Southeastern-us-endemic
Guides
Acrolophus heppneri
Heppner's Grass Tubeworm Moth
Acrolophus heppneri is a small moth in the family Acrolophidae, described by Donald R. Davis in 1990. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States, with confirmed records from Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Texas. It belongs to a genus commonly known as "grass tubeworm moths" due to larval behavior. Adult wingspan measures approximately 17 mm.
Anacampsis argyrothamniella
Anacampsis argyrothamniella is a small gelechiid moth described by August Busck in 1900. It is known from a restricted range in the southeastern United States, with confirmed records from Florida and Georgia. The species is associated with the host plant Argyrothamnia blodgettii, on which its larvae feed by tying leaves together.
Anisostena lecontii
Anisostena lecontii is a small leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, known from the southeastern United States. Adults measure approximately 4.6–4.8 mm in length and exhibit distinctive coloration with a black head and elytra contrasting with a red pronotum that has black basal and apical margins. The species has been recorded from Florida, South Carolina, and Virginia. Adults have been collected on Panicum repens, though whether this grass serves as the actual food plant remains uncertain.
Archipsocus nomas
webbing barklouse, web-spinning barklouse
Archipsocus nomas is a web-spinning barklouse in the family Archipsocidae. It forms dense communal silk webs on tree trunks and branches in the southeastern United States. The species feeds on lichens, fungi, and organic debris. Populations peak in summer and autumn, with long-winged females dispersing to establish new colonies.
Argyrostrotis flavistriaria
Yellow-lined Chocolate Moth
Argyrostrotis flavistriaria, commonly known as the yellow-lined chocolate moth, is a nocturnal moth species in the family Erebidae. First described by Jacob Hübner in 1831, it is primarily distributed in the southeastern United States. The species is notable for its specialized larval host relationship with Cyrilla racemiflora.
Bolbocerosoma hamatum
Bolbocerosoma hamatum is a species of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae. The species was described by Brown in 1929 and is found in the southeastern United States. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with burrowing behavior in soil, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in the literature.
Buckleria parvulus
Sundew Plume Moth
Buckleria parvulus, commonly known as the sundew plume moth, is a minute plume moth in the family Pterophoridae. First described in 1921 (though some sources cite 1965 for a later reclassification or redescription), it is among the smallest members of its family. The species is notable for its highly specialized larval diet: it feeds exclusively on sundews (Drosera species), making it one of the few insects adapted to consume these carnivorous plants. Its distribution is restricted to the southeastern United States.
Catocala messalina
Messalina underwing
Catocala messalina, the Messalina underwing, is a moth species in the family Erebidae. It is one of more than 250 species in the genus Catocala, commonly known as underwing moths due to their habit of concealing brightly colored hindwings beneath cryptic forewings. The species was described by Achille Guenée in 1852 and is restricted to the southeastern and south-central United States.
Cosmopterix bacata
Cosmopterix bacata is a small moth species in the family Cosmopterigidae, described by Hodges in 1962. It is known from the southeastern United States, with records from Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana. Adults are characterized by distinctive metallic markings on the forewings and specific white pattern elements on the head, thorax, and legs. The species has been collected during spring and mid-summer months.
Cotinis nitida
green June beetle, June bug, June beetle, Common Green June Beetle
Cotinis nitida is a native North American scarab beetle in the flower chafer subfamily Cetoniinae. Adults are large, metallic green beetles active during daylight hours, often seen flying loudly in search of ripe or fermenting fruit. The species completes a one-year life cycle, with larvae feeding underground on decaying organic matter and occasionally damaging turfgrass roots through tunneling behavior. Though sometimes mistaken for the invasive Japanese beetle, this species is significantly larger and behaviorally distinct, and is generally considered a minor agricultural pest.
scarab-beetleflower-chafersap-feederfruit-pestturfgrass-pestwhite-grubdiurnalmetallic-greennative-speciesaggregation-pheromonegut-microbiomefermentation-attractionback-crawling-larvaone-year-life-cycleorganic-matter-decomposersoutheastern-US-endemicethanol-trap-attractionmale-clypeal-hornsexual-competitionmisidentification-riskCetoniinaeGymnetiniCotinisColeopteraScarabaeidaeDidasys belae
double-tufted wasp moth
Didasys belae is a monotypic tiger moth species in the subfamily Arctiinae, commonly known as the double-tufted wasp moth. It is the sole member of its genus. The species is restricted to a narrow geographic range in the southeastern United States. Its common name references distinctive tufted structures and wasp-mimicking appearance.
Dioryctria amatella
southern pineconeworm moth, Southern Pine Coneworm Moth
Dioryctria amatella is a pyralid moth whose larvae develop within pine cones, primarily feeding on seeds and cone tissues. The species is a significant pest in southeastern U.S. pine forests, with one to four generations annually. Adults are active from early spring through late autumn. The species overwinters in Cronartium fusiforme fungal cankers on pine trees, utilizing these as protected winter habitats.
Dioryctria ebeli
South Coastal Coneworm Moth
Dioryctria ebeli, the south coastal coneworm moth, is a species of pyralid moth described in 1979. It belongs to a genus whose larvae are commonly known as coneworms due to their habit of feeding within conifer cones. The species has a restricted distribution along the southeastern and Gulf coasts of the United States, with scattered records as far north as Massachusetts. Larval development occurs within pine cones.
Doryodes bistrialis
double-lined doryodes moth, Double-lined Doryodes
A small erebid moth of eastern North America, distinguished by narrow forewing stripes and whitish hindwings. Adults fly from spring through fall, with year-round activity in Florida. Larvae feed on wiregrass (Aristida stricta) in pine-dominated ecosystems. Once synonymized with Doryodes grandipennis, it was later recognized as a valid species.
Euboarhexius perscitus
Euboarhexius perscitus is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. It was originally described as Rhexidius perscitus by Fletcher in 1932 and later transferred to the genus Euboarhexius. The species is known from the southeastern United States.
Hadenoecus
Eastern Cave Crickets, cave crickets
Hadenoecus is a genus of cave crickets endemic to the southeastern United States, comprising five recognized species. These crickets are obligate cave-dwelling insects characterized by elongated antennae and enlarged hind legs adapted for movement in darkness. The genus is ecologically significant as a key component of cave ecosystems, serving as both detritivores and prey for other cave fauna. Hadenoecus subterraneus, the common cave cricket, is particularly well-studied due to its abundance in the Mammoth Cave system of Kentucky.
Hubbellia
Hubbellia is a monotypic genus of shield-backed katydids in the family Tettigoniidae, established by Hebard in 1927. The sole described species, H. marginifera, is among the rarest katydids in the United States, with approximately 40 specimens collected despite over a century of entomological work. Its extreme rarity and arboreal habits have made it a notable subject for orthopteran researchers.
Langessa
black langessa moth
Langessa is a monotypic genus of crambid moths in the subfamily Acentropinae, established by Munroe in 1972. The sole species, Langessa nomophilalis (black langessa moth), occurs in the southeastern United States. Adults are small moths with distinctive bronzy-brown forewings and patterned hindwings. Larvae are aquatic, feeding on submerged vegetation.
Loxostege floridalis
Christmas-berry webworm moth
Loxostege floridalis, commonly known as the Christmas-berry webworm moth, is a species of snout moth in the family Crambidae. It was first described by entomologists William Barnes and James Halliday McDunnough in 1913. The species has a restricted distribution in North America, with confirmed records only from Florida and Texas. Adults are active during the cooler months, with flight records spanning September through May.
Nemoria saturiba
Red-patched Emerald
Nemoria saturiba is a small emerald moth in the family Geometridae, described by Ferguson in 1969. It is distributed across the southeastern and mid-Atlantic United States, with a wingspan of approximately 20 mm. The larvae are specialized feeders on sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua).
Ophraella sexvittata
Six-lined Goldenrod Leaf Beetle
Ophraella sexvittata is a skeletonizing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is one of 13 recognized species in the Nearctic genus Ophraella. The species is a specialist herbivore associated with goldenrods (Solidago spp.) in the southeastern United States.
Phytomyza vomitoriae
Ilex vomitoria leafminer
A leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae that creates serpentine mines in leaves of yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria). Larvae feed internally between leaf surfaces, producing distinctive winding trails visible on the leaf exterior. Adults are small black flies that emerge in spring to coincide with new leaf growth. The species is closely related to Phytomyza ilicicola, which mines American holly (Ilex opaca).
Schinia mitis
matutinal flower moth
Schinia mitis is a day-flying noctuid moth known for its highly restricted morning activity period. Unlike most noctuids, it is active only for a few hours after dawn, coinciding with the opening of its host plant flowers. The species exhibits a narrow geographic distribution in the southeastern United States and has been documented feeding on Pyrrhopappus species as larvae.
Seirarctia
echo moth
Seirarctia is a monotypic moth genus in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae, established by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1864. The genus contains a single species, Seirarctia echo (the echo moth), described by James Edward Smith in 1797. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States and is known for its caterpillars, which have become locally famous at Stetson University in Florida.
Thesprotia graminis
American grass mantis, grass-like mantis
Thesprotia graminis is a small, cryptic mantid native to the southeastern United States. It exhibits remarkable camouflage resembling pine needles or grass blades, achieved through both coloration and posture. The species is notable as the only member of its genus occurring outside South America. It can reproduce both sexually and parthenogenetically.
cryptic-colorationparthenogenesissexual-dimorphismwing-dimorphismgrass-mimicrypine-needle-mimicrysoutheastern-US-endemichemimetabolousoothecabeneficial-insectThespidaemantodeapredatorycamouflage-behaviorpronotum-elongatesingle-dorsal-spine-forelegnon-feeding-first-instarpseudo-iteroparous-reproductionsemelparous-with-multiple-oothecaetympana-present-(unstudied)sexual-cannibalism-unknownTrigonopeltastes delta
delta flower scarab, D beetle
Trigonopeltastes delta is a diurnal scarab beetle in the subfamily Cetoniinae, commonly known as the delta flower scarab or D beetle. Adults measure 8–10 mm in length and are distinguished by a prominent yellow triangle on the pronotum that resembles the Greek letter delta, giving the species its name. This marking has been theorized to function in Batesian mimicry of wasp defensive coloration. The beetle is native to the southeastern United States with range extending north to New Jersey, and is frequently observed on flowers from late spring through summer.
Zanclognatha atrilineella
Black-lined Fan-foot
Zanclognatha atrilineella is a small litter moth in the family Erebidae, described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. It is commonly known as the Black-lined Fan-foot. The species is restricted to the southeastern United States. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 23 mm.