Urban-evolution
Guides
Orchesella villosa
Shaggy Springtail, Slender Springtail
Orchesella villosa is a species of springtail in the family Orchesellidae, characterized by its slender body and shaggy appearance. Native to Europe and the Mediterranean region, it has been introduced to North America where it is considered invasive. The species has become a model organism for studying urban evolution, with research demonstrating microgeographic divergence in physiological traits among populations separated by less than one kilometer within cities.
Temnothorax curvispinosus
acorn ant, Bent-spined Acorn Ant
Temnothorax curvispinosus is a small cavity-nesting ant species common throughout the eastern United States. The species is frequently called the "acorn ant" due to its habit of nesting in hollowed-out acorns and other small plant cavities. Colonies exhibit sophisticated collective decision-making when selecting nest sites, with active workers recruiting nestmates through quality-dependent delays and quorum-based transport strategies. The species has been used as a model organism for studying social insect behavior, micronutrient dynamics, and urban thermal adaptation.
Yponomeuta
Small Ermine Moths
Yponomeuta is a large genus of small moths in the family Yponomeutidae, comprising 103 described species. Commonly known as Small Ermine Moths, members of this genus are notable for their distinctive defensive behavior: several species emit warning clicks during flight to signal their unpalatability to bat predators. Research on Yponomeuta cagnagella has demonstrated rapid evolutionary adaptation to urban environments, with populations exposed to long-term light pollution showing reduced attraction to artificial light sources compared to those from dark areas.
Yponomeuta cagnagella
Spindle Ermine, Spindle Ermine Moth
Yponomeuta cagnagella, the spindle ermine moth, is a small ermine moth in the family Yponomeutidae with a wingspan of 19–26 mm. Adults are white with distinctive black dot patterns on the forewings and dark grey hindwings. The species is notable for its larval habit of producing extensive protective webbing on host plants and has been studied for urban adaptation to light pollution.