Denver-Boulder Metro Area: Bugs
This guide contains spiders, bees, wasps, ants, beetles, dragonflies, grasshoppers, flies and other bugs that can be found in the Denver-Boulder Metro Area, including Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson Counties.
Red-legged Grasshopper
The Red-legged Grasshopper (Melanoplus femurrubrum) is a species of grasshopper belonging to the genus Melanoplus. It is found in Mexico, United States, and Canada.
Plains Lubber Grasshopper
Brachystola magna, one of the grasshoppers known as plains lubber or western lubber, is a large grasshopper native to southern and central USA and Northern Mexico.
Meadow Spittlebug
Philaenus spumarius, the 'Meadow Froghopper', is a species belonging to the family Cercopidae. The genus name "Philaenus" comes from the Greek "philein" meaning "love", while the species name "spumarius" is derived by the Latin "spuma" = "sparkling", referred to the foam nests. Therefore "Philaenus spumarius" may be translated as "foam lover."
Potato Psyllid
Bactericera cockerelli, also known as the potato psyllid, is a species of psyllid native to southern North America. Its range extends from Central America north to the American Pacific Northwest and parts of Manitoba. It is restricted to the western part of the continent. As its name suggests, it is commonly found on potato and tomato crops, but has a species range that ...more ↓
Cochineal Bug
The cochineal (/kɒtʃɨˈniːl/ koch-i-NEEL or /ˈkɒtʃɨniːl/ KOCH-i-neel; Dactylopius coccus) is a scale insect in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, from which the crimson-coloured dye carmine is derived. A primarily sessile parasite native to tropical and subtropical South America and Mexico, this insect lives on cacti in the genus Opuntia, feeding on ...more ↓
Oleander Aphid
Aphis nerii is an aphid of the of the family Aphididae. Its common names include oleander aphid, milkweed aphid,sweet pepper aphid, and nerium aphid.
Rose Aphid
Macrosiphum rosae is a species of aphids. It infests rosebushes, especially around new buds.
Big-eyed Toad Bug
Gelastocoris oculatus, the big-eyed toad bug, is a species of toad bug in the family Gelastocoridae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Notonecta
Notonecta, or the common backswimmer, is a genus of backswimmer insects in the family Notonectidae. Species in this genus include:
Spined Assassin Bug
Sinea diadema is a species of assassin bug family (Reduviidae), in the subfamily Harpactorinae. It is native to North America and found in the Midwest in fields, often associated with goldenrod Solidago missouriensis Nuttall.
Pale Green Assassin Bug
Zelus luridus is a species of true bug (harpactorinae). This species uses sticky traps as a predation strategy, which is also common to other species in the genus Zelus. The sticky material is produced by a gland on the leg. This gland develops in the second instar. During the first instar, the nymphs use secretions deposited over the egg batch by the female as the source ...more ↓
Wheel Bug
The wheel bug (Arilus cristatus) is in the family Reduviidae (literally, "hangnail"), which consists of assassin bugs. The species is one of the largest terrestrial true bugs in North America, reaching up to 1.5 inches (38 mm) in length in their adult stage. However, males are smaller in terms of their length and width when compared to females. A characteristic structure is the ...more ↓
Rhynocoris ventralis
Rhynocoris ventralis is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae. It is found in North America.
Masked Hunter
Reduvius personatus or the masked hunter is an insect, belonging to the assassin bug (Reduviidae) family. The name refers to the fact that its nymph camouflages itself with dust. The masked hunter is a predator of small arthropods, including woodlice, lacewings, earwigs, and bed bugs. Although they do not feed on human blood, masked hunters can bite humans in self-defence ...more ↓
Tarnished Plant Bug
The tarnished plant bug (TPB) is one of the most serious pests of small fruits and vegetables in North America. No truly effective or reliable management options currently exist. Growers routinely make 3-5 applications of insecticides each year to control this insect. The cost is $200-$500/acre. Considering the narrow profit margin for today's farmers, these costs are significant. The ...more ↓
Common Bed Bug
Bed bugs are parasitic insects of the cimicid family that feed exclusively on blood. The term most commonly refers to members of the genus Cimex of which Cimex lectularius, the common bed bug, is the best known as it prefers to feed on human blood although other Cimex species are specialized to other animals, e.g., bat bugs, Cimex pipistrelli ...more ↓
Common Water Strider
Aquarius remigis, known as the common water strider, is a species of aquatic bug. It was formerly known as Gerris remigis, but the subgenus Aquarius was elevated to generic rank in 1990 on the basis of phylogenetic analysis. Aquarius remigis is found throughout North America, but is most prevalent in the mid-west of the United States.
Charcoal Seed Bug
Melacoryphus lateralis is a species of true bug, one of several called black-and-red seed bug. Black and fringed with red and gray, some call it the charcoal seed bug, due to its resemblance to a dying ember. Native to the deserts of western North American, they have a tendency to appear in large numbers in the late summer.
Large Milkweed Bug
The milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus, is a medium–sized hemipteran (true bug) of the family Lygaeidae. It feeds mainly on grains, particularly those of the milkweed. Like all hemiptera, it feeds through a long mouthpart known as a rostrum. O. fasciatus is commonly used in science due to ease of rearing and ease of dissection.
Blue Shieldbug
Zicrona caerulea, common name Blue Shieldbug, is a species of bugs belonging to the Pentatomidae family.
Two-spotted Stink Bug
Perillus bioculatus, the two-spotted stink bug or double-eyed soldier bug, is a species of insect in the family Pentatomidae native to North America. Both the larval and adult stages are specialized predators of eggs and larvae of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). However, the first instar larvae feed by sucking the juices out of potato ...more ↓
Perillus exaptus
Perillus exaptus is a species of predatory stink bug in the family Pentatomidae. It is found in North America.
Brown Stink Bug
Euschistus servus, the brown stink bug, is a species of stink bug in the family Pentatomidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Twice-Stabbed Stink Bug
Cosmopepla lintneriana, the twice-stabbed stink bug, is a species of insect in the Pentatomidae family. Cosmopepla lintneriana was first described in 1798 by Johan Christian Fabricius as Cimex carnifex and then again in 1865 by Thomas as Cosmopepla bimaculata....
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Halyomorpha halys, also known as the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), or simply the stink bug, is an insect in the family Pentatomidae that is native to China, Japan and Taiwan. It was accidentally introduced into the United States, with the first specimen being collected in September 1998. The brown marmorated stink bug is considered to be an agricultural ...more ↓
Green Stink Bug
The green stink bug or green soldier bug (Chinavia hilaris) is a stink bug belonging to the family Pentatomidae.
Say's Stink Bug
Chlorochroa sayi, or Say's stink bug, is a species of stink bug in the family Pentatomidae. It is found in North America.
Western Conifer Seed Bug
The western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis, sometimes abbreviated as WCSB, is a species of true bug (Hemiptera) in the family Coreidae. It was originally native to the warm-temperate western USA (California, Oregon and Nevada) but has in recent times expanded its range and become an invasive species in parts of Europe.
Squash Bug
Anasa tristis of the family Coreidae is a major pest of squash and pumpkins, and is a vector of the cucurbit yellow vine disease (CYVD) bacterium. These bugs can emit an unpleasant odor when disturbed.
Hyaline Grass Bug
Liorhyssus hyalinus is a species of scentless plant bugs belonging to the family Rhopalidae, subfamily Rhopalinae.
Red-shouldered Bug
Jadera haematoloma, the red-shouldered bug, goldenrain-tree bug or soapberry bug is a species of true bug that lives throughout the United States and south to northern South America. It feeds on seeds within the soapberry plant family, Sapindaceae, and is known to rapidly adapt to feeding on particular hosts. People often confuse this species with the ...more ↓
Western Boxelder Bug
Boisea rubrolineata or the western boxelder bug is identical to the boxelder bug aside from having prominent red veins on its corium. It is found on the west of North America.
Eastern Boxelder Bug
The boxelder bug (Boisea trivittata) is a North American species of true bug. It is found primarily on boxelder trees, as well as maple and ash trees. The adults are about 12.5 millimetres (0.49 in) long with a dark brown or black coloration, relieved by red wing veins and markings on the abdomen; nymphs are bright red.
Eight-spotted Skimmer
The Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis) is a dragonfly of the skimmer family.
Widow Skimmer
The Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) is one of the group of dragonflies known as king skimmers. The species can be found commonly across much of the United States (except in the higher Rocky Mountains areas) and in southern Ontario and Quebec. Adults have a steely blue body area but juveniles are yellow with brown stipes. Wings of both sexes are marked with prominent black ...more ↓
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
The Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella) is a common North American skimmer dragonfly, found in southern Canada and in all 48 of the contiguous U.S. states.
Four-spotted Skimmer
The four-spotted chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata), known in North America as the four-spotted skimmer, is a dragonfly of the family Libellulidae found frequently throughout Europe, Asia, and North America.
Flame Skimmer
The flame skimmer or firecracker skimmer (Libellula saturata) is a common dragonfly of the family Libellulidae, native to western North America.
Calico Pennant
The calico pennant (Celithemis elisa) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is native to eastern Canada and eastern United States.
Halloween Pennant
The Halloween pennant (Celithemis eponina) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is native to eastern North America, including Ontario in Canada and the United States as far west as Colorado.
Variegated Meadowhawk
The Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) is a dragonfly of the family Libellulidae, native to North America.
Black Meadowhawk
The Black Darter or Black Meadowhawk (Sympetrum danae) is a dragonfly found in northern Europe, Asia, and North America. At about 30 mm (1.2 in) long, it is Britain's smallest resident dragonfly. It is a very active late summer insect typical of heathland and moorland bog pools.
Cherry-faced Meadowhawk
The Cherry-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum internum) is a dragonfly of the genus Sympetrum. It is found across northern and central United States and most of Canada, including southern portions of the Yukon and Northwest Territories. Its abdomen is brown, turning dark red at maturity in both sexes. The sides of the abdomen are marked with black triangles and the legs are ...more ↓
White-faced Meadowhawk
The White-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtrusum) is a dragonfly of the genus Sympetrum. It is found in the northern United States and southern Ontario. Adult males are identifiable by a distinctive pure white face and red bodies.
Western Meadowhawk
The Western Meadowhawk (Sympetrum occidentale) is a dragonfly of the family Libellulidae, native to western North America. In adult form, the Meadowhawk has a length of 1 1/4 to 1 5/8 inches (31 to 40 mm). The key distinguishing feature is a cloudy, orange-brown band that covers the inner half of each wing. The band may appear darker towards the outside. Males have a yellowish ...more ↓
Band-winged Meadowhawk
The Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum) is a dragonfly of the genus Sympetrum belonging to the family Libellulidae.
Autumn Meadowhawk
The Yellow-legged Meadowhawk or Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) is a member of the Libellulidae family and grows to 26–35 mm long.
Wandering Glider
Pantala flavescens, the globe skimmer, globe wanderer or wandering glider, is a wide-ranging dragonfly of the family Libellulidae. This species and Pantala hymenaea, the "spot-winged glider", are the only members of the genus Pantala from the subfamily Pantalinae. It was first described by Fabricius in 1798. It is considered to be the most ...more ↓
Spot-winged Glider
The Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea) is a dragonfly of the family Libellulidae. It looks very much like the Wandering Glider with the addition of a basal spot on the hindwing....
Black Saddlebags
The black saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) is a species of skimmer dragonfly found throughout North America. It has distinctive wings with characteristic black blotches at their proximal ends, which make the dragonfly look as though it is wearing saddlebags.
Red Saddlebags
The Red-mantled Saddlebags or Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) is a species of skimmer dragonfly found throughout the eastern United States. It has translucent wings with red veins, and has characteristic dark red blotches at their proximal base, which makes the dragonfly look as if it is carrying saddlebags when flying. The last two bands and the cerci of these dragonflies ...more ↓
Western Pondhawk
Erythemis collocata, the western pondhawk, is a dragonfly of the family Libellulidae, native to the western United States and Mexico.
Eastern Pondhawk
The Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis), also known as the Common Pondhawk, is a dragonfly of the family Libellulidae, native to the eastern two-thirds of the United States and southern Ontario, Canada. The species is distinguished in that the female is bright green and the adult male has a blue abdomen with a green face and green and blue thorax.
Dot-tailed Whiteface
The dot-tailed whiteface (Leucorrhinia intacta) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is also one of the most common and widespread in the genus Leucorrhinia.
Belted Whiteface
Belted Whiteface or Red-waisted Whiteface (Leucorrhinia proxima) is a species of dragonfly in family Libellulidae. It is found across Canada as far north as Alaska and south to northern parts of the United States.
Blue Dasher
The Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) is a dragonfly of the skimmer family. It is common and widely distributed in the United States.
Eastern Amberwing
The Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) is a species of dragonfly in family Libellulidae. It is very small, reaching a total length of no more than 25 mm. The males have orange or amber wings. Both genders have a red pterostigma.
Roseate Skimmer
The Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) is a species dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is native to the Americas, where its distribution extends from the United States to Brazil. It is common and widespread. It is an introduced species in Hawaii.
Common Whitetail
The Common Whitetail or Long-tailed Skimmer (Plathemis lydia) is a common dragonfly across much of North America, with a striking and unusual appearance. The male's chunky white body (about 5 cm long), combined with the brownish-black bands on its otherwise translucent wings, give it a checkered look. Females have a brown body and a different pattern of wing spots, ...more ↓
Desert Whitetail
The Desert Whitetail (Plathemis subornata) is a species of dragonfly in the family in Libellulidae. P. subornata is often put into the genus Libellula.
Pale Snaketail
Ophiogomphus severus is a species of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It is commonly known as the pale snaketail.
Common Green Darner
The Green Darner or Common Green Darner (Anax junius), after its resemblance to a darning-needle, is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. One of the most common and abundant species throughout North America and it ranges south to Panama. It is well known for its great migration distance from the northern United States south into Texas and Mexico. It also ...more ↓
Lance-tipped Darner
Aeshna constricta, the lance-tipped darner, is a species of darner in the family of dragonflies known as Aeshnidae. It is found in North America.
Variable Darner
The Variable Darner (Aeshna interrupta) is a dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae, native from Alaska through the Northwest Territories to Newfoundland, south to New Hampshire and Michigan in the eastern United States, and to the mountains of New Mexico, Arizona, and California in the west. It's named after the distinctive broken stripes on the sides of the thorax of many ...more ↓
Paddle-tailed Darner
Paddle-tailed Darner (Aeshna palmata) is a species of dragonfly in family Aeshnidae. It is common throughout eastern Canada and United States. It's named after its distinctive paddle-shaped appendages. It lives in many habitats, particularly lakes, ponds, and slow streams, usually with dense shore vegetation.Aeshna palmata was scientifically described for the first ...more ↓
Shadow Darner
The Shadow Darner (Aeshna umbrosa) is a species dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. It is found in all provinces in Canada excepting Newfoundland and most states in the United States.
Blue-eyed Darner
The Blue-eyed Darner (Aeshna multicolor, syn. Rhionaeschna multicolor) is a dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae.
American Rubyspot
The American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana) is a damselfly of the family Calopterygidae. Males have a lustrous red head and thorax. The abdomen of both genders is brilliant green. The female may have either green or copper colored marks on the thorax.
Ebony Jewelwing
The ebony jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) is a species of broad-winged damselfly. It is one of about 170 species of Odonata, found in the eastern U.S. and southeastern Canada, ranging west to the Great Plains. Other common names include black-winged damselfly.
Great Spreadwing
The great spreadwing (Archilestes grandis) is a damselfly in the family Lestidae. When great spreadwings are startled they often return to the same perch or a perch nearby.
Spotted Spreadwing
Lestes congener, common name Spotted Spreadwing, is a species of damselfly in the family Lestidae.
Slender Spreadwing
Lestes rectangularis is a species of damselfly in the family Lestidae, the spreadwings. It is known by the common name slender spreadwing. It is native to eastern North America, including eastern Canada and the United States.
Double-striped Bluet
The double-striped bluet (Enallagma basidens) is species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. This species grows to lengths 21–28 mm. Its common name from the peculiar black shoulder stripe, which is divided in two by a thin blue stripe. This is the key identification characteristic; no other damselfly has a shoulder stripe that looks like this one.
Boreal Bluet
The boreal bluet (Enallagma boreale) is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae.
Tule Bluet
The Tule Bluet (Enallagma carunculatum) is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae found in North America.
Familiar Bluet
The familiar bluet (Enallagma civile) is a damselfly of the family Coenagrionidae, native to much of the United States and southern Canada.
Southern Damselfly
Southern Damselfly (Coenagrion mercuriale) is a species of damselfly in family Coenagrionidae. It is found in Algeria, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Morocco, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom. Its natural habitats are rivers and freshwater springs. It is threatened by ...more ↓
Eastern Forktail
Eastern forktail (Ischnura verticalis) is a member of the damselfly family Coenagrionidae.
Common Earwig
Forficula auricularia, the common earwig or European earwig, is an omnivorous insect in the family Forficulidae. The European earwig survives in a variety of environments and is a common household insect in North America. The name "earwig" comes from a false superstition that these insects crawl into human ears and enter the brain; in fact, they are harmless to ...more ↓
Willow Pinecone Gall Midge
Rabdophaga strobiloides, the willow pinecone gall midge, is a species of gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae.
