Insects & Other Species
Invertebrates
Art by Jean Gawalt
Invertebrates are animals without a spinal column (backbone). They include:
- marine species such as sponges, jellyfish, sea urchins and starfish;
- freshwater aquatic species such as snails and mussels;
- terrestrial species like insects, spiders and worms.
On these pages you will find information about a variety of NYSDEC research and management programs concerning invertebrate species.
Endangered and Threatened Invertebrates
The Endangered Species Unit of NYSDEC is responsible for perpetuating and restoring native animal life within the State. Several invertebrate species are listed as endangered, threatened or of special concern in New York. Fact sheets have been prepared for several of these listed species. They include a description of the species, its life history, statewide distribution and habitat, its current status, and management and research needs.
Macroinvertebrates
Macroinvertebrates are larger-than-microscopic invertebrate animals. Because of their abundance and their sensitivity to environmental impacts, they are widely used in biomonitoring programs for assessing water quality. The Stream Biomonitoring Unit of NYSDEC has used aquatic macroinvertebrates (aquatic insects, worms, clams, snails and crustaceans) to monitor the water quality of the State's rivers and streams.
Pullouts from the Conservationist:
Backyard Bugs Brochure (PDF, 247 KB)
Backyard Bugs Poster (PDF, 267 KB)
Butterflies and Moths in New York State Brochure (PDF, 640 KB)
Common Spiders (PDF, 536 KB)
More about Insects & Other Species:
- Watchable Wildlife: Monarch Butterfly - Infomation about the appearance, ecology and best places to view the Monarch Butterfly.
- Karner Blue Butterfly - New York State's Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species Fact Sheets - Karner Blue Butterfly
- Watchable Wildlife: Praying and Chinese Mantises - The appearance, habitat and behavior of the Praying and Chinese mantises. Where to see these insects.
- Chittenango Ovate Amber Snail - New York State's Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species Fact Sheets - Chittenango Ovate Amber Snail
- Dwarf Wedge Mussel - New York State's Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species Fact Sheets - Dwarf Wedge Mussel
- Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle - New York State's Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species Fact Sheets - Northeastern Beech Tiger Beetle
- American Burying Beetle - New York State's Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species Fact Sheets - American Burying Beetle
- Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) - Pool Survey - This page discusses the citizen pool survey program to monitor Asian Longhorned Beetle populations.
- Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) - The larvae of the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) feed on the heartwood of mature trees, inhibiting the tree's vascular system and ultimately killing it.
- Boxelder Bug - The boxelder bug (Boisea trivittata) is an American species of true bug, also commonly known as the box elder bug or maple bug.
- Cicada - Annual cicadas appear every summer while periodical cicadas appear every 13 or 17 years.
- Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) - The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a non-native insect that attacks all native varieties of ash trees.
- Friendly Flies - Friendly flies are natural parasites of the forest tent caterpillar and are not harmful to humans.
- Spongy Moth - Spongy moth is a non-native insect that, as a caterpillar, eats many different kinds of tree leaves.
- Hemlock Woolly Adelgid - The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid is an invasive insect species from Asia that preys on hemlock trees by depriving the tree of vital nutrients.
- Sirex Woodwasp - The female Sirex woodwasp injects a toxic mucus and a fungus while she is laying her eggs in the bark of susceptible pine trees, killing tree cells from the egg-laying site upwards, while the fungus feeds on the killed wood, and the insect larva actually feed on the fungus.
- Southern Pine Beetle - The SPB is a bark beetle native to the southern United States which has steadily expanded its range north.
- Spotted Lanternfly - An invasive insect from Asia that feeds on 70 different plant species.
- Tent Caterpillars - A description of Forest Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria) and Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum, what they do and how to identify them.
- Caterpillar Comparison Chart - A chart comparing the characteristics of forest tent caterpillars, eastern tent caterpillars, and spongy moths
- Whitespotted Pine Sawyer - the whitespotted pine sawyer is a native longhorned beetle whose larvae feed on diseased and damaged conifers.
