Univoltine
Guides
Stigmella lapponica
Stigmella lapponica is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, described by Maximilian Ferdinand Wocke in 1862 from northern Norway. The species is notable for its leaf-mining larvae that feed exclusively on birch leaves, creating distinctive slender galleries. Adults are active in May with a single generation per year, though partial second broods have been suggested. The moth occurs across the Holarctic region, including Europe, Asia, and North America.
Stilbosis ostryaeella
ironwood leafminer moth, ironwood leafminer
Stilbosis ostryaeella is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae. Its larvae are leafminers specialized on ironwood (Ostrya virginiana), creating distinctive blotch mines between leaf veins. The species is distributed across eastern North America, with adults active from late spring through summer. It overwinters as a pupa in leaf litter.
Symmerista
Symmerista is a genus of prominent moths (family Notodontidae) erected by Jacob Hübner in 1821. The genus contains at least nine described species distributed primarily in North America, with several species described from Central America. Larvae are notable for a distinctive leaf-clipping behavior where they sever petioles after feeding and apply red saliva to the cut surface, a trait that has been experimentally demonstrated to introduce salivary constituents into the plant's vascular system to suppress defense responses in nearby leaves.
Symmerista leucitys
orange-humped mapleworm moth, orange-humped mapleworm
Symmerista leucitys is a notodontid moth commonly known as the orange-humped mapleworm moth. The species is a univoltine specialist defoliator of sugar maple, with a single generation per year. Larvae exhibit distinctive leaf-clipping behavior, severing petioles after feeding and applying red saliva containing pigments from the anterior labial glands to the petiole stub. This saliva travels rapidly into the petiole xylem and is hypothesized to suppress plant defense responses in nearby leaves. During outbreak years, clipped leaves can comprise over 80% of greenfall losses in early October.
Sympistis chionanthi
Fringe-tree Sallow, Grey O Moth
Sympistis chionanthi is a noctuid moth with a wingspan of 33–38 mm. Adults are active from August to October in a single annual generation. The species is associated with deciduous woodlands across eastern and central North America.
Sympistis forbesi
Forbes' Sallow
Sympistis forbesi is a noctuid moth described in 2014 from the north-central United States. The species is named in honor of entomologist William Trowbridge Merrifield Forbes. Adults are active in late summer with a single annual generation. Larvae are specialized feeders on Triosteum species (Caprifoliaceae), with green bodies and reddish dorsal coloration. The species has experienced range contraction, with apparent extirpation from its eastern distribution in New York and New Jersey.
Synanthedon tipuliformis
currant clearwing, currant borer moth, currant clearwing moth
Synanthedon tipuliformis, the currant clearwing, is a clearwing moth native to the Palearctic realm that has become invasive in the Nearctic and Australasian realms. Adults are diurnal wasp mimics with transparent wings scaled only along veins and margins. Larvae are internal feeders that bore into the pith of Ribes canes, causing significant damage to currant and gooseberry cultivation. The species is univoltine in temperate regions, with adults emerging in late spring to early summer.
Syngrapha angulidens
Syngrapha angulidens is a noctuid moth described by Smith in 1891. It is distributed across montane regions of western North America from Alaska to New Mexico. The species has a single annual generation with adults active in mid-summer.
Syngrapha diasema
Dwarf Birch Looper
Syngrapha diasema is a noctuid moth distributed across Arctic and subarctic regions of Eurasia and North America. First described by Boisduval in 1829, it is commonly known as the Dwarf Birch Looper. The species has a wingspan of 30–33 mm and completes one generation per year.
Syngrapha epigaea
Epigaea Looper Moth, Pirate Looper Moth, Narrow Silver Y
Syngrapha epigaea is a noctuid moth species first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1874. It occurs across boreal and temperate regions of North America, with adults active during mid-summer. The species is univoltine, producing one generation per year. Larvae feed on specific ericaceous host plants, with documented associations to Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry) and Kalmia angustifolia (sheep laurel).
Syngrapha montana
Labrador Tea Looper Moth, Labrador tea looper
Syngrapha montana, commonly known as the Labrador tea looper moth, is a noctuid moth distributed across boreal North America. The species exhibits a transcontinental Canadian range with southern extensions into the northern United States. Its life cycle is univoltine, with one generation annually. The larval stage is specialized, feeding exclusively on Ledum groenlandicum (Labrador tea), a wetland ericaceous shrub.
Syngrapha octoscripta
Figure-eight Looper Moth, Dusky Silver Y
Syngrapha octoscripta is a noctuid moth native to North America, commonly known as the figure-eight looper moth or dusky silver Y. Adults are medium-sized with a wingspan of 34–36 mm and display the characteristic silver Y-shaped marking typical of the genus. The species has a single annual generation, with adults active during mid-summer. Larvae are specialized feeders on Vaccinium species.
Syngrapha orophila
Syngrapha orophila is a noctuid moth described by George Hampson in 1908. It is restricted to western North America, where it inhabits mountainous and northern coastal regions. The species has a single annual generation with adults active in mid-summer.
Syngrapha selecta
Chosen Looper Moth
Syngrapha selecta, the chosen looper moth, is a North American noctuid moth described by Francis Walker in 1858. It has a wingspan of approximately 38 mm and produces one generation annually. The species occupies a broad northern range across boreal and subarctic regions.
Syngrapha u-aureum
golden looper moth
Syngrapha u-aureum, known as the golden looper moth, is a noctuid moth distributed across boreal and subarctic regions of eastern North America. The species has one generation annually. Larvae feed on Vaccinium species, including blueberries and related shrubs. Two subspecies are recognized, differing in geographic distribution and host associations.
Syricoris lacunana
Dark strawberry tortrix, Common Marble
Syricoris lacunana is a small tortricid moth with a wingspan of 16–18 mm, found throughout the Palearctic realm. Adults are active at dusk from late April to September, with variable gray-brown forewings marked by thin silvery lines. The species is highly polyphagous, with larvae feeding on a broad range of herbaceous plants, shrubs, and trees. It is commonly encountered in hedgerows, fields, and woodland edges across Europe and northern Asia.
Tabanus lineola
striped horse fly
Tabanus lineola, commonly known as the striped horse fly, is a biting horse fly native to eastern and southern North America. Females are aggressive blood-feeders of humans and livestock, recognized by a pale median stripe on the abdomen, while males lack this feature, do not bite, and have bare eyes. The species has a univoltine life cycle with larvae developing in saturated sandy soils near water bodies.
Tachyporus
Tachyporus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the tribe Tachyporini, serving as the type genus for both its tribe and subfamily. The genus comprises approximately 35 species in North and Central America alone, with additional species in Europe and other regions. Species such as Tachyporus hypnorum have been extensively studied for their role as generalist predators in agricultural ecosystems, particularly in cereal fields where they contribute to aphid control.
Taeniopoda eques
western horse lubber grasshopper, horse lubber
Taeniopoda eques is a large, flightless lubber grasshopper endemic to the Chihuahuan Desert and adjacent arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Adults are notable for their aposematic black coloration with yellow markings, though color morphs vary geographically. The species is chemically defended against vertebrate predators and uses behavioral thermoregulation to accelerate development in its short growing season. It is univoltine, with eggs undergoing diapause through winter before hatching with summer rains.
Thera
Thera is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae, subfamily Larentiinae, established by Stephens in 1831. The genus comprises numerous species distributed primarily across the Northern Hemisphere. Thera moths are small to medium-sized geometrids with relatively broad wings and cryptic coloration patterns. Larvae typically feed on coniferous trees, making several species economically significant as forest pests.
Thera juniperata
Juniper Carpet
Thera juniperata, commonly known as the Juniper Carpet, is a moth species in the family Geometridae. It occurs throughout Europe and the Near East, with records also from North America. The species is considered uncommon and locally distributed, primarily due to its specialized larval dependence on juniper as a food source. Adults are active in late autumn, with the species exhibiting a single generation per year.
Thricops diaphanus
Thricops diaphanus is a muscid fly species with a Palearctic distribution spanning Europe and Asia. Populations in central Japan exhibit a univoltine life cycle with seasonal changes in vertical microdistribution within subalpine coniferous forests, contrasting with multivoltine populations in Europe. The species has been interpreted as a glacial relict in Japanese highlands due to its lack of seasonal migration between elevations.
Timema cristinae
Cristina's Timema
Timema cristinae is a small, flightless stick insect endemic to a restricted region of southern California chaparral. The species exhibits striking color-pattern polymorphism with green, striped, and melanic morphs that provide differential camouflage on two host plants: Adenostoma fasciculatum (chamise) and Ceanothus spinosus. It has become a prominent model system for studying ecological speciation, host adaptation, and the interplay between natural selection and gene flow. The species reproduces sexually with females laying single eggs coated in ingested soil, which require soil contact for successful development.
Tipula paludosa
European crane fly, leatherjacket
Tipula paludosa is a crane fly species native to northwestern Europe that has become an invasive agricultural pest in North America. The larvae, known as leatherjackets, cause significant damage to lawns, pastures, and cereal crops by feeding on roots and underground stems. Adults are short-lived, do not feed, and are characterized by their long, thin legs and grayish-brown bodies. The species has a strictly annual life cycle with precise seasonal timing of each developmental stage.
Tolype velleda
Large Tolype Moth, Velleda Lappet Moth
A medium-sized lappet moth with broad, rounded wings. Adults display dark gray forewings with distinct wavy transverse bands and white lines visible when wings are spread. Females are noticeably larger than males. The species has a broad distribution across eastern North America with disjunct populations in western mountain ranges and the Mediterranean region. Single-brooded, with adults active from early summer through late autumn.
Tomostethus multicinctus
brownheaded ash sawfly
Tomostethus multicinctus, commonly known as the brownheaded ash sawfly, is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae native to southern Canada and the eastern United States. Adults are wasp-like in appearance but do not sting. The larvae are specialized herbivores that feed gregariously on ash foliage, with a life cycle tightly synchronized with the leaf phenology of their host trees. Heavy infestations can cause complete defoliation within a week, though trees typically recover by producing new foliage.
Toumeyella liriodendri
tuliptree scale
Toumeyella liriodendri, the tuliptree scale, is a soft scale insect (Coccidae) native to North America and specialized on Liriodendron tulipifera (tuliptree or yellow-poplar). This univoltine species overwinters as second-instar nymphs on twigs, matures to adults in spring, and produces eggs that hatch into crawlers in early summer. First-instar nymphs feed on leaf undersides before migrating back to twigs in autumn. Males are unknown; reproduction is presumed parthenogenetic. Heavy infestations cause branch dieback, reduced growth, and honeydew production that supports sooty mold growth. The species has been the subject of recent genomic research, with a 536Mb genome assembly revealing it as an early-diverging soft scale with 17 chromosomes.
Trachelus
stem sawflies
Trachelus is a genus of stem sawflies in the family Cephidae. Species are internal feeders in grass stems, with several species recognized as significant agricultural pests of wheat and barley. The genus occurs across the Palearctic region, with documented species in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Larval development occurs entirely within host plant stems, causing characteristic damage often called 'whiteheads' in cereal crops.
Trachyrhachys aspera
Finned Grasshopper
Trachyrhachys aspera, commonly known as the finned grasshopper, is a medium-sized band-winged grasshopper native to the shortgrass prairie ecosystems of western North America. This species exhibits strong habitat fidelity to blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis) dominated grasslands, where it functions as a subdominant member of grasshopper assemblages. The species is notable for its late-season phenology, hatching approximately four weeks after the sympatric Trachyrhachys kiowa, and for its highly specialized diet consisting almost exclusively of blue grama grass. Despite its potential economic impact as a forage competitor with livestock, populations have remained chronically low with no documented outbreak events.
Trachys
Leaf-mining Jewel Beetles
Trachys is a genus of leaf-mining jewel beetles (Buprestidae: Trachyinae) characterized by their flattened, compact, wedge-shaped adult morphology—an adaptation distinct from the elongate cylindrical form typical of most buprestids. The genus contains approximately 20 species in Japan and is widely distributed from Africa through Asia to Europe. Larvae mine within leaves rather than boring through wood, a habit that has driven their distinctive body plan. Some species are significant forest and agricultural pests, including the introduced Trachys minutus established in Massachusetts and T. yanoi, a serious pest of Zelkova serrata in East Asia.
Trichosirocalus
rosette weevils, crown weevils
A genus of small true weevils native to the Palearctic region. Several species have been widely introduced to North America, Australia, and New Zealand as biological control agents for invasive thistles. The genus was historically treated as containing a single species, T. horridus, but integrative taxonomic studies using molecular and morphological data have revealed multiple distinct species with different host associations.
weevilbiological-controlthistleinvasive-species-managementCeutorhynchinaerosette-feederCeutorhynchiniBaridinaetaxonomic-revisionclassical-biological-controlCarduusCirsiumOnopordumPalearctic-nativeintroduced-speciesmolecular-systematicsintegrative-taxonomyunivoltineleaf-mineragricultural-pest-controlpasture-weed-managementspecies-complexhost-specificitymusk-thistleplumeless-thistleScotch-thistleIllyrian-thistlewelted-thistleItalian-thistlecrown-weevilrosette-weeviloviposition-behavioroverwinteringegg-stagelarval-stageadult-stagedecaying-organic-mattersoil-surfacenon-photosynthetic-leavesgreen-leavesleaf-midribspetiolesleaf-miningnotching-damagerosette-survivalflowering-stem-reductionseed-production-reductionrosette-mortalitypopulation-density-effectsmark-recapturedispersal-patternsartificial-diet-rearinglaboratory-culturevitamin-supplementationlyophilized-thistle-rootsergosterolcasein-hydrolysate7-dehydrocholesterolsucroselarval-survivaladult-longevityovipositionfemale-fecundityfield-cage-experimentsindividual-cage-experimentsgrowth-parameter-reductionpre-release-host-specificity-testingpost-release-monitoringestablishment-successrange-expansionforested-areasagricultural-landpasturesmall-farmscropsdisturbed-habitatsmeadowsdense-patchesrosette-size-preferencespatial-distributionselective-ovipositionautumn-egg-layingwinter-larval-developmentspring-pupationlate-summer-adult-emergencesoil-overwinteringplant-debris-overwinteringrachisleaf-dissectiondestructive-samplingnon-destructive-samplingsampling-biaslife-stage-detectionestablished-populationsmitochondrial-COInuclear-EF-1αmorphological-charactershost-plant-associationssynonymyspecies-validityintroduction-historyrelease-recordsestablishment-recordsOld-World-nativeNew-World-introductionSouthern-Hemisphere-introductionAustraliaNew-ZealandNorth-AmericaVirginiaSouthwest-VirginiaEuropeSpainFranceGermanyItalySwitzerlandAustriaScandinaviaDenmarkNorwaySwedenColonnelli-1979Panzer-1801Alonso-Zarazaga-&-Sánchez-Ruiz-2002Ceutorhynchinae-vs-Baridinaesubfamily-placementtribe-placementtrue-weevilsCurculionidaeColeopteraInsectaArthropodaAnimalia882-iNaturalist-observationsGBIF-recordsCatalogue-of-Life-acceptedNCBI-TaxonomyBulletin-of-Entomological-ResearchJournal-of-Applied-EcologyJournal-of-Entomological-ScienceAnnals-of-the-Entomological-Society-of-AmericaEnvironmental-EntomologyDOI-10.1017/s000748531500084xDOI-10.1046/j.1365-2664.2002.00747.xDOI-10.18474/0749-8004-22.4.324DOI-10.18474/0749-8004-22.4.330DOI-10.18474/0749-8004-24.4.465DOI-10.1093/aesa/73.6.694DOI-10.1093/ee/10.5.691Trirhabda flavolimbata
Coyote Brush Leaf Beetle
Trirhabda flavolimbata, commonly called the coyote brush leaf beetle, is a skeletonizing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is restricted to California where it inhabits coastal scrublands and chaparral. Both larvae and adults are metallic green and sequester toxins from their host plants, rendering them unpalatable to predators. The species has a single annual brood with a distinctive life cycle involving extended egg diapause.
Trirhabda geminata
Encelia Leaf Beetle
Trirhabda geminata is a skeletonizing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, commonly known as the Encelia leaf beetle. It is a specialist herbivore strongly associated with brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) and related Encelia species in the Asteraceae. The beetle is univoltine, with adults emerging in spring to feed, mate, and oviposit on host foliage. Larvae feed gregariously on leaves, passing through three instars before pupating in soil. The species is notable for accumulating hydroxylated anthraquinones (chrysophanol and chrysazin) through apparent de novo biosynthesis, as these compounds are absent from its host plant and retained rather than excreted.
Uenoidae
Stonecase Caddisflies
Uenoidae is a family of caddisflies (Trichoptera) commonly known as stonecase caddisflies. The family comprises approximately 7 genera and at least 80 described species, distributed across North America, Asia, and Europe. Larvae construct portable cases using mineral materials, hence the common name. The family was revised taxonomically in 1988 to include the subfamilies Uenoinae and Thremmatinae, incorporating genera formerly placed in separate families. Studies of Neophylax species demonstrate univoltine life cycles with temporal segregation between co-occurring species.
Valgus hemipterus
Valgus hemipterus is a small scarab beetle in the subfamily Cetoniinae, measuring 6–10 mm in length. The species is notable for pronounced sexual dimorphism: females possess an elongated, acuminate telson with a central groove and lateral serrations, a trait unusual among beetles, while males exhibit a different scale pattern and are more frequently observed on flowers. It has one generation per year and overwinters as a pupa.
Virbia ferruginosa
rusty holomelina, Rusty Virbia Moth
Virbia ferruginosa, commonly known as the rusty holomelina or rusty virbia moth, is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae. It was described by Francis Walker in 1854. The species has a broad distribution across northern North America, with one generation per year and adults active in July.
Xanthorhoe abrasaria
Northern Carpet
A small geometrid moth with a 21–24 mm wingspan, found across northern Eurasia and North America. Adults fly in July with one generation annually. The species was first described by Herrich-Schäffer in 1856 and includes several recognized subspecies across its range.
Xestia badicollis
Northern Variable Dart, Northern Conifer Dart, White Pine Cutworm
A noctuid moth native to eastern North America. Adults fly from July to October with one generation per year. The larval stage, known as the white pine cutworm, feeds primarily on eastern white pine and occasionally other conifers. The species belongs to the elimata species group, within which genetic and morphological boundaries remain unresolved.
Xestia dilucida
Dull Reddish Dart, Reddish Heath Dart
Xestia dilucida is a noctuid moth occurring in eastern North America. The species was described by Morrison in 1875. Adults fly in autumn with a single annual generation. Larval host plants are restricted to Vaccinium species.
Xestia dolosa
Greater Black-letter Dart, Woodland Spotted Cutworm, Spotted Cutworm
Xestia dolosa is a noctuid moth native to North America with three common names reflecting its appearance and larval habit: greater black-letter dart, woodland spotted cutworm, and spotted cutworm. Adults are medium-sized with a wingspan near 40 mm. The species exhibits bivoltine phenology in southern populations and univoltine patterns in the north. Larvae are agricultural pests feeding on diverse crop plants and woody vegetation.
Xiphydria
wood wasps, xiphydriid wood wasps
Xiphydria is a genus of wood wasps in the family Xiphydriidae, distributed across the Holarctic region including Europe, Asia, and North America. Adults are characterized by a distinctive elongated 'neck' formed by the long propleuron, antennae with approximately 20 segments, and mandibles with four teeth. Females oviposit into diseased or dead wood of broadleaf trees and vector symbiotic fungi that decompose wood for larval consumption. The genus is univoltine with one generation per year. While generally of minor economic importance, some species can damage oak and other hardwoods.
Yponomeuta malinellus
Apple Ermine, apple ermine moth
Yponomeuta malinellus, the apple ermine moth, is a small ermine moth native to Europe and Asia that has become established in North America. It is a specialist pest of Malus (apple) species, with larvae that feed gregariously within silken tents and can cause significant defoliation. The species has been extensively studied as a target for classical biological control, with multiple parasitoid species introduced to manage outbreaks.
Zale buchholzi
Buchholz's zale, Buchholz' Zale Moth
Zale buchholzi, commonly known as Buchholz's zale, is a moth species in the family Erebidae. It is restricted to coastal pinelands of the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains of North America. The species has a single generation annually and is a specialist feeder on pine species as larvae.
Zale curema
Black-eyed Zale Moth, Northeastern Pine Zale, Black-eyed Zale
Zale curema is a moth in the family Erebidae, first described by John Bernhard Smith in 1908. The species is strongly associated with pitch pine forests in eastern North America. It has one generation per year, with larvae feeding preferentially on young needles of pitch pine. The species is listed as endangered in Connecticut but considered globally secure.
Zale metatoides
Washed-out Zale Moth, Jack Pine False Looper
Zale metatoides is a moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1943. It is commonly known as the Washed-out Zale or Jack Pine False Looper. The species inhabits barrens and pine woodlands across eastern North America, with a single generation per year. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 35 mm.
Zanclognatha dentata
Coastal Plain Zanclognatha, Toothed Fan-foot
Zanclognatha dentata is a litter moth in the family Erebidae, described by Wagner and McCabe in 2011. It occurs across eastern North America from Ontario to northern Georgia, inhabiting diverse wetland and forest habitats. Adults fly from late June through early August, with occasional second broods in early September in the southern Appalachians. The species name refers to the toothed antemedial and medial lines on the forewing.
Zanclognatha laevigata
Variable Zanclognatha, Variable Fan-foot
Zanclognatha laevigata is a litter moth in the family Erebidae, described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1872. It is widely distributed across eastern North America, from Manitoba to Nova Scotia and south to Florida and Missouri. The species has a wingspan of approximately 30 mm and produces one generation annually. Larvae feed on detritus, particularly dead leaves.
Zanclognatha martha
pine barrens zanclognatha, Martha's zanclognatha, Pine Barrens Fan-foot
Zanclognatha martha is a small litter moth in the family Erebidae, described by William Barnes in 1928. The species occurs across the eastern United States, from Ohio to Maine and southward to Texas, with disjunct populations in the Appalachian Mountains and Coastal Plain. It is listed as threatened in Connecticut, where it has one generation per year. The species is associated with pine barrens and similar habitats where its larval host plant, bear oak (Quercus ilicifolia), occurs.
Zapada cinctipes
Common Forestfly
Zapada cinctipes, the common forestfly, is a small spring stonefly in the family Nemouridae. Adults measure 5–8 mm in body length and emerge primarily from mid-March to mid-April, with some appearing as early as late February. The species is univoltine, completing one generation per year. Nymphs are aquatic shredders that feed on decaying leaf material in flowing waters.
Zatypota anomala
Zatypota anomala is a koinobiont ichneumonid wasp in the tribe Ephialtini that parasitizes mesh web weaving spiders in the family Dictynidae. It is strictly specialized on Dictyna and Nigma spiders in Europe, with a distribution concentrated at mid-elevations in central European forest ecotones. The species exhibits elevation-dependent host partitioning, parasitizing Nigma at lower elevations (179–254 m a.s.l.) and Dictyna at higher elevations (361–870 m a.s.l.). First recorded from Italy in 2022, parasitizing Dictyna pusilla.