
Eudioctria propinqua is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, subfamily Stenopogoninae. It is among the smallest North American robber flies, measuring approximately 6–8 mm in length. The species occurs in eastern North America and is one of four Eudioctria species found in the eastern United States.
Eudioctria sackeni
Eudioctria sackeni is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, subfamily Stenopogoninae. The genus Eudioctria comprises among the smallest North American robber flies, measuring only 6–8 mm in length. Species in this genus superficially resemble Cerotainia (subfamily Laphriinae) but lack the extra-long antennae. Eudioctria is primarily a western U.S. genus, though four of its 14 species occur in eastern states.
Stenopogoninae
robber flies
Stenopogoninae is a subfamily of robber flies (Asilidae) containing more than 70 genera and approximately 740 described species. Members are predatory dipterans found across diverse habitats worldwide. The subfamily includes notably small species such as those in the genus Eudioctria (6–8 mm), as well as larger forms. Many species exhibit characteristic perching behaviors on vegetation and are active predators of other insects.
Stylurus
Hanging Clubtails
Stylurus is a genus of dragonflies in the family Gomphidae, commonly known as hanging clubtails. The genus was established by Needham in 1897 and contains approximately 35 species distributed across North America and Asia. Members are distinguished by their characteristic perching behavior of hanging nearly vertically from vegetation. The genus has undergone taxonomic revision, with some species previously assigned to Stylurus now recognized as belonging to other genera such as Fukienogomphus. Nymphs of the Stylurus group were historically classified within the genus Gomphus before being recognized as a distinct lineage.
Tachypompilus ferrugineus ferrugineus
Rusty Spider Wasp, Spider Wasp
Tachypompilus ferrugineus ferrugineus is a large, solitary spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. Adults are characterized by rusty-orange coloration and are active primarily in late summer. Females hunt and paralyze large spiders, particularly wolf spiders (Lycosidae), as provisions for their larvae. The species exhibits distinctive male perching behavior at prominent vertical structures such as cemetery monuments, where males compete for access to females. This subspecies is native to eastern North America.