Prairie-fauna
Guides
Aethodelphax sagittatus
Aethodelphax sagittatus is a species of planthopper in the family Delphacidae, originally described as Delphacodes sagittatus by Beamer in 1947 and later transferred to the new genus Aethodelphax in 2011. This small insect belongs to a group of delphacid planthoppers associated with native grasslands in the midwestern and southeastern United States. The species name 'sagittatus' refers to an arrow-like shape, likely describing a morphological feature of the species. Like other members of its genus, it inhabits prairie and grassland ecosystems.
Apotomis deceptana
Deceptive Apotomis
Apotomis deceptana is a small tortricid moth in the subfamily Olethreutinae, known from the Canadian prairie provinces. The species was described by Kearfott in 1905. Adults are active during summer months. Larval biology remains poorly documented, though congeners often feed on woody Rosaceae.
Cryptocephalus triundulatus
Third-wave Cryptocephalus
Cryptocephalus triundulatus is a case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by R. White in 1968. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with herbaceous vegetation and has been collected by sweeping plants in prairie and sand prairie habitats.
Euxoa castanea
Euxoa castanea is a moth species in the family Noctuidae described by J. Donald Lafontaine in 1981. It is found in western North America, with a wingspan of 35–38 mm. Adults are active from July to August, with one generation per year. The species belongs to a large genus of cutworm moths, many of which are agricultural pests.
Habronattus
Paradise Jumping Spiders
Habronattus is a genus of jumping spiders (Salticidae) comprising approximately 105 recognized species as of 2023. The genus is primarily native to North America, with highest diversity in the southwestern United States, though some species extend into Central America and above the Arctic Circle. Males are renowned for elaborate courtship displays combining visual signals—using modified third legs with spurs, colored scales, and dense hair brushes—with complex vibratory (acoustic) signals transmitted through the substrate. These multimodal displays have been described as among the most elaborate of any terrestrial invertebrate. Females are typically cryptic in coloration, while males exhibit bright, species-specific ornamentation.
Hystrichophora ochreicostana
Hystrichophora ochreicostana is a small tortricid moth in the leafroller family Tortricidae. The genus Hystrichophora contains species that are challenging to identify to species level from photographs alone. This species has been recorded in the Canadian prairie provinces. Like other tortricids, its larval stage is expected to feed within rolled or folded leaves.
Laevicephalus saskatchewanensis
Laevicephalus saskatchewanensis is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, described by Hamilton & Ross in 1975. It belongs to the subfamily Deltocephalinae and tribe Paralimnini. The species is endemic to the Canadian prairies, with confirmed records from Saskatchewan and Manitoba. As with most leafhoppers, it is presumed to feed on plant sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts, though specific host plants remain undocumented.
Lasioglossum obscurum
Obscure Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum obscurum is a small solitary bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as sweat bees. It belongs to the largest genus of bees, which contains over 1,700 species. Like other Lasioglossum species, it is a ground-nesting bee that typically occurs in North American prairie and grassland habitats. The species was described by Robertson in 1892.
Marpissa lineata
Four-lined Slender Jumping Spider
Marpissa lineata is a small jumping spider in the family Salticidae, commonly known as the Four-lined Slender Jumping Spider. It is distinguished by distinctive banded markings on the abdomen and legs that give the species its name. Females are larger than males, measuring 3.50–5.20 mm versus 3.00–4.00 mm. The species is widely distributed across the eastern half of North America, where it inhabits leaf litter in forest, shrub, and prairie grass communities.
Plebejus lupini lutzi
Plebejus lupini lutzi is a subspecies of the Lupine Blue butterfly, first described by Passos in 1938. It belongs to the family Lycaenidae, commonly known as the gossamer-winged butterflies. This subspecies is part of the Plebejus genus, which includes numerous blue butterfly species found across North America. The subspecific epithet 'lutzi' honors an individual, following standard taxonomic naming conventions of the era.
Pygarctia spraguei
Sprague's pygarctia, Sprague's tiger moth
Pygarctia spraguei is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1875. It occurs across the Great Plains of North America, from southern Canada to Texas. The species has a wingspan of approximately 31 mm. Larvae are known to feed on Euphorbia species.
Scabrostomus peculiosus
Scabrostomus peculiosus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized scarab beetles associated with dung and decaying organic matter. The species was described by Schmidt in 1917 and is known from a limited number of records in central North America. It is one of the less documented members of the Aphodiinae, a diverse group of beetles often overlooked due to their cryptic habits.
Schinia
flower moths
Schinia is a large genus of flower moths in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Heliothinae. The genus exhibits a Holarctic distribution, with the vast majority of species occurring in North America. Many species have restricted geographic ranges and specialized larval host plant relationships. Adults are typically colorful and often rest on flowers, where they may be camouflaged against the blossoms.
Schinia edwardsii
Schinia edwardsii is a small noctuid moth in the genus Schinia, a diverse group of flower-associated moths often called "flower moths." The species was described by Smith in 1906 and is restricted to the northwestern United States. Like other Schinia species, adults are likely diurnal and associated with specific host plant flowers.
Schinia nr-jaguarina
Jaguar Flower Moth (near species)
Schinia nr-jaguarina is a flower moth in the family Noctuidae, closely related to or potentially conspecific with Schinia jaguarina. The 'nr' designation indicates it is near the described species, suggesting possible taxonomic uncertainty or geographic variation. Like other members of the genus Schinia, it is likely diurnal and associated with specific host plants.
Schinia ultima
Schinia ultima is a noctuid moth described by Strecker in 1876. It belongs to the flower moth genus Schinia, a group of approximately 123 North American species whose adults are often brightly colored and closely associated with their host plants. The species has a documented wingspan of approximately 23 mm. Like other members of the genus, adults likely rest on or near the flowers of their host plants during daylight hours.
Trichiotinus
Bee-like Flower Scarabs, Flower Scarabs
Trichiotinus is a genus of flower chafers in the family Scarabaeidae, comprising approximately 8 described species native to the New World. The genus is commonly known as bee-like flower scarabs due to the resemblance of some species to bees. Members are primarily associated with flowers, where adults feed and mate. Several species have restricted distributions, making them regional specialties in Texas, Oklahoma, and Florida.
Tulsa finitella
Tulsa finitella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. First described by Francis Walker in 1863, this species is known from limited distribution records in the Canadian Prairie provinces. The genus Tulsa contains approximately 15 species, with T. finitella being among the more poorly documented members. Available occurrence data suggests it inhabits grassland and prairie environments, though specific ecological details remain sparse in the scientific literature.
Xysticus auctificus
Xysticus auctificus is a species of ground crab spider in the family Thomisidae, distributed across north-central North America. As a member of the genus Xysticus, it exhibits the characteristic crab-like leg arrangement and ambush hunting strategy typical of this diverse spider group. The species has been documented in prairie and grassland habitats, where it relies on crypsis to capture prey.
Xysticus chippewa
Xysticus chippewa is a crab spider species in the family Thomisidae, first described by Gertsch in 1953. As a member of the genus Xysticus, it is a ground-dwelling ambush predator that does not construct webs to capture prey. The species occurs in northern North America, with records from the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Like other Xysticus species, it has been observed engaging in ballooning behavior for dispersal.