Arthropods at Monticello

Arthropods are common invertebrates at Monticello. They include insects, spiders, mites, centipedes, millipedes, crustaceans, and others. Many are small and difficult to see. Because most nature-lovers who visit Monticello are looking for different types of wildlife, the number of arthropod species at the park is undoubtedly much greater than the number recorded. Also, identification of arthropods can be difficult, and some can be classified only by genus or family rather than species.

Below is list of some of the arthropods who either have been photographed at the park or are likely to be there. If you click on the heading for each entry, there is a link to the iNaturalist page with photos and further information.

INSECTS (Class Insecta)


DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES (Order Odonata)

Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia)

Painted Skimmer (Libellula semifasciata)


GRASSHOPPERS, CRICKETS, AND KATYDIDS (Order Orthoptera)

Greenhouse Camel Cricket (Tachycines asynamorus)


COCKROACHES AND TERMITES (Order Blattodea)

Eastern Subterranean Termite (Reticulitermes flavipes)


TRUE BUGS, HOPPEERS, APHIDS, AND ALLIES (Order Hemiptera)

Witch-hazel Cone Gall Aphid (Hormaphis hamamelidis)

Spiny Witch-hazel Gall Aphid (Hamamelistes spinosus)

Phylloxera (Genus Phylloxera)

Wax scales (Genus Ceroplastes)

Stink Bugs (Family Pentatomidae)

Leaf-footed Bug (Acanthocephala terminalis)

Pale Green Assassin Bug (Zelus luridus)

Damsel Bug (Hoplistoscelis pallescens)

Obscure Plant Bug (Plagiognathus obscurus)

Swamp Cicada (Neotibicen tibicen)

Eastern Scissors Grinder Cicada (Neotibicen winnemanna)

Periodical cicadas (Genus Magicicada)

Sharpshooter (Tylozygus geometricus)


ANTLIONS, LACEWINGS, AND ALLIES (Order Neuroptera)

Common green lacewings (Genus Chrysoperla)


BEETLES (Order Coleoptera)

Eastern Eyed Elater (Alaus oculatus)

Click beetles (Genus Melanotus)

Fiery Searcher Beetle (Calosoma scrutator)

Redbud Seed Weevil (Gibbobruchus mimus)

Common Eastern Firefly (Photinus pyralis)

Fireflies (Genus Lucidota) ( sp.)

Reticulated Net-winged Beetle (Calopteron reticulatum)

Tumbling Flower Beetle species (Mordellistena fuscipennis)


ANTS, BEES, WASPS, AND SAWFLIES (Order Hymenoptera)

Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens)

Pure Gold-green Sweat Bee (Augochlora pura)

Unequal Cellophane Bee (Colletes inaequalis)

Rufous-backed Cellophane Bee (Colletes thoracicus)

Nomad bees (Genus Nomada)

Mining bees (Genus Andrena)

Ichneumonid wasps (Family Ichneumonidae)

Oak Petiole Gall Wasp (Andricus quercuspetiolicola)

Succulent Oak Gall Wasp (Dryocosmus quercuspalustris)

Oak Gall Wasp species (Neuroterus quercusirregularis)

Eastern Black Carpenter Ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus)

False honeypot ants (Genus Prenolepis)

Common Sawflies (Family Tenthredinidae)


BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS (Order Lepidoptera)

Red-spotted Admiral (Limenitis arthemis)

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)

Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus)

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)

Eastern Tailed Blue (Cupido comyntas)

Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)

Monarch (Danaus plexippus)

Juvenal's Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)

Zabulon Skipper (Lon zabulon)

Banded Tussock Moth(Halysidota tessellaris)

Pearl moths (Genus Herpetogramma)

Nessus Sphinx (Amphion floridensis)

Dark-banded Owlet (Phalaenophana pyramusalis)

Litter moths (Genus Renia)


FLIES (Order Diptera)

Golden-backed Snipe Fly (Chrysopilus thoracicus)

Red-footed Cannibal Fly (Promachus rufipes)

Hairy-eyed Bee Mimic (Mallota posticata)

Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris)

Oblique Streaktail (Allograpta obliqua)

Stilt-legged Fly species (Rainieria antennaepes)

Bee-like robber flies (Laphria canis)

House flies (Genus Helina)

Pufftails (Genus Sphegina)

Oak Leaf Gall Midge (Polystepha pilulae)



ARACHNIDS (Class Arachnida)


SPIDERS (Order Araneae)

Hammerjawed Jumping Spider (Zygoballus rufipes)

Long-jawed jumping spiders (Genus Hentzia)

American Nursery Web Spider (Pisaurina mira)

Orchard Orbweaver (Leucauge venusta)

Bowl-and-doily Spider (Frontinella pyramitela)

Philodromic crab spiders (Genus Philodromus)

Brush-legged wolf spiders (Genus Schizocosa)

Ground spiders (Genus Drassyllus)



CRABS, LOBSTERS, CRAYFISH, SHRIMP, KRILL, PRAWNS, WOODLICE, AMPHIPODS, MANTIS SHRIMP, AND TONGUE-EATING LICE (Class Malacostraca)


ISOPODS (Order Isopoda)

Common Striped Woodlouse (Philoscia muscorum)