Scavenger

Guides

• Abacion magnum

  crested millipede

  Abacion magnum is a crested millipede species in the family Abacionidae, first described by Loomis in 1943. It is native to North America and is characterized by defensive chemical secretions containing p-cresol. In captivity, it has been observed to feed on dead insects and conspecifics, indicating opportunistic scavenging behavior.

  millipedecrested-millipedechemical-defensescavengerNorth-America

• Acylophorus caseyi

  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.

  rove-beetleStaphylinidaeNorth-Americaforest-floorpredatorscavengerColeopteraStaphylininaeStaphylininiAcylophorinaLeng-1920

• Aglossa caprealis

  Stored grain moth

  Aglossa caprealis, commonly known as the stored grain moth, is a pyralid moth of presumably western Palearctic origin that has achieved global distribution through human commerce. Adults are small moths with a wingspan of 23–27 mm, flying during summer months. The species is notable for its remarkably broad larval diet, which extends beyond typical stored products to include decaying organic matter and fatty animal materials.

  stored-product-pestcosmopolitanscavengerpyralidgrain-pest

• Amblyderus adventive-sp

  A small histerid beetle of the genus Amblyderus, recognized as an adventive species in certain regions. Members of this genus are generally associated with decaying organic matter and are often found in dung, carrion, or compost habitats. The specific epithet 'adventive-sp' suggests this represents a non-native or recently introduced population. As with many histerids, it likely serves as a predator or scavenger in decomposing substrates.

  ColeopteraHisteridaeadventivescavengerdecomposerhister-beetle

• Anatrachyntis badia

  Florida Pink Scavenger

  A small scavenger moth with a 9–10 mm wingspan, native to the southern United States and introduced to Europe and Hawaii. Larvae feed on decaying plant material, dried fruit, and sooty mold, occasionally causing superficial damage to citrus rinds. First described by Ronald W. Hodges in 1962.

  scavengerpestintroduced-speciesdecomposerfruit-associated

• Anostostomatidae

  wētā, king crickets

  Anostostomatidae is a family of large, nocturnal orthopterans in the superfamily Stenopelmatoidea, distributed across the southern hemisphere in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the Americas. Members are commonly known as king crickets in Australia and South Africa, and wētā in New Zealand. The family exhibits considerable size variation, with some species exceeding 8 cm in length. Many species are flightless, though winged forms occur in some Australian and Asian genera. The family is notable for diverse feeding strategies including herbivory, scavenging, predation, and specialized fungal feeding.

  orthopteraensiferastenopelmatoideanocturnalsouthern-hemispherewetaking-cricketsvibrational-communicationflightlessconservationgondwanaherbivorepredatorscavengersexual-dimorphismextended-life-cycleNew-ZealandAustraliaSouth-Africa

• Anthrenus fuscus

  Mill Carpet Beetle

  Anthrenus fuscus is a small carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae, commonly known as the Mill Carpet Beetle. It occurs in North America and Europe, with populations in southern Britain showing peak abundance near agricultural areas. Adults are found on flowers during summer months, while larvae feed on dead insects in natural habitats such as spiders' webs and under tree bark. The species exhibits sharply defined habitat separation from the closely related A. verbasci.

  carpet-beetledermestidscavengerflower-visitorEuropeNorth-AmericaBritainagricultural-areasnatural-habitatsdead-insect-feederhabitat-specialistA.-verbasci-complex

• Anthrenus lepidus

  Anthrenus lepidus is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae. It is a small beetle found in North America, with adults measuring 2-4 mm in length. Like other members of the genus Anthrenus, it is a household pest whose larvae feed on dried animal products including wool, silk, feathers, and keratin-based materials. The species is part of a group of cosmopolitan pests that have spread worldwide through international commerce.

  pesthousehold-pestmuseum-peststored-product-pestkeratin-feederscavengerNorth-America

• Anurida maritima

  seashore springtail, rock springtail

  Anurida maritima is a cosmopolitan springtail confined to the intertidal zone, where it forms dense aggregations of up to several hundred individuals on rock-pool surfaces. This wingless collembolan exhibits unique adaptations to marine conditions, including a vestigial furcula that prevents jumping and hydrophobic body hairs that enable it to remain on water surfaces. The species demonstrates complex behavioral rhythms synchronized with tidal cycles and survives winter through egg diapause. Recent genetic studies have revealed cryptic speciation within this morphospecies, with distinct mitochondrial and nuclear lineages now recognized.

  springtailcollembolanintertidalmarineaggregationdiapausecircatidal-rhythmcryptic-speciesendosymbiontscavengerrock-pooltidal-marsh

• Aphaenogaster tennesseensis

  Tennessee Collared Ant, Tennessee Spine-waisted Ant

  Aphaenogaster tennesseensis is a medium-sized ant species in the family Formicidae, commonly known as the Tennessee Collared Ant or Tennessee Spine-waisted Ant. It belongs to the genus Aphaenogaster, a diverse group of ants found primarily in temperate and subtropical regions. The species has been documented in the eastern United States, with records from Vermont and other states. Workers have been observed foraging on fungi and scavenging dead or injured insects.

  anthymenopteraformicidaemyrmicinaeaphaenogasterscavengerfungus-associatedeastern-united-states

• Attagenus bicolor

  carpet beetle

  Attagenus bicolor is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae, subfamily Attageninae. It is known from the southwestern and western United States, specifically Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with dried organic materials, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.

  ColeopteraDermestidaecarpet-beetleUnited-StatesSouthweststored-product-pestscavenger

• Attagenus schaefferi

  carpet beetle

  Attagenus schaefferi is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae, distributed across North America. It belongs to the subfamily Attageninae and is one of nine Attagenus species recognized north of Mexico. The species was originally described as Megatoma schaeferi by Herbst in 1792. Two subspecies have been recognized: A. s. hypar Beal, 1970 and A. s. spurcus LeConte, 1874. Like other carpet beetles, it is commonly associated with dried animal products and household environments.

  pesthousehold-peststored-product-pestfabric-pestscavengerdermestidcarpet-beetleNorth-America

• Attagenus unicolor

  black carpet beetle

  Attagenus unicolor, the black carpet beetle, is a 3–5 millimeter beetle in the family Dermestidae. It is considered the most destructive carpet beetle species in the United States. The larval stage causes damage to household fabrics, furniture, and stored products by feeding on natural fibers and dried animal materials. Adults feed on flower pollen. The species has both economic and minor medical significance due to the irritating hairs of larvae, which can cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

  pesthousehold-peststored-product-pestdermatitisscavengerbiocontrol-research

• Bathynomus

  Giant Isopods, Supergiant Isopods, Sea Bugs (Vietnamese: bọ biển)

  Bathynomus is a genus of supergiant deep-sea isopods in the family Cirolanidae, containing nearly 20 described species. These crustaceans are among the largest isopods in the world, with some species exceeding 30 cm in length and 1 kg in weight. They inhabit cold, deep waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, typically at depths of 400–2,300 m. Several species have become commercially fished as seafood, particularly in Vietnam, where they are known as "bọ biển" or "sea bugs."

  deep-seascavengercommercial-fisherygigantismconservationtaxonomyVietnamSouth-China-Seametabolic-adaptationdisease-in-captivity

• Ceuthophilus caudelli

  Ceuthophilus caudelli is a species of camel cricket in the family Rhaphidophoridae, first described by Hubbell in 1936. It belongs to a genus of approximately 90 native North American camel cricket species. Like other members of its genus, it is wingless, nocturnal, and associated with cool, damp habitats. The species is found in the southwestern United States.

  camel-cricketcave-cricketwinglessnocturnalscavengerbasement-dwelling

• Ceuthophilus conicaudus

  conical-tailed camel cricket

  Ceuthophilus conicaudus is a species of camel cricket in the family Rhaphidophoridae, first described by Hubbell in 1936. It belongs to a genus of approximately 90 North American species commonly known as camel crickets or cave crickets. The specific epithet 'conicaudus' refers to a conical tail, distinguishing this species from relatives. Like other Ceuthophilus species, it is wingless, nocturnal, and associated with cool, damp habitats.

  camel-cricketcave-cricketwinglessnocturnalNorth-Americascavenger

• Ceuthophilus fusiformis

  Fusiform Camel Cricket

  Ceuthophilus fusiformis, the fusiform camel cricket, is a species of camel cricket native to North America, particularly the Central Plains. It is one of approximately 90 species in the genus Ceuthophilus, which represents the most common native camel crickets in North America. The species is characterized by its spindle-shaped (fusiform) body and coloration ranging from brown to tan and orange. Like other camel crickets, it is wingless, nocturnal, and adapted to dark, moist habitats.

  camel-cricketcave-cricketwinglessnocturnalscavengerCentral-Plainsnative

• Ceuthophilus guttulosus angulosus

  Camel cricket, Cave cricket

  Ceuthophilus guttulosus angulosus is a subspecies of camel cricket in the family Rhaphidophoridae. As a member of the genus Ceuthophilus, it shares traits with other American camel crickets: wingless adults, humpbacked appearance, and elongated antennae adapted for navigation in dark environments. This subspecies has been documented in several eastern and midwestern U.S. states. Like other camel crickets, it is primarily associated with cool, damp, dark habitats and is nocturnal in activity.

  camel-cricketcave-cricketwinglessnocturnalscavengerbasementcaveRhaphidophoridaeCeuthophilussubspecieseastern-United-Statesmidwestern-United-States

• Ceuthophilus guttulosus nigricans

  Ceuthophilus guttulosus nigricans is a subspecies of camel cricket in the family Rhaphidophoridae. Like other members of the genus Ceuthophilus, it is wingless, nocturnal, and adapted to dark, humid environments. The subspecies designation indicates darker coloration compared to the nominate form. It has been recorded in the eastern United States from Indiana to North Carolina.

  camel-cricketcave-cricketsubspecieseastern-USwinglessnocturnalscavengercave-dwellingRhaphidophoridaeCeuthophilus

• Ceuthophilus guttulosus thomasi

  Utah camel cricket

  Ceuthophilus guttulosus thomasi is a subspecies of camel cricket in the family Rhaphidophoridae. It is a native North American camel cricket belonging to the genus Ceuthophilus, which includes approximately 90 species. The subspecies was described by Hubbell in 1936. Like other camel crickets, it is wingless, nocturnal, and adapted to dark, damp environments. It is found in the eastern United States, with records from Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, New York, and Ohio.

  camel-cricketcave-cricketRhaphidophoridaewinglessnocturnalbasement-pestscavengernative-specieseastern-United-States

• Ceuthophilus nodulosus

  camel cricket, cave cricket

  Ceuthophilus nodulosus is a species of camel cricket in the family Rhaphidophoridae. It is a wingless, humpbacked insect with exceptionally long antennae adapted for navigating dark environments. The species is found in North America, with records from Missouri, New Mexico, and Texas. Like other members of its genus, it inhabits cool, damp, dark microhabitats and is primarily nocturnal.

  camel-cricketcave-cricketRhaphidophoridaewinglessnocturnalscavengersubterranean

• Ceuthophilus pallidus

  plains camel cricket

  Ceuthophilus pallidus, the plains camel cricket, is a native North American camel cricket in the family Rhaphidophoridae. It is distinguished from other Ceuthophilus species by its pale coloration and association with plains and grassland habitats rather than caves. The species is wingless and nocturnal, with exceptionally long antennae adapted for navigation in dark environments. It belongs to a genus of approximately 90 North American species, many of which are habitat specialists.

  camel-cricketplainsgrasslandwinglessnocturnalscavengerRhaphidophoridaeCeuthophilusnativeNorth-AmericaGreat-Plains

• Ceuthophilus stygius

  Kentucky cave cricket, cave camel cricket, Stygian Cave Cricket

  Ceuthophilus stygius is a camel cricket in the family Rhaphidophoridae, commonly known as the Kentucky cave cricket or Stygian Cave Cricket. It is native to North America, with records from the southeastern United States and Indiana. As a member of the genus Ceuthophilus, it shares traits with other cave crickets including elongated antennae, powerful jumping legs, and adaptation to dark, damp environments. The species has been studied for its metabolic and water economy physiology in relation to body size and temperature.

  cave-cricketcamel-cricketcave-dwellingwinglessscavengerdecomposerhousehold-pest

• Ceuthophilus uhleri

  Uhler's camel cricket

  Ceuthophilus uhleri is a North American species of camel cricket in the family Rhaphidophoridae. Like other members of its genus, it is wingless and possesses exceptionally long antennae adapted for navigating dark environments. The species is found in the eastern and central United States, with records from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri. It inhabits cool, damp, dark microhabitats and is primarily nocturnal.

  camel-cricketcave-cricketwinglessnocturnalscavengerbasement-inhabitantNorth-America

• Ceuthophilus utahensis

  Utah camel cricket

  Ceuthophilus utahensis, the Utah camel cricket, is a wingless orthopteran in the family Rhaphidophoridae. The species is native to western North America, with documented occurrences in Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. Like other camel crickets, it is adapted to dark, moist microhabitats. The species was described by Thomas in 1876.

  cave-cricketwinglessnocturnalscavengerwestern-North-Americasubterranean

• Chiridotea coeca

  sand isopod, Surf Sandmole

  Chiridotea coeca is a marine isopod crustacean commonly known as the sand isopod or Surf Sandmole. It inhabits sandy substrates in the western Atlantic Ocean, where it constructs burrows and exhibits distinctive swimming behavior when displaced. Adults reach approximately 15 mm in length and are specialized for fossorial life in intertidal and shallow subtidal zones.

  marineisopodscavengerburrowingAtlanticintertidal

• Cirolanidae

  Cirolanidae is a family of aquatic isopod crustaceans established by Dana in 1852. The family encompasses approximately 70 genera and over 500 species, ranging from small interstitial forms to the supergiant deep-sea isopods of the genus Bathynomus that can exceed 30 cm in length. Members occupy diverse aquatic habitats including marine coastal waters, deep-sea environments, freshwater systems, and subterranean groundwater. The family is characterized by dorsoventrally flattened bodies and includes both free-living and troglobitic species.

  CrustaceaIsopodaAquaticMarineFreshwaterSubterraneanDeep-seaScavengerTroglobiteBenthic

• Coelopa vanduzeei

  kelp fly

  Coelopa vanduzeei is a species of kelp fly in the family Coelopidae, a group of flies specialized for life in coastal environments. Like other members of this family, it is associated with decaying marine vegetation. The species was described by Cresson in 1914.

  DipteraCoelopidaekelp-flymarinecoastalscavengerdecomposerNorth-AmericaCresson-1914

• Coenomyia ferruginea

  Stink Fly

  Coenomyia ferruginea, commonly known as the stink fly, is a species of fly in the family Xylophagidae. The family name derives from Greek roots meaning "wood-eating," referring to the larval habit of developing in dead and decaying wood. Adults are large, brown, and slow-moving flies that can be mistaken for beetles at first glance. The species occurs across Europe and North America. Formerly classified as a subfamily of Rhagionidae (snipe flies), Xylophagidae is now recognized as a distinct family closely related to Tabanidae (horse and deer flies).

  DipteraXylophagidaewood-associatedscavengerpredatorEuropeNorth-Americaslow-moving-flybeetle-mimicry-appearancestink-flyCoenomyia-ferrugineaMusca-ferrugineaScopoli-1763larvae-in-decaying-woodformerly-Rhagionidae-subfamilyTabanomorphaBrachycera

• Cymothoida

  Predaceous and Parasitic Isopods

  Cymothoida is a suborder of isopod crustaceans comprising more than 2,700 described species across four superfamilies. Members are predominantly carnivorous or parasitic, distinguished by specialized mouthparts including a mandible with a tooth-like process adapted for cutting or slicing. The group includes diverse lifestyles ranging from free-living scavengers to obligate parasites of fish and crustaceans.

  marineparasiticcarnivorousscavengerisopodcrustacean

• Cyphomyrmex

  fungus-growing ants

  Cyphomyrmex is a genus of small, drab-colored fungus-growing ants in the tribe Attini, found primarily in the Neotropics. These ants cultivate fungi in the tribe Leucocoprineae as their primary food source, with most species growing fungal nodules rather than full mycelial gardens. Colonies are typically monogynous and small, rarely exceeding 500 workers. The genus is divided into two species complexes: the strigatus complex (South America only) and the rimosus complex (southern North America to South America). Cyphomyrmex represents a basal lineage among attine ants and serves as sister group to Mycetophylax.

  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• Derallus altus

  Derallus altus is a water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, distributed across the Americas from the United States through Central and South America to the Caribbean. As a member of the tribe Berosini, it inhabits aquatic or semi-aquatic environments where it contributes to nutrient cycling through scavenging behavior. The species was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1855 and has been recorded in at least 12 U.S. states and multiple countries across the Neotropics.

  ColeopteraHydrophilidaewater-scavenger-beetleaquatic-beetleNeotropicalNearcticfreshwaterscavengerBerosini

• Dermestes

  skin beetles, hide beetles, larder beetles

  Dermestes is a globally distributed genus of beetles in the family Dermestidae, comprising approximately 92 species. These beetles are specialized scavengers of dead and dried animal material, with larvae feeding on carrion, dried meat and fish, bone, hair, skin, and feathers. The genus has significant economic and forensic importance: larvae are destructive pests of museum specimens and stored products, yet are also deliberately employed to clean flesh from skeletons in taxidermy and forensic contexts. Some species assist in estimating postmortem intervals in criminal investigations.

  forensic-entomologymuseum-peststored-product-pestcarrion-beetlekeratin-feedertaxidermybone-cleaningscavengerdecomposer

• Dermestes caninus

  carpet beetle

  Dermestes caninus is a carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae, found in North America and Oceania. The species has been studied for forensic importance alongside the more well-known Dermestes maculatus, though it has little biological information available and no published case report records. Research indicates intraspecific larval aggregation behavior and diet type significantly affect its life-history traits.

  forensic-entomologydermestidcarpet-beetlescavengerNorth-AmericaOceania

• Dermestes fasciatus

  carpet beetle

  Dermestes fasciatus is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae. It is found in North America. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with decomposing animal matter, though specific ecological details for this species are poorly documented.

  carpet-beetledermestidscavengerNorth-AmericaColeoptera

• Dermestes lardarius

  larder beetle, moisture bug, bacon beetle

  Dermestes lardarius, commonly known as the larder beetle or bacon beetle, is a cosmopolitan pest of stored animal products. Adults measure 7–9 mm and are distinguished by a broad yellowish band with three black dots across dark brown elytra. The species completes its life cycle in 40–50 days under optimal conditions but typically produces one generation per year. Both larvae and adults feed on dried meats, pet food, hides, feathers, cheese, and museum specimens.

  stored-product-pesthousehold-pestmuseum-pestcosmopolitandermestidscavenger

• Dermestes marmoratus

  common carrion beetle

  Dermestes marmoratus, commonly known as the common carrion beetle, is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae. It is found in North America, with records from southern California through the southwest, southern Rocky Mountains, and Great Plains states. The species is associated with carrion and bones in advanced stages of decomposition, where it feeds on dried animal remains.

  carriondecompositionscavengerdermestidbonesforensic-entomology

• Dermestes nidum

  Dermestes nidum is a species of hide beetle in the family Dermestidae, described by Arrow in 1915. Like other members of the genus Dermestes, it is a scavenger associated with decomposing animal matter. The species is present in North America, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in published literature.

  dermestidaecoleopterascavengernorth-americahide-beetleskin-beetle

• Dermestes pulcher

  Dermestes pulcher is a species of hide beetle in the family Dermestidae, first described by LeConte in 1854. Like other members of the genus Dermestes, this species is associated with carrion and decomposing animal matter. The species has been recorded in North America from Canada (Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Québec), though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.

  dermestidaehide-beetlecarrion-beetlescavengerdecomposernorth-americacoleopterapoorly-known-species

• Dermestes rattus

  Dermestes rattus is a species of hide beetle in the family Dermestidae, described by LeConte in 1854. The species is currently listed as taxonomically doubtful in major databases. As a member of the genus Dermestes, it belongs to a group of scavenging beetles commonly employed in forensic entomology and museum specimen preparation for cleaning skeletal remains. The specific biology and ecology of D. rattus remain poorly documented compared to better-known congeners such as D. maculatus and D. lardarius.

  dermestidhide-beetlescavengerNorth-Americataxonomically-doubtfuldata-deficient

• Dermestes sardous

  Dermestes sardous is a species of hide beetle in the family Dermestidae, a group of scavengers important as stored product pests, ecosystem recyclers, and forensic tools. Like other members of the genus Dermestes, this species is associated with carrion and dried animal remains. The species is known from North America, including the conterminous United States. As part of the subfamily Dermestinae, it shares the general characteristics of the genus: elongated body form, clubbed antennae, and association with decomposing animal matter.

  dermestidhide-beetlecarrion-beetlescavengerdecomposerNorth-America

• Dermestes talpinus

  hide and tallow dermestid

  Dermestes talpinus, commonly known as the hide and tallow dermestid, is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae. It is native to North America and has been documented from dry bones and carrion in advanced stages of decomposition. The species is smaller than many congeners and can be distinguished by its distinctive scale pattern: gold or coppery scales on the pronotum and silvery scales on the elytra.

  dermestidcarpet-beetlehide-beetlescavengercarrion-associatedNorth-Americadecomposerbone-associated

• Diestrammena

  Asian camel cricket, cave cricket, greenhouse camel cricket

  Diestrammena is a genus of camel crickets (family Rhaphidophoridae) native to Asia, including Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Several species have become invasive in North America, particularly in residential basements, garages, and caves. These wingless crickets are characterized by their humpbacked appearance, extraordinarily long antennae, and powerful jumping legs. Research has shown that Asian camel crickets now dominate indoor environments in many parts of the eastern United States, having largely displaced native camel cricket species.

  camel-cricketcave-cricketinvasive-speciesbasement-pestAsiaNorth-Americacave-ecosystemscavengerwinglessautotomygut-microbiomekeystone-speciesDiestrammena-japanicaDiestrammena-asynamoraTachycines-asynamorusRhaphidophoridaeOrthopteranocturnalthigmotaxisurban-ecologycave-adaptationmorphological-plasticitycompetitive-displacementgreenhouse-pestfish-bait

• Diestrammena asynamora

  Greenhouse camel cricket, Asian camel cricket, Greenhouse stone cricket

  Diestrammena asynamora, commonly known as the greenhouse camel cricket or Asian camel cricket, is a wingless orthopteran native to China and other parts of Asia. First detected in the United States in a Minnesota greenhouse in 1898, it has become the dominant camel cricket species in human dwellings across eastern North America, now comprising over 90% of camel crickets found in homes in regions like Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. This species thrives in dark, damp, cool environments including basements, crawl spaces, caves, and tool sheds.

  camel-cricketinvasive-specieshousehold-pestcave-cricketbasement-dwellerwinglessjumperscavengerAsia-nativeNorth-America-introduced

• Diestrammena japanica

  Japanese camel cricket

  Diestrammena japanica is a species of camel cricket native to Japan. It has been identified as an invasive species in the eastern United States, where it has been observed in homes, particularly in the Northeast. In its native range in China, it serves as a keystone scavenger species in karst cave ecosystems, inhabiting all light zones from cave entrances to deep dark regions. Research indicates its morphology varies with light intensity, with individuals in light regions being significantly larger than those in dark cave zones.

  invasive-speciescamel-cricketcave-cricketscavengerbasement-pestAsian-camel-cricketkarst-cave-ecosystemgut-microbiomeautotomythigmotaxis

• Drosophila deflecta

  Drosophila deflecta is a fruit fly species in the Drosophila quinaria species group, first described by Malloch & McAtee in 1924. The species is notable for its specialized larval ecology: larvae function as scavengers on Nuphar water lilies. Unlike the well-studied invasive relative Drosophila suzukii, D. deflecta has received limited research attention and is known from few observations.

  Drosophila-quinaria-species-groupaquaticscavengerwater-lilyNuphar

• Excirolana chiltoni

  sand piranha

  Excirolana chiltoni is a small intertidal isopod, commonly called 'sand piranha,' inhabiting sandy beaches of the Pacific Rim from Japan and Korea to Colombia. Adults reach approximately 8 mm in length and form dense aggregations exceeding 1,000 individuals. The species exhibits ovoviviparous reproduction with direct development, a 2-year lifespan, and pronounced spatial segregation during breeding.

  isopodcirolanidintertidalsandy-beachscavengerovoviviparousPacific-distributiontidal-migrationswarming

• Flexamia huroni

  Huron River Leafhopper

  Flexamia huroni is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, described by Bess & Hamilton in 1999. It belongs to the genus Flexamia, a group of leafhoppers known for their specialized host plant associations with grasses. The species is named after the Huron River in Michigan, where it was first collected. Like other members of the genus, it likely exhibits strong ecological dependence on specific grass host plants.

  leafhoppercicadellidaedeltocephalinaeparalimniniflexamiagrass-specialistmichigan-endemicauchenorrhynchahemipterainsectaarthropodaanimaliatrue-bugplanthopper-relative1999-descriptionbesshamiltonhuronihuron-riverusanorth-americagrassland-insecthost-specificpoorly-knownrareuncommondata-deficientgbifcatalogue-of-lifencbiinaturalisttaxonspeciesacceptedhexapodacicadomorphaclypeatamembracoideaparalimninaflexamia-huronibess-&-hamilton1999exact-matchaccepted-namecanonical-namescientific-nameauthorshiprankstatusmatchedtaxonomyclassificationeukaryotametazoadistributionmichiganobservations0wikipedianonepreferred-common-namehuron-river-leafhoppertrue-bugsgroupkingdomphylumclassorderfamilygenusauthorityiptintegrated-publishing-toolkitbiodiversity-data-journalzookeysnature-conservationcomparative-cytogeneticsopen-accessopen-accessjournalpublicationdatasetspecimentypenomenclatural-typeherbariumuniversity-of-granadaspainfungilichensagaricalescortinariusantonio-ortegamediterraneanfranceitalyimage-collectioncolección-de-imágenes-de-los-tipos-nomenclaturales-de-hongoslíquenesmusgos-y-algasgdagdacvizosoquesada2015doi10.3897bdj3e5204new-speciesnew-jersey-pine-barrensmuhlenbergia-torreyanapinebarren-smokegrassthreatened-speciesandrew-hicksmuseum-of-natural-historyuniversity-of-coloradogerry-moorenatural-resources-conservation-servicegreensboronculi-lorimerbrooklyn-botanic-gardenf.-whitcombirobert-whitcombmicrobiologyornithologyecologyhost-plantwarming-climatehuman-activitieszookeys-51169-79zookeys.511.9572roundwormnematodeantarcticamblydorylaimus-isokaryonipararhyssocolpus-paradoxusbulgariascanning-electron-microscopysemmaritime-antarcticantarctic-islandslip-regionspearvulvapostembryonic-developmentmolecular-analysesdorylaimidaelshishkalazarovaradoslavovhristovpeneva25-68zookeys.511.9793anidiv2bulgarian-academy-of-sciencesnational-scientific-fundoctocoralokinawajapannanipora-kamurailiving-fossilblue-coralhelioporaaragonite-calcium-carbonateskeletonscleractinianssoft-coralheliporacealithotelestidaeepiphaxumdeep-seashallow-coral-reefzamami-islandnational-parkmiyazakireimer1-23zookeys.511.9432non-biting-midgechironomusch.-bernensisnorth-caucasusrussiacaucasian-populationseuropesiberiakaryotypemorphologymouthpartslarvaechromosomegenotypic-combinationsmineralizationeutrophicationkarmokovpolukonovasinichkinatembotov-institute-of-ecology-of-mountain-territoriessaratov-state-medical-universitycomparative-cytogenetics-9281-297compcytogen.v9i3.4519sea-turtlerescue-centrefirst-aid-stationloggerheadgreen-turtlecaretta-carettachelonia-mydasbycatchmortalitygreecemigrationsexual-maturityullmannstachowitschuit-the-arctic-university-of-norwaynature-conservation-1045-69natureconservation.10.4890regional-activity-centre-for-specially-protected-areasporcupinecoendou-ichilluslower-urubambaperucanopy-bridgepipelinenatural-gasarborealcamera-trapdwarf-porcupineiquitos770ggregorylundezamora-mezacarrasco-ruedarepsol-exploración-perúzookeys-509109-121zookeys.509.9821antprionopeltamadagascarseychellessubterraneanleaf-litterdracula-anthemolymphlarval-hemolymph-feedingoophagymadagascar-biodiversity-centeroversonfisherzookeys-507115-150zookeys.507.9303itobillenmasukospideranelosimussubsocialcobweb-spidertheridiidaedeforestationbiodiversity-hotspotagnarssonuniversity-of-vermontsmithsonian-national-museum-of-natural-historywallacehuxleybuffonhookerlamarckdarwinmoramoraeriophyoid-miteacarixinjiangchinarosaceaeparacolomerusgallji-wei-liwangxuezhangzookeys-50897-111zookeys.508.8940shihezi-universitygrasshopperwyomingmelanoplusmelanoplinaeacrididaetetrigidaegomphocerniaeoedipodinaecyrtacanthacridinaedistribution-atlasfield-guidewgiswyoming-grasshopper-information-systemkeycapinerasechristhebardhelferscudderblatchleythomassayharrisdegeerbrunersaussuregirarddodgewalkerfieberfabriciusservillemcneilltinkhamburmeisterhaldemanbig-horn-mountainsblack-hillsgladstonindigensinfantilisdodgeioregonensismarshalliyellowstone-national-parksagebrushpineelevationshortgrass-prairiemixedgrass-prairieforbgrasseconomic-damagerangelandbenefitoverwinteregghatchadultlate-summeraugustoctoberjunelife-cyclefood-habitsizecollectionsurveyunderreportedcommonendemicrestricted-rangeforest-openinggrassymoderate-elevationlargersmallereastwestunited-statesamericanorthsouthcentralrangeextentlimitedrestrictedabundantpopulationdensityoccurrencepresenceabsencehabitatenvironmentconditionaltitudetopographyterrainvegetationplantshrubtreeforestopeningmeadowprairiesteppesavannawoodlanddrawslopeaspectsoilsubstratemoisturetemperatureclimateweatherseasonphenologytimingactivitynymphemergemoltdevelopgrowreproducemateovipositdiegenerationvoltinismunivoltinebivoltinemultivoltinesemivoltinediapauseaestivationhibernationdispersalmovementbehaviorhabitactionfeedingdietfoodhostassociationrelationshipinteractionspecialistgeneralistmonophagyoligophagypolyphagyherbivoredetritivorepredatorparasitoidscavengereconomic-importancepestbeneficialneutraldamagecontrolmanagementconservationthreatenedendangeredvulnerablesecureunknownglobal-biodiversity-information-facilityesbiodiversity-image-portalspanish-collectionstype-specimenlichenantarcticabernensisliyellowstone

• Hister depurator

  clown beetle

  Hister depurator is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by Thomas Say in 1825. It is found in North America, with records from eastern Canada and across much of the United States. Like other hister beetles, it is likely predaceous, feeding on small arthropods in decaying organic matter. The species is rarely encountered in collections, with only two observations documented on iNaturalist.

  clown-beetlehister-beetleNorth-Americapredatorscavenger

• Hybosoridae

  scavenger scarab beetles, scavenger and pill scarab beetles

  Hybosoridae is a family of scarabaeiform beetles comprising over 600 species in 78 extant genera. Members are small (5–7 mm), oval beetles with distinctive antennae bearing a deeply grooved 8th antennomere that houses the 9th and 10th segments. The family was historically recognized as distinct based on unique larval characteristics, particularly the stridulatory behavior of rubbing front legs against the epipharynx margin. Formerly, the family Ceratocanthidae was merged into Hybosoridae, expanding its constituency.

  scarabaeiformscavengerstridulationcarrion-feedingflightlessconglobationtropicalfossil-record