Predatory
Guides
Ablautus arnaudi
Ablautus arnaudi is a small species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, first described by Wilcox in 1966. Adults measure approximately 6–7 millimeters in length. The species exhibits sand-colored cryptic coloration and displays distinctive sexual dimorphism in facial hair coloration. Males possess bright white facial hairs and engage in elaborate courtship displays involving leg-waving and rocking movements. Like all Asilidae, this species is predatory in both adult and larval stages.
Asilidaerobber-flypredatorysexual-dimorphismcourtshipearly-springsand-coloredcrypticleafhopper-predatormystaxfacial-hair-dimorphismextra-oral-digestionvenomoussit-and-wait-predatorplains-habitatsmall-size6-7-mmwhite-facial-hairs-malegold-facial-hairs-femaleleg-waving-displayrocking-displayWilcox-1966Ablautus-revisionCharlotte-Herbert-AlbertsColoradoeastern-plainsAblautus flavipes
Yellow-legged Prospector
Ablautus flavipes is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, commonly known as the Yellow-legged Prospector. Robber flies are predatory insects known for their aerial hunting abilities. The specific epithet flavipes refers to yellow legs, a characteristic feature of this species.
Ablautus linsleyi
Linsley Prospector
Ablautus linsleyi is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Wilcox in 1966. The genus Ablautus comprises small, sand-colored predatory flies that are often difficult to observe due to their cryptic coloration. Members of this genus are active in spring and are known for elaborate courtship behaviors. The specific epithet honors E. Gorton Linsley, a prominent American coleopterist.
Ablautus rufotibialis
Texas Prospector
Ablautus rufotibialis is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Back in 1909. Like other members of the genus Ablautus, it is a small predatory dipteran. The species epithet 'rufotibialis' refers to reddish coloration on the tibiae. Robber flies in this genus are active in early spring and exhibit distinctive courtship behaviors.
Ablautus trifarius
Loew Prospector
Ablautus trifarius is a small robber fly in the family Asilidae, first described by Loew in 1866. Adults measure approximately 6–7 millimeters and are sand-colored, making them difficult to detect in their natural environment. The species is predatory in both larval and adult stages, preying on insects smaller than themselves such as leafhoppers. Males exhibit distinctive courtship behavior involving aerial displays, leg-waving, and rocking movements.
Ablautus vanduzeei
Spot-winged Prospector
Ablautus vanduzeei is a small species of robber fly (family Asilidae) measuring approximately 6–7 millimeters in length. Adults are sand-colored and somewhat difficult to see, making them cryptic in their preferred open, sandy habitats. Males are slightly smaller and more slender than females, with bright white facial hairs; females have gold or ochre-colored facial hairs. The species is known from 18 observations on iNaturalist and is part of the genus Ablautus, which is currently undergoing taxonomic revision.
Abrolophus
Abrolophus is a genus of predatory mites in the family Erythraeidae, first described by Antonio Berlese in 1891. The genus comprises approximately 120 described species distributed across multiple continents. Species in this genus are free-living and belong to the subfamily Abrolophinae.
Acanthostichus
Acanthostichus is a genus of predatory, subterranean ants in the subfamily Dorylinae. The genus contains 24 described species distributed across the New World from the southern United States to northern Argentina. These ants are rarely encountered due to their underground lifestyle, and many species are known from very few specimens. Species identification relies heavily on petiole morphology.
Acholla
Autumn Assassins
Acholla is a genus of assassin bugs (Reduviidae) in the tribe Harpactorini. Adults are most conspicuous in autumn, though they can be found from July onward in some regions. The genus contains three recognized species: A. multispinosa (widespread in eastern and central North America), A. ampliata (western North America), and A. tabida (California and Mexico). These predatory true bugs are primarily arboreal and associated with woodlands and orchards.
Acholla ampliata
Acholla ampliata is an arboreal assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, distributed across western North America from California to Colorado and south to Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. Adults are most active in autumn, though they can be found from July onward. The species is distinguished from similar assassin bugs by its relatively smooth body lacking prominent leg spines. It preys on caterpillars and other insects associated with trees, including pest species such as the Codling Moth.
Acupalpus hydropicus
Acupalpus hydropicus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. First described by LeConte in 1863, this beetle belongs to the genus Acupalpus, a group of small to medium-sized carabids. The species has been documented in the United States and is known to be predatory.
Aeolothrips collaris
Aeolothrips collaris is a predatory thrips species in the family Aeolothripidae. It occurs across multiple continents including Africa, Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. Like other members of its genus, it is recognized by distinctive wing patterning. The species was described by Priesner in 1919.
Aeolothrips kuwanaii
banded thrips
Aeolothrips kuwanaii is a species of predatory thrips in the family Aeolothripidae, described by Moulton in 1907. It is native to western North America and is characterized by distinctive black-and-white banded wings. As a member of the Aeolothripidae, it is predatory on other small arthropods. The species has been recorded from Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Canada.
Agabus
Agabus is a large genus of predatory aquatic beetles in the family Dytiscidae, established by William Elford Leach in 1817. Adults range from 5 to 14 mm in length. The genus has a primarily Holarctic distribution, with limited representation in the Afrotropic and Neotropic realms. Some species are of conservation concern, with A. clypealis, A. discicollis, and A. hozgargantae listed as endangered by the IUCN.
Agabus punctulatus
Agabus punctulatus is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It inhabits freshwater environments and is distributed across North America, with records from western Canada including Alberta and British Columbia. As a member of the genus Agabus, it is part of a diverse group of aquatic beetles adapted to life in ponds, lakes, and slow-moving waters.
Agyrtidae
Primitive Carrion Beetles
Agyrtidae is a small family of beetles in the superfamily Staphylinoidea, containing approximately 60 species across three subfamilies: Agyrtinae, Necrophilinae, and Pterolomatinae. Members range from 4–14 mm in length and exhibit diverse ecological habits, with some subfamilies associated with carrion and decaying organic matter while others show predatory or coastal specialized lifestyles. The family has a disjunct distribution in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and New Zealand, with fossil records extending to the Early Cretaceous.
Ammopelmatus kelsoensis
Kelso Dunes Jerusalem Cricket, Kelso Jerusalem cricket
Ammopelmatus kelsoensis is a large, flightless orthopteran insect endemic to the Kelso Dunes of California. It belongs to the family Stenopelmatidae, commonly known as Jerusalem crickets. The species is distinguished from congeners by specific leg spine and spur characteristics, including short, spatulate apical tibial spurs and reduced ventral spines on the fore and hind tibiae. Adults are active in midsummer. The species has been collected exclusively from burrows of Rhachocnemis colonies, where it has been observed preying on nymphs of that genus.
Amphizoa
troutstream beetles
Amphizoa is a monogeneric genus of aquatic beetles, the sole representative of the family Amphizoidae. These beetles are commonly called troutstream beetles due to their association with cold, flowing mountain waters. The genus contains five known species, with three distributed in western North America and two in the eastern Palearctic region (China and North Korea). Adults and larvae are predatory, feeding primarily on stonefly larvae. When disturbed, adults release a yellowish, cantaloupe-scented fluid from the anus as a chemical defense.
Anisolabididae
Anisolabididae is a family of earwigs (order Dermaptera, suborder Neodermaptera) comprising 38 genera across 13 subfamilies. Members include both cosmopolitan and geographically restricted species, with some showing specialized adaptations for subcortical or coastal habitats. Several genera, particularly Euborellia, are recognized for their predatory behavior and potential as biological control agents of agricultural pests. The family exhibits diverse morphologies ranging from typical earwig body plans to dorsoventrally flattened forms adapted for life under bark.
Anystidae
whirligig mites
Anystidae is a family of predatory mites comprising over 100 species, commonly known as whirligig mites. They are active generalist predators found in soils and on vegetation worldwide. The family includes notable genera such as Anystis, Tarsotomus, and Chaussieria. Several species have been investigated for biological control potential against agricultural pests including thrips, aphids, and spider mites.
Apateticus
Apateticus is a genus of predatory stink bugs in the family Pentatomidae, comprising approximately seven described species. Species within this genus are relatively large insects with predatory habits throughout their immature and adult stages. Detailed biological information is available primarily for A. cynicus and A. bracteatus, with limited data on other species. The genus is characterized by specific morphological and chemical traits, including distinctive larval scent glands.
Apsectrotanypus johnsoni
Apsectrotanypus johnsoni is a species of non-biting midge in the family Chironomidae, subfamily Tanypodinae. It was described by Coquillett in 1901. As a member of the tribe Macropelopini, it belongs to a group of predatory midges whose larvae inhabit aquatic environments. The species is documented in the Catalogue of Life and GBIF as an accepted taxon, with 25 observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Asiloidea
asiloid flies
Asiloidea is a large superfamily of true flies (Diptera: Brachycera) with cosmopolitan distribution. It comprises approximately 11 families including the well-known Asilidae (robber/assassin flies), Bombyliidae (bee flies), Therevidae (stiletto flies), Mydidae (mydas flies), and Scenopinidae (window flies). Adult morphology is characterized by antennae with no more than 4 flagellomeres, leg empodium usually setiform or absent, and wing venation featuring an elongate cell cup with vein CuA2 ending freely or meeting A1 near the wing margin. Larval synapomorphies include posterior spiracles arising dorsally from the penultimate abdominal segment and, in most families except Bombyliidae and Hilarimorphidae, a modified cranium forming a hinged metacephalic rod.
DipteraBrachyceraAsiloidearobber-fliesbee-fliesstiletto-fliesmydas-flieswindow-fliescosmopolitanarid-habitatspredatory-larvaeflower-visitorsparasitoidsbiological-controlAsilidaeBombyliidaeTherevidaeMydidaeScenopinidaeApioceridaeApsilocephalidaeApystomyiidaeEvocoidaeHilarimorphidaeMythicomyiidaeProtapioceridaephylogenysystematicsvenomouspredatorymystaxmetacephalic-roddichopticholopticJurassicCretaceoustherevoid-cladeNamib-DesertCanary-IslandsSaudi-ArabiaDominicaChileGermanyfossilcybertaxonomyopen-accessZooKeysBohart-MuseumWorld-Robber-Fly-DayAtlanticus
Eastern Shieldbacks
Atlanticus is a genus of katydids in the family Tettigoniidae, commonly known as eastern shieldbacks. The genus comprises at least 50 described species distributed discontinuously across North America and temperate eastern Asia. These insects belong to the tribe Drymadusini within the subfamily Tettigoniinae. Species in this genus are predatory, possessing enlarged mandibles adapted for capturing and consuming other insects.
Atomosia
Micropanthers
Atomosia is a genus of robber flies (family Asilidae) established by Macquart in 1838. The genus contains at least 60 described species, commonly referred to as "Micropanthers." Members are predatory flies that capture other insects in flight. The genus is distributed in North America, with records from the United States including Vermont.
Atomosia arkansensis
Atomosia arkansensis is a species of robber fly (Asilidae) described by Barnes in 2008. The species name indicates its association with Arkansas, where it was first documented. As a member of the diverse Asilidae family, it is a predatory fly, though specific details of its biology remain limited in published literature.
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.
Atomosia mucida
Atomosia mucida is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Osten Sacken in 1887. Robber flies in this genus are predatory insects that capture other arthropods in flight. The species belongs to a diverse group of aerial predators within the Diptera.
Atomosia puella
Common Micropanther
Atomosia puella is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, commonly known as the Common Micropanther. Robber flies are predatory dipterans known for their aggressive hunting behavior and distinctive morphology adapted for capturing other insects in flight. The species was originally described by Wiedemann in 1828 under the basionym Laphria puella before being transferred to the genus Atomosia.
Atomosia tibialis
Atomosia tibialis is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Macquart in 1846. Robber flies are predatory dipterans known for their aerial hunting abilities and robust morphology. The specific epithet "tibialis" suggests a distinctive characteristic of the tibiae (leg segments), though the precise nature of this trait requires original description examination. As a member of the genus Atomosia, this species belongs to a group of relatively small to medium-sized asilids.
Atrachelus
Atrachelus is a genus of assassin bugs in the family Reduviidae, comprising at least two described species: A. cinereus and A. mucosus. The genus is found in the Americas and belongs to the subfamily Harpactorinae, a diverse group of predatory true bugs. Species in this genus share the general characteristics of harpactorine assassin bugs but specific diagnostic features remain poorly documented in available literature.
Atractotomus
Atractotomus is a genus of predatory plant bugs in the family Miridae. Species in this genus are primarily found in Europe, with some species established in North America. At least one species, A. mali, exhibits zoophytophagous feeding behavior and has become a recognized pest in apple orchards.
Atrichomelina pubera
Atrichomelina pubera is a sciomyzid fly whose larvae are aquatic or semi-aquatic predators of freshwater snails. The species has been successfully reared in laboratory conditions, enabling documentation of its complete immature stages and feeding behavior. Its biology was formally described in a 1960 study focusing on life history and developmental morphology.
Barce fraterna
Barce fraterna is a thread-legged bug (subfamily Emesinae) in the assassin bug family Reduviidae. The species has a broad distribution spanning the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America, including the Galápagos Islands. Three subspecies are recognized: B. f. annulipes, B. f. banksii, and the nominate B. f. fraterna. Like other emesines, it possesses the characteristic elongated, slender legs adapted for predation on other arthropods.
Bembicina
sand wasps
Bembicina is a subtribe of sand wasps within the tribe Bembicini, family Crabronidae. Members are characterized by rapid, agile flight and nesting behavior in sandy substrates. They are predatory wasps that provision nests with paralyzed prey, primarily small flies. The subtribe includes the well-known genus Bembix, which is common in North America.
Benacus
Benacus is a genus of giant water bugs in the family Belostomatidae, subfamily Lethocerinae. The genus was established by Stål in 1861 and contains species of large aquatic predatory insects. Spermatogenesis has been studied cytologically in Benacus griseus, revealing 28 spermatogonial chromosomes and distinct cytoplasmic inclusions including chondriosomes and Golgi bodies during sperm development.
Berytidae
stilt bugs, thread bugs
Berytidae, commonly known as stilt bugs or thread bugs, is a family of true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) characterized by exceptionally long, slender legs and elongated bodies. The family contains approximately 200 species worldwide, classified into three subfamilies: Berytinae, Gampsocorinae, and Metacanthinae. Members range from 3-10 mm in length and display coloration from brown to yellow. While most species are phytophagous, feeding on plant sap, some exhibit predatory behavior on small insects. Several species are economically significant as pests of cultivated crops, particularly tomatoes and tobacco, where feeding damage can cause flower abortion, fruit distortion, and unsalable produce.
Bezzia nobilis
Bezzia nobilis is a biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, widely considered one of the most common species in the genus Bezzia. It has a notably broad geographic distribution spanning Eurasia, North America, Central America, and South America. Adults are distinguished by black and yellow banded legs, while larvae and pupae have characteristic coloration and morphological features. The species is predatory, with larvae feeding on immobile prey including dead insects, bacteria, and protozoa.
Bittacus occidentis
Western Hangingfly
Bittacus occidentis is a species of hangingfly in the family Bittacidae, first described by Francis Walker in 1853. Hangingflies are predatory insects characterized by their distinctive habit of hanging from vegetation using their elongated forelegs. This species occurs in North America. Members of the genus Bittacus are recognized for their elongated bodies and two pairs of membranous wings.
Brochymena myops
rough stink bug, tree stink bug
Brochymena myops is a species of rough stink bug native to North America, belonging to the genus Brochymena commonly known as "tree stink bugs" for their bark-like camouflage. The species ranges from Quebec to Florida and westward through the central United States to Texas. Adults are active during warm periods throughout the year, including winter sunny days, and are frequently mistaken for the invasive brown marmorated stink bug. Like other Brochymena species, B. myops is not considered an agricultural or household pest.
stink-bugnativepredatorypine-forestcamouflagewinter-activenon-pestrough-stink-bugtree-stink-bugHemipteraPentatomidaeBrochymenaNorth-Americacentral-United-Statessoutheastern-United-Statesconifer-associatedbark-mimicryoverwintering-adultsingle-generationdecaying-wood-inhabitantbeneficial-insectHalyiniStål-1872Heteropteratrue-bugCafius
coastal rove beetles
Cafius is a genus of relatively large rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, comprising approximately 8 described species in North America and approaching 50 globally. The genus originated in the early Miocene (ca. 17.91 Ma) along the coasts of Europe and Australia, with subsequent diversification driven by transoceanic dispersal via ocean surface currents. Species are obligate inhabitants of coastal marine environments, particularly sandy intertidal zones. The genus is notable for its global distribution across temperate and tropical coastlines and its biological adaptations to saline, dynamic shoreline habitats.
Calosoma externum
Narrow Searcher Beetle, Churchyard Caterpillar Hunter
Calosoma externum is a large predatory ground beetle in the family Carabidae, commonly known as the narrow searcher beetle or churchyard caterpillar hunter. First described by Thomas Say in 1823, this species is notable for its arboreal hunting behavior, ascending trees to prey on caterpillars. Adults reach 28–35 mm in length and are distinguished by their black bodies with bluish marginal reflections. The species occurs across much of the United States and into southern Canada.
Calyptostomatidae
Calyptostomatidae is a small family of predatory mites in the order Trombidiformes. The family contains at least two genera, Calyptostoma and Smaris, with approximately six described species. These mites are placed in the superfamily Calyptostomatoidea within the suborder Prostigmata. They are relatively poorly studied compared to many other mite families.
Camerobiidae
Camerobiidae is a family of prostigmatan mites within the superfamily Raphignathoidea, characterized by distinctly long and slender stilt-like legs. The family includes several genera, notably Camerobia, Neophyllobius, and Tycherobius, with species recorded from Australia, Türkiye, and fossil deposits in Eocene Baltic amber. These mites are associated with aboveground vegetation and various litter habitats. The fossil record was previously limited to a single species but has been expanded with recent descriptions of additional fossil taxa.
Cerapachyini
Cerapachyini is a tribe of ants within the subfamily Dorylinae, historically classified under Ponerinae. Members of this tribe are specialized predators known for raiding behavior. Some genera, such as Sphinctomyrmex, exhibit functional polygyny with multiple egg-laying queens coexisting without conflict, and display brood periodicity with synchronized brood development cycles. The tribe has undergone taxonomic revision, with current classification placing it within Dorylinae rather than Ponerinae.
Ceratocombidae
minute litter bugs
Ceratocombidae is a family of minute litter bugs in the order Hemiptera, classified within the infraorder Dipsocoromorpha and superfamily Dipsocoroidea. The family comprises at least three genera—Astemma, Ceratocombus, and Leptonannus—with approximately 20 described species. Members are small, cryptic insects associated with decomposing organic matter in forest habitats. Their diversity is greatest in the Indo-Pacific region, though species occur across North America, Europe, Madagascar, and the Oriental region.
Cercopagididae
Cercopagididae is a family of predatory branchiopod crustaceans in the order Onychopoda. Members are planktonic water fleas characterized by specialized predatory adaptations including modified thoracopods and distinctive labral morphology. The family includes notable invasive species such as Bythotrephes longimanus (spiny water flea) and Cercopagis pengoi (fishhook water flea), which have been introduced to North America and pose significant threats to aquatic ecosystems. Native to the Palearctic, several species have expanded their ranges through human-mediated dispersal.
Chaoboridae
phantom midges, glassworms
Chaoboridae, known as phantom midges or glassworms, is a family of aquatic midges with cosmopolitan distribution. The family comprises approximately 55–90 species across six genera, including the widespread Chaoborus and the endemic Australian genera Promochlonyx and Australomochlonyx. Adults are delicate, chironomid-like flies distinguished by wing venation and plumose male antennae. Larvae are nearly transparent aquatic predators with modified raptorial antennae used to capture prey.
Chauliognathus profundus
Chauliognathus profundus is a soldier beetle (family Cantharidae) distributed across Central and North America. It has been documented in the southwestern United States, particularly in Arizona, where it occurs in montane and canyon habitats. The species has been observed feeding on other insects, including predation on conspecifics and related cantharid species.
Chiloxanthus stellatus
shore bug
Chiloxanthus stellatus is a predatory shore bug in the family Saldidae, distributed across Arctic and temperate regions of Europe, Northern Asia, and North America. The species inhabits moist tundra and shoreline habitats, functioning as an arthropod predator in these ecosystems. Research in Arctic Alaska has documented its population density and habitat distribution patterns in tundra environments.