Centre for Biodiversity Genomics
@cbg-uofg.bsky.social
The global leader in the development and application of DNA-based systems for species identification. https://biodiversitygenomics.net/
Today's featured insect from Ecuador is a specimen of Titanacris, a small genus of just seven arboreal species of tropical South American grasshoppers. They are renowned for their large size and strikingly coloured hindwings, which are flashed to startle predators.
Today's featured insect is Mulsantina hudsonica (family Coccinellidae) from Manitoba. It is a beneficial predator in North American forests, where it feeds on aphids and adelgids that can damage spruce, fir, and other coniferous trees.
Today's featured insect is Repsimus aeneus a relatively rare scarab beetle from the eastern coast of Australia. Adults primarily feed on the foliage of eucalyptus and paperbark trees. The larvae spend their lives underground feeding on roots.
Today's featured insect from Australia is the striped sun fly (Tapeigaster nigricornis). Closely associated with fungi, this striking heleomyzid fly is often encountered on or near mushrooms. Adults spend much of their time basking in sunny woodland patches.
Today's featured insect is Leiodes longitarsis, the long-footed round fungus beetle, from Churchill, Manitoba. Described in 1993, this small round beetle feeds on fungi, slime molds, and other molds growing on decaying organic matter and forest debris.
Today's featured insect is Pseudomyrmex gracilis, the slender twig ant. Found from the southern USA to Argentina and Brazil, it nests in hollow twigs and small branches. It delivers a painful sting and aggressively defends its host plant by swarming and stinging intruders.
Today's featured insect is the ornate checkered beetle, Trichodes ornatus (Family Cleridae), from the Yukon. Females lay eggs on flowers and the larvae hitch rides on solitary bees back to their nests where they feed on bee larvae. Adults also prey on bees visiting flowers.
Today's featured insect is Palmia praecedens, a rare clearwing moth (Family Sesiidae) known from only a handful of verified records since its description in 1883. It is associated with oak woodlands in southern Arizona's mountains, with additional records from North Carolina.
Today we feature a Rust Fly (Family Psilidae) from the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Their larvae (maggots) typically burrow into the roots and stems of plants where they feed and develop. Some species are significant pests of root crops such as carrots and parsnips.
Today we feature a pseudoscorpion. These arachnids have venomous scorpion-like pincers but no tail or stinger. Many pseudoscorpions practice phoresy — hitchhiking on larger animals such as beetles, flies, birds, and small mammals to reach new habitats without harming their hosts.
Today’s featured insect is the Northern Carrion Beetle (Thanatophilus lapponicus), found across Canada and northern regions worldwide. This scavenger locates decaying animals by smell while flying and feeds on carrion and fly larvae.
Today’s featured insect specimen from Manitoba is Arhopalus foveicollis, the Pitted Longhorn Beetle (Cerambycidae), described in 1847. Its larvae develop in dead or dying conifers like pine and spruce in boreal forests after wildfires, where they’re usually found in tree stumps.
Today’s featured insect specimen is the spectacular Central American Montane Tiger Beetle (Pseudoxycheila tarsalis) from Costa Rica. It is a flightless predator of small insects and defends itself by releasing foul-smelling chemical irritants.
Today’s featured insect is a Neriid fly (genus Glyphidops) which typically breed in rotting vegetation. Males are highly territorial and are known for dramatic displays and intense fights over access to females, often using their elongated bodies and legs to intimidate rivals.
Today’s featured insect specimen from Costa Rica is a moss-mimic stick insect (genus Trychopeplus). They are well known for their remarkable camouflage that closely resembles epiphytic moss.
Today we feature a firefly in the genus Photuris from Costa Rica. Despite their name, fireflies are not flies at all — they are beetles. Females of this genus are famous for mimicking the flash patterns of other firefly species in order to lure unsuspecting males and eat them.
Today’s featured insect from Lebanon is Iris oratoria, the Mediterranean mantis, known for its startling threat display where it rears up and reveals the dark “eyespots” on its hind wings. Introduced to California in the 1930s, it is now widespread across the U.S. Southwest.
Today we feature a male scorpionfly from Georgia, Europe. During courtship, males present females with a “gift” — often prey or a saliva offering — to improve their mating chances. These opportunistic scavengers also steal trapped insects directly from spider webs.
Today’s featured insect is a treehopper (Family: Membracidae) from Calilegua National Park, Argentina. Treehoppers use specialized piercing mouthparts to tap into plants and feed on their sap.
Today’s featured insect is Pycnopsyche circularis, the round northern caddisfly (Limnephilidae) of North America. Its larvae feed on decaying leaves and the adults are active in the fall.
Today we feature a split-footed lacewing (Neuroptera: Nymphidae). Though predators, they’re known for intricate wing patterns and graceful flight. There are 35 species found in Australia and New Guinea.
Today’s featured insect is a species of Jerusalem cricket (Orthoptera: Stenopelmatidae). These nocturnal soil dwellers are typically flightless, with thick, powerful legs adapted for digging.
Today’s featured insect is a dustywing (family Coniopterygidae). These tiny neuropterans are coated in white, waxy “dust” from abdominal secretions and are predators of mites and aphids.
Today's insect is Urania fulgens, a spectacular day-flying moth from Costa Rica that resembles a swallowtail butterfly. They are famous for undertaking large-scale mass migrations.
Today’s featured insect is a scelionid wasp (family Scelionidae). They are tiny parasitoids that target the eggs of other insects. They have reduced wing venation and distinctive elbowed antennae.
Today’s featured insect is a tortoise beetle from Costa Rica. These beetles get their name from their expanded, often transparent elytra that cover the head and legs like a tiny tortoise shell.
Today’s featured arachnid: Gasteracantha diadesmia, a female spiny orb-weaver from Thailand (males are much smaller and less showy). They build vertical, circular webs in forest habitats.
Our DNA library is made possible thanks to the support of our funding partners. Today’s featured insect is a Costa Rican leaf-mimic katydid (Family: Tettigoniidae). They are found in rainforest habitats where they’ve evolved to look almost exactly like living or dead leaves.
Today’s featured insect is a Costa Rican cockroach from the family Blaberidae. Members of this family are ovoviviparous, meaning the female gives birth to live nymphs that develop inside her body.
Spotlighted today is Dorytomus imbecillus, also known as the Innocent Willow Weevil from Nunavut. True to their name, they subsist primarily on willow!
