Wetland

Guides

Inscudderia
cypress katydids
Inscudderia is a genus of katydids commonly known as cypress katydids, comprising three described species native to North America. The genus was established by Caudell in 1921. Species in this genus are associated with cypress trees (Taxodium), with common names reflecting this host relationship: the western cypress katydid (I. taxodii), eastern cypress katydid (I. walkeri), and guinea-cypress katydid (I. strigata).
katydid Tettigoniidae cypress wetland North-America
Iridopsis pergracilis
cypress looper moth, Cypress Gray
Iridopsis pergracilis, commonly known as the cypress looper moth or Cypress Gray, is a geometrid moth species described by George Duryea Hulst in 1900. The species occurs in the eastern United States from Maryland to Florida. Adults have a wingspan of 26–28 mm. The larvae are specialized feeders on Taxodium distichum (bald cypress), including the variety T. distichum var. nutans.
geometrid looper cypress wetland specialist-herbivore Taxodium
Ischnura gemina
San Francisco Forktail
Ischnura gemina is a small damselfly endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area of California, with a total range of less than 500 square miles. It is considered one of the rarest odonates in the United States. The species inhabits coastal wetland ecosystems and has been observed to have an unusually long adult lifespan for a damselfly, likely an adaptation to the region's foggy climate. Populations have declined due to urbanization and habitat destruction, though the species shows some resilience to certain forms of habitat degradation.
endemic rare vulnerable wetland California damselfly odonata coenagrionidae
Laccocera zonata
Laccocera zonata is a species of planthopper in the family Delphacidae, described by Van Duzee in 1897. It belongs to the infraorder Fulgoromorpha, a group of sap-feeding insects commonly known as planthoppers. Distribution records indicate this species occurs in western North America, with documented presence in Alberta, Arizona, California, Colorado, and Montana. As a member of Delphacidae, it is likely associated with grassland and wetland habitats where its host plants grow, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
planthopper Delphacidae Fulgoromorpha western-North-America Van-Duzee-1897 Hemiptera Auchenorrhyncha grassland wetland sap-feeder
Lacunicambarus diogenes
devil crayfish, devil crawfish
Lacunicambarus diogenes, commonly known as the devil crayfish or devil crawfish, is a primary burrowing crayfish native to eastern North America. This species constructs and inhabits burrows in wet, muddy terrestrial habitats rather than living in permanent surface water. Its burrowing activities create refugia used by numerous other species, including documented use by eastern cicada killer wasps (Sphecius speciosus) as brooding habitat. The species ranges across the Atlantic Coastal Plain and Piedmont ecoregion from New Jersey to Georgia, with disjunct populations in Louisiana.
crayfish burrowing ecosystem-engineer primary-burrower Atlantic-Coastal-Plain terrestrial fossorial North-America Cambaridae Decapoda crustacean endemic wetland floodplain refugia allogenic-engineer cave-crayfish Lacunicambarus Cambarus Girard-1852 devil-crayfish devil-crawfish Sphecius-speciosus cicada-killer-wasp brooding-habitat soil-type congeneric-cues floodplain-connectivity muddy-substrate desiccation-refuge predation-refuge intermittent-water Piedmont New-Jersey Pennsylvania Delaware Maryland Virginia North-Carolina South-Carolina Georgia Louisiana roadside-ditch terrestrial-habitat burrow-construction burrow-maintenance wetland-engineer crustacean-ecology decapod astacidea freshwater-invertebrate invertebrate-engineer habitat-modification species-interactions commensalism facilitation ecosystem-services biodiversity-support habitat-provision microhabitat-creation soil-bioturbation sediment-mixing water-infiltration groundwater-connection ephemeral-water seasonal-wetland palustrine lotic lentic riparian hyporheic bioturbation soil-structure nutrient-cycling detritivore omnivore scavenger predator prey trophic-interaction food-web community-ecology population-ecology conservation habitat-loss urbanization agriculture land-use-change climate-change drought hydrology geomorphology sedimentology ichnology trace-fossil burrow-architecture burrow-morphology tunnel-system chimney mud-pellet cast excavation sediment-ejection maintenance-behavior occupancy site-fidelity home-range territoriality intraspecific-interaction interspecific-interaction competition predation-risk desiccation-risk physiological-stress behavioral-adaptation morphological-adaptation fossorial-adaptation gill-function air-breathing cutaneous-respiration ion-regulation osmoregulation excretion metabolism energetics life-history growth molting reproduction mating egg-care juvenile-development recruitment population-dynamics demography genetics phylogeography biogeography dispersal colonization extinction rare-species common-species indicator-species keystone-species umbrella-species flagship-species natural-capital environmental-economics environmental-policy environmental-management restoration-ecology habitat-restoration species-reintroduction ex-situ-conservation in-situ-conservation protected-area wildlife-refuge nature-reserve national-park state-park conservation-easement stewardship citizen-science iNaturalist observation specimen voucher museum-collection type-specimen holotype taxonomy systematics nomenclature synonymy homonymy priority valid-name accepted-name species-concept morphological-species biological-species evolutionary-species phylogenetic-species integrative-taxonomy DNA-barcoding molecular-systematics phylogenetics phylogeny evolution adaptation natural-selection speciation diversification radiation endemism vicariance dispersal-limitation habitat-specificity niche-breadth niche-conservatism ecological-release character-displacement 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housing-movement urban-movement rural-movement local-movement global-movement network coalition alliance partnership cooperation solidarity mutual-aid community-organizing grassroots bottom-up top-down hybrid-governance polycentric-governance self-organization emergence complexity system-dynamics agent-based-model network-analysis social-network ecological-network mutualistic-network antagonistic-network multiplex-network multilayer-network temporal-network spatial-network network-metric centrality modularity nestedness connectance robustness stability persistence coexistence biodiversity-ecosystem-function invasibility invasiveness impact risk pathway vector introduction establishment spread eradication containment control management phytosanitary veterinary human-health One-Health EcoHealth Planetary-Health One-Welfare sustainability-science conservation-science restoration-science resilience-science adaptation-science transformation-science futures-studies backcasting projection simulation modeling numerical-model conceptual-model statistical-model mechanistic-model process-based-model individual-based-model system-dynamics-model machine-learning-model deep-learning neural-network random-forest support-vector-machine gradient-boosting ensemble-method model-selection model-validation model-calibration sensitivity-analysis uncertainty-analysis risk-analysis decision-analysis optimization multi-objective-optimization Pareto-frontier trade-off synergy co-benefit win-win lose-lose win-lose zero-sum positive-sum negative-sum game-theory cooperative-game non-cooperative-game Nash-equilibrium Pareto-optimality social-dilemma tragedy-of-the-commons prisoner's-dilemma collective-action free-rider public-good common-pool-resource institution rule norm custom law governance administration implementation enforcement compliance accountability participation inclusiveness responsiveness effectiveness efficiency legitimacy adaptability transformability innovation 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realism-knowledge idealism-knowledge pragmatism-knowledge practicality-knowledge feasibility-knowledge viability-knowledge desirability-knowledge acceptability-knowledge legitimacy-knowledge credibility-knowledge trust-knowledge confidence-knowledge reliability-knowledge validity-knowledge rigor-knowledge quality-knowledge excellence-knowledge best-practice-knowledge good-practice-knowledge lesson-learned-knowledge success-factor-knowledge failure-factor-knowledge risk-factor-knowledge protective-factor-knowledge determinant-knowledge driver-knowledge pressure-knowledge state-knowledge impact-knowledge response-knowledge DPSIR-knowledge STEEP-knowledge SWOT-knowledge PESTLE-knowledge scenario-matrix-knowledge morphological-analysis-knowledge Delphi-method-knowledge expert-elicitation-knowledge structured-expert-judgment-knowledge citizen-deliberation-knowledge participatory-modeling-knowledge companion-modeling-knowledge serious-game-knowledge role-play-knowledge simulation-knowledge 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Langessa nomophilalis
black langessa moth
Langessa nomophilalis, the black langessa moth, is the sole species in the genus Langessa. It is a small crambid moth in the subfamily Acentropinae. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States with a restricted coastal plain distribution. It was first described by Harrison Gray Dyar in 1906, originally placed in the genus Nymphula.
aquatic-moth wetland southeastern-USA monotypic-genus Crambidae Acentropinae
Lasius minutus
Mound-building Swamp Ant
Lasius minutus is a species of ant in the genus Lasius, commonly known as the Mound-building Swamp Ant. It is a small formicine ant that constructs mounds in wetland habitats. The species has been studied using radioactive phosphorus tracing to understand colony distribution and spatial organization. It belongs to a genus known for citronella-scented defensive compounds and aphid-tending behaviors, though species-specific traits for L. minutus require direct observation.
ants formicidae lasius wetland mound-building radioisotope-study
Ledaea perditalis
Lost Owlet, Buttonbush Owlet
Ledaea perditalis is a small erebid moth commonly known as the Lost Owlet or Buttonbush Owlet. It is widely distributed across eastern and central North America, with adults active primarily during spring and summer months. The species has been documented feeding on buttonbush and woolgrass as larvae.
wetland North-America herbivore moth
Leptysma marginicollis
cattail toothpick grasshopper, slender locust
Leptysma marginicollis is a grasshopper species known by the common names cattail toothpick grasshopper and slender locust. It is distinguished from superficially similar Gomphocerinae grasshoppers by a diagnostic spur or spine between the front legs. The species is strongly associated with wetland vegetation, particularly emergent plants such as cattails and sedges, across a broad geographic range spanning North America, the Neotropics, and the Caribbean.
grasshopper wetland marsh cattail North-America Neotropical Caribbean
Leptysminae
spur-throat toothpick grasshoppers
Leptysminae is a subfamily of grasshoppers in the family Acrididae, commonly known as spur-throat toothpick grasshoppers. The subfamily contains at least 20 genera distributed across North, Central, and South America. Members are characterized by slender, elongate bodies and association with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. The genus Cornops, a well-studied member, has been investigated for biological control of invasive water hyacinth.
grasshopper semi-aquatic wetland biological-control Neotropical toothpick-grasshopper spur-throat
Lepyrus palustris
Marsh Weevil
Lepyrus palustris is a true weevil in the family Curculionidae, characterized by the distinctive elongated snout typical of weevils. The species has a transcontinental distribution spanning the Holarctic region, with records from both North America and Europe. As a member of the large and diverse genus Lepyrus, it inhabits marshy environments as suggested by its specific epithet 'palustris'.
weevil Curculionidae Holarctic marsh wetland boreal Bedel-1884
Lestes disjunctus
Northern Spreadwing
Lestes disjunctus, commonly known as the Northern Spreadwing, is a damselfly species in the family Lestidae. It is widely distributed across North America and inhabits a variety of freshwater habitats including riverine wetlands, ponds, and marshes. The species exhibits a univoltine life cycle with egg diapause, requiring overwintering before hatching. Adults emerge in late June through July and remain active until late August. Larvae are predatory, feeding primarily on zooplankton and small aquatic invertebrates. The species holds its wings at approximately 45 degrees to the body when at rest, a characteristic posture of spreadwing damselflies.
odonata damselfly spreadwing freshwater predator univoltine egg-diapause North-America boreal-forest wetland pond riverine
Lestes vigilax
Swamp Spreadwing
Lestes vigilax, commonly known as the swamp spreadwing, is a damselfly species in the family Lestidae. It is a medium-sized spreadwing damselfly with a body length of 42–55 mm. The species is found in eastern North America, ranging west to Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Texas, and south to Georgia and South Carolina. Adults are most commonly observed between May and October.
damselfly spreadwing Odonata North-America wetland
Lestidae
spreadwings, spread-winged damselflies
Lestidae is a cosmopolitan family of damselflies distinguished by their characteristic wing posture at rest. Most species hold their wings partially or fully spread rather than folded together over the abdomen. The family includes two subfamilies: Lestinae, which rest with wings partly open, and Sympecmatinae (reedlings, ringtails, and winter damselflies), which rest with wings folded. The family contains nine currently recognized genera. Fossil records extend to the Late Eocene.
damselfly odonata zygoptera spreadwings cosmopolitan wetland
Lethe eurydice
Eyed Brown, Marsh Eyed Brown
Lethe eurydice, commonly known as the Eyed Brown or Marsh Eyed Brown, is a North American satyrine butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. The species inhabits marshy and wetland environments across northern North America, with records from Canadian provinces including Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, as well as the northeastern United States. Adults display the characteristic brown coloration and eyespot patterns typical of the Satyrinae subfamily.
butterfly satyrine North-America marsh wetland
Limnaecia phragmitella
Shy Cosmet Moth
Limnaecia phragmitella, commonly known as the Shy Cosmet Moth, is a small micro-moth in the family Cosmopterigidae. Adults have a wingspan of 15–22 mm with ochre-coloured forewings bearing distinctive grey-brown markings and white-edged spots. The species is widespread across Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and North America. Larvae are more frequently encountered than adults, mining within the seed heads and stems of bulrushes (Typha species).
micro-moth leaf-miner seed-head-feeder wetland bulrush Typha
Limnia
Limnia is a genus of flies in the family Sciomyzidae (marsh flies or snail-killing flies). Species are malacophagous, with larvae that parasitize or prey upon pulmonate snails. The genus occurs across the West-Palearctic region, with some species extending into Asia. Larvae typically develop through three instars, with early instars acting as parasitoids and later instars becoming predators or scavengers.
Sciomyzidae malacophagous parasitoid wetland West-Palearctic snail-killing-fly univoltine
Limnophyes viribus
A recently described non-biting midge (Diptera: Chironomidae) known for its distinctive inquiline behavior. Larvae inhabit vacated leaf mines created by Metriocnemus erythranthei rather than excavating their own tunnels. Described in 2023 from collections in Iowa and Oregon, USA.
inquiline leaf-mine wetland Orthocladiinae 2023-description North-America
Limotettix scudderi
Limotettix scudderi is a leafhopper species described by Hamilton in 1994, originally placed in the subgenus Scleroracus of the genus Limotettix. The species is part of an evolutionary radiation of Limotettix in peatland habitats, representing a lineage that adapted from ancestral wetland plants to colonize drier environments. It is currently recognized as a synonym of Scleroracus scudderi. Distribution records indicate occurrence in Yukon Territory.
leafhopper Cicadellidae peatland bog wetland Yukon Scleroracus Hamilton-1994
Liodessus
Liodessus is a genus of small diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, tribe Bidessini. Species occur across the Americas from North America through the Andes to southern South America, with notable diversity in high-altitude wetlands and páramo ecosystems. Many species inhabit shallow, exposed pools and temporary water bodies, showing phenotypic plasticity in body form correlated with habitat permanence. The genus contains numerous species, with several new species described from the high Andes of Peru and Colombia in recent years. Taxonomic resolution relies heavily on male genital morphology.
diving-beetle aquatic-insect high-altitude páramo Andes phenotypic-plasticity Bidessini Hydroporinae Dytiscidae Coleoptera wetland temporary-pool peatland subantarctic taxonomy male-genitalia COI-barcode cryptic-species incipient-speciation hybridization geometric-morphometrics environmental-sentinel drought-indicator South-America North-America Fiji Navarino-Island Magallanes Peru Colombia Chile Argentina Bolivia Bogotá Junín Cusco Huánuco Cundinamarca Sumapaz Puna steppe peat-bog shallow-pool puddle altitude-3400-4900m L.-affinis-complex L.-bogotensis-complex L.-chilensis L.-affinis L.-obscurellus L.-noviaffinis L.-saratogae L.-picinus L.-santarosita L.-alpinus L.-hauthi L.-rhigos L.-thespesios Guignot-1939 Zimmermann Sharp LeConte Say Steinheil Régimbart Biström Miller Balke Franciscolo Sanfilippo Pederzani Nilsson Young Clark Hatch Mannerheim Casey Aubé Balfour-Browne Brinck Peschet Solier White Zootaxa ZooKeys Insect-Systematics-&-Evolution Anales-del-Instituto-de-la-Patagonia PLoS-ONE GBIF iNaturalist Catalogue-of-Life NCBI-Taxonomy BOLD Barcode-of-Life-Data-System COI mitochondrial-DNA phylogeography population-structure range-expansion lineage genetic-structure subspecies lectotype neotype synonymy new-species new-subspecies revision morphometrics allometry body-size body-shape elytra pronotum striae coloration punctation habitus occipital-line genital-morphology aedeagus paramere diagnosis identification-key type-locality type-specimen etymology bionomics natural-history geographic-distribution distribution-map Nearctic Neotropical Patagonia Cape-Horn-Biosphere-Reserve drought climate-change environmental-change sentinel-species plasticity adaptation phenotypic-variation hydrological-landscape water-permanence pool bog Altiplano Andean high-elevation montane alpine aquatic freshwater lentic lotic insect beetle Adephaga Liodessus
Liogma nodicornis
Liogma nodicornis is a species of cylindrotomid crane fly native to North America. Larvae inhabit wet environments including streams, marshes, and saturated soils beneath alders, where they function as detritivores. The species exhibits an approximately two-year life cycle with adults emerging during summer months.
detritivore wetland crane-fly cylindrotomid nearctic biennial-life-cycle summer-emergence
Lipara
Lipara is a genus of frit flies (family Chloropidae) established by Meigen in 1830. Species in this genus are notable for inducing galls on the stems of common reed (Phragmites australis). The galls created by Lipara species, particularly L. lucens, serve as nesting sites for a specialized community of aculeate hymenopterans including solitary bees and digger wasps. This genus represents a well-documented example of ecological interactions between gall-inducing insects and cavity-nesting invertebrates.
gall-former wetland reedbed ecosystem-engineer Palearctic
Lithophane abita
Bald Cypress Pinion
Lithophane abita is a noctuid moth described in 2009 from the southeastern United States. It is one of several Lithophane species associated with bald cypress swamps and related wetland habitats. Adults are active during winter months, with flight periods varying geographically from October through April. The species is named from the Latin 'abita' (to depart), likely referencing its seasonal disappearance during warmer months.
Noctuidae winter-moth bald-cypress wetland southeastern-US 2009-description recently-described-species
Lycaena dorcas claytoni
Clayton's Copper
Lycaena dorcas claytoni is a subspecies of copper butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It belongs to the dorcas copper complex, a group of closely related taxa distributed across North America. The subspecies was described by A.E. Brower in 1940. Like other members of the genus Epidemia (formerly placed in Lycaena), this taxon is associated with wetland habitats and larval host plants in the genus Polygonum.
Lycaenidae Lepidoptera copper-butterfly wetland North-America Polygonum subspecies doubtful-taxonomy
Lycastrirhyncha
neotropical flower flies, neotropical hoverflies
Lycastrirhyncha is a genus of neotropical hoverflies (Syrphidae) comprising five described species. The genus was established by Bigot in 1859 with L. nitens as the type species. At least one species, L. nitens, has been documented as a flower visitor in wetland habitats, where it forages on Pontederia sagittata inflorescences. Observations indicate temporal variation in foraging behavior correlated with nectar availability.
Syrphidae hoverfly neotropical pollinator wetland Pontederia-sagittata flower-visitor nectar-feeding L.-nitens Bigot-1859
Lycastrirhyncha nitens
Lycastrirhyncha nitens is a hoverfly species (Diptera: Syrphidae) first described by Bigot in 1859. It is known from floral visitation studies on Pontederia sagittata (arrowhead water hyacinth), where it exhibits temporal variation in foraging behavior correlated with nectar availability. The species has been documented in wetland habitats across Brazil, with GBIF records indicating presence in all 26 Brazilian states and the Federal District.
hoverfly Syrphidae pollinator wetland Brazil Pontederia nectar-foraging flower-visitor
Macrochilo hypocritalis
twin-dotted macrochilo, Twin-dotted Owlet
Macrochilo hypocritalis is a small moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Douglas C. Ferguson in 1982. It occurs in eastern North American wetlands and is recognized by its diminutive size and characteristic wing markings. The species is commonly known as the twin-dotted macrochilo or Twin-dotted Owlet. It is assigned MONA/Hodges number 8357.1.
moth wetland eastern-North-America small 1982-description
Mansoniini
Mansoniini is a tribe of mosquitoes comprising approximately 83 species in two genera: Mansonia (25 species) and Coquillettidia (58 species). Members exhibit unique larval biology, using aquatic plants as respiratory substrates rather than surfacing directly for air. Adults display preferentially crepuscular and nocturnal hematophagic activity. Several species have been implicated as vectors for arboviruses including Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus, and Mayaro virus. The tribe shows strong sensitivity to seasonal meteorological variation, with temperature and precipitation directly influencing population dynamics.
mosquito vector wetland hematophagous tropical arbovirus
Megamelus falcatus
Megamelus falcatus is a species of planthopper in the family Delphacidae, first described by Beamer in 1955. The species is known from the northeastern United States, with confirmed records from Connecticut, New Hampshire, and New York. As a member of the genus Megamelus, it is associated with wetland and aquatic habitats. The genus Megamelus is notable for having several species that have been investigated as hosts for egg parasitoids in the family Mymaridae, which are of interest for biological control research.
Delphacidae planthopper wetland northeastern-United-States egg-parasitoid-host
Megamelus lunatus
Megamelus lunatus is a species of delphacid planthopper in the family Delphacidae, described by Beamer in 1955. The species is found in North America, with distribution records from British Columbia, Illinois, Kansas, New York, and Ontario. As a member of the Delphacidae, it belongs to a family known for their economic importance as pests of grasses and agricultural crops, particularly rice. The genus Megamelus contains species that are typically associated with wetland and aquatic habitats.
planthopper delphacid wetland North-America
Megamelus toddi
Megamelus toddi is a species of delphacid planthopper in the family Delphacidae, described by Beamer in 1955. The genus Megamelus comprises small planthoppers primarily associated with wetland and aquatic habitats, with many species feeding on monocotyledonous plants. Megamelus toddi is known from the southeastern United States, specifically recorded from Florida and Louisiana. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with emergent aquatic vegetation, though specific host plant records for this species are not well documented in the available literature.
Delphacidae planthopper Hemiptera wetland North-America Florida Louisiana Beamer-1955
Melanoplus borealis
Northern Spur-throat Grasshopper, Northern Grasshopper
Melanoplus borealis is a spur-throated grasshopper in the family Acrididae, distributed across North America from Alaska to the Great Plains. It inhabits moist, open habitats including swamps, wet bogs, and mountain meadows. The species exhibits a late-hatching seasonal cycle, with eggs overwintering and hatching in mid-June. It is primarily a forb feeder, though capable of surviving on grasses under laboratory conditions. Populations are typically small even in suitable habitats. In Nebraska, it is recognized as a glacial relict that remained undetected for over a century before its rediscovery in 2007.
grasshopper spur-throated wetland glacial-relict late-hatching forb-feeder
Melieria
picture-winged fly
Melieria is a genus of picture-winged flies in the family Ulidiidae, characterized by distinctive wing patterning with dark spots or blotches on a lighter background. The genus contains multiple species across Europe and the Palaearctic region, with adults typically active from May to August. Species vary in size from small (4–5 mm) to medium (6 mm or longer) to relatively large (8–10 mm). Several species have been the focus of genomic sequencing as part of the Darwin Tree of Life Project.
picture-winged-fly Ulidiidae wetland saltmarsh genome-sequenced
Meropleon diversicolor
multicolored sedgeminer moth
Meropleon diversicolor, commonly known as the multicolored sedgeminer moth, is a small noctuid moth with a wingspan of approximately 29 mm. It is widely distributed across eastern and central North America, with records spanning from Quebec and New Brunswick south to Georgia and west to Kansas and Oklahoma. The species is strongly associated with wetland habitats and has a larval stage that bores into sedges (Carex and related genera). Adults are active from June through October, with peak abundance in August and September.
Noctuidae wetland stem-borer sedge North-America multicolored small-moth
Metaleptea brevicornis
clipped-wing grasshopper, clipped-winged grasshopper
Metaleptea brevicornis, the clipped-wing grasshopper, is a species of short-horned grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is the type species of the genus Metaleptea, which was erected in 1893 to accommodate American species previously placed in Truxalis. The species was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1763 as Gryllus brevicornis. It inhabits wetland environments across eastern North America and is distinguished by its characteristic wing morphology.
grasshopper wetland North-America type-species
Metriocnemus erythranthei
Monkeyflower Non-biting Midge
Metriocnemus erythranthei is a leaf-mining chironomid midge (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae) described in 2023 from herbaceous wetland plants. The larva is a true miner that enters fresh leaves and excavates tunnels, feeding on leaf tissue of monkeyflowers, speedwells, and other herbaceous plants. The species is widespread across North America, with documented collections from the Pacific coast to Pennsylvania. Its vacated mines are subsequently inhabited by Limnophyes viribus, establishing an inquiline relationship.
leaf-miner inquiline wetland herbivore
Metriocnemus eurynotus
A small non-biting midge (Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae) with larvae that feed on herbaceous plant material. The species has been documented as a leafminer of Impatiens cotyledons, initially mining fresh tissue before transitioning to external feeding. Larvae have also been found feeding within abandoned mines of Metriocnemus erythranthei on Veronica and on Petasites leaves. The species occurs across northern Europe and has been recorded from North America.
leafminer herbivore wetland Orthocladiinae non-biting-midge
Miathyria marcella
hyacinth glider
Miathyria marcella, commonly known as the hyacinth glider, is a skimmer dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. The species has a broad distribution across the Americas, ranging from the Caribbean through Central and North America to South America. Its IUCN conservation status is Least Concern (LC), with a stable population last assessed in 2017. Larvae have been documented in wetlands of Northern Colombia, where their distribution has been studied in relation to water quality parameters.
dragonfly skimmer Libellulidae wetland Neotropical
Microcara explanata
marsh beetle
Microcara explanata is a small marsh beetle in the family Scirtidae. It was described by LeConte in 1866 and is known from North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a member of Scirtidae, it is associated with moist or aquatic habitats. The genus Microcara contains multiple species that are often difficult to distinguish without detailed examination.
Coleoptera Scirtidae marsh-beetle North-America wetland
Micropeplus laticollis
Large-collared Marsh Rove Beetle
Micropeplus laticollis is a species of rove beetle in the subfamily Micropeplinae, characterized by its distinctive broad pronotum that gives rise to both its specific epithet ('laticollis' = broad-necked) and common name. The species occurs across northern North America from Alaska and Yukon through Canada to the northern United States. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with marshy or wetland habitats. The subfamily Micropeplinae is a small, specialized group within the megadiverse family Staphylinidae.
Staphylinidae Micropeplinae rove-beetle marsh-beetle North-America wetland
Mocyta sphagnorum
Mocyta sphagnorum is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described in 2015 from Canadian material. The species is associated with Sphagnum moss habitats, as indicated by its specific epithet. It belongs to the large subfamily Aleocharinae, one of the most diverse groups within the rove beetles. The species has been documented from multiple Canadian provinces and Alaska.
Staphylinidae Aleocharinae rove-beetle Sphagnum bog-habitat wetland
Muellerianella
Muellerianella is a genus of delphacid planthoppers comprising seven described species. The genus is notable for its complex reproductive biology, including both biparentally reproducing sexual species and asexual gynogenetic (pseudogamous) triploid forms. Species within the genus are morphologically similar but ecologically differentiated, occupying distinct habitat niches and exhibiting species-specific host plant associations. The Muellerianella complex has been extensively studied as a model system for understanding ecological speciation, hybridization, and the maintenance of species boundaries in the face of incomplete reproductive isolation.
planthopper Delphacidae grassland wetland gynogenesis parthenogenesis host-specificity ecological-speciation
Nabis flavomarginatus
Broad Damsel Bug
Nabis flavomarginatus is a small predatory true bug in the family Nabidae, commonly known as the Broad Damsel Bug. It exhibits a Holarctic distribution spanning northern Europe, Siberia, Central Asia, East Asia, and North America including Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. The species inhabits wet, open grassland habitats with high proportions of grasses, sedges, and rushes, and shows a preference for cooler microclimates compared to other Nabinae. It is an effective predator in agricultural and natural systems, with cicadas documented as frequent prey.
Hemiptera Nabidae predator Holarctic wetland grassland biological-control nocturnal damsel-bug boreomontane
Nabis propinquus
Marsh Damsel Bug
Nabis propinquus, commonly known as the Marsh Damsel Bug, is a small predatory true bug in the family Nabidae. Like other damsel bugs, it is a nocturnal predator that subdues other insects, including prey larger than itself. The species has been observed in marshy habitats and is attracted to lights at night, presumably to hunt other insects drawn to illumination. As with most nabids, it possesses a muscular, swollen front femur armed with teeth to secure prey, and a short rostrum compared to plant-feeding true bugs.
predator nocturnal wetland beneficial-insect biocontrol
Nascia acutellus
Streaked Orange Moth
Nascia acutellus, commonly known as the streaked orange moth, is a small crambid moth native to eastern and central North America. First described by Francis Walker in 1866, this species inhabits wet grassy areas with sedges. Adults are active from late spring through summer, with a wingspan of approximately 22 mm. The larval stage likely feeds on Cyperaceae (sedge family) species.
wetland sedge-associated small-moth orange-moth
Nehalennia
Sprites
Nehalennia is a genus of very small damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae, commonly known as Sprites. Most species occur in North and South America, with one species, N. speciosa, distributed in Eurasia. Members of this genus are among the smallest odonates and are associated with specific wetland microhabitats.
damselfly odonata wetland peatland endangered microrefugium tyrphophilous conservation
Nehalennia gracilis
Sphagnum Sprite
Nehalennia gracilis, commonly known as the sphagnum sprite, is a small damselfly species in the family Coenagrionidae. It is one of the smallest damselflies in North America. The species is associated with peatland habitats, particularly sphagnum bogs, which is reflected in its common name. It is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN with a stable population.
damselfly Odonata sphagnum-bog peatland wetland North-America least-concern
Neoascia
Fen Flies
Neoascia is a genus of small hoverflies (Syrphidae) characterized by black and yellow or mostly black coloration with a narrow, wasp-like waist between the thorax and abdomen. Adults are typically found in damp, low-vegetation habitats including fens, marshes, and pond margins. The genus has a Holarctic distribution with records across Northern and Central Europe, Western Siberia, and Scandinavia. Larvae are saprophagous, developing in wet organic matter such as decaying vegetation, compost, and wet manure associated with aquatic margins.
hoverfly fen wetland saprophagous pollinator conservation Diptera Syrphidae Holarctic
Neoascia metallica
Double-banded Fen Fly
Neoascia metallica is a species of hoverfly (family Syrphidae) found across North America. Adults are commonly observed on flowers, where they feed on nectar and pollen. The species is known for its metallic coloration and association with wetland habitats. Larvae are aquatic, a trait that distinguishes this species from many other syrphid flies.
hoverfly syrphid aquatic-larvae pollinator wetland fen metallic North-America
Neoascia tenur
Black-kneed Fen Fly
Neoascia tenur is a small Palearctic hoverfly in the family Syrphidae, commonly known as the Black-kneed Fen Fly. The species is strongly associated with wetland habitats across northern and central Europe, extending into Siberia. Adults are active from spring through early autumn and visit flowers of wetland plants. The larvae develop sub-aquatically within the stem sheaths of emergent aquatic vegetation such as cattails (Typha).
hoverfly wetland Palearctic aquatic-larva flower-visitor