Best Holarctic

The Northern Hawk Owl is a striking owl species inhabiting northern forested regions of North America and Eurasia. It stands out due to its diurnal hunting habits—actively seeking prey during daylight hours—and distinctive falcon-like flight style. This bird of prey, scientifically known as *Surnia*...

The Four-spotted Skimmer, scientifically known as Libellula quadrimaculata, is a common dragonfly species with a widespread Holarctic distribution across North America, Europe, and Asia. It is a medium-sized dragonfly recognizable by its golden-brown body and the distinct dark spots on the leading e...

The four-spotted chaser (*Libellula quadrimaculata*) is a dragonfly species found across the Holarctic region. It’s notable for its dark wings marked with four prominent spots and its tendency to form large migratory swarms during summer months. These dragonflies are commonly observed near ponds and...

The Goldenrod Crab Spider, *Misumena vatia*, is a small spider found across the Northern Hemisphere. It’s notable for its remarkable camouflage abilities; the crab spider alters its coloration from white to yellow depending on the flower it inhabits, maximizing its effectiveness as an ambush predato...

The Northern Long-eared Owl is a widespread, medium-sized raptor found across the northern hemisphere, recognized by its prominent ear tufts and distinct, deep hoots.

The Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) is a nocturnal owl species characterized by distinctive tufted feathers around its face. Native to the Northern Hemisphere, it’s notable for its wide distribution and preference for dense woodland habitats. Primarily found in Europe and North America, this bird of prey...

The Marbled Orbweaver, *Araneus marmoreus*, is a striking spider species native to Holarctic regions. It’s notable for its dramatically patterned abdomen featuring shades of orange, yellow, and white – coloration that varies considerably between individuals. This orb-weaver creates large, elaborate...

The Sedge Darner (*Aeshna juncea*) is a large dragonfly species belonging to the family Aeshnidae, with a broad geographical range across the Holarctic region, encompassing parts of Eurasia and North America. It is distinguished by its robust body, brown thorax, and paired spots on the abdomen, whic...

The zebra jumping spider (*Salticus scenicus*) is a small arachnid commonly found throughout the Holarctic region, particularly in North America and Europe. It is easily recognized by its distinctive black and white striped pattern, which provides camouflage against tree bark, rocks, and human struc...

Bombus flavidus is a species of cuckoo bumble bee belonging to the family Apidae. As a brood parasite, it lacks its own worker caste and survives by infiltrating the nests of true bumble bees, where it relies on host workers to raise its offspring. The species exhibits a wide Holarctic distribution,...

The common raven (Corvus corax) is a large, entirely black passerine bird found across the Northern Hemisphere. As the heaviest perching bird, it possesses a robust build, a thick neck, and a heavy, slightly curved beak. It is renowned for its high intelligence, exhibiting complex problem-solving ab...

Micaria pulicaria is a small ground-dwelling spider belonging to the family Gnaphosidae, first described by Carl Jakob Sundevall in 1831. The species is distributed across the Holarctic region and is recognized for its morphological and behavioral mimicry of ants, which it achieves through body shap...

Parnassius phoebus, commonly known as the Phoebus Parnassian, is a high-altitude butterfly found in alpine meadows across parts of North America and Eurasia. It belongs to the family Papilionidae and features a white to pale yellow base coloration on its wings, marked with distinctive black spots an...

The Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) is a small owl species inhabiting boreal and subalpine forests across the Northern Hemisphere from Scandinavia through Siberia and across North America. Adults measure approximately 22–27 cm with a wingspan of 50–62 cm, characterized by a large rounded head, no ear...

The trash-line orbweaver (Cyclosa conica) is a small spider found across the Holarctic region, encompassing parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. It is distinguished by its web-building behavior, specifically the creation of a distinct vertical band of debris known as a stabilimentum. This struc...

Larinioides sclopetarius, commonly known as the bridge spider, is an orb-weaving spider belonging to the family Araneidae. It is widely distributed across the Holarctic region and is particularly noted for its propensity to construct its webs on artificial structures, especially bridges, fences, and...

Osmia maritima is a solitary mason bee described by Friese in 1885, notable for its northern coastal distribution across parts of the Holarctic.

Bombus kirbiellus, commonly known as the golden-belted bumble bee, is a species of bumblebee native to North America. It is characterized by its long tongue, which it uses to extract nectar from deep-flowered plant species. This bee is typically found in northern and montane habitats, including alpi...

Osmia inermis is a species of solitary mason bee belonging to the family Megachilidae. Initially described by the entomologist Johan Wilhelm Zetterstedt in 1838, the insect has a Holarctic distribution and is primarily found across northern Eurasia and parts of North America. It is specifically adap...

The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is a large bird of prey found across the Northern Hemisphere, distinguished by its golden-brown plumage and powerful build. With a wingspan typically ranging from 1.8 to 2.3 meters, these raptors hunt small to medium-sized mammals including rabbits, marmots, and...

The Furrow Orb Weaver, scientifically known as Larinioides cornutus, is a species of orb-weaving spider widely distributed throughout the Holarctic region, including North America and Europe. It is named for the distinctive groove or furrow running down the center of its carapace, a feature most pro...

Tetragnatha extensa is a long-jawed orb-weaver in the family Tetragnathidae, distributed across much of the Palearctic region. It has an elongated body, long legs, and enlarged chelicerae, features characteristic of the genus Tetragnatha. Commonly associated with wetlands and waterside vegetation, i...

Lasioglossum leucozonium is a ground-nesting sweat bee in the family Halictidae, originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. It is native across much of Eurasia and has also become established in North America, where it is regarded as introduced. Females excavate nests in exposed or sparsely vege...

The Galium sphinx, Hyles gallii, is a hawk moth in the family Sphingidae with a broad range across parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. Adults have streamlined bodies and long forewings marked with pale longitudinal bands, while the caterpillars can occur in green or dark color forms and bear a...

Coelioxys inermis is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Megachilidae, originally described by William Kirby in 1802. Like other members of Coelioxys, it does not construct and provision its own nest; the female lays eggs in the nests of other solitary bees, and the developing larva consumes the s...

Araniella displicata, known as the six-spotted orbweaver, is a small spider in the orb-weaver family Araneidae. Its pale yellow to greenish abdomen is marked by six dark spots, a feature reflected in its common name, although the surrounding pattern and intensity can vary. The species builds small o...

Tetrix subulata, commonly called the common pygmy grasshopper or slender groundhopper, is a small grasshopper in the family Tetrigidae. Described by Carl Linnaeus in 1761, it has an elongated pronotum that extends over the abdomen and typically possesses functional wings, allowing many individuals t...

The bog fritillary, Boloria eunomia, is a small butterfly in the family Nymphalidae with a broad distribution across northern Eurasia and parts of North America. It is associated with wet meadows, peat bogs, marshes, and other cool, damp habitats where its larval food plants grow. Its orange upper w...

The Sedge Darner (Aeshna juncea) is a Holarctic dragonfly native to Europe, Asia, and North America, recognized for its distinct preference for breeding in cold, sedge-filled peat bogs and marshes.