What is "karenia"

Karenia is the scientific name of two genera of organisms and may refer to:

• Karenia (dinoflagellate), formerly included in Gymnodinium, some of which cause red tides.
• Karenia (insect), a species of cicada

Karenia is a genus of 12 species of dinoflagellates which were formerly included in the genus Gymnodinium.

A number of species cause red tides, including Karenia brevis off the coast of Florida and Karenia mikimotoi which was first described in Japan, but is now found in the Atlantic ocean as well, probably spread by ballast water.