Territorial-males

Guides

Anthidium palliventre
Pacific Woolcarder
Anthidium palliventre is a megachilid bee native to western North America, commonly known as the Pacific Woolcarder. Females collect plant fibers, particularly from hairy leaves such as lamb's ears (Stachys byzantina), to construct nest cells. Males establish and defend floral territories, exhibiting aggressive behavior toward other insects that approach their claimed flowers. The species is closely related to the introduced European wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum), but is native rather than invasive.
native-bee western-north-america megachilidae territorial-males wool-carder pollinator
Callophrys gryneus
juniper hairstreak, olive hairstreak
A small North American lycaenid butterfly with bright green undersides and highly variable wing patterns across its range. The species exhibits substantial geographic variation, with multiple named subspecies differing in coloration, pattern elements, and host plant associations. Males are territorial on host trees, and the species overwinters as a chrysalis. Taxonomic controversy persists regarding whether some subspecies merit full species status.
butterfly hairstreak lycaenid North-America juniper conifer-specialist territorial-males
Cerceris sextoides
weevil wasp
Cerceris sextoides is a solitary hunting wasp in the family Crabronidae that specializes in capturing weevils and other beetles to provision its underground nests. The species is common in Pacific coast states from British Columbia to southern California, ranging inland through Idaho, northwest Utah, and northern Nevada. Males emerge before females and establish territories, often perching on vegetation to watch for competitors. Females paralyze prey with their sting and transport it back to burrows excavated in sandy clay or gravelly clay soil.
solitary-wasp philanthine weevil-hunter ground-nesting territorial-males
Cimbex
Elm sawflies, Birch sawflies, Almond leaf wasps
Cimbex is a genus of large, robust sawflies in the family Cimbicidae, distributed across North America, Europe, and Asia. Adults are among the largest sawflies, with body lengths reaching 20-25 mm, and are frequently mistaken for bees or wasps due to their plump appearance and yellow-and-black coloration. The genus includes notable species such as C. americanus (elm sawfly), C. femoratus (birch sawfly), and C. quadrimaculatus (almond leaf wasp), some of which are significant defoliators of trees. Larvae are caterpillar-like, with seven pairs of prolegs distinguishing them from lepidopteran caterpillars, and possess chemical defense glands. The genus has a fossil record extending from the Eocene to the Miocene.
sawfly Hymenoptera defoliator cimbicid non-stinging caterpillar-like-larvae fossil-genus pest parasitoid-host territorial-males chemical-defense univoltine sap-feeding-adults
Clypeadon
Clypeadon is a genus of solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Philanthinae. These wasps are known to hunt harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex species) as prey for their larvae. The genus contains nine described species distributed in North America, primarily in western and southwestern regions of the United States.
solitary-wasp ant-predator harvester-ant Philanthinae Aphilanthopini western-North-America nectar-feeder ground-nesting Pogonomyrmex-predator territorial-males
Cordulegaster erronea
tiger spiketail
Cordulegaster erronea, the tiger spiketail, is a large, uncommon dragonfly in the family Cordulegastridae. It is a habitat specialist requiring small, pristine, spring-fed forest streams with muck bottoms and overhanging vegetation. The species has a long larval period estimated at 3-4 years and a brief adult flight period of approximately 2-3 weeks in early summer. Radio-telemetry studies in New Jersey have revealed limited adult movement, with individuals typically remaining within 100-200 meters of natal streams and showing strong site fidelity.
dragonfly spiketail habitat-specialist forest-stream radio-telemetry conservation New-Jersey Cordulegastridae Odonata indicator-species headwater-streams metapopulation territorial-behavior crepuscular-activity long-larval-development site-fidelity mature-forest-dependent spring-fed-streams muck-bottom-streams overhanging-vegetation shaded-streams limited-dispersal fragmented-populations pristine-habitat aquatic-nymph ovipositor early-summer-emergence brief-adult-life canopy-use easily-disturbed human-disturbance-sensitive top-predator stream-ecosystem conservation-concern IUCN-Least-Concern stable-population eastern-North-America patchy-distribution localized-populations territorial-males patrolling-behavior oviposition-in-organic-matter specialized-habitat-requirements forest-protection-needed regulatory-protection-insufficient aquatic-insect odonate Anisoptera Cordulegastroidea Selys-1878 tiger-spiketail uncommon-species rare-encounters field-identification-challenge habitat-degradation-threat forest-fragmentation-impact water-quality-dependent perennial-streams seepage-fed-streams adjacent-forest-use movement-ecology home-range-limited natal-stream-fidelity conservation-recommendations mature-forest-buffer stream-corridor-protection headwater-conservation forest-stream-specialist ecosystem-engineer biodiversity-indicator climate-change-vulnerability habitat-loss-sensitivity development-pressure protected-areas-benefit citizen-science-potential natural-history-knowledge-gap research-priority-species monitoring-target population-stability least-concern-status no-immediate-threat stable-IUCN-assessment North-American-endemic eastern-range New-Jersey-study-site detailed-life-history-known radiotelemetry-pioneer-study first-radio-telemetry-for-species movement-study habitat-use-study home-range-estimation conservation-biology-case-study forest-management-implications buffer-zone-requirements stream-protection-needs beyond-stream-corridor-protection 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Eumaeus atala
Atala, Atala butterfly, Atala hairstreak, coontie hairstreak
The Atala butterfly is a small, colorful lycaenid butterfly unique within its range for its aposematic coloration and exclusive association with cycad host plants. Once considered the most conspicuous insect in South Florida in 1888, it was believed extinct by the 1950s due to overharvesting of its sole native host plant, coontie (Zamia integrifolia), for starch production. Rediscovered in 1979 on a Miami barrier island, the species has recovered dramatically through conservation efforts and the popularity of coontie as an ornamental landscape plant, becoming common enough in southeast Florida to occasionally be regarded as a pest. The butterfly sequesters toxic cycasin compounds from its host, rendering all life stages unpalatable to predators.
butterfly hairstreak Lycaenidae cycad coontie Zamia aposematic-coloration chemical-defense conservation endangered-species-recovery Florida-endemic pine-rockland host-plant-specialist sequestration urban-wildlife ornamental-pest freeze-dried-diet ex-situ-conservation reintroduction fire-dependent-ecosystem native-plant-landscaping cycasin-toxicity multivoltine territorial-males coremata sound-producing-pupae
Hesperia
Branded Skippers
Hesperia is a Holarctic genus of skippers (Hesperiidae) commonly known as the branded skippers. Most species are endemic to North America, with Hesperia comma widespread across the Holarctic, H. florinda restricted to temperate eastern Asia, and H. nabokovi endemic to Hispaniola. The genus contains approximately 25 species characterized by distinctive wing markings and rapid, darting flight patterns typical of skippers.
Hesperiidae skippers branded-skippers grassland-butterflies Holarctic territorial-males
Hypaurotis crysalus
Colorado Hairstreak
Hypaurotis crysalus, the Colorado Hairstreak, is a montane butterfly and the sole member of its genus. It was designated Colorado's state insect in 1996 following advocacy by a fourth-grade class in Aurora, Colorado. The species is univoltine, with adults peaking in July and August. It exhibits distinctive purple upper wing surfaces and cryptic gray undersides, and has specialized feeding habits that rarely include flower nectar.
state-insect montane oak-associated univoltine territorial-males non-nectar-feeding
Melissodes coreopsis
Tickseed Longhorn Bee
Melissodes coreopsis is a species of long-horned bee in the family Apidae, described by Robertson in 1905. The common name 'Tickseed Longhorn Bee' reflects its association with Coreopsis flowers. Like other members of the genus Melissodes, it is a solitary ground-nesting bee that contributes to pollination of native wildflowers. Males of this genus are known to form sleeping aggregations on vegetation at night while females nest underground.
solitary-bee ground-nesting pollinator long-horned-bee Eucerini Asteraceae-specialist sleeping-aggregation territorial-males
Nannothemis
elfin skimmer
Nannothemis is a monotypic genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae, containing a single species, Nannothemis bella (elfin skimmer). It is the smallest dragonfly in North America, with males exhibiting powdery blue coloration and females displaying black and yellow wasp-like patterning. The genus is native to eastern North America, where it inhabits specialized wetland habitats.
dragonfly skimmer smallest-North-American-dragonfly monotypic-genus wetland-specialist territorial-males sexual-dimorphism powdery-blue-males wasp-mimic-females climate-change-vulnerability bioindicator
Philanthus crabroniformis
beewolf
Philanthus crabroniformis is a species of bee-hunting wasp, commonly known as a 'beewolf,' native to North America. The species belongs to the family Crabronidae and primarily preys upon bees in the family Halictidae. Females construct nests in sandy soils and provision them with paralyzed prey for their larval offspring. The species has been documented in sympatry with P. gibbosus, with which it shares similar prey preferences but exhibits distinctive nest approach behaviors that may represent an evolutionary response to parasitic pressure from miltogrammine flies.
beewolf bee-hunting-wasp solitary-wasp Halictidae-predator sand-nesting-wasp Philanthinae Crabronidae North-America parasite-host territorial-males burrow-sharing
Prionyx thomae
Prionyx thomae is a solitary, thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae. It is one of seven Prionyx species in the United States, ranging from the southeastern and western U.S. south to Argentina. The species is a specialist predator of grasshoppers, paralyzing them with venom to provision underground nests for its larvae. It lacks a common English name, reflecting its limited economic importance.
solitary-wasp grasshopper-predator thread-waisted-wasp burrowing-wasp parasitoid kleptoparasitism Sphecidae Acrididae-prey territorial-males New-World-distribution
Sarginae
soldier flies
Sarginae is a subfamily of soldier flies (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) established by Walker in 1834. The subfamily is cosmopolitan in distribution, occurring from the Nearctic region through Canada and Alaska to the Neotropics, with substantial diversity in genera such as Acrochaeta, Himantigera, Merosargus, and Sargus. Immature stages are known for relatively few species—29 species as of 2022, with only eight from the Neotropical region.
soldier-flies Stratiomyidae Diptera cosmopolitan Neotropical plant-associated-larvae territorial-males
Tachytes distinctus
green-eyed wasp, square-headed wasp
Tachytes distinctus is a solitary square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae, notable for the large green eyes characteristic of many larger Tachytes species. Females excavate underground burrows with branching tunnels and multiple cells, provisioning them with paralyzed orthopteran prey. Males emerge before females and defend territories from perches, using their prominent eyes to detect mates and rivals. The species occurs across North America and the Caribbean.
solitary-wasp ground-nesting orthopteran-predator green-eyes territorial-males Crabronidae Larrini North-America Caribbean
Tachytrechus angustipennis
Tachytrechus angustipennis is a predatory long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae. It has been recorded across much of the United States, from California and Utah to the eastern seaboard, and extends into the Neotropical realm and the Hawaiian Islands. Adults are known to inhabit algal mats in geothermal environments, notably at Yellowstone National Park. The species exhibits territorial behavior in males and preys primarily on Paracoenia eggs and larvae.
Dolichopodidae predatory-fly thermal-effluent Yellowstone territorial-males
Thorybes bathyllus
southern cloudywing
Thorybes bathyllus, commonly known as the southern cloudywing, is a North American skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is characterized by erratic, low flight and challenging identification due to individual variation and seasonal forms. The species exhibits distinct spring and summer morphs in southern populations, with spring forms being lightly marked and summer forms more boldly patterned. It has one brood per year in northern regions and two to three broods in the south.
skipper seasonal-dimorphism territorial-males legume-feeders