Undocumented-biology
Guides
Aphelosternus interstitialis
Aphelosternus interstitialis is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by John L. LeConte in 1851. The species is native to western North America, with confirmed records from California. Like other members of the subfamily Saprininae, it is likely associated with decomposing organic matter and carrion, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The genus Aphelosternus is a small group within the diverse Histeridae, and species-level biology for most members is not well studied.
Apocephalus frameatus
Apocephalus frameatus is a species of scuttle fly in the family Phoridae, described by Brown in 2002. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with ants as a host, though specific details of its biology remain undocumented. The genus Apocephalus is notable for including species that exhibit brood parasitism of ants, a behavior that has been video-documented in related species but not specifically for A. frameatus.
Aristotelia isopelta
Aristotelia isopelta is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gelechiidae, first described by Edward Meyrick in 1929. It belongs to a genus of small 'twirler moths' characterized by bold patterning despite their diminutive size. The species has been recorded across a broad North American range spanning from British Columbia and Quebec to Texas and Arizona. Adults have a wingspan of 9–12 mm. Like other Aristotelia species, the larvae likely specialize on a particular host plant, though specific details remain undocumented.
Arnoldiola atra
Arnoldiola atra is a species of gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae, described by Gagné in 1999. As a member of this family, it is likely associated with the formation of plant galls, though specific host relationships and gall morphology remain undocumented in available sources. The genus Arnoldiola contains multiple species, most of which are poorly studied. This species has been recorded in citizen science observations, suggesting it is encountered with some regularity in the field.
Blepharepium sonorensis
Sonora Hanging Thief
Blepharepium sonorensis is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, commonly known as the Sonora Hanging Thief. It was described by Papavero & Bernardi in 1973. The species belongs to the genus Blepharepium, which is characterized by distinctive predatory behaviors typical of robber flies. As with other Asilidae, this species is likely an aerial predator of other insects. Very few observations of this species have been recorded, with only 3 documented observations in iNaturalist as of the available data.
Bohartia martini
Brown Longhorn Robber
Bohartia martini is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described in 1975 by Adisoemarto and Wood. It belongs to a genus named in honor of the entomologist Richard M. Bohart. As a member of the Asilidae family, it is presumed to share the predatory habits characteristic of robber flies, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented. The species is recognized as valid and accepted in major taxonomic databases.
Callihormius stigmatus
Callihormius stigmatus is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, described by Marsh in 1966. The genus Callihormius belongs to a group of braconid wasps characterized by distinctive wing venation patterns. Like other members of Braconidae, this species is presumed to be a koinobiont parasitoid, developing within a living host. Published biological data for this species remain extremely limited.
Cryptanura septentrionalis
Cryptanura septentrionalis is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Cushman in 1945. The genus Cryptanura belongs to the diverse superfamily Ichneumonoidea, which contains thousands of parasitoid wasp species. As with most ichneumonids, this species is presumed to be a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host associations remain undocumented in available sources. The species epithet "septentrionalis" (Latin for "northern") may indicate a northern distribution relative to congeners, though this has not been verified.
Cyrtopeltocoris huachucae
A species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Knight in 1968. The specific epithet 'huachucae' references the Huachuca Mountains of southeastern Arizona, indicating a strong association with this sky island mountain range. Like other members of the genus Cyrtopeltocoris, it is presumably associated with vegetation in arid and semi-arid habitats, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Dendrocoris neomexicanus
A species of stink bug in the family Pentatomidae. The genus Dendrocoris is associated with woody vegetation, though species-level biology for D. neomexicanus remains poorly documented. The specific epithet suggests a connection to New Mexico, likely reflecting type locality or primary distribution.
Elasmosoma michaeli
Elasmosoma michaeli is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, described by Shaw in 2007. It belongs to a genus of small wasps that attack ants. The genus Elasmosoma is part of the subfamily Euphorinae, tribe Neoneurini, which are specialized ant parasitoids.
Laevicephalus saskatchewanensis
Laevicephalus saskatchewanensis is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, described by Hamilton & Ross in 1975. It belongs to the subfamily Deltocephalinae and tribe Paralimnini. The species is endemic to the Canadian prairies, with confirmed records from Saskatchewan and Manitoba. As with most leafhoppers, it is presumed to feed on plant sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts, though specific host plants remain undocumented.
Mastogenius castlei
Mastogenius castlei is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Champlain and Knull in 1922. The genus Mastogenius comprises some of the smallest buprestids, with adults measuring approximately 2 mm in length. Very little specific information is documented for this species; most knowledge of the genus derives from congeneric species.
Neoneurus
Neoneurus is a genus of minute parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, tribe Neoneurini. These wasps are specialized ant parasitoids, with females attacking adult ant workers in flight to deposit their eggs. The genus includes species such as Neoneurus vesculus, which has been filmed ovipositing into Formica cunicularia workers. Neoneurus species are among the few parasitoids capable of overcoming ant defenses, representing a highly specialized ecological adaptation.
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chippokesiensis
Phylloxera chippokesiensis is a gall-forming insect in the family Phylloxeridae, closely related to aphids. Like other phylloxerans, it induces abnormal plant growths (galls) on host tissues through chemical secretions that redirect plant development. The species is named for Chippokes Plantation in Virginia, indicating an association with specific geographic or host plant contexts. As with congeners, it likely has a complex life cycle involving parthenogenetic reproduction within galls and seasonal transitions between winged and wingless forms.
Phytomyza fricki
Phytomyza fricki is a species of leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, described by Griffiths in 1974. As a member of the genus Phytomyza, it shares the characteristic larval habit of feeding within leaf tissue, creating visible mines. The specific host associations and biology of this species have not been well documented in available literature. It is distinct from the more commonly referenced native holly leafminer (Phytomyza ilicicola) and the invasive allium leafminer (Phytomyza gymnostoma).
Platylabops faciens
Platylabops faciens is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Ichneumoninae. The species was described by Townes in 1971. It belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive labial morphology. Like other ichneumonids, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations remain undocumented.
Pyrausta atropurpuralis
A small crambid moth described by Grote in 1877, found in the southwestern United States. Adults have a wingspan of 15–18 mm with distinctive reddish-brown forewings bearing a purplish tinge and fuscous hindwings paler at the base. Adult activity has been recorded in September.
Scrobipalpuloides spinosa
Scrobipalpuloides spinosa is a moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by Povolný in 2000. It is known from California in North America. No observations of this species have been recorded on iNaturalist. Information regarding its biology, host plants, and ecology remains undocumented in available sources.
Selonodon floridensis
Selonodon floridensis is a click beetle species in the family Cebrionidae, described by Galley in 1999 from Florida. It is one of 17 new species described from the southern United States in a comprehensive revision of the genus Selonodon, which recognized 25 species total. The genus belongs to the click beetle superfamily Elateroidea and exhibits a trend of phyletic size increase across its range.
Spilomicrus exul
Spilomicrus exul is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Diapriidae, a group of small, often minute wasps that develop as parasitoids of other insects. The genus Spilomicrus is part of the diverse hymenopteran fauna that includes thousands of poorly studied species. Like other diapriid wasps, this species likely has a specialized host relationship, though specific biological details remain undocumented in available sources.