The term 'bug' is often misused to represent all insects. One must remember that bug refers to an insect that can use its mouthparts to only bite or suck. With over 80,000 species categorically identified throughout the world, the term bug can no longer apply to just a general categorization of insects as a whole. With that in mind, insects, like other things in life, can be both harmful and helpful to people. In being helpful, insects can polinate plants or make honey, or even hunt down other pests. In being harmful, insects can infect individuals, destroy crops or assail animals. All in all, the circle of life is a fierce and complicated one, and one can say that there is a lot more going on under the hood than meets the eye. Regardless, insects represent a vital part of our ecosystem and all species should be highly repested for they can do.

Our database features no fewer than 156 insects covering those commonly found in North America, though more precisely throughout the continental United States (we purposely left out insects native to Hawaii and Alaska as those states in themselves are vastly different ecosystems from that found in mainland United States).

The listing below shows insects by their alphabetical "common name".

	Ailanthus-Webworm-Moth Category: Butterfly or Moth The definitive coloring and stripes on this moth make it unique among Webworm Moths. They tuck and roll their wings close to their bodies when resting, making themselves look more like a beetle. Adults are active in the daytime and can be seen fro... READ MORE

	American Bumble Bee Category: Bee, Ant, Wasp and Similar Similar to Golden Northern Bumblebee (Bombus fervidus) but larger; black coloring just behind the wings; 1 to 3 stripes of yellow appearing on abdominal segments.... READ MORE

	American Carrion Beetle Category: Beetle This little beetle has the appearance of a bumble bee at first glance. Adults prefer moist habitats and are active all summer. The carrion beetle earned its name, eating decaying flesh as both larvae and adults. Sometimes adults may be seen ea... READ MORE

	American Cockroach Category: Cockroach The American Cockroach is actually not native to the United States, instead transplanted through hundreds of years of shipping cargo and passengers across the oceans. They appear glossy and carry a reddish-brown look throughout. Even their wings are ... READ MORE

	American Oil Beetle Category: Beetle American Oil Beetles feature a stout abdomen with a shell covering that appears as though a series of overlapping plates. Antenna are visible on the head. The insect can appear as a dull black or in some cases a shiney black or dark blue. These parti... READ MORE

	Bald-Faced Hornet Category: Bee, Ant, Wasp and Similar Blad-faced Hornets are related to yellow jackets but are not "true" hornets themselves. This species features a rather stout body and are colored in white and black from head, thorax and abdomen. The abdomen is finished off by a band of white. Males ... READ MORE

	Banded Garden Spider Category: Spider This spider builds its web between plants in garden beds. It sits in the center, head down, waiting for prey to ensnare itself in the web. Females can deliver a moderately painful bite if guarding eggs and disturbed.... READ MORE

	Bed Bug Category: True Bug The body is flat, rusty red color - sometimes purple or even brown (red after feeding). Sizes range from 4mm to 6mm. Antennae are present and appear quite slender and segmented. Short stubby legs compliment the short - almost unseen - stubby wings. B... READ MORE

	Black Blister Beetle Category: Beetle Three-segmented body made up of mostly black with reddish-brown legs. Head is slightly larger than second segment with third segment becoming the longest of the three. Antennae are relatively short and ridged. Wings folded back appear as almost part ... READ MORE

	Black Carpenter Ant Category: Bee, Ant, Wasp and Similar Black Carpenter Ants are relatively large. Known mostly by color, this type of ant also has 1 segement to its waist and a long abdomen containing lightly-colored dull hairs. Though their name suggests otherwise, Carpenter ants do not eat wood and... READ MORE

	Black-Legged Tick Category: Mite or Tick Black-Legged Ticks are a primary carrier of Lyme disease through mice and deer in the Eastern United States. Males appear as a dark brown or even black coloring while females feature orange coloring. Their size dictates how much they have eaten as th... READ MORE

	Blue Dasher Category: No Category Blue Dashers can be found near slow moving water sources. Adults have four wings with two noticeable dark streaks in them. They have a striking blue color ending in a black tip on the abdomen. Their heads contain their large eyes which take on a meta... READ MORE

	Blue-Eyed Darner Category: Dragonfly or Damselfly Highly noticeable thanks to their large size and have a beautiful blue and black coloring. Males exhibit some silver on their bodies. Both sexes can measure upwards of 2" with wingspans of around 4". Wings are transparent.... READ MORE

	Boll Weevil Category: Beetle Long the bane of cotton farmers, the Boll Weevil as a pest has since come under control to an extent. They have extremely round bodies and appear as a brown or gray with short hairs covering the thorax and abdomen. Weevils in general can be identifie... READ MORE

	Boxelder Bug Category: True Bug Boxelder Bugs commonly congregate alongside homes or trees near a female Boxelder and in full view of the sun. They are identifiable by the distinct black and red coloring on their bodies (the red appearing as stripes against the black). Boxelder bug... READ MORE

	Brown Mantidfly Category: Net-Veined Winged Bug At first glance, Brown Mantidflies can be mistaken for a wasp. Brown Mantidflies have a long prothorax with mantid-like forelegs containing a single claw for capturing prey. The female differs in by having an upturned orvipositor. In some ways, the B... READ MORE

	Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Category: True Bug The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is a pest to a large variety of fruit-bearing trees and plants, leaving circular damaged areas on leaves. Originally from Asia, the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug made its way to North America and has been a pest ever since... READ MORE

	Brown Recluse / Violin Spider Category: Spider Violin Spiders - more commonly known as the Brown Recluse Spider - are generally found to the southern states and west to California. These spiders inhabit loose piles of debris or - if indoors - in furniture and folded clothing. Identifying features... READ MORE

	Buffalo Treehopper Category: Cicada and Similar Easily recognizeable by its greenish-yellow color and its humpback-like appearance. They namesake comes from the fact that they very much resemble buffalo by the horn-like projections on either side of their pronotum. Buffalo Treehoppers feed on the ... READ MORE

	Cabbage White Butterfly Category: Butterfly or Moth The white wings of this species have charcoal gray tips and 1 (male) or 2 (female) black spots in the center of each forewing. Underwings may be yellow or light green. The green caterpillar eats cabbage and other plants related to mustard.... READ MORE

	California Timema Category: Walkingstick or Timema Appear an overall green or brown in color with hints of white or pink. They have a rough-looking bumpy exterior and a short stout body. The smaller male will usually ride on the back of the larger female for most of their adult lives. California Time... READ MORE

	California Trapdoor Spider Category: Spider California Trapdoor Spiders are native to Southern California. In many ways, they resemble smaller versions of tarantulas with shiney bodies. Their chelicerae have spines on them helping this species to dig their burrows. Their burrows serve as both ... READ MORE

	Candy-striped Leafhopper Category: True Bug The bold coloration on this species of leafhopper make it unique. When threatened, leafhoppers will cock their hing legs and jump away from potential predators. This species is commonly found on blackberry canes and other ornamental plants. ... READ MORE

	Carolina Grasshopper Category: Grasshopper or Cricket Carolina Grasshoppers can be found throughout the entire United States. They eat plants and grass and are good flyers dispite thier erractic-looking flight paths. As with most insect species, the female Carolina Grasshopper is larger than the male. C... READ MORE

	Carolina Locust Category: Grasshopper or Cricket The Carolina Locust is another in the line of Short-horned Grasshoppers and can be identified by their short antenna and rough-looking exterior. Often found throughout North America, the Carolina Locust is generally regarded as the least destructive ... READ MORE

	Checkered Beetle Category: Beetle A strong banding pattern lends itself to the name of this beetle. Checkered beetles eat other insects: weevils, borer beetles and bark beetles. They are likely to be seen around flowers and weeds from late spring to early summer. ... READ MORE

	Cicada Killer Category: Bee, Ant, Wasp and Similar These solitary wasps rarely sting. They ambush cicadas, oftentimes in mid-air. Even their larvae eat cicadas. Adults also drink flower nectar. They are mostly seen in the summer and form nests underground. Large nests are problematic on lawn... READ MORE

	Coffinfly Category: Mayfly Similar to their Mayfly counterparts but are tipped with three tail filaments. They are further set apart by their dark-patterned (yet clear) wings. Like dragonflies, coffinflies are resident to slow or still water sources. Over 3,000 species of Mayf... READ MORE

	Common Green Darner Category: Dragonfly or Damselfly Common Green Darners are beautiful dragonflies with transparent wings. They are large specimens that are common throughout North America and are thought of to be somewhat migratory. They are a relatively large species of dragonfly and made recognizea... READ MORE

	Common Sanddragon Category: Dragonfly or Damselfly ... READ MORE

	Common Thread Waisted Wasp Category: Bee, Ant, Wasp and Similar The incredibly thin 'waist' on this wasp led to its name. Adults feed on flower nectar, but larvae are parasitic. Females use their paralyzing sting to disable caterpillars and other insects. These unfortunate victims are then brought to an u... READ MORE

	Common Whitetail Skimmer Category: Dragonfly or Damselfly This dragonfly usually hovers over standing or slow water. Females release their eggs into the water, near the shore, but dipping their abdomen under water several times. Males have a white abdomen and use it to defend territory by flashing it at... READ MORE

	Cottonwood Borer Category: Beetle The Cottonwood Borer is part of the larger Long-Horned Beetle family that makes its way throughout the summertime months destroying trees. They are very identifiable by their long antennae which are often times longer than the body. With over 1,200 ... READ MORE

	Cranefly Category: Fly Though they look like giant mosquitoes, they are not mosquitoes. Craneflies do not bite and they do not have a long proboscis (snout). Females may have a long ovipositor, resembling a needle-like stinger, but it is used to deposit eggs in moist soil.... READ MORE

	Dark Jerusalem Cricket Category: Grasshopper or Cricket Dark Jerusalem Crickets are a wingless species common to California. They are rather large for a cricket and have a distinctly large head. The most identifying feature of this insect is its striped abdomen featuring black and light lines. This critte... READ MORE

	Darking Beetle Category: Beetle This beetle walks with its head down and can be found roaming desert areas eating fungi and plant matter. It burrows under the sand when intense daylight heats up the ground. It stands still if disturbed. ... READ MORE

	Desert Tarantula Category: Spider Desert Tarantulas are a common sight in the Southwestern states. They generally hide during the day, choosing instead to rest under rock collections or in protective holed burrows that are uninhabited in desert soil areas until dusk and night. As wi... READ MORE

	Devil's Coach Horse Category: Beetle All-black body with no shine and appearing dull in any light. Abdominal segments are easily discernable. The Devil's Coach Horse takes on an interesting look when disturbed - raising its abdomen forward and opening up its powerful pincers. The abdome... READ MORE

	Dobsonfly Category: Alderfly or Dobsonfly Dobsonflies appear to be quite fearsome, having what appears to be tentacle-like appendages for mouth parts. In fact, the males of the species cannot even bite though females can deliver quite a painful bite if agitated. Males are also the only one o... READ MORE

	Dog Day Cicada Category: Cicada and Similar Seen during the hottest days of the summer, adults have a call that sounds like a circular saw tearing through wood. Larvae is believed to suck the juice/water out of pine tree roots. The species disappears from the area once all pines are gone/... READ MORE

	Eastern Carpenter Bee Category: Bee, Ant, Wasp and Similar Though is looks like a Bumble Bee, the Carpenter Bee does not have a fuzzy abdomen. Females bore into wood, like a carpenter, making holes as large as their bodies and deposit their eggs and a food supply inside. They can be found in parks, ... READ MORE

	Eastern Eyed Click Beetle Category: Beetle The click beetle has two large black 'eyespots' on its pronotum. They are surrounded by a thin, white ring. Larvae (wireworms) eat plants and other living things in the soil. Adults do not eat very much and are often found on pruned trees. Click... READ MORE

	Eastern Harvestman Category: Spider Harvestman are not spiders, though they resemble them in many ways. They are relatives of the spider. They do not have fangs, are not venomous and do not bite. Their long legs do more for them than travel. The second pair of legs act as ant... READ MORE

	Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth Category: Butterfly or Moth These moths get their name from their caterpillar behavior. Together, caterpillars create a tent of silk as a 'home' on the tree or shrub they are feeding off. Females lay black egg sacks on twigs, near a leaf bud and the caterpillars eat the le... READ MORE

	Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Category: Butterfly or Moth Eastern Tiger Swallowtails have a bright tiger-like striping pattern with the males showcasing a mostly-yellow coloring with black edges. The female (in black form) is seen with a similar pattern but more as a brown instead of yellow with hints of bl... READ MORE

	Edwards Glassy Wing Moth Category: Butterfly or Moth The wings on this moth shimmer in the light, giving it part of its name. Its pinkish red abdomen is visible when wings are spread. They are most active in autumn and caterpillars feed on oak trees.... READ MORE

	Emerald Ash Borer Category: Beetle The Emerald Ash Borer is a recent addition to the line of tree-boring beetles in North America. As recently as June 2002, the beetle was identified in Windsor, Ontario, Canada and in the Southeast portion of the state of Michigan, USA. It is a highly... READ MORE

	European Earwig Category: Earwig Contrary to popular belief, earwigs do NOT crawl into human ears and bite or pinch people. In fact, earwigs are harmless. Their pincers are formidable in defense against other earwigs (males fighting for females) or predators. The pincers also h... READ MORE

	European Mantid Category: Mantid As the name suggests, European Mantids were one native to Europe and discovered in the United States by 1899. They are highly recognizeable creatures mainly by their unique shape but also by their green color. Their bodies are relatively large with f... READ MORE

	Field Cricket Category: Grasshopper or Cricket Field Crickets are a common site throughout the United States. Warm summer nights bring them out en masse as the males chirp about (up to 30 times a minute) in an effort to attract a female. Field Crickets make them homes in the ground or built-up p... READ MORE

	Firebrat Category: Bristletail Firebrats appear much like Silverfish and are part of the same Thysanura Order and Lepismatidae Family. They have a long and flat silvery body with spike-like hairs protruding from yellowish scale-type plates. They are common throughout all of North ... READ MORE

	Fishfly Category: Alderfly or Dobsonfly Fishflies are part of the Alderfly and Dobsonfly group of winged insects. Generally noticeable for their large size, color and seemingly uncoordinated flight approach. Larvae are found about vegetation nearing bodies of moving water while adults can ... READ MORE

	Flower Fly Category: Fly This fly looks like a bee or wasp, taking full advantage of mimicry. The coloration wards off would-be predators. Upon close examination, one can see there is no stinger at the tip of the abdomen. This species feeds on aphids (tiny insects that ... READ MORE

	Forage Looper Moth Category: Butterfly or Moth As caterpillars, looper moths tend to move with a looping gait. Moths are usually seen feeding on grasses, clover and ragweed.... READ MORE

	German Cockroach Category: Cockroach Smaller than American and Oriental cockroaches, German cockroaches are notorious household pests. Infesting houses, restaurants and other institutions with food pantries, they come out at night or in the dark, scavenging for whatever they can fin... READ MORE

	Giant Darner Category: Dragonfly or Damselfly The Giant Darner is hailed as the largest example of dragonfly to be found in the United States of America. The beautiful creature can measure in at about 5" in length with a mighty wingspan of up to 5" as well. Highly identifiable by their blue and ... READ MORE

	Giant Mayfly Category: Mayfly Giant Mayflies are common in the Eastern United States and can appear in large quantities in the summer months. They represent one of the largest Mayfly type insects in North America and dwell in and around water sources, laying their eggs in the wat... READ MORE

	Giant Stick Insect Category: Walkingstick or Timema The Giant Walkingstick is the largest Walkingstick species in North America, measuring in at anywhere between 75mm and 150mm. Their camouflage is - taking the appearance of a twig or small branch - is so good in fact that one can often miss these daz... READ MORE

	Giant Stonefly Category: Stonefly Giant Stoneflies are a uniquely-shaped insect that are highly identifiable by their veined wings. These wings are long and crossover the body when at rest, covering the body and extending out over them. Stoneflies will also be seen with thin long ant... READ MORE

	Giant Swallowtail Butterfly Category: Butterfly or Moth This is the largest species of butterfly in North America. They can be found in gardens, at the edges of forests or citus groves. In warmer areas, many generations can exist in one year. They are active year-round, but less likely to be seen i... READ MORE

	Giant Water Bug Category: True Bug Large insect species with noticeable foreleg pincers. Mostly flat and oval shaped with dead leaf-like coloring. The Giant Water Bug is known to play dead in order to escape predators. It is also able to deliver a painful bite when disturbed or threat... READ MORE

	Golden Northern Bumble Bee Category: Bee, Ant, Wasp and Similar The Golden Northern Bumble Bee features an all-black head and dark wings. A black band runs across the mostly yellow thorax and the abdomen is nearly all yellow with the exception of the very tip, which is black. White coloring is also present to the... READ MORE

	Golden Silk Orbweaver Category: Spider The size of this spider can be frightening. While males remain quite small (up to 1/4 inch), females can grow to become 3 inches. The abdomen of this spider is shaped like a banana and only the 1st, 2nd and 4th pairs of legs have black tufts of h... READ MORE

	Goldenrod Crab Spider Category: Spider This species of spider uses camouflage as its primary defense, but will bite as well. They are able to change their coloration over the course of several days to blend in better with their surroundings. They are an ambush spider, jumping on their... READ MORE

	Grapevine Hoplia Category: Beetle The Grapevine Hoplia is a small rounded pesky beetle that has a hunger for vegetation - it will feed on the leaves of plants or flowers in a domesticated or wild environment. The beetles themselves can be found in the warmer months of the year, parti... READ MORE

	Grass Spider Category: Spider Grass Spiders are common sights throughout North American summers and belong to a family of Funnel Web Weavers. Males are smaller than females. What gives these little arachnids their namesake is the web funnels that they create in the grass or in cr... READ MORE

	Gray Silverfish Category: Bristletail ... READ MORE

	Great Blue Skimmer Category: Dragonfly or Damselfly Brightly colored bodies are characterisic of the dragonflies in the Libellulidae family. Members are sometimes called King Skimmers. The wings of the Blue Skimmer have bands and spots. Larvae develop in still waters. ... READ MORE

	Green Lynx Spider Category: Spider As its name might suggest, the Green Lynx Spider is a highly identifiable green spider of the Lynx spider grouping. Appearing an almost leaf-greenish shade, the species is further complimented by orange on the legs and black dots on a gray coloring a... READ MORE

	Gulf Fritillary Butterfly Category: Butterfly or Moth This tropical butterfly has short hairs on its front legs, making it part of the 'brush footed' butterfly family. The caterpillar is yellow-greenish brown with orange-brown stripes. Two horns at the head and6 rows of branching spines give the app... READ MORE

	Hardwood Stump Borer Beetle Category: Beetle Large thick pincers (jaws) on the males are quite intimidating. This species is usually found in tree stumps or structural wood, but have been known to live in trees that have not been cut down. ... READ MORE

	Hercules Beetle Category: Beetle This massive beetle can be found in forests. Despite their size, they still fly. As members of the rhinocerous beetle family, males have two horn-like pincers on their head, while females lack them. They are likely used in battle with other males o... READ MORE

	Hister Beetle Category: Beetle ... READ MORE

	Honey Bee Category: Bee, Ant, Wasp and Similar Honey Bees break down into two classes, the worker bees (numbering up to 80,000 in a single nest) and the Queen Bee. Working bees feature a nearly all-black head with a body coloring of golden brown and black with patches of a dull orange. Yellow ... READ MORE

	Horntail Wasp Category: Bee, Ant, Wasp and Similar Females appear to have two menacing stingers, but they are actually an ovipositor (for injecting eggs into wood) and a spine that aids in splitting wood. ... READ MORE

	House Centipede Category: Centipede The House Centipede is a very common sight throughout North America, particularly found in indoor locations that are wet or damp and most often times active at night. In warmer climates, they may be found outdoors as well as indoors. House Centip... READ MORE

	House Cricket Category: Grasshopper or Cricket Crickets can appear very similarly to their related cousins - the Grasshopper - but can be discerned by the fact that common crickets only have 3 tarsal segmented body sections. Crickets are a very common nighttime sound as males produce their chirpi... READ MORE

	Hover Fly Category: Fly Although it looks like a wasp or bee, this species of fly cannot bite or sting. Larvae feed on aphids (smaller insects that eat plants) and pupate in soil. Adults emerge in the summer and drink flower nectar. They are often seen 'hovering' ove... READ MORE

	Hummingbird Moth Category: Butterfly or Moth Fast beating wings give it the appearance of a small hummingbird but the moth lacks the long beak. The wings are usually transparent (like a fly) which is another indicator that it is not a true bird. It drinks the nectar of many kinds of flowers.... READ MORE

	Huntsman Spider Category: Spider Although this species of spider is already established in the Southeast, sometimes they stow away on produce from Mexico or Central America and land in other states. Part of the crab spider family, this spider is comforable angling its first 2-3... READ MORE

	Ichneumon Wasp Category: Bee, Ant, Wasp and Similar There are several different species, each with its own color variations. All have the wasp body shape, the abdomen being much longer than the rest of the body. Females may have a long, needle-like ovipositor which is often mistaken as a stinger.... READ MORE

	Iron Clad Beetle Category: Beetle The exoskeletons of these beetles is extremely thick, hence their name. This species is living jewelry in Mexico where the beetles are decorated by jewelers. Ironclad beetles are nocturnal and will act dead if touched or disturbed. They are kn... READ MORE

	Ivory Marked Beetle Category: Beetle The defining ivory spots on the top of this beetle come in pairs. They are usually found in forests or lumberyards. Larvae bore deep into heartwood of a tree, destroying it. Trees such as oak, maple, hickory and ash are popular sites for larval i... READ MORE

	Japanese Beetle Category: Beetle The Japanese Beetle is a pest not native to the United States, let alone North America. It is believed to have arrived by way of ship from Japan into New Jersey in the early part of the 1900's. Since then, the beetle has made a home in most of the ea... READ MORE

	Japygid Dipluran Category: Bristletail ... READ MORE

	Jerusalem Cricket Category: Grasshopper or Cricket This slow-moving humpbacked cricket is often taken for a spider until one counts the number of legs. They are really slow in spring during their mating season. Their hind legs have 2 rows of spines. The tracks they leave behind are unique, cr... READ MORE

	Johnson Jumping Spider Category: Spider These tiny spiders jump large distances (considering their size) to catch their prey. They are day-time hunters and hide out at night and in the winter. They have been known to bite humans, but without serious effects. Females weave funnel-sh... READ MORE

	Jumping Bristletail Category: Bristletail ... READ MORE

	Katydid Category: Grasshopper or Cricket Katydids get their name from the sounds they make. The repetitive calls sounded like someone saying, "Ka-ty-did". They are remarkably well-camouflaged for sitting on trees. Their body resembles a green leaf, even down to the detailed venation (v... READ MORE

	Leaf Footed Bug Category: True Bug These large plant-eaters have thick thighs, often with spikes on them. They make a loud noise when they fly and can emit an odor when bothered. Most species are found in the south United States.... READ MORE

	Least Skipper Moth Category: Butterfly or Moth ... READ MORE

	Locust Borer Beetle Category: Beetle Adults are often seen on goldenrod plants, feeding on the pollen in autumn. Larvae are deposited into the heartwood of the locust tree, emerging after winter. ... READ MORE

	Luna Moth Category: Butterfly or Moth This pale green moth can be found in hardwood forests. They are greatly attracted to lights at night. A member of the Silkmoth family, the larvae of the Luna moth spins a silky cocoon. Larvae eat birch, sweetgum, hickory and walnut trees. Cater... READ MORE

	Marbled Orb Weaver Category: Spider The unique 'marbling' pattern of colors on the abdomen, the orange head and black and white legs make this spider visually stunning. Like other orb weavers, this spider creates circular webs daily. This species prefers moist locations near water... READ MORE

	Mealy Bug Destroyer Larvae Category: Beetle The unique white 'hairs' on this tiny bug often draw attention from people. These larvae are extremely useful in pest management. Their name describes what they eat and what they can do to their prey's population. This species was deliberately i... READ MORE

	Milkweed Bug Category: True Bug Adult milkweed bugs do not seem to damage garden and field crops. They drink the nectar of various plants as well as the milkweed plant, their namesake. Adults may be seen in huge numbers on warm winter days as they overwinter. This species lay... READ MORE

	Monarch Butterfly Category: Butterfly or Moth Monarch Butterflies are a common sight throughout North America, with the exception of the extreme northern regions. Their orange and black coloring, mixed with a little white, make them instantly recognizable. Yellow and brown can also be found on t... READ MORE

	Mormon Cricket Category: Grasshopper or Cricket In 1848, this species of katydid nearly wiped out the crops of Mormon farmers. They prefer grasses and sage brush, but can be seen at the openings of forests as well. While this species eats plant matter, sometimes it resorts to cannibalism.... READ MORE

	Northern Mole Cricket Category: Grasshopper or Cricket Mole Crickets are a breed of cricket commonly found east of the Rocky Mountains with a broad range reaching from southern Canada into Mexico. They tend to operate during nighttime hours and spend most of their time burrowing into soil. Identifying... READ MORE

	Northern Walkingstick Category: Walkingstick or Timema Northern Walkingsticks are a child’s favorite type of bug, if they chose to be brave enough to handle any insect. They are unique in their chameleon-like design and are completely harmless to the handler - choosing instead to feed on the deciduous fo... READ MORE

	Notch Tipped Flower Longhorn Beetle Category: Beetle Larva from this species of beetle bore deep into decayed wood and remain there over winter. They feed on the wood and pupate in spring. Adults emerge from the wood in summer and feed on the nectar of plants, especiallly sumac.... READ MORE

	Orb Weaver Category: Spider Orb Weavers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Common traits among some include the rounded abdomen and orange-to-brown and brown or black coloring - those this colors may vary per species. Legs of an Orb Weaver are generally very long, giving it... READ MORE

	Ox Beetle Category: Beetle The sheer size of this relative of the Rhinocerous beetle makes for an unforgettable first impression. Adults are nocturnal, usually seen at night. Larvae feed on leaf litter dragged into the burrow they hatched in by the female. Later, they e... READ MORE

	Pale Windscorpion Category: Windscorpion Windscorpions hide in burrows during the day and come out at night and hunt other arachnids as well as insects. They are native to dry, arid regions (deserts). They cut up their prey with large pincers (chelicerae)that resemble fangs. They run i... READ MORE

	Parson Spider Category: Spider A unique pattern on the abdomen makes this spider easier to identify than others. This species of spider does not spin webs to catch prey. Instead, it roams the ground and searched for its food. This spider's bite has caused allergic reations... READ MORE

	Periodical Cicada Category: Cicada and Similar The Periodical Cicada is generally more well known in the Midwest as the Seventeen Year Cicada due to their periodical emergence every thirteen or seventeen years. Cicadas during this time can appear in the hundreds, if not thousands, as mating seaso... READ MORE

	Pigeon Tremex Category: Bee, Ant, Wasp and Similar Many species of horntail wasps have an elongated spine at the tip of their abdomen in addition to a stinger. Females have ovipositors that can be as long as their entire body. The ovipositor looks similar to a needle and is used by the female to in... READ MORE

	Pine Sawyer Beetle Category: Beetle Active at dusk, adults can be seen flying near lights (males) or walking on logs or stumps. Their pronotum has spines on it and their armour-like wings are highly textured. Larvae bore through dead wood and emerge as adults, leaving behind tunn... READ MORE

	Plume Moth Category: Butterfly or Moth Their thin body and 'T' shape make this moth unique. Their wings have the appearance of a plume (feather) and when at rest, the moth rolls them into a rod shape. Like other moths, they are most active at night, but they can be seen near pollen so... READ MORE

	Polka Dot Wasp Moth Category: Butterfly or Moth Polka Dot Wasp Moths are common to tropical climates and make their North American home in the Southeastern United States, appearing year-round in locales such as Florida. Though they take on the appearance - and in some cases behavior - of a wasp... READ MORE

	Proturan Category: Proturan ... READ MORE

	Pseudoscorpion Category: Pseudoscorpion Although they look like tiny scorpions, pseudoscorpions lack a tail or stinger. The pedipalps (pincers) may or may not be poisonous to their insect prey. Their small size allows them free rides by latching on to larger insects, including flies. ... READ MORE

	Red Headed Ash Borer Category: Beetle Red Headed Ash Borer beetles are related to the Long Horned Borer beetles. They mimic wasps by appearance only and are often confused with their flying counterparts as these beetles themselves can fly as well - though these beetles are not very acco... READ MORE

	Red Spotted Ant Mimic Spider Category: Spider This spider acts like an ant to gain better positioning when attacking prey. It walks on its back 6 legs while raising the front pair as if they were antennae.... READ MORE

	Red Velvet Ant Category: Bee, Ant, Wasp and Similar Although they look like ants, Velvet ants are acutally hairy wasps! They scurry about the ground like ants and carry a painful sting. Males can fly, but females are wingless. Adults drink nectar. ... READ MORE

	Reticulated Netwinged Beetle Category: Beetle This beetle resembles the firefly, but the ridges and pattern of veins on their wings place them in the Lycidae family. When threatened, adults open their wings. Adults are active in the day, seen largely flying by, or resting on, flowers and ... READ MORE

	Ring-Legged Earwig Category: Earwig The Earwig is a common sight throughout North America and gets it creepy name from the false idea that these insects actually crawl into your ear and bite you from the inside. The fact is that these insects are generally more afraid of anything and a... READ MORE

	Robber Fly Category: Fly Robber flies eat biting flies and other flying insects. They chase them in flight, overtake them and suck out the victim's insides after stopping on a branch or leaf. They make a loud whirring noise as they fly because they beat their wings so ... READ MORE

	Rose Chafer Category: Beetle These small and slender members of the beetle family are a common pest usually associated with roses though they venture into eating other types of plant material. The larvae are equally adept at destroying plant life including grass and will attack ... READ MORE

	Running Spider Category: Spider Running spiders, or sac spiders, do not form webs. Instead they hunt their prey with quickening speed. The reddish head and abdomen are in contrast from the lighter legs. Hind legs are lightest, appearing almost white.... READ MORE

	Seashore Springtail Category: Springtail ... READ MORE

	Silverfish Category: Bristletail These little pests can be found in the dark warm places of the home. They have a very unique tapered shape and can appear to be very flat. The most noticeable feature of the Silverfish besides their color of silver is the three tails found at rear. ... READ MORE

	Small Minnow Mayfly Category: Mayfly Small Minnow Mayflies are a favorite among trout that await their surfacing only to gobble the Mayflies up in the process. As such, the Small Minnow Mayfly is the source of one of the more popular baits made by flyfishermen. Minnow Mayflies are attra... READ MORE

	Sminthurid Springtail Category: Springtail ... READ MORE

	Snakefly Category: Snakefly Larvae feed on bark. Adults prey on insects.... READ MORE

	Snow Mosquito Category: Fly The Snow Mosquito is a special breed of mosquito commonly limited to northern portions of the United States. The Snow Mosquito differs from regular summertime mosquitoes in ways that include staying active during the winter months when their counterp... READ MORE

	Snowberry Clearwing Moth Category: Butterfly or Moth Though this species looks like a bee, it does not land on flowers as bees do. Instead, it hovers in front of the flower to collect its nectar.... READ MORE

	Soldier Beetle Category: Beetle Commonly found in parks and fields, this species of beetle feed on pollen. They are usually spotted on flowers, especiallly Goldenrod. They are active late summer to early autumn.... READ MORE

	Southern Black Widow Category: Spider Female Black Widows are well-known and particularly feared for their venomous bites. They are shiney in look and feature a red hour-glass shape on their abdomen (sometimes appearing as two red marks). The male is smaller than the female and is brown ... READ MORE

	Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly Category: Butterfly or Moth This spcecies of butterfly can be found in gardens and at the edges of forests. Its coloration resembles that of the Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly. Larvae feed on spicebush, sassafras and bay plants. The green caterpillar has a humpback wit... READ MORE

	Spiny Backed Orb Weaver Category: Spider The spines on the side of this spider make it unique and easy to recognize. Males are considerably smaller than females. Like other orb weavers, it creates a web that is circular in shape, only it has few or no spirals at the center of its web. Each... READ MORE

	Spotted Camel Cricket Category: Grasshopper or Cricket The high arching 'back' of this cricket helped name it. This species is found in forests, under rocks and even in basements. They feed at night on plants and even some other insects. These Camel Crickets have the traditional large hind legs... READ MORE

	Spotted Tree Borer Beetle Category: Beetle ... READ MORE

	Spur-throated Grasshopper Category: Grasshopper or Cricket Spur-throated Grasshoppers (part of the Short-horned Grasshopper family) are the most common species of grasshopper in all of North America. Noted mostly for the damage that inflict to crops in the Midwest states, the Spur-throated Grasshopper appear... READ MORE

	Squash Bug Category: True Bug Squash bugs are similar in appearance to Stink bugs. Both emit an odor when crushed, but squash bugs tend to feed on melons and squash while stink bugs feed on legumes. Squash bugs suck on the juices of plant stems, leaves and fruits, leaving gap... READ MORE

	Stag Beetle Category: Beetle Common east of the Mississippi. Noted for their large size and ferocious appearance, complete with hard shell and imposing pincer-like mandibles. The mandibles on the female are shorter than that of the male, whose mandibles can be about the size of ... READ MORE

	Tachinid Fly Category: Fly Tachinid flies are lethal predators to the insects they feed on. Most feed on the caterpillars of moths. Because of their diet, some Tachinid Flies have been deliberately imported from other areas to control destructive moth populations. Prey may... READ MORE

	Tarantula Hawk Category: Bee, Ant, Wasp and Similar Male and female Tarantula Hawks vary in subtle ways. Male antenna are straight, while their abdomens are segmented into 7 sections. Female antenna are curved with their abdomens segmented into only 6 sections. Tarantula Hawks take on a variety of col... READ MORE

	Tersa Sphinx Moth Category: Butterfly or Moth The large, stiff wings of this moth may give it the appearance of a small bird. Their size and projection at the tip of their abdomen may be intimidating but the are quite harmless. Adults feed on pollen, though some species of Sphinx moth also ... READ MORE

	Thistle Down Velvet Ant Category: Bee, Ant, Wasp and Similar Although it looks and walks like an ant, this hairy little creature is a wasp! This particular species mimics the seeds of the creosote bush, blending in with the other debris around it. Larvae feed on the larvae of the Sand Wasp. Females wil... READ MORE

	Three Lined Potato Beetle Category: Beetle This species feeds on nightshade and tomatillos, the green 'tomatoes' used to make salsa verde and, of course, potatoes. Larvae are grayish in color and grub-like in form. They can be found in garden beds or cultivated fields.... READ MORE

	Tick Category: Mite or Tick Ticks are parasites that feed off the blood of a host. As they feed, they release anticoagulants, chemicals that prevent blood from clotting (stopping). There are many species of ticks, some which spread disease to humans (Lyme disease, Rocky Moun... READ MORE

	Tobacco Hornworm Moth Category: Butterfly or Moth The name of this moth likely comes from its appearance as a caterpillar. The green body has black and white diagonal stripes running along its back with an eyespot at the end of each stripe. At the tip of the caterpillar is a reddish-brown horn-lik... READ MORE

	Turret Spider Category: Spider Native to Northern California, the Turret Spider is part of the larger family of "Folding Trapdoor Spiders" that live in self-made burrows dug into the ground. Though other "Trapdoor Spider" types exist, Folding Trapdoor Spiders actually make use of ... READ MORE

	Varied Carpet Beetle Category: Beetle Adults can be found indoors where they feed on pollen. Larvae can be pests at home as well as in universities. They feed on many household items: clothing made from natural fibers (wool, silk, cotton), carpets (hence their name) and even cereal. L... READ MORE

	Walnut Sphinx Moth Category: Butterfly or Moth Native to deciduous woodlands, Walnut Sphinx Moths are highly common throughout Missouri with limited appearances in certain portions of other states east of the Rocky Mountains. Colors of the Walnut Sphinx Moth differ from sample to sample so thi... READ MORE

	Wasp Moth Category: Butterfly or Moth This moth mimics the coloring of a wasp as a measure of protection. Predators are less likely to attack if they believe they could be hurt. Caterpillars can do substantial damage to orchard trees as they bore into the wood Adults feed on poll... READ MORE

	Water Springtail Category: Springtail ... READ MORE

	Western Flying Adder Category: Dragonfly or Damselfly The Western Flying Adder is part of the very common summer flying insect generically grouped as "dragonflies". They appear quite large when compared to most insects at about 70mm to 85mm in length. With their wings, they can hit heights of up to 135m... READ MORE

	Western Spotted Orb Weaver Category: Spider Orb weavers spin circular webs and this species tends to create them in open areas. These spiders do not spin any zigzag patterns (stabilimenta) in the center of their web. They feed on anything that entangles itself in their webs: flies, moths, ... READ MORE

	Western Wood Cockroach Category: Cockroach This species of cockroach prefer to live outdoors. They hide under rocks or leaf litter by day and forage on plant matter or animal food at night. Males are winged and females lack wings. Males may be attracted to lights at night.... READ MORE

	Wheel Bug Category: True Bug Noted for their painful bite when disturbed or nonchalant handling. A member of the Assassin Bug family, this insect attacks its prey (other insects) with vicious stabbing motions using the 'fang' at the front of its head. The Wheel Bug is best ident... READ MORE

	White Oak Borer Beetle Category: Beetle This species of beetle is partial to white oak trees, sometimes becoming serious pests. ... READ MORE

	Yellow Garden Spider Category: Spider Yellow Garden Spiders are from the Argiope genus and a local throughout the United States of America. Commonly found throughout garden areas and woodlands, the spider is easily identifiable by the distinctive yellow and black coloring found on the ab... READ MORE

	Yellow Jacket Category: Bee, Ant, Wasp and Similar Yellow Jackets are easily distinguishable by their yellow and black coloring. Measuring in length from 12mm to about 16mm, the Yellow Jacket is a common sight throughout all of North America. These flyers are commonly found along the edges of forests... READ MORE

	Zebra Butterfly Category: Butterfly or Moth This beautiful butterfly is a common site throughout most of the Gulf States, only rarely appearing the other states mentioned below. It is highly identifiable by the yellow on black coloring when fully formed, while the caterpillar is a gray or whit... READ MORE