Wildlife Species Library

Identification guides, behavior notes, and camera tips for the wildlife visiting backyard habitats across the EverydayEarth community.

Showing 1-36 of 54 species

Bald-faced Hornet
Insects

Bald-faced Hornet

Dolichovespula maculata

The Bald-faced Hornet is the master architect of the backyard, known for its striking ivory mask and impressive hangi...

Balsam twig aphid
Insects

Balsam twig aphid

Mindarus pinicolus

Look closely at the tips of your fir trees to find this tiny, wool-covered architect of the forest. The Balsam twig a...

Balsam Woolly Adelgid
Insects

Balsam Woolly Adelgid

Adelges piceae

A microscopic invader with a massive impact, the Balsam Woolly Adelgid hides beneath a coat of white wax while reshap...

Banded Pennant
Insects

Banded Pennant

Celithemis fasciata

With its artistic black-banded wings and graceful, butterfly-like flight, the Banded Pennant is the crown jewel of th...

Barred Sallow
Insects

Barred Sallow

Tiliacea aurago

The Barred Sallow is a living leaf, sporting the brilliant golds and rich purples of the autumn forest. This nocturna...

Bean Leaf Beetle
Insects

Bean Leaf Beetle

Cerotoma trifurcata

A colorful but elusive resident of the vegetable patch, the Bean Leaf Beetle is a master of disguise and a favorite s...

Beautiful Plume Moth
Insects

Beautiful Plume Moth

Amblyptilia acanthadactyla

Master of camouflage with a unique T-shaped silhouette, the Beautiful Plume Moth is a common but often overlooked gem...

Beech Bark Scale
Insects

Beech Bark Scale

Madarococcus fagicorticis

A tiny architect of the forest, the Beech Bark Scale transforms New Zealand's beech trunks into a sugary buffet for n...

Beech Blight Aphid
Insects

Beech Blight Aphid

Grylloprociphilus imbricator

Nicknamed the 'boogie-woogie aphid' for its synchronized dancing, this tiny insect turns American Beech branches into...

Beech Scale
Insects

Beech Scale

Cryptococcus fagisuga

Hidden beneath a blanket of white wax, the Beech Scale is a tiny architect of forest change. While individual insects...

Beet Armyworm Moth
Insects

Beet Armyworm Moth

Spodoptera exigua

A master of nighttime disguise, the Beet Armyworm Moth is a world-traveling survivor found in backyards across the gl...

Berberis Sawfly
Insects

Berberis Sawfly

Arge berberidis

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

Bicolored Sallow
Insects

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-...

Big Greasy
Insects

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...

Black Bean Aphid
Insects

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...

Black Burying Beetle
Insects

Black Burying Beetle

Nicrophorus humator

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

Black-fronted Forktail
Insects

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...

Black Garden Ant
Insects

Black Garden Ant

Lasius niger

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

Black-headed Cardinal Beetle
Insects

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...

Black Pecan Aphid
Insects

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...

Black Scale
Insects

Black Scale

Parasaissetia nigra

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

Black-tailed Bumble Bee
Insects

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...

Black-tailed Skimmer
Insects

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...

Blood-red Field Ant
Insects

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...

Blue Corporal
Insects

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...

Blue Dasher
Insects

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...

Blue-fronted Dancer
Insects

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...

Blue-green Sharpshooter
Insects

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...

Blue-ringed Dancer
Insects

Blue-ringed Dancer

Argia sedula

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

Blue Tit
Insects

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...

Blue Willow Beetle
Insects

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...

Blue-winged Scoliid Wasp
Insects

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'...

Blunt-nosed Leafhopper
Insects

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...

Bog Bush-cricket
Insects

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...

Boreal Bluet
Insects

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...

Bow-winged Grasshopper
Insects

Bow-winged Grasshopper

Chorthippus biguttulus

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

photo_camera

Not sure what you saw?

Upload a wildlife photo and let AI identify the species for you instantly.

Identify a species

Start recording your backyard wildlife

Connect a camera and build your own species record — a personal field guide generated automatically.

Join free Connect a camera