ground beetles
Abaris is a genus of ground beetles (Carabidae) occurring exclusively in the Americas. The genus contains species recognized as biological control agents of agricultural pests, particularly in South American agro-ecosystems. Abaris basistriata, the most studied species, has been extensively investigated for its potential in integrated pest management programs. Laboratory studies demonstrate that substrate and diet significantly influence life cycle duration, survival rates, and reproductive output.
Great Basin Prospector
Ablautus basini is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Wilcox in 1966. It belongs to a genus of small, sand-colored predatory flies that are active in early spring. Members of the genus Ablautus are known for elaborate courtship rituals and prey on insects smaller than themselves, including leafhoppers. The species is associated with the Great Basin region of North America.
Arizona Prospector
Ablautus mimus is a small robber fly (family Asilidae) native to arid regions of western and southwestern North America. Adults measure approximately 6–7 millimeters and exhibit sand-colored camouflage. The species has been documented in association with sandy soils in sagebrush habitats and shows documented mimicry of Lestomyia sabulonum, another small fly species sharing its habitat. It is also known to occur alongside Cyrtopogon ablautoides in sandy desert regions.
Mites and Ticks, mites, ticks
Acari is a subclass of arachnids containing mites and ticks. The group exhibits extraordinary diversity with fossil records dating to the early Devonian period. Recent phylogenetic analyses have challenged the monophyly of Acari, suggesting that the two main lineages—Parasitiformes (ticks and allies) and Acariformes (dust mites, spider mites, chiggers, and allies)—may not share a single common ancestor exclusive of other arachnids. This would render Acari a paraphyletic or polyphyletic grouping rather than a natural taxon. The traditional unifying character, the gnathosoma (a modified mouthpart region), has been shown to be absent or differently constructed in many species across both lineages.
Acholla multispinosa is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae. It is the most widespread species in its genus, occurring across eastern North America from New England south through the Appalachians to Tennessee and North Carolina, and west through the Great Lakes region to Kansas, Nebraska, and southeast Iowa. Adults are most conspicuous in autumn, though they can be found beginning in July. The species is arboreal, primarily inhabiting woodlands and orchards.
Abbreviated Predaceous Diving Beetle
Acilius abbreviatus is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is found in North America, with records from Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. As a member of the genus Acilius, it is an aquatic predator inhabiting freshwater environments.
Woodland Predaceous Diving Beetle
Acilius sylvanus is a predaceous diving beetle described by Hilsenhoff in 1975. It belongs to the family Dytiscidae, a group of aquatic beetles adapted for underwater predation. The species is known from forested wetland habitats in North America.
Carolina Stone
Acroneuria carolinensis, commonly known as the Carolina stone, is a predatory stonefly in the family Perlidae. It has a univoltine life cycle with emergence from late May through mid-July. Nymphs undergo an ontogenetic habitat shift, moving from leaf packs in slow water as small instars to cobble substrates in riffles as they grow larger. Adults are short-lived, do not feed, and are attracted to lights. The species functions as a top invertebrate predator in stream ecosystems.
Canada Harp Ground Beetle
Acupalpus canadensis is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Casey in 1924. It belongs to the genus Acupalpus, a group of small to medium-sized predatory beetles commonly known as harp ground beetles. The species is found in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of its family, it is predatory and feeds on small insects.
Casey's Rove Beetle
Acylophorus caseyi is a species of rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Leng in 1920. It belongs to the genus Acylophorus, a group of relatively large rove beetles within the tribe Staphylinini. The species is known from eastern North America, with records spanning from Canada to the southeastern United States. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with forest floor habitats and decaying organic matter.
Hawkers, Mosaic Darners
Aeshna is a genus of large dragonflies in the family Aeshnidae, commonly known as hawkers in the Old World and mosaic darners in North America. The genus name was coined by Danish entomologist Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775, possibly from a printer's error in spelling the Greek 'Aechma' (spear). Species in this genus are characterized by their relatively large size, brown thoraces and abdomens with distinctive blue, yellow, or green markings. The genus has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with many Neotropical and other species reclassified into separate genera such as Rhionaeschna, Afroaeschna, and others based on phylogenetic studies.
Common Hawker, Moorland Hawker, Sedge Darner
Aeshna juncea, known as the Common Hawker, Moorland Hawker, or Sedge Darner, is a large hawker dragonfly with a Holarctic distribution spanning the Palearctic from Ireland to Japan and northern North America. It is one of the larger Aeshna species and is strongly associated with acidic bog habitats, particularly in Scotland where it is a prominent bog specialist. The species has a flight period from June to early October. Recent genomic research has revealed that Alaskan populations underwent population bottlenecks during the most recent ice age, and the species has been used as a model for studying genome size variation in Odonata driven by transposons and repetitive elements.
Agabus ajax is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. The species was described by Fall in 1922. It is known from North America, with records from Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. As a member of Agabus, it is an aquatic predator.
Agabus ambiguus is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, belonging to the North American endemic ambiguus species group. Adults are active in open water year-round, including throughout winter. The species occurs across the United States and Canada, where it inhabits depositional areas of springs, streams, and stream-fed ponds.
Agabus antennatus is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, first described by Leech in 1939. It is found in North America, with records from Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. As a member of the genus Agabus, it is an aquatic predator inhabiting freshwater environments.
Agabus arcticus is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae with a Holarctic distribution, occurring in North America and the Palearctic region. It belongs to the arcticus-group of Agabus species, which is characterized by specific morphological and ecological traits adapted to northern environments. The species has three described larval stages and is known from reared material collected in northern Sweden.
Agabus canadensis is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, described by Fall in 1922. It is found in North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia) and the United States. As a member of the genus Agabus, it is an aquatic predator inhabiting freshwater environments.
Agabus clavicornis is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is distributed across the Holarctic region, occurring in both North America and the Palearctic. The species was described by Sharp in 1882. Like other members of the genus Agabus, it is an aquatic predator.
Agabus crassipes is a diving beetle species in the family Dytiscidae, described by Fall in 1922. It is native to North America, with records from western Canada including Alberta and British Columbia. As a member of the genus Agabus, it is an aquatic predator inhabiting freshwater environments. The specific epithet 'crassipes' refers to its stout or thick legs.
Agabus falli is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is known from North America, with records from Alberta and Manitoba in Canada. As a member of the genus Agabus, it is an aquatic predator inhabiting freshwater environments. The species was described by Zimmermann in 1934.
Agabus taeniolatus is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It belongs to the large genus Agabus, which contains numerous aquatic beetle species found primarily in the Holarctic region. This species is documented from North America and shares the general ecological characteristics of the genus as an aquatic predator in freshwater habitats.
Agonum aeruginosum is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It occurs in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Agonum, it belongs to a group of small to medium-sized carabid beetles commonly found in moist habitats. The species name "aeruginosum" refers to a copper-green or verdigris coloration, though specific color details for this species are not well documented in available sources.
Darlington's Harp Ground Beetle
Agonum darlingtoni is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, subfamily Platyninae. It measures 4.9–5.9 mm in length and is black with iridescent, deeply striated elytra. The species occurs in northeastern North America, including the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada. It is associated with wet habitats and likely overwinters as an adult.
Agonum decorum is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Platyninae, characterized by its association with riparian habitats near water bodies. It has a broad geographic distribution spanning North America and the Caribbean. The species is documented in ecological research as a representative of predatory beetles in turfgrass systems, though specific biological details remain limited in published literature.
Agonum elongatulum is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, subfamily Platyninae. It occurs in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of the genus Agonum, it is a predatory beetle. The species has been documented in turfgrass ecosystems, where it functions as part of the predatory arthropod community.
Agonum ferruginosum is a ground beetle in the subfamily Platyninae, described by Dejean in 1828. It occurs in North America with records from the United States, Canada, and Alaska. In central Alberta marshes, it is one of the most abundant carabid species in emergent vegetation of flooded zones, where it exhibits habitat partitioning with sympatric congeners. The species is nocturnal and shows earlier reproduction and teneral adult emergence compared to some co-occurring Agonum species.
Agonum limbatum is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from British Columbia, Canada. The genus Agonum contains numerous small to medium-sized predatory beetles commonly found in moist habitats. A. limbatum has been documented in turfgrass ecosystems where it functions as a predator of other arthropods.
Agonum placidum is a black ground beetle in the Platyninae subfamily. It inhabits woodlands, thickets, and open fields across southern Canada and the northeastern United States. The species has been documented in turfgrass environments where it functions as a generalist predator.
sutured harp ground beetle
Agonum suturale is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Platyninae. It is found in the western half of North America, including Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The species exhibits metallic coloration and is of moderate size for the genus. It is known to occur in turfgrass habitats where it functions as a predator.
triple harp ground beetle
Agonum trigeminum is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, measuring 8.3–10 mm in length. It is deep black in color and occurs in the eastern United States and eastern Canada. The species is associated with margins of eutrophic ponds and pools with dense vegetation. It is one of several Agonum species studied as part of predator communities in turfgrass ecosystems.
Common Snakeflies
Agulla is a genus of modern snakeflies (Raphidiidae) characterized by an elongated prothorax that creates a distinct "neck" appearance. These predatory insects inhabit wooded areas and are associated with tree bark. The genus belongs to an order considered living fossils, with modern species closely resembling Jurassic-era relatives from 140 million years ago.
Agulla unicolor is a species of snakefly (order Raphidioptera) in the family Raphidiidae, described by Carpenter in 1936. The species epithet "unicolor" refers to its uniform coloration. Snakeflies are predatory insects characterized by their elongated prothorax that gives them a distinctive 'necked' appearance. As a member of the genus Agulla, this species occurs in North America where it inhabits wooded environments. The larvae and adults are both predatory, feeding on small arthropods.
Small-eyed Click Beetle, Blind Click Beetle
Alaus myops, commonly known as the Small-eyed Click Beetle or Blind Click Beetle, is a large elaterid beetle distinguished by its reduced eyespots compared to its congener A. oculatus. Adults are primarily slate gray in coloration and active in southern pine forests. The species exhibits the characteristic clicking mechanism of the family Elateridae, using a prosternal spine and mesosternal notch to launch itself when disturbed. Both adults and larvae are predatory, inhabiting loose bark on pine trees, logs, and stumps.
Aleochara lustrica is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae) with a dual life history: adults are predatory on fly larvae, while larvae are ectoparasitoids of cyclorrhaphan fly pupae. The species has been documented across the Americas from Canada to southern Brazil, with recent records extending its known range. It has confirmed associations with sarcophagid flies under laboratory conditions and plays a role in regulating populations of necrophagous Diptera of medical, veterinary, and forensic importance.
Common Sun Beetle
Amara aenea, commonly known as the common sun beetle, is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae. It occurs across almost all of Europe and Northern Asia, with its range extending into parts of Northern Africa. Adults are predatory, feeding on insects including agricultural pests such as apple maggot and soybean aphid. The species has been studied for potential use in integrated pest management programs.
Dracula ants, Vampire ants
Amblyoponinae is an ancient, relictual subfamily of ants characterized by specialized subterranean predatory habits and unique 'Dracula ant' behavior, in which adult workers pierce the integument of their own larvae to imbibe haemolymph. The subfamily contains 13 extant genera and originated in the mid-Cretaceous approximately 107 million years ago. Crown group diversification occurred in the Late Paleocene/Early Eocene. The subfamily exhibits remarkable morphological and behavioral diversity, including convergent evolution of army ant-like behaviors in some lineages and highly plastic caste systems in others.
whip spiders, tailless whip scorpions, amblypygids
Amblypygi is an ancient order of arachnids comprising approximately 280 species across five families. These nocturnal predators are characterized by extremely elongated first pair of legs modified as sensory "whips" and raptorial pedipalps for capturing prey. They lack venom glands, silk production, and the tail-like flagellum present in their relatives the whip scorpions (Uropygi). Several species exhibit unusual social behaviors including maternal care and kin recognition.
creeping water bugs, saucer bugs
Ambrysus is a genus of creeping water bugs (family Naucoridae) containing more than 90 described species. These aquatic insects are found primarily in running streams across the New World, from northern North America to Argentina, with greatest diversity in Mexico. They possess flattened, rounded bodies and powerful claws for clinging to rocks in turbulent water. The genus includes two subgenera: Ambrysus (Syncollus) and Ambrysus (Ambrysus).
California creeping water bug
Ambrysus californicus is a species of creeping water bug in the family Naucoridae. It was described by Montandon in 1897. The species is native to North America and belongs to the subfamily Cryphocricinae, commonly known as saucer bugs due to their round, flat body shape. Like other members of the genus Ambrysus, it is an aquatic insect adapted to life in running streams.
creeping water bug
Ambrysus lunatus is a species of creeping water bug in the family Naucoridae. It occurs in Central America and North America. The subspecies A. lunatus lunatus has been described with documented immature stages. Like other members of the genus Ambrysus, it is an aquatic predator inhabiting running streams.
creeping water bug, saucer bug
Ambrysus pudicus is a species of creeping water bug (family Naucoridae) described by Carl Stål in 1862. It belongs to the diverse New World genus Ambrysus, which is distributed from northern North America to Argentina with highest diversity in Mexico. Like other members of its family, it is an aquatic predator inhabiting running streams. The specific epithet 'pudicus' (Latin for 'bashful' or 'modest') is shared with the unrelated pitcher plant Nepenthes pudica, which was named for its hidden underground traps.
thread-waisted wasp
Ammophila pictipennis is a thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae, widespread in eastern North America and south to Mexico City. It is one of the most common and distinctive members of its genus east of the Rocky Mountains. The species is solitary and nests in sandy or hard-baked soil, provisioning each nest with a single paralyzed caterpillar for its larva. Females exhibit characteristic roosting behavior, gripping vegetation with their mandibles during inclement weather or overnight.
minute pirate bugs
Amphiareus is a genus of minute pirate bugs in the family Anthocoridae, established by Distant in 1904. Species occur in Eurasia and North America. At least one species, Amphiareus constrictus, has been successfully mass-reared in laboratory conditions for biological control research. The genus includes species associated with dead-leaf microhabitats and agricultural pest management.
Amphiareus obscuriceps is a minute predatory flower bug (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) native to the Sino-Japanese Region of East Asia. The species has become invasive in North America and Europe, where it has been recorded since at least 2007. It inhabits dead leaf clusters of deciduous trees and shrubs, where it preys on small arthropods. Phylogeographic studies indicate the species diverged into Chinese and Japanese lineages approximately 1.07 million years ago, influenced by Pleistocene sea level fluctuations.
square-headed wasp
Anacrabro ocellatus is a small (6-7 mm) fossorial wasp in the family Crabronidae. Unlike most related genera in tribe Crabronini that hunt flies, this species specializes in capturing plant bugs (family Miridae) to provision its subterranean nest cells. It is widespread east of the Rocky Mountains in North America, with three recognized subspecies. The species is notable for its potential role in biological control of agricultural pests.
Giant Lady Beetles
Anatis is a genus of ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae) commonly known as "giant lady beetles." The genus contains approximately ten extant species distributed primarily in North America, with at least two fossil species described. Members are relatively large compared to most lady beetles and are predatory as adults and larvae. The genus includes notable species such as Anatis mali and Anatis labiculata, which have been studied for their biological control potential.
Emperors, Green Darners
Anax is a genus of large dragonflies in the family Aeshnidae, commonly known as emperors and green darners. The genus includes some of the largest and most powerful dragonflies in the world, with species distributed across multiple continents. Several Anax species are notable long-distance migrants, with Anax junius (the common green darner) being one of the most studied migratory dragonflies in North America. The genus name derives from the ancient Greek word for 'lord' or 'king', reflecting their imposing size and predatory dominance.
Common Green Darner, Green Darner
Anax junius, the common green darner, is among the most abundant and widespread dragonflies in North America, ranging from Canada to Panama and with populations in the Caribbean, Tahiti, and Asia. This large aeshnid is renowned for its extensive seasonal migrations, with individuals traveling up to 2,800 km between northern breeding grounds and southern overwintering areas. The species exhibits complex population dynamics, with both migratory and resident cohorts coexisting at many locations. Adults are powerful aerial predators, while aquatic nymphs are similarly voracious, making this species a significant component of both terrestrial and aquatic food webs.
Comet Darner
Anax longipes, commonly known as the Comet Darner, is a dragonfly species in the family Aeshnidae. It is a common North American species with a distinctive appearance and migratory behavior. Adults are large, powerful fliers that prey on other insects in flight. The species is part of the Migratory Dragonfly Partnership monitoring program due to its seasonal movements.
Ancistrocerus lineativentris is a solitary mason wasp in the subfamily Eumeninae, family Vespidae. It is one of approximately 70 species in the genus Ancistrocerus, which occurs primarily in the Holarctic region. Like other eumenine wasps, it is a solitary nester that provisions its offspring with paralyzed caterpillars. The species was described by Cameron in 1906, but detailed natural history information specific to this species remains limited in published sources.