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.
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 If you see outdated taxonomic information in the ESA Common Names list, you can help by notifying the committee at pubs@entsoc.org.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: Creating Accessible and Engaging Online Courses in Entomology
Location: Zoom Webinar
About: A lot can change in five years! Although institutions have reverted to in-person teaching following the COVID-19 Pandemic, entomology is increasingly shifting to online classrooms and portals for student learning. With higher demand for online course options, accessibility and engagement in digital classrooms are essential. Hosted by the ESA Formal and Informal Teaching (FIT) Student Subcommittee, join us as invited presenters Adrienne Brundage, Ph.D., and Tonya Shepherd, Ph.D., from the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University share their experiences, recommendations, and new tools for improving accessibility and engagement in virtual entomology teaching.
Southeastern Branch 2026 Meeting
Hilton Head, South Carolina
Eastern Branch 2026 Meeting
Saratoga Springs, New York
ESA Webinar Archives
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Order | Family | Author | Genus | Species | Notes | Date Taxonomy Last Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| western potato flea beetle | Epitrix subcrinita LeConte | COLEOPTERA | Chrysomelidae | LeConte | Epitrix | subcrinita | ||
| western potato leafhopper | Empoasca abrupta DeLong | HEMIPTERA | Cicadellidae | DeLong | Empoasca | abrupta | ||
| western predatory mite | Galendromus occidentalis (Nesbitt) | ACARI | Phytoseiidae | (Nesbitt) | Galendromus | occidentalis | ||
| western spotted cucumber beetle | Diabrotica undecimpunctata undecimpunctata Mannerheim | COLEOPTERA | Chrysomelidae | Mannerheim | Diabrotica | undecimpunctata undecimpunctata | ||
| western spruce budworm | Choristoneura freemani Razowski | LEPIDOPTERA | Tortricidae | Razowski | Choristoneura | freemani | ||
| western striped cucumber beetle | Acalymma trivittatum (Mannerheim) | COLEOPTERA | Chrysomelidae | (Mannerheim) | Acalymma | trivittatum | ||
| western striped flea beetle | Phyllotreta ramosa (Crotch) | COLEOPTERA | Chrysomelidae | (Crotch) | Phyllotreta | ramosa | ||
| western subterranean termite | Reticulitermes hesperus Banks | BLATTODEA | Heterotermitidae | Banks | Reticulitermes | hesperus | ||
| western tarnished plant bug | Lygus hesperus Knight | HEMIPTERA | Miridae | Knight | Lygus | hesperus | ||
| western tent caterpillar | Malacosoma californicum (Packard) | LEPIDOPTERA | Lasiocampidae | (Packard) | Malacosoma | californicum | ||
| western thatching ant | Formica obscuripes Forel | HYMENOPTERA | Formicidae | Forel | Formica | obscuripes | ||
| western treehole mosquito | Aedes sierrensis (Ludlow) | DIPTERA | Culicidae | (Ludlow) | Aedes | sierrensis | ||
| western tussock moth | Orgyia vetusta Boisduval | LEPIDOPTERA | Erebidae | Boisduval | Orgyia | vetusta | ||
| western wheat aphid | Diuraphis tritici (Gillette) | HEMIPTERA | Aphididae | (Gillette) | Diuraphis | tritici | ||
| western w-marked cutworm | Spaelotis bicava LaFontaine | LEPIDOPTERA | Noctuidae | LaFontaine | Spaelotis | bicava | ||
| western yellowjacket | Vespula pensylvanica (Saussure) | HYMENOPTERA | Vespidae | (Saussure) | Vespula | pensylvanica | ||
| western yellowstriped armyworm | Spodoptera praefica (Grote) | LEPIDOPTERA | Noctuidae | (Grote) | Spodoptera | praefica | ||
| wharf borer | Nacerdes melanura (Linnaeus) | COLEOPTERA | Oedemeridae | (Linnaeus) | Nacerdes | melanura | ||
| wheat curl mite | Aceria tosichella Keifer | ACARI | Eriophyidae | Keifer | Aceria | tosichella | ||
| wheat head armyworm | Dargida diffusa (Walker) | LEPIDOPTERA | Noctuidae | (Walker) | Dargida | diffusa | ||
| wheat jointworm | Tetramesa tritici (Fitch) | HYMENOPTERA | Eurytomidae | (Fitch) | Tetramesa | tritici | ||
| wheat midge | Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin) | DIPTERA | Cecidomyiidae | (Géhin) | Sitodiplosis | mosellana | ||
| wheat stem maggot | Meromyza americana Fitch | DIPTERA | Chloropidae | Fitch | Meromyza | americana | ||
| wheat stem sawfly | Cephus cinctus Norton | HYMENOPTERA | Cephidae | Norton | Cephus | cinctus | ||
| wheat strawworm | Tetramesa grandis (Riley) | HYMENOPTERA | Eurytomidae | (Riley) | Tetramesa | grandis |