Southeastern-us
Guides
Otiocerus abbotii
Otiocerus abbotii is a species of planthopper in the family Derbidae, first described by Kirby in 1821. It belongs to a group of insects commonly attracted to blacklights during nocturnal surveys. The species is part of a genus whose members are often found in association with woody vegetation. Like other derbid planthoppers, it possesses the characteristic elongated body form and wings held roof-like over the body at rest.
Otiocerus reaumurii
Otiocerus reaumurii is a species of planthopper in the family Derbidae, first described by Kirby in 1821. It belongs to a group of insects commonly known as derbid planthoppers, characterized by their distinctive wing venation and often delicate appearance. The species has been documented across multiple states in the southeastern and eastern United States. Like other derbids, it is associated with wooded habitats and is attracted to light sources at night.
Pachnaeus opalus
Northern Citrus Root Weevil
Pachnaeus opalus is a broad-nosed weevil in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the northern citrus root weevil. It is native to the southeastern United States and has been documented in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and New Jersey. The species is associated with citrus and related plants, where adults feed on foliage and larvae develop in roots. It was first described by Olivier in 1807 as Curculio opalus.
Palpita kimballi
Kimball's palpita moth
Palpita kimballi is a small crambid moth endemic to the southeastern United States. Adults have forewings measuring 14–15 mm and are active primarily from July through October. The species was described by Eugene G. Munroe in 1959 and is named in honor of Charles P. Kimball, author of The Lepidoptera of Florida: An Annotated Checklist.
Panscopus alternatus
A weevil species in the family Curculionidae, described by Schaeffer in 1908. Records indicate presence in the southeastern United States. The genus Panscopus belongs to the tribe Byrsopagini within the subfamily Entiminae.
Paraphlepsius brunneus
Paraphlepsius brunneus is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Deltocephalinae, described by DeLong in 1916. The specific epithet "brunneus" (Latin for brown) likely refers to its coloration. As a member of the large genus Paraphlepsius, it belongs to a group of small to medium-sized leafhoppers commonly found in North American grasslands and open habitats. The species is documented from the southeastern United States.
Paraplatyptilia carolina
Carolina Plume Moth
Paraplatyptilia carolina is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, described by William D. Kearfott in 1907. It is a small moth with a wingspan of 20–25 mm, characterized by clay yellow coloration and distinctive wing markings. The species is restricted to the southeastern United States.
Parrhasius m-album
white M hairstreak, White-M Hairstreak
Parrhasius m-album is a small hairstreak butterfly (wingspan 32–41 mm) with metallic blue upper wings and a distinctive silver underside marked by an M-shaped pattern. Females are larger than males. The species is strongly associated with oak habitats throughout the southeastern and central United States.
Pendarus osborni
Pendarus osborni is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Metcalf in 1955. It belongs to the genus Pendarus, a group within the diverse leafhopper fauna of North America. The species has been recorded from the southeastern United States, specifically from Florida and Mississippi. Like other members of its family, it is presumed to feed on plant phloem sap, though specific host plant associations have not been documented in the available literature.
Phanogomphus cavillaris brimleyi
Brimley's Clubtail
Brimley's Clubtail is a subspecies of clubtail dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It is distinguished by specific morphological traits separating it from the nominate subspecies Phanogomphus cavillaris cavillaris. The subspecies is associated with particular riverine habitats in the southeastern United States. It is relatively poorly documented compared to other clubtails, with limited observational records.
Phanogomphus westfalli
Westfall's Clubtail
Phanogomphus westfalli, commonly known as Westfall's Clubtail, is a dragonfly species in the family Gomphidae. It was described in 1987 and is native to the southeastern United States. The species is named in honor of the odonatologist Minter J. Westfall. Like other clubtails, it is associated with flowing water habitats.
Phyciodes phaon
Phaon crescent, mat plant crescent, crescent spot
Phyciodes phaon is a small brush-footed butterfly of the southeastern United States, the Caribbean, and extending west to New Mexico. Adults are active from early spring through late fall in northern portions of the range, with nearly year-round activity in peninsular Florida. The species is closely associated with fogfruit host plants (Phyla nodiflora), on which females lay eggs in clusters on leaf undersides. Males patrol open areas near host plants to locate females, with mating concentrated at mid-day.
Phyllophaga lota
Phyllophaga lota is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, commonly known as May beetles or June bugs. It is found in North America, specifically in the southeastern United States. As a member of the genus Phyllophaga, it shares the typical life history of other May beetles, with larvae feeding on plant roots in soil and adults feeding on foliage. The species was described by Luginbill in 1928.
Phyllophaga prununculina
Phyllophaga prununculina is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, commonly known as a May beetle or June beetle. It belongs to a large genus of over 400 North American species. Like other members of Phyllophaga, it has a life cycle involving soil-dwelling larval stages that feed on plant roots and above-ground adult stages that feed on foliage. The species is found in the southeastern and mid-Atlantic United States.
Pissonotus paludosus
Pissonotus paludosus is a species of planthopper in the family Delphacidae, first described by Morgan and Beamer in 1949. It belongs to the genus Pissonotus, a group of small delphacid planthoppers found in North America. The species is documented from the southeastern United States, with records from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi. Like other delphacids, it is associated with wetland and marshy habitats, as suggested by its specific epithet "paludosus" (meaning marshy or swampy).
Portentomorpha
Portentomorpha is a monotypic genus of crambid moths established by Hans Georg Amsel in 1956. The genus contains a single species, Portentomorpha xanthialis, and serves as the type genus for the tribe Portentomorphini. The genus is distributed across the southeastern United States, Caribbean islands, and tropical regions of Central and South America.
Prionus pocularis
Tooth-necked Longhorn Beetle
Prionus pocularis is a large longhorn beetle in the subfamily Prioninae, distributed across southeastern North America with its northwestern range limit in the Ozark Highlands of Missouri. The species is strongly associated with shortleaf pine forests, where larvae develop in decaying pine wood. Adults are nocturnal and have been documented responding to prionic acid pheromone lures, a trait shared with other Prionus species.
Ptichodis vinculum
Black-tipped Ptichodis Moth
Ptichodis vinculum is a small erebid moth with a wingspan of 34 mm. It is primarily distributed in the southeastern United States, with scattered records north to New Jersey and New York. The species is closely associated with coastal marshy habitats. Adults are active year-round in Florida, with more seasonal activity likely in northern parts of the range.
Ptomaphagus fumosus
Ptomaphagus fumosus is a small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae, described by Peck in 1979. It is one of many North American species in the genus Ptomaphagus, a group associated with decomposing organic matter. The species has been documented in the southeastern United States.
Pyrgocorypha uncinata
Hook-faced Conehead
Pyrgocorypha uncinata, commonly known as the hook-faced conehead, is a katydid species in the family Tettigoniidae. It is distinguished by its distinctive hook-shaped cone (fastigium), which curves downward at the tip and gives the species its common name. The species occurs in the southeastern United States, with records extending to northern Arkansas at the western edge of its range. Like other conehead katydids, it produces sound by stridulation and is active during the warmer months.
Rhyacionia subtropica
Subtropical Pine Tip Moth
Rhyacionia subtropica is a small tortricid moth with a wingspan of approximately 18 mm. It is distributed in the southeastern United States, Cuba, and Belize. The larvae are specialized feeders on pine species, attacking the terminal shoots of their hosts.
Rhynchomitra lingula
Rhynchomitra lingula is a planthopper species in the family Dictyopharidae, first described by Van Duzee in 1908. It belongs to the infraorder Fulgoromorpha, a group of true bugs known for their often elaborate head projections. The species has been documented across the southeastern United States.
Rhynchomitra microrhina
Rhynchomitra microrhina is a species of dictyopharid planthopper in the family Dictyopharidae. It is a true bug in the order Hemiptera, characterized by the elongated head structure typical of its genus. The species has been documented across the southeastern United States. It is one of the more frequently observed members of its genus, with over 1,600 citizen science records.
Rhynchomitra recurva
Rhynchomitra recurva is a planthopper species in the family Dictyopharidae, first described by Metcalf in 1923. It is native to the southeastern United States, with records from Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas. The species is part of the diverse Fulgoroidea superfamily, commonly known as planthoppers, which are characterized by their distinctive head morphology and jumping hind legs.
Romalea
Horse Lubbers, Lubber Grasshoppers
Romalea is a genus of large, flightless lubber grasshoppers in the family Romaleidae. Traditionally containing a single species, R. microptera (eastern lubber grasshopper), recent taxonomic revisions have synonymized Taeniopoda with Romalea, expanding the genus to approximately 12 species distributed from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America to Panama. These grasshoppers are among the largest in North America, characterized by aposematic coloration, chemical defenses, and reduced wings that render them incapable of flight.
Romalea microptera
Eastern Lubber Grasshopper, Lubber Grasshopper
Romalea microptera is a large, flightless grasshopper native to the southeastern United States, reaching up to 3.5 inches in length. Its aposematic coloration—yellow with black markings in eastern populations, black with red or yellow markings in western populations—serves as a warning to predators. Despite its formidable defensive arsenal including spines, body armor, chemical secretions, and threat displays, it is harmless to humans and rarely causes significant agricultural damage.
Sericomyia carolinensis
Two-spotted Pond Fly
Sericomyia carolinensis is a rare hoverfly (Syrphidae) endemic to the southeastern United States. Adults are distinguished by an all-yellow face, paired narrow yellow spots on the abdomen, and a yellow pilose scutellum. The species has been observed feeding on pear blossoms. Though the larval stage remains undocumented, it likely possesses the 'rat-tailed' morphology characteristic of the genus, inhabiting nutrient-rich aquatic environments such as bog mat pools.
Stenocranus ramosus
Stenocranus ramosus is a species of planthopper in the family Delphacidae, first described by Beamer in 1946. It belongs to the subfamily Stenocraninae, a group characterized by elongated body forms and reduced wing venation compared to other delphacids. The species is known from the southeastern United States.
Stenogomphurus consanguis
Cherokee Clubtail
Stenogomphurus consanguis, commonly known as the Cherokee clubtail, is a species of clubtail dragonfly endemic to the southeastern United States. It inhabits small rivers and streams. The species is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, though it has experienced significant shifts in conservation status over recent decades, previously being assessed as endangered in 2007. Approximately 30 known populations exist, most with fewer than 50 adults.
Stethorus utilis
Stethorus utilis is a minute lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae, measuring only 1–2 mm in length. It is characterized by a black body with yellow antennae, mouthparts, and legs. The species is known from the southeastern United States, with records from North Carolina to Florida and west to eastern Texas. Like other members of the genus Stethorus, it is likely a predator of small arthropods, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Strigoderma pygmaea
pygmy chafer
Strigoderma pygmaea, commonly known as the pygmy chafer, is a small scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae and subfamily Rutelinae. It belongs to the group of 'shining leaf chafers' characterized by their metallic coloration. The species occurs across the southeastern United States, with records from Florida to New York, and is frequently associated with sandy habitats. It can be collected by sweeping low vegetation or at light traps.
Sumitrosis pallescens
Sumitrosis pallescens is a small leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, measuring 3.1-3.5 mm as adults. The species is characterized by pale yellow coloration on the pronotum and elytra, with dark spots near the wing tips. It is known to feed on Chamaecrista species and has a broad distribution across the southeastern United States, Mexico, and Central America.
Synchlora noel
Synchlora noel is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae. It is one of approximately 12 species in the genus Synchlora found in North America. Like other members of the genus, its caterpillars are known for adorning their bodies with plant material from their host plants as camouflage. The species was described by Sperry in 1949.
Synchlora xysteraria
Singed Emerald
Synchlora xysteraria is a small geometrid moth in the emerald moth genus Synchlora. First described by George Duryea Hulst in 1886, this species has a restricted distribution limited to the southeastern United States (Georgia and Florida) and the Caribbean islands of Cuba and Hispaniola. Like other members of its genus, larvae are known for their remarkable camouflage behavior, adorning their bodies with plant material from their host plants. The species is one of approximately 12 Synchlora species found in North America.
Teleonemia belfragii
Teleonemia belfragii is a species of lace bug in the family Tingidae, first described by Stål in 1873. The species belongs to a genus of small, plant-feeding true bugs characterized by their distinctive reticulated wing covers. Observations are sparse, with only six records documented on iNaturalist. It is known to occur in the southeastern United States.
Thionia quinquata
Thionia quinquata is a species of planthopper in the family Issidae, first described by Metcalf in 1923. It belongs to the tribe Thioniini within the subfamily Issinae. The species has been documented in the southeastern United States, with confirmed records from Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina.
Timulla ferrugata
velvet ant
Timulla ferrugata is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae, found in the southeastern United States. Females are wingless and wasp-like in appearance, while males possess wings. The species is known for its aposematic orange and brown coloration. Despite their common name, velvet ants are actually solitary wasps, not ants.
Tortistilus trilineatus
A treehopper species in the tribe Ceresini, characterized by three longitudinal stripes on the pronotum. Described by Funkhouser in 1918, this species occurs in the southeastern United States. Like other members of the family Membracidae, it possesses an enlarged pronotum that extends over the thorax. The specific epithet "trilineatus" refers to the three-lined pattern visible on its dorsal surface.
Trachyphloeosoma advena
broad-nosed weevil
Trachyphloeosoma advena is a species of broad-nosed weevil described by Zimmerman in 1956. It belongs to the tribe Trachyphloeini within the subfamily Entiminae. The species has been documented in the southeastern United States and Hawaii. As with other members of its genus, it is characterized by the broad rostrum typical of Entiminae weevils.
Trichiotinus lunulatus
Emerald Flower Scarab, Metallic Green Flower Scarab
Trichiotinus lunulatus is a flower scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, distributed across the southeastern United States. Adults are metallic green in color and have been observed visiting flowers, particularly those of pricklypear cactus (Opuntia). The species is smaller and more widespread than some congeners such as T. rufobrunneus.
Triclonella determinatella
Orange-banded Triclonella
Triclonella determinatella is a small moth in the family Momphidae (formerly placed in Cosmopterigidae), known from the southeastern and central United States. Adults are active nearly year-round with peak occurrence from spring through autumn. The species is distinguished by its small size and characteristic orange banding pattern. It has been documented from nine states, primarily in the Gulf Coastal Plain and adjacent regions.
Xanthopastis regnatrix
Spanish moth, convict caterpillar
Xanthopastis regnatrix, commonly known as the Spanish moth or convict caterpillar, is a noctuid moth native to the southeastern United States. The species was previously grouped under Xanthopastis timais, now recognized as a species complex, with X. regnatrix applying specifically to populations in the eastern United States. Its caterpillars are known pests of amaryllis and related ornamental plants. The species has been recorded as far north as coastal New York and Kentucky, though these represent strays outside its core range.
Xylotrechus sagittatus sagittatus
Xylotrechus sagittatus sagittatus is a subspecies of longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae, tribe Clytini. It is a pine-associated wood-boring beetle found in southeastern North America, with its distribution extending to the northern limits in Arkansas. The species exhibits strong behavioral responses to olfactory cues, particularly ethanol and turpentine in a 5:1 ratio, and visual cues play a secondary role in host-finding behavior. Adults are attracted to stressed or dying pine trees and have been documented responding to elevated traps.
Zorotypus hubbardi
Zorotypus hubbardi is a species of angel insect in the order Zoraptera, a small and enigmatic group of insects sometimes called 'angel insects' due to their delicate appearance. The species was described by Caudell in 1918 and is distributed across the southeastern United States. Zorapterans are typically found in decaying wood and leaf litter, where they live in small colonies. Most species in the order are polymorphic, with both winged and wingless forms occurring in the same colony.