Tropical
Guides
Deinopis
net-casting spiders, gladiator spiders, ogre-faced spiders, American Ogre-faced Spiders
Deinopis is a genus of net-casting spiders characterized by their distinctive hunting strategy of throwing a rectangular cribellate web at prey. The genus is distinguished by enlarged posterior median eyes that are among the most light-sensitive of any animal, enabling nocturnal hunting. These spiders exhibit specialized sensory adaptations including the use of trichobothria and slit sensillae on their legs to detect prey vibrations and sounds. The genus has a tropical and subtropical distribution with a complex biogeographic history involving Gondwanan origins and subsequent dispersal events.
Derbidae
Derbid Planthoppers, Derbids
Derbidae is a large and diverse family of planthoppers within the superfamily Fulgoroidea, comprising over 1,700 described species in 166 genera. Adults are small sap-sucking insects typically 5–10 mm in length, with highly variable morphology across subfamilies and tribes. The family exhibits striking diversity in wing shape, head structure, and antennae form. Nymphs develop in decaying organic matter, particularly under bark of dead trees and in palm debris, where they feed on fungi—an unusual life history trait among planthoppers. Several species are economically significant as suspected vectors of phytoplasma diseases affecting palms, including lethal yellowing and related syndromes, though clear evidence of transmission remains limited.
Desmia ploralis
mournful desmia moth
Desmia ploralis, commonly known as the mournful desmia moth, is a species of snout moth in the family Crambidae. It was first described by French entomologist Achille Guenée in 1854. The species is distributed across tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, including parts of Central America, South America, the Caribbean, and the southern United States. Like other members of the genus Desmia, it is likely associated with host plants in the grape family (Vitaceae), though specific host records for this species are limited.
Dichomeris acuminatus
Alfalfa Leaf Tier, Alfalfa Leaftier Moth
Dichomeris acuminatus is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, commonly known as the alfalfa leaf tier. It has an exceptionally broad distribution spanning multiple continents including Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas. The species was first described by Otto Staudinger in 1876. Despite its common name suggesting association with alfalfa, the species appears to be a generalist with a wide ecological tolerance given its cosmopolitan range.
Diclidophlebia
Diclidophlebia is a pantropical genus of psyllids (jumping plant-lice) established by Crawford in 1920. The genus contains approximately 25 described species distributed across the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Multiple species are documented crop and forestry pests, with known associations to hosts in Melastomataceae, Sterculiaceae, Irvingiaceae, and other plant families. Some species have been investigated as potential biological control agents for invasive plants.
Dictis striatipes
Striped Spitting Spider
Dictis striatipes is a spitting spider in the family Scytodidae, known for the common name "Striped Spitting Spider." The species has been introduced to regions outside its native range, including Hawaii, Mexico, and Yemen. As a member of Scytodidae, it possesses the characteristic spitting ability that defines this family—immobilizing prey by ejecting a mixture of silk, venom, and adhesive from the chelicerae. It is a synanthropic species often found in human-modified environments.
Dioprosopa
drone flies
Dioprosopa is a genus of hoverflies (family Syrphidae) in the tribe Syrphini, containing two described species found in the New World. The genus was elevated from subgenus rank in 2018 based on phylogenetic studies. Both species occur in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, where they contribute to ecosystem services through adult pollination and larval predation on agricultural pests.
Diphleps
jumping tree bugs
Diphleps is a genus of jumping tree bugs in the family Miridae, established by Bergroth in 1924. The genus contains five described species distributed in the New World tropics. Species in this genus are arboreal and possess enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. The genus is relatively poorly studied compared to other mirid genera.
Diphthera festiva
Hieroglyphic Moth
Diphthera festiva, commonly known as the Hieroglyphic Moth, is a distinctive moth species in the family Erebidae. It is the sole member of its genus Diphthera within the subfamily Calpinae. The species exhibits a wide tropical and subtropical distribution across the Americas, with occasional northern strays extending its recorded range. Its common name derives from the striking wing patterns that resemble hieroglyphic inscriptions.
Dirhininae
Dirhininae is a subfamily of chalcidid wasps established by Ashmead in 1904, containing four genera and over 100 species, many of which remain undescribed. Members of the tribe Dirhinini are distinguished by a pair of prominent head horns and are primarily distributed in tropical regions. These wasps are parasitoids that develop within various Brachycera flies, with the adult wasp using its horns, mandibles, and robust body to forcefully emerge from the host.
Ditemnus freemani
Pale-sutured Tropical Soldier Beetle
Ditemnus freemani is a species of soldier beetle in the family Cantharidae. The common name "Pale-sutured Tropical Soldier Beetle" refers to a distinctive pale line along the elytral suture. Like other cantharids, it has soft, flexible elytra. The species is known from a limited number of observations, primarily in tropical regions.
Dolichognatha
Dolichognatha is a genus of long-jawed orb-weaving spiders in the family Tetragnathidae, distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The genus was established by Octavius Pickard-Cambridge in 1869 and has undergone several taxonomic revisions, having been placed in Archaeidae, then Araneidae, before its current placement in Tetragnathidae. It contains 32 recognized species found across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Pacific.
Drapetes niger
Tropical Black Click Beetle
Drapetes niger, known as the Tropical Black Click Beetle, is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. The genus Drapetes belongs to a diverse family characterized by the ability to produce an audible clicking sound using a prosternal process that engages with a mesosternal groove. As of current records, this species has been documented in 8 observations on iNaturalist, indicating it is rarely encountered or poorly surveyed.
Dryophthorinae
Dryophthorinae is a subfamily of weevils (Curculionidae) comprising approximately 1,200 species in 153 genera and ten tribes. The subfamily includes numerous economically significant agricultural pests, particularly of palms, bananas, rice, maize, sugarcane, and bromeliads. Many species are distributed in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, with several having achieved global distributions through international trade in ornamental and agricultural plants. The taxonomic status of Dryophthorinae remains contested; while traditionally treated as a subfamily, at least one major revision has elevated it to family rank as Dryophthoridae.
Dynamine dyonis
blue-eyed sailor
Dynamine dyonis, commonly known as the blue-eyed sailor, is a species of tropical brush-footed butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It was described by Hübner in 1837. The species is found in North America and has been assigned the MONA/Hodges number 4534.
Ectatomminae
Ectaheteromorph Ants
Ectatomminae is a subfamily of ants established in 2003 when Barry Bolton divided the former Ponerinae into six subfamilies. It currently comprises two tribes (Ectatommini and Heteroponerini) with approximately 13 extant genera and three extinct genera. The subfamily was further consolidated in 2022 when Heteroponerinae was merged into Ectatomminae, and this taxonomic position was upheld by genomic reanalysis in 2024. Members are primarily distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in the Neotropics.
Emesopsis
Emesopsis is a genus of small tropical assassin bugs (family Reduviidae, subfamily Emesinae) containing at least 22 described species. Most species are restricted to tropical Asia and Australia, with E. nubila being the only pantropical species, also occurring in southern Europe. These bugs are characterized by their unusual locomotion using middle and hind legs while the raptorial front legs are reserved for prey capture. They are generalist predators of various small insects.
Emmelina buscki
Tropical Morning Glory Plume Moth
Emmelina buscki is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, first described by Barnes and Lindsey in 1921. It is known from North America (Florida, Mexico), Central America, and northern South America. The species has a wingspan of 20–23 mm and exhibits distinct tawny or brownish white coloration with characteristic wing markings. Larvae are specialized feeders on Ipomoea indica, skeletonizing young leaves of this host plant.
Epichrysomallidae
Epichrysomallidae is a family of minute gall-forming wasps in the superfamily Chalcidoidea. Formerly classified as a subfamily of Pteromalidae, it was elevated to family rank based on molecular phylogenetic evidence showing closer relationships to other gall-forming chalcid wasps. Members are obligate associates of fig trees (Ficus), inducing galls in figs, on leaves, or on twigs. The family contains approximately 20 described genera distributed across tropical and subtropical regions.
Epipsocidae
Elliptical Barklice
Epipsocidae is a family of barklice (Psocodea: Psocomorpha) comprising 16 genera and over 140 species. The family is primarily tropical in distribution, with the notable exception of the European endemic Bertkauia lucifuga, which is almost always apterous. Epipsocids share diagnostic morphological features with other members of the infraorder Epipsocetae, including a labrum with two sclerotized ridges and a hairy ventral surface of the forewing.
Erastria
Erastria is a genus of geometrid moths erected by Jacob Hübner in 1813. The genus contains approximately 30 described species distributed primarily in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia. Adults are characterized by distinctive morphological features including upturned palpi, minutely ciliated antennae in males, and abdominal dorsal tufts. Larvae possess four pairs of abdominal prolegs, consistent with the family Geometridae.
Erginulus subserialis
Erginulus subserialis is a harvestman (order Opiliones) in the family Cosmetidae, originally described by Pickard-Cambridge in 1905. The species belongs to the subfamily Metergininae, a group of tropical harvestmen characterized by often ornate dorsal ornamentation. It is one of several species in the genus Erginulus, which is distributed across Central and South America. The species has been documented through iNaturalist observations, indicating ongoing contemporary study.
Erosia incendiata
Erosia incendiata is a moth species in the family Uraniidae, first described by Guenée in 1857. It has been treated under both the genus Erosia and Epiplema, reflecting historical taxonomic uncertainty. The species is part of a small family of moths that includes both day-flying and nocturnal species, some with distinctive wing shapes. Observations on iNaturalist suggest it occurs in tropical regions, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Eublemma
Eublemma is a genus of small moths in the family Erebidae, containing over 400 species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The genus was described by Jacob Hübner in 1829 and has undergone taxonomic revision, previously placed in Noctuidae or as the type genus of subfamily Eublemminae. Several species are economically significant as predators of scale insects, particularly E. amabilis, which attacks lac insects (Kerria spp.) and has been investigated as a biological control agent.
Eublemma cinnamomea
Eublemma cinnamomea is a small moth in the family Erebidae, first described in 1868. It has a wingspan of approximately 17 mm. The species is widespread across the New World tropics, ranging from the southern United States through Central America to Argentina.
Eudocima
Fruit-piercing Moths
Eudocima is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, established by Gustaf Johan Billberg in 1820. The genus contains numerous tropical species and is notable for the fruit-piercing behavior of its adults, which use their specialized mouthparts to puncture fruit and feed on juices. This feeding habit has made several species significant agricultural pests. The genus has undergone taxonomic revisions, with species historically placed in various other genera.
Eumastacidae
Monkey Grasshoppers, Matchstick Grasshoppers
Eumastacidae is a family of grasshoppers commonly known as monkey grasshoppers or matchstick grasshoppers. They are considered primitive within the Orthoptera and are characterized by their distinctive body posture with thin legs held at right angles to the body, often near the horizontal plane. Many species are wingless. The family exhibits its greatest diversity in the Neotropics, with most species inhabiting tropical regions. They feed on algae, ferns, and gymnosperms—ancient plant groups that reflect their primitive evolutionary status.
Eupariini
eupariine dung beetles, small dung beetles
Eupariini is a diverse tribe of small dung beetles in the subfamily Aphodiinae (Scarabaeidae). The tribe comprises over 40 genera and approximately 640 described species globally, with exceptional diversity in the Neotropics where around 28 genera and 333 species occur. Members are smaller than their sister lineage Scarabaeinae. The tribe has a broad geographic distribution spanning the Australian, Oriental, and Neotropical zoogeographical regions, with fossil representatives known from Eocene Baltic amber.
Euphthiracaroidea
Euphthiracaroidea is a superfamily of oribatid mites within the infraorder Mixonomata, established by Jacot in 1930. It comprises several families including Euphthiracaridae, Synichotritiidae, and Oribotritiidae. Members of this group are primarily known from leaf litter habitats in tropical and subtropical regions, with documented diversity in Southeast Asia including Thailand.
Eupyrrhoglossum sagra
Cuban Sphinx
Eupyrrhoglossum sagra is a medium-sized sphinx moth (Sphingidae) native to tropical and subtropical lowlands of the Caribbean and Central and South America. Adults have a wingspan of 51–53 mm and display distinctive wing patterning including a semi-transparent submarginal spot on the forewing and a median yellow band on the hindwing. The species was first described by Felipe Poey in 1832 based on Cuban specimens. Larvae feed on Rubiaceae species, with documented hosts including Guettarda and Chomelia.
Eurema albula
Ghost Yellow
Eurema albula, commonly known as the ghost yellow, is a small butterfly in the family Pieridae. It ranges from southern Texas through the West Indies and tropical Central and South America to Brazil. Adults are active year-round in tropical regions and feed on flower nectar. The species inhabits tropical forests and second-growth vegetation.
Eustrotiini
Eustrotiini moths
Eustrotiini is a tribe of moths in the subfamily Boletobiinae, family Erebidae. Members are small to medium-sized noctuoid moths with generally dull coloration. The tribe is primarily distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, with greatest diversity in the Old World tropics. Many species exhibit cryptic forewing patterns that provide camouflage against bark or leaf litter.
Euxestidae
Euxestidae is a small family of beetles in the superfamily Coccinelloidea, containing approximately 70 extant species across 10 genera. Formerly treated as a subfamily of Cerylonidae, they were elevated to family status based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. Members are primarily tropical and subtropical in distribution, with most species occurring in the Afro-Eurasian region. They inhabit concealed microhabitats including decomposing wood, leaf litter, and the nests of social insects.
Exelastis pumilio
Dwarf Plume Moth
A small plume moth with a wingspan of 12–15 mm, found throughout tropical regions worldwide. Adults are recorded on wing in March, April, and June. The genus Hepalastis is treated as a synonym of Exelastis.
Flatinae
Flatinae is a subfamily of planthoppers within the family Flatidae, erected by Maximilian Spinola in 1839. Adults are distinguished by bodies that are flattened laterally and tegmina held in a tent-like posture, unlike the related Flatoidinae. The subfamily is cosmopolitan in tropical and subtropical regions, with records from all continents except Antarctica.
Flatoides
Flatoides is a genus of planthoppers in the family Flatidae, subfamily Flatoidinae. Members of this genus are characterized by their flattened, often broad body shape typical of flatid planthoppers. The genus was established by Félix Édouard Guérin-Méneville in 1844. Species within Flatoides are distributed primarily in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in the Old World tropics including parts of Africa, Asia, and associated islands. Like other flatids, they are sap-feeding insects that inhabit vegetation where they feed on plant phloem.
Fulgoridae
lanternflies, lanthorn flies
Fulgoridae is a large family of planthoppers within the order Hemiptera, containing over 125 genera worldwide with exceptional diversity in tropical regions. Members range from moderate to large size and often exhibit brilliant, varied coloration that superficially resembles Lepidoptera. The family is commonly known as "lanternflies," a name derived from the historical misconception that the elongated head processes of some species could produce light. These insects possess piercing-sucking mouthparts adapted for feeding on plant phloem sap.
Gabunillo
Gabunillo is a genus of small, eyeless, pigmentless woodlice in the family Armadillidae. Described in 1983 from Gabon, it now includes four species found in Gabon, Brazil, and São Tomé. Members of this genus are characterized by their ability to fully conglobate (roll into a ball), complete absence of eyes, and lack of pseudotracheae. The genus is distinguished from the similar Synarmadillo by cephalon structure, telson shape, and the absence of ventral teeth on thoracic segments.
Garriscaphus
Garriscaphus is a genus of soil-dwelling centipedes in the family Himantariidae, established by Chamberlin in 1941. Members of this genus belong to the order Geophilomorpha, characterized by elongated bodies with numerous leg pairs. The genus is part of a family distributed primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. Specific details about the biology and ecology of Garriscaphus remain poorly documented in published literature.
Garypus
Garypus is a genus of pseudoscorpions in the family Garypidae, comprising at least 20 described species. These arachnids are primarily restricted to seashore habitats, occupying supralittoral and littoral zones in tropical and subtropical regions. The genus was established by Ludwig Carl Christian Koch in 1873 and shows highest diversity in the Indo-West Pacific region. Species-level taxonomy remains incompletely resolved, with many species known from single localities.
Gecarcinidae
land crabs
Gecarcinidae is a family of true crabs (Brachyura) adapted for terrestrial existence, commonly known as land crabs. Members possess modified gill chambers called branchiostegal lungs that allow aerial respiration. Adults are primarily terrestrial but require marine environments for reproduction; larvae develop in seawater. The family includes approximately eight genera distributed across tropical regions worldwide.
Glutophrissa drusilla
Florida White, tropical white
Glutophrissa drusilla is a pierid butterfly known as the Florida White or tropical white. It occurs from tropical America northward to southern Florida and the Florida Keys, with occasional records as far north as Nebraska and Colorado. The species is associated with tropical lowland forests and is the only representative of its genus in North America. It is frequently observed in coastal Texas and has been recorded from multiple localities in Colombia.
Goniotropis
Goniotropis is a genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, subfamily Paussinae, containing at least 40 described species. Adults are large, parallel-sided beetles found in the New World tropics. Larvae are burrow-dwelling predators with a distinctive terminal disk composed of modified urogomphi and dorsal plates. The genus ranges from southern Arizona to northern Argentina.
Gryllodes
decorated crickets, tropical house crickets
Gryllodes is a genus of crickets in the family Gryllidae, tribe Modicogryllini. The genus contains at least three described species, with Gryllodes sigillatus being the most widely known and economically significant. This species, commonly called the tropical house cricket or decorated cricket, has a cosmopolitan distribution associated with human habitation and is extensively cultured for pet food and human consumption. The genus is notable for its specialized mating behavior involving nuptial gifts.
Halocoryza
Halocoryza is a genus of small, intertidal ground beetles (Carabidae) restricted to tropical and subtropical coastal habitats. The genus comprises four described species distributed across shorelines of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, including Caribbean islands and the Gulf of Mexico. All species are nocturnal predators associated with sandy or coralline substrates near mangroves, coral reefs, or seaweed accumulations. The genus is characterized by reduced flight capability, slow running speed, and adaptations for burrowing in coastal sediments.
Heliconiinae
longwings, heliconians, fritillaries and longwings
Heliconiinae is a subfamily of brush-footed butterflies (Nymphalidae) comprising 45–50 genera, commonly known as longwings or heliconians. Members are distinguished by elongated forewings and predominantly reddish-black coloration. They are notable among butterflies for actively consuming pollen, which extends adult longevity. The subfamily exhibits complex coevolutionary relationships with Passifloraceae host plants and serves as a classic model for studies of Müllerian and Batesian mimicry.
Heliopetes macaira
Turk's-cap White-Skipper
Heliopetes macaira is a small skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae, ranging from southern Texas through Central America to Paraguay. It is closely associated with Turk's-cap (Malvaviscus drummondii), which serves as its larval host plant. Adults are active from spring through late autumn in the northern part of its range, with multiple generations produced annually.
Hemipepsis
tarantula hawks, Old and New World Tarantula-hawk Wasps
Hemipepsis is a genus of large spider wasps in the family Pompilidae, commonly known as tarantula hawks. The genus contains approximately 180 species distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, with significant diversity in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Hemipepsis wasps are distinguished from the related genus Pepsis by subtle differences in wing venation patterns. In South Africa, Hemipepsis wasps serve as exclusive pollinators for 18 plant species across three families (Apocynaceae, Orchidaceae, and Asparagaceae subfamily Scilloodeae). The genus has been extensively studied for its complex male territorial behavior, particularly in the North American species H. ustulata.
Hemipsocus africanus
Hemipsocus africanus is a species of barklouse in the family Hemipsocidae, first described by Enderlein in 1907. It belongs to the order Psocodea, which encompasses both barklice and true lice. The species has been documented across a broad geographic range spanning sub-Saharan Africa, parts of Central America, and several island systems including the Krakatau Islands and Seychelles. Its wide distribution suggests either natural dispersal capabilities or human-mediated transport, though specific mechanisms remain undocumented.
Heteropogon
tanglehead
Heteropogon is a genus of tussock grasses in the family Poaceae, commonly known as tangleheads. The genus is widespread primarily in tropical and subtropical regions, with species occurring in Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Heteropogon contortus, the most studied species, is a perennial grass significant in pastoral agriculture, particularly in Australian rangelands. The genus exhibits considerable phenotypic plasticity, with documented variation in flowering time, ploidy levels, and growth habit across its range.