Arizona
Guides
Acanalonia similis
Acanalonia similis is a small planthopper species in the family Acanaloniidae, measuring 4.2–4.9 mm in length. It occurs in the southwestern United States, specifically Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The species is distinguished from its close relative Acanalonia invenusta by more prominent reticulation (network-like sculpturing) across its elytra.
Achorotile curvata
Achorotile curvata is a species of planthopper in the family Delphacidae, described by R.H. Beamer in 1954. It is placed in the subgenus Achorotile (Criochora). The species is known from Arizona, representing a geographically restricted North American distribution. As with other delphacid planthoppers, it likely inhabits grassland or marsh vegetation where host grasses occur.
Acmaeodera
Acmaeodera is a large genus of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) with over 150 species in North America, reaching greatest diversity in the desert southwest and Mexico. Adults are metallic, often with distinctive color patterns, and are frequently observed visiting flowers to feed on pollen. The genus is distinguished by unique flight morphology: elytra are fused along the midline and remain closed during flight, functioning as a protective shield over the abdomen while only the hindwings provide propulsion. This trait, combined with abdominal banding in many species, creates a wasp-like appearance in flight and has led to recognition of several species as hymenopteran mimics. Larvae are wood-borers in twigs and branches of various woody plants.
Buprestidaejewel-beetlesmetallic-wood-boring-beetlesflower-visitorspollen-feederselytra-fusionflight-morphologyhymenopteran-mimicrywood-borersNorth-AmericaMexicoArizonaTexasCaliforniaNew-MexicoOklahomaAlbertaAsteraceaeCercocarpusspring-activemonsoon-activefall-activetaxonomically-difficultcollector's-itemdiurnalCerceris-preyAcmaeodera amplicollis
Acmaeodera amplicollis is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. It is frequently observed visiting flowers of various composite plants (Asteraceae), particularly species of Isocoma, Heterotheca, Heliomeris, and Gutierrezia. Adults are active during late summer and early autumn.
Acmaeodera cazieri
Acmaeodera cazieri is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Knull in 1960. It occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it has been collected from flowers of various herbaceous plants and shrubs. The species is associated with desert and semi-arid habitats, particularly in Arizona and adjacent regions. Adults have been observed on yellow-flowered composites, prickly poppy (Argemone), and trailing four o'clock (Allionia incarnata).
Acmaeodera davidsoni
Acmaeodera davidsoni is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Barr in 1972. It belongs to a large genus of jewel beetles known for their metallic coloration and association with woody plants. The species occurs in both Central America and North America, placing it within the Nearctic and Neotropical biogeographic realms. Like other members of the genus, adults are likely diurnal and associated with flowering plants.
Acmaeodera navajo
A small buprestid beetle species described in 1995 from the southwestern United States. Adults are flower visitors, specifically documented on Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia (gooseberryleaf globemallow) and Helianthus anomalus (anomalous sunflower) in pinyon-juniper woodland habitats. The species occurs in northern Arizona and southern Utah, where it has been collected alongside congeners A. pubiventris lanata and A. immaculata.
Acmaeodera parkeri
Acmaeodera parkeri is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Cazier in 1940. The species occurs in Central America and North America, with records from the southwestern United States and Mexico. Adults have been observed visiting flowers of several plant species, including Allionia incarnata (creeping four o'clock), Talinum whitei (White's flameflower), and Evolvulus arizonicus (Arizona blue-eyes).
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quadrivittatoides
Acmaeodera quadrivittatoides is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Nelson & Westcott in 1995. The species occurs in Central America and North America, with documented records from the southwestern United States and Mexico. Field observations indicate adults are attracted to flowers, particularly those of Opuntia species and various composites, where they feed on pollen.
Acmaeodera resplendens
Resplendent Buprestid
Acmaeodera resplendens is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Van Dyke in 1937. The species is distinguished by its brilliant metallic green to copper coloration. It has been collected from flowers of several composite species in montane habitats of southern Arizona, particularly from Heliomeris longifolia and Bahia dissecta. The specific epithet 'resplendens' refers to its striking, resplendent appearance.
Acmaeodera scalaris
ladder buprestid
Acmaeodera scalaris, commonly known as the ladder buprestid, is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It occurs across Central America and North America. The species has been documented visiting flowers of various composite and other plant species, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Acmaeodera wickenburgana
A small jewel beetle in the genus Acmaeodera, described by Knull in 1939. The specific epithet refers to Wickenburg, Arizona, suggesting the type locality. As with many Acmaeodera species, it likely belongs to the taxonomically challenging 'Truncatae' group characterized by a prosternal margin that is nearly straight and not retracted from the sides. The genus contains over 150 species in North America and is in need of modern revision.
Acoma mixta
Acoma mixta is a small scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Howden in 1958. Adults measure 4.8–7.5 mm in length. The species is documented from Arizona, USA, though field observations suggest it may also occur in adjacent areas of New Mexico. Like other members of the genus Acoma, it is a dung-associated beetle, though specific ecological details remain limited.
Acrobasis caliginella
Acrobasis caliginella is a snout moth (Pyralidae: Phycitinae) described by George Duryea Hulst in 1878. The species is restricted to the southwestern United States, with confirmed records from California and Arizona. Larvae feed on multiple oak species (Quercus spp.), including coast live oak and interior live oak. Like other Acrobasis species, it likely develops as a concealed feeder in host plant tissues.
Acrocercops arbutella
Acrocercops arbutella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, first described by Braun in 1925. The species is endemic to Arizona, United States, where it occurs on its host plant Arbutus arizonica. Larvae are leaf miners that create distinctive upper surface blotch mines on the leaves of their host.
Acrolophus furcatus
Acrolophus furcatus is a small moth in the family Acrolophidae, described by Lord Walsingham in 1887. The species is known from arid and semi-arid regions of southwestern North America, with records from Arizona, California, and Texas. Like other members of the genus, it is commonly referred to as a 'grass tubeworm moth' due to larval behavior. The family Acrolophidae was historically treated as a subfamily of Tineidae but is now recognized as distinct.
Acrolophus quadrellus
Acrolophus quadrellus is a small moth in the family Acrolophidae, described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1913. The species belongs to a genus commonly known as "grass tubeworm moths" due to larval behavior of spinning silken tubes at grass bases or roots. It is recorded from Arizona and broader North America, though specific details about its biology remain limited.
Acronicta edolata
Acronicta edolata is a moth species in the family Noctuidae, first described by Grote in 1881. It belongs to the genus Acronicta, commonly known as dagger moths, which are characterized by distinctive dark dagger-shaped markings on their forewings. The species is known from limited records in North America, with confirmed occurrence in Arizona.
Acusana condensa
Acusana condensa is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, described by DeLong in 1942. It belongs to the tribe Gyponini within the subfamily Iassinae. The species is known from Arizona, where it has been documented in distribution records. As a member of the leafhopper family, it likely shares general ecological traits with related species, including plant-feeding habits and association with host vegetation, though specific biological details remain undocumented in available sources.
Acusana rota
Acusana rota is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, described by DeLong in 1942. It belongs to the subfamily Iassinae and tribe Gyponini, a group of small to medium-sized leafhoppers often associated with herbaceous vegetation. Distribution records indicate occurrence in Arizona.
Adelpha eulalia
Arizona Sister
Adelpha eulalia, commonly known as the Arizona Sister, is a butterfly species in the family Nymphalidae. It belongs to the serpa species group within the genus Adelpha. The species was previously treated as a subspecies of Adelpha bredowii (Bredow's Sister), but phylogenetic studies based on morphological, geographical, and genetic evidence have established it as a distinct species.
Aeoloplides tenuipennis
narrow-winged saltbush grasshopper, narrow-winged bush grasshopper
A spur-throated grasshopper specialized on chenopod plants, particularly saltbushes (Atriplex species). It inhabits arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it feeds on plants often considered noxious weeds, including Russian thistle (Salsola tragus). The species is generally regarded as beneficial or innocuous in rangeland settings rather than a crop pest.
Aetalion nervosopunctatum
Aetalion nervosopunctatum is a treehopper species in the family Aetalionidae, representing one of the more primitive lineages within the superfamily Membracoidea. The species was described by Signoret in 1852 and is known from southern Mexico and the southwestern United States. As with other aetalionids, it lacks the dramatically expanded pronotum characteristic of most Membracidae, retaining a more generalized body form. Two subspecies have been recognized: the nominate form A. n. nervosopunctatum from Mexico and A. n. minor from Arizona.
Aglossa acallalis
Aglossa acallalis is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae. It was described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1908 based on specimens from the southwestern United States. The species is known from a limited geographic range in southern Arizona and California. It belongs to the genus Aglossa, which includes several species associated with stored products and organic debris.
Agonum extensicolle
Agonum extensicolle is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Platyninae. It occurs in western North America, including Arizona in the United States and Canada. As a member of the genus Agonum, it belongs to a diverse group of small to medium-sized ground beetles. The species is documented in the iNaturalist database with approximately 800 observations.
Agrilaxia arizonae
Agrilaxia arizonae is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle (family Buprestidae) native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species is currently treated as a synonym of Agrilaxia flavimana, though this status remains ambiguous in some taxonomic sources. It is associated with oak habitats in montane regions of Arizona and has been collected by sweeping foliage of Quercus arizonica (Arizona white oak) and other oak species.
Agrilus abditus
Agrilus abditus is a North American jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) described by George Henry Horn in 1891. The species belongs to the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, which contains thousands of species worldwide. Based on field observations, adults have been collected by sweeping foliage of Quercus arizonica (Arizona white oak) in southeastern Arizona. The species appears to be associated with oak habitats in montane regions of the southwestern United States.
Agrilus aeneocephalus
Agrilus aeneocephalus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Fisher in 1928. The species occurs in North America, with documented records from the southwestern United States including Arizona. Field observations indicate adults are active during summer months and have been collected by beating flowering vegetation, particularly Mimosa dysocarpa.
Agrilus arizonicus
Agrilus arizonicus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Obenberger in 1936. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in coloration: males are bright green, while females appear more coppery. It has been documented from southeastern Arizona in the United States and likely extends into Mexico. The species is associated with oak woodlands and has been collected from Desmodium vegetation.
Agrilus auroguttatus
Goldspotted Oak Borer
Agrilus auroguttatus, the goldspotted oak borer, is a jewel beetle native to southeastern Arizona that became invasive in southern California around 2004. In California, it has caused extensive mortality in oak forests, killing an estimated 80,000 trees, primarily affecting red oaks. The species exhibits significantly higher population densities in its invasive range compared to its native range, where it coexists with a more diverse community of native borers. It was previously treated as a subspecies of Agrilus coxalis but is now recognized as a distinct species.
Agrilus catalinae
Agrilus catalinae is a species of metallic woodboring beetle (family Buprestidae) described by Josef N. Knull in 1940. As a member of the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, which contains nearly 4,000 described species, this beetle is part of the largest genus in the animal kingdom. Like most Agrilus species, it is presumed to be a twig or branch borer in woody plants, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The species epithet 'catalinae' likely refers to Santa Catalina Mountains in Arizona, suggesting a southwestern U.S. origin for the type specimen.
Agrilus cavatus
Agrilus cavatus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species is documented from Copper Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains of Arizona, where it has been collected by sweeping low-growing prairie acacia (Acaciella angustissima). It is known to occur in Central America, North America, and South America.
Agrilus hespenheidei
Henry's Agrilus
Agrilus hespenheidei is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It occurs in North America. The species was described in 1991 and is named in honor of entomologist Henry Hespenheide. Field observations indicate adults are associated with flowers of Bouvardia ternifolia (firecrackerbush).
Agrilus huachucae
Agrilus huachucae is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Schaeffer in 1905. The species has been documented in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona, where it occurs in association with Helianthus (sunflower) vegetation. It is part of the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, which contains hundreds of species worldwide, many with specialized host plant relationships.
Agrilus latifrons
Agrilus latifrons is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Waterhouse in 1889. It is distributed across Central America and North America. The species has been collected by sweeping low vegetation in mountainous areas of southeastern Arizona, specifically in the Huachuca Mountains.
Agrilus malvastri
Agrilus malvastri is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Fisher in 1928. It is one of the few North American Agrilus species documented as routinely visiting flowers, specifically those of Sphaeralcea (globemallows). The species occurs in Central America and North America, with records from the southwestern United States including New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona. Unlike most Agrilus species, which are associated with woody plants, A. malvastri appears to be associated with herbaceous plants in the family Malvaceae.
Agrilus quercus
Agrilus quercus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Schaeffer in 1905. The specific epithet "quercus" (Latin for oak) indicates an association with oak trees (Quercus spp.), a pattern common among Agrilus species. Like other members of this large genus, it likely develops as a larva in the phloem and outer wood of host trees. The species occurs in North America, with records from the southwestern United States including Arizona.
Agrilus restrictus
Agrilus restrictus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Waterhouse in 1889 and occurs in Central America and North America. Field observations indicate it is associated with oak woodlands, specifically collected by beating Emory oak (Quercus emoryi). The species appears to be uncommon and has been noted as a desirable target for collectors in the southwestern United States.
Akemetopon inornatum
Akemetopon inornatum is a species of planthopper in the family Delphacidae, described from Arizona in 2011. It belongs to a small genus of delphacid planthoppers. The species is known from very few records and remains poorly documented in the literature.
Alaudes moenkopii
Alaudes moenkopii is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, described in 2018 from the southwestern United States. The species epithet refers to the Moenkopi Formation, a geological formation in northern Arizona where the type specimens were collected. It belongs to a small genus of flightless, ground-dwelling beetles adapted to arid environments. As a recently described species, detailed ecological and behavioral information remains limited.
Alconeura lappa
Alconeura lappa is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Griffith in 1938. It belongs to the subfamily Typhlocybinae, a group commonly known as typhlocybine leafhoppers. Records indicate this species occurs in Arizona. As with other members of its genus, it is likely a small, plant-feeding insect, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Aligia turbinata
Aligia turbinata is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Ball in 1931. The genus Aligia belongs to the tribe Platymetopiini within the subfamily Deltocephalinae. Very little published information exists on the natural history of this species.
Almita portalia
Almita portalia is a small moth in the family Crambidae, first described by Bernard Landry in 1995. The species is known from a very limited geographic range in the southwestern United States, with records only from Arizona and California. It belongs to the genus Almita, a group of crambid moths about which little biological information has been published.
Amastris lycioda
A treehopper in the family Membracidae, first described by Ball in 1933. The species name 'lycioda' reflects its documented association with plants in the genus Lycium. The first Texas record was published in 2024, establishing a specific host plant relationship with Lycium berlandieri.
Amblycerus
pea and bean weevils, seed beetles
Amblycerus is the second most diverse genus of seed beetles in the Americas, containing over 60 described species. These bruchid beetles are specialized seed predators, with larvae developing inside seeds of various host plants. The genus exhibits complex evolutionary patterns of host plant association, having radiated from an ancestral association with Fabaceae into at least 12 other plant families including Sterculiaceae, Boraginaceae, and Humiriaceae. Species-level identification requires examination of male genitalia and pygidial morphology.
Amphicosmus arizonensis
Amphicosmus arizonensis is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae. It was described by Johnson & Johnson in 1960 and is known from Arizona. As a member of the bee fly family, it belongs to a group of true flies that are often mistaken for bees due to their morphological adaptations for pollination. The species is currently accepted as valid, though it has been treated as a synonym of Amphicosmus vanduzeei in some classifications.
Anagyrus paralia
Anagyrus paralia is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae, described by Noyes and Menezes in 2000. It belongs to the genus Anagyrus, which contains numerous species used in biological control of mealybugs and other scale insects. The specific epithet "paralia" suggests a coastal or shore-associated habitat, though detailed ecological data remain limited. Like other Anagyrus species, it is presumed to be a primary parasitoid of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae), but host records specific to this species have not been documented in the available literature.
Anambodera
An undescribed species of jewel beetle in the genus Anambodera, collected from Nothing, Arizona. The specimen resembles A. gemina but differs in multiple characters including coarse elytral punctation and heavily sculptured, bronzed pronotal surface. The genus Anambodera is restricted to western North America and is poorly represented in collections due to cryptic habits; most species do not visit flowers but instead alight on rock surfaces or bare soil. The genus is currently undergoing revision by Dennis Haines and George Walters.
Andricus coconinoensis
Andricus coconinoensis is a species of cynipid gall wasp described in 2021. As a member of the family Cynipidae, it induces characteristic galls on oak host plants. The specific epithet references Coconino County, Arizona, suggesting a southwestern United States distribution. Like other Andricus species, it exhibits intimate host plant specialization typical of this diverse gall wasp genus.
Aneflomorpha cazieri
Aneflomorpha cazieri is a species of longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) described by Chemsak in 1962. It belongs to the tribe Elaphidiini, a group of cerambycids commonly associated with woody plants. Field observations indicate adults are active in summer and have been collected from flowers of Talinum aurantiacum (orange flameflower) and Allionia incarnata (creeping four-o'clock) in Arizona.