Field Guide

Land Invertebrates

Showing 171 - 180 of 183 results
Common meadow katydid female viewed from the side
Common Meadow Katydid
Orchelimum vulgare
The common meadow katydid is aptly named: it is well-known and widespread in the eastern United States. Listen for its distinctive call — like a pulsating circular lawn sprinkler ratcheting around — in midsummer to the first hard frost.
Black-legged meadow katydid female
Black-Legged Meadow Katydid
Orchelimum nigripes
The black-legged meadow katydid is a gorgeous, strikingly marked katydid that hides among foliage. They are secretive and quick to hop away or move to the other side of a plant stem.
Greenhouse camel cricket resting on a white-painted surface
Camel Crickets (Cave Crickets)
About 150 species in North America north of Mexico
Camel crickets and cave crickets are odd-looking, hump-backed insects that are commonly found in caves, basements, cellars, and similar places.
Photo of an adult female field cricket
Field Crickets
Gryllus spp., Acheta domesticus, and others in subfamily Gryllinae
Field crickets and house crickets are celebrated singers. There are several species in Missouri.
Female hooded grouse locust perched on a rock
Pygmy Grasshoppers
About 30 species in North America north of Mexico
Members of the pygmy grasshopper family are small and have a distinctively elongated pronotum — this plate, which only covers the shoulders of most other grasshoppers, extends back to cover the abdomen in this family. Most live along streams and in other wet habitats.
image of Tumblebug with fecal ball
Tumblebugs
Canthon spp.
Tumblebugs in genus Canthon are usually seen on, near, and beneath poop. They are sometimes seen rolling dung balls away from the original heap, heads down and pushing the ball backward with their hind legs.
Grapevine beetle walking on a person's hand
Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeids)
About 1,700 species in North America north of Mexico
The scarab beetle family is very large, with breathtaking variety — and often great beauty. Many scarabs are large and colorful.
Dark flower scarab clinging to a flower
Dark Flower Scarab
Euphoria sepulcralis
The dark flower scarab is a scarab beetle that apparently eats pollen, nectar, and perhaps other parts of flowers in late spring, sometimes becoming an agricultural pest. The larvae grow up beneath manure or other decaying materials.
Photo of Nemognatha blister beetle on sunflower
Nemognatha Blister Beetles
Nemognatha spp.
Nemognatha blister beetles are leathery beetles often seen visiting flowers. There are nearly 30 species in North America.
May beetle on wood
May Beetles (June Bugs)
Phyllophaga spp.
May beetles, or June bugs, are common beetles that are named for the months they are most numerous. Clumsy walkers and fliers, they are usually brownish and are attracted to lights at night.
See Also
Photo of a Yellow-Collared Scape Moth
Yellow-Collared Scape Moth
Cisseps fulvicollis
The yellow-collared scape moth is more often “orange-collared.” And whether you think it looks more like a firefly or a wasp, it’s still a moth!
image of Plume Moth on blade of grass
Plume Moths
Nearly 150 species in North America north of Mexico
Slim, delicate plume moths are instantly recognizable by their T-shaped silhouette, long legs, and muted shades of tan and brown. It can be hard to separate the various species.
Photo of an Isabella Tiger Moth
Isabella Tiger Moth (Woolly Bear; Woolly Worm)
Pyrrharctia isabella
Not many people know the adult Isabella tiger moth when they see one, but we’re all acquainted with its caterpillar, the woolly worm, or woolly bear.

About Land Invertebrates in Missouri

Invertebrates are animals without backbones, including earthworms, slugs, snails, and arthropods. Arthropods—invertebrates with “jointed legs” — are a group of invertebrates that includes crayfish, shrimp, millipedes, centipedes, mites, spiders, and insects. There may be as many as 10 million species of insects alive on earth today, and they probably constitute more than 90 percent all animal species.