Uncommon Insects of Vermont: Backyard Discoveries Documented on iNaturalist

Discover rare and uncommon insect species in Vermont. Explore backyard biodiversity, first state records, and iNaturalist observations from Jericho and beyond.

Uncommon Insect Species: Discoveries Close to Home

by Bernie Paquette (bugeyedbernie on iNaturalist)

Uncommon: out of the ordinary, unusual, or remarkably rare.
In 2012, a Polystoechotes punctata—the giant lacewing—turned up at a Walmart in Arkansas, marking the first record in eastern North America in more than 50 years. Moments like this are reminders that astonishing discoveries can appear in the most ordinary places.

Vermont, too, has its share of uncommon insect finds. And thankfully, none of us need travel to Arkansas—or even leave our towns—to encounter something extraordinary.

Take the perseverance of naturalist Bryan Pfeiffer, who searched for two decades before finding Vermont’s first Bog Elfin butterfly in 2023. Most of us will never see a bog elfin, and many will never see a bog. Yet uncommon discoveries are possible much closer to home—sometimes right in our own backyards.

As the lists below show, the next rare or unusual insect in Vermont might be living in your yard, perched on yourflowers, or resting on your windowsill.

"You need to go nowhere to see wonders."
—Jack Gedney, The Private Lives of Public Birds

The following species represent a selection of uncommon insect observations—many from our own backyard in Jericho, Vermont, and others from nearby towns—each documented on iNaturalist.
For this post, “uncommon” is defined as ten or fewer Vermont observations on iNaturalist at the time of my sighting. (Some may have additional records on GBIF.)

Several of these are first records for Vermont.

This is only a partial glimpse—a tiny cross-section—of what millennia of evolution and a rapidly changing habitat have brought to a single acre:

One town. One yard. One acre.
A landscape alive with countless organisms—many common, some uncommon, and a few perhaps still unknown.

All insect names below link to their iNaturalist posts.
Thank you in advance for any help confirming IDs not yet at Research Grade.

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Uncommon Insects Observed in 2025

*R.G. indicates Research Grade on iNaturalist; Yellow shading in the RG column indicates very few observations of that species, as of Nov 2025.

RG	Uncommon Insects observed by Bernie in 2025	All VT observations by all observers
RG	Allantus cinctus  Curled Rose Sawfly (2 IDS) RG 7/11/2025 bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	AC
RG	Arge coccinea (2IDs) 7/28/2025 Third on iNaturalist in Vermont	AC
RG	Carmenta pyralidiformis Boneset Borer Moth (3 ids) RG Fourth on iNaturalist in Vermont	CP
RG	Collaria meilleurii (2 IDs) RG Fourth on iNaturalist in Vermont	CM
	Myrmosa unicolor (1ID) 9/22/2025 Third on iNaturalist in Vermont	MU
RG	Nephrotoma punctum (2IDs) RG 7/4/2025 Fifth on iNaturalist in Vermont	NP
	Psila angustata (1 ID)  9/7/2025 Third on iNaturalist in Vermont	PA
	Tachinus fimbriatus (1 ID) 6/3/2025 Fourth on iNaturalist in Vermont	TF

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Uncommon Insects Observed in 2024

RG	Uncommon Insects observed by Bernie in 2024	All VT observations by all observers
	Alosterna capitata Flower Longhorn Beetle. (1 ID) 6/16/2024 bugeyedbernie, 3rd observation in VT	AC
	Anasimyia chrysostoma Lump-legged Swamp Fly (Needs ID) 6/28/2024. bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	AC
RG	Argogorytes nigrifrons  (2 IDs R.G.) 7/9/2024 bugeyedbernie, 2nd observation in VT	AN
	Blera analis Orange-tailed Wood Fly (4 IDs R.G.) 5/19/2024 bugeyedbernie, 4th observation in VT	BA
RG	Chrysis cessata (2 IDs R.G.) 7/12/2024 bugeyedbernie, 4th observation in VT	CC
	Chrysomela mainensis (Maine Leaf Beetle) (2 IDs) 5/19/2024 bugeyedbernie, 5th observation in VT	CM
RG	Chrysopilus pilosus (2 IDs R.G.) 6/24/2024. bugeyedbernie, 2nd observation in VT	CP
RG	Condylostylus comatus (2 IDs R.G.) 6/27/2024 bugeyedbernie, 2nd observation in VT	CC
	Copestylum vesicularium Iridescent Bromeliad Fly (2 IDs R.G.) 7/13/2024 bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	CV
	Criorhina nigriventris Bare-cheeked Bumble Fly (1 ID) 5/6/2024 bugeyedbernie, 3rd observation in VT	CN
	Cuterebra buccata (1 ID needs ID) 10/3/2024 bugeyedbernie, 7th observation in VT	CB
RG	Dolichoderus pustulatus Bog Odorous Ant (2 IDs) RG  9/10/2024. bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	DP
	Dolichopus (Genus) Not uncommon, but one of my favorite mating observations. 6/7/2024	N/a
RG	Dolichopus brevimanus (3 IDs R.G.) 6/9/2024. bugeyedbernie, bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	DB
	Dolichopus versutus (1 ID Needs ID) 6/15/2024 bugeyedbernie, 5th observation in VT	DV
	Lasioglossum acuminatum Pointed Sweat Bee. (1 ID) 10/3/2024  My 110th bee species observation. bugeyedbernie, 3rd observation in VT	LA
	Lasioglossum zephyrus (1 ID) 6/15/2024 (My 111 bee species) bugeyedbernie, 2nd observation in VT  (Difficult to id by photo)	LZ
	Lygus vanduzeei (1 ID) bugeyedbernie, 3rd observation for Vermont	LV
	Nemopoda nitidula (Needs ID) 7/11/2024 bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	NN
RG	Nomada obliterata Obliterated Nomad (2 IDs R.G.) 5/15/2024 bugeyedbernie, 4th observation in VT	NO
	Parancistrocerus perennis Perennial Mason Wasp (1 ID) 7/4/2024. bugeyedbernie, 2nd observation in VT	PP
	Parandrena (Subgenus) (1 ID) 5/1/2024 Possibly one dubious, old A. nida record is the only (other) representation of the subgenus in the state.	P
	Rhagio lineola (1 ID) 6/24/2024 bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	RL
RG	Rhaphium melampus (1 IDs) RG  6/7/2024 bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	RM
	Stratiomys norma (1 ID Needs ID) 8/10/2024 bugeyedbernie, 5th observation in VT	SN
	Synanthedon scitula (1 ID) 7/20/2024 bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	SS
RG	Synanthedon tipuliformis (2 IDs R.G.) 6/9/2024. bugeyedbernie, 1st observation	ST

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Uncommon Insects Observed Before 2024

RG	Uncommon Insects observed by Bernie before 2024	All VT observations by all observers
	Schroederella luteoala (1 ID) 10/25/2023 bugeyedbernie, 3rd observation in VT	SL
RG	Abia fasciata Blotch-winged Honeysuckle Sawfly (1 ID RG) 6/27/2022 bugeyedbernie, 2nd observation in Vermont	AF
RG	Acrossus rubripennis (2 IDs) RG 8/7/2022 bugeyedbernie, 3rd observation in Vermont	AR
	Agenioideus cinctellus (1 ID) 7/29/2022 bugeyedbernie, 2nd observation in Vermont	AC
RG	Amoebaleria helvola (3 IDs RG) 7/29/2022. bugeyedbernie, 2nd observation in Vermont	AH
RG	Anacampsis nonstrigella (2 IDs RG) 9/7/2022. bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	AN
RG	Anasa repetita (2 IDs R.G.) 7/1/2021. bugeyedbernie, 2nd observation in VT	AR
RG	Anasimyia bilinearis Two-lined Swamp Fly (RG) 5/5/2022. bugeyedbernie, 2nd observation in Vermont	AB
RG	Chelostoma philadelphi Mock-orange Scissor Bee (4 IDs RG) I posted the first for iNat on 6/15/2021 and have observed many since then. bugeyedbernie, 1st observation	CP
RG	Chrysis cessata (2 IDs RG) 8/22/2023 bugeyedbernie, 4th observation in Vermont	CC
RG	Crematogaster cerasi Cherry Acrobat Ant (2 IDs RG) 5/4/2023 bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	CC
RG	Crossocerus nitidiventris (2 IDs) RG 9/1/2023 bugeyedbernie, 4th observation in VT	CN
	Cryptomyzus ribis (1 ID) 6/21/2022 bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	CR
RG	Dialysis elongata (2 iDs R.G.) 7/26/2022 bugeyedbernie, 5th observation in VT	DE
RG	Dichrorampha simulana (2 iDs R.G.) 7/28/2020.  bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	DS
RG	Dolichopus laticornis (2 IDs) RG 5/16/2022 bugeyedbernie, 1st observation	DL
RG	Drosophila immigrans Immigrant Fruit Fly (2 IDs RG) 9/1/2023. bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	DI
RG	Ectopimorpha wilsoni (2 IDs R.G.) 5/31/2022. bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	EW
RG	Enchrysa dissectella (2 iDs R.G.) 6/16/2021 bugeyedbernie, 2nd observation in VT	ED
	Fieberiella florii (needs ID) 7/10/2021 bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	FF
RG	Gonia sagax (2 IDs R.G.) 4/8/2021. bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	GS
	Hoplistoscelis pallescens (1 ID) 6/4/2022 bugeyedbernie, 7th observation in VT	HP
	Hoplocryptus notatus (1ID) 8/20/2023 bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	HN
RG	Hymetta balteata (2 IDs) RG 10/25/2023 bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	HB
	Isodontia philadelphica (needs ID) 8/12/2023 bugeyedbernie, 4th observation in VT	IP
RG	Linycus exhortator ssp. thoracicus (2 IDs R.G.) 9/27/2022. bugeyedbernie, 2nd observation in VT	LE
RG	Menesta tortriciformella (3 IDs RG) 6/20/2022. bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	MT
RG	Messatoporus discoidalis (2 IDs R.G.) 9/15/2023 bugeyedbernie, 7th observation in VT	MD
RG	Muesebeckidium (Genus) (2 IDs RG) 7/1/2023 bugeyedbernie, 2nd observation in VT	M
	Nomada denticulata Denticulate Nomad (1 ID) 5/27/2023 bugeyedbernie, 1st observation	ND
RG	Omalus (Genus) (2 IDs) RG 6/21/2023 4th posting on iNat. In VT	O
RG	Onthophagus hecate Scooped Scarab (2 IDs RG) 5/9/2022 bugeyedbernie, 3rd observation	OH
RG	Parancistrocerus pedestris (2 IDs R.G.) 8/5/2020. bugeyedbernie, 1st observation	PD
RG	Parancistrocerus pensylvanicus Pennsylvania Mason Wasp (3 IDs) RG 8/21/2021 bugeyedbernie, 3rd observation in VT	PP
RG	Perillus exaptus (2 IDs) RG 6/4/2022 bugeyedbernie, 2nd observation in VT	PE
	Phymata fasciata (Needs ID) 10/6/2021. bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	PF
RG	Physoconops obscuripennis (2 iDs RG) 6/28/2022) bugeyedbernie, 4th observation in VT	PO
RG	Pleolophus indistinctus (2 IDs RG) 6/25/2023. bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	PI
RG	Plutella porrectella (2 IDs RG) R.G. bugeyedbernie, 8th observation in VT	PP
	Populicerus duzeei (1 ID) 10/18/2023.                                                                bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in the U.S.	PD
	Pristerognatha agilana (1 ID) 6/23/2023 bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	PA
	Scaphytopius acutus (needs ID) 10/25/2023 bugeyedbernie, 2nd observation in VT	SA
RG	Sphyracephala brevicornis (3 IDs RG) 4/15/2022. There doesn't appear to be any digital records for this species in GBIF either, so for now, first state record. bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	SB
RG	Spilopteron formosum (2 IDs) RG 6/19/2021 bugeyedbernie, 2nd observation in VT	SF
	Symmorphus cristatus (1 ID) 9/15/2023 bugeyedbernie, 2nd observation in VT	SC
	Tenthredo verticalis (1 ID) 7/21/2022 bugeyedbernie, 5th observation in VT	TV
RG	Tomoxia inclusa (2 IDs RG) 7/5/2023. bugeyedbernie, 1st observation in VT	TI
RG	Xanthogramma flavipes American Harlequin (2 IDs RG) 7/26/2022. bugeyedbernie, 4th observation in VT	XF
RG	Xylophagus reflectens (2 IDs RG) 5/13/2023 bugeyedbernie, 2nd observation in VT	XR

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Reflections on Wonder, Place, and Paying Attention

"The greatest human discoveries in the future will be the discovery of human intimacy with all those other modes of being that live with us on this planet…"
—Thomas Berry, The Great Work

"If you want to feel new, alive, full of fresh hope, and in love with the world, the place to visit may be your backyard."
—paraphrased from Pico Iyer, The Art of Stillness

And from a somewhat unexpected source:

"If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard. Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with."
—Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz

The message is the same across science, spirituality, and story:
Look closely. Look often. Look where you stand.
You might discover something uncommon.

Populicerus duzeei @iNaturalist user bugeyedbernie