Sexual-dimorphism
Guides
Pangoniini
horse flies
Pangoniini is a tribe of horse flies (Tabanidae) within the subfamily Pangoniinae, containing some of the most morphologically primitive members of the family. Species exhibit diverse feeding strategies: some females are haematophagous (blood-feeding) while males and certain species are nectarophagous (nectar-feeding), as determined by mouthpart morphology. The tribe shows progressive evolutionary reduction in female mandibles and structural modifications of antennal and tibial characters. Australian members are predominantly low-flying insects that do not suck blood, contrasting with Chilean species that include both blood-feeding and non-blood-feeding forms.
horse-fliesTabanidaePangoniinaeprimitivesexual-dimorphismfeeding-plasticityAustraliaChilescanning-electron-microscopymouthpart-morphologymicropilositymandible-reductionantennal-segmentationtibial-spurslow-flyingnectarophagoushaematophagousEsenbeckiaProtodasyaphaVepriusEctenopsisAustroplexCaenoprosoponTherevopangoniaPanopeus
mud crabs
Panopeus is a genus of mud crabs in the family Panopeidae, distributed primarily in intertidal and estuarine environments of the Western Atlantic. Species within this genus exhibit sexual size dimorphism, with males typically larger than females, and show specialized habitat use patterns including vertical stratification within reef structures. Some species demonstrate extreme male-biased sexual size dimorphism driven by sexual antagonistic coevolution and coercive mating systems. Members of this genus are ecosystem engineers in mangrove and estuarine habitats, influencing sediment structure and energy flow.
Panopeus lacustris
knot-fingered mud crab
Panopeus lacustris, commonly known as the knot-fingered mud crab, is a small true crab (infraorder Brachyura) in the family Panopeidae. It is distinguished by unequal-sized chelae, with the larger claw being exceptionally broad, knobbly, and bearing teeth in the molar area with an immobile finger. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in size, with males typically larger than females. It is native to the subtropical western Atlantic but has been introduced to Hawaii and the Pacific coast of California. The species serves as a host for the parasitic barnacle Loxothylacus panopaei, which manipulates crab behavior and causes functional castration.
Panthea greyi
Panthea greyi is a noctuid moth described in 2009 by Anweiler. It is known from montane regions of the southwestern United States, specifically in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and southern Utah, at elevations between 1524 and 2545 meters. Adults are active during summer months, with males having a wingspan of 38–45 mm and females 42–50 mm.
Papilio ornythion
ornythion swallowtail
Papilio ornythion is a swallowtail butterfly in the subfamily Papilioninae, native to Mexico and Guatemala with occasional vagrancy into the southern United States. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism with two female forms—one matching the male and a distinctive dark form. Adults fly from April to September with two generations per year. Larvae feed on Citrus leaves while adults nectar on flowers.
Paracerceis
Paracerceis is a genus of marine isopod crustaceans in the family Sphaeromatidae, established by Hansen in 1905. The genus comprises at least 13 described species distributed across tropical and temperate coastal regions. The best-studied species, Paracerceis sculpta, has become a model organism for research on alternative reproductive tactics and sexual selection due to its unusual system of three discrete male morphs. Several species have been introduced outside their native ranges, including P. sculpta in Australia and Türkiye.
Parasitidae
predatory mites, bee mites, beetle mites
Parasitidae is a family of predatory mites in the order Mesostigmata, representing the sole family in the superfamily Parasitoidea. These mites are relatively large for their group, often appearing yellowish to dark brown in color. The family has worldwide distribution and contains approximately 400 species across 29 genera organized into two subfamilies: Pergamasinae (soil-dwelling, non-phoretic) and Parasitinae (nest-dwelling, phoretic deutonymphs). Members prey on diverse microarthropods and nematodes, with individual species typically exhibiting narrower prey ranges than the family as a whole.
Parcoblatta americana
Western Wood Cockroach
Parcoblatta americana, the western wood cockroach, is a species native to Mexico and the western United States. The species exhibits significant sexual dimorphism in wing development: males possess fully developed tegmina and wings, while females have greatly reduced tegmina and lack hind wings entirely. Both sexes display considerable color variation, ranging from dark brown or blackish to pale yellowish or reddish tan in males, and from reddish orange to dark brown or black in females. The species has been documented in association with harvester ant nests and pack rat houses.
Parcoblatta bolliana
Boll's Wood Cockroach, Boll's Wood Roach
Parcoblatta bolliana is a small wood cockroach species native to the United States, measuring approximately 11 mm in length. Males are slender with long, functional wings, while females are stouter with reduced tegmina and no functional hindwings. First-instar nymphs have been documented living in ant nests of Cremastogaster lineolata in Kansas, though adults are not found in these associations. The species occupies diverse habitats including pine woods, grasslands, and decaying wood debris.
Parcoblatta notha
Arizona Wood Cockroach
Parcoblatta notha is a large, pale-colored wood cockroach endemic to Arizona. It is one of twelve species in the genus Parcoblatta. Males possess fully developed wings and are capable of flight, while females have reduced wings approximately half as long and cannot fly. The species is occasionally found in homes near wooded areas, where it may become a minor nuisance.
Parcoblatta virginica
Virginia wood cockroach
Parcoblatta virginica, the Virginia wood cockroach, is a small woodland cockroach species measuring approximately 10 mm as an adult. It is native to deciduous forest habitats in eastern North America, where it inhabits leaf litter and decaying wood. The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism in wing development and coloration. Unlike many cockroach species, it is not a household pest and cannot survive indoors due to low humidity requirements.
Pardosa
Thin-legged Wolf Spiders
Pardosa is a large genus of wolf spiders comprising over 500 described species with worldwide distribution except Australia. These spiders are generally small to medium-sized (3–12 mm body length), characterized by long, thin legs with prominent perpendicular spines. They occupy diverse habitats including wetlands, woodlands, grasslands, and high-elevation environments. Many species exhibit sexual dimorphism in coloration, with mature males often displaying distinct patterns from females. Species identification requires microscopic examination of genitalia.
Parides
cattlehearts
Parides, commonly called cattlehearts, is a genus of medium-sized swallowtail butterflies in the family Papilionidae. The genus comprises approximately 40 species distributed throughout the Neotropical realm. Members are characterized by predominantly black or dark brown wings with contrasting bright spots in green, red, yellow, or pink. The genus exhibits Müllerian mimicry, with species sharing similar aposematic coloration that advertises their toxicity to predators.
Parnassius smintheus
Rocky Mountain parnassian, Rocky Mountain apollo
Parnassius smintheus is a high-altitude butterfly endemic to the Rocky Mountains of North America. It inhabits alpine and subalpine meadows where it depends on Sedum lanceolatum as its primary larval host plant. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism in behavior: males are highly mobile and patrol meadows for females, while females are relatively sedentary and search for oviposition sites primarily by crawling. Population dynamics are strongly influenced by early-winter weather conditions, particularly November temperature extremes and snowfall, which affect overwintering egg survival. Climate change poses significant threats through rising treeline and altered snowpack patterns.
Pelecinus
American pelecinid wasps, snake-tailed wasps
Pelecinus is the sole living genus of the family Pelecinidae, containing three species restricted to the New World. Females are immediately recognizable by their extraordinarily elongated, thread-like abdomens that can exceed 5 cm in length, used to probe soil and deposit eggs on scarab beetle larvae. The genus represents a relict lineage with extensive fossil diversity dating to the early Cretaceous across multiple continents.
Pelecystola nearctica
Pelecystola nearctica is a small moth in the family Tineidae, described in 2009. It represents the first report of the Old World genus Pelecystola in North America. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in forewing length and has an extended adult flight period spanning spring through late summer.
Pelegrina aeneola
Coppered White-cheeked Jumping Spider
Pelegrina aeneola is a small jumping spider in the family Salticidae, found in western North America. Females measure approximately 5.5 mm and males 5 mm, with pronounced sexual dimorphism in coloration. The species occupies diverse vegetation types and has been documented feeding on insect eggs. Despite being relatively well-observed, detailed natural history information remains limited.
Pelegrina arizonensis
Pelegrina arizonensis is a jumping spider in the family Salticidae. Despite its name, the species is not known from Arizona; confirmed records exist from Mexico, New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado. Males exhibit a metallic blue-black coloration with a distinctive entirely yellow fringe of hairs on the front legs, while females are larger and display a yellowish appearance with spots and stripes on the abdomen. The species inhabits oak woodland understory at elevations between 5,000 and 7,000 feet.
Pellenattus peninsularis
Pellenattus peninsularis is a small jumping spider in the family Salticidae, first described by Emerton in 1925. The species exhibits notable sexual dimorphism in abdominal patterning and shows geographic color variation, with western populations appearing lighter than those elsewhere in its range. It has been recorded across Canada and the United States.
Pentodontini
rhinoceros beetles
Pentodontini is the most diverse tribe within the subfamily Dynastinae (rhinoceros beetles), containing over 100 genera distributed across multiple biogeographic regions. Most genera are restricted to a single biogeographic region. The tribe is characterized by substantial morphological diversity, with generic-level identification often relying on mouthpart morphology in females and secondary sexual characters (horns, claw modifications, antennal club length) in males.
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hconnectivity-conservationcorridorbuffer-zoneprotected-areanational-parknature-reservewildlife-refugewilderness-areaworld-heritage-sitebiosphere-reserveRamsar-siteImportant-Bird-AreaKey-Biodiversity-AreaAlliance-for-Zero-Extinction-siteconservation-priorityhotspotcrisis-ecoregionglobal-200last-of-the-wildhuman-footprintcumulative-impactthreat-indexvulnerability-indexadaptive-capacityexposuresensitivityresilienceresistancerecoveryrestorationrehabilitationreintroductiontranslocationex-situin-situcaptive-breedingbotanic-gardenzoogene-bankseed-banktissue-banksperm-bankoocyte-bankembryo-bankDNA-bankfrozen-zooarkinsurancesafety-netde-extinctiongenetic-rescuegenetic-restorationgenetic-augmentationgenetic-managementpopulation-managementmetapopulationsource-sinkpatchmatrixlandscapeseascapeecosystembiomeecoregionprovincezoneregiondistrictsitelocalityhabitatmicrohabitatnicheecological-nichefundamental-nicherealized-nichetrophic-nichespatial-nichetemporal-nichebiotic-nicheabiotic-nichemultidimensional-nichen-dimensional-nicheHutchinsonian-nicheGrinnellian-nicheEltonian-nicheresourcerequirementlimitationstressdisturbanceperturbationfluctuationvariabilityheterogeneitycomplexitydiversityredundancystabilitypersistenceadaptationacclimationplasticityevolvabilityheritabilityselectiondriftflowmutationrecombinationspeciationcoalescencedivergenceconvergenceparallelismhomoplasyanalogyhomologysynapomorphysymplesiomorphyautapomorphyapomorphyplesiomorphyderivedancestralprimitiveadvancedbasalcrownstemnodebranchcladegradesubfamilyfamilysuperfamilyinfraordersuborderordersuperorderinfraclasssubclassclasssuperclasssubphylumphylumsuperphylumkingdomdomainlifeorganismindividualetc.Pepsis mildei
Milde's tarantula-hawk wasp, Milde's tarantula hawk
Pepsis mildei is a large spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, commonly known as Milde's tarantula-hawk wasp. It is native to the Western Hemisphere, with documented records across the southwestern and central United States, Mexico, and Central America. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in antennae structure and lifespan, with females living longer than males. Adults feed on nectar from flowers, while larvae are obligate parasitoids of tarantulas. The wasp has been observed to learn from experience, avoiding chemically defended spiders after a single negative encounter.
Pepsis thisbe
Thisbe's tarantula-hawk wasp
Pepsis thisbe is a large spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, commonly known as Thisbe's tarantula-hawk wasp. Females are 32–44 mm in length with a dark blue body and orange wings. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism: females have curly antennae and a 7 mm stinger, while males have straight antennae and lack stingers entirely. Adults are nectarivorous, feeding primarily on flowers, but females hunt tarantulas as food for their larvae. The species is distributed throughout the American Southwest in desert areas.
Pergidae
pergid sawflies
Pergidae is the third-largest family of sawflies (Hymenoptera: Symphyta), with approximately 450 described species. The family is distributed primarily in the Australasian and Neotropical regions, with South America and Australia representing the greatest diversity. Members exhibit considerable morphological variation in antennae structure, ranging from simple to pectinate or bipectinate forms, and frequently display sexual dimorphism. Several species are economically significant as agricultural pests or livestock toxins, while others have been evaluated as biological control agents.
Pericopina
pericopine tiger moths, pericopines
Pericopina is a subtribe of tiger moths within the family Erebidae, established by Francis Walker in 1869. Members are characterized by striking coloration patterns and participation in Müllerian mimicry rings, particularly involving diurnal black species with white spots or transparent wing patches. The group exhibits notable sexual dimorphism and polymorphism, with multiple distinct morphs occurring within single species. Larval host associations include Malpighiaceae and Bromeliaceae, though these appear to be partitioned among different species groups.
Petrophila schaefferalis
Schaeffer's Petrophila
Petrophila schaefferalis is a small crambid moth described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1906. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in size, with females notably larger than males. Adults are active from spring through early autumn. The larvae are aquatic, a characteristic shared with other members of the genus Petrophila. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Phanaeus vindex
Rainbow Scarab, Rainbow Dung Beetle
Phanaeus vindex is a medium-sized tunneling dung beetle native to eastern and central North America. Adults are sexually dimorphic and exhibit striking metallic coloration, with males bearing a prominent curved horn. The species creates complex underground tunnel systems beneath dung deposits, constructing both brood balls for reproduction and food caches for adult feeding. It is the most widespread Phanaeus species in the United States and demonstrates behavioral plasticity in response to temperature, adjusting burial depth of food caches under warmer conditions. The species provides important ecosystem services through dung removal, nutrient cycling, and secondary seed dispersal.
Phasmida
stick insects, walking sticks, stick-bugs, phasmids, ghost insects, leaf insects
Phasmida is an order of insects comprising approximately 3,000 valid species worldwide, grouped into 523 genera and 13 families. Members are renowned for extreme cryptic morphology resembling sticks, twigs, or leaves, with elongated bodies and appendages that match host vegetation in color and texture. The order exhibits remarkable size variation, from small species to the longest insects known, with some exceeding 18 inches in length. The group was formerly classified within Orthoptera but now constitutes its own order based on distinct morphological and molecular characteristics. The name derives from Greek 'phasma' (apparition, ghost), referencing their uncanny resemblance to inanimate plant parts.
Phausis
shadow ghosts, blue ghost fireflies
Phausis is a genus of firefly beetles in the family Lampyridae, established by LeConte in 1851. The genus is notable for extreme sexual dimorphism: males are small, winged, and typically non-luminescent, while females are larviform, flightless, and bioluminescent. Ten species are described from North America, including the well-known blue ghost firefly (Phausis reticulata). The genus remains poorly studied due to the cryptic nature of its species, and its taxonomic boundaries with the related genus Lamprohiza are unclear.
Phausis inaccensa
Shadow Ghost
Phausis inaccensa, commonly called the shadow ghost, is a small firefly species notable for extreme sexual dimorphism. Females are larviform, wingless, and bioluminescent, while males possess wings but lack lanterns. The species inhabits forested areas of the central and eastern United States. Females exhibit extended parental care, guarding egg clutches until death.
Phausis nigra
Phausis nigra is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae, described by Hopping in 1937. It belongs to the genus Phausis, which includes other "shadow ghost" fireflies characterized by neotenic, wingless females that glow while flight-capable males lack lanterns. The species is found in North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada. Very little specific information has been published about this particular species.
Phausis reticulata
Blue Ghost
A firefly species in the family Lampyridae known for the distinctive blueish-white glow of males observed at night. Males are fully winged and capable of flight, producing a steady continuous glow rather than flashing patterns typical of many fireflies. Females are wingless, paedomorphic, and retain a larval body form into adulthood. The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism in both morphology and bioluminescent display.
Phengodes laticollis
glowworm beetle
Phengodes laticollis is a glowworm beetle in the family Phengodidae, notable for pronounced sexual dimorphism and bioluminescence across all life stages. Females are larviform, larger than males, and produce yellow or green light from organs on trunk segments. Males are smaller, winged, and possess large curved mandibles. The species has been documented circumventing millipede chemical defenses through specialized predatory behavior.
Phengodes plumosa
glow worm, railroad-worm, Plumose Glowworm Beetle
Phengodes plumosa is a glowworm beetle in the family Phengodidae. Larvae are bioluminescent and predatory, feeding primarily on millipedes. The species is found in North America. Common names include "railroad-worm," referring to the larval pattern of glowing spots that resemble train windows.
Phengodidae
glowworm beetles, glow-worms, railroad-worms, trenecitos, bigotudos
Phengodidae is a family of bioluminescent beetles commonly known as glowworm beetles. The family contains over 250 described species distributed throughout the New World from southern Canada to Chile, with additional diversity in Western Asia through the subfamily Cydistinae. Females and larvae possess bioluminescent organs that emit yellow, green, or red light; the Brazilian railroad worm Phrixothrix hirtus is the only terrestrial organism known to produce true red light. Females are larviform and typically much larger than males, which are winged, short-lived, and often attracted to lights. The family was formerly considered to include the Old World Rhagophthalmidae, now recognized as a separate family.
Phengodini
Phengodini is a tribe of glowworm beetles within the family Phengodidae, established by LeConte in 1861. Members are characterized by bioluminescent larvae and adult females, a trait shared across the family. The tribe contains multiple genera distributed primarily in the Americas. Adult males are typically winged and non-luminous, while females are larviform and emit light.
Phidippus apacheanus
Apache Jumping Spider
Phidippus apacheanus is a medium-to-large jumping spider in the family Salticidae, notable for its striking black and orange-red coloration. Males exhibit bright orange-red dorsal surfaces with black legs and venter, while females are larger with a characteristic dark dorsal stripe on the abdomen. The species is hypothesized to be a Müllerian or Batesian mimic of velvet ants (Mutillidae), particularly Dasymutilla flammifera, matching both their aposematic coloration and general body shape. It occupies grassland and prairie habitats across much of the United States, Mexico, and Cuba, with males most frequently encountered in autumn.
Phidippus arizonensis
Phidippus arizonensis is a jumping spider in the family Salticidae. Despite its name, it is not known from Arizona. Males average slightly over 9 mm in body length and exhibit a metallic blue-black coloration with a distinctive entirely yellow fringe of hairs on the front legs. Females are larger, reaching up to 13.4 mm, and have a yellowish appearance with spots and stripes on the abdomen. The species has been documented as a probable state record in Colorado, expanding its known range.
Phidippus cardinalis
cardinal jumper
Phidippus cardinalis is a jumping spider in the family Salticidae, commonly known as the cardinal jumper. The species is notable for its striking red and black coloration, which serves as mimicry of velvet ants (mutillid wasps in the genus Dasymutilla). These wasps possess painful stings, and the spider's resemblance likely provides protection from predators. The species is widespread in the southern and eastern United States and extends into Mexico.
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t-identificationhaving-having-basis-identificationhaving-having-foundation-identificationhaving-having-ground-identificationhaving-having-reason-identificationhaving-having-cause-identificationhaving-having-motive-identificationhaving-having-rationale-identificationhaving-having-explanation-identificationhaving-having-interpretation-identificationhaving-having-understanding-identificationhaving-having-comprehension-identificationhaving-having-grasp-identificationhaving-having-apprehension-identificationhaving-having-insight-identificationhaving-having-intuition-identificationhaving-having-wisdom-identificationhaving-having-knowledge-identificationhaving-having-information-identificationhaving-having-data-identificationhaving-having-fact-identificationhaving-having-truth-identificationhaving-having-reality-identificationhaving-having-actuality-identificationhaving-having-happening-identificationhaving-having-taking-place-identificationhaving-having-coming-about-identificationhaving-having-coming-to-pass-identificationhaving-having-transpiring-identificationhaving-having-unfolding-identificationhaving-having-developing-identificationhaving-having-evolving-identificationhaving-having-progressing-identificationhaving-having-advancing-identificationhaving-having-proceeding-identificationhaving-having-continuing-identificationhaving-having-persisting-identificationhaving-having-lasting-identificationhaving-having-enduring-identificationhaving-having-remaining-identificationhaving-having-staying-identificationhaving-having-abiding-identificationhaving-having-subsisting-identificationhaving-having-surviving-identificationhaving-having-living-identificationhaving-having-existing-identificationPhidippus insignarius
Phidippus insignarius is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. Mature males average just under 5 millimeters in body length, females 5.45 millimeters. The species ranges across much of the eastern and central United States, from Colorado eastward through the Great Plains and into the Northeast. It inhabits open woodlands, prairies, and oak thickets with scattered vegetation. The male displays distinctive bright white hairs on the carapace, legs, and palps, while females lack these markings but share the bushy "eyebrows" characteristic of many Phidippus species.
Phidippus mystaceus
Moustached Jumping Spider
Phidippus mystaceus is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, native to North America. Females are notable for distinctive markings above the eyes that resemble a moustache, giving the species its name from the Greek mystax. The species was previously known under the synonym P. asinarius, a reference to donkey ear-like markings. Females reach approximately 10 mm in body length.
Phidippus octopunctatus
Phidippus octopunctatus is a large jumping spider in the family Salticidae, occurring in the western United States and northern Mexico. It is among the largest jumping spiders in North America, with body length approaching 25 mm. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in coloration and builds prominent silk nests among bush branches for egg protection. It is an active hunter of large arthropod prey.
Phidippus princeps
Grayish Jumping Spider
Phidippus princeps is a jumping spider species in the family Salticidae, found in Canada and the eastern United States. It is a visually oriented predator with exceptional eyesight—exceeding that of dragonflies by a factor of ten. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism, with males displaying striking red, black, and white coloration with metallic blue chelicerae, while females are larger with more somber coloration, a rounded abdomen, and smaller carapace. Research has demonstrated that P. princeps movement is strongly directed by vegetated corridors, which facilitate interpatch movement in fragmented habitats.
Phidippus whitmani
Whitman's jumping spider
Phidippus whitmani is a species of jumping spider endemic to North America, named after American zoologist Charles Otis Whitman. It displays pronounced sexual dimorphism in coloration, with males exhibiting striking red dorsal surfaces and females typically brown or reddish depending on geographic location. The species matures in late spring and is commonly associated with older mixed hardwood forests.
Philodromus dispar
Eurasian Running Crab Spider
Philodromus dispar is a small running crab spider native to Eurasia that has been introduced to North America. It is an active hunter that does not build webs, instead ambushing prey on vegetation. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism in coloration: males are shiny black or dark brown with white margins, while females are highly variable in size and color. Its attachment ability depends on ambient humidity, with optimal adhesion at intermediate humidity levels.
Philodromus marxi
Metallic Crab Spider
Philodromus marxi is a running crab spider in the family Philodromidae, commonly known as the metallic crab spider. The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism: males have a smooth, metallic sheen while females are bristly and colored white and grey. It is found throughout the United States and is frequently encountered in human dwellings, including bathrooms and showers.
Philodromus rufus
white-striped running crab spider
Philodromus rufus is a Holarctic running crab spider in the family Philodromidae. Laboratory studies indicate pronounced sexual dimorphism in predatory efficiency, with adult females killing approximately six times more prey than males. The species exhibits a functional response to prey density influenced by prey activity levels. Five subspecies are recognized, including the nominate form and four regional variants in North America.
Philoponella arizonica
Philoponella arizonica is a species of crevice weaver spider in the family Uloboridae, first described by Gertsch in 1936. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other members of the genus Philoponella, it constructs characteristic sprawling, lacy cribellate webs that issue from retreats in crevices and sheltered locations. Females are notably long-lived and continue to molt after reaching sexual maturity, a trait shared only with mygalomorph spiders among arachnids.
Photinus tenuicinctus
thinly-girdled firefly, Ozark spark
Photinus tenuicinctus is a firefly species endemic to the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma. Adults measure 8.5–11.5 mm in length. Males are fully winged and capable of flight, while females are brachypterous and flightless. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in both morphology and bioluminescent signaling.
Photuris versicolor
Changeable Firefly
Photuris versicolor is a species complex of predatory firefly found throughout the Eastern United States. Males produce a species-typical triple-pulsed flash for courtship signaling. Females are larger than males with a more developed flash organ, and are known to hunt males of other firefly species by mimicking their flash patterns. This species is notable for acquiring defensive compounds called lucibufagins from its prey.
Phyllopalpus pulchellus
Red-headed Bush Cricket, Handsome Trig, Handsome Bush Cricket
Phyllopalpus pulchellus is a small, colorful cricket species in the subfamily Trigonidiinae, notable for its striking red head and thorax contrasting with dark wings and pale legs. Adults are active during mid- to late summer and are among the most frequently photographed North American crickets due to their distinctive appearance. The species exhibits several unusual traits including sexually dimorphic wing morphology, enlarged paddle-like maxillary palps of uncertain function, and a loud, high-pitched trilling song.