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 If you see outdated taxonomic information in the ESA Common Names list, you can help by notifying the committee at pubs@entsoc.org.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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| oriental house fly | Musca domestica vicina Macquart | DIPTERA | Muscidae | Macquart | Musca | domestica vicina | ||
| oriental moth | Cnidocampa flavescens (Walker) | LEPIDOPTERA | Limacodidae | (Walker) | Cnidocampa | flavescens | ||
| oriental rat flea | Xenopsylla cheopis (Rothschild) | SIPHONAPTERA | Pulicidae | (Rothschild) | Xenopsylla | cheopis | ||
| oriental stink bug | Plautia stali Scott | HEMIPTERA | Pentatomidae | Scott | Plautia | stali | ||
| ornate aphid | Myzus ornatus Laing | HEMIPTERA | Aphididae | Laing | Myzus | ornatus | ||
| orthezia lady beetle | Hyperaspis jocosa (Mulsant) | COLEOPTERA | Coccinellidae | (Mulsant) | Hyperaspis | jocosa | ||
| oval guineapig louse | Gyropus ovalis Burmeister | PSOCODEA | Gyropidae | Burmeister | Gyropus | ovalis | ||
| oxalis spider mite | Tetranychina harti (Ewing) | ACARI | Tetranychidae | (Ewing) | Tetranychina | harti | ||
| oxalis whitefly | Aleyrodes shizuokensis Kuwana | HEMIPTERA | Aleyrodidae | Kuwana | Aleyrodes | shizuokensis | ||
| oystershell scale | Lepidosaphes ulmi (Linnaeus) | HEMIPTERA | Diaspididae | (Linnaeus) | Lepidosaphes | ulmi | ||
| Pacific beetle cockroach | Diploptera punctata (Eschscholtz) | BLATTODEA | Blaberidae | (Eschscholtz) | Diploptera | punctata | ||
| Pacific cicada killer | Sphecius convallis (Patton) | HYMENOPTERA | Crabronidae | (Patton) | Sphecius | convallis | ||
| Pacific Coast tick | Dermacentor occidentalis Marx | ACARI | Ixodidae | Marx | Dermacentor | occidentalis | ||
| Pacific Coast wireworm | Limonius canus LeConte | COLEOPTERA | Elateridae | LeConte | Limonius | canus | ||
| Pacific cockroach | Euthyrrhapha pacifica (Coquebert) | BLATTODEA | Polyphagidae | (Coquebert) | Euthyrrhapha | pacifica | ||
| Pacific dampwood termite | Zootermopsis angusticollis (Hagen) | BLATTODEA | Archotermopsidae | (Hagen) | Zootermopsis | angusticollis | ||
| Pacific flatheaded borer | Chrysobothris mali Horn | COLEOPTERA | Buprestidae | Horn | Chrysobothris | mali | ||
| Pacific kissing bug | Oncocephalus pacificus (Kirkaldy) | HEMIPTERA | Reduviidae | (Kirkaldy) | Oncocephalus | pacificus | ||
| Pacific pelagic water strider | Halobates sericeus Eschscholtz | HEMIPTERA | Gerridae | Eschscholtz | Halobates | sericeus | ||
| Pacific spider mite | Tetranychus pacificus McGregor | ACARI | Tetranychidae | McGregor | Tetranychus | pacificus | ||
| Pacific tent caterpillar | Malacosoma constrictum (Hy. Edwards) | LEPIDOPTERA | Lasiocampidae | (Hy. Edwards) | Malacosoma | constrictum | ||
| Pacific willow leaf beetle | Tricholochmaea decora carbo (LeConte) | COLEOPTERA | Chrysomelidae | (LeConte) | Tricholochmaea | decora carbo | ||
| Packard grasshopper | Melanoplus packardii Scudder | ORTHOPTERA | Acrididae | Scudder | Melanoplus | packardii | ||
| painted beauty | Vanessa virginiensis (Drury) | LEPIDOPTERA | Nymphalidae | (Drury) | Vanessa | virginiensis | ||
| painted hickory borer | Megacyllene caryae (Gahan) | COLEOPTERA | Cerambycidae | (Gahan) | Megacyllene | caryae |