Variable-coloration
Guides
Acrolophus
Grass Tubeworm Moths
Acrolophus is a genus of moths in the family Acrolophidae, originally described by Felipe Poey in 1832. The genus was formerly classified in the family Tineidae (clothes moths) but has been reassigned to Acrolophidae based on revised phylogenetic understanding. Species in this genus are commonly known as "grass tube moths" or "grass tubeworm moths" due to the distinctive larval behavior of spinning silken tubes at the base of grasses or around grass roots for concealment while feeding. The genus exhibits exceptional individual variation in color pattern within species, rendering field identification of many specimens difficult or impossible without dissection or molecular analysis.
Apamea sora
Apamea sora is a nocturnal moth in the family Noctuidae found in western North America. The species exhibits considerable color variation, with forewings ranging from orange and ochre to gray, gray-violet, and black. It inhabits high-elevation spruce-fir forests and mid-elevation ponderosa pine forests of the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest. The species was formerly treated as a subspecies of Apamea auranticolor but is now recognized as distinct.
Argia fumipennis
Variable Dancer
Argia fumipennis, commonly known as the Variable Dancer, is a damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae native to North America. The species exhibits notable geographic variation in coloration, with eastern populations typically displaying violet thoracic coloration while western populations tend toward blue. It is a widespread and frequently observed species, with nearly 30,000 documented observations on iNaturalist.
Aseptis binotata
Rusty Shoulder Knot Moth
Aseptis binotata, commonly known as the Rusty Shoulder Knot Moth, is a noctuid moth species first described by Francis Walker in 1865. It is the most variable species in its genus with respect to forewing color and pattern, exhibiting a broad range of brown, gray, and reddish tones. The species is widespread across western North America, from northern Mexico to south-central British Columbia, and occurs across diverse elevations and habitat types.
Calvia quatuordecimguttata
cream-spot ladybird, cream-spotted ladybird, polkadot ladybird, eighteen spot ladybird
A small Holarctic ladybird measuring 4–5.5 mm, highly variable in coloration across its range. In Europe it appears maroon-brown with fourteen cream spots; in North America and eastern Asia, color forms range from black with white spots to yellow or pink with eighteen large blotches. It inhabits deciduous woodlands, hedgerows, and ruderal areas, overwintering in bark crevices and leaf litter.
Cicindela purpurea purpurea
Cow Path Tiger Beetle, Purple Tiger Beetle
The nominate subspecies of the Cow Path Tiger Beetle, Cicindela purpurea purpurea is a small (12-16 mm), predatory beetle with highly variable coloration ranging from matte green and metallic green to bluish, black, or bronze-purple. It exhibits a spring-fall life cycle, with adults emerging in autumn as sexually immature individuals, overwintering in burrows, and re-emerging in spring to mate and reproduce. The subspecies is distinguished from other C. purpurea subspecies by its reduced elytral markings and absence of the distinct purple marginal border characteristic of C. p. audubonii. Populations in the eastern United States have declined significantly, with some feared extirpated in parts of their historical range.
Clepsis spectrana
cyclamen tortrix, cabbage leafroller, straw-colored tortrix
Clepsis spectrana is a small tortricid moth native to Europe. The species exhibits highly variable coloration but typically shows brownish forewings with distinctive dark markings at the costal edge. Adults are active in two generations from late spring through early autumn. Larvae feed on a broad range of woody plants and cultivated crops including cabbage, earning the species recognition as an agricultural pest in some contexts.
Dasymutilla coccineohirta
Dasymutilla coccineohirta is a species of velvet ant (family Mutillidae) native to western North America. Females are wingless and possess a potent sting, while males are winged. The species exhibits notable variation in female coloration, with setae ranging from red to white. First described by Charles Alfred Blake in 1871 from a California specimen, it was recently synonymized with Dasymutilla clytemnestra. The species can be distinguished from similar taxa by its smaller marginal wing cell and coarser body pilosity.
Dasymutilla foxi
velvet ant
Dasymutilla foxi is a velvet ant species in the family Mutillidae, found in Mexico and the southwestern United States. The species exhibits highly variable setal coloration, with body segments ranging from whitish to reddish; eastern populations in Colorado, Kansas, and Texas typically display a black setal patch on the mesosoma. First described by Theodore D. A. Cockerell and named for William J. Fox, this species has been subject to taxonomic revision with Dasymutilla phoenix and Dasymutilla dugesii synonymized under it. Females are wingless and possess a potent sting, while males are winged.
Deraeocoris ruber
red-spotted plant bug, Mirid Bug
Deraeocoris ruber, commonly known as the red-spotted plant bug, is a medium-sized predatory mirid bug native to Europe that has been introduced to the Nearctic and Neotropical realms. Adults measure 6–8 mm and display variable coloration from light brown or orange to black, with a diagnostic red cuneus. The species is univoltine, with adults active from July to September. It is an important biological control agent, feeding primarily on aphids and other small insects.
Dicyrtoma fusca
Dicyrtoma fusca is a species of globular springtail in the family Dicyrtomidae, distributed across the United States and Europe. The species exhibits variable coloration ranging from yellowish-red to dark red, with a distinctive pattern of two intersecting dorsal stripes forming a cross shape on the back. A lighter form (var. 1) and a darker subspecies (D. fusca var. rufescens) have been described, with the latter being predominantly European and characterized by yellowish eyes. The species possesses the characteristic pronged antennae typical of the genus Dicyrtoma.
springtailglobular-springtailCollembolaSymphypleonaDicyrtomidaeDicyrtomaDicyrtoma-fuscaDicyrtoma-fusca-var.-rufescensDicyrtoma-fusca-Var-1United-StatesEuropeAzoresArcticSub-arcticLubbock-1873pronged-antennaedorsal-stripescross-patternreddish-colorationyellowish-reddark-redvariable-colorationeye-colorationsubspeciescolor-variantDysstroma citrata
Dark Marbled Carpet, Northern Marbled Carpet
A Holarctic geometrid moth with highly variable forewing coloration ranging from whitish to dark brown or black. Adults are active in mid-summer. The species occupies mountainous and wetland habitats across a broad latitudinal range from the Arctic to temperate zones.
Ectropis crepuscularia
Small Engrailed, Engrailed
Ectropis crepuscularia, commonly known as the Small Engrailed, is a geometer moth in the family Geometridae. The species exhibits extreme variation in color and pattern, ranging from distinct markings to nearly plain individuals. It occurs across a broad geographic range including North America, Europe, and Asia, with two generations per year in most regions. The species has been subject to taxonomic debate regarding whether it represents a single species or a complex of closely related forms.
Erythroneura reflecta
Erythroneura reflecta is a small leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, native to the Eastern United States. It is most frequently encountered in Illinois and Ohio. The species is associated with several woody host plants including wild grapes (Vitis riparia), Prunus fruit trees, and Aesculus trees and shrubs. Adults are noted for their variable and often vivid coloration.
Eunota circumpicta
cream-edged tiger beetle
Eunota circumpicta, the cream-edged tiger beetle, is a halophilic species native to the United States with a broader range extending south to Brazil. Formerly classified in genera Cicindela and Habroscelimorpha, this species has been reclassified to Eunota based on molecular systematics. Two subspecies are recognized: E. c. circumpicta and E. c. johnsonii (Johnson's tiger beetle). The species is closely related to E. mecocheila, from which it is distinguished by morphological and genetic differences. It inhabits saline flats and coastal areas, showing activity both day and night.
Eustala anastera
Humpbacked Orbweaver
Eustala anastera, commonly known as the humpbacked orbweaver, is a small orb-weaving spider in the family Araneidae. Females reach approximately 10 mm in body length, males 9.5 mm. The species exhibits highly variable coloration, ranging from tan to vivid green, with many individuals displaying a foliate pattern. It is found across North and Central America and has been documented as a host for the spider wasp Caliadurgus hyalinatus. Juveniles have been observed active during winter months in temperate regions.
Euxoa brunneigera
Euxoa brunneigera is a noctuid moth species occurring in western North America from British Columbia south to California. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 30 mm and exhibit variable coloration ranging from grey to brown. The species belongs to the genus Euxoa, which includes numerous cutworm species whose larvae are agricultural pests.
Hemileuca
Sheepmoths, Buck Moths
Hemileuca is a genus of North American saturniid moths comprising approximately 32 recognized species. These moths are notable for their diurnal activity, rapid and erratic flight, and highly variable coloration ranging from muted grays and browns to bright yellows, oranges, and reds. The genus is adapted to hot, dry habitats including deserts, chaparral, and mountain regions, with life history traits synchronized to avoid harsh summer conditions. Caterpillars possess urticating spines that deliver painful stings to humans.
Hemileuca eglanterina
Sheep Moth, Common Sheep Moth
Hemileuca eglanterina, commonly known as the sheep moth or common sheep moth, is a day-flying saturniid moth native to western North America. The species exhibits remarkable geographic variation in coloration, ranging from nearly black to pink/yellow to the typical orange with black markings. Adults are short-lived and lack functional mouthparts, relying entirely on fat reserves accumulated during the larval stage. The species has been documented in coevolutionary dynamics with Argiope spiders, which appear to lure male moths using chemical mimicry of female moth sex pheromones.
Lacinipolia laudabilis
Laudable Arches Moth, Laudable Arches
Lacinipolia laudabilis, commonly known as the Laudable Arches Moth, is a small noctuid moth with a wingspan of 20–28 mm. Adults are active year-round and are attracted to light. The species exhibits color variation, with individuals ranging from mottled gray with reflective wing scales to green coloration. The larvae feed on herbaceous plants. The species is native to North and Central America but has been recorded in Great Britain, likely through accidental importation or rare immigration.
Lascoria ambigualis
Ambiguous Moth
Lascoria ambigualis is a litter moth in the subfamily Herminiinae, first described by Francis Walker in 1866. Adults are active from April through September, with two generations in Connecticut and multiple broods in Missouri. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in wing morphology. Larvae feed on living plant material and have been successfully reared on dead leaves.
Lophopanopeus bellus
black-clawed crab, Blackclaw Crestleg Crab
Lophopanopeus bellus is a small crab native to the Pacific coast of North America, ranging from Alaska to California. The species is characterized by its rounded carapace with low tubercles, black claws, and highly variable coloration. Two subspecies are recognized: L. b. bellus in the northern portion of the range and L. b. diegensis in the southern portion. The species is notable for being parasitized by the barnacle Loxothylacus panopaei.
Melete lycimnia
common melwhite, primrose flag, lycimnia white flag
Melete lycimnia is a butterfly in the family Pieridae found from Texas to Bolivia. It inhabits lowland rainforests and exhibits considerable subspecific variation in coloration, ranging from white with narrow black borders to primrose yellow with wide brown borders. The species has been documented with numerous subspecies across Central and South America.
Neoscona
Spotted Orb-weavers, Barn Spiders
Neoscona is a genus of orb-weaver spiders (Araneidae) containing over 100 described species, commonly known as spotted orb-weavers and barn spiders. The genus was erected by Eugène Simon in 1895 to separate species from the obsolete genus Epeira. Neoscona species are among the most common orb-weavers in North America and are found throughout most parts of the world. They construct vertical orb webs with approximately twenty radii and an open hub, typically hunting at night and retreating to the web periphery or a curled leaf during the day.
Neoscona oaxacensis
Western Spotted Orbweaver, Zig-zag Spider
Neoscona oaxacensis is a large orb-weaving spider distributed across the Americas from the United States to South America, including the Galápagos Islands. Females reach 9–18 mm in body length, males 6–13 mm. The species exhibits highly variable dorsal abdominal patterning, with a distinctive black-and-white pattern that aids identification. It constructs spiral orb webs to capture flying insects and is active primarily from late spring through autumn. The species was first described from Oaxaca, Mexico in 1863.
Oidaematophorus occidentalis
Western Plume Moth
A plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, found in western North America from Alberta and British Columbia south to Arizona and Utah. The species exhibits considerable color variation but generally displays creamy white to dull tawny-brown coloration with characteristic brown markings on the forewings. The wingspan ranges from 26–29 mm. Larvae feed on Aster, Grindelia, and Helianthus species.
Parastichtis suspecta
Suspected, Suspected Moth
Parastichtis suspecta, commonly known as the suspected or suspected moth, is a noctuid moth with broad distribution across the Palearctic and North America. Adults are highly variable in coloration, ranging from pale grey to rich reddish-brown or nearly black forms. The species has a single annual generation in Europe, with adults active in late summer. Larvae are specialized feeders on willow species, with a distinctive life cycle involving overwintering as eggs and pupation underground.
Pardalophora phoenicoptera
orange-winged grasshopper
Pardalophora phoenicoptera, commonly known as the orange-winged grasshopper, is a species of band-winged grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is distinguished from related genera by having only one notch in the pronotal crest. Unusual among most grasshoppers, this species overwinters as a nymph rather than as an egg, resulting in well-developed nymphs at the beginning of spring and adults appearing earlier in the season than many other grasshoppers. The species exhibits remarkable intraspecific variation in coloration, with individuals ranging from green to brown, providing effective crypsis in their preferred habitats.
Parvindela terricola
Variable Tiger Beetle
Parvindela terricola, commonly known as the Variable Tiger Beetle, is a species of tiger beetle in the family Carabidae. The species exhibits notable color variation, with individuals ranging from bright metallic green to forms with red or purple tinting. It has been recorded in western Nebraska at the edge of its distribution, where it inhabits alkaline habitats in badlands and grassland environments. The species was formerly classified under the genus Cicindela and later Cylindera before its current placement in Parvindela. Subspecies include C. terricola kaibabensis from the Grand Canyon region.
Pelidnota punctata
Grapevine Beetle, Spotted June Beetle, Spotted Pelidnota
Pelidnota punctata is a scarab beetle in the subfamily Rutelinae, commonly known as the grapevine beetle or spotted June beetle. Adults are approximately 2.5–3 cm long with variable coloration ranging from off-yellow to auburn red, marked by four black spots on each side of the elytra. The species exhibits regional variation: northern populations typically have darker legs and more pronounced spotting, while southern populations may lack spots entirely and have lighter legs. It is distributed across eastern North America from Ontario to Florida and west to Texas and South Dakota.
Phytomyza ranunculi
Ranunculus leaf-mining fly
Phytomyza ranunculi is a leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae that develops within leaves of Ranunculus plants (buttercups). Adults are approximately 2 mm long and highly variable in coloration, with several named color variants. The larvae are primarily leaf-miners, forming long, conspicuous white mines with frass arranged in close strings. The species is widespread in Europe and occurs in the Palearctic region. Pupae are heavily parasitized, with up to 75% of puparia attacked by parasitoid wasps.
Plagodis pulveraria
Barred Umber
Plagodis pulveraria, commonly known as the barred umber, is a geometrid moth first described by Linnaeus in 1758. It is widely distributed across the Palearctic realm from Ireland to Japan, with additional populations in Canada. The species exhibits considerable color variation, ranging from reddish-brown to violaceous grey, with diagnostic straight antemedian and incurved postmedian lines on the forewings. Adults are active in two generations from mid-spring through summer.
Polistes aurifer
Golden Paper Wasp
Polistes aurifer is a social paper wasp native to western North America, ranging from southern Canada to northern Mexico. The species exhibits pronounced geographic color variation, from predominantly black northern forms to yellow southwestern forms and ferruginous southern populations. It constructs exposed paper nests in sheltered locations and is a generalist predator of caterpillars and other insects. The species has been subject to taxonomic revision, having been treated as a subspecies of P. fuscatus in some classifications, though recent treatments maintain it as distinct.
Prolita barnesiella
Prolita barnesiella is a gelechiid moth species described by August Busck in 1903. It is a medium-sized moth with a wingspan of 22–27 mm, characterized by variable brown forewings with distinctive dark markings including an arrowhead-shaped pattern on the disc. The species occurs in western North America from the southwestern United States to Alberta, Canada. It belongs to the tribe Litini within the subfamily Gelechiinae.
Protorthodes rufula
rufous Quaker moth
Protorthodes rufula is a small noctuid moth found along the Pacific Coast of western North America. The species exhibits highly variable forewing coloration ranging from pale buff to deep brown, with rufous shading present in most individuals. It has two distinct flight periods in northern populations and an extended season in southern California. The larvae develop on hardwoods in the rose family.
Ptenothrix maculosa
Ptenothrix maculosa is a globular springtail in the family Dicyrtomidae, native to the temperate west coast of North America from Alaska to California. First described by Swedish entomologist Henrik Schött in 1891, this species exhibits extreme color polymorphism, leading to decades of misidentification and the synonymization of several conjectured undescribed species. Definitive identification requires microscopic examination of setal arrangements on the abdomen and furca. It serves as a decomposer in woodland ecosystems and has become a focal species for citizen science monitoring through photo-based identification.
Pyrausta rubricalis
variable reddish pyrausta moth
Pyrausta rubricalis is a small crambid moth found across North America, with a wingspan of approximately 15 mm. The species shows considerable variation in coloration, contributing to its common name. Adults are active from March through October, suggesting multiple generations per year. The moth is part of the diverse Pyrausta genus, which includes many species associated with flowering plants.
Serica anthracina
Serica anthracina is a small scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by LeConte in 1856. Adults measure 5–8.5 mm in length and exhibit variable coloration ranging from uniform testaceous to black. The species is distributed across western North America, from the Canadian prairies through the Rocky Mountain region to the Pacific coast.
Serica georgiana
Serica georgiana is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Leng in 1911. Adults measure approximately 9.5 mm in length and exhibit variable coloration ranging from pale to very dark chestnut, with a polished, shining surface. The species occurs across much of eastern North America, with two recognized subspecies showing distinct geographic distributions.
Stenocorus nubifer
Stenocorus nubifer is a species of longhorn beetle (family Cerambycidae) distributed across western North America. The species exhibits variable coloration, with individuals being either black or brown. As a member of the subfamily Lepturinae, it belongs to a group commonly known as flower longhorns, though specific floral associations for this species remain undocumented.
Sumitrosis inaequalis
Sumitrosis inaequalis is a small leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cassidinae. Adults measure 3.4–4.2 mm and exhibit highly variable coloration, ranging from pale yellow with faint markings to predominantly black with yellow spots. The species is distributed across Central America and much of North America, with records from Canada and the United States. It is a leaf miner, feeding internally on host plant foliage.
Sumitrosis rosea
leafminer beetle
Sumitrosis rosea is a small leaf-mining beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, commonly known as the leafminer beetle. Adults measure 3.3–4.5 mm and exhibit highly variable coloration, with elytra ranging from pale yellow with faint black markings to black with faint yellow spots. The species is native to North America and has been documented feeding on a range of host plants, particularly in the family Fabaceae.
Typocerus confluens
longhorn beetle
Typocerus confluens is a species of flower longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Casey in 1913. It belongs to the subfamily Lepturinae, characterized by their narrow-necked, broad-shouldered appearance and frequent association with flowers. The species exhibits considerable color variation, ranging from chestnut brown to nearly all black. It is considered a reasonably uncommon species in Missouri and has been documented in the central United States.