Swarming
Guides
Acrididae
Short-horned Grasshoppers, Grasshoppers
Acrididae is the largest family of grasshoppers, comprising approximately 6,700–10,000 species within the suborder Caelifera. Members are characterized by short, stout antennae and auditory tympana located on the first abdominal segment. The family includes all locust species capable of forming destructive swarms, making it economically significant worldwide. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies indicate the family originated in South America during the Paleocene, approximately 59 million years ago, rather than Africa as previously believed.
Anarete
Anarete is a genus of non-biting midges in the family Cecidomyiidae, established by Irish entomologist Alexander Henry Haliday in 1833. The genus contains 38 described species with a cosmopolitan distribution. Several species, particularly Anarete pritchardi, have been extensively studied for their swarming behavior. Swarming in this genus involves males forming aerial aggregations with measurable kinematic properties, including characteristic looping and zigzag flight patterns while maintaining relatively constant distance from the swarm center.
Anopheles freeborni
western malaria mosquito
Anopheles freeborni is a medium-sized mosquito species native to western North America, historically recognized as the primary malaria vector in the western United States. Adults are distinguished by four dark wing spots and gray-brown thoracic stripes. The species exhibits strong zoophilic feeding preferences, primarily targeting cattle, horses, and other large mammals, though human blood meals occur at lower frequencies. Larval development occurs in stagnant freshwater habitats, particularly rice fields and associated irrigation systems. Females overwinter in sheltered locations and exhibit prehibernation dispersal flights of up to 28 km. Mating occurs in large evening swarms from July through September.
Apis mellifera carnica
Carniolan honey bee, Carniolan bee
Apis mellifera carnica is a subspecies of the western honey bee native to Slovenia, southern Austria, and parts of the Balkans. It is distinguished by darker coloration than the Italian honey bee and is valued in beekeeping for its gentle temperament and rapid spring colony buildup. The subspecies has been the focus of intensive breeding programs, including the New World Carniolan line developed by Susan Cobey, now an industry standard. Research indicates A. m. carnica exhibits distinct genetic responses to thermal stress and shows potential resistance traits against Varroa destructor mites through grooming behavior. The subspecies is the subject of international conservation efforts, with Slovenia restricting beekeeping to Carniolan bees only.
Bibio abbreviatus
Bibio abbreviatus is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae, first described by Loew in 1864. Adults emerge in spring and are known for forming large swarming aggregations. Males possess holoptic eyes that meet at the top of the head, while females have relatively small heads. The species belongs to a genus of decomposer flies whose larvae develop in soil.
Bibio lanigerus
Shaggy St Mark's Fly
Bibio lanigerus, commonly known as the Shaggy St Mark's Fly, is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae. It occurs across the Palearctic region, with confirmed records from Belgium and other parts of Europe. As with other Bibio species, adults emerge in spring and males form swarming aggregations to attract mates.
Bibio necotus
Bibio necotus is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae, first described by Hardy in 1937. Like other members of the genus Bibio, adults are medium-sized flies that emerge in spring and often form conspicuous mating swarms. Males possess large, holoptic compound eyes that meet at the top of the head, while females have disproportionately small heads. The species is part of a diverse North American fauna of approximately 37 currently recognized Bibio species, many of which were historically difficult to distinguish based on external characters alone.
Bibio rufipes
March fly
Bibio rufipes is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae. Adults emerge in spring, with males forming conspicuous swarms that blanket ground and low vegetation. Females possess fossorial adaptations including stout, downcurved spurs on the fore tibiae used to excavate soil for egg-laying. The species occurs across northern Europe including Norway and Sweden.
Bibio xanthopus
yellow-footed March fly
Bibio xanthopus, commonly known as the yellow-footed March fly, is a species of March fly in the family Bibionidae first described by Wiedemann in 1828. It is one of the most common species of Bibio in North America. The species exhibits considerable size variation and displays distinct sexual dimorphism in head morphology and wing coloration.
Bibionidae
March flies, lovebugs, honeymoon flies
Bibionidae is a family of medium-sized flies (Diptera) comprising approximately 650–700 species worldwide. Adults are characterized by thickset bodies, moniliform antennae, and distinctive stout spurs on the front tibiae used by females for digging. The family includes notable genera such as Bibio, Dilophus, and Plecia—the latter containing the famous 'lovebugs' known for prolonged copulatory pairing. Adults of many species are nectar feeders and important pollinators, while larvae are soil-dwelling decomposers and occasional plant pests.
Coptotermes
Coptotermes is a genus of subterranean termites in the family Rhinotermitidae, containing approximately 71 described species. The genus is thought to have originated in Southeast Asia and includes some of the world's most economically destructive termite pests, notably Coptotermes formosanus (Formosan subterranean termite) and C. gestroi (Asian subterranean termite). A 2013 consensus among 31 termite experts reduced the number of validated species from 69 to 21 based on morphological and molecular evidence, with many historical names suspected to be synonyms. Species in this genus exhibit complex social behaviors including age-based task division and unique nitrogen recycling strategies.
termitepestinvasivestructural-pestsubterraneanRhinotermitidaeHeterotermitidaeeconomic-pesturban-entomologycolonysocial-insectmoltingnitrogen-recyclingexuviaeage-polyethismFormosan-subterranean-termiteAsian-subterranean-termiteSoutheast-Asia-originwood-feedingcellulosegut-protozoalower-termiteevolutionary-transitiontunnelingforagingtrophallaxisproctodeal-trophallaxiscarton-nestAhamitermesparasitechitin-synthesis-inhibitorCSI-baitmolting-site-fidelityinvasive-speciesurban-peststructural-damagequarantineshippingrailroad-tiesmulchHawaiiFloridaLouisianaTaiwanJapanChinaPhilippinesAustraliatemperature-limitationhumidity-requirementcolony-sizeseveral-millionalatesswarmingnematode-associationvertical-transfermorphological-plasticitymolecular-identificationmitochondrial-DNACOII12S-rRNA16S-rRNAconsortium-taxonomytaxonomic-cold-casesynonymyWasmann-1896Dilophus
March flies
Dilophus is a genus of march flies (Diptera: Bibionidae) comprising at least 200 described species. The genus is distinguished from the related genus Bibio by morphological features of the fore legs. Species occur across multiple continents including North America, Europe, and the Afrotropical region. Adults are typically small to medium-sized flies, often reddish in coloration rather than black.
Dilophus arizonaensis
Dilophus arizonaensis is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae, first described by Hardy in 1937. Like other members of the genus Dilophus, it is smaller and less robust than the related genus Bibio, often with reddish coloration. The genus is distinguished from Bibio by having a ring of shorter teeth on the front legs rather than long spurs. As with other bibionids, adults are short-lived and emerge in spring, with males forming swarms to attract mates. Larval stages feed on decaying organic matter in soil.
Dilophus serotinus
March fly
Dilophus serotinus is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae, first described by Loew in 1861. Like other members of the genus Dilophus, adults are typically smaller and less robust than related Bibio species, often with reddish coloration. The genus is characterized by a ring of shorter teeth on the front legs rather than the long spurs found in Bibio. As with other bibionids, larvae develop in soil and feed on decaying organic matter.
Dilophus stigmaterus
March fly
Dilophus stigmaterus is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1823. Like other members of the genus Dilophus, it is typically smaller and less robust than related Bibio species, often with reddish coloration. The genus is distinguished from Bibio by having a ring of shorter teeth on the front legs rather than long spurs. Adults emerge in spring and males form swarms to attract females. Larvae develop in soil and feed on decaying organic matter.
Dilophus tibialis
Dilophus tibialis is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae. It is one of approximately 15-18 Dilophus species recognized in North America north of Mexico. The genus Dilophus is distinguished from the similar genus Bibio by having a ring of shorter teeth on the tibiae rather than long spurs. Species in this genus are typically smaller and less robust than Bibio, and often exhibit reddish coloration rather than black.
Dilophus tingi
March fly
Dilophus tingi is a species of March fly in the family Bibionidae. Like other members of the genus Dilophus, it is likely smaller and less robust than the related genus Bibio, and frequently exhibits reddish coloration. March flies are spring-emerging dipterans known for their swarming behavior and fossorial egg-laying habits.
Dissosteira longipennis
High Plains Locust, High Plains Grasshopper
Dissosteira longipennis is a large band-winged grasshopper native to the shortgrass prairie of western North America. During the 1930s, it formed massive swarms causing extensive crop and rangeland damage, but has not swarmed since and is now considered very rare. It is one of two North American locust species, the other being the extinct Rocky Mountain locust (Melanoplus spretus). The species persists in small, localized populations in favorable habitats.
Empis
dance fly
Empis is a genus of dance flies in the family Empididae, established by Linnaeus in 1758. The genus contains numerous species across several subgenera, including Enolempis. Males of some species exhibit distinctive morphological modifications, such as enlarged teeth on the hind leg femora, which are sexually dimorphic and not present in females. The genus is notable for complex mating behaviors including swarming and nuptial gift exchange.
Excirolana chiltoni
sand piranha
Excirolana chiltoni is a small intertidal isopod, commonly called 'sand piranha,' inhabiting sandy beaches of the Pacific Rim from Japan and Korea to Colombia. Adults reach approximately 8 mm in length and form dense aggregations exceeding 1,000 individuals. The species exhibits ovoviviparous reproduction with direct development, a 2-year lifespan, and pronounced spatial segregation during breeding.
Leptoceridae
long-horned caddisflies, silverhorns
Leptoceridae is the second largest family of caddisflies (Trichoptera), comprising over 1,850 species in approximately 68 genera. Members are distinguished by exceptionally long antennae—typically 1.5–2 times the forewing length—giving rise to their common name "long-horned caddisflies." The family exhibits remarkable diversity in larval feeding strategies, habitat preferences, and adult mating behaviors. Larvae are effective swimmers and construct portable cases, inhabiting ponds, marshes, lakes, and slower stream reaches across all faunal regions except Antarctica.
Melanoplus sanguinipes
migratory grasshopper, lesser migratory grasshopper, red-legged grasshopper
Melanoplus sanguinipes is a medium-sized spur-throated grasshopper and one of the most economically important grasshopper pests in North America. It is widely distributed across the continent, inhabiting diverse grassland habitats from native prairies to agricultural fields and disturbed areas. The species exhibits remarkable ecological flexibility, feeding on both grasses and forbs, and displays migratory behavior at high population densities. Under favorable conditions, populations can increase exponentially and form swarms that travel hundreds of miles, causing extensive damage to crops and rangeland. The species has been extensively studied for its population ecology, host plant relationships, and integrated pest management.
Melanoplus spretus
Rocky Mountain Locust
Melanoplus spretus, the Rocky Mountain Locust, was a species of locust that ranged through the western United States and parts of Canada until the late 19th century. It was one of the most destructive agricultural pests in North American history, forming swarms of unprecedented size—one 1875 swarm was estimated at 198,000 square miles. The species is now extinct, last observed in the early 1900s. It is considered by some authorities to represent a gregarious, migratory phase of Melanoplus sanguinipes rather than a distinct species.
Mythicomyiidae
micro bee flies, mythicomyiids, microbombyliids
Mythicomyiidae are minute flies (0.5–5.0 mm) historically treated as a subfamily of Empididae or Bombyliidae, but elevated to family rank based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. The family comprises 35 genera and over 450 described species, with hundreds more awaiting description. They exhibit highest diversity in Africa and are especially abundant in desert and semi-desert regions globally. The lineage dates to the Middle Jurassic, making it older than any known Bombyliidae.
Nymphomyiidae
nymph flies
Nymphomyiidae are a family of minute (approximately 2 mm), delicate flies with highly reduced morphology. They are considered among the most archaic living Diptera, sometimes placed in their own suborder Archidiptera. Larvae are strictly aquatic, inhabiting cold, fast-flowing streams in northern and high-altitude regions. Adults are short-lived, non-feeding, and form aggregative swarms; their wings fracture at the base after mating. The family contains approximately one dozen extant species, currently classified in the single genus Nymphomyia.
Schistocerca
bird grasshoppers, bird locusts
Schistocerca is a genus of large grasshoppers commonly known as bird grasshoppers, with approximately 50 described species. The genus is notable for containing several species capable of forming destructive locust swarms, most famously the desert locust (S. gregaria), the only Old World representative. Most species occur in the New World, with ten species documented in North America. The genus exhibits phenotypic plasticity, with some species developing migratory morphs under crowded conditions.
Trichoceridae
winter crane flies, winter gnats
Trichoceridae, commonly known as winter crane flies or winter gnats, is a small family of delicate, long-legged flies in the order Diptera. Adults are active primarily during cold seasons, including fall, winter, and early spring, with some species observed in snow. They are distinguished from other crane fly families by the presence of three ocelli (simple eyes) on the crown of the head. The family contains approximately 160 described species worldwide, with most diversity concentrated in non-tropical, Holarctic regions. Larvae inhabit moist terrestrial environments where they feed on decaying organic matter.
Trimerotropis pallidipennis
pallidwinged grasshopper
The pallidwinged grasshopper is a moderately-sized bandwinged grasshopper with the most extensive distribution of any bandwinged grasshopper in the New World, ranging from southwestern Canada to Argentina. It inhabits desert and semidesert environments where populations undergo sporadic irruptions that can cause significant agricultural damage. The species possesses strong flight capabilities and is known for nocturnal swarming behavior attracted to artificial lights. Outbreaks are typically brief, lasting one to two years, and are associated with above-normal rainfall that promotes egg survival and nymphal development.
Zootermopsis laticeps
Arizona dampwood termite, wide-headed rottenwood termite, southwestern rottenwood termite
Zootermopsis laticeps is a dampwood termite native to arid regions of southwestern North America. It inhabits rotting wood in standing trees near water sources, particularly in riparian areas. Colonies are founded by winged reproductives after nuptial flights and persist as long as dead wood resources remain available. The species is difficult to distinguish from congeners without specialized techniques such as near-infrared spectroscopy or cuticular hydrocarbon analysis.