Visual-navigation
Guides
Formica obscuripes
Western Thatching Ant
Formica obscuripes, the western thatching ant, is a North American mound-building ant known for constructing large thatched nests from plant materials. Colonies can contain up to 40,000 workers and demonstrate complex social organization including behavioral constancy in worker task performance. The species employs hybrid foraging strategies combining pheromone-marked columns with visual and path integration navigation. It maintains defensive mutualisms with aphids and exhibits aggressive territorial behavior including the use of formic acid against intruders and competing vegetation.
Microbembex
sand wasps
Microbembex is a genus of sand wasps in the family Crabronidae, containing more than 30 described species. These solitary wasps are known for nesting in sandy substrates and have been documented primarily in North America. The genus has been the subject of behavioral studies, particularly regarding nest-finding and activity patterns. Some species have been recorded as hosts for velvet ants (Mutillidae).
Speyeria
greater fritillaries
Speyeria is a genus of approximately 19 species of butterflies in the family Nymphalidae, commonly known as greater fritillaries. The genus was reestablished as separate from Argynnis in 2017 based on phylogenetic evidence. Three species occur in Eurasia and 16 in North America. Species are univoltine, with larvae feeding exclusively on native violets (Viola spp.) and adults nectaring on diverse flowers. Several species and subspecies are threatened or endangered due to habitat loss and climate change.
Speyeria atlantis
Atlantis fritillary
Speyeria atlantis, the Atlantis fritillary, is a North American brush-footed butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It ranges from Newfoundland and Labrador across northern Canada to British Columbia, and south through the northern United States to Colorado and West Virginia. The species is listed as endangered in Connecticut and shows sensitivity to climate warming trends. Research demonstrates that adults rely primarily on visual senses to navigate to suitable habitat patches across fragmented landscapes.
Speyeria callippe callippe
Callippe Fritillary
Speyeria callippe callippe is a subspecies of fritillary butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It belongs to the greater fritillary genus Speyeria, which includes species known for their close ecological association with violets (Viola spp.) as larval host plants. The subspecies is native to western North America. Related Speyeria species have been demonstrated to rely primarily on visual cues for navigation to suitable habitat patches.
Speyeria cybele
Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele, the great spangled fritillary, is a large brush-footed butterfly native to North America. Adults have a wingspan of 2.25 to 4 inches, with orange-brown upper wings marked by black chevrons and distinctive silvery spots on the undersides. The species exhibits pronounced geographic variation: eastern populations are more orange, while western populations are browner. Females are slightly darker than males and have longer lifespans, often surviving into October. The butterfly has an obligate relationship with violets (Viola spp.) as larval host plants. Research has demonstrated that S. cybele relies primarily on vision for habitat detection and navigation, with flash-blinded individuals showing 30 times lower success in locating habitat patches.
Speyeria cybele leto
Great Spangled Fritillary (subspecies)
Speyeria cybele leto is a subspecies of the great spangled fritillary butterfly, a large and striking member of the brush-footed butterfly family Nymphalidae. This subspecies belongs to a species complex renowned for its silvery wing spots and close ecological association with violets as larval host plants. Research on Speyeria cybele has demonstrated that visual perception is the primary sense used for navigation to suitable habitat patches, with individuals capable of detecting and orienting toward habitat from distances of at least 60 meters. The species exhibits pronounced geographic variation in coloration, with western populations typically browner than their more orange eastern counterparts.
Speyeria cybele letona
Great Spangled Fritillary (western subspecies)
Speyeria cybele letona is a western North American subspecies of the great spangled fritillary, a large brush-footed butterfly with a wingspan of 2.25 to 4 inches. Research on Speyeria cybele indicates that visual perception is the primary sense used for navigation to suitable habitat patches, with individuals capable of detecting and navigating to target islands from distances up to 60 meters. The subspecies exhibits the orange-brown coloration typical of western populations of this species, in contrast to the more orange eastern populations.
Speyeria cybele novascotiae
Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele novascotiae is a subspecies of the great spangled fritillary, a large brush-footed butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. This subspecies occurs in northern North America, including the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, as well as Vermont in the United States. Like other members of Speyeria cybele, adults exhibit strong visual-based navigation abilities to locate suitable habitat patches across fragmented landscapes.
Speyeria cybele pugetensis
great spangled fritillary
Speyeria cybele pugetensis is a western North American subspecies of the great spangled fritillary, a large orange and black butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It was described by F. Chermock and Frechin in 1947. Like other members of the Speyeria cybele complex, this subspecies exhibits strong visual navigation abilities for locating habitat patches and maintains a close ecological association with violets (Viola spp.) as larval host plants.
Speyeria mormonia erinna
Mormon Fritillary
Speyeria mormonia erinna is a subspecies of the Mormon fritillary butterfly, a member of the brush-footed family Nymphalidae. Like other Speyeria species, it is closely associated with violet host plants for larval development. Research on congeneric species has demonstrated that this group relies primarily on visual cues for navigation to suitable habitat patches. The subspecies is distributed across prairie and montane regions of western Canada.