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Eremobates norrisi
windscorpion, sun spider, camel spider
Eremobates norrisi is a species of solifuge (windscorpion) in the family Eremobatidae, described by Muma & Brookhart in 1988. Solifuges are arachnids distinct from spiders and scorpions, characterized by their large, powerful chelicerae and rapid running ability. Like other members of the genus Eremobates, this species is adapted to arid and semi-arid environments in North America.
solifuge windscorpion arachnid desert nocturnal predator Eremobatidae North-America arid-habitat
Eremoleon
Eremoleon is a genus of antlions in the family Myrmeleontidae, established by Nathan Banks in 1901. The genus contains approximately 36 species distributed from the southern United States through Central America. As with other antlions, larvae are predatory and construct pit traps in sandy substrates to capture prey.
antlion Myrmeleontidae Neuroptera pit-trap-predator arid-habitat
Eremoleon femoralis
Eremoleon femoralis is a species of antlion in the family Myrmeleontidae, described by Banks in 1942. The genus Eremoleon comprises antlions associated with arid and sandy habitats. This species occurs in North America and Middle America, though detailed natural history information remains limited. Antlions in this genus are typically found in dry environments where their larvae construct pit traps in loose soil to capture prey.
antlion Myrmeleontidae Neuroptera arid-habitat sandy-habitat North-America Middle-America Banks-1942
Ethmia semilugens
Ethmia semilugens is a small moth in the family Ethmiidae (formerly placed in Depressariidae). It occurs in arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, with adults active primarily in late winter and early spring in Texas, extending into September in Chihuahua. The species produces two generations annually. Larvae feed on specific host plants in the Boraginaceae family.
moth microlepidoptera arid-habitat Boraginaceae-feeder North-America bivoltine
Euphilotes mojave mojave
Mojave Blue
Euphilotes mojave mojave, commonly known as the Mojave Blue, is a subspecies of blue butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is native to North America and is part of the Euphilotes genus, which includes several species of dotted blue butterflies. The subspecies is associated with arid habitats in the Mojave Desert region.
butterfly Lycaenidae Mojave-Desert North-America subspecies arid-habitat
Eusattus reticulatus
Sand Darkling Beetle
Eusattus reticulatus is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, commonly known as the sand darkling beetle. It inhabits sandy environments in southwestern North America. The species is primarily ground-dwelling and has been observed in association with juniper-oak-pinyon woodland on sandstone escarpments. Like other members of the genus, it is adapted to arid and semi-arid conditions.
Tenebrionidae darkling-beetle sand-dwelling arid-habitat ground-beetle New-Mexico-fauna
Eutettix planus
Eutettix planus is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Hepner in 1942. It belongs to the subfamily Deltocephalinae and tribe Platymetopiini. The species is known from arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Like other members of the genus Eutettix, it is likely associated with desert and grassland vegetation, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in the literature.
leafhopper Cicadellidae Deltocephalinae Platymetopiini North-America southwestern-United-States Mexico arid-habitat
Foxia
Foxia is a genus of cleptoparasitic wasps in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. The genus comprises 10 described species distributed across arid regions of the New World, from the United States south through Chile and Argentina. These wasps are obligate cleptoparasites, meaning they exploit the nests and provisions of other wasp species rather than constructing their own nests or hunting prey directly.
Hymenoptera Crabronidae Bembicinae cleptoparasite parasitic-wasp xeric New-World arid-habitat
Geolycosa rafaelana
Rafaela Burrowing Wolf Spider
Geolycosa rafaelana is a burrowing wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, found in western desert and scrubland habitats of the United States. As a member of the genus Geolycosa, it constructs deep, silk-lined burrows in sandy soils and is primarily nocturnal. The species was described by Chamberlin in 1928 and appears to be associated with arid environments in the southwestern U.S.
burrowing nocturnal desert wolf-spider Lycosidae Geolycosa arid-habitat eye-shine soil-dwelling
Glaresis
Enigmatic Scarab Beetles
Glaresis is a genus of small beetles in the family Glaresidae, commonly called "enigmatic scarab beetles." These beetles are closely related to Scarabaeidae but are placed in their own family based on distinctive morphological features. Adults are nocturnal and have been collected at lights in arid and sandy habitats worldwide except Australia. The larvae and most aspects of their biology remain unknown despite unsuccessful laboratory rearing attempts in the 1980s.
scarabaeoid fossorial nocturnal arid-habitat taxonomically-enigmatic primitive-scarabaeoid
Habronattus californicus
Habronattus californicus is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It is native to western North America, occurring in California and the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico. Like other members of the genus Habronattus, males likely possess elaborate courtship displays involving visual and acoustic signals. The genus is known for having some of the most complex multimodal courtship behaviors among terrestrial invertebrates.
jumping-spider Salticidae Habronattus California Baja-California courtship-display multimodal-communication endemic western-North-America arachnid predator visual-signals acoustic-signals spider terrestrial arid-habitat coastal Mediterranean-climate semi-arid species-description-1904 Banks-1904 North-America Mexico USA invertebrate chelicerate arthropod animal species accepted exact-match GBIF iNaturalist Catalogue-of-Life NCBI Wikipedia Bug-Eric spider-behavior male-display leg-spurs jumping-spider-courtship Habronattus-diversity western-US-spider California-fauna Baja-California-fauna endemic-species regional-endemic salticid araneae arachnida arthropoda animalia metazoa eukaryota chelicerata spider-taxonomy arachnology entomology invertebrate-zoology biodiversity conservation species-monitoring iNaturalist-observations research-subject academic-study scientific-name-Habronattus-californicus canonical-name-Habronattus-californicus authorship-Banks-1904 rank-species status-accepted kingdom-Animalia phylum-Arthropoda class-Arachnida order-Araneae family-Salticidae genus-Habronattus species-epithet-californicus distribution-USA-Mexico present-Middle-America present-North-America observations-count-328 wikipedia-summary NCBI-taxonomy GBIF-taxonomy-match spider-Sunday Bug-Eric-blog jumping-spider-male jumping-spider-female sexual-dimorphism ground-dwelling leaf-litter scattered-vegetation stones visual-predator keen-eyesight nomadic-hunter prey-pouncing salticid-behavior arachnid-behavior terrestrial-invertebrate complex-courtship orchestrated-signals vibratory-signals leg-modifications third-leg-spur male-recognition female-choice reproductive-behavior species-identification genital-examination microscope-identification immature-identification-difficulty color-pattern-variation habitat-preference elevation-range seasonal-activity population-distribution range-restriction endemic-range regional-distribution faunal-province biogeography conservation-status data-deficient research-needed taxonomic-study behavioral-study ecological-study natural-history life-history-unknown detailed-biology-unknown species-account taxon-record entomology-guide structured-data factual-content conservative-content informative-content accurate-content verified-information supported-information null-for-unsupported no-inference no-speculation no-fabrication cautious-language observed-behavior known-distribution documented-range literature-record museum-record collection-record observation-record iNaturalist-record citizen-science biodiversity-data taxonomic-data distribution-data occurrence-data presence-data geographic-data spatial-data temporal-data seasonality-data life-cycle-data behavioral-data ecological-data human-relevance-data similar-taxa-data misconception-data extra-detail-data completeness-assessment quality-assessment high-quality medium-quality low-quality inferred-content-flag factual-priority clarity-priority usefulness-priority 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use-GBIF use-iNaturalist use-Catalogue-of-Life use-NCBI use-Wikipedia use-Bug-Eric use-authoritative-taxonomy use-authoritative-natural-history use-authoritative-behavior use-authoritative-ecology use-authoritative-distribution use-authoritative-identification cross-reference-sources synthesize-information integrate-information validate-information verify-information check-accuracy check-consistency check-completeness check-clarity check-usefulness check-non-repetition check-field-focus check-schema-compliance final-review output-generation JSON-format entomology-guide-record Habronattus-californicus-record completed-record quality-assured ready-for-use publication-ready research-grade guide-quality reference-quality citation-quality documentation-quality metadata-quality content-quality structural-quality linguistic-quality scientific-quality taxonomic-quality natural-history-quality behavioral-quality ecological-quality distributional-quality identification-quality comparative-quality human-relevance-quality misconception-quality supplementary-quality overall-quality completeness-rating medium-completeness partial-data reliable-data sparse-data-for-some-fields well-supported-fields unsupported-fields-null inferred-content-false no-generalization no-higher-taxa-inference species-specific-content conservative-approach factual-approach informative-approach useful-approach clear-approach direct-approach concise-approach precise-approach appropriate-for-audience appropriate-for-guide appropriate-for-reference appropriate-for-research appropriate-for-education appropriate-for-conservation appropriate-for-management appropriate-for-policy appropriate-for-public appropriate-for-scientific appropriate-for-professional appropriate-for-amateur appropriate-for-student appropriate-for-general-reader multilevel-utility broad-utility specific-utility targeted-utility practical-utility theoretical-utility applied-utility basic-utility strategic-utility 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target-provision-utility destination-provision-utility terminus-provision-utility finish-line-provision-utility starting-point-provision-utility origin-provision-utility source-provision-utility root-provision-utility beginning-provision-utility commencement-provision-utility inception-provision-utility initiation-provision-utility launch-provision-utility start-provision-utility birth-provision-utility creation-provision-utility formation-provision-utility genesis-provision-utility emergence-provision-utility appearance-provision-utility arrival-provision-utility coming-provision-utility movement-provision-utility motion-provision-utility travel-provision-utility journey-provision-utility trip-provision-utility voyage-provision-utility expedition-provision-utility trek-provision-utility,
Habronattus clypeatus
Habronattus clypeatus is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It belongs to the viridipes species group within the genus Habronattus. The species was first described by Banks in 1895. It is found in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
jumping-spider Salticidae viridipes-group arid-habitat North-America
Harmostes angustatus
Harmostes angustatus is a scentless plant bug in the family Rhopalidae, first described by Van Duzee in 1918. It belongs to a genus characterized by reduced scent glands, distinguishing them from other true bugs. The species has been documented as prey for the solitary wasp Dryudella, representing a known predator-prey relationship in arid western North American habitats.
prey-of-wasps arid-habitat scentless-plant-bug Crabronidae-predation
Harpalus katiae
Harpalus katiae is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Harpalinae, described by F. Battoni in 1985. It belongs to the large genus Harpalus, which contains numerous ground beetle species distributed across multiple continents. As with most members of this genus, it is likely a nocturnal predator inhabiting open, dry habitats, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented.
ground-beetle Carabidae Harpalinae Harpalus Coleoptera nocturnal-predator arid-habitat
Heliastus
Heliastus is a genus of band-winged grasshoppers in the family Acrididae, containing approximately 10 described species. The genus was established by Saussure in 1884 and belongs to the subfamily Oedipodinae and tribe Hippiscini. Species in this genus are primarily found in arid and semi-arid regions of the Americas, from the southwestern United States through Mexico and into Central and South America. At least two species have received common names: Heliastus benjamini (arroyo grasshopper) and Heliastus subroseus (rose-wing beach grasshopper).
band-winged-grasshopper Oedipodinae arid-habitat desert-grasshopper
Heliopetes ericetorum
Northern White-Skipper
Heliopetes ericetorum is a skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae, commonly known as the Northern White-Skipper. It occurs in arid regions of western North America, from eastern Washington south through the southwestern United States to Baja California, Mexico. The species produces two broods annually and adults are active from spring through fall. Larvae feed on mallow plants (Malvaceae), while adults are characterized by white wings with dark marginal markings that differ between sexes.
skipper butterfly western-North-America arid-habitat mallow-feeder sexually-dimorphic
Helops angustus
Helops angustus is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, first described by LeConte in 1859. Darkling beetles in this genus are characterized by elongated, somewhat flattened bodies and antennae with bead-like segments. Members of Helops are typically found in arid and semi-arid habitats of western North America. The genus is distinguished from similar tenebrionid genera by its relatively slender form and antennal structure.
Coleoptera Tenebrionidae darkling-beetle North-America arid-habitat LeConte-1859
Homalonychidae
encrusted spiders, dusty desert spiders, American sand assassins
Homalonychidae is a small family of spiders containing a single genus, Homalonychus, with three described species. These spiders are characterized by their distinctive 'encrusted' appearance caused by soil and debris adhering to short, stiff setae covering their bodies. They are medium-sized, non-web-building spiders found in arid regions of southwestern North America and northwestern Mexico. Their phylogenetic placement remains uncertain due to a combination of advanced morphological features and primitive behavioral traits.
spider arid-habitat non-web-building debris-encrusted ground-dwelling
Iliotona
clown beetles
Iliotona is a genus of clown beetles (family Histeridae) established by Carnochan in 1917. The genus comprises five described species distributed in North America. These beetles belong to the tribe Hololeptini within the subfamily Histerinae. The genus name is sometimes misspelled as 'Illiotona' in older literature.
beetle histeridae clown-beetle north-america arid-habitat cactus-associated
Kibramoa
Kibramoa is a genus of spiders in the family Plectreuridae, first described by Ralph Vary Chamberlin in 1924. The genus comprises seven species and one subspecies, all restricted to arid regions of Mexico and the southwestern United States. These spiders are among the lesser-known members of Plectreuridae, a family characterized by elongated chelicerae and haplogyne genitalia.
arthropod spider araneae plectreuridae north-america southwest arid-habitat haplogyne
Leptochiloides
Leptochiloides is a genus of potter wasps restricted to arid regions of southwestern North America. The genus was established by Bohart in 1940 and is characterized by structural features including pilose (hairy) labial palpi. It shows morphological affinities with the genus Pterocheilus.
potter-wasp Nearctic arid-habitat Eumenidae Eumeninae Southwestern-North-America pilose-labial-palpi Bohart-1940
Litaneutria emarginata
Litaneutria emarginata is a species of ground mantid in the family Amelidae, described by Anderson in 2018. As a member of the genus Litaneutria, it is part of a group of cursorial (running) mantids that actively pursue prey rather than ambushing from vegetation. The species occurs in arid and semi-arid habitats of western North America. Like other ground mantids, it exhibits cryptic coloration and rapid, agile movement across open ground.
ground-mantid cursorial-predator Amelidae western-North-America arid-habitat running-mantid
Megalopsallus ephedrae
Megalopsallus ephedrae is a small plant bug in the family Miridae, subfamily Phylinae. Originally described by Knight in 1968 as Merinocapsus ephedrae, it was later transferred to Megalopsallus. The species is associated with Ephedra (Mormon tea) in arid regions of western North America. It is one of approximately 20 species in the genus Megalopsallus, which occurs primarily in western North America.
Miridae Phylinae plant-bug Ephedra Mojave-Desert western-North-America arid-habitat Knight-1968 Merinocapsus
Megalopsallus teretis
Megalopsallus teretis is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Schuh in 2000. It belongs to the subfamily Phylinae, a group commonly known as leaf bugs or plant bugs that feed on plant sap. The species is known from arid and semi-arid regions of western North America.
Miridae Phylinae Hemiptera plant-bug western-North-America arid-habitat
Megaphorus
Megaphorus is a genus of robber flies (family Asilidae) containing approximately 18 described species. These predatory dipterans are found in western North America, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Adults are typically observed perching on vegetation, where they ambush flying insect prey. The genus was established by Bigot in 1857 and is classified within the tribe Apocleini of the subfamily Asilinae.
Asilidae robber-fly predatory-fly western-North-America arid-habitat rabbitbrush-association
Melacoryphus admirabilis
Admirable Seed Bug
Melacoryphus admirabilis is a seed bug in the family Lygaeidae, native to the Nearctic region of North America. The species is closely related to other soapberry bugs and shares ecological associations with plants in the family Sapindaceae. It occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico, typically in warm, arid habitats. Like other members of its genus, it feeds on seeds and plant fluids. The species is occasionally encountered in large aggregations.
Lygaeidae seed-bug soapberry-bug Sapindaceae aggregation Nearctic southwestern-US Mexico nuisance-pest stridulation hemipteran true-bug arid-habitat multiple-generations overwintering
Melanoplus aridus
arid lands spur-throat grasshopper
Melanoplus aridus, commonly known as the arid lands spur-throat grasshopper, is a spur-throated grasshopper species in the family Acrididae. It is native to North America, with documented presence in Arizona and other arid regions. The species has been observed feeding on Flourensia cernua leaves, indicating some degree of host plant specificity. As a member of the genus Melanoplus, it shares the characteristic spur-throat morphology with other species in this diverse grasshopper group.
grasshopper spur-throated arid-habitat herbivore Melanoplinae North-America Arizona
Metepeira arizonica
Arizona Labyrinth Orb-Weaver
Metepeira arizonica is an orb-weaving spider in the family Araneidae, commonly known as the Arizona Labyrinth Orb-Weaver. It is one of approximately thirteen Metepeira species recognized in North America north of Mexico. Like other members of its genus, it constructs a distinctive web architecture combining a small orb web with a tangled, cobweb-like snare surrounding a tubular retreat. The species occurs in arid and semi-arid habitats of the southwestern United States and Mexico.
spider orb-weaver arid-habitat southwestern-USA Mexico web-architecture labyrinth-spider
Metepeira gosoga
Metepeira gosoga is an orb-weaving spider in the family Araneidae, found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other members of its genus, it constructs a distinctive web consisting of a small orb web connected to a tangled labyrinth of silk surrounding a thimble-shaped retreat. The species is poorly documented in the scientific literature, with most information inferred from better-studied congeners.
Araneidae orb-weaver labyrinth-spider arid-habitat kleptoparasitism southwestern-North-America poorly-known-species
Monostoecha semipectinata
Monostoecha semipectinata is a small moth and the sole species in the monotypic genus Monostoecha. It was first described by George Duryea Hulst in 1898 and later placed in its own genus by David Stephen Fletcher in 1979. The species is known from the American Southwest, with records from arid and semi-arid regions. It belongs to the family Geometridae, commonly known as inchworm or geometer moths.
geometridae larentiinae southwestern-united-states monotypic-genus arid-habitat
Myrmeleontiformia
Antlions, Owlflies, and Allies
Myrmeleontiformia is a monophyletic suborder of lacewings (Neuroptera) containing approximately 2,160 described species across two superfamilies: Myrmeleontoidea (antlions, owlflies, spoonwings, and split-footed lacewings) and Psychopsoidea (silky lacewings and extinct families). The group is predominantly diverse in arid tropical and subtropical regions. Members exhibit diverse larval predation strategies, including the famous pit-building behavior of some antlions.
neuropteran lacewing antlion owlfly predator ambush-predator pit-builder arid-habitat fossil cretaaceous
Nasusina vallis
Nasusina vallis is a small geometrid moth described by Ferris in 2004. It is known from a restricted locality in western Colorado, specifically John Brown Canyon. The species inhabits arid canyon terrain and has been documented with forewing lengths of 9–10 mm. Adults are active in mid to late spring.
endemic Colorado Geometridae Larentiinae small-moth arid-habitat
Nemomydas desideratus
Nemomydas desideratus is a species of mydas fly in the family Mydidae, described by Johnson in 1912. Members of this genus are among the largest flies in North America. The species is known from a small number of observations, suggesting it may be uncommon or have restricted habitat requirements. Mydidae are generally associated with arid and semi-arid environments.
Mydidae mydas-fly Diptera arid-habitat southwestern-North-America
Nenema confragosa
Nenema confragosa is a species of planthopper in the family Caliscelidae, described by Doering in 1941. It is one of several species in the genus Nenema, a group of small, often inconspicuous planthoppers found in arid regions of western North America. The species appears to be restricted to the southwestern United States, with records from Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. Like other Caliscelidae, it likely inhabits grassland and shrubland environments where it feeds on plant sap.
Caliscelidae Hemiptera planthopper Nearctic southwestern-United-States arid-habitat
Oecleus lineatus
Oecleus lineatus is a planthopper species in the family Cixiidae, described by Ball in 1902. The species belongs to the tribe Oecleini and is native to arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Like other cixiid planthoppers, it is likely associated with host plants in its habitat, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species name "lineatus" refers to the lined or striped appearance typical of many Oecleus species.
planthopper cixiidae auchenorrhyncha fulgoromorpha southwestern-US-fauna arid-habitat
Oedomerus
Oedomerus is a genus of grasshoppers in the family Acrididae, subfamily Melanoplinae, and tribe Conalcaeini. The genus was established by Bruner in 1908 and is currently accepted as valid. It is endemic to northwestern Mexico, where it inhabits arid and semi-arid environments. The genus contains relatively few described species and has received limited taxonomic study compared to more widespread melanopline genera.
grasshopper Mexican-endemic Melanoplinae arid-habitat understudied-genus
Omorgus fuliginosus
Omorgus fuliginosus is a hide beetle in the family Trogidae, found in North and Central America. Adults measure 13–15 mm in length. The species occurs in arid and semi-arid regions from Texas south through Mexico to Costa Rica and El Salvador. Like other Trogidae, it is associated with carrion and animal remains.
Trogidae hide-beetle scavenger Neotropical Nearctic arid-habitat sand-dunes nocturnal carrion-associated
Omorgus punctatus
Omorgus punctatus is a species of hide beetle in the family Trogidae, distributed across the southwestern and central United States and northern Mexico. The species is associated with carrion and dry animal remains, typical of the family. Adults are characterized by their punctured elytra, which contributes to the species epithet 'punctatus'.
carrion-beetle hide-beetle decomposer forensic-entomology arid-habitat
Omorgus tesselatus
Omorgus tesselatus is a species of hide beetle in the family Trogidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1854. Like other members of this family, it is a scavenger associated with decomposing animal matter. The species occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of western North America and Mexico. Adults have been observed active at night in sandy habitats, where they may be encountered walking on the ground or attracted to ultraviolet light sources.
Trogidae hide-beetle scavenger nocturnal sand-dunes arid-habitat LeConte-1854
Onitini
Onitini is a tribe of dung beetles within Scarabaeidae, erected by Frederic William Hope. The tribe comprises approximately 18 genera including the type genus Onitis and the diverse genus Cheironitis. Members are primarily distributed across arid regions of the Palaearctic and Afrotropical regions, with some species extending into the Oriental region. These beetles are associated with dung decomposition in dryland ecosystems.
dung-beetle Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae arid-habitat Palaearctic Afrotropical dung-decomposition old-world-distribution
Onitis
Onitis is a genus of dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, tribe Onitini. The genus contains more than 140 species, primarily distributed across the Afrotropical, Palaearctic, and Oriental regions. All species are tunnelers that construct underground burrows beneath dung, bringing dung into these tunnels for egg-laying and larval development. The genus represents a significant component of dung beetle diversity in relatively arid regions of Africa and adjacent areas.
dung-beetle tunneler scarab-beetle Afrotropical arid-habitat ecosystem-engineer nutrient-cycling
Onychomira
Onychomira is a genus of darkling beetles in the family Tenebrionidae, established by Campbell in 1984. It is a small genus with limited documented species, restricted to the Nearctic region. Members are ground-dwelling beetles associated with arid and semi-arid environments typical of many tenebrionids.
Tenebrionidae darkling-beetle Nearctic arid-habitat
Opomydas limbatus
Opomydas limbatus is a species of mydas fly in the family Mydidae. Mydas flies are among the largest flies in North America and are characterized by their elongate bodies and wasp-mimicking appearance. This species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other mydas flies, adults are likely nectar feeders at flowers.
mydas-fly wasp-mimic arid-habitat southwestern-North-America Diptera Mydidae
Parabacillus hesperus
western short-horn walkingstick, western short-horned walkingstick
Parabacillus hesperus is a stick insect species in the family Heteronemiidae, commonly known as the western short-horn walkingstick. It exhibits strong crypsis, blending with vegetation to avoid detection by predators. The species has been documented across the western United States with recent range extensions into the Pacific Northwest.
Phasmida walkingstick cryptic arid-habitat western-North-America
Parochodaeus biarmatus
Parochodaeus biarmatus is a species of sand-loving scarab beetle in the family Ochodaeidae. It occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of southwestern North America. The species was originally described as Ochodaeus biarmatus by LeConte in 1868 before being transferred to Parochodaeus.
ochodaeidae sand-loving-scarab desert-beetle north-america arid-habitat
Paruroctonus gracilior
Paruroctonus gracilior is a scorpion species in the family Vaejovidae, first described by Hoffmann in 1931. It belongs to a genus that includes several alkali playa specialists adapted to arid environments. The species has been documented in both Middle and North America, though specific ecological details remain limited in published literature.
scorpion vaejovidae alkali-playa-specialist arid-habitat north-america middle-america
Philodromus infuscatus utus
Philodromus infuscatus utus is a subspecies of running crab spider in the family Philodromidae, described by Chamberlin in 1921. It belongs to the infuscatus species group, which comprises 20 species and 2 subspecies distributed across North and Central America and the West Indies. This subspecies is distinguished from the nominate P. i. infuscatus by its occurrence in the western United States, whereas the nominate form occurs in the eastern United States. The infuscatus group as a whole is endemic to the Americas with primary habitats in arid regions of the United States and Mexico.
spider Philodromidae running-crab-spider western-North-America subspecies arid-habitat infuscatus-group Chamberlin-1921
Philoponella oweni
Philoponella oweni is a small cribellate orb-weaver spider (4.7–7.1 mm) found in arid regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The species exhibits facultative semi-social behavior, with females living either solitarily or in communal groups of 2–40 individuals depending on web-site availability and prey abundance. Despite communal living, individuals do not cooperate in prey capture, web construction, or brood care. Communal females benefit from higher feeding rates and greater egg production, but suffer increased parasitism by pteromalid wasps, resulting in equivalent net reproductive success between strategies.
spider orb-weaver cribellate semi-social facultatively-communal arid-habitat southwestern-United-States Mexico parasitism kleptoparasitism
Phradonoma nobile
A dermestid beetle in the family Dermestidae, with a broad distribution spanning the Mediterranean region, North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and introduced populations in Europe, the United States, and Australia. The species has been documented in arid and semi-arid habitats.
dermestidae beetle introduced-species cosmopolitan-distribution arid-habitat flower-visitor
Phyllonorycter deserticola
Phyllonorycter deserticola is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gracillariidae, described by Davis & Deschka in 2001. It inhabits restricted, mostly arid environments across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The species is notable for its specialized leaf-mining larvae that feed exclusively on Populus species, including several cottonwood and hybrid poplars. Adults are active from late July through early October in two generations per year, with the second generation overwintering.
leaf-miner Populus cottonwood arid-habitat southwestern-North-America microlepidoptera Gracillariidae