Rarely-collected
Guides
Matigramma adoceta
Matigramma adoceta is a moth species in the family Erebidae, subfamily Erebinae. It was described by John G. Franclemont in 1986. The species is known from North America, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented.
Mayana ramosus
Mayana ramosus is a species of true bug in the family Oxycarenidae, first described by Barber in 1938. The genus Mayana is a small group within the lygaeoid complex, and this species is one of few documented members. Records indicate occurrence in the United States. Like other Oxycarenidae, it is presumed to be a seed-feeding heteropteran, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Megischus
crown wasp
Megischus is a large genus of crown wasps (family Stephanidae) containing over 90 described species with a cosmopolitan distribution centered in subtropical and tropical regions. The genus is characterized by medium to large body size, with adults ranging from approximately 10–40 mm in length (excluding the ovipositor). Females possess an exceptionally long ovipositor that typically exceeds body length, used to parasitize wood-boring beetle and hymenopteran larvae. The genus serves as an important biological control agent for pest populations of hardwood-damaging insects.
Melanapamea
coastal plain apamea moth
Melanapamea is a monotypic genus of noctuid moths established by Lafontaine in 2009. The sole species, Melanapamea mixta, is a rarely collected moth with scattered populations across eastern North America. It is primarily associated with bog habitats and shows a disjunct distribution pattern with core populations in the Northeast and scattered records in the western United States.
Meleoma hageni
Meleoma hageni is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae, described by Nathan Banks in 1949. The genus Meleoma is a small, distinctive group within the Chrysopidae, characterized by reduced wing venation and other specialized morphological features that separate it from the more common green lacewings of the genus Chrysoperla. Species in this genus are poorly known compared to their economically important relatives, with limited published information on their biology and ecology.
Melymacra
Melymacra is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, established by Schwartz in 2004. It belongs to the diverse infraorder Cimicomorpha within the true bugs (Heteroptera). The genus is poorly documented in scientific literature, with minimal published information on its species composition, biology, and ecology. Available records indicate extremely few observations, suggesting either genuine rarity, cryptic habits, or undercollection.
Meniscomorpha michiganensis
Meniscomorpha michiganensis is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Davis in 1894. The species is known from a limited number of observations and appears to be rarely collected. Like other members of its family, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations remain undocumented. The specific epithet refers to Michigan, suggesting the type locality or primary known range.
Mesites rufipennis
Mesites rufipennis is a species of true weevil (Curculionidae) described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1878. It is a small beetle native to North America. The specific epithet "rufipennis" refers to reddish wing covers. Very little is known about its biology or ecology.
Methocha stygia
ant-like wasp, tiger beetle parasitoid wasp
Methocha stygia is a specialized parasitoid wasp in the family Tiphiidae that exhibits remarkable ant-mimicry (myrmecomorphy) in both morphology and behavior. This species targets tiger beetle larvae (Cicindelidae) as its exclusive host, employing a distinctive hunting strategy where females aggressively engage their prey and deliberately allow themselves to be grasped by the larva's sickle-shaped mandibles to gain entry to the burrow. The wasp's ant-like appearance enables it to approach host burrows without triggering the defensive responses that tiger beetle larvae typically direct against conventional wasp predators.
Michthisoma heterodoxum
Michthisoma heterodoxum is a small cerambycid beetle in the tribe Saphanini, first described by LeConte in 1850. The species is known for its remarkable morphological resemblance to small workers of the carpenter ant Camponotus pennsylvanicus, representing a case of myrmecomorphy (ant mimicry). This mimicry appears to be an evolutionary adaptation to avoid predation. The species has a restricted geographic range, occurring primarily in the southeastern Coastal Plain of the United States. Despite its distinctive appearance, the species appears to be rarely encountered in the field.
Micromyrmex
Micromyrmex is a genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae, established by E.L. Sleeper in 1953. The genus is poorly documented in scientific literature, with minimal published information on its biology and ecology. Only four observations are recorded on iNaturalist, indicating it is rarely encountered or underreported. It belongs to the superfamily Curculionoidea, the largest group of beetles, characterized by their distinctive elongated snouts.
Microphotus chiricahuae
Chiricahua glow-worm
Microphotus chiricahuae is a species of glow-worm beetle in the family Lampyridae, described by Green in 1959. The species epithet references the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona, indicating its geographic association with this region. As a member of the genus Microphotus, it belongs to a group of beetles known for bioluminescent larvae and flightless, larviform adult females. The species is rarely encountered and poorly documented in scientific literature.
Microphotus fragilis
Fragile glow-worm
Microphotus fragilis is a species of firefly (family Lampyridae) native to North America, with particular association to desert landscapes. The species is distinguished by conspicuously large eyes and a strongly convex pronotum. It was described by E. Olivier in 1912 and is one of the more rarely encountered North American lampyrids.
Microstagetus
Microstagetus is a genus of minute hooded beetles in the family Corylophidae, established by Wollaston in 1861. The genus is poorly known, with very few documented observations—only three records on iNaturalist as of the data cutoff. Members of this genus are among the smallest beetles, reflecting the general characteristics of Corylophidae. The scarcity of records suggests either genuine rarity, cryptic habits, or undercollecting due to their minute size.
Moniaecera
Moniaecera is a genus of solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae, established by William Harris Ashmead in 1899. It belongs to the tribe Crabronini within the subfamily Crabroninae, a group commonly known as sand wasps or digger wasps. The genus is poorly known, with extremely limited biological documentation and only three observations recorded on iNaturalist as of the available data. Members of Crabronidae are generally predatory, provisioning nests with paralyzed insects for their larvae.
Mordellistena picipennis
A small species of tumbling flower beetle described from North America in 1882. As a member of the genus Mordellistena, it belongs to a diverse group of beetles commonly associated with flowers and decaying wood. The species is known from very few records, with limited published information on its biology.
Myrmechixenini
Myrmechixenini is a tribe of darkling beetles (family Tenebrionidae) established by Jacquelin du Val in 1858. The tribe belongs to the subfamily Diaperinae within the speciose family Tenebrionidae, one of the largest families of beetles. Members of this tribe are characterized by their association with ant colonies, reflecting the etymology of the name (from Greek myrmex, ant, and xenia, hospitality). The tribe contains relatively few described species and is poorly represented in collections, with only 13 observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Myrmecocephalus cingulatus
Myrmecocephalus cingulatus is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) in the tribe Falagriini. It occurs across eastern North America from Canada to the southern United States. The genus name 'Myrmecocephalus' (ant-head) refers to the ant-like appearance of these beetles. This species is rarely collected and poorly known biologically.
Nannocoris
Nannocoris is a genus of minute true bugs in the family Schizopteridae, first described by Reuter in 1891. These insects belong to the infraorder Dipsocoromorpha, a group of small, often overlooked predatory or mycophagous bugs. Members of this genus are characterized by their diminutive size and cryptic habits. The genus is poorly documented in scientific literature, with limited species-level descriptions and biological data available.
Nearcticorpus
Nearcticorpus is a genus of small flies in the family Sphaeroceridae, commonly known as lesser dung flies. The genus was described in 1982 by Roháček and Marshall. It contains two known species, both described from the Nearctic region. The genus name reflects its geographic distribution.
Nematodinus
Nematodinus is a genus of false click beetles (family Eucnemidae) described by Lea in 1919. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Dirhagini within the subfamily Melasinae. The genus is characterized by morphological features typical of the Dirhagini, including antennae with distinct club segments. Information on this genus remains limited, with few documented observations.
Neohedobia texana
Neohedobia texana is a small beetle species in the family Ptinidae (formerly placed in Anobiidae), described by Fisher in 1919. The genus Neohedobia is part of the diverse group of anobiid beetles commonly known as deathwatch beetles or furniture beetles. Very little published information exists on the natural history of this particular species, which appears to be rarely collected and poorly represented in entomological collections.
Neossos
Neossos is a genus of acalyptrate flies in the family Heleomyzidae. The genus is rarely collected and contains at least six described species distributed across the Nearctic region and western Europe. Most specimens have been collected from or reared in association with bird nests, where larvae develop as saprophages in nest material. The genus represents a specialized ecological association with avian nesting habitats.
Neossos tombstonensis
Neossos tombstonensis is a recently described species of small acalyptrate fly in the family Heleomyzidae, endemic to the Yukon Territory, Canada. It is the fourth described Nearctic species of the rarely collected genus Neossos. The species is extremely small (1.9–2.1 mm) and was described from only two specimens collected by sweeping vegetation in subarctic habitats. Despite the collection method, the species is hypothesized to be an obligate associate of bird nests based on consistent habits documented across other members of the genus.
Notibius puberulus
Notibius puberulus is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851. The genus Notibius is a small, poorly known group within the large tenebrionid fauna of North America. This species has been recorded from Mexico and appears to be rarely collected, with limited biological information available.
Notopygus
Notopygus is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. The genus is poorly documented in scientific literature, with minimal published information on its biology and species diversity. Based on its placement within Ichneumonidae, members are parasitoid wasps, though specific host associations remain unconfirmed. The genus name refers to the characteristic dorsal abdominal structure, with 'noto-' (back) and 'pygus' (rump) alluding to a distinctive posterior feature.
Occidentodema mcfarlandi
Occidentodema mcfarlandi is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Thomas Henry in 1999. The genus Occidentodema was established to accommodate western North American species previously associated with other genera. This species is part of the diverse Miroidea superfamily, which includes numerous plant-feeding true bugs. Records indicate it is rarely encountered, with limited observational data available.
Ogcodes
small-headed flies, spider flies
Ogcodes is the largest and most speciose genus in the family Acroceridae (small-headed flies), with approximately 90 described species. The genus is cosmopolitan in distribution and is the only extant genus in the subfamily Ogcodinae. All species are endoparasitoids of ground-dwelling entelegyne spiders, with larvae developing inside adult spiders before emerging to pupate.
Ogloblinisca
Ogloblinisca is a genus of chalcidoid wasps in the family Pteromalidae, described by Hedqvist in 1968. It belongs to the subfamily Trigonoderinae and tribe Trigonoderini. Members of this genus are parasitoid wasps, though specific host associations remain poorly documented. The genus is rarely encountered, with only a handful of observations recorded in biodiversity databases.
Oodera
Oodera is the sole genus in the monotypic family Ooderidae, a group of chalcidoid wasps elevated to family rank in 2022. Species range from 3.6 to 17 mm and are distinguished by raptorial forelegs and a mantis-like habitus. Almost all species are parasitoids of xylophagous beetle larvae in families Buprestidae and Curculionidae. The genus occurs in warm regions of the Palearctic, Afrotropical, and Indomalayan realms, with one introduced species in the Nearctic.
Ooderidae
Ooderidae is a monotypic family of chalcidoid wasps containing the single genus Oodera. These wasps are parasitoids of wood-boring beetles, primarily in the families Buprestidae and Curculionidae. They are rarely collected using standard entomological methods and remain poorly known biologically.
Orus fraternus
Orus fraternus is a rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Henry Clinton Fall in 1901. It belongs to the genus Orus within the tribe Lathrobiini. Very little is known about this species beyond its taxonomic placement and type locality in California.
Orussus
Orussus is a genus of parasitic wood wasps in the family Orussidae, comprising approximately 11 described species. These wasps are unique among woodwasps for their parasitoid lifestyle, attacking the immature stages of wood-boring beetles and other wasps. Adults are rarely encountered and have historically been poorly collected, though citizen science platforms have recently helped expand knowledge of their distribution. The genus has undergone significant taxonomic revision, now placed in its own superfamily Orussoidea within the suborder Apocrita.
Ossiannilssonola mcateei
Ossiannilssonola mcateei is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Typhlocybinae. It is a small, delicate insect characteristic of the Typhlocybini tribe. The species was described by Christian in 1953 and is known from scattered records across eastern North America. It belongs to a genus of specialized leafhoppers that feed on plant phloem.
Oxynopterinae
Oxynopterinae is a subfamily of click beetles (Elateridae) containing Oriental genera that are rarely collected. Members are characterized by large body size and distinctive morphological features including serrate antennae. The subfamily includes genera such as Sternocampsus, Campsosternus, Oxynopterus, and Sinuaria. Species within this group are associated with mountainous forest habitats in Southeast Asia and southern China.
Palaeoxenus dohrnii
Dohrn's Elegant Eucnemid Beetle
Palaeoxenus dohrnii is a rarely collected beetle in the family Eucnemidae, commonly known as false click beetles. The species is known from very few observations, with only seven records documented on iNaturalist. Members of Eucnemidae are characterized by their inability to produce the clicking sound that defines true click beetles (Elateridae), despite similar body forms.
Parenthis vestitus
Parenthis vestitus is a species of weevil in the family Curculionidae, first described by Dietz in 1896. Records indicate presence in eastern North America, specifically in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Ontario. The genus Parenthis is a small group within the weevils, and this species appears to be rarely collected based on limited observation records.
Passadenoides
Passadenoides is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, erected by Neunzig in 2003. The genus is known from very few observations and remains poorly documented. Little is known about its species diversity, biology, or ecology.
Phloeonemus
Phloeonemus is a genus of cylindrical bark beetles in the family Zopheridae, established by Erichson in 1845. The genus contains at least three described species: P. catenulatus, P. interruptus, and P. martorelli. These beetles are associated with bark habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. Members of this genus are rarely encountered in collections and field observations.
Phydanis bicolor
Texas Snakeherb Flea Beetle
Phydanis bicolor is a rarely collected flea beetle in the tribe Alticini, subfamily Galerucinae. It is known from Texas and is among the least frequently encountered species of its genus. The species has been documented from very few collections, with recent work providing the first adult host record.
Physemus minutus
minute marsh-loving beetle
Physemus minutus is a minute marsh-loving beetle in the family Limnichidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1854. This small beetle is known from limited records across Central America and North America. Like other members of the Limnichidae family, it is associated with wetland and marsh habitats. The species is rarely encountered and poorly documented in scientific literature.
Platylabops faciens
Platylabops faciens is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Ichneumoninae. The species was described by Townes in 1971. It belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive labial morphology. Like other ichneumonids, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations remain undocumented.
Plunomia
Plunomia is a genus of flies in the family Chamaemyiidae, described by Curran in 1934. Members of this family are commonly known as aphid flies or chammy flies, many of which are predators or parasitoids of aphids and other Homoptera. The genus is rarely encountered and poorly represented in collections, with only two observations recorded on iNaturalist. Chamaemyiidae as a whole are small, delicate flies that occupy a specialized ecological niche as biological control agents.
Polyctenidae
Polyctenid Bat Bugs
Polyctenidae is a small family of parasitic true bugs comprising 32 described species in five genera and two subfamilies. These insects are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites of bats, exhibiting high host specificity suggestive of co-evolution. The family is sister to Cimicidae (bed bugs) within the superfamily Cimicoidea. Subfamily Polycteninae occurs in the Eastern Hemisphere (Africa, Asia, Australia), while Hesperocteninae is restricted to the Western Hemisphere (North and South America).
Proceratium
Hairy Curltail Ants
Proceratium is a rare genus of ants in the subfamily Proceratiinae and the type genus of tribe Proceratiini. These ants are distributed across temperate and tropical regions worldwide but are infrequently collected due to their cryptobiotic lifestyle. Colonies are small, typically containing fewer than 200 individuals. Some species are specialist predators of arthropod eggs, particularly spider eggs. The genus is notable for its ability to curl the abdomen dorsally more than 90 degrees relative to the body axis.
Proceratium crassicorne
Fat Curltail Ant
Proceratium crassicorne is a rarely encountered ant species described by Emery in 1895. It belongs to the genus Proceratium, a group of specialized predatory ants known for their distinctive elongated petiole and furtive foraging habits. The species epithet 'crassicorne' refers to its notably thick antennae. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a cryptic predator with specific habitat requirements, though detailed biological studies remain limited.
Prorates
Prorates is a genus of small predatory flies in the family Scenopinidae (window flies), established by Melander in 1906. The genus belongs to the subfamily Proratinae, which is characterized by distinctive morphological features and predatory habits. Members of this genus are poorly known biologically, with limited published information on their ecology and behavior. The genus is distinguished from other scenopinid genera primarily by structural characteristics of the head, antennae, and male terminalia.
Pschornia striata
Pschornia striata is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Proctotrupidae, described by Townes in 1981. Members of this family are typically small, rarely encountered parasitoids whose biology remains poorly documented. The genus Pschornia was established to accommodate species with distinctive morphological features separating them from related proctotrupid genera.
Pselaphomimus
Pselaphomimus is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Osoriinae. It was established by Bruch in 1942 and belongs to the tribe Thoracophorini. The genus is rarely encountered in collections and biological literature, with minimal published information on its species composition and natural history.
Pseudoleria parvitarsus
Pseudoleria parvitarsus is a species of fly in the family Heleomyzidae, described by Garrett in 1925. It belongs to a small genus of flies whose biology remains poorly documented. The species name "parvitarsus" refers to reduced or small tarsal structures. Very few records of this species exist in public databases.