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 If you see outdated taxonomic information in the ESA Common Names list, you can help by notifying the committee at pubs@entsoc.org.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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South American rice miner | Hydrellia wirthi Korytkowski | DIPTERA | Ephydridae | Korytkowski | Hydrellia | wirthi | ||
| southern chinch bug | Blissus insularis Barber | HEMIPTERA | Blissidae | Barber | Blissus | insularis | ||
| southern green stink bug | Nezara viridula (Linnaeus) | HEMIPTERA | Pentatomidae | (Linnaeus) | Nezara | viridula | ||
| southern pine beetle | Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann | COLEOPTERA | Curculionidae | Zimmermann | Dendroctonus | frontalis | ||
| southern pine coneworm | Dioryctria amatella (Hulst) | LEPIDOPTERA | Pyralidae | (Hulst) | Dioryctria | amatella | ||
| southern pine root weevil | Hylobius aliradicis Warner | COLEOPTERA | Curculionidae | Warner | Hylobius | aliradicis | ||
| southern pine sawyer | Monochamus titillator (Fabricius) | COLEOPTERA | Cerambycidae | (Fabricius) | Monochamus | titillator | ||
| southern plains bumble bee | Bombus fraternus (Smith) | HYMENOPTERA | Apidae | (Smith) | Bombus | fraternus | ||
| southwestern pine tiger moth | Lophocampa ingens (H. Edwards, 1881) | LEPIDOPTERA | Erebidae | (H. Edwards, 1881) | Lophocampa | ingens | ||
| southwestern pine tip moth | Rhyacionia neomexicana (Dyar) | LEPIDOPTERA | Tortricidae | (Dyar) | Rhyacionia | neomexicana | ||
| southwestern squash vine borer | Melittia calabaza Duckworth & Eichlin | LEPIDOPTERA | Sesiidae | Duckworth & Eichlin | Melittia | calabaza | ||
| spinach flea beetle | Disonycha xanthomelas (Dalman) | COLEOPTERA | Chrysomelidae | (Dalman) | Disonycha | xanthomelas | ||
| spinach leafminer | Pegomya hyoscyami (Panzer) | DIPTERA | Anthomyiidae | (Panzer) | Pegomya | hyoscyami | ||
| spined assassin bug | Sinea diadema (Fabricius) | HEMIPTERA | Reduviidae | (Fabricius) | Sinea | diadema | ||
| spined rat louse | Polyplax spinulosa (Burmeister) | PSOCODEA | Polyplacidae | (Burmeister) | Polyplax | spinulosa | ||
| spined soldier bug | Podisus maculiventris (Say) | HEMIPTERA | Pentatomidae | (Say) | Podisus | maculiventris | ||
| spined stilt bug | Jalysus wickhami Van Duzee | HEMIPTERA | Berytidae | Van Duzee | Jalysus | wickhami | ||
| spiny assassin bug | Polididus armatissimus Stål | HEMIPTERA | Reduviidae | Stål | Polididus | armatissimus | ||
| spiny oakworm | Anisota stigma (Fabricius) | LEPIDOPTERA | Saturniidae | (Fabricius) | Anisota | stigma | ||
| spinybacked spider | Gasteracantha cancriformis (Linnaeus) | ARANEAE | Araneidae | (Linnaeus) | Gasteracantha | cancriformis | ||
| spotted loblolly pine sawfly | Neodiprion taedae taedae Ross | HYMENOPTERA | Diprionidae | Ross | Neodiprion | taedae taedae | ||
| spotted pine sawyer | Monochamus mutator LeConte | COLEOPTERA | Cerambycidae | LeConte | Monochamus | mutator | ||
| spotted tentiform leafminer | Phyllonorycter blancardella (Fabricius) | LEPIDOPTERA | Gracillariidae | (Fabricius) | Phyllonorycter | blancardella | ||
| spottedwinged antlion | Dendroleon obsoletus (Say) | NEUROPTERA | Myrmeleontidae | (Say) | Dendroleon | obsoletus | ||
| spring cankerworm | Paleacrita vernata (Peck) | LEPIDOPTERA | Geometridae | (Peck) | Paleacrita | vernata |