Taxonomy-revised
Guides
Dorcatominae
Dorcatominae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Ptinidae, encompassing approximately 16 genera and at least 190 described species. Members are commonly known as death-watch and spider beetles. The subfamily was formerly classified within Anobiidae, but family-level taxonomy has been revised to Ptinidae. Larval morphology has been described in detail for at least some members of the genus Dorcatoma.
Podoschistus vittifrons
Podoschistus vittifrons is the sole North American representative of its genus, a member of the ichneumonid subfamily Poemeniinae. It is an ectoparasitoid wasp that targets wood-boring beetle larvae, using its elongated ovipositor to deposit eggs through solid wood. The species has undergone repeated taxonomic revision, previously assigned to the genera Xorides and Neoxorides. Despite its large size and distinctive appearance, it is rarely encountered in the field.
Puto
giant mealybugs, Puto scale insects
Puto is a genus of scale insects in the family Putoidae, commonly known as giant mealybugs. The genus was established by Signoret in 1875 and is distinguished by its large body size relative to other mealybugs, dense white wax coating, and distinctive morphological features including cerarii and multilocular disc-pores. Putoidae is recognized as a distinct family separate from Pseudococcidae, representing a transitional evolutionary group between archaeococcoids and neococcoids. Species in this genus are primarily associated with woody host plants in temperate and montane regions.
Spharagemon campestris
Campestral Grasshopper, McNeill campestral grasshopper
Spharagemon campestris is a band-winged grasshopper in the family Acrididae, subfamily Oedipodinae. The species was originally described as Trimerotropis campestris by McNeill in 1901 and later transferred to the genus Spharagemon. It is recorded from western North America including Wyoming and British Columbia. As a member of the Oedipodinae, it possesses enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping and typically exhibits banded wing patterns characteristic of this subfamily.