Poorly-known
Guides
Acacesia
Acacesia is a genus of orb-weaver spiders (family Araneidae) containing six species with predominantly neotropical distribution. The genus was established by Eugène Simon in 1895. Most species are known only from museum specimens, with A. hamata being the only species documented in the United States and the only one with substantial natural history information available. Close relatives include the genera Ocrepeira and Cyclosa.
Acantholyda floridana
Acantholyda floridana is a species of sawfly in the family Pamphiliidae. The genus Acantholyda comprises web-spinning sawflies whose larvae construct silken webs on host plants. This species is endemic to Florida, with records from the northern and central portions of the peninsula. Adults are active in spring and early summer. Larval biology and specific host associations for this species remain poorly documented.
Acanthopteroctetidae
archaic sun moths
Acanthopteroctetidae is a small family of primitive moths containing two genera and seven described species. Commonly known as archaic sun moths, they are diurnal and often exhibit iridescent coloration. The family has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with molecular evidence now placing it in the superfamily Neopseustoidea rather than as the sole family in Acanthopteroctetoidea. Biological data remain scarce, with larval stages documented for only one species.
Acmaeodera carlota
Acmaeodera carlota is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by H.C. Fall in 1931 from specimens collected near Globe, Arizona. It belongs to the 'tubulus-species group' within the genus, characterized by small size (<8 mm), black coloration with confused yellow maculations on the elytra, and membership in the 'Truncatae' group (prosternal margin nearly straight). The species is poorly known due to limited collection records and inadequate original description, making identification difficult without comparison to determined specimens.
Acmaeodera comata
Acmaeodera comata is a species of jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) in the genus Acmaeodera, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1858. It belongs to the Nearctic fauna and is one of approximately 790 species and subspecies of Buprestidae recognized in North America. The species is part of the Acmaeodera (s. str.) subgenus and is included in the 'Truncatae' group, characterized by a nearly straight prosternal margin that is not retracted from the sides. Like other members of this large and taxonomically challenging genus, A. comata is poorly known biologically and lacks modern taxonomic revision.
Acneus beeri
Beer's false water penny beetle
Acneus beeri is a species of aquatic beetle in the family Psephenidae, known from a single female specimen collected east of Cascadia, Oregon in July 1940. The species belongs to the false water penny beetles, a group characterized by their flattened, oval body form adapted for clinging to submerged surfaces in flowing water. No additional specimens have been reported in the more than 80 years since its original description, making it one of the most poorly known North American beetle species.
Acomini
Acomini is a tribe of scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) established by Evans & Smith in 2020. The tribe is known from limited observations, with iNaturalist documenting only 10 records. As a recently described taxonomic group, its constituent genera and species remain poorly documented in public sources.
Acuclavella
thorn harvestmen
Acuclavella is a genus of small arachnids commonly known as thorn harvestmen, established by Shear in 1986. The genus comprises approximately seven described species restricted to the Pacific Northwest region of North America. These harvestmen belong to the family Ischyropsalididae and are characterized by distinctive morphological features that distinguish them from related genera. The genus is relatively poorly known, with few observations and limited ecological data available.
Adelothyreus
Adelothyreus is a genus of false click beetles (family Eucnemidae) established by Horn in 1890. The genus is rarely encountered, with only two observations documented on iNaturalist. Members of Eucnemidae are characterized by their inability to produce the clicking sound typical of true click beetles (Elateridae), despite superficial similarities in body form. The genus Adelothyreus appears to be poorly represented in collections and literature.
Aethecerus parvus
Aethecerus parvus is a species of ichneumonid wasp described by Provancher in 1875. It belongs to the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of wasps, whose members are primarily parasitoids of other insects. The genus Aethecerus is part of the superfamily Ichneumonoidea. Available records for this species are extremely limited, with only one observation documented in iNaturalist.
Agathilla
Agathilla is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, established by Westwood in 1882. It belongs to the diverse superfamily Ichneumonoidea, which contains thousands of species that parasitize other insects. Members of this genus are small to medium-sized wasps with the characteristic slender body and long antennae typical of ichneumonids. The genus is rarely encountered and poorly documented in scientific literature.
Agelenopsis spatula
funnel weaver spider
Agelenopsis spatula is a species of funnel weaver spider in the family Agelenidae, first described in 1935 by Ralph Vary Chamberlin and Wilton Ivie. It is known only from the United States. As a member of the genus Agelenopsis, it shares the characteristic funnel-web building behavior and elongated spinnerets typical of this group.
Aglenus brunneus
Aglenus brunneus is a small beetle in the family Salpingidae, originally described by Gyllenhal in 1813 as Hypophloeus brunneus. It belongs to the order Coleoptera and is distributed in the Azores, with confirmed presence on Faial Island. The species is poorly documented in scientific literature, with limited ecological and biological information available.
Agnyphantes
Agnyphantes is a genus of dwarf spiders (family Linyphiidae) containing only two species: A. arboreus and A. expunctus. The genus was established by J. E. Hull in 1932. These spiders belong to the sheet-web weaving spiders, though specific details about their biology remain poorly documented.
Agrilus abjectus
Agrilus abjectus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by George Henry Horn in 1891. The species is native to North America. Like other members of the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, it is presumed to be associated with woody plants, though specific host associations and biological details remain undocumented. The species is rarely encountered and poorly known compared to more widespread congeners.
Agrilus frosti
Agrilus frosti is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Knull in 1920. It is found in North America, with documented occurrences in Canada (Manitoba, Nova Scotia) and the United States. The species is poorly known and rarely collected; in Missouri, only two specimens have been documented—one beaten from post oak at Lichen Glade Natural Area and another captured in a malaise trap in central Missouri.
Aguayomiris
Aguayomiris is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, established by Maldonado Caprilles in 1987. As a member of the subfamily Bryocorinae (tribe Dicyphini or related group), it belongs to a lineage of mirids often associated with mosses, liverworts, or other cryptogamic vegetation. The genus is endemic to Puerto Rico, reflecting the island's distinctive Caribbean fauna. Very few species have been described, and the group remains poorly known biologically.
Allantus basalis
Caledonian Spindler
Allantus basalis is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae. The species was originally described as Tenthredo basalis by Klug in 1818. It is known from parts of Europe and Canada, with records from Norway, Sweden, and eastern Canadian provinces including Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Sawflies in this genus are herbivorous, with larvae typically feeding on plant foliage.
Allaporus smithianus
Allaporus smithianus is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. It was described by Cameron in 1893. The genus Allaporus is a small, poorly documented group within the spider wasps, and A. smithianus remains extremely rare in collections and observations. No verified biological observations of this species have been published.
Alloblackburneus cynomysi
Alloblackburneus cynomysi is a small scarab beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, described from the south-central United States. The species epithet "cynomysi" references its association with prairie dogs (genus Cynomys), indicating a commensal or symbiotic relationship with these burrowing rodents. Members of this genus are generally dung beetles, and this species likely exploits the unique ecological niche provided by prairie dog colonies. The species remains poorly studied, with most records limited to historical collections.
Allosirocalus
Allosirocalus is a genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae, described by E. Colonnelli in 1983. The genus is part of the diverse weevil superfamily Curculionoidea and is placed within the subfamily Ceutorhynchinae based on morphological affinities. Very few observations of this genus exist in public databases, with only 9 records on iNaturalist as of the source data. The genus appears to be poorly studied, with limited published information on its biology and ecology.
Alpheias
Alpheias is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Galleriinae. The genus was established by Émile Louis Ragonot in 1891 and contains species found in North America and the Caribbean. Members are small to medium-sized moths with the characteristic snout-like labial palps typical of pyralid moths. The genus is relatively poorly documented compared to many other pyralid genera.
Amannus
Amannus is a small genus of longhorn beetles (family Cerambycidae) in the tribe Trachyderini. The genus contains three recognized species: Amannus atriplicis (Texas), A. pectoralis, and A. vittiger. Amannus atriplicis has been documented developing as larvae in living branches of Atriplex canescens (fourwinged saltbush), with adults emerging from pupal cells within the host plant tissue. The genus is poorly studied, with limited information available on most species.
Amara flebilis
Amara flebilis is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, first described by Casey in 1918. It belongs to the large genus Amara, which contains numerous species of small to medium-sized carabid beetles commonly found in North America. The species name 'flebilis' (Latin for 'lamentable' or 'mournful') may allude to its appearance or the circumstances of its discovery.
Amauromyza pleuralis
Amauromyza pleuralis is a species of leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae. It is native to North America and has been recorded in the United States and Canada. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with herbaceous host plants, though specific host associations for this species remain poorly documented. The species was described by Malloch in 1914 based on specimens from Vermont.
Ammosphex anomalus
Ammosphex anomalus is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, originally described by Dreisbach in 1950 as Pompilus anomalus anomalus. The species was later transferred to the genus Ammosphex. It is part of the aculeate wasp group within Hymenoptera. Very limited biological information is available for this species, with only a single observation recorded in iNaturalist and minimal published literature. The genus Ammosphex contains species that are generally associated with hunting spiders as prey for their larvae, consistent with the biology of Pompilidae.
Amphicyrta dentipes
Amphicyrta dentipes is a species of pill beetle in the family Byrrhidae. It belongs to a genus of small, compact beetles adapted to moist habitats. The species epithet "dentipes" refers to toothed feet, a characteristic feature of this group. Very little specific information has been published about this particular species.
Amydria brevipennella
Amydria brevipennella is a small moth in the family Tineidae (formerly placed in Acrolophidae), described by Dietz in 1905. It is known from scattered records in the eastern United States. The species is rarely encountered and poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Anania tennesseensis
Anania tennesseensis is a moth in the family Crambidae, described by Yang in 2012. It is known from a single U.S. state, Tennessee. As a recently described species with limited documentation, its biology, ecology, and precise distribution remain poorly characterized. It belongs to a genus of small moths commonly known as pyralids or snout moths.
Anaquedius
Anaquedius is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the tribe Staphylinini, established by Thomas L. Casey in 1915. It belongs to the subtribe Acylophorina. The genus is rarely encountered in collections and literature, with limited published information on its species. Based on its tribal placement, members likely share characteristics with other Staphylinini, though specific diagnostic features remain poorly documented.
Ancylandrena koebelei
Ancylandrena koebelei is a solitary bee species in the family Andrenidae, originally described as Megandrena koebelei by Timberlake in 1951. It is currently placed in the genus Ancylandrena, a group of mining bees found in North America. The species is poorly known in the literature, with limited published information on its biology and ecology.
Anoplochares apicata
Anoplochares apicata is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae. The genus Anoplochares is endemic to New Zealand, and this species represents one of several described members of this genus. Like other tenebrionids, it is adapted to arid or semi-arid environments and exhibits nocturnal habits. The species has been documented in the scientific literature but remains poorly known in terms of detailed biology.
Anthrax larrea
Anthrax larrea is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, described by Marston in 1963. It is recorded from the United States. As a member of the genus Anthrax, it likely shares the general biology of related species, which are parasitoids of various insect larvae, though specific host associations for this species remain undocumented.
Apantesis bolanderi
Apantesis bolanderi is a small tiger moth in the family Erebidae, originally described from Mount Shasta, California in 1872. It was formerly classified in the genus Grammia but was transferred to Apantesis along with related genera. The species is known from a single locality and remains poorly documented, with no confirmed observations in major biodiversity databases.
Apatochernes
Pseudoscorpion
Apatochernes is a genus of pseudoscorpions in the subfamily Chernetinae, family Chernetidae. It was described by Beier in 1948. The genus has only three observations on iNaturalist, indicating limited public occurrence data.
Arachnospila scelestus
Arachnospila scelestus is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. The species was originally described as Pompilus scelestus by Cresson in 1865 and later transferred to the genus Arachnospila. As with other members of this family, it is presumed to be a solitary wasp that hunts spiders to provision nests for its offspring, though specific natural history details for this species remain poorly documented. The species is currently treated as a synonym in some taxonomic databases, reflecting ongoing revisions within the genus.
Aridia
Aridia is a genus of planthoppers in the family Dictyopharidae, first described by Ball & Hartzell in 1922. Members of this genus belong to the subfamily Orgeriinae and tribe Orgeriini, placing them among the more derived dictyopharid planthoppers. The genus is part of the diverse Fulgoroidea superfamily, which contains many economically significant plant-feeding insects. Specific species-level information remains poorly documented in accessible literature.
Arthromacra pilosella
A species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, subfamily Lagriinae. The genus Arthromacra is a small group of lagriine beetles distributed in North America. Very little published information exists regarding the biology, ecology, or even precise distribution of A. pilosella. The species name 'pilosella' (Latin diminutive of 'pilosus', meaning hairy) likely refers to a fine pubescence on the body surface. Based on the few available specimen records, the species appears to be associated with forested or woodland habitats in eastern North America.
Asthenolabus canadensis
Asthenolabus canadensis is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Cresson in 1877. The genus Asthenolabus is poorly documented in the literature, with minimal published information on its biology, host associations, or distribution. The species epithet 'canadensis' suggests a North American distribution. Available records are sparse, with limited observational data from Canada.
Athoplastus rainieri
Athoplastus rainieri is a click beetle (family Elateridae) endemic to the Cascade Range of Washington State. Originally described by Van Dyke in 1932, it was transferred to the genus Athoplastus by Etzler & Johnson in 2018. The species is known from very few specimens and remains poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Athysanella nielsoni
Athysanella nielsoni is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, described by Blocker in 1990. The genus Athysanella belongs to the tribe Athysanini within the subfamily Deltocephalinae, a diverse group of small, plant-feeding insects. This species is known from limited collection records in Idaho.
Attalus frosti
Attalus frosti is a species of soft-winged flower beetle in the family Melyridae. The species is known from very few specimens in Missouri, with records from Lichen Glade Natural Area in St. Clair County and a single specimen collected in a malaise trap in central Missouri. It is associated with post oak (Quercus stellata) in dry sandstone woodland habitats. The species appears to be rare and poorly known, with no records since the original collections.
Bactericera arbolensis
Bactericera arbolensis is a small psyllid species first described from Arboles, Colorado in 1910. It is associated with Shepherdia species (buffaloberry), particularly Silver Buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea) and Canadian Buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis). The species is poorly known, with few literature records from Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado. A 2014 observation from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado suggested potential wing morphology variation or possible undescribed related species, highlighting the need for further study.
Barytarbes
Barytarbes is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Förster in 1869. The genus contains species of parasitoid wasps, though specific details about their biology remain poorly documented. Records indicate presence in Scandinavia. The genus is rarely encountered and has received limited study.
Beameromyia disfascia
White-sided Pixie
Beameromyia disfascia is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, first described by Martin in 1957. It belongs to the genus Beameromyia, a group of small, often brightly colored robber flies commonly known as 'pixies.' The species is known from very few observations, with only three records documented on iNaturalist. As with other Asilidae, it is presumed to be a predatory fly, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Bembidion flohri
Bembidion flohri is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Henry Walter Bates in 1878. It is a small, winged beetle distributed across North America, with records from Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Like other members of the genus Bembidion, it is a ground-dwelling predator. Specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Bombylius albicapillus
White-headed Bee Fly
Bombylius albicapillus is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, occurring in western North America. As a member of the tribe Bombyliini, it shares the characteristic bee-mimicking appearance common to this group. The species name "albicapillus" (white-headed) refers to a distinctive pale coloration on the head. Like other Bombylius species, adults are likely active in spring and associated with flowers, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Brachycorynus hirsutus
Bristly Fungus Weevil
Brachycorynus hirsutus is a small fungus weevil in the family Anthribidae, characterized by its bristly body covering. The species was described by Valentine in 1998 and is known from North America. Like other members of the genus, it likely feeds on fungal growths on decaying wood, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species is rarely encountered and has only been recorded from a handful of observations.
Brachyopa daeckei
black-tailed sapeater
Brachyopa daeckei is a rare syrphid fly known from northeastern North America. Adults measure 6–7 mm and exhibit distinctive coloration including a black frons with grayish pollen, ferruginous red antennae, and a reddish-brown to black abdomen with white pile. The species is poorly known, with only two observations recorded and larvae undescribed.
Bucculatrix separabilis
Bucculatrix separabilis is a species of moth in the family Bucculatricidae, described by Annette Frances Braun in 1963. It is known only from California, where it has been recorded as a leaf miner on Baccharis pilularis. As a member of the genus Bucculatrix, it is part of a group commonly known as 'ribbed cocoon-maker moths' due to the distinctive ribbed structure of their larval cocoons. The species is poorly documented in scientific literature beyond its original description.