Sexual-dimorphism
Guides
Monochamus scutellatus
white-spotted sawyer, spruce sawyer, spruce bug, hair-eater
Monochamus scutellatus is a large cerambycid beetle native to North America, commonly known as the white-spotted sawyer. Adults are notable for extreme sexual dimorphism in antennae length, with male antennae reaching up to twice body length. The species colonizes stressed, dying, or recently dead conifers, showing strong preference for burned forest habitats. Larvae develop as wood-borers, creating galleries in phloem, cambium, and sapwood. Adults emerge mid-June to mid-August and feed on conifer bark and foliage before mating.
Mutillidae
Velvet Ants, Hairy Ants, Panda Ants
Mutillidae, commonly known as velvet ants, are a family of solitary wasps comprising over 3,000 described species. Despite their common name, they are not ants but wingless female wasps that resemble large, hairy ants. The family exhibits striking sexual dimorphism: females are apterous (wingless), brightly colored, and possess a powerful sting, while males are winged and generally darker in coloration. Velvet ants are parasitoids of ground-nesting bees and wasps, with females actively searching for host nests to lay eggs on or near the host pupae or larvae. They form one of the world's largest known Müllerian mimicry complexes, with numerous species sharing aposematic red, orange, or yellow and black coloration to warn predators of their potent defensive capabilities.
Myllocerus
oriental broad-nosed weevils, ash weevils, grey weevils, Sri Lankan weevils
Myllocerus is a large genus of oriental broad-nosed weevils in the family Curculionidae, comprising at least 330 described species. Species within this genus are predominantly distributed across the Indian subcontinent and surrounding regions, with several species recognized as significant agricultural pests. Notable pest species include Myllocerus undecimpustulatus undatus (Sri Lankan weevil), M. maculosus (cotton grey weevil), and M. viridanus (ash weevil), which attack diverse crop plants including cereals, legumes, vegetables, and fruit trees. The genus exhibits typical weevil morphology with broad rostrums and root-feeding larval stages combined with foliage-feeding adults.
Myllocerus undecimpustulatus
Sri Lanka weevil, yellow-headed ravenous weevil
Myllocerus undecimpustulatus is an oriental broad-nosed weevil (Curculionidae: Entiminae) native to Sri Lanka and the Indian subcontinent. It is a polyphagous pest with a wide host range that has established invasive populations in Florida, USA, since at least 2000. The species exhibits distinctive sexual behavior including female abdominal rocking as a mate-strength test and prolonged copulatory guarding by males. It shows seasonal variation in cold tolerance and feeding activity, with winter-collected adults consuming more leaf material after cold exposure than summer-collected individuals.
Myllocerus undecimpustulatus undatus
Sri Lankan weevil
Myllocerus undecimpustulatus undatus, the Sri Lankan weevil, is a polyphagous curculionid pest native to Sri Lanka that has spread to India, Pakistan, and the United States. It was first identified in Florida in 2000 on Citrus species and has since established populations in the state. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism with females typically larger than males. Research has documented its cold tolerance limitations, mating behavior involving female abdominal rocking and prolonged copulatory guarding, and susceptibility to certain biopesticides.
Myrmarachne formicaria
Ant-mimicking jumping spider
Myrmarachne formicaria is an ant-mimicking jumping spider (Salticidae) native to the Palearctic region and introduced to North America. It is one of few Myrmarachne species found outside the tropics. The species exhibits sophisticated locomotor mimicry, walking with all eight legs while adopting ant-like postures and movement patterns. It was first recorded in the United States in Ohio in 2001 and has since spread to multiple states.
Myrmosa
Myrmosa is a genus of solitary wasps in the family Myrmosidae. These insects are part of a small family of wasps that exhibit sexual dimorphism and unusual life history traits. The genus contains several described species, including Myrmosa atra, Myrmosa moesica, and Myrmosa unicolor. Taxonomic placement has been historically unstable, with some sources placing Myrmosidae as a subfamily within Mutillidae.
Myrmosula
Myrmosula is a genus of small parasitic wasps in the family Myrmosidae (sometimes historically placed in Mutillidae). These insects are part of a poorly studied group of velvet ant relatives, with winged males and wingless females. The genus was established by Bradley in 1917 and remains taxonomically challenging due to limited specimen availability and morphological convergence with other myrmosid genera.
Myzininae
Myzininae is a subfamily of aculeate wasps within the family Thynnidae (formerly placed in Tiphiidae). The subfamily is best known through the genus Myzinum, which exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism. Females are robust, fossorial parasitoids of scarab beetle grubs, while males are slender, non-stinging, and frequently observed on flowers. Species in this subfamily are found primarily in the Nearctic region, with ten recognized species north of Mexico.
Myzinum
New World Banded Thynnid Wasps
Myzinum is a genus of thynnid wasps containing approximately 63 recognized species, with 10 species occurring in North America. Adults measure 7–24 mm and exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism: males are slender with long, straight antennae and a prominent curled pseudostinger at the abdomen tip, while females are robust with short, coiled antennae and stout legs adapted for digging. These wasps are parasitoids of scarab beetle grubs, particularly Phyllophaga species, and are used as biological control agents. They are most diverse in the Neotropics and are commonly observed visiting autumn wildflowers such as goldenrod and thoroughwort.
Myzinum carolinianum
Myzinum carolinianum is a thynnid wasp species native to North America. Like other members of its genus, it is a parasitoid of scarab beetle grubs, particularly those in the genus Phyllophaga. The species exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism: males are slender with long, straight antennae and a prominent curved pseudostinger (external genitalia), while females are larger-bodied with robust abdomens, stouter legs adapted for digging, and short, coiled antennae. Adults are active in late summer and autumn, frequently visiting flowers such as goldenrod and thoroughwort.
Myzinum dubiosum
Myzinum dubiosum is a species of thynnid wasp in North America. Like other members of the genus, it exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism: males are slender with long, straight antennae and a prominent curled pseudostinger (part of the external genitalia), while females are larger-bodied with robust abdoments, stouter legs adapted for digging, and short, coiled antennae. The species is a parasitoid of scarab beetle grubs, particularly Phyllophaga species. Adults are active in late summer and autumn, frequently visiting flowers such as goldenrod and thoroughwort.
Myzinum frontalis
Myzinum frontalis is a species of thynnid wasp native to North America. Like other members of the genus, it is a parasitoid of scarab beetle grubs, particularly those in the genus Phyllophaga. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism, with males being slender with long, straight antennae and a prominent pseudostinger, while females are larger-bodied with robust abdoments, stouter legs, and short, coiled antennae. Adults are active in late summer and autumn, visiting flowers such as goldenrod and thoroughwort.
Myzinum maculatum
Myzinum maculatum is a species of thynnid wasp native to North America. It is a parasitoid of scarab beetle grubs, particularly Phyllophaga (May beetle) larvae, and has been employed as a biological control agent for turf grass pests. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism: males are slender with long straight antennae and a prominent curled pseudostinger, while females are robust with short coiled antennae and stout legs adapted for digging.
Myzinum obscurum
Myzinum obscurum is a species of thynnid wasp native to the Eastern United States. Like other members of its genus, it is a parasitoid of scarab beetle grubs, particularly those in the genus Phyllophaga. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism: males have slender bodies, long straight antennae, and a prominent curled pseudostinger (modified genitalia), while females are larger and more robust with short coiled antennae and stout legs adapted for digging. Taxonomic placement has shifted historically, with the genus formerly placed in Tiphiidae but now recognized in Thynnidae.
Myzinum quinquecinctum
five-banded thynnid wasp
Myzinum quinquecinctum is a species of thynnid wasp found primarily in eastern North America. Like other members of the genus Myzinum, it is a parasitoid of scarab beetle grubs, with females locating and paralyzing hosts underground to lay eggs. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism: males are slender with long, straight antennae and a prominent pseudostinger, while females are larger and more robust with short, coiled antennae adapted for digging. Males are frequently observed visiting flowers such as goldenrod and thoroughwort, often in aggregations.
Nannothemis
elfin skimmer
Nannothemis is a monotypic genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae, containing a single species, Nannothemis bella (elfin skimmer). It is the smallest dragonfly in North America, with males exhibiting powdery blue coloration and females displaying black and yellow wasp-like patterning. The genus is native to eastern North America, where it inhabits specialized wetland habitats.
Nannothemis bella
Elfin Skimmer
Nannothemis bella, commonly known as the elfin skimmer, is the smallest dragonfly in North America. It is the sole species in the monotypic genus Nannothemis. Males are powdery blue, while females are black and yellow with wasp-like coloration. The species inhabits bogs and sedge fens across eastern North America, from Quebec south to Florida and west to Minnesota and Louisiana. Southern populations are disjunct and rare, making the species of conservation concern in that region.
Nanophyinae
Nanophyinae is a subfamily of weevils in the family Brentidae, comprising two tribes (Corimaliini and Nanophyini) and including the genus Zhangius. The group was originally established as a family in 1848 but later reclassified. Members exhibit considerable morphological diversity, with some genera showing canopy-dwelling habits and associations with specific host plants in Lythraceae.
Narberdia
Narberdia is a genus of true weevils in the family Curculionidae, tribe Anthonomini. The genus was monotypic when described by Burke in 1976 from the United States, but expanded to at least five species following descriptions of four additional species from México and Costa Rica in 2017. All species are intimately associated with plants of the genus Bernardia (Euphorbiaceae). Sexual dimorphism is pronounced, with females possessing a longer, more slender rostrum and a distinctive tibial tooth absent in males.
Naryciinae
Naryciinae is a subfamily of bagworm moths (Psychidae) characterized by monandrous females that mate only once. Females are immobile and wingless, while males are short-lived, non-feeding, and capable of multiple copulations. Several species exhibit parthenogenetic reproduction, including *Dahlica fennicella* and *D. triquetrella*. The subfamily serves as host for a diverse parasitoid wasp complex in northern European populations.
Naupactus leucoloma
white-fringed weevil, white-fringed beetle
Naupactus leucoloma is a broad-nosed weevil native to South America that has become a globally distributed agricultural pest. Adults are flightless, parthenogenetic females outside their native range, with males occurring only rarely in Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil. The species is notable for its extreme polyphagy, having been documented feeding on over 385 plant species. Larval root-feeding causes substantially more economic damage than adult folivory.
Neacoryphus bicrucis
Whitecrossed seed bug, Ragwort seed bug, White-crossed seed bug
Neacoryphus bicrucis is a seed-feeding true bug (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) commonly known as the whitecrossed seed bug or ragwort seed bug. The species is specialized on Senecio species as host plants, from which it sequesters pyrrolizidine alkaloids that render it distasteful to some predators. It exhibits complex territorial and mating behaviors centered on host plant patches, with males defending high-density areas where females preferentially oviposit. The species shows pronounced sexual dimorphism in flight behavior: females conditionally histolyze flight muscles based on resource availability, while males retain flight capability throughout life. It has a broad distribution across the Americas and has been introduced to Oceania.
Nebria pallipes
Pale-legged Gazelle Beetle
Nebria pallipes is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, distributed across eastern North America from lowland to upland areas. Adults are nocturnal, gregarious, and carnivorous. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1823.
Nemotelus
soldier flies
Nemotelus is a genus of small soldier flies (family Stratiomyidae) containing approximately 30 described species distributed across the Nearctic, Afrotropical, and Palaearctic regions. Adults range from 4.0 to 8.0 mm in body length and are among the smallest members of the family. The genus is characterized by distinctive facial morphology with a pointed snout bearing antennae on the dorsal side, and pronounced sexual dimorphism in coloration. Most species display black bodies with variable white markings, with males typically showing more extensive pale patterning than females.
Neobisiidae
neobisiid pseudoscorpions
Neobisiidae is a family of pseudoscorpions comprising approximately 550-750 species across 32-34 genera, distributed across Africa, the Americas, and Eurasia. Members are small arachnids ranging from 1 to 5 mm in body length, with body colors varying from reddish or dark brown through olive green to yellow or creamy white. The family includes both surface-dwelling and cave-dwelling species, with troglobitic species often exhibiting eye reduction or loss. Several genera, notably Stenohya, exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism in pedipalp morphology.
Neodiprion lecontei
red-headed pine sawfly, Leconte's sawfly
Neodiprion lecontei is a pine-feeding sawfly native to eastern North America, commonly known as the red-headed pine sawfly. Adults are small (5–8.5 mm), sexually dimorphic, and active in spring and summer. Larvae are gregarious defoliators of pine needles, capable of stripping entire branches and causing significant damage to young trees and plantations. The species exhibits complex population dynamics with one to three generations per year depending on latitude, and has been extensively studied as a model for host-associated differentiation, gene expression decoupling across life stages, and baculovirus pathology.
Neodusmetia sangwani
Neodusmetia sangwani is a minute encyrtid parasitoid wasp native to India, renowned as one of the most successful classical biological control agents ever deployed. It was introduced to the United States in the 1950s and Brazil in 1967 to combat the Rhodesgrass mealybug (Antonina graminis), a destructive pest of pasture grasses. The species exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism: females are wingless, short-lived, and sedentary, while males are winged. Its introduction saved an estimated $17 million annually in turf management costs in Texas alone.
Neoneura amelia
Amelia's Threadtail
Neoneura amelia, commonly known as Amelia's threadtail, is a small damselfly species distributed from southern Texas through Central America to Panama. Males display striking scarlet and reddish-orange coloration, while females are drab tan with dark markings. The species inhabits backwaters of large rivers, stream edges, and pond margins, including muddy locations. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN due to its wide range and stable population.
Neophasia terlooii
Chiricahua White, Chiricahua Pine White, Mexican Pine White
Neophasia terlooii is a butterfly in the family Pieridae endemic to the sky islands of southeastern Arizona and Mexico. Males are white with black markings while females are orange with black wing veins, exhibiting pronounced sexual dimorphism. The species has two generations annually, with a small summer brood and larger fall population. Larvae feed on conifers, specifically Ponderosa Pine and Engelmann Spruce, and eggs are laid exposed on pine needles where they overwinter in a desiccation-resistant quiescent state.
Neotrypaea
ghost shrimp
Neotrypaea is a genus of ghost shrimp in the family Callianassidae, established by Manning & Felder in 1991. The genus contains at least 16 recognized species distributed across the Pacific coasts of North and South America and Asia. Species within this genus are characterized by pronounced sexual dimorphism in claw morphology, particularly the development of enlarged master claws in males. They are obligate burrowers in marine and estuarine sediments, where they function as ecosystem engineers through their bioturbation activities.
Neriidae
cactus flies, banana stalk flies, banana flies
Neriidae is a family of true flies (Diptera) comprising approximately 100 species in 19 genera. Formerly treated as a subfamily of Micropezidae, Neriidae are distinguished by their unreduced fore legs. Adults are slender, long-legged flies with elongated bodies and heads, particularly in males. The family exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism and is notable for spectacular male combat behavior. Neriidae are primarily tropical in distribution, with limited representation in temperate regions of North America and Australia.
Ocypodidae
Ghost and Fiddler Crabs
Ocypodidae is a family of semiterrestrial crabs comprising approximately 180 described species across 13 extant genera. The family includes two well-known groups: ghost crabs (genus Ocypode) and fiddler crabs (multiple genera including Leptuca and Minuca), plus the mangrove crabs of genus Ucides. Members are characterized by markedly unequal chelipeds in males, with the larger cheliped always exceeding carapace length. The family underwent substantial taxonomic revision in 2016, when the genus Uca was divided into 13 separate genera.
Oligotoma saundersii
Saunders' embiid, Saunders' Webspinner
Oligotoma saundersii is a webspinner (order Embioptera) native to southern Asia that has become a widespread invasive species in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Adult males possess long narrow wings and are attracted to lights at night, while females are flightless and chocolate-brown in color. The species constructs silken galleries in concealed humid locations and has been introduced to the United States, where its range extends from Texas to Florida.
Omus audouini
Audouin's Night-stalking Tiger Beetle
Omus audouini, commonly known as Audouin's Night-stalking Tiger Beetle, is a nocturnal tiger beetle species in the family Cicindelidae. It exhibits pronounced sexual size dimorphism with females larger than males, and possesses mandibles that serve dual functions for prey capture and mating amplexus. The species shows niche partitioning with sympatric O. dejeanii through body size and mandible length differences following Hutchinsonian Ratios. It is of conservation concern in Canada due to its extremely limited distribution.
Omus dejeanii
Greater Night-stalking Tiger Beetle
Omus dejeanii is a flightless tiger beetle and the largest species in its genus, measuring 15–20 mm. It inhabits dense coastal forests from British Columbia to northern California. The species is nocturnal and exhibits exceptionally long mating durations averaging 29.4 hours, far exceeding most other tiger beetles. Males possess enlarged mandibles used both for prey capture and for grasping females during prolonged amplexus.
Oncopsis flavicollis
Oncopsis flavicollis is a small leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Eurymelinae. It exhibits sexual dimorphism and is strongly associated with birch trees (Betula spp.), on which it feeds. The species has been subject to taxonomic debate regarding whether populations on different birch species represent distinct biological species or host plant utilization polymorphism. Adults are active from late spring through early autumn.
Onthophagus depressus
scarab beetle
Onthophagus depressus is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, originally described from Africa and now established in Australia and the southeastern United States as an introduced species. It belongs to a genus well-studied for sexual selection and horn polymorphism in males, though specific behavioral studies for this species are limited. The species has been recorded in carrion-associated beetle communities, suggesting broader feeding ecology than strict dung specialization.
Onthophagus nuchicornis
Small black-and-brown Dung Beetle
Onthophagus nuchicornis is a Palearctic dung beetle introduced to North America in the 1840s, now established across Canada and the northern United States. The species exhibits generalist coprophagy, successfully reproducing using dung from both domestic livestock and indigenous mammals including bobcat, moose, red fox, and raccoon. It possesses an obligatory cold reproductive diapause restricting it to a single generation per year. In the United Kingdom, it is listed as Vulnerable, while in North America it is abundant and has been employed as a model organism for ecotoxicological studies of ivermectin effects on dung burial behavior.
dung-beetleintroduced-speciescoprophagediapauseecotoxicology-modelpasture-ecosystemsexual-dimorphismivermectin-effectsgeneralist-feederPalaearctic-nativeNearctic-introducedsingle-generation-per-yearbrood-balltunneling-behaviorcompetition-with-native-speciesCLIMEX-bioclimatic-modelnutrient-cyclingsoil-aerationcattle-pasture-managementVulnerable-(UK)Oreoneta
A genus of dwarf spiders (family Linyphiidae) established in 1894, comprising approximately 30 species distributed across cold-temperate and Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Most species inhabit high-latitude or high-altitude environments. The genus was revised extensively by Saaristo & Marusik in 2004, resulting in numerous new species descriptions.
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tussock moths, vapourer moths
Orgyia is a genus of tussock moths in the family Erebidae, characterized by pronounced sexual dimorphism: males are fully winged and diurnal, while females are wingless with reduced, scale-like wings and remain flightless. The genus was established by Ochsenheimer in 1810 and contains cosmopolitan species distributed across most global regions except the Neotropics. Several species are significant forest and agricultural pests, notably Orgyia pseudotsugata (Douglas-fir Tussock Moth), which undergoes periodic outbreaks in western North America.
Orgyia definita
Definite Tussock Moth, Definite-marked Tussock Moth
Orgyia definita is a tussock moth in the family Erebidae, native to eastern North America. Males have functional wings with a wingspan of approximately 30 mm, while females are wingless—a distinctive trait shared with other Orgyia species. The larvae feed on a broad range of woody deciduous plants. The species was first described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1865.
Orgyia leucostigma
White-marked Tussock Moth
A tussock moth species native to North America, distinguished by sexually dimorphic adults: females are flightless with reduced wings, while males are winged and active. The caterpillar is conspicuously colored with defensive hair tufts and can cause allergic reactions in humans. Multiple generations occur annually in eastern North America, with outbreaks occasionally reported on urban trees.
Orgyia pseudotsugata
Douglas-fir tussock moth
A western North American tussock moth known for periodic population outbreaks that cause significant defoliation of conifer forests. Males are winged and grayish-brown with feathery antennae, while females are flightless with rudimentary wings. Caterpillars are distinctive with red spots, white spines, and prominent red-tipped white tussocks. The species undergoes cyclical outbreaks every 8-12 years that can persist for up to four years.
Orthemis ferruginea
Roseate Skimmer
A dragonfly in the family Libellulidae native to the Americas, with distribution extending from the United States to Brazil. Mature males are distinctive for their hot pink coloration. The species is common and widespread, and has been introduced to Hawaii. First complete life cycle description for a Mexican odonate documented 17 larval instars.
Orthonama obstipata
Gem, Gem Moth
Orthonama obstipata, known as the Gem, is a cosmopolitan moth in the family Geometridae. The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism in wing coloration and pattern. It is noted for its vagrant behavior and ability to cross open water, leading to regular though irregular occurrences on islands including the British Isles and Iceland.
Orthostethus pectinicornis
Orthostethus pectinicornis is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. The specific epithet "pectinicornis" refers to the comb-like (pectinate) antennae characteristic of males in this species, a trait shared with other members of the genus. Click beetles are named for their ability to right themselves when overturned by flexing a prosternal spine into a mesosternal groove, producing an audible clicking sound and propelling the beetle into the air.
Pacifastacus leniusculus
Signal Crayfish
The signal crayfish is a large North American freshwater crayfish introduced to Europe in the 1960s to replace declining native fisheries. It has become one of the most ecologically impactful invasive decapods in Europe, outcompeting native crayfish and serving as a carrier of crayfish plague (Aphanomyces astaci). The species establishes self-sustaining populations rapidly, with six age cohorts documented within a few years of introduction. It shows sex- and size-specific coloration patterns, with males displaying more saturated and brighter ventral claw surfaces than females, suggesting a role in intraspecific communication.
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nana
Paectes nana is a small moth in the family Euteliidae, originally described by Walker in 1865 and later redescribed as Paectes isabel by Schaus in 1923. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism and two distinct forewing forms, with males measuring 10.9–11.6 mm and females 9.4–9.9 mm in forewing length. It has been introduced to the Galapagos Islands beyond its native Neotropical range.
Paguroidea
hermit crabs
Paguroidea is a superfamily of decapod crustaceans comprising approximately 1100 species commonly known as hermit crabs. Members are characterized by a soft, asymmetrical abdomen adapted to occupy empty gastropod shells or, in specialized lineages, symbiotic relationships with sea anemones that form protective 'blankets' or 'carcinoecia'. The superfamily exhibits remarkable diversity in shell-use strategies, from traditional gastropod shells to bivalve shells and anemone-derived structures. Distributed across marine environments from intertidal zones to deep-sea habitats, with some lineages having colonized terrestrial ecosystems.