Species library
Field marks, habits, and camera tips for the wildlife that visits backyard habitats.
Double-ringed Pennant
Celithemis verna
A gem of the eastern wetlands, the Double-ringed Pennant is a master of the 'sit-and-wait' hunt. This small, elegant ...
Insects
Double Square-spot
Xestia triangulum
With its distinctive twin dark marks and warm, earthy tones, the Double Square-spot is a hallmark of the mid-summer n...
Insects
Dun Skipper
Euphyes vestris
A subtle yet charming visitor to summer meadows, the Dun Skipper is a master of camouflage with its dark, earthy tone...
Insects
Dusky Sallow
Eremobia ochroleuca
A master of grassland camouflage, the Dusky Sallow features stunning marbled wings in shades of ochre and gold. Look ...
Insects
Eastern Black Carpenter Ant
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
The Eastern Black Carpenter Ant is the heavyweight of the North American insect world. A master of social organizatio...
Insects
Eastern Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa virginica
Often mistaken for oversized bumblebees, the Eastern Carpenter Bee is a master woodworker and vital pollinator. Recog...
Insects
Eastern Cicada-killer Wasp
Sphecius speciosus
The Eastern Cicada-killer is one of North America's largest and most misunderstood wasps. A solitary giant, this fasc...
Insects
Eastern Hercules Beetle
Dynastes tityus
A prehistoric titan of the backyard, the Eastern Hercules Beetle impresses with its massive size and remarkable color...
Insects
Eastern Pondhawk
Erythemis simplicicollis
The Eastern Pondhawk is a fearless aerial predator that transforms from a brilliant emerald green to a dusty sky blue...
Insects
Eastern Rhinoceros Beetle
Xyloryctes jamaicensis
Meet North America's miniature titan: the Eastern Rhinoceros Beetle. A glossy, mahogany-colored marvel, this nocturna...
Insects
Eastern Scarlet
Axiocerses tjoane
A flash of brilliant crimson in the African sun, the Eastern Scarlet is a high-energy gem of the savanna. Whether pat...
Insects
Eastern Subterranean Termite
Reticulitermes flavipes
The Eastern Subterranean Termite is North America's most industrious decomposer. Though small, these social insects b...
Insects
Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth
Malacosoma americana
From intricate silk fortresses to vibrant fuzzy crawlers, the Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth is a spring icon. Discove...
Insects
Eastern Yellowjacket
Vespula maculifrons
The industrious architect of the underground, the Eastern Yellowjacket is a vital predator in our backyards that keep...
Insects
Ebony Jewelwing
Calopteryx maculata
With its shimmering emerald body and velvet-black wings, the Ebony Jewelwing is a living gem of the woodland stream. ...
Insects
Eight-spotted Skimmer
Libellula forensis
A striking master of the western wetlands, the Eight-spotted Skimmer is famous for its bold wing patterns and territo...
Insects
Elephant Beetle
Megasoma elephas
The Elephant Beetle is the heavyweight champion of the backyard jungle. Draped in golden velvet and sporting a massiv...
Insects
Elongate hemlock scale
Fiorinia externa
A tiny traveler with a massive impact, the elongate hemlock scale hides on the underside of conifer needles, creating...
Insects
Emerald Cuckoo Wasp
Stilbum cyanurum
Often called the 'Living Jewel,' the Emerald Cuckoo Wasp is a master of iridescence and a clever nest-invader. Watch ...
Insects
Essex Skipper
Thymelicus lineola
A shimmering golden dart of the summer meadow, the Essex Skipper is a master of the 'quick-skip' flight. Often hiding...
Insects
Eufala Skipper
Lerodea eufala
The Eufala Skipper is a master of camouflage and a marathon traveler. Though it blends seamlessly into the grasses of...
Insects
Euglena sanguinea
Euglena sanguinea
Witness the microscopic magic that turns local ponds a brilliant shade of crimson. Euglena sanguinea is a shape-shift...
Insects
Euonymus Scale
Unaspis euonymi
Tiny but transformative, the Euonymus Scale is a master of camouflage that can encrust entire garden shrubs. Discover...
Insects
European fire ant
Myrmica rubra
Fierce, social, and strikingly red, the European fire ant is a tiny powerhouse of the garden floor. While famous for ...
Insects
European Fruit Scale
Parthenolecanium corni
A common yet cryptic resident of North American orchards, the European Fruit Scale is a master of disguise. These sap...
Insects
European Hornet
Vespa crabro
The largest true hornet in the West, the European Hornet is a masterful architect and a unique nocturnal hunter that ...
Insects
European Paper Wasp
Polistes dominula
The European Paper Wasp is a master of suburban survival, known for its open-faced nests and striking yellow and blac...
Insects
European Red Mite
Panonychus ulmi
Though tiny enough to fit on a pinhead, the European Red Mite is a vibrant, crimson powerhouse of the backyard ecosys...
Insects
European Rhinoceros Beetle
Oryctes nasicornis
A prehistoric-looking titan of the undergrowth, the European Rhinoceros Beetle is one of the most impressive insects ...
Insects
European Rose Chafer
Cetonia aurata
A shimmering emerald of the garden, the European Rose Chafer is a master of the sun. These iridescent pollinators are...
Insects
European Stag Beetle
Lucanus cervus
The European Stag Beetle is the crown jewel of backyard insects, featuring the male's iconic antler-like mandibles. T...
Insects
Fall Armyworm Moth
Spodoptera frugiperda
A champion of long-distance flight and a master of disguise, the Fall Armyworm Moth is a subtle nocturnal visitor wit...
Insects
Fall Webworm Moth
Hyphantria cunea
Famous for the massive silk 'tents' their caterpillars build in late summer, the adult Fall Webworm Moth is a stunnin...
Insects
Familiar Bluet
Enallagma civile
Meet the Familiar Bluet, the sky-blue 'living jewel' of the North American wetlands. This energetic damselfly is a ma...
Insects
Ferruginous Carpenter Ant
Camponotus chromaiodes
Meet the architect of the undergrowth. The Ferruginous Carpenter Ant is a striking bi-colored marvel that plays a mas...
Insects
Fiery Skipper
Hylephila phyleus
A flash of golden-orange in the summer sun, the Fiery Skipper is the high-energy athlete of your backyard garden. The...
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