Common Names of
Various Insect Families,
Subfamilies, or Tribes


The common names corresponding to the scientific names of various families of insects are provided below.

Bees (long-tongued)
Anthophoridae (Anthophorini) = Anthophorine Bees
Anthophoridae (Ceratinini) = Little Carpenter Bees
Anthophoridae (Emphorini) = Emphorine Bees, Miner Bees
Anthophoridae (Epeolini) = Cuckoo Bees, Epeoline Bees
Anthophoridae (Eucerini) = Long-Horned Bees, Miner Bees
Anthophoridae (Melectini) = Cuckoo Bees, Melectine Bees
Anthophoridae (Nomadini) = Cuckoo Bees, Nomadine Bees
Anthophoridae (Xylocopini) = Large Carpenter Bees
Apidae (Apinae) = Honey Bees
Apidae (Bombini) = Bumblebees
Megachilidae (Anthidinini) = Carder Bees
Megachilidae (Coelioxini) = Cuckoo Leaf-Cutting Bees
Megachilidae (Megachilini) = Large Leaf-Cutting Bees
Megachilidae (Osmiini) = Small Leaf-Cutting Bees, Mason Bees
Megachilidae (Stelidini) = Cuckoo Leaf-Cutting Bees, Stelidine Bees
Megachilidae (Trypetini) = Leaf-Cutting Bees, Onion Bees
Melittidae = Oil-Collecting Bees

Bees (short-tongued)
Andrenidae (Andreninae) = Andrenid Bees, Small Mining Bees
Andrenidae (Panurginae) = Dagger Bees
Colletidae (Colletinae) = Plasterer Bees
Colletidae (Hylaeinae) = Masked Bees
Halictidae (Halictinae) = Small Miner Bees, Green Metallic Bees, Halictid Bees
Halictidae (Nomiinae) = Alkali Bees
Halictidae (Sphecodini) = Cuckoo Halictid Bees

Wasps
Braconidae = Braconid Wasps
Chalcidae = Chalcids, Chalcid Wasps
Chrysididae = Cuckoo Wasps
Gasteruptiidae = Wild Carrot Wasps, Gasteruptiid Wasps
Ichneumonidae = Ichneumonid Wasps
Mutillidae = Velvet Ants
Pompilidae = Spider Wasps
Scoliidae = Scoliid Wasps

Sphecidae (Bembicinae) = Sand Wasps
Sphecidae (Crabroninae) = Crabronine Wasps
Sphecidae (Larrinae) = Sand-Loving Wasps, Larrine Wasps
Sphecidae (Philanthinae) = Bee Wolves, Philanthine Wasps
Sphecidae (Sphecinae) = Thread-Waisted Wasps, Mud-Daubers, etc.
Tiphiidae = Tiphiid Wasps
Vespidae = Paper Wasps, Hornets
Vespidae (Eumeninae) = Potter Wasps, Mason Wasps, Eumenine Wasps

Butterflies
Lycaenidae = Hairstreaks, Coppers, & Blues
Nymphalidae = Brush-Footed Butterflies

Papilionidae = Swallowtails
Pieridae = Whites, Sulfurs

Skippers
Hesperiidae = Skippers

Moths
Arctiidae = Tiger Moths
Ctenuchidae = Ctenuchid Moths, Wasp Moths
Geometridae = Geometer Moths
Noctuidae = Owlet Moths & Underwings
Sphingidae = Sphinx Moths, Hawk Moths

Beetles
Buprestidae = Metallic Wood-Boring Beetles
Cantharidae = Soldier Beetles
Cerambycidae = Long-Horned Beetles
Chrysomelidae = Leaf Beetles
Coccinellidae = Lady Beetles
Curculionidae = Snout Beetles, Weevils
Dermestidae = Dermestid Beetles, Carpet Beetles
Elateridae = Click Beetles
Histeridae = Hister Beetles
Lampyridae = Lightning Bugs
Melyridae = Soft-Winged Flower Beetles
Meloidae = Blister Beetles
Mordellidae = Tumbling Flower Beetles
Oedemeridae = False Blister Beetles
Rhipiphoridae = Wedge-Shaped Beetles
Scarabaeidae (Cetonniae) = Flower Scarab Beetles
Scarabaeidae (Scarabaeniae) = Scarab Beetles

Plant Bugs
Anthocoridae = Flower Bugs, Minute Pirate Bugs
Lygaeidae = Lygaeid Bugs
Miridae = Plant Bugs
Pentatomidae = Stink Bugs
Phymatidae = Ambush Bugs
Reduviidae = Assasin Bugs
Thyreocoridae = Negro Bugs


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