Golden digger wasp, great golden digger Order: Hymenoptera Family: Sphecidae Genus and species: Sphex ichneumoneus (Linnaeus) The golden digger wasp nests in sand or hard packed soil in southern Canada and the United States south to Brazil and Peru. Although the...

Minute egg wasp Order: Hymenoptera Family: Trichogrammatidae Genus and species: Trichogramma minutum Riley Trichogrammatids wasps are tiny parasites of the eggs of other insects. There are some 80 genera in the family, and about 210 species in the genus Trichogramma...

Elm sawfly Order: Hymenoptera Family: Cimbicidae Genus and species: Cimbex americana Leach The mature elm sawfly larva is a striking 2 ¼ inch animal that looks like a big, yellow caterpillar with a black stripe down its back. However, it is not even closely related to...

Mallow or hibiscus sawfly Order: Hymenoptera Family: Argidae Genus and species: Atomacera decepta Rohwer This pest of hibiscus, hollyhock, and other ornamentals has been called the hibiscus sawfly in the scientific literature. However, it attacks several members of...

Woolly bear caterpillar Order: Lepidoptera Family: Arctiidae Genus and species: Pyrrharctia isabella (Smith) In earlier times, when most Americans were involved in agricultural pursuits, the nation's welfare was defined by the weather, and severe winters had severe...

Yellow-collared scape moth Order: Lepidoptera Family: Arctiidae Genus and species: Cisseps fulvicollis (Hübner) The yellow-collared scape moth is distinctive and unusual in that it is one of few moths that fly during daylight. Because it is vulnerable to visual...

Southern armyworm Order: Lepidoptera Family: Noctuidae Genus and species: Spodoptera eridania (Stoll) The southern armyworm appears to be increasing in importance as a pest in some southern states, but it seems to have relatively minor impact in Arkansas. The...

Fall armyworm Order: Lepidoptera Family: Noctuidae Genus and species: Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) The fall armyworm is frequently a pest in the Deep South. The caterpillars feed on grasses and low-growing forbs and woody plants, including many field crops,...

Beet armyworm Order: Lepidoptera Family: Noctuidae Genus and species: Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) The beet army worm is a serious pest of a wide range of crops, including various table vegetables, cotton, cereals, flowers and tobacco. It also consumes many weed...

Armyworm Order: Lepidoptera Family: Noctuidae Genus and species: Mythimna unipuncta (Howarth) In the Entomological Society of America's list of common names of insects and related organisms, 10 distinct species are referred to as some type of "armyworm". Examples...