Species library

Field marks, habits, and camera tips for the wildlife that visits backyard habitats.

Berberis Sawfly

Berberis Sawfly

Arge berberidis

A striking metallic garden visitor known for its specialized diet and distinctive spotted larvae. The Berberis Sawfly...

Insects
Bicolored Sallow

Bicolored Sallow

Sunira bicolorago

A late-autumn gem of the insect world, the Bicolored Sallow braves the cooling nights of fall. With its striking two-...

Insects
Big Greasy

Big Greasy

Cressida cressida

The Big Greasy is a one-of-a-kind swallowtail known for its unique, see-through wings. A slow-flying beauty of the Au...

Insects
Black Bean Aphid

Black Bean Aphid

Aphis fabae

The Black Bean Aphid is a tiny marvel of the garden world, known for its incredible reproductive speed and its fascin...

Insects
Black Burying Beetle

Black Burying Beetle

Nicrophorus humator

The ultimate recycler of the insect world, the Black Burying Beetle is a fascinating 'undertaker' that exhibits rare ...

Insects
Black-fronted Forktail

Black-fronted Forktail

Ischnura denticollis

A tiny, vibrant sentinel of the water's edge, the Black-fronted Forktail is a master of the reeds. Known for its soli...

Insects
Black Garden Ant

Black Garden Ant

Lasius niger

The ultimate backyard socialite, the Black Garden Ant is a master engineer and shepherd that builds vast underground ...

Insects
Black-headed Cardinal Beetle

Black-headed Cardinal Beetle

Pyrochroa coccinea

A vivid jewel of the spring woodland, the Black-headed Cardinal Beetle stands out with its brilliant scarlet wing cas...

Insects
Black Pecan Aphid

Black Pecan Aphid

Melanocallis caryaefoliae

A tiny insect with a big impact, the Black Pecan Aphid is a master of the pecan canopy. Known for its distinctive bla...

Insects
Black Scale

Black Scale

Parasaissetia nigra

The Black Scale is a master of sedentary survival, transforming from a tiny crawler into a glossy, shield-like sentin...

Insects
Black-tailed Bumble Bee

Black-tailed Bumble Bee

Bombus melanopygus

One of the first messengers of spring, the Black-tailed Bumble Bee is a hardy and colorful pollinator. Easily recogni...

Insects
Black-tailed Skimmer

Black-tailed Skimmer

Orthetrum cancellatum

A master of the sunny shoreline, the Black-tailed Skimmer is famous for its powder-blue color and its unique habit of...

Insects
Blood-red Field Ant

Blood-red Field Ant

Formica sanguinea

The Blood-red Field Ant is a bold and strategic master of the undergrowth, famous for its red-and-black armor and its...

Insects
Blue Corporal

Blue Corporal

Ladona deplanata

A sure sign of spring, the Blue Corporal is a compact, powder-blue sentinel of the water's edge. Known for its unique...

Insects
Blue Dasher

Blue Dasher

Pachydiplax longipennis

A master of aerial combat and the undisputed king of the backyard pond, the Blue Dasher is a stunning example of natu...

Insects
Blue-fronted Dancer

Blue-fronted Dancer

Argia apicalis

A vibrant flash of sky-blue in the summer sun, the Blue-fronted Dancer is a master of aerial acrobatics. Easily recog...

Insects
Blue-green Sharpshooter

Blue-green Sharpshooter

Graphocephala atropunctata

A vibrant jewel of the garden, the blue-green sharpshooter is a master of camouflage and a powerful jumper. While fam...

Insects
Blue-ringed Dancer

Blue-ringed Dancer

Argia sedula

With its electric blue markings and rhythmic, bouncing flight, the Blue-ringed Dancer is a captivating visitor to sun...

Insects
Blue Tit

Blue Tit

Hypolycaena kina

Though it shares a name with a famous bird, the Blue Tit butterfly is a Himalayan treasure. This small, iridescent ma...

Insects
Blue Willow Beetle

Blue Willow Beetle

Phratora vulgatissima

The Blue Willow Beetle is a miniature marvel of the insect world, sporting a metallic cobalt coat that shimmers in th...

Insects
Blue-winged Scoliid Wasp

Blue-winged Scoliid Wasp

Scolia dubia

With shimmering indigo wings and a helpful habit of hunting garden pests, the Blue-winged Scoliid Wasp is a gardener'...

Insects
Blunt-nosed Leafhopper

Blunt-nosed Leafhopper

Limotettix vaccinii

A tiny marvel of the cranberry bogs, the Blunt-nosed Leafhopper is a master of camouflage with a powerful spring in i...

Insects
Bog Bush-cricket

Bog Bush-cricket

Metrioptera brachyptera

A master of camouflage in Europe's wild wetlands, the Bog Bush-cricket sports a striking neon-green racing stripe aga...

Insects
Boreal Bluet

Boreal Bluet

Enallagma boreale

A hardy gem of the North, the Boreal Bluet brings a striking dash of sky-blue to backyard ponds and mountain wetlands...

Insects
Bow-winged Grasshopper

Bow-winged Grasshopper

Chorthippus biguttulus

A champion of the summer soundscape, the Bow-winged Grasshopper is famous for its complex song and incredible leaping...

Insects
Brassy Willow Beetle

Brassy Willow Beetle

Phratora vitellinae

A shimmering metallic gem of the riverside, the Brassy Willow Beetle is a master of chemical defense and a dazzling a...

Insects
Brazilian Skipper

Brazilian Skipper

Calpodes ethlius

With their moth-like bodies and translucent wing 'windows,' Brazilian Skippers are the speed-demons of the butterfly ...

Insects
Bright-line Brown-eye

Bright-line Brown-eye

Lacanobia oleracea

A common but beautiful garden visitor, the Bright-line Brown-eye is easily identified by its striking white 'W' marki...

Insects
Bright Marbled Sapphire

Bright Marbled Sapphire

Stugeta bowkeri

A shimmering jewel of the African savanna, the Bright Marbled Sapphire dazzles with its metallic blue wings and intri...

Insects
Brindled Plume-moth

Brindled Plume-moth

Amblyptilia punctidactyla

A master of architectural camouflage, the Brindled Plume-moth is famous for its striking 'T' shaped silhouette and fe...

Insects
bristly rose sawfly

bristly rose sawfly

Cladius pectinicornis

A tiny marvel of the garden world, the bristly rose sawfly is famous for its comb-like antennae and its 'skeletonizin...

Insects
Broad-bodied Chaser

Broad-bodied Chaser

Libellula depressa

The Broad-bodied Chaser is an unmistakable garden favorite, boasting a uniquely wide, flattened abdomen and a bold pe...

Insects
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

Noctua fimbriata

A master of hidden brilliance, the Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing conceals a flash of golden sun beneath its camoufl...

Insects
Broad-necked Root Borer

Broad-necked Root Borer

Prionus laticollis

A heavy-armored titan of the summer night, the Broad-necked Root Borer is one of the most impressive beetles you can ...

Insects
Broad Scarlet

Broad Scarlet

Crocothemis erythraea

The Broad Scarlet is a living ember of the insect world, known for its dazzling red hue and bold, territorial nature....

Insects
Bronze Leaf Beetle

Bronze Leaf Beetle

Diachus auratus

A tiny, living jewel in the garden, the Bronze Leaf Beetle dazzles with its metallic copper sheen. Though small enoug...

Insects

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