Omnivores

842 species with this diet

Hymenoptera

Abbott's Pine Sawfly

Neodiprion abbotii

A pine sawfly whose distinctively marked larvae have black heads and grayish-green bodies with dark stripes. It feeds on...

Hemiptera

Abedus Giant Water Bug

Abedus herberti

A medium-sized, broad-bodied giant water bug found in streams and springs of the American Southwest. Males are well know...

Lepidoptera

Acorn Moth

Blastobasis glandulella

A small moth whose larvae bore into and consume the contents of acorns on the forest floor. It is common in oak woodland...

Lepidoptera

African Armyworm

Spodoptera exempta

A migratory pest moth whose caterpillars march in vast armies across cereal crops and grasslands in Africa. Outbreaks fo...

Odonata

African Blue Emperor

Anax speratus

A large, powerful dragonfly widespread across sub-Saharan Africa. Males have a bright blue abdomen and green thorax simi...

Coleoptera

African Bombardier Beetle

Stenaptinus insignis

A large, brightly colored bombardier beetle found across sub-Saharan Africa. Its yellow and dark-blue markings serve as ...

Mantodea

African Devil Mantis

Idolomantis lobiceps

A large, lobed mantis from the dry forests of central East Africa. It has pronounced lobes on its head and legs that cre...

Coleoptera

African Diving Beetle

Cybister tripunctatus

A large diving beetle widespread across Africa and southern Asia. It is one of the most common large aquatic beetles in ...

Hymenoptera

African Driver Ant

Dorylus wilverthi

A notorious army ant species that forms massive raiding columns through the forest floor. Colonies can contain over 20 m...

Lepidoptera

African Emperor Moth

Bunaea caffraria

A large African saturniid with warm brown wings bearing conspicuous eyespots edged in pink and black. Its massive spiny ...

Mantodea

African Grass Mantis

Pyrgomantis nasuta

An extremely slender mantis shaped like a grass stem with an elongated head and thorax. It sways gently in the wind to m...

Neuroptera

African Green Lacewing

Chrysoperla congrua

A widespread African lacewing found in sub-Saharan savannas and farmland. Plays an important role in natural pest suppre...

Orthoptera

African Migratory Locust

Locusta migratoria migratorioides

A widespread African subspecies of the migratory locust that can form devastating swarms. Solitary individuals are green...

Coleoptera

African Myrmecophile Rove Beetle

Dorylomimus kohli

A rove beetle that lives with army ant colonies in tropical Africa, mimicking the ants in body shape. It travels with th...

Mantodea

African Pink Flower Mantis

Chloroharpax modesta

A delicate green mantis from tropical Africa that develops pink highlights when near flowers. It is small and slender wi...

Lepidoptera

African Sugarcane Borer

Eldana saccharina

The most important pest of sugarcane in sub-Saharan Africa. Larvae bore into sugarcane stalks, reducing sugar content an...

Mantodea

African Twig Mantis

Popa spurca crassa

A subspecies of twig mantis with an even rougher bark-like texture. Its flattened body and ragged edges mimic a broken-o...

Coleoptera

African Whirligig Beetle

Dineutus aereus

A bronze-colored whirligig beetle common across sub-Saharan African freshwater habitats. It swims rapidly in circles on ...

Coleoptera

Agabus Arctic Diving Beetle

Agabus arcticus

A cold-adapted diving beetle found in northern and alpine regions across the Holarctic. It thrives in frigid mountain st...

Odonata

Aldabra Giant Dragonfly

Hemianax ephippiger

A powerful migratory dragonfly found on Aldabra Atoll and across the Indian Ocean region. It undertakes long-distance fl...

Mantodea

Algerian Desert Mantis

Eremiaphila denticornis

A robust desert mantis with toothed antennae found in the rocky deserts of Algeria. It is among the larger species in th...

Protura

Alpine Acerentomid

Acerentomon alpestre

A minute proturan found in alpine and subalpine forest soils in the European mountains. It tolerates cold conditions at ...

Collembola

Alpine Cave Springtail

Onychiuroides alpinus

A recently described blind springtail from caves in the Italian Alps. It lacks eyes, pigment, and a jumping furca....

Orthoptera

Alpine Long-horned Grasshopper

Anonconotus alpinus

A small, flightless bush-cricket of high alpine meadows. Its green and brown coloring provides camouflage among mountain...

Coleoptera

Amazonian Ground Beetle

Agra sasquatch

A slender, elongated carabid beetle with an unusually hairy body for its genus. It was described from tropical lowland f...

Blattodea

American Cockroach

Periplaneta americana

Despite its name, native to Africa. One of the largest common cockroaches. Can run at 5.4 km/h — proportionally, one of ...

Trichoptera

American Grannom

Brachycentrus americanus

A case-building caddisfly whose larvae attach their cases to rocks in fast current and filter-feed. Cases are chimney-sh...

Odonata

American Rubyspot

Hetaerina americana

A graceful damselfly with brilliant ruby-red patches at the base of the wings in males. Its metallic red-bronze body gle...

Ephemeroptera

American Sand Mayfly

Dolania americana

Holds the record for the shortest adult lifespan of any insect — females live less than five minutes as adults, just lon...

Hymenoptera

American Slave-Maker Ant

Polyergus lucidus

A North American slave-making ant that conducts well-organized raids on Formica colonies. New queens infiltrate host col...

Orthoptera

Andean Giant Weta Relative

Cratomelus armatus

A large, heavily built cricket relative found in Andean forests and grasslands. It has a robust body, strong legs, and l...

Coleoptera

Ant-Nest Rove Beetle

Atemeles emarginatus

A small, amber-brown rove beetle that parasitizes two different ant species during its life cycle. Larvae develop in For...

Blattodea

Apicotermes Nest-builder

Apicotermes arquieri

A subterranean soil-feeding termite found in African forests, renowned for building the most architecturally complex nes...

Lepidoptera

Apollo Butterfly

Parnassius apollo

A large white butterfly with translucent wings bearing red and black eyespots, found on mountain slopes. It is one of Eu...

Trichoptera

Apple Caddis

Brachycentrus appalachia

A caddisfly of Appalachian streams that builds tapered square cases from plant material. Larvae orient their cases facin...

Diptera

Aquatic Crane Fly

Antocha saxicola

A small crane fly whose larvae build silken cases on submerged rocks in fast-flowing streams. Larvae are true aquatic in...

Orthoptera

Arabian Desert Grasshopper

Sphingonotus rubescens

A small, sandy-colored band-winged grasshopper found across North Africa and the Middle East. Its blue hindwings are vis...

Trichoptera

Arctic Caddisfly

Apatania zonella

A small, hairy-winged caddisfly with dark brown wings held tent-like over the body. Larvae build portable cases from san...

Lepidoptera

Arctic Grayling

Oeneis bore

A pale grayish-brown butterfly with a translucent, papery wing quality and subtle darker striations. Its cryptic appeara...

Ephemeroptera

Arctic Mayfly

Baetis bundyae

A small, delicate mayfly with transparent wings and two long tail filaments. Nymphs are agile swimmers in cold Arctic st...

Collembola

Arctic Springtail

Megaphorura arctica

A white, eyeless springtail that lives in soil and under stones in the High Arctic. It lacks a furcula and cannot jump. ...

Lepidoptera

Arctic Tussock Moth

Dicallomera fascelina

A medium-sized moth with pale grayish-white wings in males and larger, more robust females. The caterpillar is strikingl...

Lepidoptera

Arctic Woolly Bear Moth

Gynaephora groenlandica

A medium-sized moth whose caterpillar is famous for its extremely long development. Adults are gray-brown with hairy bod...

Hymenoptera

Argentine Ant

Linepithema humile

Forms massive supercolonies spanning thousands of kilometers. One supercolony stretches 6,000 km along the Mediterranean...

Mantodea

Arizona Unicorn Mantis

Pseudovates arizonae

A bark-mimicking mantis found in desert scrublands of the American Southwest. A small horn on its head gives it its comm...

Orthoptera

Armoured Ground Cricket

Acanthoplus longipes

A robust flightless katydid covered in sharp spines across its thorax and legs. It is an omnivorous insect found in arid...

Hymenoptera

Army Ant

Eciton burchellii

Nomadic ants that do not build permanent nests. Raids of up to 200,000 workers sweep through the forest floor consuming ...

Coleoptera

Army Ant Rove Beetle

Ecitomorpha arachnoides

An extraordinary myrmecophilous rove beetle whose body remarkably mimics the shape of its host army ants. It lives exclu...

Odonata

Arrowhead Spiketail

Cordulegaster obliqua

A large spiketail dragonfly with arrowhead-shaped yellow markings along its dark abdomen. It is found along seepage-fed ...

Hymenoptera

Asian Army Ant

Aenictus laeviceps

A small, pale yellow army ant widespread across tropical Asia. Colonies raid nests of other ants and termites in organiz...

Odonata

Asian Clubtail

Asiagomphus melaenops

A medium-sized clubtail dragonfly found in clean streams across East Asia. Males have distinctive yellow and black body ...

Blattodea

Asian Cockroach

Blattella asahinai

Nearly identical in appearance to the German cockroach but with very different behavior, as it lives outdoors and is str...

Coleoptera

Asian Lady Beetle (Harlequin)

Harmonia yedoensis

A large ladybug native to Japan, closely related to the invasive Asian lady beetle. Found in forest canopies where it fe...

Hymenoptera

Asian Marauder Army Ant

Dorylus laevigatus

A subterranean army ant of Southeast Asian forests that raids termite nests through underground tunnels. It is one of th...

Coleoptera

Asian Multicolored Lady Beetle

Harmonia axyridis

A highly variable ladybird ranging from orange with many spots to solid black. Originally released for biocontrol, it is...

Hymenoptera

Asian Needle Ant

Brachyponera chinensis

An invasive East Asian ant spreading through the southeastern US. Its sting causes anaphylaxis more frequently than nati...

Hymenoptera

Asian Proceratium

Proceratium japonicum

A small cryptic ant found in Japanese and East Asian forests with the characteristic forward-curving gaster. It is rarel...

Lepidoptera

Asiatic Rice Borer

Chilo suppressalis

A major pest of rice across Asia, where larvae bore into tillers and stems. Heavy infestations cause whiteheads and sign...

Diplura

Aspinose Campodeid

Metriocampa aspinosa

A soil-dwelling dipluran lacking the typical dorsal spines found in related species. It inhabits deep soil layers in tem...

Neuroptera

Australian Antlion

Myrmeleon acer

A medium-sized antlion common in sandy habitats across Australia. Its larvae construct classic conical pit traps in shel...

Coleoptera

Australian Diving Beetle

Cybister godeffroyi

A large olive-green diving beetle found in freshwater habitats across Australia. It is one of the most commonly encounte...

Coleoptera

Australian Tiger Beetle

Cicindela hudsoni

The fastest running insect on Earth, clocked at 2.5 meters per second (9 km/h). At 125 body lengths per second, it moves...

Mantophasmatodea

Austrophasma caledonense

Austrophasma caledonense

A heelwalker from the Caledon district of South Africa. Females are larger than males and deposit eggs in sandy soil whe...

Odonata

Balkan Goldenring

Cordulegaster heros

The largest dragonfly in Europe, reaching nearly 100 mm in length. It is restricted to clean forest streams in southeast...

Hymenoptera

Balsam Fir Sawfly

Neodiprion abietis

A boreal sawfly whose dark green larvae with lighter stripes feed on balsam fir needles. Periodic outbreaks can cause si...

Mantodea

Banded Flower Mantis

Theopropus elegans

A striking Southeast Asian mantis with bands of green, white, and dark markings across its body. It rests among flowers ...

Odonata

Banded Groundling

Brachythemis leucosticta

A small, dark African dragonfly with distinctive banded wings. Males develop a pruinose black body while females retain ...

Coleoptera

Barbados Cane Weevil

Metamasius hemipterus

A large weevil with variable striped patterns, originally from the Caribbean. It is a significant pest of sugarcane and ...

Lepidoptera

Barred Red Moth

Hylaea fasciaria

A reddish-brown moth with a broad darker band across the forewings. It is closely associated with coniferous forests thr...

Dermaptera

Bat Earwig

Arixenia esau

A remarkable wingless earwig that lives exclusively in bat caves, clinging to the bodies and roosting areas of naked bul...

Lepidoptera

Bath White

Pontia daplidice

A white butterfly with bold green marbling on the underside of its hindwings. It is a rare migrant to northern Europe, a...

Diptera

Bazaar Fly

Musca sorbens

A tropical fly that feeds on eye and wound secretions, spreading trachoma. It is a major public health concern in develo...

Hymenoptera

Bean Aphid Parasite

Lysiphlebus fabarum

A minute braconid wasp that parasitizes black bean aphids and related species. Some populations reproduce asexually, con...

Mantodea

Bearded Stick Mantis

Toxodera beieri

A rare stick mantis from Borneo with small lobes along its body resembling bark fragments. It was named after the famous...

Lepidoptera

Beautiful Snout

Hypena crassalis

A moth with long palps forming a snout-like projection and warm purple-brown wings crossed by pale lines. It is associat...

Hemiptera

Belostoma Giant Water Bug

Belostoma flumineum

A medium-sized, oval giant water bug found across North America. Males carry eggs cemented to their backs by females unt...

Coleoptera

Benderman's Cave Beetle

Pseudanophthalmus bendermani

A tiny blind ground beetle restricted to a single cave system in Virginia. It is federally listed as endangered in the U...

Coleoptera

Big Dipper Firefly

Photinus consimilis

A common North American firefly that produces a slow, arching flash resembling the Big Dipper constellation pattern. It ...

Coleoptera

Big Sand Tiger Beetle

Cicindela formosa

A large and colorful tiger beetle found in sandy habitats across North America. Its color varies from bright red to dark...

Lepidoptera

Black Arches

Lymantria monacha

A striking moth with white wings boldly marked with black zigzag lines and a pink-flushed abdomen. It can occasionally e...

Coleoptera

Black Carpet Beetle

Attagenus unicolor

A small, oval, dark brown to black beetle that is a major pest of textiles and natural fibers. Larvae are covered in lon...

Coleoptera

Black Cocktail-Ant Rove Beetle

Lomechusa pubicollis

A myrmecophilous rove beetle that lives inside ant nests. It secretes chemicals that trick ants into feeding and caring ...

Hemiptera

Black Corsair

Melanolestes picipes

A shiny black, robust assassin bug found across North America. It is nocturnal and commonly attracted to lights near bui...

Coleoptera

Black Forest Ground Beetle

Pterostichus niger

A large jet-black ground beetle common in European forests and damp woodlands. It is one of the largest Pterostichus spe...

Hymenoptera

Black Garden Ant

Lasius niger

The most common ant in Europe, dark brown to black with a slightly pubescent body. Colonies are monogynous and can persi...

Ephemeroptera

Black Mayfly

Ephemera danica var. nigra

A dark color variant of the common Green Drake mayfly found in some European populations. The dark form is more prevalen...

Blattodea

Black Mound Termite

Amitermes evuncifer

A soil-feeding termite that builds small dark mounds in West African savannas. Workers process soil organic matter and p...

Odonata

Black Saddlebags

Tramea lacerata

A large migratory dragonfly with conspicuous black patches at the base of its hindwings. It flies for extended periods a...

Trichoptera

Black Sedge

Silo nigricornis

A caddisfly whose larvae build heavy cases from sand grains cemented with silk. Found in clean, stony streams. Cases hav...

Diptera

Black Soldier Fly

Hermetia illucens

A large, wasp-like fly with a shiny black body and translucent areas on the abdomen. Its larvae are extraordinarily effi...

Odonata

Black-shouldered Spinyleg

Dromogomphus spinosus

A large, elegant clubtail with distinctive spiny hind legs and black shoulder stripes. It perches conspicuously on rocks...

Odonata

Black-tailed Skimmer

Orthetrum cancellatum

A robust dragonfly with a powder-blue abdomen tipped with black in mature males. It basks flat on bare ground and gravel...

Odonata

Blackburn's Damselfly

Megalagrion blackburni

A Hawaiian endemic damselfly historically found on multiple islands but now restricted to a few locations. It breeds in ...

Coleoptera

Blind Cave Leiodid Beetle

Glacicavicola bathyscioides

A tiny eyeless beetle found in ice caves of the western United States. It survives in near-freezing temperatures on cave...

Lepidoptera

Blinded Sphinx Moth

Paonias excaecata

A bark-patterned hawk moth with brown forewings and blue hindwing eyespots that lack the central pupil found in related ...

Coleoptera

Blister Beetle

Epicauta vittata

A striped black and yellow beetle that releases cantharidin, a chemical causing painful skin blisters. It is a pest of t...

Lepidoptera

Blood-vein Moth

Timandra comae

A delicate pinkish-cream moth with a distinctive reddish-pink diagonal line crossing each wing. It rests with wings spre...

Coleoptera

Bloody-Nosed Beetle

Timarcha tenebricosa

A large, flightless, domed black beetle that oozes red fluid from its mouth when threatened. The secretion contains dist...

Coleoptera

Blue Ghost Firefly

Phausis reticulata

A firefly producing a steady pale blue-white glow rather than flashing. Females are larviform and wingless, glowing soft...

Lepidoptera

Blue Metalmark

Lasaia sula

A tiny butterfly with vivid metallic blue upper wings that flash brilliantly in sunlight. It perches on rocks and gravel...

Odonata

Blue-fronted Dancer

Argia apicalis

A robust damselfly with vivid blue coloring found in eastern North America. It prefers streams and rivers rather than st...

Ephemeroptera

Blue-Winged Olive

Baetis tricaudatus

A small olive-colored mayfly with distinctive bluish-gray wings, abundant in clean streams across North America. It prod...

Ephemeroptera

Blue-winged Olive Mayfly

Serratella ignita

A common mayfly of clean rivers and streams with distinctive blue-grey wings. One of the most important mayflies for fly...

Orthoptera

Bog Bush-cricket

Metrioptera brachyptera

A dark-colored bush-cricket with short wings and pale lateral stripes on the pronotum. It favors wet heathlands and bogs...

Mantodea

Bolivian Dead Leaf Mantis

Acanthops boliviana

A dead leaf mantis from Bolivia's Yungas forests with exceptionally convincing leaf mimicry. Its wings show veins and sp...

Coleoptera

Bombardier Beetle

Brachinus crepitans

Defends itself with a boiling-hot chemical spray ejected from its abdomen at over 100°C. The reaction involves mixing hy...

Orthoptera

Bombay Locust

Nomadacris succincta

A large yellow and brown locust that can form swarms in South and Southeast Asia. Solitary adults are pale brown but gre...

Coleoptera

Bordered Great Diving Beetle

Dytiscus circumflexus

A large British diving beetle similar to D. marginalis but with expanded yellow margins. It prefers larger, more permane...

Lepidoptera

Bordered White

Bupalus piniaria

A sexually dimorphic moth where males are white with brown borders and females are orange-brown. It is one of the most i...

Coleoptera

Borneo Pulsing Firefly

Pteroptyx tener

A synchronous firefly of Southeast Asian mangroves that produces green flashes in unison with thousands of others. Massi...

Coleoptera

Botany Bay Diamond Weevil

Chrysolopus spectabilis

A large weevil covered in brilliant pale green scales with black diamond-shaped patches. It was one of the first Austral...

Zoraptera

Brazilian Angel Insect

Zorotypus brasiliensis

A zorapteran from the Atlantic Forest region of Brazil. It forms colonies of up to 120 individuals under the bark of fal...

Neuroptera

Brazilian Antlion

Myrmeleon brasiliensis

A common South American antlion found in sandy cerrado and caatinga habitats. Its larval pit traps dot the sandy floors ...

Archaeognatha

Brazilian Meinertellid

Machilinus rupestris

A bristletail found in rocky habitats in the Mediterranean. It is smaller than most machilids and frequents dry, warm en...

Coleoptera

Brazilian Railroad Worm

Phrixothrix viviani

A tropical glowworm beetle with the remarkable ability to produce both green lateral lights and a red cephalic light. Th...

Lepidoptera

Brimstone Moth

Opisthograptis luteolata

A bright yellow moth with chestnut-brown blotches along the leading edge of each wing. It is a common and cheerful visit...

Odonata

Broad-bodied Chaser

Libellula depressa

A stocky dragonfly with a distinctly flattened, broad abdomen that is powder-blue in males and golden-brown in females. ...

Coleoptera

Broad-shouldered Diving Beetle

Dytiscus latissimus

The largest European diving beetle and one of the largest aquatic beetles in the world. It inhabits clean, fish-poor lak...

Hemiptera

Broad-Shouldered Water Strider

Microvelia americana

A tiny water strider relative that walks on the surface of ponds and puddles. It is widespread across the Americas on st...

Blattodea

Brown Cockroach

Periplaneta brunnea

A glossy reddish-brown cockroach often confused with the American cockroach. It is slightly smaller with a more uniform ...

Ephemeroptera

Brown Drake Mayfly

Ephemera simulans

A large brownish mayfly with mottled wings that produces dramatic evening hatches on trout streams. Nymphs burrow in san...

Lepidoptera

Brown Hairstreak

Thecla betulae

A secretive butterfly with rich brown wings and an orange flash on the female's forewings. Adults spend most of their ti...

Odonata

Brown Hawker

Aeshna grandis

A large dragonfly entirely brown with amber-tinted wings, unique among European hawkers. Its warm brown coloring makes i...

Orthoptera

Brown Locust

Locustana pardalina

A medium-sized brown locust endemic to southern Africa that periodically swarms in the Karoo region. Nymphs are known as...

Blattodea

Brown-Banded Cockroach

Supella longipalpa

A small cockroach with two distinctive light brown bands across its wings and abdomen. Unlike most cockroach pests, it p...

Ephemeroptera

Brushleg Mayfly

Isonychia bicolor

A large, fast-swimming mayfly with forelegs fringed with bristles for filter feeding. Nymphs inhabit swift riffles of la...

Lepidoptera

Buck Moth

Hemileuca maia

A day-flying black and white moth with a red-tipped abdomen that appears in autumn. Its spiny caterpillar delivers a pai...

Lepidoptera

Buff Arches

Habrosyne pyritoides

A moth with intricate grey, white, and buff patterns creating a complex marbled effect on its forewings. It is closely r...

Mantodea

Burmese Flower Mantis

Creobroter urbanus

A small, adaptable flower mantis found in Myanmar and neighboring regions. It is one of the few Creobroter species that ...

Ephemeroptera

Burrowing Mayfly

Hexagenia limbata

Creates massive synchronized emergences so dense they appear on weather radar. Billions emerge simultaneously from lake ...

Odonata

Bush Giant Dragonfly

Uropetala carovei

New Zealand's largest dragonfly and one of the most ancient dragonfly lineages in the world. Its larvae live in burrows ...

Lepidoptera

Cabbage Looper

Trichoplusia ni

A pale green caterpillar that moves in a distinctive looping motion and feeds on brassica crops. The adult moth has a si...

Lepidoptera

Cabbage Tree Emperor Moth

Bunaea alcinoe

A large emperor moth with reddish-brown wings bearing prominent eyespots. Larvae are gregarious and covered in branching...

Lepidoptera

Cactoblastis Moth

Cactoblastis cactorum

Originally from South America, this moth was introduced to Australia in 1926 as a biological control agent against invas...

Lepidoptera

Calleta Silk Moth

Eupackardia calleta

A dark brown silk moth with striking white crescent markings and a broad white postmedial band on each wing. It is nativ...

Odonata

Canada Darner

Aeshna canadensis

A common large darner of northeastern North America with blue and green markings. Its notched thoracic stripes help dist...

Diplura

Canary Islands Dipluran

Plusiocampa solenla

A cave-adapted dipluran endemic to volcanic caves in the Canary Islands. It has elongated appendages and depigmented bod...

Lepidoptera

Canary-shouldered Thorn

Ennomos alniaria

An autumn moth with bright canary-yellow fur on its thorax and warm orange-yellow wings. When at rest with wings raised,...

Diptera

Caribou Bot Fly

Cephenemyia jellisoni

A robust, furry fly that parasitizes caribou and deer in North America. Like its Eurasian relative, it deposits larvae n...

Coleoptera

Carolina Metallic Tiger Beetle

Tetracha carolina

A large nocturnal tiger beetle with dark metallic green elytra and a bright green thorax. It is most active on warm summ...

Grylloblattodea

Cascade Ice Crawler

Grylloblatta chirurgica

A North American ice crawler found in the Cascade Range of Washington and Oregon. It lives in volcanic talus slopes near...

Grylloblattodea

Cascade Rock Crawler

Grylloblatta sculleni

A rare, eyeless rock crawler found in lava tube caves in the Cascade Range. It is adapted to permanent darkness and cold...

Lepidoptera

Casemaking Clothes Moth

Tinea pellionella

A small silvery-brown moth whose larva constructs a portable silken case that it drags along as it feeds. It is a signif...

Mantodea

Cat-Eye Mantis

Pseudempusa pinnapavonis

A rare Southeast Asian mantis with striking peacock-like eyespots on its inner forearms. It uses these markings in drama...

Phthiraptera

Cattle Biting Louse

Bovicola bovis

A chewing louse that infests cattle worldwide, causing irritation and economic losses in livestock. Infestations worsen ...

Zoraptera

Ceylon Angel Insect

Zorotypus ceylonicus

An Asian zorapteran discovered in Sri Lanka inhabiting rotting wood in humid forests. Wingless individuals lack eyes and...

Diptera

Cheese Skipper

Piophila casei

A small fly whose larvae infest stored cheese, cured meats, and other protein-rich foods. Larvae can leap up to 15 cm by...

Lepidoptera

Chequered Skipper

Carterocephalus palaemon

A small dark butterfly with bold orange-yellow chequered spots, once found in English woodlands but now confined to west...

Neuroptera

Chilean Green Lacewing

Chrysoperla externa

The most common green lacewing in South America with a broad distribution. Extensively used for biological control in Br...

Neuroptera

Chinese Antlion

Euroleon sinicus

An East Asian antlion found in sandy habitats across China and neighboring countries. Its larvae construct pit traps in ...

Coleoptera

Chinese Aquatic Firefly

Aquatica ficta

A firefly with fully aquatic larvae found in streams across southern China. It was the first species placed in the genus...

Lepidoptera

Chinese Character Moth

Cilix glaucata

A tiny moth whose resting posture perfectly mimics a bird dropping on a leaf. Its white wings bear a central brown blotc...

Megaloptera

Chinese Dobsonfly

Neoneuromus ignobilis

A large dark-colored dobsonfly found in streams across China and Southeast Asia. It is less well known than its North Am...

Coleoptera

Chinese Firefly

Pyrocoelia rufa

A large Asian firefly with a bright orange-red thorax and powerful bioluminescent glow. It is commonly seen near streams...

Coleoptera

Chinese Giant Tiger Beetle

Chaetodera laetescripta

A large tiger beetle from subtropical China with elaborate cream-colored markings on dark elytra. It inhabits riverbanks...

Coleoptera

Chinese Ground Beetle

Carabus lafossei

A striking ground beetle with deeply sculpted elytra and purple-bronze colouring. It inhabits mountainous forests of sou...

Lepidoptera

Chinese Moon Moth

Actias dubernardi

A rare and exquisitely beautiful moon moth with pink-tinged green wings and extraordinarily long, curling hindwing tails...

Lepidoptera

Chinese Oak Silk Moth

Antheraea pernyi

A large tawny-brown silk moth with prominent translucent eyespots on each wing. It has been cultivated for thousands of ...

Coleoptera

Chinese Water Penny Beetle

Eubrianax pellucidus

A water penny beetle found in southern China whose translucent larval margins allow gas exchange with the water. Adults ...

Lepidoptera

Chocolate-tip Moth

Clostera curtula

A small greyish moth with a rich chocolate-brown patch at the tip of each forewing. It rests with its wings wrapped tigh...

Diptera

Christmas Island Blue Crab Fly

Paramyia nitens

A tiny fly found on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean associated with red crab migrations. It lays eggs on injured or...

Coleoptera

Churchyard Beetle

Blaps mucronata

A large, slow-moving, flightless black beetle often found in cellars and old buildings. It emits a foul odor when distur...

Coleoptera

Cigarette Beetle

Lasioderma serricorne

A tiny, reddish-brown beetle that infests stored tobacco, spices, and dried foods. It is one of the most widespread stor...

Lepidoptera

Cinnabar Moth

Tyria jacobaeae

A day-flying moth with charcoal-black wings marked with crimson-red stripes and spots. It has been deliberately introduc...

Coleoptera

Clavigerite Ant Beetle

Claviger testaceus

A tiny, blind, wingless rove beetle that is an obligate guest of Lasius ant colonies. It has lost its eyes and developed...

Odonata

Cobra Clubtail

Gomphus vastus

A large North American clubtail with a dramatically flared abdomen tip and bold yellow markings. It patrols large rivers...

Hymenoptera

Coconut Ant

Tapinoma melanocephalum

A tiny bicolored ant with a dark head and pale translucent body, also called the ghost ant. It is a major household pest...

Coleoptera

Coffee Berry Borer

Hypothenemus hampei

A tiny, dark brown beetle that bores into coffee berries and is the most damaging pest of coffee worldwide. Females tunn...

Diptera

Coffin Fly

Conicera tibialis

A tiny humpbacked fly capable of burrowing through soil to reach buried remains. It is of forensic importance as it can ...

Lepidoptera

Columbia Silk Moth

Hyalophora columbia

A large reddish-brown silk moth closely related to the cecropia moth but found in northern bog habitats. Its cocoon is s...

Coleoptera

Colymbetes Diving Beetle

Colymbetes fuscus

A medium-sized diving beetle with finely lined yellowish-brown elytra found across Europe. It inhabits a wide range of s...

Protura

Common Acerentomid

Acerentomon doderoi

A tiny eyeless proturan found in forest soils across Europe. It walks on only four legs, holding its forelegs forward as...

Odonata

Common Blue Damselfly

Enallagma cyathigerum

One of the most widespread damselflies. Males are sky blue with black markings. Forms mating wheels — a unique heart-sha...

Odonata

Common Bluetail

Ischnura elegans

A small damselfly with a distinctive blue tail-light on segment eight of the abdomen. Females occur in multiple color fo...

Neuroptera

Common Brown Lacewing

Hemerobius humulinus

A small brownish lacewing with mottled wings commonly found on deciduous trees. Adults and larvae both feed on aphids an...

Lepidoptera

Common Carpet Moth

Epirrhoe alternata

A small moth with distinctive dark and light banded forewings creating a chequered pattern. It is double-brooded and fli...

Odonata

Common Darter

Sympetrum striolatum

Europe's most abundant dragonfly, with mature males turning bright orange-red. It is often the last dragonfly flying in ...

Dermaptera

Common Earwig

Forficula auricularia

Nocturnal omnivore with distinctive forceps-shaped cerci. One of the few non-social insects to show maternal care — fema...

Lepidoptera

Common Footman Moth

Eilema lurideola

A narrow-winged grey moth with a distinctive yellow-orange leading edge on the forewing. It rests with wings wrapped tig...

Orthoptera

Common Green Grasshopper

Omocestus viridulus

A small grasshopper varying from bright green to brown with a characteristic buzzing song that accelerates to a crescend...

Odonata

Common Hawker

Aeshna juncea

A large, dark brown hawker dragonfly with blue and yellow spots. It favors upland and moorland habitats across the North...

Diptera

Common House Fly

Musca domestica

One of the most widely distributed insects on Earth. Can taste with their feet, which have chemoreceptors. Capable of ra...

Archaeognatha

Common Jumping Bristletail

Petrobius maritimus

A coastal bristletail found on rocky shores throughout Europe. It has a distinctive arched body shape and large compound...

Zygentoma

Common Silverfish

Lepisma saccharina

The most well-known silverfish species, found in homes and buildings worldwide. It has a silvery, torpedo-shaped body co...

Coleoptera

Common Spotted Ladybird

Harmonia conformis

Australia's most common native ladybird, with a variable orange body covered in numerous black spots. It is an important...

Lepidoptera

Common Wainscot Moth

Mythimna pallens

A plain straw-colored moth with a white hindwing and few distinguishing marks. It is abundant in grasslands and regularl...

Coleoptera

Common Water Penny

Psephenus herricki

A small aquatic beetle whose larvae are flattened and round like a copper penny, clinging to rocks in fast streams. Adul...

Hemiptera

Common Water Strider

Aquarius remigis

A slender dark brown insect that skates across the surface of streams and ponds using water surface tension. Its long mi...

Diptera

Comstock's Net-Winged Midge

Agathon comstocki

A western North American net-winged midge found on waterfall-splashed rocks. Larvae have a unique caterpillar-like body ...

Orthoptera

Cone-Head Katydid

Copiphora rhinoceros

A Neotropical katydid with a long horn-like projection from its head. It is an omnivorous species active at night in tro...

Protura

Conehead Proturan

Acerentomon microrhinus

A minute proturan with a characteristically pointed head capsule found in European soils. It lacks antennae, using its f...

Odonata

Congo Basin Dragonfly

Palpopleura lucia

A small but strikingly colored dragonfly with a broad, flattened abdomen. Males are bright blue with black wing markings...

Lepidoptera

Congo Moth

Dactyloceras lucina

A large brown emperor moth with distinctive serrated wing margins and large eyespots. Males have broadly feathered anten...

Coleoptera

Convergent Lady Beetle

Hippodamia convergens

A North American ladybird with orange-red elytra and up to 13 black spots. It is the most commonly sold ladybird for bio...

Hemiptera

Corsair Assassin Bug

Rasahus hamatus

A nocturnal assassin bug found across the Americas that is attracted to lights. Its painful bite is often mistaken for a...

Lepidoptera

Corsican Swallowtail

Papilio hospiton

A large swallowtail endemic to the Mediterranean islands of Corsica and Sardinia with heavily patterned black and yellow...

Mantodea

Costa Rican Dead Leaf Mantis

Acanthops centralis

The only Acanthops species found in Central America, extending the genus's range northward. It inhabits lowland wet fore...

Lepidoptera

Coxcomb Prominent Moth

Ptilodon capucina

A variably colored prominent moth ranging from pale brown to deep chestnut. A raised crest of scales on the forewing tra...

Coleoptera

Cream-Streaked Ladybird

Harmonia quadripunctata

A European ladybird associated primarily with conifer trees. It has cream or pale yellow elytra with variable dark marki...

Coleoptera

Crimson Saltflat Tiger Beetle

Cicindela theatina

A rare tiger beetle endemic to the salt flats of southern Colorado. It has a distinctive dark reddish-brown coloration w...

Lepidoptera

Cuban Pygmy Blue Butterfly

Brephidium exilis thompsoni

One of the smallest butterflies in the world, found in Cuba and the Caribbean. Its wingspan barely exceeds 15 mm....

Orthoptera

Cumberland Plateau Cave Cricket

Hadenoecus cumberlandicus

A cave cricket restricted to caves in the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee and Kentucky. It has smaller eyes than surface...

Lepidoptera

Currant Clearwing

Synanthedon tipuliformis

A small wasp-mimicking moth with transparent wings and a black body banded with yellow. Its larvae bore into the stems o...

Hymenoptera

Currant Stem Girdler

Janus integer

A slender black stem sawfly that attacks currant and gooseberry bushes. Females girdle the stem tips with their oviposit...

Lepidoptera

Cynthia Moth

Samia cynthia

An olive and brown silk moth with distinctive white crescent marks and lilac shading on the wing margins. Originally fro...

Neuroptera

Dalmatian Spongillafly

Sisyra dalii

A rare spongillafly described from the eastern Mediterranean region. Associated with clean freshwater habitats harboring...

Orthoptera

Dark Bush-cricket

Pholidoptera griseoaptera

A robust dark brown bush-cricket with vestigial wings. It is common in hedgerows and woodland edges across Europe. Males...

Hymenoptera

Dark Rover Ant

Brachymyrmex patagonicus

A tiny dark brown ant that has rapidly spread across the southern United States as an invasive species. It is attracted ...

Neuroptera

Dark Spongillafly

Sisyra nigra

A small blackish lacewing found near European freshwater habitats. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to lights near wat...

Mantodea

Dead Leaf Mantis

Deroplatys desiccata

Extraordinary camouflage that makes it look exactly like a dried, curled leaf — complete with brown coloring, leaf veins...

Odonata

Delta-spotted Spiketail

Cordulegaster diastatops

A large spiketail of eastern North America with distinctive triangular yellow spots along its dark abdomen. It patrols f...

Coleoptera

Dermestid Beetle

Dermestes maculatus

A small dark beetle with white undersides used by museums and taxidermists to clean skeletons. Larvae are covered in bri...

Odonata

Desert Firetail Damselfly

Telebasis salva

A bright red damselfly found at ponds and streams in the arid American Southwest. Males are vivid crimson while females ...

Hymenoptera

Desert Navigator Ant

Cataglyphis fortis

A heat-tolerant Saharan ant famous for its extraordinary navigation abilities. It uses a built-in pedometer and polarize...

Coleoptera

Desert Sand Beetle

Erodius carinatus

A small, round, heavily armored darkling beetle of North African sandy deserts. It burrows into sand during the hottest ...

Odonata

Desert Threadtail Damselfly

Protoneuridae sp.

A tiny, thread-thin damselfly found near desert springs and oases. It has one of the most restricted habitats of any dra...

Coleoptera

Devil's Coach Horse

Ocypus olens

A large, matt-black rove beetle that raises its tail like a scorpion when threatened. It has powerful jaws and emits a f...

Mantodea

Devils Flower Mantis

Idolomantis diabolica

One of the largest and most spectacular flower mantises. When threatened, it produces a dramatic deimatic display, sprea...

Neuroptera

Dicromantispa Mantidfly

Dicromantispa sayi

A brown mantidfly found across eastern North America in forested habitats. Named after the eminent entomologist Thomas S...

Coleoptera

Dinaric Cave Diving Beetle

Spelaeodytes mirabilis

A remarkable cave ground beetle from the Dinaric karst, with spider-like elongated legs. It was first collected in Herze...

Lepidoptera

Dingy Arctic Fritillary

Boloria improba

One of the smallest Arctic fritillaries with dull orange-brown wings and dark markings. The underside is mottled brown a...

Lepidoptera

Dingy Skipper

Erynnis tages

A small, moth-like butterfly with mottled grey-brown wings that rests with wings spread flat. It is easily overlooked du...

Hymenoptera

Dinosaur Ant

Nothomyrmecia macrops

Considered the most primitive living ant, often called a living fossil. Discovered in 1931 and then lost for 46 years un...

Hymenoptera

Discothyrea Ant

Discothyrea testacea

An extremely small and rarely seen ant with only a single-segmented antennal club, unique among ants. It nests deep in s...

Neuroptera

Dobsonfly

Corydalus cornutus

Large insects with intimidating mandibles in males that are actually too large to bite effectively. Aquatic hellgrammite...

Phthiraptera

Dog Biting Louse

Trichodectes canis

A chewing louse that infests domestic dogs, feeding on skin debris and secretions. It can serve as an intermediate host ...

Lepidoptera

Douglas-fir Tussock Moth

Orgyia pseudotsugata

A defoliator of Douglas-fir and true firs in western North America. Outbreaks cause severe defoliation and tree mortalit...

Hymenoptera

Dracula Ant

Mystrium camillae

Has the fastest known animal movement — mandibles snap shut at 90 m/s (320 km/h), 5,000 times faster than a blink. Also ...

Lepidoptera

Dragon Swallowtail

Sericinus montela

A delicate white swallowtail with black veins and red spots, bearing long spatulate tails. It has a weak fluttering flig...

Coleoptera

Dry Fork Valley Cave Beetle

Pseudanophthalmus montanus

A cave-obligate beetle from the Dry Fork Valley region of West Virginia. Like all members of its genus, it is completely...

Blattodea

East African Snouted Termite

Trinervitermes bettonianus

A grass-feeding nasute termite common in East African grasslands and savannas, building small to medium earthen mounds. ...

Collembola

Easter Island Cave Springtail

Pseudosinella hahoteana

A cave-adapted springtail endemic to lava tubes on Easter Island (Rapa Nui). It is one of very few invertebrates endemic...

Odonata

Eastern Forktail

Ischnura verticalis

A small damselfly where males are green and black with a blue tail tip. Young females are bright orange but turn olive-g...

Hemiptera

Eastern Toe-biter

Benacus griseus

A very large, flattened brown water bug found in eastern North America. Males carry eggs on their backs until they hatch...

Trichoptera

Eastern Weighted Casemaker

Goera stylata

A caddisfly of clean European streams that builds mineral cases with large lateral ballast stones. Larvae scrape algae f...

Odonata

Ebony Jewelwing

Calopteryx maculata

A stunning damselfly with entirely jet-black wings (males) or smoky wings with white spots (females). Males perform a co...

Mantodea

Ecuadorian Dead Leaf Mantis

Acanthops elegans

An elegant dead leaf mantis from the western Amazon basin of Ecuador. It has refined leaf mimicry with smooth, curved wi...

Lepidoptera

Edwards' Atlas Moth

Attacus edwardsii

A massive Himalayan silk moth rivaling the atlas moth in size, with rich brown wings and large translucent fenestrae. It...

Mantodea

Egyptian Conehead Mantis

Empusa egena

A slender pale mantis found in arid regions of northeastern Africa and the Middle East. Its body coloring matches the dr...

Mantodea

Elegant Bark Mantis

Amorphoscelis elegans

A delicate bark mantis from West Africa with fine, elegant body proportions. It is one of the more gracefully built spec...

Coleoptera

Elongate Leaf Beetle

Oreina elongata

A slender metallic beetle that feeds on alpine dock and sorrel. It is found in moist mountain meadows throughout the Alp...

Blattodea

Emerald Cockroach

Pseudoglomeris magnifica

A stunning cockroach with brilliant metallic emerald-green coloring. It is one of the most beautiful cockroach species i...

Hymenoptera

Emerald Driver Ant

Dorylus emeryi

A medium-sized driver ant with dark brown to black coloration found in West African forests. Colonies conduct raiding pa...

Odonata

Emerald-spotted Flatwing Damselfly

Phaon iridipennis

A stunning damselfly with metallic green and blue body and broad, iridescent wings with emerald spots. Males display by ...

Odonata

Emperor Dragonfly

Anax imperator

One of the largest dragonflies in Europe. Powerful flier that patrols territories along waterways. Can fly at speeds up ...

Lepidoptera

Emperor Moth

Saturnia pavonia

Europe's only native member of the giant silk moth family, with prominent eyespots on all four wings. Males are colourfu...

Lepidoptera

Essex Skipper

Thymelicus lineola

A small orange-brown skipper so similar to the small skipper that it was not recognised as a separate British species un...

Diptera

European Cherry Fruit Fly

Rhagoletis cerasi

A small black fly with distinctive wing banding that infests sweet and sour cherries. Larvae feed inside cherries, causi...

Coleoptera

European Glowworm

Lampyris noctiluca

A well-known European firefly where only the wingless female produces a steady green glow. Males are winged but produce ...

Lepidoptera

European Grape Berry Moth

Eupoecilia ambiguella

A small cream-colored moth with a dark diagonal band across the forewings. It is one of the two most damaging moth pests...

Coleoptera

European Ground Beetle

Carabus nemoralis

A common bronze-colored ground beetle that thrives in forests and gardens across Europe. It has become established in No...

Diplura

European Japygid

Japyx solifugus

The type species of the family Japygidae, found in soils across southern Europe. It is one of the largest diplurans in E...

Hymenoptera

European Spruce Sawfly

Gilpinia hercyniae

A moderately sized sawfly with dark brown to black coloring and pectinate antennae in males. Larvae are green with white...

Hymenoptera

European Wheat Stem Sawfly

Cephus pygmeus

A stem-boring sawfly pest of wheat and other cereals throughout Europe and western Asia. It has also established in part...

Blattodea

Exploding Termite

Neocapritermes taracua

A soil-feeding termite from French Guiana known for workers that carry backpack-like pouches of toxic crystals. When att...

Coleoptera

Eyed Elater Glowworm

Phengodes fusciceps

A railroad worm beetle whose larviform females emit light from paired organs along the body. Males are short-lived, wing...

Diptera

Face Fly

Musca autumnalis

A non-biting muscid fly that feeds on secretions around the eyes and nose of cattle. It is a mechanical vector of the ca...

Lepidoptera

Fall Armyworm

Spodoptera frugiperda

A highly destructive migratory moth whose caterpillars can devastate entire corn and cereal fields in days. It has recen...

Mantodea

False Garden Mantis

Pseudomantis albofimbriata

A small green mantis native to Australia with white-fringed forewings. It is the most commonly encountered mantis specie...

Lepidoptera

False Ringlet

Coenonympha oedippus

A small, drab brown butterfly with a row of striking silver-centred eyespots on the hindwing underside. It is one of the...

Odonata

Familiar Bluet

Enallagma civile

One of the most common and widespread bluet damselflies in North America. Males are bright blue with black markings on t...

Hemiptera

Feather-Legged Assassin Bug

Ptilocnemus lemur

An Australian assassin bug with bizarre feathery hind legs used to lure ant prey. It waves its feathered legs near ant t...

Coleoptera

Fifteen-Spotted Lady Beetle

Anatis labiculata

One of the largest North American ladybirds with white or grey elytra bearing fifteen dark spots. It is a canopy-dwellin...

Lepidoptera

Figure of Eight Moth

Diloba caeruleocephala

Named for the figure-of-eight marking on its grey forewing, this autumn-flying moth is often found at ivy blossom. Its c...

Mantodea

Filigreed Stick Mantis

Toxodera fimbriata

A stick mantis from Southeast Asia with fringed edges along its thorax and legs. The fringes break up its body outline a...

Neuroptera

Fimble Brown Lacewing

Hemerobius fenestratus

A small brown lacewing with fenestrate wing markings found in boreal forests. Associated with spruce and birch in northe...

Trichoptera

Finger-net Caddisfly

Philopotamus montanus

A medium caddisfly with golden-brown wings. Larvae spin finger-shaped silken nets in fast-flowing water to capture ultra...

Blattodea

Firebrat

Thermobia domestica

A heat-loving relative of the silverfish that thrives at temperatures of 37-39C. Found near furnaces, boilers, and baker...

Hymenoptera

Florida Carpenter Ant

Camponotus floridanus

A bicolored carpenter ant with a reddish-orange head and thorax and black abdomen. It is the most common structural pest...

Coleoptera

Fluted Cape Stag Beetle

Colophon primosi

A small, flightless, dark brown stag beetle restricted to a single mountain in the Cape region of South Africa. Males ha...

Odonata

Flying Earwig Hawaiian Damselfly

Megalagrion nesiotes

An endemic Hawaiian damselfly found in wet forests, notable for breeding in water-filled leaf axils of native plants rat...

Orthoptera

Formidable Pygmy Grasshopper

Notocerus formidabilis

An extremely rare Madagascan grasshopper not observed since its original description in 1974. Its true coloration was on...

Lepidoptera

Four-spotted Footman Moth

Lithosia quadra

A large footman moth with strong sexual dimorphism; males are grey with two forewing spots, females yellow with four lar...

Blattodea

Freeze-Tolerant Cockroach

Periplaneta japonica

An invasive cockroach from Asia first found in New York City in 2012. Unlike other cockroach species, it can survive out...

Lepidoptera

Freija Fritillary

Boloria freija

A medium-small fritillary with bright orange wings bearing black zigzag markings. The hindwing underside features a dist...

Coleoptera

Frog-legged Leaf Beetle

Sagra femorata

A large, metallic beetle with spectacular iridescent coloring ranging from deep blue to green, red, and purple. Males po...

Hymenoptera

Fulvus Driver Ant

Dorylus fulvus

A predominantly subterranean driver ant species with yellowish-brown coloration. Unlike some congeners, it rarely forms ...

Mantodea

Gambian Conehead Mantis

Empusa guttula

A West African conehead mantis with spotted markings on its wings and body. It is found in savanna habitats where it per...

Mantodea

Garden Mantis

Orthodera ministralis

A small to medium-sized bright green praying mantis commonly found in Australian gardens. It has distinctive blue-purple...

Lepidoptera

Geranium Bronze

Cacyreus marshalli

A small dull brown butterfly with a distinctive white fringe and thin tail that has become a major pest of cultivated ge...

Blattodea

German Cockroach

Blattella germanica

The most common indoor cockroach worldwide. A single pair can produce over 300,000 offspring in one year. Has developed ...

Mantodea

Giant African Mantis

Sphodromantis gastrica

One of Africa's largest mantis species with a robust green or brown body. It can catch prey as large as small lizards an...

Lepidoptera

Giant Blue Swallowtail

Papilio zalmoxis

One of the largest and most spectacular butterflies in Africa, with a wingspan exceeding 150 mm. The wings are brilliant...

Hymenoptera

Giant Bull Ant

Myrmecia brevinoda

Among the largest bull ants in Australia, workers can exceed 30 mm in length. They are solitary foragers with remarkably...

Trichoptera

Giant Case-Builder Caddis

Phryganea bipunctata

A large caddisfly with spotted wings found in northern and central Europe. Larvae construct conspicuous helical cases fr...

Mantodea

Giant Devil's Flower Mantis

Idolomantis serrula

A close relative of the devil's flower mantis found in the dry forests of East Africa. It has serrated leg lobes that en...

Neuroptera

Giant Lacewing

Polystoechotes punctata

Once widespread across North America, it vanished from the eastern US by the 1950s. A single specimen was rediscovered i...

Coleoptera

Giant Ladybird

Anatis ocellata

The largest European ladybird, with orange elytra bearing black spots each encircled by a pale ring. It is a conifer spe...

Mantodea

Giant Malaysian Leaf Mantis

Deroplatys truncata

The largest dead leaf mantis species with a broad, flat body that mimics a curled brown leaf. Its enormous thoracic shie...

Diptera

Giant Net-Winged Midge

Bibiocephala grandis

The largest net-winged midge in North America, found in powerful western mountain torrents. Larvae have six robust sucti...

Coleoptera

Giant Pedunculate Ground Beetle

Anthia thoracica

A very large southern African ground beetle with bold white markings on a black body. It is one of the largest carabids ...

Odonata

Giant Petaltail Dragonfly

Petalura ingentissima

Australias largest dragonfly and one of the most primitive living species, belonging to a family dating back to the Jura...

Lepidoptera

Giant Silk Moth

Hyalophora euryalus

A large western North American silk moth with reddish-brown wings featuring bold white crescent markings and a red-and-w...

Hymenoptera

Giant Trap-jaw Ant

Odontomachus hastatus

One of the largest trap-jaw ant species, building arboreal carton nests in tropical forests. Its elongated mandibles are...

Hemiptera

Giant Water Strider

Gigantometra gigas

The largest water strider in the world, found in Southeast Asian streams. Its leg span can reach over 25 cm across the w...

Coleoptera

Glacier Beetle

Nebria castanea

A chestnut-brown ground beetle inhabiting the edges of glaciers and permanent snowfields. It feeds on wind-blown insects...

Odonata

Globe Skimmer

Pantala flavescens

Holds the record for the longest insect migration — crossing the Indian Ocean from India to East Africa, a journey of ov...

Lepidoptera

Glover's Silk Moth

Hyalophora columbia gloveri

A large silk moth from the western Rocky Mountain region with reddish-brown wings and white crescent-shaped spots. It is...

Coleoptera

Glowworm Beetle

Phengodes plumosa

A soft-bodied beetle whose larviform females glow with paired green lanterns along their body. Males are winged but do n...

Phthiraptera

Goat Biting Louse

Bovicola caprae

A chewing louse infesting domestic goats worldwide. It feeds on skin flakes and causes intense itching and coat damage....

Protura

Gracile Acerentomid

Acerentomon nemorale

A delicate proturan found in European deciduous forest soils, particularly in beech and oak stands. It requires consiste...

Coleoptera

Granulated Ground Beetle

Carabus granulatus

A widespread dark bronze ground beetle with distinctly ridged and granulated wing cases. It thrives in damp habitats nea...

Lepidoptera

Grass Webworm Moth

Herpetogramma licarsisalis

A small brownish moth with faint wavy lines across the forewings. Its larvae spin silk webs over grass and can cause ser...

Zygentoma

Gray Silverfish

Ctenolepisma longicaudatum

An invasive silverfish species spreading rapidly through northern Europe. It is larger and more uniformly gray than the ...

Lepidoptera

Great Banded Grayling

Brintesia circe

A large brown butterfly with a prominent white band across the hindwing underside, resembling a tree-trunk fragment. It ...

Trichoptera

Great Grey Sedge

Arctopsyche grandis

One of the largest net-spinning caddisflies in North America with a wingspan over 40 mm. Larvae build robust catch-nets ...

Lepidoptera

Green Carpet Moth

Colostygia pectinataria

A small moth with bright green forewings crossed by darker green bands. The green color fades to yellowish in older or w...

Diptera

Green Chironomid

Tanytarsus pallidicornis

A small greenish midge common in clean flowing water habitats. Larvae build portable silk tubes attached to stone surfac...

Ephemeroptera

Green Drake Mayfly

Ephemera guttulata

A large and strikingly beautiful mayfly with mottled wings that emerges in late spring. Its hatches on eastern North Ame...

Coleoptera

Green Lacewing Firefly

Photinus scintillans

A small firefly with a bright green flash and a dark body with yellowish pronotal borders. Males produce a brief twinkli...

Mantodea

Green Shield Mantis

Chlidonoptera lestoni

A flat-bodied mantis from West Africa with a wide, shield-shaped pronotum. Its flattened body helps it press tightly aga...

Lepidoptera

Green Silver-lines

Pseudoips prasinana

A vivid bright-green moth with three diagonal white or silver lines across each forewing. It is one of the most beautifu...

Odonata

Green-eyed Hooktail

Paragomphus genei

An African clubtail with bright green eyes and hooked male appendages. It is found along rivers and streams throughout s...

Odonata

Green-striped Darner

Aeshna verticalis

A large darner of eastern North America with prominent green thoracic stripes. It flies late in the season and is often ...

Orthoptera

Greenhouse Camel Cricket

Diestrammena asynamora

A humpbacked, wingless cricket with extremely long antennae and legs. It is light brown with dark mottling. Originally f...

Orthoptera

Greenhouse Stone Cricket

Tachycines asynamorus

A pale brown cave cricket with enormously long antennae and hind legs. It is wingless with a humped thorax. Originally f...

Lepidoptera

Grizzled Skipper

Pyrgus malvae

A tiny butterfly with dark brown wings chequered with white spots, resembling a small moth. It basks with wings spread f...

Odonata

Ground Skimmer

Diplacodes trivialis

A small dragonfly that becomes powder-blue with age in males. It is one of the most common dragonflies in tropical Asia....

Coleoptera

Guizhou Cave Ground Beetle

Sinaphaenops mirabilissimus

A spectacular cave beetle from southern China with enormously elongated head and appendages. It is one of the most extre...

Coleoptera

Hairy Whirligig Beetle

Orectochilus villosus

A nocturnal whirligig beetle covered in fine golden hairs that trap air underwater. Unlike other whirligigs it hides und...

Blattodea

Harlequin Cockroach

Neostylopyga rhombifolia

A strikingly patterned cockroach with dark brown and yellow markings on its body. It is a peridomestic species found in ...

Coleoptera

Harris's Diving Beetle

Dytiscus harrisii

A large North American diving beetle found in cold, clear lakes and bog ponds. It is one of the largest diving beetles o...

Araneae

Hawaiian Cave Spider

Adelocosa anops

A completely eyeless wolf spider found only in lava tube caves on Kauai. It is the first known blind wolf spider ever di...

Odonata

Hawaiian Damselfly

Megalagrion hawaiiense

An endemic Hawaiian damselfly with red or orange coloring found near streams. It breeds in flowing water in native fores...

Araneae

Hawaiian Happy-face Spider

Theridion grallator

A tiny Hawaiian spider with markings on its abdomen that resemble a smiling face. It is endemic to the rainforests of fo...

Coleoptera

Heike Firefly

Luciola lateralis

A Japanese firefly associated with rice paddies, smaller than the Genji firefly. It flashes more rapidly and is found in...

Coleoptera

Helvetian Ground Beetle

Oreonebria castanea

A cold-adapted ground beetle of high-altitude scree and moraines. It is active during short alpine summers near snowmelt...

Dermaptera

Hemiandrus Earwig

Hemimerus talpoides

A blind, wingless earwig that lives exclusively as a commensal on giant pouched rats. Its cerci are modified into short,...

Lepidoptera

Henshaw's Brown Silk Moth

Caligula japonica

A large Japanese silk moth with rich brown wings featuring distinctive zigzag postmedial lines and clear ocelli. It is o...

Lepidoptera

Hercules Moth

Coscinocera hercules

Has the largest wing area of any moth — up to 300 square centimeters. Named after Hercules for its great size. Adults li...

Coleoptera

Hieroglyphic Ladybird

Coccinella hieroglyphica

A European ladybird with extraordinarily variable elytral patterns resembling hieroglyphs. It is primarily found on heat...

Diptera

High-altitude Midge

Diamesa latitarsis

A small, dark midge whose larvae inhabit the coldest alpine streams. It has unusually broad tarsi adapted for walking on...

Odonata

Hildebrand's Dragonfly

Neodythemis hildebrandti

A forest-dwelling dragonfly with a dark metallic body and hyaline wings. Males have distinctive blue pruinescence on the...

Coleoptera

Himalayan Ground Beetle

Carabus caschmirensis

A high-altitude ground beetle found in the western Himalayas. It has dark bronze elytra with fine longitudinal ridges....

Lepidoptera

Hoary Edge Skipper

Achalarus lyciades

A dark brown spread-wing skipper with a frosted white patch along the outer margin of the hindwing underside. Its fast d...

Lepidoptera

Homerus Swallowtail

Papilio homerus

The largest butterfly in the Americas, with a wingspan reaching 150 mm and bold black and yellow patterning. It is endem...

Mantodea

Hooded Mantis

Choeradodis rhombicollis

A Central American mantis with an enormously expanded, leaf-shaped prothorax. Its green, shield-like hood provides excel...

Hymenoptera

Hooked Army Ant

Eciton hamatum

A column-raiding army ant that forms narrow trails rather than broad swarm fronts. It specializes in raiding the nests o...

Diptera

Horse Stomach Bot Fly

Gasterophilus intestinalis

A bee-like fly that glues eggs to horse leg hairs where they are ingested during grooming. Larvae attach to the stomach ...

Zoraptera

Hubbards Angel Insect

Zorotypus hubbardi

A member of one of the most obscure insect orders with only about 40 known species worldwide. Tiny, gregarious, and foun...

Coleoptera

Hubricht's Cave Beetle

Pseudanophthalmus hubrichti

A small eyeless cave beetle endemic to caves in West Virginia. It belongs to the most species-rich genus of cave beetles...

Odonata

Hyacinth Glider

Miathyria marcella

A delicate dragonfly with a violet-tinted thorax and a slender banded abdomen. It is common in the Americas from the sou...

Raphidioptera

Iberian Snakefly

Harraphidia laufferi

A snakefly endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, found in cork oak and pine woodlands. It is one of several snakefly species...

Lepidoptera

Imperial Moth

Eacles imperialis

A large moth with bright yellow wings variably marked with purple-brown spots and patches. It is one of the most recogni...

Lepidoptera

Imported Cabbageworm

Pieris rapae

A common white butterfly whose velvety green caterpillars are among the most familiar vegetable garden pests. Adults are...

Neuroptera

Indian Antlion

Myrmecaelurus trigrammus

A medium-sized antlion widespread across southern Asia and the Middle East. Often encountered in sandy soils near human ...

Coleoptera

Indian Common Firefly

Luciola gorhami

A widespread firefly across the Indian subcontinent, common in rural areas and villages. It produces rapid greenish flas...

Blattodea

Indian Domino Cockroach

Therea regularis

A striking wingless cockroach with bold white spots on a jet-black body resembling domino tiles. Nymphs burrow in soil w...

Odonata

Indian Jewelwing

Vestalis gracilis

A large, shimmering emerald-green damselfly found in the rainforests of South and Southeast Asia. Both sexes have irides...

Ephemeroptera

Indian Olive Mayfly

Baetis conservatus

A small olive-colored mayfly found in Himalayan streams and foothill rivers. Nymphs are agile swimmers adapted to modera...

Mantodea

Indian Stick Mantis

Toxodera maculata

A spotted stick mantis found in the forests of southern India and Sri Lanka. It has dark spots scattered along its body ...

Neuroptera

Indonesian Antlion

Myrmeleon bore

A tropical antlion found across Southeast Asia and the Indo-Malayan archipelago. Its larvae create pit traps in sandy so...

Odonata

Insignia Goldenring

Cordulegaster insignis

A large goldenring dragonfly of Turkey and the Near East with bold yellow markings. It patrols mountain streams in the e...

Hymenoptera

Introduced Pine Sawfly

Diprion similis

A European sawfly introduced to North America that feeds on white pine and other five-needled pines. Larvae feed gregari...

Mantodea

Iranian Conehead Mantis

Empusa hedenborgii

A Middle Eastern conehead mantis adapted to arid mountain valleys and steppe habitats. It has a tall head crest and long...

Ephemeroptera

Iron Blue Dun

Baetis muticus

A small dark mayfly that hatches prolifically on cool overcast days. Nymphs are found clinging to stones in moderate to ...

Coleoptera

Iron Cross Blister Beetle

Tegrodera aloga

A striking beetle with bright yellow and black cross-shaped markings on its elytra. It contains cantharidin, a potent bl...

Lepidoptera

Iron Prominent Moth

Notodonta dromedarius

A richly colored moth with rusty-brown forewings marked with yellow and dark patches. Its caterpillar sports a dramatic ...

Diplura

Isabella's Dipluran

Parajapyx isabellae

A soil-dwelling japygid dipluran found in temperate forests. It has small but functional forceps used for prey capture....

Protura

Italian Acerentomid

Acerentomon italicum

A small proturan originally described from Italian soils. It is typical of Mediterranean forest floor environments....

Orthoptera

Italian Cave Cricket

Dolichopoda geniculata

A cave cricket endemic to caves in central Italy. It forms genetically distinct populations in different cave systems....

Orthoptera

Italian Tree Cricket

Oecanthus pellucens

A delicate pale green cricket with translucent wings. Males sing a melodious continuous trill on warm evenings. The rate...

Hymenoptera

Jack Pine Sawfly

Neodiprion pratti banksianae

A serious defoliator of jack pine in the Great Lakes region. Periodic outbreaks can strip thousands of hectares of jack ...

Neuroptera

Japanese Antlion

Hagenomyia micans

A large East Asian antlion with glossy wings and a robust body. A familiar summer insect across Japan attracted to artif...

Ephemeroptera

Japanese Burrowing Mayfly

Ephemera japonica

A large burrowing mayfly native to Japanese rivers and streams. It emerges in large numbers during early summer evenings...

Hymenoptera

Japanese Carpenter Ant

Camponotus japonicus

A large black carpenter ant common throughout East Asia and a popular species in ant keeping. Colonies can grow very lar...

Coleoptera

Japanese Diving Beetle

Cybister japonicus

A large diving beetle native to Japan, once common but now increasingly rare. It has suffered severe declines due to hab...

Coleoptera

Japanese Genji Firefly

Luciola cruciata

An aquatic-larval firefly revered in Japanese culture, found near clean streams. It is one of the few fireflies whose la...

Mantodea

Japanese Giant Mantis

Tenodera aridifolia

A large brown or green mantis widespread throughout Japan and eastern Asia. It is commonly seen in autumn perching on wa...

Lepidoptera

Japanese Giant Silkmoth

Saturnia japonica

A large reddish-brown moth with prominent eyespots on all four wings. It is endemic to Japan and closely related to the ...

Odonata

Japanese Goldenring

Anotogaster sieboldii

One of the largest dragonflies in East Asia with bold black and yellow body rings. It is widespread along mountain strea...

Coleoptera

Japanese Ground Beetle

Carabus insulicola

A large, dark beetle with coppery-bronze elytra found in Japanese mountain forests. It is flightless and shows considera...

Coleoptera

Japanese Hotaruko Firefly

Pyrocoelia fumosa

A large terrestrial firefly with a dark brown body and bright reddish pronotum. The wingless, larviform females produce ...

Orthoptera

Japanese Katydid

Gampsocleis buergeri

A large green katydid with a robust body and powerful jaws found across Japan. Its loud evening chirping song is one of ...

Neuroptera

Japanese Mantidfly

Mantispa japonica

An East Asian mantidfly found in woodlands across Japan and Korea. Recognized by its amber-tinted wings and stout raptor...

Odonata

Japanese Narrow-Winged Damselfly

Mnais costalis

A beautiful damselfly endemic to Japan, known as 'niko-nico-kawatombou.' Males come in two forms: orange-winged territor...

Odonata

Japanese Red Dragonfly

Sympetrum frequens

Known as 'akane' or 'aka-tonbo' in Japanese, this red dragonfly is one of the most iconic insects in Japanese culture. M...

Coleoptera

Japanese Tiger Beetle

Cicindela japonica

A common and widespread tiger beetle across Japan with variable coloring from green to coppery brown. It frequents sunny...

Coleoptera

Japanese Water Penny

Eubrianax granicollis

An East Asian water penny beetle found in swift forest streams of Japan. Adults are dark and robust with a granular pron...

Coleoptera

Japanese Whirligig Beetle

Gyrinus japonicus

A common whirligig beetle in East Asia found on still and slow-flowing water surfaces. It forms large social groups espe...

Mantodea

Javan Stick Mantis

Toxodera maxima

One of the longest stick mantises, reaching over 12 cm from Java, Indonesia. Its extremely thin body makes it nearly imp...

Coleoptera

Jewel Ground Beetle

Carabus auronitens

A strikingly beautiful ground beetle with bright gold and green metallic coloring. It inhabits mountain forests across c...

Coleoptera

Jokisch's Ground Beetle

Nebria jokischii

A high-altitude ground beetle found near permanent snow patches in the Alps. It is adapted to cold, wet conditions on ro...

Odonata

Julia Skimmer

Orthetrum julia

A slender African dragonfly where mature males develop a striking black and white pattern. It is found throughout sub-Sa...

Orthoptera

Kaempfer's Sawyer Cricket

Prophalangopsis obscura

A living fossil cricket from the mountains of northern India. Its family dates back to the Jurassic and has only eight s...

Lepidoptera

Karner Blue

Plebejus samuelis

A tiny bright blue butterfly with orange crescents on the hindwing underside that depends entirely on wild lupine. It is...

Coleoptera

Kentucky Cave Beetle

Darlingtonea kentuckensis

A troglobitic ground beetle found in caves along Kentucky's Cumberland Plateau. It is eyeless with elongated appendages ...

Mantodea

Kenyan Conehead Mantis

Empusa capensis

A southern and eastern African conehead mantis found in dry bushveld and savanna. It has a prominent head cone and feath...

Coleoptera

Kenyan Montane Tiger Beetle

Lophyra flexuosa

A colorful tiger beetle found across eastern and southern Africa. It displays green, copper, and cream markings on its e...

Coleoptera

Kidney-Spot Ladybird

Chilocorus renipustulatus

A small black ladybird with two red kidney-shaped spots, found across Europe. It specializes in feeding on scale insects...

Odonata

Kirby's Dropwing

Trithemis kirbyi

A bright orange-red dragonfly widespread across Africa and into southern Asia. Males have distinctive orange wing bases ...

Coleoptera

Korean Ground Beetle

Carabus jankowskii

A large, ornate ground beetle found in the forests of the Korean Peninsula and adjacent regions. Its elytra show vivid g...

Coleoptera

Kudzu Bug

Megacopta cribraria

A small, olive-green, globular beetle that feeds on kudzu and soybeans. It was first detected in North America in 2009....

Ephemeroptera

Labrador Minnow Mayfly

Baetis labradoriensis

A small mayfly found in cold northern streams with rapid currents. Nymphs cling to submerged stones and feed on periphyt...

Blattodea

Lamani Spiral-nest Termite

Apicotermes lamani

A subterranean soil-feeding termite known for its remarkably structured underground nests in Central African forests. Th...

Odonata

Lance-tipped Darner

Aeshna constricta

A large brown darner with blue spots common in eastern North America. It is a late-season flier, active well into autumn...

Odonata

Lancet Clubtail

Phanogomphus exilis

A small, slender clubtail dragonfly of eastern North America with greenish-yellow markings. It frequents small streams a...

Lepidoptera

Lapland Ringlet

Erebia embla

A dark brown butterfly with prominent yellow-ringed black eyespots on both wings. The flight is slow and bobbing close t...

Coleoptera

Larch Ladybird

Aphidecta obliterata

A small brown ladybird that specializes on larch-feeding aphids in European conifer forests. Its cryptic coloration help...

Hymenoptera

Larch Sawfly

Pristiphora erichsonii

The most important defoliator of larch in North America. Periodic outbreaks can last for years and cause significant gro...

Coleoptera

Larder Beetle

Dermestes lardarius

A dark brown beetle with a pale band across its elytra, commonly found in stored food products. Larvae are covered in br...

Plecoptera

Large Alpine Stonefly

Perla grandis

One of the largest European stoneflies, found in clean mountain rivers. Its nymphs take several years to develop in cold...

Lepidoptera

Large Blue

Phengaris arion

A blue butterfly with distinctive black spots that has one of the most complex life cycles in the insect world. It was d...

Neuroptera

Large Brown Lacewing

Drepanepteryx phalaenoides

The largest European brown lacewing with distinctively hooked wing tips. Resembles a dead leaf when at rest on branches....

Ephemeroptera

Large Dark Olive Mayfly

Baetis rhodani

The most common European mayfly, emerging year-round in many rivers. It is a small olive-brown species that serves as a ...

Coleoptera

Large Elm Beetle

Oulimnius tuberculatus

A small, robust riffle beetle found throughout European streams. Adults have a distinctive tuberculate surface texture o...

Hymenoptera

Large Larch Sawfly

Nematus erichsonii

A gregarious defoliator of larch in European forests. Larvae feed in groups and can rapidly strip branches of needles....

Orthoptera

Large Marsh Grasshopper

Stethophyma grossum

Europe's largest grasshopper, with bold red, yellow, and green colouring and bright red hindleg tibiae. It requires very...

Orthoptera

Large Mountain Grasshopper

Stauroderus scalaris

A medium-sized grasshopper common in European mountain meadows. Males produce a distinctive rapid clicking song....

Lepidoptera

Large Pale Clothes Moth

Tinea pallescentella

A pale straw-colored clothes moth that is larger than the common webbing clothes moth. Its larvae prefer coarser animal ...

Lepidoptera

Large Tortoiseshell

Nymphalis polychloros

A large orange butterfly with dark spots resembling a scaled-up small tortoiseshell, once widespread in Britain but now ...

Phthiraptera

Large Turkey Louse

Chelopistes meleagridis

The largest louse found on domestic turkeys, feeding on feather material. It prefers the breast and thigh feathers of it...

Coleoptera

Large Whirligig Beetle

Dineutus americanus

The largest North American whirligig beetle, found on the surface of streams and rivers. It produces defensive chemicals...

Coleoptera

Larger Grain Borer

Prostephanus truncatus

A devastating pest of stored maize and dried cassava in Africa. It can cause grain weight losses exceeding 30% in untrea...

Hymenoptera

Legionary Ant

Neivamyrmex nigrescens

The most common army ant species in the United States, conducting nocturnal column raids on other ant nests. Workers are...

Dermaptera

Lesser Earwig

Labia minor

The smallest European earwig and one of the few that readily flies. It is often found in compost heaps and manure piles ...

Odonata

Lesser Emperor

Anax parthenope

A large dragonfly with a brownish thorax and distinctive blue saddle at the base of its abdomen. It is a strong migrant ...

Lepidoptera

Lesser Purple Emperor

Apatura ilia

Similar to the Purple Emperor but smaller, with an ocellus on the forewing and more strongly marked underside. It occurs...

Lepidoptera

Lesser Swallow Prominent Moth

Pheosia gnoma

A white moth very similar to the Swallow Prominent but with a thinner dark wedge mark and a clear white hindwing. It is ...

Mantodea

Libyan Conehead Mantis

Empusa decorata

A decorated conehead mantis from the dry regions of North Africa. Its body has ornate markings that provide camouflage a...

Mantodea

Libyan Ground Mantis

Eremiaphila barbara

A stout desert mantis found across Libya and neighboring Saharan regions. It is nocturnal and shelters under rocks durin...

Ephemeroptera

Light Cahill Mayfly

Heptagenia solitaria

A pale-colored mayfly highly prized by fly fishers for imitating hatches. Nymphs prefer moderate current over gravel sub...

Lepidoptera

Light Emerald

Campaea margaritaria

A delicate pale green moth with fine white cross-lines that fades to white as it ages. It is one of the most commonly en...

Thysanoptera

Lily Thrips

Liothrips vaneeckei

A dark, stout thrips that damages lily bulbs in storage and in the field. It feeds between bulb scales causing brown sun...

Trichoptera

Limnephiloid Snail Caddis

Helicopsyche limnella

A tiny caddisfly that builds a perfectly spiraled case from fine sand grains cemented with silk. Larvae scrape algae fro...

Trichoptera

Little Black Caddis

Chimarra obscura

A small, dark caddisfly that builds finger-shaped silk nets in stream crevices. It is widespread in warm-water streams a...

Hymenoptera

Little Fire Ant

Wasmannia auropunctata

A tiny golden-brown ant with a painful sting far out of proportion to its size. It is one of the most destructive invasi...

Trichoptera

Little Sister Sedge

Cheumatopsyche campyla

A small net-spinning caddisfly widespread in warm-water streams. Larvae tolerate moderate enrichment better than most Hy...

Trichoptera

Little Tan Short-Horn Sedge

Glossosoma nigrior

A small, abundant caddisfly of eastern North American streams. Larvae build tortoise-shell-shaped cases of fine gravel a...

Hymenoptera

Loblolly Pine Sawfly

Neodiprion taedae linearis

A pine sawfly from the southeastern United States whose yellowish-green larvae feed on the needles of loblolly and other...

Diplura

Long-cerci Dipluran

Litocampa henroti

A troglophilic dipluran known from caves in western Europe. It has remarkably long cerci used for detecting vibrations i...

Coleoptera

Long-horned Ant-loving Beetle

Claviger longicornis

A minute, blind pselaphine rove beetle with elongate antennae relative to its body size. Like its congeners, it is an ob...

Neuroptera

Long-Necked Antlion

Palpares libelluloides

One of the largest European antlions with a wingspan exceeding 100 mm and boldly patterned wings. Adults are strong flie...

Ephemeroptera

Long-Tailed Mayfly

Palingenia longicauda

The largest European mayfly with body and cerci reaching over 120 mm. Its spectacular mass hatches on the Tisza River ar...

Lepidoptera

Long-tailed Skipper

Urbanus proteus

A striking skipper with iridescent blue-green body and wing bases and long tail-like projections on the hindwings. It is...

Coleoptera

Long-Toed Water Beetle

Stenelmis crenata

A small riffle beetle with elongated tarsal claws for gripping rocks in fast currents. Both adults and larvae are entire...

Hymenoptera

Longhorn Crazy Ant

Paratrechina longicornis

A small dark brown ant with extremely long antennae and legs that moves in rapid, jerky patterns. It is one of the most ...

Coleoptera

Longhorned Coconut Beetle

Olethrius tyrannus

A large prionine beetle from the Indo-Pacific region that attacks coconut palms and other palms. Adults are dark brown w...

Neuroptera

Lucasian Green Lacewing

Chrysopa lucasina

A European green lacewing common in Mediterranean olive groves. Important natural enemy of the olive moth and olive psyl...

Collembola

Lucifugous Springtail

Megalothorax minimus

One of the smallest known hexapods, found in deep soil and cave environments. It is nearly transparent and extremely dif...

Lepidoptera

Luna Moth

Actias luna

A stunning lime-green moth with long trailing hindwing tails. Adults live only about one week. The long tails confuse ba...

Lepidoptera

Lunar Hornet Moth

Sesia bembeciformis

A large clearwing moth that mimics a hornet and bores into willow and sallow trunks. Adults emerge in midsummer and are ...

Lepidoptera

Luzon Peacock Swallowtail

Papilio chikae

An extremely rare Philippine endemic with dark wings bearing brilliant green bands and large red-centered hindwing eyesp...

Lepidoptera

Macrosoma lucivittata

Macrosoma lucivittata

Moth-butterfly with pale wings bearing a translucent vitreous stripe. One of the more distinctive hedylid species....

Lepidoptera

Madagascan Emperor Moth

Antherina suraka

A large silk moth with brownish wings and prominent eyespots. Endemic to Madagascar and commonly used in wild silk produ...

Mantodea

Madagascar Stick Mantis

Idolomorpha madagascariensis

A large, slender praying mantis reaching 7-9 cm with a body that closely resembles a twig. Adults have purplish-yellow w...

Blattodea

Madeira Cockroach

Leucophaea maderae

A large pale brown cockroach that emits a foul-smelling liquid when disturbed. It cannot climb smooth surfaces. Original...

Lepidoptera

Madeiran Brimstone Butterfly

Gonepteryx maderensis

A yellow butterfly endemic to the island of Madeira in the Atlantic. It is closely related to Canary Island brimstones b...

Blattodea

Magnetic Termite

Amitermes meridionalis

Builds tall wedge-shaped mounds precisely oriented on a north-south axis to regulate internal temperature. The flat side...

Lepidoptera

Magpie Moth

Abraxas grossulariata

A conspicuous white moth with bold black spots and an orange-yellow band across the wings. It played a historic role in ...

Ephemeroptera

Mahogany Dun

Isonychia harperi

A large reddish-brown mayfly with impressive filter-feeding forelegs. Nymphs prefer moderate to fast riffles with clean ...

Mantodea

Malabar Flower Mantis

Creobroter meleagris

A beautifully marked flower mantis from southern India with speckled wings. It is commonly found in the Western Ghats bi...

Neuroptera

Malagasy Ant Lion

Palpares lenticularis

A large neuropteran with broad, spotted wings that resemble those of a dragonfly. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to ...

Hymenoptera

Malagasy Dracula Ant

Mystrium voeltzkowi

An enigmatic Dracula ant endemic to Madagascar with pale yellow coloring and reduced eyes. Workers live deep underground...

Odonata

Malagasy Flatwing

Platycnemis malgassica

A slender damselfly with expanded white tibiae on the middle and hind legs, used in courtship displays. Males have a pal...

Lepidoptera

Malagasy Moon Moth

Ceranchia apollina

An elegant silk moth with soft white wings bearing delicate eyespots and fine dark scaling. It is smaller than the comet...

Hemiptera

Malagasy Pill Millipede Assassin Bug

Physorhynchus crux

A dark-bodied assassin bug with a characteristic cross-shaped marking on its thorax. It has robust forelegs adapted for ...

Odonata

Malagasy Sprite

Pseudagrion malgassicum

A delicate damselfly with a slender blue and black body. It is one of the most widespread and adaptable endemic odonates...

Hymenoptera

Malagasy Trap-jaw Ant

Mystrium oberthueri

A pale yellow to amber ant with elongated mandibles that can snap shut at extreme speeds. It is closely related to M. ca...

Mantodea

Malayan Stick Mantis

Toxodera gracilis

A graceful, slender stick mantis from the Malay Peninsula. Its elongated prothorax and thin limbs create an exceptionall...

Coleoptera

Malaysian Jewel Leaf Beetle

Chrysolina coerulescens

A brilliantly metallic blue to blue-green beetle with a smooth, highly reflective surface. It is found on aromatic plant...

Coleoptera

Mammoth Cave Beetle

Xenotrechus condei

A rare troglobitic ground beetle known from caves in the Ozark region of Missouri. It is eyeless with greatly elongated ...

Lepidoptera

Map Butterfly

Araschnia levana

A small butterfly that produces two dramatically different seasonal forms within the same year. Spring adults are orange...

Trichoptera

Marbled Sedge

Hydropsyche contubernalis

A net-spinning caddisfly with distinctly marbled wing patterns. It is common in larger European rivers and is tolerant o...

Lepidoptera

Marbled White

Melanargia galathea

A distinctive butterfly with bold black and white chequered wings that resembles no other European species. Despite its ...

Ephemeroptera

March Brown Mayfly

Rhithrogena germanica

A spring-emerging mayfly with a brownish body and two tails, historically important to European fly fishing. Its flat ny...

Dermaptera

Maritime Earwig

Anisolabis maritima

A wingless earwig found in coastal habitats, living under driftwood and seaweed on beaches. It is dark brown to black wi...

Odonata

Mascarene Island Dragonfly

Thalassothemis marchali

A skimmer dragonfly endemic to Mauritius and Reunion in the Mascarene Islands. It patrols ponds and streams in remaining...

Hymenoptera

Matabele Ant

Megaponera analis

A large black ant that specializes in raiding termite mounds in organized military-style columns. Workers are among the ...

Orthoptera

Meadow Grasshopper

Pseudochorthippus parallelus

A common European grasshopper with shortened wings that render it flightless. It produces a regular, ticking song from d...

Coleoptera

Mealybug Destroyer

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri

A dark-colored Australian ladybird with an orange head, widely used as a biocontrol agent. Its larvae are covered in whi...

Coleoptera

Mediterranean Firefly

Luciola italica

A common Southern European firefly that flies through warm summer nights producing a continuous greenish glow. It is wid...

Hymenoptera

Mediterranean Scoliid Wasp

Scolia hirta

A black hairy wasp with two prominent yellow abdominal spots common across Mediterranean regions. It parasitizes rose ch...

Lepidoptera

Melissa Arctic

Oeneis melissa

A gray-brown butterfly with subtle orange patches and small blind eyespots. The hindwing underside features dark, bark-l...

Zoraptera

Mexican Zorapteran

Zorotypus manni

A tiny colonial insect from Mexican tropical forests. It is found under bark in small family groups and like other zorap...

Trichoptera

Microcaddisfly

Hydroptila sparsa

One of the smallest caddisflies, with adults only 3-4 mm long. Larvae build tiny purse-shaped cases from silk and algae ...

Coleoptera

Miyako Firefly

Luciola filiformis

A small Japanese firefly found on Miyako Island with a slender body and greenish-yellow luminescence. It has a limited d...

Lepidoptera

Moorland Clouded Yellow

Colias palaeno

A lemon-yellow butterfly with dark wing borders found in northern bogs and mountain moors. It is a glacial relict specie...

Mantodea

Moroccan Desert Mantis

Eremiaphila moroccana

A small mantis endemic to the stony deserts of Morocco. Its reddish-brown body matches the iron-rich desert soils of its...

Orthoptera

Moroccan Locust

Dociostaurus maroccanus

A small but destructive locust found in dry habitats across the Mediterranean and Central Asia. It forms dense hopper ba...

Orthoptera

Moss Grasshopper

Batrachideinae sp. (Coscineuta coxalis)

A tiny pygmy grasshopper with an elongated pronotum covered in moss-like textures. It is practically invisible on moss-c...

Lepidoptera

Mother Shipton

Euclidia mi

A day-flying moth whose forewing markings resemble the profile of a witch's face. It is named after the famous English p...

Odonata

Mountain Demoiselle

Calopteryx exul

A rare North African demoiselle restricted to mountain streams in Algeria and Tunisia. Males have dark blue-tinted wings...

Ephemeroptera

Mountain Flathead Mayfly

Cinygmula ramaleyi

An alpine mayfly restricted to high-elevation cold streams in the Rocky Mountains. Nymphs feed on diatom films on boulde...

Diptera

Mountain Long-legged Fly

Dolichopus alpinus

A metallic green fly with long legs found in damp alpine meadows. Males perform elaborate courtship displays using their...

Diptera

Mountain Net-Winged Midge

Blepharicera capitata

A large net-winged midge of Appalachian mountain streams. Larvae require extremely clean, well-oxygenated water flowing ...

Diptera

Mountain Prosimulium

Prosimulium mixtum

An early-season black fly of cold mountain streams in North America. Larvae develop in small headwater streams during la...

Lepidoptera

Mountain Ringlet

Erebia epiphron

A small dark brown butterfly with orange-ringed eyespots found only at high altitudes. In Britain it is the only truly a...

Lepidoptera

Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth

Hemaris tityus

A bumblebee mimic with largely transparent wings and a furry olive-and-brown body. It flies by day, hovering at flowers ...

Coleoptera

Narrow-bordered Bombardier

Brachinus sclopeta

A Mediterranean bombardier beetle with a narrow body and orange-brown coloring. It shelters communally under stones in d...

Hymenoptera

Narrow-headed Ant

Formica exsecta

A bicolored red and black wood ant with a distinctly notched head. It builds low thatched mounds in open heathland and i...

Coleoptera

Narrow-Necked Cave Beetle

Leptodirus hochenwartii

The first cave-dwelling animal ever scientifically described, in 1832. Completely eyeless and unpigmented, with an elong...

Lepidoptera

Navel Orangeworm

Amyelois transitella

The most damaging pest of almonds, walnuts, and pistachios in California. Larvae bore into nuts and contaminate them wit...

Coleoptera

Nebria Streamside Beetle

Nebria brevicollis

A very common European ground beetle often found near streams and in damp habitats. It is active year-round including du...

Coleoptera

Nebrioporus Water Beetle

Nebrioporus nipponicus

A small diving beetle endemic to Japan found in clean mountain streams. Part of a genus that prefers running water over ...

Odonata

Neon Skimmer

Libellula croceipennis

A brilliantly red dragonfly of the American Southwest with amber-tinted wings. Males are an intense fluorescent red that...

Hymenoptera

Neon Trap-jaw Ant

Odontomachus coquereli

A large Malagasy trap-jaw ant with a distinctive reddish coloration found in Madagascar's dry forests. It has the charac...

Coleoptera

Neotropical Army Ant Guest

Ecitomorpha nevermanni

A remarkable myrmecophilous rove beetle that lives with Eciton army ants in Central America. Its body closely mimics the...

Lepidoptera

Neotropical Atlas Moth

Arsenura armida

A large silkmoth with wavy brown and grey wings and distinctive scalloped wing margins. Its caterpillars are gregarious ...

Hemiptera

Neotropical Backswimmer

Buenoa antigone

A small aquatic bug that swims upside-down using its long oar-like hind legs. Its pale ventral surface provides camoufla...

Hemiptera

Neotropical Bee Assassin

Apiomerus pictipes

A stout, colorful assassin bug that specializes in capturing bees and wasps visiting flowers. Its bright red, orange, an...

Odonata

New Zealand Blue Damselfly

Austrolestes colensonis

New Zealand's most common damselfly, with striking blue and black colouration in males. It is found near ponds, lakes, a...

Trichoptera

New Zealand Caddisfly

Olinga feredayi

A stony-cased caddisfly endemic to New Zealand streams. Larvae are important grazers found in virtually all clean New Ze...

Araneae

New Zealand Katipo Spider

Latrodectus katipo

New Zealand's most venomous spider, found only on coastal sand dunes. Although an arachnid, it is one of New Zealand's m...

Mantodea

New Zealand Praying Mantis

Orthodera novaezealandiae

New Zealand's only native praying mantis, a small bright green species found throughout the country. It is now threatene...

Blattodea

Nigerian Snouted Termite

Trinervitermes oeconomus

A grass-harvesting nasute termite found across West African savannas, building small dome-shaped mounds. Colonies play a...

Odonata

Norfolk Damselfly

Coenagrion armatum

A critically rare damselfly once found in the Norfolk Broads of England, now extinct in Britain. Small populations persi...

Lepidoptera

Norse Grayling

Oeneis norna

A medium-sized grayish-brown butterfly with subtle orange patches and small eyespots. The wings have a semi-translucent ...

Coleoptera

North African Bombardier Beetle

Brachinus humeralis

A bombardier beetle found in North Africa and the Mediterranean basin. It has a reddish-brown head and thorax with dark ...

Protura

North American Eosentomid

Eosentomon vermiforme

A worm-like proturan found in forest soils of eastern North America. It has a slender elongate body and no trace of eyes...

Mecoptera

North American Snow Scorpionfly

Boreus californicus

A small dark wingless scorpionfly found in mountainous regions of western North America. It is active during winter mont...

Neuroptera

North American Spongillafly

Climacia areolaris

A small spongillafly found across eastern North America near fresh water. Its larvae feed on freshwater sponges attached...

Diptera

Northern Black Fly

Simulium venustum

A common biting black fly of northern forests and boreal streams. Larvae form dense colonies on submerged rocks in cold ...

Odonata

Northern Damselfly

Coenagrion johanssoni

A delicate blue and black damselfly with narrow wings held together above the body at rest. Males have a distinctive blu...

Grylloblattodea

Northern Rock Crawler

Grylloblatta campodeiformis

A rare ice-dwelling insect that lives on glaciers and snowfields at near-freezing temperatures. Handling one with bare h...

Mecoptera

Northern Snow Scorpionfly

Boreus westwoodi

A small, dark, flightless scorpionfly that appears on snow in late autumn and early winter. It is glossy black-brown wit...

Diptera

Nose Bot Fly of Horses

Gasterophilus haemorrhoidalis

A dark-bodied bot fly that deposits reddish-black eggs around the lips of horses. Larvae penetrate the lip mucosa and mi...

Coleoptera

Noterus Diving Beetle

Noterus clavicornis

A small, oval, yellowish-brown diving beetle with distinctively thickened antennae. It is widespread across Europe in st...

Coleoptera

Nut Weevil

Curculio nucum

A small weevil with a slender, downward-curved snout used to bore into hazelnuts. The larva feeds inside the nut before ...

Lepidoptera

Oak Eggar

Lasiocampa quercus

A robust moth with rich brown wings and a distinctive white spot on each forewing. Males are active fast fliers during t...

Coleoptera

Oak Pinhole Borer

Platypus cylindrus

A tiny ambrosia beetle that bores into oak trees and cultivates fungal gardens inside its tunnels. The only European spe...

Lepidoptera

Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper

Pyrgus armoricanus

A small greyish-brown skipper with white spots, very similar to related species but with distinct underside markings. It...

Lepidoptera

Oberthur's Loepa Moth

Loepa oberthuri

A bright golden-yellow silk moth with distinctive violet-centered eyespots surrounded by rings of yellow and brown. It i...

Hemiptera

Ocean Strider

Halobates micans

A remarkable open-ocean water strider that spends its entire life on the surface of tropical seas. It is one of the very...

Mantodea

Ocellated Flower Mantis

Pseudocreobotra ocellata

A small African flower mantis closely related to the spiny flower mantis. It has a prominent spiral marking on its wings...

Hymenoptera

Odorous House Ant

Tapinoma sessile

A small dark brown ant that emits a distinctive rotten coconut smell when crushed. It is one of the most common househol...

Coleoptera

Oil Beetle

Meloe proscarabaeus

A large, flightless beetle with shortened elytra and a swollen abdomen. It secretes an oily, blistering compound called ...

Coleoptera

Okinawan Firefly

Luciola owadai

A subtropical firefly endemic to the Ryukyu Islands with a small dark body and rapid greenish flash. It is one of severa...

Lepidoptera

Old Lady Moth

Mormo maura

A large, sombre dark-brown moth whose wing pattern was thought to resemble a shawl worn by elderly women. It hides in da...

Mantodea

Orchid Mantis

Hymenopus coronatus

A stunning flower mimic with petal-shaped legs and pink-white coloring. Does not just hide among flowers — it is actuall...

Coleoptera

Oregon Tiger Beetle

Cicindela oregona

A variable-colored tiger beetle found in open sandy and gravelly habitats across western North America. Coloring ranges ...

Blattodea

Oriental Cockroach

Blatta orientalis

A dark brown to black cockroach with a shiny body, often called a waterbug. It prefers cool, damp environments and is le...

Odonata

Oriental Demoiselle

Calopteryx cornelia

A Japanese demoiselle with shimmering blue-black wings and a metallic green body. It is endemic to Japan's clean mountai...

Lepidoptera

Orizaba Silk Moth

Rothschildia orizaba

A magnificent New World silk moth with large reddish-brown wings bearing conspicuous triangular clear windows. It was hi...

Orthoptera

Ornate Pygmy Grasshopper

Tetrix ornata

A tiny, intricately patterned groundhopper found on bare sandy soils in North American prairies and open woodlands. Its ...

Lepidoptera

Ornate Tiger Moth

Arctia flavia

A rare alpine tiger moth with cream forewings bearing irregular brown markings and orange-yellow hindwings with dark spo...

Coleoptera

Overlooked Cave Beetle

Pseudanophthalmus praetermissus

A rare troglobitic beetle that was long confused with related species before being formally described. It is known from ...

Diptera

Owl Midge

Clogmia albipunctata

A small fuzzy moth-like fly found in bathrooms and drains worldwide. Its larvae feed on gelatinous films of bacteria ins...

Odonata

Pacific Spiketail

Cordulegaster dorsalis

The only spiketail dragonfly on the Pacific coast of North America. It has a dark brown body with yellow dorsal spots an...

Odonata

Paddle-tailed Darner

Aeshna palmata

A large, boldly marked darner of western North America with distinctive paddle-shaped cerci. Males have bright blue and ...

Coleoptera

Painted Hickory Borer

Megacyllene caryae

A handsome cerambycid with white zigzag markings on dark brown elytra, breeding in dead hickory and oak in eastern North...

Odonata

Painted Skimmer

Libellula semifasciata

An attractive dragonfly with amber-tinted wings marked by brown bands and spots. It is an early-season flier in eastern ...

Lepidoptera

Palamedes Swallowtail

Papilio palamedes

A large dark swallowtail of southern swamp forests with yellow bands and a distinctive yellow postmedial stripe on the h...

Ephemeroptera

Pale Evening Dun

Heptagenia adaequata

A flat-bodied mayfly whose nymphs press tightly against rocks in swift currents. Adults emerge at dusk during summer mon...

Lepidoptera

Pale Tussock

Calliteara pudibunda

A fluffy grey-white moth with distinctively feathered legs held forward at rest. Its caterpillar is spectacular, with de...

Coleoptera

Palmetto Weevil

Rhynchophorus cruentatus

The largest weevil in North America, with variable black and red coloring. It attacks stressed cabbage palms and other p...

Lepidoptera

Pandora Sphinx Moth

Eumorpha pandorus

A large sphinx moth with olive-green forewings marked with darker patches and pink hindwings. Its caterpillar has a larg...

Coleoptera

Paroster Subterranean Beetle

Paroster macrosturtensis

A blind subterranean diving beetle from groundwater calcretes in the Western Australian arid zone. It is completely depi...

Coleoptera

Pea Weevil

Bruchus pisorum

A small brownish beetle that lays eggs on developing pea pods. The larva eats its way into a single pea and develops ent...

Lepidoptera

Peach Blossom

Thyatira batis

A charming moth with olive-brown forewings adorned with pink and white spots that resemble peach blossoms. Fresh specime...

Phthiraptera

Peafowl Feather Louse

Goniodes pavonis

A large chewing louse found on peafowl and pheasants. It feeds on feather material and can damage the ornamental plumage...

Lepidoptera

Pebble Prominent Moth

Notodonta ziczac

A grey-brown moth with a tuft of scales on the trailing edge of each forewing that creates a prominent bump. Its caterpi...

Coleoptera

Pennsylvania Ground Beetle

Harpalus pensylvanicus

One of the most common ground beetles in North American croplands. It is an omnivorous species that feeds on both seeds ...

Neuroptera

Peruvian Antlion

Ameromyia lineata

A neotropical antlion found in dry inter-Andean valleys and coastal deserts. Adapted to extremely arid conditions....

Neuroptera

Peruvian Mantidfly

Anchieta fumosella

A South American mantidfly found in Andean cloud forests and tropical lowlands. A secretive species rarely encountered b...

Diptera

Petroleum Fly

Helaeomyia petrolei

The only insect whose larvae develop in crude petroleum. Found in natural oil seeps in California, including the La Brea...

Hymenoptera

Pharaoh Ant

Monomorium pharaonis

A tiny tropical ant that has become a major indoor pest in heated buildings worldwide. Colonies reproduce by budding, ma...

Mantodea

Philippine Stick Mantis

Toxodera philippina

A slender stick mantis endemic to the Philippines found in primary forest habitats. It is rarely encountered and poorly ...

Lepidoptera

Pine Emperor Moth

Imbrasia cytherea

A large South African emperor moth with brown and cream banded wings. Its caterpillars can become significant defoliator...

Hymenoptera

Pine False Webworm

Acantholyda erythrocephala

An invasive European sawfly that defoliates pines in North America. Unlike typical sawflies, larvae are solitary and spi...

Lepidoptera

Pine Hawk-moth

Sphinx pinastri

A sleek grey hawk-moth with dark streaks that provide perfect camouflage against pine bark. It is strongly associated wi...

Lepidoptera

Pine Processionary

Thaumetopoea pityocampa

A grey moth whose caterpillars march in long nose-to-tail processions between their silk nests and feeding sites. The la...

Lepidoptera

Pine Shoot Moth

Rhyacionia buoliana

A small bright orange moth with silver-grey crosslines on the forewings. Its larvae bore into the terminal shoots of you...

Hymenoptera

Pine Webspinning Sawfly

Cephalcia arvensis

A flat-bodied sawfly with long antennae and dark coloring. Larvae live communally in silk webs spun among spruce needles...

Ephemeroptera

Pink Lady Mayfly

Epeorus vitreus

A pale pinkish mayfly of eastern North American streams with a distinctly two-tailed nymph. Adults have translucent wing...

Lepidoptera

Pipevine Swallowtail

Battus philenor

A dark swallowtail with brilliant iridescent blue hindwings and an orange-spotted underside. Its toxicity from Aristoloc...

Ephemeroptera

Pond Olive Mayfly

Cloeon dipterum

One of the few mayflies that breeds in still water including garden ponds and rain barrels. Unusually for a mayfly, fema...

Lepidoptera

Poplar Hawk-moth

Laothoe populi

A large grey-brown hawk-moth that holds its hindwings forward of the forewings at rest, creating an unusual silhouette. ...

Hymenoptera

Prionopelta Ant

Prionopelta amabilis

A tiny pale amblyoponine ant found in tropical forest soils across the Americas. Workers are essentially blind and rely ...

Lepidoptera

Privet Hawk-moth

Sphinx ligustri

Britain's largest resident moth, with a massive body bearing pink and black abdominal stripes. Its horn-tipped caterpill...

Blattodea

Processional Termite

Hospitalitermes medioflavus

An open-trail foraging termite found in Borneo's rainforests that travels in long exposed columns through the forest. Wo...

Lepidoptera

Provence Short-tailed Blue

Cupido alcetas

One of Europe's smallest butterflies with violet-blue males and dark brown females. It lacks the tail projection of its ...

Coleoptera

Punctured Tiger Beetle

Cicindela punctulata

A small dark bronze to greenish tiger beetle with fine punctures on its elytra. It is one of the most adaptable tiger be...

Lepidoptera

Puriri Moth

Aenetus virescens

New Zealand's largest moth, with a wingspan up to 150 mm. The caterpillars bore into the trunks of native trees, particu...

Lepidoptera

Purple Hairstreak

Favonius quercus

A small dark butterfly with a purple-blue sheen visible only at certain angles, living almost exclusively in oak canopie...

Mantodea

Purple-winged Mantis

Tenodera australasiae

A large Australian mantis with distinctive purple-tinged wings that are displayed in flight. It is one of the more consp...

Coleoptera

Pyrenean Ground Beetle

Nebria lafresnayei

An endemic ground beetle restricted to high elevations in the Pyrenees. It inhabits cold, damp scree slopes and glacier ...

Orthoptera

Pyrenean Mountain Grasshopper

Cophopodisma pyrenaea

An endemic flightless grasshopper restricted to high elevations in the Pyrenees. It has a compact body adapted to its ex...

Lepidoptera

Queen of Spain Fritillary

Issoria lathonia

A powerful-flying fritillary with large, brilliant silver spots covering the underside of its hindwings. It is a restles...

Hymenoptera

Queenless Ponerine Ant

Diacamma rugosum

A large black ponerine ant found across South and Southeast Asia that lacks a morphological queen caste. Instead, a sing...

Blattodea

Question Mark Cockroach

Therea olegrandjeani

A close relative of the domino cockroach with white markings that form a question-mark-like pattern on its black body. I...

Ephemeroptera

Quill Gordon Mayfly

Epeorus pleuralis

A medium-sized flat-bodied mayfly that clings to rocks in fast Appalachian streams. It is one of the first major mayfly ...

Coleoptera

Railroad Worm

Phrixothrix hirtus

A beetle larva with 11 pairs of green-glowing lateral organs and a red-glowing headlamp — the only land animal that prod...

Odonata

Rambur's Forktail

Ischnura ramburii

A widespread New World damselfly where males are green and black with a blue tail tip. Females come in orange, olive, an...

Coleoptera

Red and Black Rove Beetle

Paederus riparius

A small but notorious rove beetle with a red thorax and abdomen and blue-black elytra. Its hemolymph contains pederin, a...

Lepidoptera

Red Helen

Papilio helenus

A large, elegant swallowtail butterfly with black wings marked by large creamy-white patches on the hindwings and red cr...

Orthoptera

Red Locust

Nomadacris septemfasciata

A large brown and red locust that swarms periodically from outbreak areas in Central and Southern Africa. It has distinc...

Coleoptera

Red Tiger Beetle

Pogonostoma chalybaeum

A medium-sized tiger beetle with a deep steely blue body and reddish reflections. It has large prominent eyes and long, ...

Lepidoptera

Red-bordered Metalmark

Caria ino

A dark metalmark butterfly with bright red-orange borders along the wing edges and metallic blue-green scaling at the wi...

Odonata

Red-faced Skimmer

Orthetrum testaceum

A robust Asian dragonfly where mature males develop a vivid red face and body. Females are brownish-yellow with subtle m...

Hymenoptera

Red-legged Pimpla

Pimpla rufipes

A robust black ichneumon wasp with distinctive reddish-orange legs. It parasitizes a wide range of moth and butterfly pu...

Odonata

Redcoat Damselfly

Xanthocnemis zealandica

A small endemic damselfly found throughout New Zealand, named for the bright red body of the male. It is one of the most...

Lepidoptera

Reed Leopard Moth

Phragmataecia castaneae

A cossid moth whose larvae bore into the stems of common reed and bulrush. It is widespread across European wetlands and...

Diptera

Reindeer Nose Bot Fly

Cephenemyia trompe

A large, hairy, bee-like fly that squirts live larvae into the nostrils of reindeer. The larvae develop in the nasal pas...

Diptera

Reindeer Warble Fly

Hypoderma tarandi

A stout, furry fly that parasitizes reindeer and caribou. Females dart at reindeer to lay eggs on their legs. Larvae bur...

Psocoptera

Reuterella Barklouse

Reuterella helvimacula

A small barklouse with distinctive pale spots on dark wings found on tree bark. It is common in mixed forests throughout...

Coleoptera

Ribbed Pine Borer

Rhagium inquisitor

A longhorn beetle found across northern forests that develops under the bark of dead conifers. Adults are active in spri...

Odonata

River Jewelwing

Calopteryx aequabilis

A North American damselfly with narrow dark wing tips in males and a metallic green body. It prefers faster-flowing rive...

Diptera

River Midge

Rheotanytarsus exiguus

A small filter-feeding midge that builds silken nets on submerged stones in flowing water. Larvae are among the most abu...

Hymenoptera

Rock Ant

Temnothorax rugatulus

A tiny dark ant that nests in rock crevices at high elevations in western North America. Colonies contain about 200 work...

Archaeognatha

Rock Bristletail

Petrobius brevistylis

A coastal bristletail found on rocky shores from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean. It has shorter cerci than the related...

Trichoptera

Rock Caddisfly

Goera calcarata

A caddisfly of limestone streams whose cases incorporate calcareous sand grains and pebble ballast. Larvae scrape algae ...

Mantodea

Roeder's Dead Leaf Mantis

Acanthops roederiana

A dark brown dead leaf mantis from the Amazon basin named after entomologist Roeder. Its serrated pronotum edges mimic a...

Lepidoptera

Ross's Alpine

Erebia rossii

A dark brown butterfly with small reddish-orange eye spots on the forewings. Its cryptic coloration allows it to blend w...

Lepidoptera

Rosy Footman Moth

Miltochrista miniata

A beautiful small moth with orange-pink forewings crossed by delicate yellow lines. It is one of the most colorful footm...

Lepidoptera

Rothschildia Silk Moth

Rothschildia lebeau

A spectacular large moth with rich brown wings featuring prominent triangular translucent windows. The wing shape and pa...

Coleoptera

Rough-Skinned Diving Beetle

Dytiscus lapponicus

A large diving beetle of northern and alpine regions across Europe and Asia. Both sexes have finely sculptured elytra, d...

Lepidoptera

Round-winged Muslin Moth

Thumatha senex

A tiny moth with rounded translucent whitish wings marked with faint grey spots. It is among the smallest of the footman...

Lepidoptera

Rounded Metalmark

Calephelis perditalis

A small reddish-brown metalmark with distinctly rounded wing margins and two rows of metallic silvery spots. It is found...

Lepidoptera

Royal Walnut Moth

Citheronia sepulcralis

A rich brown moth with orange veins and small yellow spots. It is closely related to the regal moth but smaller and dark...

Odonata

Russet-tipped Clubtail

Stylurus plagiatus

A handsome clubtail with orange-brown wingtips and a distinctly widened club-shaped abdomen. It flies late in the season...

Trichoptera

Rusty Sedge

Hydropsyche saxonica

A net-spinning caddisfly of clean upland European streams sensitive to organic pollution. Larvae construct fine-meshed c...

Lepidoptera

Sachem Skipper

Atalopedes campestris

A small tawny-orange skipper with a distinctive large dark patch on the male's forewing. Females are darker with more mo...

Orthoptera

Saddle-backed Bush-cricket

Ephippiger ephippiger

A robust bush-cricket named for its saddle-shaped pronotum. It has vestigial wings used only for sound production. Both ...

Trichoptera

Saddle-Case Caddisfly

Glossosoma conformis

A small caddisfly whose larvae build distinctive saddle-shaped cases from tiny stones. When it pupates, it cuts the case...

Lepidoptera

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth

Acharia stimulea

A dark brown moth best known for its extraordinary caterpillar, which is bright green with a brown saddle-shaped marking...

Neuroptera

Saharan Antlion

Neuroleon nemausiensis

A slender antlion found across the Mediterranean and North Africa. Adults fly at dusk and are attracted to lights in ari...

Mantodea

Saharan Desert Mantis

Eremiaphila braueri

A ground-dwelling mantis adapted to the harsh Saharan environment. It is nearly wingless and relies on speed rather than...

Orthoptera

Saharan Sand Grasshopper

Sphingonotus octofasciatus

A pale sandy grasshopper well adapted to life on Saharan sand dunes. It has elongated hind legs for powerful jumps acros...

Dermaptera

Saint Helena Earwig

Labidura herculeana

Was the worlds largest earwig at 78 mm. Endemic to Saint Helena island. Not seen since 1967 and declared extinct in 2014...

Trichoptera

Salt and Pepper Microcaddis

Agraylea multipunctata

A very small caddisfly with speckled wings found in algae-rich ponds and lakes across North America. Larvae build tiny p...

Coleoptera

Salt Flat Tiger Beetle

Eunota togata

A pale whitish tiger beetle adapted to saline environments in western North America. Its light coloring provides camoufl...

Orthoptera

Sand Field Cricket

Gryllus firmus

A large cricket occurring in two wing forms: long-winged fliers and short-winged non-fliers. This wing dimorphism involv...

Trichoptera

Sand Fly Caddis

Glossosoma intermedium

A small caddisfly whose larvae build distinctive tortoise-shell-shaped stone cases. They are important grazers on algae-...

Orthoptera

Sand Treader Camel Cricket

Macrobaenetes valgum

A pale, wingless cricket adapted to life on desert sand dunes in the American Southwest. It has broadened feet for walki...

Blattodea

Sankurensis Soil Termite

Cubitermes sankurensis

A soil-feeding termite found in the Congo Basin rainforests, building small mounds on the forest floor. Colonies are mod...

Odonata

Sapphire Jewelwing

Vestalis luctuosa

A large Southeast Asian damselfly with a dark metallic blue body and dark-tipped wings. Males shimmer with deep sapphire...

Coleoptera

Sardinian Cave Beetle

Speomolops sardous

A blind cave beetle endemic to a single cave system in Sardinia. It has no eyes, no pigment, and elongated legs and ante...

Lepidoptera

Satin Moth

Leucoma salicis

A pure white moth with a satin-like sheen and strikingly chequered black-and-white legs. It can become a serious defolia...

Hymenoptera

Savanna Driver Ant

Dorylus gribodoi

A subterranean driver ant of African savannas that rarely surfaces, conducting most raids through underground tunnels. C...

Coleoptera

Say's Firefly

Pyractomena angulata

An early-season firefly with amber-orange flashes seen in spring across eastern North America. It is among the first fir...

Lepidoptera

Scalloped Hook-tip

Falcaria lacertinaria

A small moth with strongly curved wingtips and scalloped wing margins that rests resembling a dead leaf. Its mottled bro...

Lepidoptera

Scalloped Oak Moth

Crocallis elinguaria

A warm ochre-yellow moth with a distinctive dark brown band across the forewings. It rests with wings pressed tightly to...

Orthoptera

Scaly Cricket

Pseudomogoplistes vicentae

A tiny wingless cricket covered in iridescent scales. It lives on shingle beaches above the high-tide line. It is extrem...

Odonata

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly

Ischnura pumilio

One of Europe's smallest damselflies, with a black body and a single blue segment near the tail tip. Females come in a r...

Lepidoptera

Scarce Copper

Lycaena virgaureae

A brilliant fiery-orange butterfly with black-spotted forewings, the male being one of the most intensely coloured Europ...

Coleoptera

Scarites Ground Beetle

Scarites subterraneus

A large, jet-black burrowing ground beetle found across eastern North America. Its powerful mandibles and flattened body...

Lepidoptera

Scarlet Tiger Moth

Callimorpha dominula

A striking day-flying moth with black forewings spotted with white and yellow, and brilliant scarlet hindwings. It playe...

Orthoptera

Scheltopusik Cave Cricket

Dolichopoda schiavazzii

A cave-dwelling cricket found in limestone caves of central Italy. It has extremely long antennae and reduced eyes adapt...

Lepidoptera

Scotch Argus

Erebia aethiops

A dark brown butterfly with russet-orange bands containing eyespots, found in northern grasslands and light woodland. It...

Coleoptera

Sculptured Pine Borer

Chalcophora virginiensis

A large North American jewel beetle with deeply sculptured elytra giving a textured appearance. Dark metallic bronze col...

Collembola

Seashore Springtail

Anurida maritima

A dark blue-black springtail found in dense clusters on rocky seashores at low tide. It survives tidal submersion by tra...

Diptera

Semaphore Fly

Poecilobothrus nobilitatus

A tiny metallic green fly where males have conspicuous white-tipped wings used in semaphore-like courtship displays. It ...

Orthoptera

Senegalese Grasshopper

Oedaleus senegalensis

A small to medium grasshopper with an X-shaped marking on the pronotum and blue hindwings. It is an important crop pest ...

Coleoptera

Seven-Spotted Lady Beetle

Coccinella magnifica

A scarce ladybird that lives exclusively in and around wood ant nests. It closely resembles the common seven-spot ladybi...

Hymenoptera

Severini's Rover Ant

Tetramorium severini

A small leaf-litter ant with a finely striate head and propodeal spines of moderate length. It belongs to the T. severin...

Araneae

Seychelles Palm Spider

Nephila inaurata

A large golden orb-weaver spider found in the Seychelles with strong yellow silk. Females can have a leg span exceeding ...

Phthiraptera

Shaft Louse

Menopon gallinae

A fast-moving louse found on the feather shafts of chickens and other poultry. It feeds primarily on feather barbs and c...

Dermaptera

Shore Earwig

Anisolabis littorea

A large wingless earwig native to New Zealand, found under stones and driftwood on rocky coasts. It has a shiny black bo...

Coleoptera

Shoreline Rove Beetle

Bledius spectabilis

A burrowing rove beetle that constructs vertical tunnels in salt marsh mud. It feeds on algae scraped from wet sediment ...

Orthoptera

Sieber's Mountain Grasshopper

Miramella alpina

A green alpine grasshopper with short wings, common in European mountain meadows. It is one of the most characteristic i...

Neuroptera

Signate Green Lacewing

Mallada signatus

An Australian native lacewing commercially available for garden pest control. One of few lacewings sold in hardware stor...

Neuroptera

Silky Lacewing

Psychopsis illidgei

A beautiful Australian lacewing with large, rounded wings covered in intricate patterns resembling tree bark. It rests w...

Lepidoptera

Silver-spotted Skipper

Hesperia comma

A small golden-brown butterfly with distinctive silvery spots on the green underside of its hindwings. It is restricted ...

Zygentoma

Silverfish

Lepisma saccharinum

A primitive wingless insect with a silvery scaled body and three tail filaments. A common household inhabitant....

Lepidoptera

Silvery Blue

Glaucopsyche lygdamus

A small silvery-blue butterfly with a neat row of round black spots ringed in white on the grey underside. It is one of ...

Zoraptera

Silvestri Angel Insect

Zorotypus silvestrii

A tropical zorapteran found in Central American forests. It lives in small colonies under loose bark and feeds on fungal...

Coleoptera

Simplon Beetle

Nebria cordicollis

A heart-shaped-thorax ground beetle native to high passes in the western Alps. It inhabits cold, exposed rocky habitats....

Mantodea

Sinai Desert Mantis

Eremiaphila rotundipennis

A pale yellow desert mantis from the Sinai Peninsula with rounded wing remnants. It is one of the better-studied Eremiap...

Hemiptera

Singing Water Boatman

Micronecta scholtzi

The loudest animal relative to body size on Earth. This 2 mm aquatic bug produces mating calls reaching 99.2 decibels by...

Odonata

Sinuate-winged Damselfly

Tatocnemis sinuatipennis

An endemic damselfly with distinctively sinuate or wavy-edged wings, a feature unique among Malagasy odonates. Males hav...

Lepidoptera

Skin Moth

Monopis laevigella

A small dark brown moth with a pale spot on each forewing that breeds in bird nests and animal remains. It is one of nat...

Odonata

Slaty Skimmer

Libellula incesta

A dark, slate-blue dragonfly of eastern North America. Mature males are uniformly dark blue-black, making them distincti...

Hymenoptera

Slave-Maker Ant

Temnothorax americanus

A tiny North American slave-making ant that raids colonies of closely related Temnothorax species. Workers have saber-li...

Hymenoptera

Slave-Making Ant

Formica sanguinea

A facultative slave-making ant that raids colonies of other Formica species to steal pupae. The stolen brood hatches and...

Phthiraptera

Slender Pigeon Louse

Columbicola columbae

A long slender louse found between the barbs of wing and tail feathers of pigeons and doves. It is one of the most studi...

Ephemeroptera

Small Amber Spinner

Caenis macrura

A tiny mayfly whose amber-colored spinners fall to the water in dense clouds. Nymphs live among fine sediments in slow-f...

Trichoptera

Small Ballast Caddisfly

Silo pallipes

A small caddisfly that cements large pebbles to its mineral case for ballast in fast water. Found exclusively in clean c...

Mantodea

Small Desert Mantis

Eremiaphila typhon

A tiny, wingless mantis found in the Sahara Desert that runs across open sand to catch prey. Its pale body color matches...

Lepidoptera

Small Emerald Moth

Hemistola chrysoprasaria

A small, delicate moth with uniformly pale green wings and fine white fringe. It is one of the daintiest European emeral...

Odonata

Small Goldenring

Cordulegaster trinacriae

A Mediterranean goldenring dragonfly found in Italy and nearby regions. It is smaller than most goldenrings and inhabits...

Lepidoptera

Small Ranunculus

Hecatera dysodea

A subtly attractive moth with pale grey-green wings marked with intricate darker patterns. It was once rare in Britain b...

Ephemeroptera

Small Square-Gilled Mayfly

Caenis luctuosa

A minute mayfly with distinctive square-shaped gills on its nymphs. Adults swarm in enormous numbers near water at twili...

Lepidoptera

Small-eyed Sphinx Moth

Paonias myops

A pinkish-brown sphinx moth whose hindwings bear a small blue eyespot ringed in black and yellow. It relies on camouflag...

Hymenoptera

Smelly Carpenter Ant

Dolichoderus thoracicus

A Southeast Asian dolichoderine ant that tends mealybugs inside shelters built from chewed plant material. It is a signi...

Coleoptera

Smokies Synchronous Firefly

Photinus macdermotti

A firefly found in the central Appalachian region that produces slow, deliberate flashes. It is closely related to the f...

Megaloptera

Smoky Alderfly

Sialis fuliginosa

A European alderfly distinguished from S. lutaria by its preference for flowing water rather than still ponds. It has da...

Odonata

Smoky Rubyspot

Hetaerina titia

A damselfly with dark smoky wings and amber-red basal patches in males. It is found along forested streams in the easter...

Blattodea

Smokybrown Cockroach

Periplaneta fuliginosa

A uniformly dark mahogany-brown cockroach that is an excellent flier and strongly attracted to lights at night. It requi...

Coleoptera

Snail Hunter Beetle

Cychrus caraboides

A specialized forest beetle with a narrow elongated head adapted for reaching into snail shells. It is strictly nocturna...

Trichoptera

Snail-Case Caddis

Helicopsyche borealis

A remarkable caddisfly whose larvae build coiled cases from sand grains that closely resemble tiny snail shells. It is w...

Trichoptera

Snail-Case Caddisfly

Helicopsyche mexicana

A remarkable caddisfly whose larva builds a coiled sand-grain case resembling a tiny snail shell. Found in warm streams ...

Lepidoptera

Snailcase Bagworm

Apterona helicoidella

A tiny bagworm moth whose larva builds a coiled, snail-shell-shaped case from silk and sand grains. It reproduces entire...

Mecoptera

Snow Scorpionfly

Boreus hyemalis

A tiny wingless scorpionfly active in winter, walking on snow near mossy habitats. Its vestigial wings are reduced to ho...

Zoraptera

Snyder's Zorapteran

Zorotypus snyderi

A minute gregarious insect living in small colonies in rotting logs. Wingless forms are blind and pale, while winged for...

Lepidoptera

Sod Webworm Moth

Crambus praefectellus

A small straw-colored moth that holds its wings tightly rolled around its body at rest, giving it a tubular appearance. ...

Blattodea

Soldier-heavy Termite

Pericapritermes nitobei

A soil-feeding termite found across Southeast Asia and the Pacific, notable for its snapping-mandible soldiers. Workers ...

Mantodea

Somali Conehead Mantis

Empusa somalica

A rare conehead mantis found in the Horn of Africa's arid scrublands. Its sandy coloration provides perfect camouflage i...

Blattodea

Somali Harvester Termite

Hodotermes sjoestedti

A harvester termite found in the dry grasslands and semi-deserts of the Horn of Africa. Like other hodotermitids, worker...

Lepidoptera

Sonoran Silk Moth

Sphingicampa hubbardi

A small saturniid moth with warm pinkish-tan wings and minimal patterning. It is adapted to the harsh desert environment...

Megaloptera

South African Alderfly

Leptosialis africana

One of the few alderfly species found in the Southern Hemisphere, occurring in clean mountain streams of South Africa. A...

Lepidoptera

South American Clearwing Moth

Carmenta theobromae

A small wasp-mimicking clearwing moth with transparent wings and a banded black-and-yellow abdomen. It is a significant ...

Mantodea

South American Dead Leaf Mantis

Acanthops falcataria

A spectacular dead leaf mimic from South American forests with crumpled, leaf-shaped wings. Its brown, withered appearan...

Coleoptera

South American Giant Diving Beetle

Megadytes ducalis

One of the largest diving beetles in South America with a glossy dark olive body. It inhabits large rivers and lakes of ...

Ephemeroptera

South American Giant Mayfly

Campsurus major

A large tropical mayfly found in South American rivers and floodplains. Males have distinctive elongated forelegs used f...

Hymenoptera

South American Velvet Ant

Traumatomutilla indica

A large tropical velvet ant with striking black and orange patterns. Despite its species name, it is native to South Ame...

Coleoptera

South American Weevil

Rhinostomus barbirostris

A large black weevil with a very long, slender rostrum used for boring into palm trunks. It is an important pest of coco...

Coleoptera

South American Whirligig Beetle

Gyrinus ovatus

A widespread whirligig beetle found across temperate and tropical regions of the Americas. It is highly gregarious and f...

Odonata

Southern Damselfly

Coenagrion mercuriale

A rare and declining European damselfly with a mercury-symbol-shaped mark on segment two. It is restricted to base-rich ...

Lepidoptera

Southern Flannel Moth

Megalopyge opercularis

A fluffy moth covered in cream to orange-brown fur-like scales. Its larva, called the puss caterpillar, is covered in so...

Archaeognatha

Southern Jumping Bristletail

Dilta hibernica

A bristletail found on rocky coasts of western Europe, from Ireland to Portugal. It has large eyes and a distinctively h...

Diptera

Southern Net-Winged Midge

Blepharicera cherokea

A net-winged midge endemic to southern Appalachian mountain streams. Larvae graze diatoms from smooth rock faces in fast...

Coleoptera

Spanish Copper

Carabus hispanus

A spectacular ground beetle with vivid coppery-red and green metallic colouring. It inhabits southern French and Iberian...

Odonata

Sparkling Jewelwing

Calopteryx xanthostoma

A southwestern European demoiselle closely related to the Banded Demoiselle. Males have broad dark wing bands and a dist...

Lepidoptera

Speckled Emperor Moth

Gynanisa maja

A large earth-toned emperor moth with speckled brown and grey wings bearing clear eyespots. It is a common moth in south...

Lepidoptera

Speckled Wood

Pararge aegeria

Brown butterfly with cream or orange spots and small eyespots on hindwings. Males defend sunlit patches on the forest fl...

Blattodea

Speculitermes Inquiline

Speculitermes cyclops

A small soil-feeding termite from India that is notable for being an inquiline, living within the mounds of larger termi...

Mantodea

Spiny Dead Leaf Mantis

Acanthops tuberculata

A heavily textured dead leaf mantis covered in bumps and tubercles from northern South America. The rough texture adds t...

Mantodea

Spiny Flower Mantis

Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii

Small, colorful mantis with spectacular eye-like patterns on its wings displayed in a threat pose. White and green body ...

Lepidoptera

Spiny Oak Slug Moth

Euclea delphinii

A small colorful moth with green, brown, and silver-spotted forewings. Its flattened, jewel-like caterpillar is green wi...

Lepidoptera

Spiny Oakworm Moth

Anisota stigma

A medium-sized saturniid with rich orange-brown wings bearing a small white discal spot. Males are darker and smaller th...

Odonata

Splendid Clubtail

Gomphidia abbotti

A large, impressive Asian clubtail with bold yellow and black markings. It inhabits forested rivers in Southeast Asia an...

Coleoptera

Splendid Ground Beetle

Carabus splendens

A dazzling green and gold ground beetle endemic to the Pyrenees mountains. It is prized by collectors for its brilliant ...

Neuroptera

Split-Footed Lacewing

Nymphes myrmeleonides

A large Australian lacewing with a wingspan up to 70 mm and distinctive bilobed tarsi. Adults are nocturnal and attracte...

Coleoptera

Spotted Diving Beetle

Graphoderus cinereus

A medium-sized diving beetle with distinctive mottled brown and cream patterning. It inhabits clean, well-vegetated pond...

Lepidoptera

Spotted Grass Moth

Rivula propinqualis

A tiny yellowish moth with a distinctive dark spot on each forewing. It is extremely common in damp grassy habitats acro...

Trichoptera

Spotted Sedge

Hydropsyche siltalai

A net-spinning caddisfly that constructs silken capture nets in fast-flowing water to filter food from the current. Adul...

Megaloptera

Spring Fishfly

Chauliodes rastricornis

A medium-sized fishfly with pectinate antennae found in eastern North America. Adults are attracted to lights near river...

Coleoptera

Spring Pygmy Firefly

Pleotomus pallens

A tiny, rarely seen firefly of the eastern United States with a very short adult life span. Males produce faint, sporadi...

Lepidoptera

Spruce Budworm

Choristoneura fumiferana

A small mottled grey-brown moth that is the most destructive forest pest in North America. Outbreaks can kill millions o...

Orthoptera

Spur-throated Locust

Austracris guttulosa

A large Australian locust named for the distinctive spur on its throat. It is a major agricultural pest in northern and ...

Lepidoptera

Spurge Hawkmoth

Hyles euphorbiae

A striking hawkmoth with olive and pink forewings and rosy-red hindwings with a black base. Its caterpillar is equally s...

Mantodea

Sri Lankan Green Mantis

Hierodula patellifera

A common bright green mantis found across tropical Asia and parts of Oceania. It is highly adaptable and thrives in both...

Hymenoptera

Sri Lankan Relict Ant

Aneuretus simoni

The sole surviving member of its entire subfamily, known only from a few localities in Sri Lanka's rainforests. A true l...

Coleoptera

Stenus Jet Rove Beetle

Stenus bimaculatus

A small rove beetle with bulging eyes and an extensible sticky labium used to capture springtails. It can skim across wa...

Neuroptera

Stigmate Brown Lacewing

Hemerobius stigma

A brown lacewing with a distinctive dark spot on each forewing. Widespread in conifer-dominated forests of the Northern ...

Coleoptera

Stinking Rove Beetle

Ocypus nero

A jet-black rove beetle with finely punctured elytra and a broad head. It emits a foul-smelling secretion when disturbed...

Odonata

Stream Jewelwing

Neurobasis chinensis

A spectacular tropical damselfly where males have iridescent metallic green hindwings that flash in sunlight. Females ha...

Hemiptera

Streamlined Backswimmer

Notonecta irrorata

A pale backswimmer with mottled wings found in still and slow-moving waters across North America. Like other backswimmer...

Dermaptera

Striped Earwig

Labidura riparia

A large, pale sandy-brown earwig with dark longitudinal stripes, commonly found near water. It is one of the most widesp...

Coleoptera

Striped Whirligig Beetle

Gyrinus substriatus

A small whirligig beetle common across Europe, with fine longitudinal lines on the elytra. It aggregates in large swarms...

Coleoptera

Subterranean Diving Beetle

Limbodessus palmulaoides

An eyeless aquatic beetle living in underground calcrete aquifers of Western Australia. It has lost all pigmentation and...

Orthoptera

Sudan Plague Locust

Aiolopus simulatrix

A slender grasshopper of the Sahel zone that occasionally reaches plague densities after good rains. It is an important ...

Lepidoptera

Sugarcane Borer

Diatraea saccharalis

A straw-colored moth whose larvae bore into sugarcane stalks, causing yield losses and allowing disease organisms to ent...

Mantodea

Sulawesi Stick Mantis

Toxodera celebensis

A stick mantis endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. It is part of the island's unique fauna shaped by million...

Ephemeroptera

Sulphur Mayfly

Ephemerella dorothea

A small pale yellow mayfly that produces reliable evening hatches on eastern North American streams. One of the most imp...

Mantodea

Sumatran Stick Mantis

Toxodera hauseri

A slender stick mantis found in the montane forests of Sumatra. It is one of the few Toxodera species adapted to cooler ...

Megaloptera

Summer Fishfly

Chauliodes pectinicornis

A medium-sized fishfly emerging in summer with distinctive dark-veined wings and feathery antennae. Larvae develop in mu...

Coleoptera

Sunburst Diving Beetle

Thermonectus marmoratus

A striking yellow-and-black spotted diving beetle from the American Southwest and Mexico. Its larvae have been discovere...

Odonata

Superb Jewelwing

Calopteryx amata

An East Asian damselfly with iridescent metallic green body and dark wings with blue-purple reflections. It inhabits cle...

Blattodea

Surat Cockroach

Periplaneta indica

A medium-sized cockroach native to the Indian subcontinent. It has a dark brown body and is commonly found in buildings....

Hymenoptera

Swaine Jack Pine Sawfly

Neodiprion swainei

A pine sawfly with strongly pectinate male antennae and sawfly females that are stouter and paler. Larvae are olive gree...

Lepidoptera

Swallow-tailed Moth

Ourapteryx sambucaria

A large, pale lemon-yellow moth with pointed tail-like projections on its hindwings. Its graceful shape and colour make ...

Lepidoptera

Swamp Metalmark

Calephelis mutica

A rare and localized metalmark butterfly of midwestern wetlands with warm rusty-brown wings marked with fine metallic li...

Lepidoptera

Sweetbay Silk Moth

Callosamia securifera

A large silk moth similar to the promethea but associated with sweetbay magnolia in the southeastern United States. Male...

Coleoptera

Synchronous Firefly

Photinus carolinus

One of the few firefly species in North America that synchronizes its flashing patterns. Thousands flash in unison durin...

Coleoptera

Taiwanese Window Firefly

Pyrocoelia analis

A large Taiwanese firefly with a distinctive orange pronotum and transparent wing windows. Its larvae are terrestrial an...

Trichoptera

Tan Spotted Sedge

Hydropsyche instabilis

A medium-sized caddisfly whose larvae construct net retreats in fast-flowing upland streams. Adults are tan with spotted...

Mantodea

Tanzanian Conehead Mantis

Empusa conversii

An East African conehead mantis found in the dry woodlands of Tanzania. It has a well-developed head cone and long, spin...

Mantodea

Tanzanian Flower Mantis

Pseudocreobotra gratiosus

A graceful flower mantis from East African coastal forests. It has a predominantly white body with subtle green and pink...

Mantophasmatodea

Tanzanian Heelwalker

Tanzaniophasma subsolana

Known only from a single museum specimen from Tanzania, this enigmatic heelwalker represents the only known East African...

Neuroptera

Tasmanian Brown Lacewing

Micromus tasmaniae

A small Australian brown lacewing that has become a globally significant biocontrol agent. Widely studied for its effect...

Coleoptera

Tatra Mountain Beetle

Nebria tatrica

An endemic ground beetle found only in the Tatra Mountains. It lives under stones in alpine scree at the highest elevati...

Hymenoptera

Tawny Crazy Ant

Nylanderia fulva

A small reddish-brown ant that forms enormous supercolonies and is displacing fire ants in the southern United States. T...

Orthoptera

Tenerife Cave Cricket

Petaloptila canariensis

A pale cave-dwelling cricket found in lava tubes on Tenerife. It has reduced eyes and elongated antennae adapted to life...

Lepidoptera

Tenerife Speckled Wood Butterfly

Pararge xiphioides

A brown butterfly with orange eyespot patches endemic to the western Canary Islands. It flies in shaded laurel forest cl...

Neuroptera

Terminalis Spongillafly

Sisyra terminalis

A Palearctic spongillafly with dark wing tips found near clean freshwater systems. Indicator of good water quality and h...

Coleoptera

Termitophilous Rove Beetle

Corotoca melantho

A bizarre, physogastric rove beetle that lives inside termite nests in Brazil. The female's abdomen becomes enormously s...

Coleoptera

Texas Stygobiontic Diving Beetle

Psychopomporus felipi

A groundwater-dwelling diving beetle from the Edwards-Trinity Aquifer in Texas. It was the first stygobiontic diving bee...

Coleoptera

Thai Aquatic Firefly

Luciola aquatilis

A small Thai firefly notable for having truly aquatic larvae with functional gills. It was one of the first fireflies co...

Hymenoptera

Thief Ant

Solenopsis molesta

One of the smallest ant species in North America, nesting near larger ant colonies to steal food and brood. Their tiny s...

Odonata

Three-veined Dragonfly

Neodythemis trinervulata

A small forest dragonfly with a characteristic three-veined wing pattern that distinguishes it from related species. Mal...

Diptera

Throat Bot Fly of Horses

Gasterophilus nasalis

A yellowish-brown bot fly that lays eggs under the jaw of horses. Larvae migrate to the area between the teeth and gums ...

Coleoptera

Transverse Ladybird

Coccinella transversalis

An Australian native ladybird with variable orange-and-black markings. It is an important biological control agent for a...

Hymenoptera

Triplaris Ant

Pseudomyrmex triplarinus

A South American ant that inhabits the hollow stems of Triplaris trees in a mutualistic relationship. Workers swarm out ...

Coleoptera

Tropical Ant-loving Rove Beetle

Ecitophya simulans

A myrmecophilous rove beetle from Central America that lives with Eciton army ants. Its body closely resembles the shape...

Coleoptera

Tropical Giant Whirligig Beetle

Dineutus indicus

A large whirligig beetle found on the surfaces of tropical ponds and slow rivers across South Asia. It forms impressive ...

Orthoptera

Tropical House Cricket

Gryllodes sigillatus

A small light brown cricket with dark bands on its head. It is widely bred as feeder insects for reptiles. Originally fr...

Neuroptera

Tropical Mantidfly

Entanoneura gratiosa

A striking tropical mantidfly with patterned wings found in Asian rainforests. Its ornate wing markings are unusual amon...

Coleoptera

Tropical Rove Beetle

Erichsonius cinerascens

A small, greyish rove beetle found in marshy habitats and pond margins. It is a useful bioindicator of wetland health....

Lepidoptera

True Armyworm Moth

Mythimna unipuncta

A tawny-brown moth with a single white dot on each forewing. Its larvae march in armies across fields, devastating cerea...

Trichoptera

Trumpet-Net Caddis

Polycentropus flavomaculatus

A caddisfly whose larvae spin trumpet-shaped silk nets to trap prey. It is common throughout European rivers and lakes....

Blattodea

Tube-building Desert Termite

Gnathamitermes perplexus

A desert termite found in the southwestern United States that builds distinctive mud tubes and soil sheeting over grass ...

Lepidoptera

Tulip-tree Silk Moth

Callosamia angulifera

A large silk moth similar to the promethea but with more angular wing shapes and richer coloring. It is closely associat...

Diptera

Tumbu Fly

Cordylobia anthropophaga

An African blow fly whose larvae cause furuncular myiasis in humans and animals. Females lay eggs on soil or clothing hu...

Blattodea

Tumulitermes Mound Termite

Tumulitermes pastinator

An Australian grass-harvesting termite that builds small columnar mounds in tropical savannas. Workers forage in open co...

Mantodea

Tunisian Desert Mantis

Eremiaphila berndstiewi

A recently described desert mantis from southern Tunisia. It has an extremely flattened body that helps it hide under st...

Raphidioptera

Turanian Snakefly

Turcoraphidia amara

A snakefly native to Central Asia and the Middle East, inhabiting arid mountainous woodlands. It is one of the few raphi...

Coleoptera

Turk's Tiger Beetle

Cephalota turcica

A distinctive tiger beetle found on saline lake shores and mudflats across Turkey and the Middle East. Its pale markings...

Blattodea

Turkestan Cockroach

Shelfordella lateralis

A medium-sized cockroach originally from Central Asia that is rapidly displacing the oriental cockroach in many urban ar...

Lepidoptera

Tussar Moth

Antheraea mylitta

A large Indian silk moth with deep golden-brown wings and prominent eyespots bordered in black. It is one of the most co...

Protura

Tuxen's Acerentomid

Acerentulus confinis

A widespread European proturan found in a variety of soil habitats. It is commonly encountered in temperate deciduous fo...

Coleoptera

Twelve-Lined Whirligig Beetle

Gyrinus minutus

One of the smallest European whirligig beetles, found in clean ponds and lakes. It is often overlooked due to its diminu...

Lepidoptera

Twin-spotted Sphinx Moth

Smerinthus jamaicensis

A medium-sized hawk moth with scalloped gray-brown forewings and blue and black eyespots on the hindwings. When threaten...

Odonata

Twin-spotted Spiketail

Cordulegaster maculata

A large, dark brown spiketail with paired yellow spots on each abdominal segment. It is the most common spiketail in eas...

Coleoptera

Two-Spot Ladybird

Adalia bipunctata

A small ladybird typically red with two black spots, though melanic (black with red spots) forms are also common. Popula...

Orthoptera

Two-spotted Groundhopper

Tetrix bipunctata

A montane pygmy grasshopper with two pale spots on its pronotum, found in upland rocky habitats across Europe. It favors...

Odonata

Two-toothed Goldenring

Cordulegaster bidentata

A large, dark goldenring dragonfly of central European mountain streams. It is distinguished from other goldenrings by t...

Hymenoptera

Underground Army Ant

Labidus coecus

A mostly subterranean army ant that occasionally surfaces in massive raiding columns across the Americas. Workers are pa...

Odonata

Vagrant Emperor

Anax ephippiger

A nomadic dragonfly that wanders vast distances across Africa, Europe, and Asia. It has a sandy-brown body with a distin...

Coleoptera

Varied Carpet Beetle

Anthrenus verbasci

A tiny, round beetle with mottled white, brown, and yellow scales on its elytra. It is a worldwide pest of natural fiber...

Coleoptera

Vedalia Beetle

Novius cardinalis

A small red-and-black ladybird famous as the first successful biological control agent in history. It saved the Californ...

Coleoptera

Velebit Cave Beetle

Hadesia vasiceki

A blind, reddish-brown cave beetle from deep caves in the Dinaric Alps. It has a narrow elongated body adapted for movin...

Ephemeroptera

Velvet Ameletid Mayfly

Ameletus velox

A swift-swimming mayfly of headwater streams known for its velvety-textured nymphal cuticle. Adults emerge in early summ...

Hymenoptera

Velvet Tree Ant

Liometopum occidentale

A large ant that nests in oak trees and produces a distinctive trail pheromone odor....

Mantodea

Vietnamese Flower Mantis

Creobroter elongata

A small, slender flower mantis found in Vietnam and southern China. It has elongated wings with subtle eyespot markings ...

Lepidoptera

Violet Copper

Lycaena helle

A tiny butterfly whose males display a vivid violet-purple sheen over coppery-orange wings. It is one of Europe's rarest...

Odonata

Violet Dropwing

Trithemis annulata

A stunning dragonfly where mature males turn deep violet-purple with red wing veins. It is expanding its range northward...

Hymenoptera

Virginia Pine Sawfly

Neodiprion pratti pratti

A pine sawfly whose larvae are greenish-yellow with prominent dark stripes. It preferentially attacks Virginia pine and ...

Odonata

Vivid Dancer

Argia vivida

A brightly colored dancer damselfly of western North America with intense blue-violet markings. It thrives along desert ...

Mantodea

Wahlberg's Flower Mantis

Pseudocreobotra amarae

A small East African flower mantis with spiny projections on its abdomen and thorax. Its coloring ranges from white to g...

Mantodea

Wandering Desert Mantis

Eremiaphila cerisyi

A tiny, wingless praying mantis that runs across desert sand like a spider. Its flattened, sand-colored body provides ex...

Orthoptera

Wart-biter Cricket

Decticus verrucivorus

A large bush-cricket with mottled green and brown coloring. Males produce a loud sustained song to attract mates. Histor...

Hemiptera

Water Measurer

Hydrometra australis

A very slender, elongate semi-aquatic bug that walks slowly on water surfaces in the Americas. Its head is exceptionally...

Hemiptera

Water Scorpion

Nepa cinerea

A flat aquatic bug that lurks in shallow water resembling a dead leaf. It breathes through a long tail-like siphon that ...

Hemiptera

Water Strider

Gerris lacustris

Walks on water using hydrophobic leg hairs that trap air. Each leg has thousands of microscopic grooved hairs. Can detec...

Psocoptera

Web-spinning Barklouse

Archipsocus nomas

A bark louse known for spinning communal silk webs over tree bark in tropical and subtropical regions. Large colonies ca...

Lepidoptera

Webbing Clothes Moth

Tineola bisselliella

A small golden-buff moth whose larvae are the primary insect pest of woolen clothing and textiles. Adults are weak flier...

Coleoptera

Weevil

Curculio glandium

Acorn weevils have an enormously long rostrum (snout) used to bore into acorns for egg laying. Curculionidae is the larg...

Hymenoptera

West African Driver Ant

Dorylus molestus

A large East African driver ant known for its painful bites that are difficult to remove once clamped. Columns can stret...

Ephemeroptera

Western Ameletid Mayfly

Ameletus cooki

A streamlined mayfly found in cold mountain streams of the Pacific Northwest. Nymphs are agile swimmers that dart betwee...

Coleoptera

Western Firefly

Microphotus angustus

A rare western North American firefly with larviform females that glow. Males are winged but produce no light....

Plecoptera

Western Glacier Stonefly

Zapada glacier

A cold-specialist stonefly found only in glacier-fed streams in Glacier National Park. It is threatened by the retreat o...

Trichoptera

Western Grannom Caddis

Brachycentrus occidentalis

A widespread European caddisfly forming mass emergences in spring on alkaline rivers. Larvae build four-sided tapering c...

Ephemeroptera

Western Iron Dun

Epeorus longimanus

An iconic eastern mayfly that signals the start of spring fly-fishing season. Nymphs have only two tails and cling to ro...

Lepidoptera

Western Spruce Budworm

Choristoneura occidentalis

A major defoliator of Douglas-fir and true firs in western North America. Repeated defoliation leads to growth loss and ...

Coleoptera

Western Water Penny

Psephenus falli

A water penny beetle restricted to clean mountain streams in western North America. Its disc-shaped larvae are indicator...

Hymenoptera

Wheat Stem Sawfly

Cephus cinctus

A major pest of wheat and barley on the northern Great Plains of North America. Larvae bore inside stems, weakening them...

Hemiptera

Wheel Bug

Arilus cristatus

The largest assassin bug in North America, named for the distinctive cogwheel-shaped crest on its thorax. It delivers an...

Lepidoptera

White Admiral

Limenitis camilla

An elegant woodland butterfly with dark brown wings crossed by a broad white band, noted for its graceful gliding flight...

Ephemeroptera

White Miller Mayfly

Ephoron virgo

A white-bodied European mayfly that emerges in enormous synchronized swarms at dusk. Females are unique among mayflies i...

Hymenoptera

White Pine Sawfly

Neodiprion pinetum

A defoliator primarily attacking eastern white pine in North America. Larvae feed in clusters, consuming entire needles....

Lepidoptera

White Witch Moth

Thysania agrippina

Holds the record for the widest wingspan of any moth or butterfly at up to 310 mm. A nocturnal neotropical species with ...

Lepidoptera

White-banded Grass Dart

Taractrocera papyria

A small orange-brown skipper butterfly with a distinctive white band across its hindwings. It is common in grassy habita...

Ephemeroptera

White-Gloved Howdy

Isonychia sadleri

Named for the white tips of its forelegs resembling gloves. Nymphs are powerful swimmers found in fast-flowing Appalachi...

Odonata

White-legged Damselfly

Platycnemis pennipes

A pale, delicate damselfly with distinctively flattened white legs that the male waves during courtship displays. It pre...

Orthoptera

White-Lined Sphinx Moth Hornworm

Cibolacris parviceps

A tiny, short-faced grasshopper adapted to the harshest parts of the Chihuahuan Desert. Its compact body reduces the sur...

Hymenoptera

White-spotted Ichneumon

Compsocryptus texensis

A medium black ichneumon wasp with conspicuous white spots on the thorax and legs. It parasitizes spider egg sacs and ca...

Mantodea

Wide Dead Leaf Mantis

Acanthops platycephala

A broad-headed dead leaf mantis from the Amazon basin with a distinctively flattened head. Its wide head profile adds to...

Lepidoptera

Willow Beauty

Peribatodes rhomboidaria

A well-camouflaged moth with grey-brown wings marked with dark cross-lines that blends perfectly with tree bark. It is o...

Hymenoptera

Willow Shoot Sawfly

Janus cynosbati

A slender, dark stem sawfly whose larvae bore into the shoots of willow and rose. Females cause distinctive wilting of s...

Lepidoptera

Wood White

Leptidea sinapis

A delicate, fluttery butterfly with rounded white wings and a small grey wingtip patch. It has a weak, dancing flight cl...

Protura

Woodland Acerentomid

Acerentomon maius

A relatively large proturan found in deciduous forest soils of central Europe. It is among the better-studied acerentomi...

Hymenoptera

Wroughton's Army Ant

Aenictus wroughtonii

A small reddish-brown army ant that conducts well-organized raids on termite mounds in tropical Asia. Workers are monomo...

Ephemeroptera

Yellow May Dun

Heptagenia sulphurea

A bright sulfur-yellow mayfly common across European rivers during early summer. Its flat nymphs are adapted to fast-flo...

Plecoptera

Yellow Sally

Isoperla fulva

A bright yellow stonefly common in European upland streams. Nymphs are omnivorous, feeding on both algae and small inver...

Plecoptera

Yellow Sally Stonefly

Isoperla grammatica

A common European stonefly with a distinctive yellow body, emerging in late spring on clean rivers. It is a well-known s...

Odonata

Yellow-winged Darter

Sympetrum flaveolum

A medium-sized darter with extensive saffron-yellow patches at the base of all four wings. Males are red-bodied while fe...

Coleoptera

Yellow-Winged Darter Rove Beetle

Philonthus cognatus

A medium-sized, metallic-black rove beetle with brownish wing tips. It is one of the most common staphylinids in Europea...

Mantodea

Yemeni Conehead Mantis

Empusa mendicaria

A slender conehead mantis from the Arabian Peninsula with a well-developed head process. It inhabits dry wadis and acaci...

Trichoptera

Zebra Caddis

Macrostemum zebratum

A strikingly patterned net-spinning caddisfly of eastern North American rivers. Larvae build large silken capture nets i...

Lepidoptera

Zebra Swallowtail

Eurytides marcellus

A pale greenish-white swallowtail with bold black stripes and very long hindwing tails. Its striking zebra-like pattern ...