Arid-habitat-specialist
Guides
Apantesis nevadensis
Nevada tiger moth
Apantesis nevadensis, the Nevada tiger moth, is a small tiger moth in the family Erebidae. It was described by Grote and Robinson in 1866. The species occurs across western North America from the Pacific Northwest through the Rocky Mountain states and intermountain region, extending into the Canadian prairies. It inhabits arid and semi-arid environments including deserts, sagebrush rangelands, juniper woodlands, and open forests. The species was transferred from the genus Grammia to Apantesis in 2009 along with related tiger moth genera.
Asbolus mexicanus
Asbolus mexicanus is a darkling beetle species described by Champion in 1884. It occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, inhabiting arid environments with sandy or scrubby vegetation. The species was originally distinguished from congeners by its opaque, broader, and less convex body form, with a flatter thorax and characteristic elytral punctation.
Eremobates icenogelei
camel spider, sun spider, wind scorpion, solifuge
Eremobates icenogelei is a species of solifuge (camel spider) in the family Eremobatidae. Solifugids are arachnids distinct from spiders and scorpions, characterized by their large, powerful chelicerae and rapid running ability. This species, like other members of its genus, inhabits arid and semi-arid regions of western North America. They are nocturnal predators that actively hunt small arthropods using their formidable jaws rather than venom. Despite their fearsome appearance, they pose no venomous threat to humans, though they can deliver a painful bite if handled carelessly.
Idiostatus aequalis
uniform shieldback
Idiostatus aequalis, commonly known as the uniform shieldback, is a species of shield-backed katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. It is native to western North America and is characterized by its distinctive shield-like pronotum that extends backward over the abdomen. The species was first described by Scudder in 1899 under the basionym Cacopteris aequalis. Like other members of the genus Idiostatus, it belongs to the tribe Platycleidini within the subfamily Tettigoniinae.
Psilochalcis
Psilochalcis is a genus of chalcidid wasps in the family Chalcididae, established by Kieffer in 1905. The genus contains at least 20 described species, with additional undescribed species known from North America. Two species, P. minuta and P. quadratis, have been studied in detail in the Eastern Great Basin of Utah, where they exhibit habitat-specific associations with pinyon/juniper and cheatgrass-dominated vegetation respectively. Members of this genus are parasitoid wasps, with at least one species documented to oviposit in the pupal stage of host insects.
Scolopendra polymorpha
Common Desert Centipede, Tiger Centipede, Banded Desert Centipede, Sonoran Desert Centipede, Multicolored Centipede
Scolopendra polymorpha is a large centipede species native to arid regions of western North America. Adults typically measure 10–18 cm in body length. The species exhibits highly variable coloration, with common forms showing a dark brown to black body with yellow legs and orange to red head, though some populations display entirely blue coloration with indigo stripes. It is primarily nocturnal and has been documented to exhibit cannibalistic behavior. The venom contains bioactive peptides with demonstrated antimicrobial properties against human pathogens.
Scolops neomexicanus
Scolops neomexicanus is a small planthopper in the family Dictyopharidae, characterized by its distinctive elongated facial projection resembling a horn or 'nose.' The species is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Like other members of genus Scolops, it exhibits a squat, compact body form with wings typically held roof-like over the abdomen. The species was described by Lawson and Beamer in 1930 and is one of approximately 32 recognized species in the genus.
Scolops pungens
Partridge Scolops
Scolops pungens is a small planthopper species in the family Dictyopharidae, characterized by a distinctive elongated snout or 'nose' that gives it a rhinoceros-like appearance. Adults measure approximately 5–8 mm in length and exhibit straw-colored to brown or gray coloration. The species is native to North America, occurring in southern Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico. Like other members of the genus, it feeds on plant sap but is not considered an agricultural pest.
Trichoton sordidum
Trichoton sordidum is a small, flightless darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae) native to the Sonoran Desert borderlands of southern Arizona and northern Mexico. The species exhibits sophisticated behavioral thermoregulation, including photonegativity and temperature-dependent activity patterns. Under resource limitation or environmental stress, individuals form adhesive aggregations or physical clumps of 2–10 beetles as a threat evasion mechanism. Dispersal follows cohesive patterns consistent with Minimum Risk Distribution models.
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