Salt-tolerant
Guides
Coccinella undecimpunctata
eleven-spot ladybird, eleven-spotted lady beetle, eleven-spotted ladybird beetle
Coccinella undecimpunctata, commonly known as the eleven-spot ladybird or eleven-spotted lady beetle, is a small predatory beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It is endemic to the Palearctic region and has been introduced to Australia and New Zealand as a biological control agent. The species is distinguished by eleven black spots on its red or orange elytra, though one central spot creates the appearance of six spots per elytron. It is an effective predator of aphids and is used in integrated pest management programs.
Mesovelia polhemusi
Mesovelia polhemusi is a marine water treader (family Mesoveliidae) described from Belize in 1990. It occupies a highly specialized habitat in tidal mangrove forests, an environment where few other aquatic insects occur. The species has been documented in southern Florida, expanding its known range beyond the type locality. It was named in honor of heteropteran specialist John T. Polhemus.
Ochlerotatus togoi
Ochlerotatus togoi is a salt-tolerant euryhaline mosquito that inhabits coastal rock pools with salinities ranging from freshwater to seawater. It is a known vector of flaviviruses and filarial worms affecting humans, including Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia species. Rising sea levels have expanded its suitable habitat, increasing public health concerns in coastal regions. Laboratory studies show complex salinity-dependent life history traits: highest oviposition preference occurs in freshwater, yet optimal adult development occurs at moderate salinities around 25 psu.
Phaleria testacea
Phaleria testacea is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, described by Thomas Say in 1824. The species belongs to the subfamily Phaleriinae, a group commonly associated with coastal and intertidal habitats. Records indicate presence in Colombia and Mexico. As a member of Phaleria, it is part of a genus adapted to saline environments.
Saldidae
Shore bugs
Saldidae is a family of true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) commonly known as shore bugs. Adults are small (2–8 mm), oval-shaped insects associated with shoreline habitats. The family comprises approximately 350 described species in 39 genera and 2 subfamilies (Chiloxanthinae and Saldinae), with highest diversity in the Nearctic and Palearctic regions. Members are predators and scavengers, and many species tolerate submergence during high tides. Winter survival occurs through egg or adult diapause.