Mountains

253 species found in this habitat

Coleoptera

African Fig-tree Longhorn

Phryneta spinator

A large, spiny longhorn beetle with gray-brown mottled coloring and prominent lateral thoracic spines. It is a wood-bori...

Phasmatodea

African Giant Stick Insect

Palophus centaurus

One of the largest stick insects in East Africa, with females reaching over 20 cm in length. It has thorny legs and body...

Hymenoptera

Alpine Bumblebee

Bombus alpinus

A large bumblebee with distinctive orange-red tail and dark body covered in dense fur. It is found at high elevations in...

Coleoptera

Alpine Click Beetle

Hypnoidus rivularius

A small, dark click beetle found in damp alpine and subalpine habitats. Its larvae develop in moist soil among grass roo...

Orthoptera

Alpine Dark Bush-cricket

Pholidoptera aptera

A large, dark bush-cricket found in alpine and subalpine scrublands. It is completely flightless with only vestigial win...

Orthoptera

Alpine Grasshopper

Kosciuscola tristis

A striking color-changing grasshopper found in the Australian Alps above the snowline. Males turn from dark black-brown ...

Lepidoptera

Alpine Grizzled Skipper

Pyrgus andromedae

A small, dark skipper butterfly with white checkered markings. It flies low over alpine turf in quick, darting flights....

Coleoptera

Alpine Ground Beetle

Nebria germari

A dark, robust ground beetle found on alpine scree slopes and glacier margins. It hunts small invertebrates among loose ...

Hemiptera

Alpine Ground Bug

Geocoris grylloides

A small, big-eyed predatory bug of dry mountain slopes. It uses its large eyes to spot and stalk small arthropod prey....

Hemiptera

Alpine Plant Bug

Lygus punctatus

A small, variable plant bug found on alpine flowers and herbs. It feeds on plant sap and developing seeds....

Diptera

Alpine Snow Fly

Chionea lutescens

A yellowish wingless crane fly found on snow in alpine regions. It breeds in soil beneath the snowpack where larvae feed...

Diptera

Alpine Soldierfly

Oxycera morrisii

A small, brightly patterned soldierfly found near mountain springs and seepages. Its larvae develop in calcareous spring...

Plecoptera

Alpine Stonefly

Dictyogenus alpinum

A large, dark stonefly of cold alpine streams and rivers. Its nymphs are voracious predators of other aquatic invertebra...

Coleoptera

Alpine Weevil

Otiorhynchus morio

A large, black flightless weevil of alpine and subalpine zones. It feeds on roots and leaves of low-growing mountain pla...

Coleoptera

Andean Caterpillar Hunter

Calosoma abbreviatum

A South American caterpillar hunter beetle found in highland regions. It has dark bronze elytra and preys on armyworm ca...

Phasmatodea

Andropromachus Stick Insect

Andropromachus scutatus

A winged stick insect from Yunnan Province in China with a shield-like thoracic plate. Males are capable of sustained fl...

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...

Lepidoptera

Arctic Grayling

Oeneis bore

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

Phasmatodea

Arizonan Walking Stick

Diapheromera arizonensis

A walkingstick found in the mountains and canyons of Arizona. It is typically brown or tan to blend with desert vegetati...

Coleoptera

Asian Giant Rove Beetle

Platydracus sharpi

A large, striking rove beetle from East Asia with metallic blue-green coloration and golden pubescence. It is one of the...

Phasmatodea

Bartman's Timema

Timema bartmani

A small, green timema from the mountains of southern California. It was described relatively recently from a restricted ...

Phasmatodea

Bhaskara's Leaf Insect

Pulchriphyllium bhaskarai

A leaf insect endemic to Java, Indonesia, recently separated from closely related species. It has distinctly rounded abd...

Coleoptera

Birch Leaf Beetle

Chrysomela collaris

A handsome beetle with dark metallic blue-black elytra and a contrasting bright red pronotum. It is found on birch trees...

Coleoptera

Black Alpine Weevil

Otiorhynchus niger

A robust, dark weevil commonly found under stones in alpine environments. Adults are nocturnal and feed on plant foliage...

Hemiptera

Black Cicada

Maoricicada nigra

A striking all-black alpine cicada endemic to the mountains of the South Island of New Zealand. Its dark colouration hel...

Lepidoptera

Bogong Moth

Agrotis infusa

A migratory moth that aestivates in alpine caves in enormous aggregations....

Coleoptera

Bornean Thick-legged Flower Beetle

Cheirotonus battareli

A large, striking flower beetle with metallic green elytra and enormously thickened front legs in males. The oversized f...

Coleoptera

Brazilian Jewel Scarab

Chrysina cupreomarginata

A dazzling scarab beetle with a brilliant golden-green metallic sheen. Its compact oval body reflects light like polishe...

Lepidoptera

Bright-eyed Ringlet

Erebia oeme

A dark brown ringlet with prominent white-pupiled eyespots. It frequents damp, grassy slopes in subalpine and alpine zon...

Phasmatodea

Bud-wing Stick Insect

Phaenopharos khaoyaiensis

A medium-sized brown stick insect with tiny bud-like wings. It has knobby projections on its body mimicking tree buds. I...

Diptera

Bumblebee-mimicking Tachinid

Jurinia frontalis

A large, furry tachinid fly that closely mimics a bumblebee with its dense covering of orange and black hairs. It is one...

Coleoptera

Canary Islands Ground Beetle

Calathus amplius

A flightless ground beetle endemic to the Canary Islands. It lives under stones and in leaf litter in highland areas....

Orthoptera

Cape Mountain Katydid

Pseudosaga incerta

A large predatory katydid with bold orange and blue-green warning colors. Found only on high mountain peaks in the Cape ...

Hymenoptera

Cape Oil-collecting Bee

Rediviva neliana

A South African oil-collecting bee with extraordinarily long front legs used to extract floral oil from deep-spurred Dia...

Coleoptera

Cape Stag Beetle

Colophon westwoodi

A rare flightless stag beetle found only on high mountain peaks of the Western Cape. Males have short but robust mandibl...

Coleoptera

Carabus olympiae

Carabus olympiae

A brilliantly colored ground beetle found only in a tiny area of the Italian Alps. Its metallic purple and green elytra ...

Coleoptera

Carpathian Alpine Beetle

Nebria reitteri

An endemic alpine ground beetle of the Carpathian Mountains. It is a cold-specialist predator found only at the highest ...

Coleoptera

Caucasus Beetle

Chalcosoma chiron

A massive three-horned rhinoceros beetle with a metallic greenish-black body. It is the largest of the Chalcosoma genus ...

Coleoptera

Caucasus Ground Beetle

Carabus caucasicus

A large, robust ground beetle from the Caucasus Mountains with deeply sculptured black elytra and a massive body. It is ...

Phasmatodea

Celebes Leaf Insect

Phyllium celebicum

A leaf insect from Sulawesi with remarkably detailed leaf venation on its wings and body. Color ranges from bright green...

Coleoptera

Central American Glowworm Beetle

Phengodes hidalgoensis

A Mexican glowworm beetle with males possessing large feathery antennae and short elytra. The larviform females produce ...

Lepidoptera

Central Asian Apollo

Parnassius actius

A large, high-altitude Apollo butterfly of the Pamir and Tian Shan mountains. It has a powerful gliding flight over barr...

Plecoptera

Chilean Giant Stonefly

Diamphipnoa helicoides

An ancient, large stonefly endemic to Chilean mountain streams. It belongs to a relict family with Gondwanan origins....

Lepidoptera

Chimera Birdwing

Ornithoptera chimaera

A large montane birdwing butterfly found in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. It occurs at elevations between 1200 and ...

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 Peacock Swallowtail

Papilio bianor

A large swallowtail with dark wings that shimmer with brilliant blue-green iridescence. Its hindwings feature red and bl...

Grylloblattodea

Chinese Rock Crawler

Galloisiana sinensis

A rare ice crawler found in mountainous regions of China. It is wingless and nocturnal, emerging only in cold conditions...

Coleoptera

Chinese Terrestrial Glowworm Firefly

Pyrocoelia pectoralis

A large firefly with dark brown elytra and a bright reddish pronotum. Females are wingless and produce a steady glow. Th...

Lepidoptera

Clipper Butterfly

Parthenos sylvia

A powerful gliding butterfly with broad wings marked in pale blue-green, brown, and white. It has a distinctive sailing ...

Coleoptera

Colorado Flower Longhorn

Brachyleptura champlaini

A slender, black and yellow flower-visiting longhorn beetle. Larvae develop in decaying hardwood logs....

Phasmatodea

Conle's Stick Insect

Conlephasma enigma

A rare and enigmatic stick insect from the Philippines, unusual for a typically neotropical family. Its discovery was ta...

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...

Lepidoptera

Corsican Swallowtail

Papilio hospiton

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

Odonata

Cretan Hawker

Boyeria cretensis

A dragonfly endemic to the island of Crete, found only along a few shaded mountain streams. One of Europe's most range-r...

Lepidoptera

Cynthia's Fritillary

Euphydryas cynthia

A striking black-and-white checkered fritillary with orange markings. Males and females differ dramatically in coloratio...

Lepidoptera

Dewy Ringlet

Erebia pandrose

A widespread alpine ringlet with grayish-brown wings and small eyespots. It is found across many mountain ranges from Sc...

Coleoptera

Dionysius Beetle

Golofa porteri

A striking rhinoceros beetle with an extremely long, slender head horn. Males joust by interlocking horns and wrestling....

Coleoptera

Douglas-fir Beetle

Dendroctonus pseudotsugae

A dark reddish-brown bark beetle that attacks Douglas-fir trees, particularly those weakened by drought or windthrow. It...

Diptera

Eastern Net-Winged Midge

Blepharicera tenuipes

A net-winged midge whose larvae cling to rocks in the fastest torrents using ventral suction discs. Adults have characte...

Coleoptera

Elegant Stag Beetle

Odontolabis elegans

A large Southeast Asian stag beetle with smooth, curved mandibles. Males show dramatic polymorphism in mandible size....

Phasmatodea

Ericoriai Leaf Insect

Phyllium ericoriai

A Philippine leaf insect described relatively recently from Mindanao. It has notably wide abdominal lobes for its size....

Hemiptera

Evening Cicada

Tanna japonensis

A Japanese cicada that sings at dusk, producing a melancholy call. Known as 'higurashi,' it is a cultural symbol of late...

Coleoptera

Fir Longhorn

Tetropium gabrieli

A small brown spondylidine beetle that specializes on fir trees across European mountain ranges. It is similar to T. cas...

Coleoptera

Five-Horned Rhinoceros Beetle

Eupatorus gracilicornis

A striking rhinoceros beetle with four thoracic horns and one cephalic horn. Its velvety black and golden-brown coloring...

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...

Hymenoptera

Franklin's Bumble Bee

Bombus franklini

The world's most range-restricted bumble bee, found only in a small area between southern Oregon and northern California...

Coleoptera

Fungicola Dung Beetle

Helictopleurus fungicola

A small dung beetle with an extraordinary pair of cephalic horns in males, revealed through genomic and morphological st...

Coleoptera

Giant Dung Beetle

Helictopleurus giganteus

The largest member of the endemic Helictopleurus genus, with a robust body and prominent cephalic horns in males. Its da...

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...

Plecoptera

Giant Salmonfly

Pteronarcys princeps

A massive stonefly of western mountain rivers with a three-year nymphal life cycle. Nymphs feed on decomposing leaf mate...

Plecoptera

Glacial Stonefly

Leuctra alpina

A small, slender stonefly found in the coldest alpine headwater streams. Its needle-like wings are rolled tightly around...

Diptera

Glacier Black Fly

Prosimulium alpestre

A small black fly whose larvae develop in fast-flowing alpine streams. Adults are among the earliest insects active afte...

Collembola

Glacier Springtail

Isotoma saltans

A tiny, elongate springtail adapted to life on glaciers and permanent snowfields. It is dark-pigmented to absorb solar r...

Lepidoptera

Glandon Blue

Agriades glandon

A tiny high-altitude blue butterfly with distinctive underside spotting. It flies close to the ground in exposed alpine ...

Lepidoptera

Golden Birdwing

Troides aeacus

A large birdwing butterfly with velvety black forewings and brilliant golden-yellow hindwings. It is found across a wide...

Lepidoptera

Golden Emperor

Loepa megacore

A bright golden-yellow silk moth with maroon eyespots ringed in black on each wing. It has a fluffy golden body and feat...

Lepidoptera

Golden Kaiserind

Teinopalpus aureus

An extremely rare swallowtail butterfly from southern China with brilliant golden-green coloration. It is one of the rar...

Coleoptera

Golden Metallic Longhorn

Tmesisternus isabellae

A rare longhorn beetle with striking golden or coppery metallic elytra covered in a fine pubescence. The body is elongat...

Coleoptera

Grant's Hercules Beetle

Dynastes granti

A large rhinoceros beetle from the American Southwest with mottled elytra. Males have a prominent horn used in territori...

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 ...

Plecoptera

Green Stonefly

Alloperla caudata

A small bright green stonefly found along clean mountain streams in North America. Despite its small size, it is an impo...

Phasmatodea

Hausleitner's Leaf Insect

Cryptophyllium limogesi

A recently described leaf insect from Vietnam placed in the new genus Cryptophyllium. It has a distinctly angular thorax...

Diptera

Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Grimshawi)

Drosophila grimshawi

One of the iconic Hawaiian picture-wing Drosophila, distinguished by elaborate dark patterning on its wings. It breeds i...

Hemiptera

Hawaiian Planthopper

Nesosydne chambersi

A tiny planthopper endemic to Hawaii that feeds on native grasses. It is one of over 100 Nesosydne species that evolved ...

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...

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...

Phasmatodea

Heracles Leaf Insect

Pulchriphyllium heracles

A recently described leaf insect from Vietnam named for the Greek hero Heracles. It is a large species with striking ven...

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...

Hemiptera

High-altitude Water Boatman

Sigara nigrolineata

An aquatic bug found in high-altitude ponds and alpine lakes. It swims upside down using its oar-like hind legs....

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

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...

Coleoptera

Hyllus Beetle

Dynastes hyllus

A Central American Hercules-type beetle smaller than its famous relative. Males have proportionally shorter horns....

Lepidoptera

Indian Tortoiseshell

Aglais caschmirensis

A beautiful butterfly with rich orange-brown wings edged with blue spots and irregular dark markings. It is found in the...

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...

Coleoptera

Irregular Weevil

Otiorhynchus sensitivus

A flightless alpine weevil found on exposed mountain slopes. Adults emerge in summer to feed on low-growing alpine cushi...

Coleoptera

Janus Elephant Beetle

Megasoma janus

A massive rhinoceros beetle with a forked cephalic horn and broad pronotal horns. It is among the bulkiest of South Amer...

Lepidoptera

Japanese Comma Butterfly

Nymphalis vaualbum

Known as 'erutateha' in Japanese, a large nymphalid butterfly with deeply scalloped wing edges. The undersides provide e...

Dermaptera

Japanese Earwig

Anechura harmandi

A montane earwig found in the mountains of Japan, known for extreme maternal care. Females guard eggs and first-instar n...

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 ...

Plecoptera

Japanese Giant Stonefly

Oyamia lugubris

A large predatory stonefly found in mountainous streams of Japan. Nymphs have powerful mandibles for capturing prey in s...

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 Hotaruko Firefly

Pyrocoelia fumosa

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

Grylloblattodea

Japanese Ice Crawler

Galloisiana nipponensis

A nocturnal wingless insect found at high elevations in Japan. One of the most primitive living insects, often called a ...

Raphidioptera

Japanese Snakefly

Inocellia japonica

An East Asian snakefly with the characteristic elongated neck-like prothorax. It is one of the few snakefly species foun...

Lepidoptera

Japanese Yellow Swallowtail

Papilio machaon hippocrates

The Japanese subspecies of the Old World swallowtail, known as 'ki-ageha.' A large and elegant butterfly with bright yel...

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

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...

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...

Orthoptera

Kaikoura Giant Weta

Deinacrida parva

One of the smaller species of giant weta, endemic to the Seaward Kaikoura Range in the South Island of New Zealand. Desp...

Coleoptera

Kauai Flightless Stag Beetle

Apterocyclus honoluluensis

A flightless stag beetle endemic to the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Larvae develop in rotting logs of native trees....

Neuroptera

Kenyan Green Lacewing

Chrysoperla agilis

A recently described species from the carnea complex found in East African highlands. Occurs in both natural and cultiva...

Plecoptera

Lake Stonefly

Megaleuctra complicata

A rare stonefly found in cold mountain lake outlets and spring-fed streams....

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 Wall Brown

Lasiommata maera

A medium-sized brown butterfly with large apical eyespots and warm orange patches on the forewings. It frequents rocky t...

Orthoptera

Lichen Katydid

Dysonia sp. (Dysonia magdalenae)

A Central American katydid with a mottled gray-green body that perfectly mimics lichen on bark. It is nearly invisible w...

Orthoptera

Lichen-Bark Katydid

Markia hystrix

A Neotropical katydid covered in spine-like projections that mimic lichen or moss. Its body is green with textured growt...

Coleoptera

Long-armed Chafer

Cheirotonus gestroi

A large reddish-brown beetle with spectacularly elongated front legs in males. The legs can be longer than the entire bo...

Blattodea

Lucihormetica Bioluminescent Cockroach

Lucihormetica luckae

A rare cockroach known for bioluminescent spots on its pronotum. It was described from a single specimen collected near ...

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 hyacinthina

Macrosoma hyacinthina

Small moth-butterfly with a subtle blue-violet sheen on fresh specimens. Named for the hyacinth-like coloring visible in...

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...

Coleoptera

Malaysian Horned Frog Beetle

Beckius beccarii

A peculiar scarab beetle with males bearing two prominent upward-curving horns on the pronotum and a smaller head horn. ...

Coleoptera

Mars Elephant Beetle

Megasoma mars

A large rhinoceros beetle with distinctive yellowish hairs covering its elytra. Males have a long pronotal horn and two ...

Lepidoptera

Melissa Arctic

Oeneis melissa

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

Coleoptera

Metallic Eumolpine Beetle

Chrysochus asclepiadeus

A brilliant metallic dark blue to violet beetle closely related to the North American dogbane beetles. It is found on vi...

Phasmatodea

Mindoro Leaf Insect

Phyllium iyadaon

A leaf insect endemic to Mindoro Island in the Philippines. Its name comes from a local word meaning 'leaf.'...

Coleoptera

Miyama Stag Beetle

Lucanus maculifemoratus

A Japanese stag beetle with golden-brown fur on its thorax and elaborate antler-like mandibles. It is one of the most po...

Coleoptera

Miyama Stag Beetle (Korean)

Lucanus maculifemoratus dybowskyi

The Korean subspecies of the Miyama stag beetle, distinguished by subtle differences in mandible shape and body proporti...

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...

Orthoptera

Mormon Cricket

Anabrus simplex

A large, flightless shield-backed katydid native to western North America. Despite its name it is not a true cricket but...

Orthoptera

Moss Katydid

Haemodiasma tessellata

A katydid with a body covered in textured bumps and green-brown coloring that mimics moss and bark. It is virtually invi...

Mantodea

Moss Mantis

Haania lobiceps

A small mantis covered in spiny projections and textured to look like a piece of living moss. Its green, brown, and grey...

Phasmatodea

Moss Mimic Stick Insect

Trychopeplus laciniatus

A stick insect covered in elaborate green lobed projections that make it look like a piece of moss-covered twig. Its cam...

Orthoptera

Mount Cook Giant Weta

Deinacrida pluvialis

A rare alpine giant weta restricted to high-altitude zones in the western ranges of the South Island. It inhabits subalp...

Grylloblattodea

Mount Halla Ice Crawler

Galloisiana koreana

A Korean ice crawler restricted to the high elevations of Mount Halla on Jeju Island. It is nocturnal and emerges only d...

Orthoptera

Mount Kosciuszko Grasshopper

Kosciuscola cognatus

A small alpine grasshopper found only in the highest parts of the Australian Alps. It is closely related to the color-ch...

Hymenoptera

Mountain Ash Sawfly

Pristiphora geniculata

A small blackish sawfly with pale legs whose green larvae can completely defoliate mountain ash (rowan) trees. Larvae ha...

Hymenoptera

Mountain Bumblebee

Bombus monticola

A colorful bumblebee with bright red-orange tail, yellow thorax bands, and a black midriff. It is found at high altitude...

Hemiptera

Mountain Cicada

Cicadetta montana

One of the few cicadas found at high elevations in Europe. Males produce a high-pitched continuous song from treetops....

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...

Coleoptera

Mountain Flower Rove Beetle

Eusphalerum alpinum

A small, dark omaline rove beetle adapted to alpine environments, where it visits flowers above the treeline. It is one ...

Hemiptera

Mountain Lace Bug

Derephysia foliacea

A tiny bug with lace-like wing patterns found on alpine herbs. Its transparent, sculptured wings are remarkably ornate u...

Coleoptera

Mountain Leaf Beetle

Oreina cacaliae

A brightly colored leaf beetle found on alpine plants like Adenostyles. Its metallic blue-green body warns predators of ...

Hemiptera

Mountain Leafhopper

Cicadella montana

A bright green leafhopper found on mountain herbs and shrubs. It feeds on plant phloem sap and can jump impressive dista...

Diptera

Mountain Midge

Deuterophlebia coloradensis

A tiny midge whose larvae cling to rocks in fast-flowing alpine streams with suction discs....

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...

Archaeognatha

Mountain Stone Bristletail

Machilis germanica

A scaled, humped bristletail found on rock faces and stone walls in European mountains. It has large touching compound e...

Orthoptera

Mountain Stone Weta

Hemideina maori

A freeze-tolerant weta found in alpine regions of New Zealand. It shelters under rocks and can survive being frozen soli...

Plecoptera

Mountain Stonefly

Protonemura montana

A small brown stonefly common along mountain brooks and streams. Nymphs feed on fallen leaves in cold, well-oxygenated w...

Phasmatodea

Mueller's Thorny Stick Insect

Haaniella muelleri

A robust Bornean thorny stick insect with strong sexual dimorphism. It is one of five recently revised Haaniella species...

Phasmatodea

Nanling Stick Insect

Neohirasea nanlingensis

A stick insect recently described from the Nanling Mountains of Guangdong, China. It is closely related to other Chinese...

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 ...

Orthoptera

Nelson Alpine Giant Weta

Deinacrida fallai

A giant weta found above the tree line in the mountains of northwest Nelson, New Zealand. Nocturnal and ground-dwelling,...

Orthoptera

Nelson Alpine Weta

Deinacrida tibiospina

An alpine weta endemic to the mountains of the Nelson/Marlborough region in New Zealand's South Island. It shelters unde...

Coleoptera

New Caledonian Giant Gecko Weevil

Cyphus norfolcensis

A distinctive weevil from the New Caledonia region with a textured, knobby exoskeleton. New Caledonia is a global hotspo...

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...

Trichoptera

Northern Bushtail Caddisfly

Sericostoma schneideri

A cold-water caddisfly of northern European mountain streams. Larvae build sturdy curved cases from fine gravel and proc...

Hymenoptera

Northern Pitch Twig Moth Sawfly

Xyela alpigena

A minute sawfly that is part of the oldest surviving lineage of Hymenoptera. Adults have the distinctive elongated third...

Diptera

Ochraceum Black Fly

Simulium ochraceum

A small orangish-brown black fly that is the principal vector of onchocerciasis in Central America and southern Mexico. ...

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...

Phasmatodea

Ortiz's Leaf Insect

Phyllium ortizi

A recently described leaf insect from Mindanao in the southern Philippines. It is distinguished by the shape of its thor...

Lepidoptera

Owl Moth

Brahmaea wallichii

A large moth with intricate swirling wing patterns resembling owl feathers....

Lepidoptera

Pale Arctic Clouded Yellow

Colias werdandi

A pale greenish-yellow butterfly with very faint dark wing borders. It is closely associated with Scandinavian mountain ...

Hemiptera

Papuan Cicada

Baeturia conviva

A cicada endemic to New Guinea, part of the most species-rich cicada genus in the region. Males produce distinct clickin...

Lepidoptera

Peak White

Pontia callidice

A white butterfly with greenish marbling on the underside of its hindwings. It is one of the highest-flying European but...

Phasmatodea

Peruvian Fern Stick Insect

Oreophoetes peruana

A striking stick insect with a black body and contrasting red or orange wings. Males are more brightly colored than fema...

Lepidoptera

Philippine Atlas Moth

Attacus lemairei

A giant silk moth endemic to the Philippines with rich chestnut-brown wings and large transparent triangular windows nea...

Mantodea

Philippine Flower Mantis

Creobroter nebulosa

A small, cloudy-winged flower mantis native to the Philippines and nearby islands. Its mottled wings provide camouflage ...

Coleoptera

Philippine Stag Beetle

Cyclommatus elaphus

A striking stag beetle with enormously elongated curved mandibles in males that can exceed the body length. The body has...

Lepidoptera

Pine White

Neophasia menapia

Delicate white butterfly with black forewing veins. Uniquely among pierids, larvae feed on conifer needles rather than b...

Coleoptera

Pizarro Beetle

Golofa pizarro

A large neotropical rhinoceros beetle with a distinctively curved head horn. Found at moderate to high elevations....

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...

Diptera

Pyrenean Snow Fly

Chionea belgica

A rare wingless crane fly found on snow in the mountains of western Europe. It is smaller and darker than related snow f...

Lepidoptera

Rajah Brooke's Birdwing

Trogonoptera brookiana

A striking birdwing butterfly with jet black wings crossed by brilliant electric green tooth-shaped markings. It is the ...

Phasmatodea

Red Leaf Insect

Phyllium rubrum

A stunning leaf insect that can display deep red, orange, or pink coloring. It is found in Borneo and is highly sought a...

Odonata

Relict Himalayan Dragonfly

Epiophlebia laidlawi

A living fossil dragonfly from the Himalayas that retains features of both dragonflies and damselflies. It breeds in col...

Odonata

Reunion Riverjack

Zygonyx elisabethae

A large dragonfly endemic to the island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean. It patrols waterfalls and fast-flowing mountain ...

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...

Coleoptera

Rosalia Longhorn

Rosalia alpina funesta

A subspecies of the striking blue-grey alpine longhorn beetle found in southern populations....

Coleoptera

Rough Alpine Weevil

Otiorhynchus rugosus

A heavily sculptured flightless weevil of mountain habitats. Its rough exoskeleton helps it blend in with rocky substrat...

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...

Phasmatodea

Sabah Thorny Stick Insect

Haaniella echinata

A stocky Bornean phasmid densely covered in sharp spines. Its dark coloration and spiny texture make it resemble a piece...

Lepidoptera

Sara Orangetip

Anthocharis sara

Small white butterfly with vivid orange forewing tips and mottled greenish hindwing undersides. Flies early in spring in...

Lepidoptera

Scarce Copper

Lycaena virgaureae

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

Orthoptera

Scree Weta

Deinacrida connectens

An alpine giant weta that lives among rocky scree fields at elevations above 1200 meters. It is remarkably cold-tolerant...

Coleoptera

Siamese Stag Beetle

Hexarthrius parryi

A large stag beetle with impressive curved mandibles and a dark brown to black body. Males use their oversized jaws in t...

Grylloblattodea

Siberian Ice Crawler

Grylloblattina djakonovi

A rare ice crawler found in the Russian Far East. It inhabits mossy rock fields and emerges at night during near-freezin...

Grylloblattodea

Siberian Rock Crawler

Grylloblatta djakonovi

A rare rock crawler discovered in the mountains of Siberia. It inhabits deep rock crevices and is active on the surface ...

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....

Lepidoptera

Sinai Baton Blue

Pseudophilotes sinaicus

The smallest butterfly in the world by wingspan, found only in the Sinai Peninsula. It depends on a single plant species...

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...

Diptera

Snow Fly

Chionea araneoides

A wingless crane fly that walks on snow surfaces in winter to find mates....

Coleoptera

Snow Patch Ground Beetle

Nebria rufescens

A reddish-brown ground beetle found near persistent snow patches. It is among the first predators to colonize newly expo...

Coleoptera

Snowfield Rove Beetle

Geodromicus globulicollis

A small, cold-adapted omaline rove beetle found at high elevations near snowfields and glacier margins. It is active on ...

Lepidoptera

Sooty Ringlet

Erebia pluto

One of the darkest European butterflies, almost entirely black. It inhabits the highest scree slopes and rock faces in t...

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...

Ephemeroptera

South African Prong-Gill Mayfly

Adenophlebia auriculata

A mayfly endemic to southern African mountain streams. Nymphs have distinctive forked gills used for respiration in oxyg...

Megaloptera

South American Dobsonfly

Chloronia hieroglyphica

A large, distinctively patterned dobsonfly from South American mountain streams. Its wings bear intricate markings resem...

Lepidoptera

South American Luna Moth

Copaxa lavendera

A silkmoth with soft lavender-brown wings and prominent rounded eyespots. Its feathery antennae can detect female pherom...

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...

Plecoptera

Southern Stonefly

Aphanicerca capensis

A small brown stonefly endemic to mountain streams of the Western Cape, South Africa. It belongs to a Southern Hemispher...

Coleoptera

Spanish Copperhead Ground Beetle

Carabus macrocephalus

A large Iberian ground beetle with a distinctly oversized head and copper to bronze-colored elytra with deep sculptured ...

Lepidoptera

Spanish Moon Moth

Graellsia isabellae

A striking green moth with long hindwing tails found only in Spain and France....

Orthoptera

Spiny Leaf Katydid

Panacanthus cuspidatus

A brightly colored Ecuadorian katydid covered in sharp spines for defense. Its green body with orange and black spines m...

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 ...

Mantodea

Spotted Bark Mantis

Amorphoscelis guttata

A spotted bark mantis from East Africa with small dots scattered across its wings and body. The spots mimic tiny lichens...

Hemiptera

Spotted Black Cicada

Gaeana maculata

A stunning cicada with jet-black wings adorned with bright yellow or white spots. It is one of the most colorful and sou...

Coleoptera

Spotted Willow Leaf Beetle

Chrysomela knabi

A dark metallic blue-black beetle with an oval body found on willows in western North America. Adults and larvae feed on...

Coleoptera

Spread-antler Stag Beetle

Odontolabis siva

A large Himalayan stag beetle with widely spread mandibles in major males. Body color ranges from black to deep brown....

Plecoptera

Spring Alpine Stonefly

Rhabdiopteryx alpina

An early-emerging stonefly that appears in spring along cold mountain streams. Adults can often be seen resting on strea...

Hymenoptera

Steel-blue Woodwasp

Sirex cyaneus

A metallic blue woodwasp native to Europe that breeds in fir and spruce. It is closely related to the more destructive S...

Coleoptera

Styrian Ground Beetle

Nebria styriana

An endemic alpine beetle restricted to high elevations in the eastern Alps. It shelters under stones during the day and ...

Coleoptera

Sulawesi Giant Stag Beetle

Dorcus bucephalus

A massive stag beetle endemic to Sulawesi with a broad, flattened black body and powerful mandibles. Males have distinct...

Phasmatodea

Sun Moth Stick Insect

Epidares nolimetangere

A chunky dark brown stick insect covered in dense spines and thorns from Borneo. Females are wingless while males have s...

Phasmatodea

Sunda Colugo Stick Insect

Asceles tanarata

A very slender, elongated stick insect found in the highlands of Southeast Asia. It is bright green with extremely long ...

Coleoptera

Sunda Stag Beetle

Cyclommatus metallifer

A stunning metallic gold and bronze stag beetle from Indonesia with extremely long mandibles. Males can have mandibles n...

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...

Mantophasmatodea

Tanzanian Heelwalker

Tanzaniophasma subsolana

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

Plecoptera

Tasmanian Giant Stonefly

Eusthenia spectabilis

A spectacular large stonefly endemic to Tasmanian mountain streams with bold orange and black markings. Nymphs are among...

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...

Coleoptera

Tepui Firefly

Photinus tepui

A bioluminescent beetle endemic to the isolated tepui tabletop mountains of Venezuela. It produces a distinctive greenis...

Coleoptera

Tibetan Alpine Ground Beetle

Carabus henningi

A high-altitude ground beetle adapted to the harsh conditions of the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding mountains. It has a...

Coleoptera

Titan Flower Beetle

Jumnos ruckeri

A spectacular velvety green and yellow flower beetle from Southeast Asian highlands. Males have distinctive elongated fr...

Hemiptera

Treehopper

Cladonota benitezi

A bizarre treehopper with an elaborate pronotal helmet covered in ball-like projections....

Coleoptera

Tropical Flat Rove Beetle

Priochirus abyssinus

A highly flattened, tropical rove beetle with a remarkably compressed body adapted for living under tree bark. Its panca...

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...

Lepidoptera

Uncompahgre Fritillary Butterfly

Boloria acrocnema

A small alpine butterfly found only above 3900 m in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. It was not discovered until 1978...

Mantodea

Unicorn Mantis

Pseudovates peruviana

A slender mantis with a horn-like projection on its head and lobed leg extensions. Its green and brown coloring mimics l...

Phasmatodea

Velvet Stick Insect

Peruphasma schultei

A jet-black velvety stick insect with bright red vestigial wings found in one small area....

Orthoptera

Venezuelan Tepui Katydid

Teleutias pellucida

A translucent pale green katydid endemic to the tepui highlands of Venezuela. Its semi-transparent wings allow sunlight ...

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 ...

Coleoptera

Wallace's Line Stag Beetle

Odontolabis latipennis

A large stag beetle with broad, flattened elytra and wide mandibles in males. The body is dark reddish-brown to black wi...

Coleoptera

Wallace's Long-Armed Beetle

Cheirotonus parryi

A large, rare beetle with extremely elongated forelegs in males. Named for the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace who firs...

Phasmatodea

Wangpeng's Stick Insect

Neohirasea wangpengi

A recently described stick insect from China named after the entomologist Wang Peng. It has a dark body with pale leg ba...

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...

Coleoptera

Waterhouse Stag Beetle

Phalacrognathus muelleri waterhouseorum

A subspecies of the rainbow stag beetle from New Guinea with even more vivid metallic coloring. Highly prized by collect...

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 Balsam Bark Beetle

Dryocoetes confusus

A bark beetle that primarily attacks subalpine fir in western North America. It often colonizes trees already weakened b...

Hymenoptera

Western Bumble Bee

Bombus occidentalis

A once-common bumble bee of western North America that has experienced dramatic population declines since the late 1990s...

Megaloptera

Western Dobsonfly

Neohermes californicus

A large dobsonfly of western North American streams, smaller than its eastern relative. Larvae are top predators under r...

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...

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 ...

Plecoptera

Western Stone

Doroneuria baumanni

A large predatory stonefly of Pacific Northwest mountain streams. Nymphs have distinctive patterned heads and powerful m...

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

Yellow-Banded Cimbicid

Trichiosoma tibiale

A large, hairy sawfly with a banded abdomen and prominent clubbed antennae. The body is covered in dense yellowish hairs...

Lepidoptera

Zela Metalmark

Emesis zela

A small butterfly with rust-brown wings marked with fine dark lines and subtle metallic scaling. It inhabits mountain ca...

Phasmatodea

Zhao Stick Insect

Phryganistria chinensis

The longest insect ever measured at 64 cm with legs extended. Discovered in 2014 in Guangxi, China. A captive-bred speci...