Supercooling
Guides
Cucujus puniceus
Red Flat Bark Beetle
Cucujus puniceus is a species of flat bark beetle in the family Cucujidae, distributed across northern North America. The species has been extensively studied for its exceptional cold tolerance mechanisms. Larvae survive winter temperatures through deep supercooling and vitrification, with documented survival to at least –100°C. The species is treated as a synonym of Cucujus clavipes by some authorities, or as a distinct species or subspecies by others.
Dendroides canadensis
fire-colored beetle, Canada Fire-colored Beetle
Dendroides canadensis, commonly known as the fire-colored beetle or Canada Fire-colored Beetle, is a species in the family Pyrochroidae. Adults range from 7 to 16 mm in length and display distinctive coloration with black head and elytra contrasting with reddish-brown thorax and legs. The species is notable for having both freezing tolerance and freezing susceptibility (supercooling) adaptations, representing the first documented instance of overwintering by switching between these two mechanisms. Larvae inhabit the cambial layer under bark of decaying hardwood logs.
Pyrrharctia
woolly bear moth
Pyrrharctia is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, described by Packard in 1864. The genus contains two described species found in North and Central America. The best-known species, Pyrrharctia isabella, produces the familiar banded woolly bear caterpillar, widely recognized for its black and orange banded appearance and cultural association with winter weather prediction. The genus is notable for the freeze-tolerance adaptations of its larvae, which overwinter as caterpillars using cryoprotectant compounds to survive subfreezing temperatures.
Sapyga
Sapyga is a genus of sapygid wasps comprising at least 19 described species. Species in this genus are cleptoparasites (kleptoparasites) of solitary bees, particularly megachilid bees. They enter host nests to lay eggs in unfinished or provisioned cells, with their larvae consuming host provisions and killing host larvae. The genus exhibits specialized parasitic adaptations including the ability to oviposit through cell closures.