Common Names of Insects Database
The ESA Common Names database is an essential reference for anyone who works with insects. It includes more than 2,000 common names and is searchable by common name, scientific name, author, order, family, genus, and species. toto slot
Interested individuals may propose new common names (or changes to existing names) by submitting the Common Names Proposal Form that is reviewed by the Committee on the Common Names of Insects and voted on by the ESA Governing Board. Detailed information on the submission and approval process is available through the links in the sidebar to the left. Our understanding of taxonomy evolves over time, and although the Committee on the Common Names of Insects does work to update the taxonomic information included in the ESA Common Names database, sometimes the committee is not aware of recent changes. If you see outdated taxonomic information in the ESA Common Names list, you can help by notifying the committee at pubs@entsoc.org.
Featured Events
WEBINAR: International Association of Black Entomologists (IABE) Voices: Reputability, Research, and Resilience
Location: Zoom Webinar
About: This webinar is hosted in honor of Black History Month to amplify the voices of IABE and celebrate excellence, impact, and perseverance within the field of Entomology. The webinar will provide attendees with an opportunity to learn about IABE and how its community influences the academic and professional journey of its members. The program features distinguished panelists who will present their research programs, professional accomplishments, alongside personal and professional testimonies of resilience.
Southeastern Branch 2026 Meeting
Hilton Head, South Carolina
ESA Webinar Archives
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Order | Family | Author | Genus | Species | Notes | Date Taxonomy Last Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willamette spider mite | Eotetranychus willamettei (McGregor) | ACARI | Tetranychidae | (McGregor) | Eotetranychus | willamettei | ||
| willow bark beetle | Trypophloeus nitidus (Swaine) | COLEOPTERA | Curculionidae | (Swaine) | Trypophloeus | nitidus | 2023-03-29 12:00 | |
| willow beaked-gall midge | Rabdophaga rigidae (Osten Sacken) | DIPTERA | Cecidomyiidae | (Osten Sacken) | Rabdophaga | rigidae | ||
| willow flea weevil | Rhynchaenus rufipes (LeConte) | COLEOPTERA | Curculionidae | (LeConte) | Rhynchaenus | rufipes | ||
| willow redgall sawfly | Pontania promixa (Serville) | HYMENOPTERA | Tenthredinidae | (Serville) | Pontania | promixa | ||
| willow sawfly | Nematus ventralis Say | HYMENOPTERA | Tenthredinidae | Say | Nematus | ventralis | ||
| willow shoot sawfly | Janus abbreviatus (Say) | HYMENOPTERA | Cephidae | (Say) | Janus | abbreviatus | ||
| Wilson sphinx | Hyles wilsoni (Rothschild) | LEPIDOPTERA | Sphingidae | (Rothschild) | Hyles | wilsoni | ||
| wing louse | Lipeurus caponis (Linnaeus) | PSOCODEA | Philopteridae | (Linnaeus) | Lipeurus | caponis | ||
| winter grain mite | Penthaleus major (Dugès) | ACARI | Eupodidae | (Dugès) | Penthaleus | major | ||
| winter moth | Operophtera brumata (Linnaeus) | LEPIDOPTERA | Geometridae | (Linnaeus) | Operophtera | brumata | ||
| winter tick | Dermacentor albipictus (Packard) | ACARI | Ixodidae | (Packard) | Dermacentor | albipictus | ||
| w-marked cutworm | Spaelotis clandestina (Harris) | LEPIDOPTERA | Noctuidae | (Harris) | Spaelotis | clandestina | ||
| woodrose bug | Graptostethus manillensis (Stål) | HEMIPTERA | Lygaeidae | (Stål) | Graptostethus | manillensis | ||
| woods weevil | Nemocestes incomptus (Horn) | COLEOPTERA | Curculionidae | (Horn) | Nemocestes | incomptus | ||
| woolly alder aphid | Prociphilus tessellatus (Fitch) | HEMIPTERA | Aphididae | (Fitch) | Prociphilus | tessellatus | ||
| woolly apple aphid | Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann) | HEMIPTERA | Aphididae | (Hausmann) | Eriosoma | lanigerum | ||
| woolly elm aphid | Eriosoma americanum (Riley) | HEMIPTERA | Aphididae | (Riley) | Eriosoma | americanum | ||
| woolly pear aphid | Eriosoma pyricola Baker & Davidson | HEMIPTERA | Aphididae | Baker & Davidson | Eriosoma | pyricola | ||
| woolly whitefly | Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell) | HEMIPTERA | Aleyrodidae | (Maskell) | Aleurothrixus | floccosus | ||
| yellow and black potter wasp | Delta campaniforme campaniforme (Fabricius) | HYMENOPTERA | Vespidae | (Fabricius) | Delta | campaniforme campaniforme | ||
| yellow bumble bee | Bombus fervidus (Fabricius) | HYMENOPTERA | Apidae | (Fabricius) | Bombus | fervidus | ||
| yellow clover aphid | Therioaphis trifolii (Monell) | HEMIPTERA | Aphididae | (Monell) | Therioaphis | trifolii | ||
| yellow garden spider | Argiope aurantia Lucas | ARANEAE | Araneidae | Lucas | Argiope | aurantia | ||
| yellow mealworm | Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus | COLEOPTERA | Tenebrionidae | Linnaeus | Tenebrio | molitor |