Prairie
Guides
Acmaeodera princeps
Acmaeodera princeps is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species occurs in North America, with confirmed observations in Texas and New Mexico. Adults have been collected on flowers of Thelosperma filifolium (stiff greenthread) and are active in late spring to early summer. Like other Acmaeodera species, adults likely feed on pollen and are diurnal flower visitors.
Acmaeodera pulchella
Flat-headed Bald Cypress Sapwood Borer, Flat-headed Baldcypress Sapwood Beetle
Acmaeodera pulchella is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as the flat-headed bald cypress sapwood borer. The species is widely distributed across North America, with records from the United States and Canada including Manitoba and Ontario. It is associated with bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) based on its common name, though specific ecological relationships require further documentation. Adults are active during summer months and have been observed on flowers of herbaceous vegetation in prairie and open woodland habitats.
Acmaeodera scalaris
ladder buprestid
Acmaeodera scalaris, commonly known as the ladder buprestid, is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It occurs across Central America and North America. The species has been documented visiting flowers of various composite and other plant species, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Acrolophitus hirtipes
Green Fool Grasshopper, Plains Point-head Grasshopper, Crested-keel Grasshopper
Acrolophitus hirtipes is a slant-faced grasshopper in the family Acrididae, commonly known as the green fool grasshopper or plains point-head grasshopper. It is native to the grasslands of central North America, with documented occurrences in Colorado, North Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. The species is part of the tribe Acrolophitini, which is characterized by distinctive head morphology. It has been recorded in systematic surveys of western rangeland grasshoppers, indicating it is a regular component of prairie grasshopper communities.
Aeropedellus clavatus
Club-horned Grasshopper, Clubhorned Grasshopper, Slant-faced Grasshopper
Aeropedellus clavatus, commonly known as the club-horned grasshopper, is a medium-sized slant-faced grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is distinguished by its club-shaped antennae, with the last six segments enlarged and darker than the rest. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism: females are flightless with short wings, while males may have either short or long wings, with long-winged males capable of flight. It is one of the earliest-hatching grasshoppers in its range, emerging in early spring and completing development rapidly. Populations are most abundant in the Canadian prairies, where it is the most widely distributed grassland grasshopper species.
Aethes baloghi
A small tortricid moth of North American prairies. Adults are active from spring through late summer, with forewings measuring 4–6.8 mm. The species was described in 2002 and named for entomologist George J. Balogh.
Aethodelphax prairianus
Aethodelphax prairianus is the type species of the genus Aethodelphax, a group of delphacid planthoppers erected to accommodate this species and seven species transferred from Delphacodes. It inhabits native grasslands in the midwestern United States. The species was described in 2011 based on morphological characteristics distinguishing it from congeneric species.
Agrilaxia flavimana
Agrilaxia flavimana is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, distributed across Central America and North America. The genus Agrilaxia is one of several small genera of jewel beetles known to routinely visit flowers, though most Buprestidae are associated with woody vegetation. Observations suggest this species occurs in prairie and open habitats where its presumed floral hosts grow.
Amblycheila hoversoni
South Texas giant tiger beetle
Amblycheila hoversoni is a flightless, nocturnal tiger beetle first described in 1990 (published 1991). It holds the distinction of being the largest tiger beetle species in the Western Hemisphere. The species is endemic to south and west-central Texas, where it inhabits grassland and prairie habitats. Like other members of the genus Amblycheila, it exhibits a lumbering, deliberate gait rather than the rapid, jerky movement typical of most tiger beetles.
Amorpha
false indigo, false indigos, leadplant, desert false indigo, indigo bush
Amorpha is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae) native to North America, ranging from southern Canada through most of the United States to northern Mexico. The genus is distinguished by its unique floral morphology: unlike typical pea-family flowers with the standard wing and keel petal structure, Amorpha flowers possess only a single petal, giving the genus its Greek name meaning "deformed" or "without form." The approximately 15 species include shrubs and subshrubs occupying diverse habitats from prairies to riparian corridors, with some species serving as important larval host plants for specialized insects and others showing invasive tendencies outside their native ranges.
Anatrytone logan
Delaware Skipper
Anatrytone logan, commonly known as the Delaware skipper, is a North American grass skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It ranges from the southern Canadian Prairies and southern Ontario through the midwestern and eastern United States. The species exhibits sexual monomorphism in coloration, with both sexes displaying yellow-orange wings with black borders and dark brown venation. It is multivoltine in warmer regions and univoltine in northern areas, with larval development dependent on native grasses.
Andrena milwaukeensis
Milwaukee Mining Bee, Milwaukee Andrena
Andrena milwaukeensis is a solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae, native to North America. It is a ground-nesting species that has been documented as the primary host for the parasitic strepsipteran Stylops advarians in Saskatchewan, Canada. Research on this host-parasite relationship has revealed significant anatomical and behavioral impacts of parasitism on female bees.
Anicla exuberans
Exuberant Dart
Anicla exuberans is a noctuid moth known as the Exuberant Dart, first described by John Bernhardt Smith in 1898. It is characterized by a moderate wingspan of 37–41 mm and a univoltine life cycle with adults active during summer months. The species occupies dry interior habitats across western North America, ranging from central Mexico to the Canadian prairies.
Anicla tepperi
Black-girdled Dart
Anicla tepperi is a moth in the family Noctuidae, commonly known as the Black-girdled Dart. The species occurs in central North America, ranging from eastern Manitoba and the Alberta foothills south to southern Colorado. Adults have a wingspan of 36–40 mm and fly from June to July. The larvae feed on grasses in the family Poaceae.
Anisostena ariadne
Anisostena ariadne is a species of hispine leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Newman in 1841. Adults measure 4.6–5.3 mm in length and are characterized by black elytra with a purple iridescent hue. The species has been documented feeding on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). It is widely distributed across the eastern and central United States, with records from 18 states and the District of Columbia.
Anisostena kansana
Anisostena kansana is a small leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, specifically within the tortoise beetle subfamily Cassidinae. Adults measure 4.1–5.3 mm and display distinctive metallic coloration: the head and elytra are greenish-blue, while the pronotum is reddish-orange with a greenish-blue anterior area. The species is known from a limited geographic range in the central United States, with records from Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Oklahoma. It has been documented feeding on Tripsacum dactyloides (eastern gamagrass).
Anisostena texana
A small hispine leaf beetle in the subfamily Cassidinae, measuring 4.1-4.6 mm. Adults display distinctive metallic blue elytra and head contrasting with a reddish-orange pronotum. The species occurs in the south-central United States and Mexico, where adults have been collected from prairie vegetation.
Antistrophus
Antistrophus is a genus of gall wasps in the family Cynipidae containing approximately 10 species, all restricted to the Nearctic region. Species induce galls on herbaceous plants in four Asteraceae genera: Silphium, Lygodesmia, Chrysothamnus, and Microseris. The genus was first described by Benjamin Walsh in 1869. Some species exhibit complex chemical ecology, using host plant volatile monoterpenes as olfactory cues for mate location.
Antistrophus
An undescribed species in the genus Antistrophus, a group of cynipid gall wasps that induce distinctive galls on Asteraceae host plants. Members of this genus are typically monophagous, with each species associated with a single host plant species. The specific epithet reference to 'laciniatum' suggests association with Silphium laciniatum (compass plant), though this remains to be confirmed. The species has not been formally described in the scientific literature.
Antistrophus
rosinweed stem gall wasp
An undescribed species of cynipid gall wasp in the genus Antistrophus that induces distinctive stem-cluster galls on Silphium perfoliatum (cup plant). Like other Antistrophus species, it likely produces only female wasps through parthenogenesis, with adults emerging in fall to lay eggs in host plant stems. The galls provide shelter and food for developing larvae.
Antistrophus
undescribed Silphium flower gall wasp
An undescribed species of gall wasp in the genus Antistrophus that induces flower galls on Silphium species, particularly in tallgrass prairie ecosystems. The wasp manipulates plant tissue to form protective galls that house developing larvae. This species represents part of a complex of Antistrophus wasps specialized on Silphium host plants, with distinct species targeting stems versus flowers.
Antistrophus laciniatus
Antistrophus laciniatus is a gall wasp in the family Cynipidae that induces stem galls on Silphium integrifolium (wholeleaf rosinweed), a prairie plant in the Asteraceae. The species was described by Gillette in 1891 and is one of several Antistrophus species associated with Silphium hosts. New host plant and distribution records have been documented in recent years.
Antistrophus rufus
Antistrophus rufus is a gall wasp in the family Cynipidae that induces galls in flowering stems of prairie perennials in the genus Silphium. It is part of the A. rufus species complex, which was revised from three to five species based on morphological, ecological, and DNA barcode data. The species exhibits a unique chemical ecology: males and females use host plant volatiles as olfactory cues for mate location and host selection. Gall induction alters monoterpene enantiomer ratios in host stems, creating species-specific chemical signals.
Apamea burgessi ona
A subspecies of cutworm moth in the family Noctuidae, distributed in the North American Great Plains. The nominate subspecies Apamea burgessi burgessi occurs in the eastern portion of the range, while A. burgessi ona occupies more western localities. Like other members of the genus Apamea, it is nocturnal and attracted to light sources. The species complex presents identification challenges due to individual variation and overlapping morphological traits with related taxa.
Apantesis blakei
Blake's Tiger Moth
Apantesis blakei, commonly known as Blake's Tiger Moth, is a species of tiger moth in the family Erebidae. First described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1864, this species was formerly classified under the genus Grammia but was transferred to Apantesis along with related genera. It is native to the North American Great Plains and southern prairie provinces of Canada, where its larvae feed on a documented range of grass and sedge species.
Apantesis favorita
A tiger moth species in the family Erebidae, described by Berthold Neumoegen in 1890. This species was formerly placed in the genus Grammia but was transferred to Apantesis along with related tiger moth genera. It has a restricted distribution in the Great Plains sand dune ecosystems and exhibits a narrow adult flight period in late spring. The species is notable for its specialized habitat association with prairie sand dunes, a rare ecosystem type in North America.
Apantesis obliterata
Steppe Tiger Moth
Apantesis obliterata is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, originally described from North America in 1885. It exhibits a transcontinental distribution spanning northern Eurasia and North America, with populations in Russia, Mongolia, and the Canadian prairie provinces. The species inhabits grassland ecosystems and is active in late summer and early autumn. It was transferred from the genus Grammia to Apantesis as part of a broader taxonomic reorganization of tiger moths.
Argenna obesa
Plump Dictynid Spider
Argenna obesa is a small spider in the family Dictynidae, described by Emerton in 1911. It is known from prairie and grassland regions of central North America. The species is characterized by a notably plump, rounded abdomen that distinguishes it from related dictynid spiders. Records indicate it occurs in the Canadian prairies and north-central United States. Very little is known of its biology or ecological role.
Ataenius robustus
saline prairie scarab beetle
Ataenius robustus, commonly known as the saline prairie scarab beetle, is a species of aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is native to North America, with recorded occurrences across the central United States. The species belongs to a diverse genus of small scarab beetles, many of which are associated with dung and decomposing organic matter.
Atalopedes
Sachems and Allies
Atalopedes is a genus of skipper butterflies (family Hesperiidae) containing approximately seven species distributed across North and South America. The genus includes notable species such as Atalopedes campestris (sachem skipper), which has been extensively studied for its response to climate change, and Atalopedes huron (Huron skipper). Species within this genus are associated with grassland and prairie habitats, where adults frequently visit flowers for nectar. The genus was described by Scudder in 1872.
Ataxia
Ataxia is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Pteropliini) described by Haldeman in 1847. Species in this genus are found in the Americas and are associated with herbaceous plants, particularly members of the Asteraceae family. The genus includes species such as Ataxia hubbardi, which breeds in living tissues of plants including Helianthus, Ambrosia, and Silphium species. Some populations show morphological variation associated with specific host plants.
Atomosia glabrata
Ringed Micropanther
Atomosia glabrata is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, commonly known as the Ringed Micropanther. It is found in the United States and shows a strong ecological association with recently burned prairie habitat. Like other robber flies, it is a predatory insect that captures prey in flight.
Atrytonopsis hianna
dusted skipper
Atrytonopsis hianna, commonly known as the dusted skipper, is a small butterfly in the family Hesperiidae native to North America. Adults have a wingspan of 32–43 mm and exhibit distinct seasonal patterns across their range, with single generations in northern populations and two generations in southern regions. The species is closely associated with prairie and grassland habitats where its larval host plants, big bluestem and little bluestem, occur.
Auridius safra
Auridius safra is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, described from the western United States in 1999. The species is characterized by yellow coloration and pronounced sexual dimorphism in both color and wing form. It inhabits shortgrass prairie ecosystems and exhibits wing polymorphism with both fully-winged (macropterous) and short-winged (brachypterous) individuals.
Balboa ampliata
dirt-colored seed bug
Balboa ampliata is a species of dirt-colored seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae. It is a relatively large member of this family, with adults reaching conspicuous size. The species has been documented feeding on plant seeds and is attracted to lights at night. It occurs in prairie and foothill habitats in western North America, with records from Colorado and surrounding regions.
Beameria
Aridland Cicadas
Beameria is a genus of small cicadas in the family Cicadidae, comprising at least three described species. Members are among the smallest cicadas in North America, with body lengths around 16 mm. The genus is associated with prairie habitats and has been documented producing high-frequency calling songs. Beameria was established by Davis in 1934.
Beameria venosa
Aridland Cicada
Beameria venosa is one of the smallest cicada species in North America, with a body length of approximately 16 mm. It is a prairie obligate species distributed across the Great Plains from Nebraska and Colorado south to Texas and New Mexico, with additional records from Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, and Arizona. The species produces a high-frequency calling song that is audible to humans but appears to function as a predator avoidance mechanism by being inaudible to birds and lizards. It is listed as vulnerable in Missouri due to its dependence on restricted prairie habitats.
Blapstinus pratensis
Blapstinus pratensis is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, first described by LeConte in 1859. The species is recorded from western North America, with distribution records from Alberta, Canada and Mexico. Like other members of the genus Blapstinus, it is a ground-dwelling beetle typically found in grassland and prairie habitats. The specific epithet "pratensis" refers to meadows or grasslands, suggesting an association with prairie ecosystems.
Bombus fraternus
Southern Plains bumblebee
Bombus fraternus, commonly called the Southern Plains bumblebee, is a large bumblebee species native to the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. It is classified in the subgenus Cullumanobombus and is currently listed as endangered, with estimated abundance below 15% of historical numbers. The species is distinguished by its mostly black coloration with yellow thoracic and abdominal bands and unusually flattened abdominal hairs.
Bombus nevadensis
Nevada bumble bee, Nevada bumblebee
Bombus nevadensis, the Nevada bumble bee, is a North American bumble bee species distinguished by its long proboscis and distinctive coloration. Queens and workers have entirely black heads, while males display yellow on the face and top of the head. The species inhabits open habitats from Alaska to California and east to Wisconsin, with populations extending into Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. It nests underground and forages on a variety of flowering plants.
Brachystola
grassland lubbers
Brachystola is a genus of large, flightless grassland lubber grasshoppers in the family Romaleidae, distributed across the western United States and Mexico. Members are among the largest grasshoppers in North America, with robust bodies, short non-functional wings, and striking coloration. The genus includes six recognized species, with Brachystola magna (plains lubber grasshopper) being the most studied due to its use in early genetic research and its status as an occasional agricultural pest.
Bruchomorpha beameri
A small planthopper in the family Caliscelidae, described by Doering in 1940. The species belongs to the genus Bruchomorpha, a group of diminutive fulgoroid planthoppers found in western North America. Records indicate occurrence in grassland and prairie habitats across the western United States and into Canada.
Calliopsis andreniformis
Eastern Miner Bee
Calliopsis andreniformis, commonly known as the eastern miner bee, is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Andrenidae. It is native to North America and has been documented as a specialist pollinator of plants in the family Fabaceae. The species belongs to a genus of small mining bees that typically nest in sandy or bare soils. Like other members of Andrenidae, females construct individual burrows and provision cells with pollen and nectar for their offspring.
Calliopsis coloradensis
Colorado Calliopsis Bee
A small mining bee in the family Andrenidae, native to western North America. Females are solitary ground-nesters that provision burrows with pollen and nectar for their offspring. Males are often observed flying low over nesting aggregations in search of mates. The species is associated with sandy soils in prairie and open habitats.
Calliopsis zebrata
Streaked Miner Bee
Calliopsis zebrata, commonly known as the streaked miner bee, is a ground-nesting solitary bee in the family Andrenidae. It is notable among Calliopsis species for having relatively large males. The species inhabits sandy soils in plains and prairie environments and has been documented visiting flowers of White Prairie Clover (Dalea candida). It is found in North America, with observations from Colorado and other regions.
Callirhytis quercusmodesta
Callirhytis quercusmodesta is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. The species induces galls on oaks (Quercus spp.) as part of its life cycle. Like other members of the genus Callirhytis, it exhibits heterogony, with alternating sexual and asexual generations that produce morphologically distinct galls. The species is known from the central United States.
Callophrys gryneus loki
Juniper Hairstreak, Olive Hairstreak
Callophrys gryneus loki is a subspecies of juniper hairstreak butterfly historically recognized from parts of the central and southern United States. The name is currently treated as a synonym in GBIF, with specimens reclassified under the nominate form Callophrys gryneus. These butterflies are associated with juniper and cedar host plants. Adults have been observed nectaring on milkweeds and other flowering plants in prairie and open woodland habitats. The taxon represents part of a complex of similar hairstreaks whose taxonomy remains under revision.
Calosoma lepidum
neat beautiful black searcher
Calosoma lepidum is a ground beetle in the subfamily Carabinae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1844. Adults are sub-brachypterous, indicating reduced flight capability. The species inhabits open prairie habitats with short grass in the northern Great Plains and adjacent montane regions.
Calosoma luxatum
dislocated beautiful black searcher
Calosoma luxatum, commonly known as the dislocated beautiful black searcher, is a large ground beetle in the family Carabidae. Adults are brachypterous, meaning they have reduced wings and are flightless. The species is distributed across western and central North America, from the Canadian prairies through the western United States. It inhabits open short grass prairies and dry forest clearings, where it hunts as an active predator.
Calosoma moniliatum
collared beautiful black searcher
Calosoma moniliatum, commonly known as the collared beautiful black searcher, is a large predatory ground beetle in the family Carabidae. Adults are brachypterous (short-winged and flightless). The species occurs in western North America, inhabiting short grass prairies and dry forests.