Wetland
Guides
Donacia pubescens
Pubescent sedge beetle
Donacia pubescens is an aquatic leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by LeConte in 1868. It is found across North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba) and the United States. Like other members of the genus Donacia, it is associated with aquatic habitats and is likely a specialist on aquatic plants.
Donacia rufescens
Donacia rufescens is a species of aquatic leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. Members of the genus Donacia are typically associated with aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats, where they feed on submerged and emergent vegetation. The 'cf.' notation in the record indicates tentative identification based on morphological similarity, pending definitive confirmation. The genus is notable for its ecological specialization on wetland plants and its role as an indicator of habitat quality.
Donacia tuberculata
Tuberculate reed beetle
Donacia tuberculata is a species of aquatic leaf beetle in the subfamily Donaciinae. It occurs in North America and is associated with aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats. Like other members of its genus, it is linked to wetland vegetation and has aquatic larvae that develop on submerged plant roots.
Dufourea novaeangliae
Pickerelweed Shortface
Dufourea novaeangliae is a solitary bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as the Pickerelweed Shortface. It is an oligolectic (specialist) pollinator exclusively associated with pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), a semi-aquatic plant. The species occurs in north-eastern and north-central North America, with confirmed records from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Illinois, and Vermont. It is phylogenetically distant from honey bees and possesses the smallest odorant receptor repertoire (112 ORs) among fully sequenced bee genomes.
Dysstroma 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.
Dytiscus
predaceous diving beetles
Dytiscus is a Holarctic genus of large predaceous diving beetles comprising 26 species. Adults range 2.2–4.4 cm in length and are fully aquatic, breathing air collected under their elytra. Both adults and larvae are active predators. The genus has been observed to reduce mosquito larva populations in wetland habitats.
Elachista albidella
cottongrass sedge-miner
Elachista albidella is a small microlepidopteran moth in the family Elachistidae, described by William Nylander in 1848. It has a wingspan of 9–10 mm and is characterized by white forewings with distinctive fuscous markings and a large black plical stigma. The species is widely distributed across Europe and also occurs in North America. Larvae are specialized miners of sedges and grasses in wetland habitats.
Elachista cucullata
Elachista cucullata is a small moth in the family Elachistidae, described by Braun in 1926. It is distributed across eastern and central North America, with records from the United States and Canada. The species has a wingspan of 8–9 mm. Adults are active from May to July, and larvae are stem-leaf miners on Carex species.
Elaphrus
Marsh Ground Beetles
Elaphrus is a genus of ground beetles (Carabidae: Elaphrinae) commonly known as marsh ground beetles. The genus contains at least 40 described species distributed across the Palearctic, Nearctic, Near East, and Northern Africa. Many species are strongly associated with wetland habitats, including vernal pools and marshes. Several species exhibit strong morphological resemblance to tiger beetles (Cicindelinae), frequently leading to misidentification by collectors. At least two species, E. viridis and E. sugai, are considered threatened or endangered due to habitat loss and degradation.
Enallagma
bluets
Enallagma is a genus of damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae, commonly known as bluets. Adults range from 28 to 40 mm in length. Males typically display bright blue and black coloration, while female coloration varies by species. The genus underwent taxonomic revision by Rosser Garrison in 1984. Several species have been studied for their responses to climate change and range expansion dynamics.
Eotettix
spur-throated grasshoppers
Eotettix is a genus of spur-throated grasshoppers in the family Acrididae, established by Scudder in 1897. The genus contains approximately six described species distributed in the southeastern and south-central United States. Species within this genus are generally small grasshoppers associated with moist or wetland habitats.
Epeoloides pilosulus
Macropis Cuckoo Bee
Epeoloides pilosulus is one of the rarest bees in North America, an obligate kleptoparasite of oil-collecting Macropis bees (Melittidae). It belongs to the tribe Osirini, a group of parasitic bees entirely dependent on oil-collecting bees as hosts. The species was thought extinct from the 1950s until its rediscovery in Nova Scotia in 2004, with subsequent records from Alberta, Ontario, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, and Michigan extending its known range. Its survival depends on a three-way ecological relationship: E. pilosulus requires Macropis host bees, which in turn require oil-producing Lysimachia flowers for larval provisioning.
Epitheca canis
Beaverpond Baskettail
Epitheca canis, commonly known as the Beaverpond Baskettail, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is native to North America and belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive egg-laying behaviors. Like other baskettails, it possesses brilliant green eyes as an adult. The species inhabits wetland environments, particularly beaver ponds, from which its common name derives.
Epitheca princeps
Prince Baskettail
Epitheca princeps, commonly known as the prince baskettail, is a dragonfly species in the family Corduliidae. It is one of the larger baskettail species in North America and is distinguished by its distinctive egg-laying behavior, where females extrude eggs onto their subgenital plate before depositing them in gelatinous strings on water. The species has a relatively long flight season compared to other baskettails, extending into summer.
Erebia discoidalis
Red-disked Alpine
Erebia discoidalis, known as the red-disked alpine, is a butterfly in the subfamily Satyrinae of family Nymphalidae. It has a transcontinental distribution spanning North America and Asia, occurring in boreal and arctic-alpine habitats. The species is associated with open, acidic wetlands where its larvae feed on cottongrass (Eriophorum) species.
Erioptera
Erioptera is a genus of crane flies in the family Limoniidae, established by Meigen in 1803. The genus contains multiple subgenera and species distributed across temperate regions including North America, Europe, and Asia. At least one species, Erioptera squalida, has been documented as a root-piercing insect with specialized spiracular structures for accessing plant root gas spaces.
Eristalis anthophorina
orange-spotted drone fly
Eristalis anthophorina, the orange-spotted drone fly, is a syrphid fly with Holarctic distribution. Adults reach approximately 15 mm in length and are notable mimics of bumblebees. The species is strongly associated with wetland habitats including bogs, fens, and woodland pools. It has been observed visiting flowers of Verbena hastata, Salix myricoides, and Hesperis matronalis.
Eristalis arbustorum
Eurasian Drone Fly, European Drone Fly
Eristalis arbustorum is a sexually dimorphic hoverfly species in the family Syrphidae. Females closely mimic small, dark mining bees (Andrenidae), while males exhibit less specific mimicry of wasps and other yellow-black Hymenoptera. The species is abundant across the Northern Hemisphere and has been introduced to North America. Adults are important pollinators that visit diverse flowering plants, while larvae are aquatic filter-feeders known as 'rat-tailed maggots' due to their elongated posterior breathing siphon. The species is known to be migratory in Europe, with populations overwintering in sheltered locations such as cave entrances.
Eristalis cryptarum
Bog-dwelling Drone Fly, Bog Hoverfly
Eristalis cryptarum is a Holarctic hoverfly species specializing in bog and wetland habitats. It is notable for its restricted distribution and significant population declines across Europe, with extirpation from much of its former English range and critical endangerment in Denmark. The species exhibits classic Eristalis morphology with distinctive coloration and is a member of the drone fly group, though it is not a bee mimic to the same degree as some congeners. Its larvae are assumed to be aquatic filter-feeders in saturated peat, though they remain undescribed.
Eristalis flavipes
orange-legged drone fly
Eristalis flavipes, commonly known as the orange-legged drone fly, is a North American hoverfly in the family Syrphidae. Adults are striking mimics of bumblebees, measuring 13–17 mm in length, with abundant bright yellow pile on a black body and distinctive orange-red legs. The species is active from early April through mid-October, occurring across diverse habitats with particular affinity for wetlands. Adults visit flowers for nectar and pollen, while larvae are aquatic rat-tailed maggots that filter-feed in standing water.
Eudociminus mannerheimii
Cypress Weevil
Eudociminus mannerheimii, the cypress weevil, is a native North American beetle in the family Curculionidae. It breeds primarily in scarred, weakened, or fallen cypress trees and occasionally damages nursery stock and stump sprouts. Despite its potential to cause localized tree mortality, published biological information remains extremely limited.
Eugaurax
frit flies
Eugaurax is a genus of frit flies (Chloropidae) established by Malloch in 1913. The genus contains 11 New World species, with North American representatives including leaf miners of aquatic plants. Larvae of E. floridensis mine tissues of arrowheads (Sagittaria spp.), while E. hydrocotyles is a leaf and stem miner of floating marshpennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides). A species complex centered on E. quadrilineatus occurs throughout the Americas but its larval biology remains largely unknown.
Eupeodes latifasciatus
Broad-banded Aphideater, meadow field syrph
Eupeodes latifasciatus is a small hoverfly with wing length 6.5–8.5 mm, distinguished by yellow markings fused into bands on abdominal segments three and four. Adults feed on nectar from diverse flowers and serve as pollinators. Larvae are aphid predators, feeding on aphids and scale insects (Hemiptera). The species has a broad distribution across the Palaearctic and Nearctic regions, with flight activity primarily from May to September.
Euphyes arpa
Palmetto Skipper
Euphyes arpa, commonly known as the Palmetto Skipper, is a butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States, with its range centered on Florida and extending into adjacent states. It is closely associated with saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) habitats, where larvae feed exclusively on fronds and adults nectar at flowers. Despite having an abundant food source, the species is declining for reasons that remain unclear, and it has been assessed as vulnerable by NatureServe.
Euphyes bimacula
Two-spotted Skipper
Euphyes bimacula, the two-spotted skipper, is a small butterfly in the family Hesperiidae found across eastern and central North America. It is distinguished by dark brown upperside wings and pale tawny orange undersides, with a wingspan of 25–30 mm. The species is listed as endangered in Connecticut. Larvae feed specifically on Carex trichocarpa, while adults nectar on several flowering plants including pickerelweed and common milkweed.
Euphyes dion
Dion Skipper, Alabama Skipper
Euphyes dion is a skipper butterfly native to eastern and central North America. Adults are active from July to early August in northern populations and from May to September in southern populations, where two generations occur per year. The species is listed as a species of special concern in Connecticut. Larvae feed on sedges, while adults visit nectar sources including pickerelweed and buttonbush.
Eupithecia strattonata
Spirea Looper
Eupithecia strattonata, commonly known as the Spirea Looper, is a small geometrid moth found in eastern North America. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 17 mm and are active during June and July. The species inhabits damp, open wetlands including marshes, bogs, and abandoned pastures. Larvae feed on Alnus (alders) and Spiraea species, with one documented instance of feeding on Actaea rubra fruit. The species has been documented visiting apple flowers, contributing to nocturnal pollination services.
Eurimyia
rat-tail maggot flies, swamp flies
Eurimyia is a genus of hoverflies (family Syrphidae) containing three described species. These flies are commonly known as rat-tail maggot flies due to the distinctive elongated breathing tube of their aquatic larvae. The genus was established by Bigot in 1883 and previously included species now classified under Lejops. Adults are associated with wetland habitats.
Eurrhypini
Eurrhypini is a tribe of grass moths within the family Crambidae. Members of this tribe are small to medium-sized moths with narrow wings and slender bodies. They are associated with grassy and wetland habitats, where their larvae feed on monocotyledonous plants. The tribe includes several genera distributed across temperate and tropical regions.
Euschistus ictericus
Shield bug
Euschistus ictericus is a North American shield bug (Pentatomidae) measuring 10.5–12 mm in length. It is distinguished from other brown stink bugs by the absence of black spots on the ventral mid-abdomen and the presence of black rings around abdominal spiracles. The species inhabits damp environments and has been documented on diverse host plants including sedges, irises, water lilies, willows, and various legumes. It is not considered an economically important agricultural pest.
Exyra ridingsii
Ridings' Pitcherplant Moth, Riding's Pitcherplant Looper Moth
Exyra ridingsii is a small noctuid moth specialized on pitcher plants (Sarracenia). Adults are active in spring and have a wingspan of 24–31 mm. The species is named after James Ridings and is one of several Exyra species that have evolved to exploit pitcher plant habitats.
Exyra semicrocea
Pitcher Plant Mining Moth
Exyra semicrocea, commonly known as the Pitcher Plant Mining Moth, is a small noctuid moth specialized on pitcher plants in the genus Sarracenia. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States coastal plain, where it completes its entire life cycle within pitcher plant pitchers. Its larvae are miners that feed internally on pitcher plant tissue, making this one of the few moth species adapted to this unusual habitat.
Florilegus condignus
Worthy Longhorn
Florilegus condignus is a long-horned bee in the family Apidae, commonly known as the Worthy Longhorn. It is an uncommon species distributed across the Caribbean, Central America, and North America. The species is notable for its ecological importance as a pollinator of alfalfa and its association with wetland habitats containing pickerelweed.
Galerucella
leaf beetles
Galerucella is a genus of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) described by Crotch in 1873. The genus is widely distributed globally but absent from the Neotropics. Several species have been extensively studied for biological control applications, particularly against invasive aquatic plants such as purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and waterlilies. The genus has become a model system for ecological and evolutionary research, with genome assemblies available for three species (G. calmariensis, G. pusilla, and G. tenella).
Globia oblonga
Oblong Sedge Borer Moth, oblong sedge borer
Globia oblonga is a noctuid moth commonly known as the oblong sedge borer. First described by Grote in 1882, this species was formerly placed in the genus Capsula before that name was abandoned due to a homonym conflict with a mollusk genus. The species is notable for its specialized larval biology: early instars are leaf miners on emergent aquatic plants, while later instars transition to stem-boring below the water line. Adults are medium-sized moths with wingspans of 35–50 mm.
Globia subflava
Yellow Sedge Borer Moth, Subflava Sedge Borer
Globia subflava is a noctuid moth native to North America, commonly known as the yellow sedge borer or subflava sedge borer. The species was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1882 and is characterized by its stem-boring larval habit in wetland plants. Adults are active in mid-summer with a single annual generation.
Grypus
marsh weevils
Grypus is a genus of marsh weevils (family Brachyceridae) comprising approximately 10 described species. These beetles are associated with wetland and marsh habitats. The genus was established by Germar in 1817. Species in this genus include G. equiseti, G. brassicae, and G. brunnirostris, among others.
Helophilus fasciatus
Narrow-headed Marsh Fly
Helophilus fasciatus, commonly known as the narrow-headed marsh fly, is a syrphid fly species widespread across the United States and Canada. Adults are flower visitors that feed on nectar and pollen. The larvae develop in wet, decaying organic matter, particularly accumulations of decaying vegetation in ponds and mud. This species is one of the more frequently observed hoverflies in North America, with over 18,000 observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Helophilus groenlandicus
Black-margined Marsh Fly
Helophilus groenlandicus, commonly known as the Black-margined Marsh Fly, is a hoverfly in the family Syrphidae. Adults are flower visitors that obtain nectar and pollen. The species occurs across the northern Holarctic region. Larval biology is not directly documented for this species, though related Helophilus species develop in wet decaying organic material with rat-tailed maggot morphology.
Helophilus hybridus
hoverfly
Helophilus hybridus is a Palearctic hoverfly species in the family Syrphidae. Adults are medium-sized with distinctive yellow and black abdominal patterning. The species is associated with wetland habitats across northern and central Europe, extending eastward through Russia to the Pacific coast. Larvae develop in aquatic or semi-aquatic environments with organic matter.
Helophilus latifrons
Broad-headed Marsh Fly
Helophilus latifrons, commonly known as the Broad-headed Marsh Fly, is a species of syrphid fly in the family Syrphidae. Adults are flower visitors that obtain nectar and pollen from blossoms. The larvae are aquatic and develop in decaying submerged vegetation, functioning as decomposers in wetland ecosystems. The species occurs across much of North America including the United States, southern Canada, and mountainous regions of Mexico.
Helophilus obscurus
obscure marsh fly
Helophilus obscurus is a syrphid fly commonly found across Canada, the northern United States, and the Rocky Mountains. Adults are flower visitors that obtain nectar and pollen. The species is part of the marsh fly genus Helophilus, though the larval biology of this specific species remains undocumented. It is one of several North American Helophilus species that exhibit yellowjacket mimicry.
Hemipachnobia monochromatea
Sundew Cutworm Moth, Sundew Dart
A small to medium-sized noctuid moth found in wetland habitats across northern North America. The common name references an association with sundew plants (Drosera), though the nature of this relationship remains unclear. Adults are active in late summer and early autumn. The species is among the more obscure members of the cutworm moth group, with limited biological documentation.
Heterocerus pallidus
Heterocerus pallidus is a species of small, elongated beetle in the family Heteroceridae, commonly known as variegated mud-loving beetles. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1823. Members of this family are typically associated with moist, muddy habitats near water bodies. Heterocerus pallidus is one of approximately 250 species in the genus Heterocerus, which has a cosmopolitan distribution with highest diversity in tropical and subtropical regions.
Horistonotus pullatus
Horistonotus pullatus is a species of click beetle (family Elateridae) in the subfamily Dendrometrinae. Species in the genus Horistonotus are primarily associated with wetland and marsh habitats in North America. The genus is characterized by distinctive morphological features including a pronotum with posterior angles that are typically carinate or spinose. Like other elaterids, H. pullatus possesses the family-defining prosternal process that engages with a mesosternal cavity to enable the characteristic 'clicking' escape mechanism.
Hypenodes palustris
Swampland Hypenodes
Hypenodes palustris is a small moth in the family Erebidae, described by Ferguson in 1954. The species name 'palustris' (Latin for 'of the swamp') reflects its association with wetland habitats. It occurs across northern North America from Alaska through Canada to the northeastern and north-central United States. The species is one of relatively few in the genus Hypenodes, a group of small moths often associated with moist or marshy environments.
Hypenodes sombrus
Shaded Hypenodes
Hypenodes sombrus is a small moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by Douglas C. Ferguson in 1954. It is endemic to Canada, with a broad transcontinental range spanning from Nova Scotia to western Alberta. The species occupies diverse wetland and woodland habitats, including bogs, cattail marshes, and dry pine forests. It is known by the common name Shaded Hypenodes.
Hypera paludicola
Hypera paludicola is a species of weevil in the family Curculionidae, described by Tuttler in 1973. It belongs to the genus Hypera, which contains several species associated with leguminous plants. The specific epithet 'paludicola' suggests an association with marsh or wetland habitats.
Hyperaspidius venustulus
Eight-spotted Hyperaspidius
Hyperaspidius venustulus is a small lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. Adults measure approximately 2.80 mm. The species has been recorded from Georgia and is associated with big cordgrass (Spartina cynosuroides) stands, where it has been found with the mealybug Dysmicoccus dennoi. It is rarely collected and poorly known.
Idaea dimidiata
Single-dotted Wave
Idaea dimidiata is a small Geometrid moth with a Holarctic distribution. Adults are active from June to August and are attracted to light. The species has shown significant phenological shifts in response to climate change over recent decades.