Category: Insects and Spiders


American cockroach

Posted by:admin Posted On:25 Jul 2026

Periplaneta americana Taxonomy Common Names by Region Description Quick ID Range Habitat & Behavior Diet Reproduction Pests / Threats / Notes Additional Notes Ecology & Significance As an Encounter All Cernunnos Foundation materials are free to use for any educational


Northern Walkingstick

Posted by:admin Posted On:16 Jul 2026

Diapheromera femorata Taxonomy Common Names by Region Description Quick ID Range Habitat & Behavior Diet Reproduction Pests / Threats / Notes Additional Notes Ecology & Significance Field Note Open Reference / Educational Use (CF Standard) This profile is provided for


European Earwig

Posted by:admin Posted On:12 Jul 2026

Forficula auricularia Taxonomy Common Names by Region Description Body An elongated, flattened, fast-moving insect with a leathery reddish-brown to dark-brown body, typically around 12–15 mm long. The flattened build lets it slip into tight cracks, under bark, and beneath stones


Prairie Blazing Star

Posted by:admin Posted On:11 Jul 2026

Prairie Blazing Star Liatris pycnostachya Taxonomy Common Names by Region Description Growth Habit A tall, erect perennial forming a single unbranched flowering stalk (occasionally a few) rising from a basal cluster and an underground corm. Stems reach 2–5 feet, giving


Spicebush Swallowtail

Posted by:admin Posted On:2 Jul 2026

Papilio troilus Taxonomy Domain: EukaryotaKingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ArthropodaSubphylum: HexapodaClass: InsectaOrder: LepidopteraSuperfamily: PapilionoideaFamily: PapilionidaeSubfamily: PapilioninaeGenus: PapilioSpecies: Papilio troilus Common Names by Region Description Quick ID Flight Season Look-alikes Known Range Habitat & Host Plants Habitat Larval Host Plants Adult Nectar Life Cycle


Question Mark Butterfly

Posted by:admin Posted On:23 Jun 2026

Polygonia interrogationis Taxonomy Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ArthropodaClass: InsectaOrder: LepidopteraFamily: NymphalidaeSubfamily: NymphalinaeGenus: PolygoniaSpecies: Polygonia interrogationisBinomial Name: Polygonia interrogationis (Fabricius, 1798) Common Names by Region Question Mark (English, general)Violet-tip (English, older regional name — for the violet wing edging)Anglewing (English, group name shared


Texas Brown Tarantula

Posted by:admin Posted On:22 Apr 2026

Aphonopelma hentzi Taxonomy Common Names by Region Description General Appearance Aphonopelma hentzi is a large, heavily built, ground-dwelling tarantula with a stocky body and eight long, powerful, claw-tipped legs densely covered in dark bristling setae. The overall impression is of


Banded Net-Winged Beetle

Posted by:admin Posted On:7 Apr 2026

Calopteron discrepans Taxonomy Common Names by Region Description General Appearance A visually striking beetle characterized by bright orange elytra crossed with bold black bands and a distinctly ridged, net-like wing texture. This aposematic coloration signals toxicity or unpalatability to predators.


Pale Oak Beauty

Posted by:admin Posted On:15 Mar 2026

Hypomecis punctinalis Taxonomy Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ArthropodaClass: InsectaOrder: LepidopteraSuperfamily: GeometroideaFamily: GeometridaeSubfamily: EnnominaeGenus: HypomecisSpecies: Hypomecis punctinalis Binomial Name: Hypomecis punctinalis (Scopoli, 1763) Common Names by Region Pale Oak BeautyOak Beauty MothGray GeometerOak Looper Moth Many members of the Geometridae family are informally


Autumn Meadowhawk

Posted by:admin Posted On:8 Mar 2026

Sympetrum vicinum Taxonomy Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ArthropodaClass: InsectaOrder: OdonataSuborder: AnisopteraFamily: LibellulidaeGenus: SympetrumSpecies: Sympetrum vicinum Common Names by Region Autumn MeadowhawkYellow-legged MeadowhawkMeadowhawk DragonflyRed Meadowhawk Description Overall Appearance The Autumn Meadowhawk is a small to medium dragonfly known for its bright red abdomen