Arizona-endemic
Guides
Lithophane leeae
Lithophane leeae is a noctuid moth described in 2009, notable for its extremely restricted distribution. It is known solely from the Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona, making it one of the most geographically limited species in its genus. The species was named by Walsh and remains poorly known due to its rarity and limited study.
Lycioides condalianus
Lycioides condalianus is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, described by Ball in 1931. It belongs to the tribe Opsiini within the subfamily Deltocephalinae. The species has been documented in Arizona, with 49 observations recorded on iNaturalist. As with other members of its genus, it is presumed to feed on plant sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Macrolophus mimuli
Macrolophus mimuli is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Knight in 1968. The species is known from Arizona, USA, and belongs to a genus whose members are primarily associated with vegetation. The specific epithet "mimuli" suggests a possible association with plants in the genus Mimulus (monkeyflowers), though this relationship requires verification.
Macrosaccus coursetiae
Macrosaccus coursetiae is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, described from Arizona in 2017. It is the sixth species in the genus Macrosaccus. The larvae are leaf miners that feed inside the leaves of Coursetia glandulosa (Fabaceae). The parasitoid wasp Chrysocharis walleyi (Eulophidae) has been reared from its leaf mines.
Megacyllene robusta
Megacyllene robusta is a longhorned beetle (family Cerambycidae) described in 1963 from Arizona. It belongs to a genus of wood-boring beetles whose members typically exhibit yellow and black banded coloration resembling wasps. The species is poorly known, with minimal published biological information and few documented observations.
Megapurpuricenus
Megapurpuricenus is a monotypic genus of long-horned beetles in the family Cerambycidae, established by Eya in 2015. The sole described species, M. magnificus, is notable for its spectacular appearance and highly synchronized emergence pattern. Adults emerge en masse every three years for approximately two weeks following the first summer monsoon rains, creating a brief but intense reproductive window. The genus is endemic to a limited number of locations in the southwestern United States, where it develops as larvae in the trunks of living oak trees.
Mesolia baboquivariella
Mesolia baboquivariella is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by William D. Kearfott in 1907 based on specimens from Arizona. The species is known from a small number of records and remains poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Microphotus chiricahuae
Chiricahua glow-worm
Microphotus chiricahuae is a species of glow-worm beetle in the family Lampyridae, described by Green in 1959. The species epithet references the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona, indicating its geographic association with this region. As a member of the genus Microphotus, it belongs to a group of beetles known for bioluminescent larvae and flightless, larviform adult females. The species is rarely encountered and poorly documented in scientific literature.
Mimobarathra antonito
Mimobarathra antonito is a monotypic noctuid moth endemic to Arizona. The genus was erected by Barnes and McDunnough in 1915, with this species originally described by Barnes in 1907. It remains poorly known beyond its type locality and basic taxonomic placement.
Negalasa fumalis
Negalasa fumalis is a snout moth and the sole species in the monotypic genus Negalasa. It was described from Arizona in 1913 by William Barnes and James Halliday McDunnough. The genus and species were established in the same publication. It belongs to the subfamily Chrysauginae within the family Pyralidae.
Neoporus arizonicus
Neoporus arizonicus is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, subfamily Hydroporinae. First described by Fall in 1917 under the basionym Hydroporus arizonicus, this species is currently classified in the genus Neoporus. It is a small diving beetle known from the southwestern United States, with Arizona representing the core of its known distribution. Like other members of the Hydroporinae, it is adapted to aquatic habitats where it preys on small invertebrates.
Neuroctenus arizonicus
Neuroctenus arizonicus is a species of flat bug in the family Aradidae, described by Kormilev in 1982. Members of this genus are typically found in association with decaying wood and fungal growth, where they feed on fungal hyphae. The species epithet "arizonicus" indicates its described origin in Arizona.
Nothopleurus madericus
Nothopleurus madericus is a large prionine longhorn beetle described by Skiles in 1978. It belongs to a genus characterized by robust, wood-boring beetles. The species name references Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains of Arizona, a known locality for this rare beetle. Field observations indicate adults may be crepuscular or nocturnal, with at least one individual observed in an emergence hole on oak during evening hours.
Ogdoconta rufipenna
Ogdoconta rufipenna is a small noctuid moth described in 2013 from southeastern Arizona. The species name refers to the reddish coloration of its wings. It is known from only a handful of observations and is likely to occur in adjacent Mexico.
Paragalasa
Paragalasa is a monotypic genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, established by Cashatt in 1969. The genus contains a single species, Paragalasa exospinalis, known only from Arizona. Adults are small moths with distinctive wing coloration and patterning.
Parthenicus deleticus
Parthenicus deleticus is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Knight in 1968. It is a small true bug belonging to a genus whose members are generally associated with woody plants. The species has been documented in Arizona, USA, with limited observational records available.
Philotarsus arizonicus
Philotarsus arizonicus is a species of barklouse in the family Philotarsidae, described by Mockford in 2007. The species is known from Arizona, USA. As a member of the order Psocodea, it is a small, winged insect associated with tree bark and foliage habitats. The genus Philotarsus is part of the infraorder Philotarsetae, a group of free-living barklice that feed on microflora including lichens, algae, and fungal spores.
Plagiodera arizonae
Plagiodera arizonae is a leaf beetle species in the tribe Chrysomelini, endemic to Arizona. The species exhibits distinctive coloration with black elytra contrasting against a red head and legs. It belongs to a genus of leaf beetles associated with willow and poplar hosts.
Platynota polingi
Platynota polingi is a species of tortricid moth described by Powell & Brown in 2012. It is known only from Arizona in the southwestern United States. The genus Platynota includes several economically significant leafroller species, though specific information about this particular species remains limited.
Pogonomyrmex huachucanus
Huachuca Harvester Ant
Pogonomyrmex huachucanus is a species of harvester ant in the genus Pogonomyrmex, first described by Wheeler in 1914. The species is known from the Huachuca Mountains region of southeastern Arizona, from which its specific epithet derives. Like other members of the genus, it is a seed-harvesting ant that constructs conspicuous nest clearings in arid environments. As with most Pogonomyrmex species, it likely possesses a functional sting used in colony defense.
Polistes arizonensis
Arizona Paper Wasp
A social paper wasp found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Once considered a subspecies of Polistes exclamans, it is now recognized as a distinct species. It builds exposed paper nests under palm fronds, shrubbery, and man-made structures. Females produce ant-repellent secretions from sternal glands to protect nests. The species is notably tolerant of close human observation and can be distinguished from similar Polistes species by facial coloration and geographic range.
Prionapteryx yavapai
Prionapteryx yavapai is a species of moth in the family Crambidae, first described by Kearfott in 1908. It is a member of the subfamily Crambinae, a group commonly known as grass moths. The species is known from a limited geographic range in the southwestern United States.
Pristoceuthophilus arizonae
Arizona camel cricket
Pristoceuthophilus arizonae is a species of camel cricket (family Rhaphidophoridae) described by Hebard in 1935. As a member of the Rhaphidophoridae, it belongs to a group of wingless, nocturnal orthopterans commonly associated with dark, moist microhabitats. The species is endemic to the southwestern United States, with confirmed records from Arizona.
Prodoxus barberella
Prodoxus barberella is a small moth in the family Prodoxidae, first described by Busck in 1902. The species is known only from south-eastern Arizona, where it inhabits shrubby desert environments. As a member of the genus Prodoxus, it likely shares the family's association with Yucca plants, though specific host relationships for this species remain unconfirmed. The species is poorly known, with limited observational records.
Prorella remorata
Prorella remorata is a small geometrid moth described by John Arthur Grossbeck in 1907. It is known only from Arizona, where adults have been recorded in March and August. The wingspan measures approximately 18 mm. As a member of the subfamily Larentiinae, it belongs to a diverse group of moths commonly known as carpet moths or pugs.
Prorocorypha snowi
Snow's Toothpick Grasshopper
A slender toothpick grasshopper species described by Rehn in 1911. Known from Arizona and parts of the southwestern United States and Middle America. Exhibits strong cryptic coloration adapted to blend with lichen-encrusted substrates in its arid habitat.
Psilocorsis cirrhoptera
Psilocorsis cirrhoptera is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, described by Ronald W. Hodges in 1961. It is known from Arizona, North America, where adults have been recorded in July. The species is one of several Psilocorsis moths whose leaf-tying caterpillars are hunted by mason wasps as prey. The wingspan is approximately 19 mm.
Renia mortualis
Renia mortualis is a species of litter moth in the family Erebidae, first described by William Barnes and James Halliday McDunnough in 1912. The species has been documented in the Huachuca Mountains of southeastern Arizona. It belongs to the subfamily Herminiinae, a group commonly known as litter moths due to the larval habit of feeding on dead plant material. Records for this species remain sparse, with limited observational data available.
Rhaphiomidas nigricaudis
Rhaphiomidas nigricaudis is a species of mydas fly described by Cazier in 1985. It belongs to the family Mydidae, a group of large, robust flies often mistaken for wasps. The species is known only from Arizona. Like other members of its genus, it likely exhibits the characteristic mydas fly morphology with an elongated body and clubbed antennae.
Scaphinotus petersi
Peters' Snail-eating Beetle
Scaphinotus petersi is a large ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Roeschke in 1907. It belongs to the tribe Cychrini, commonly known as snail-eating beetles, and is endemic to North America. The species exhibits several described subspecies, all restricted to Arizona. Like other members of Scaphinotus, it is adapted for predation on terrestrial snails.
Scaphinotus petersi catalinae
Catalina Mountains Snail-eating Beetle
Scaphinotus petersi catalinae is a subspecies of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Van Dyke in 1924. It belongs to the nominate subfamily Carabinae, which includes the so-called "snail hunters" and "caterpillar hunters." This subspecies is endemic to the Catalina Mountains of Arizona and is one of the larger members of its genus, with adults typically measuring 15–25 mm in length. Like other members of the genus Scaphinotus, it possesses notably large, sculptured mandibles adapted for predation on snails.
Scybalistodes vermiculalis
Scybalistodes vermiculalis is a small crambid moth described by Munroe in 1964. It is known from Arizona in the southwestern United States. The species exhibits bimodal adult activity in spring and late summer. Its small size and specific epithet suggest fine, worm-like markings on the wings.
Spartopyge miranda
Spartopyge miranda is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Knull in 1951 under the basionym Flexamia miranda. It belongs to the subfamily Deltocephalinae and tribe Paralimnini. The species is known from limited occurrence records in Arizona.
Striatoandricus furnessulus
Striatoandricus furnessulus is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. It was originally described by Weld in 1944 and later transferred to the genus Striatoandricus in 2022. The species is known from Arizona, USA. As a member of the oak gall wasps, it likely induces galls on oak species (Quercus), though specific host associations have not been documented in available sources.
Strotarchus beepbeep
Strotarchus beepbeep is a spider species in the family Cheiracanthiidae, described in 2012. The species is characterized by orange coloration on the carapace, legs, and abdomen, with pale margins on the carapace and reddish-brown chelicerae. Its specific epithet references the sound of the Road Runner cartoon character.
Tetraopes skillmani
Skillman's Milkweed Longhorn
Tetraopes skillmani is a longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) described in 2004 from Arizona. It belongs to the milkweed beetle genus Tetraopes, whose members are obligate specialists on Asclepiadaceae host plants. The type locality is near Duquesne in southeastern Arizona, where collectors found its host plant Sarcostemma sp. but did not encounter the beetles during the initial survey.
Timema ritense
Santa Rita timema, Santa Rita Mountains Timema
Timema ritense is a species of walkingstick insect in the family Timematidae, endemic to the Santa Rita Mountains of southern Arizona. The species was originally described as 'Timema ritensis' but underwent a mandatory spelling correction to 'ritense' to match the neuter gender of the genus Timema, following ICZN Article 31.2. Like other members of the genus Timema, it is a small, wingless phasmid with reduced morphology compared to other stick insects. The species is among the few Timema species with documented distribution records, though detailed ecological studies remain limited.
Tumecauda schaefferi
Tumecauda schaefferi is a species of treehopper in the family Membracidae, subfamily Stegaspidinae. It was described by Goding in 1930. The genus Tumecauda is characterized by a pronounced caudal (tail-like) projection extending from the dorsal surface of the pronotum, a distinctive feature among treehoppers. Very little is known about the biology or ecology of this species, which appears to be rarely encountered and poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Vitula aegerella
Vitula aegerella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by Herbert H. Neunzig in 1990. It is known only from the US state of Arizona. As a member of the genus Vitula, it belongs to a group of small moths commonly associated with stored products and dried plant materials, though species-specific biology remains poorly documented.
Walterella
Walterella is a monotypic moth genus in the family Noctuidae, established by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1921. The genus contains a single species, Walterella ocellata, which was described by William Barnes and James Halliday McDunnough in 1910. It is known only from the US state of Arizona.
Walterella ocellata
Walterella ocellata is the sole species in the monotypic moth genus Walterella, described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1910. The genus was erected by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1921. This noctuid moth is known from Arizona, with 35 observations recorded on iNaturalist. As a member of the family Noctuidae, it belongs to one of the largest families of Lepidoptera.
Zelicodes linearis
Dusty-winged Tan
Zelicodes linearis is the sole species in the monotypic moth genus Zelicodes, family Erebidae. It was first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1883 (originally as Litognatha linearis), with the genus established in 1896. The species is known from Arizona, USA, and is commonly called the Dusty-winged Tan. As a member of subfamily Calpinae, it belongs to a group of moths often associated with fruit-feeding behaviors, though specific biological details for this species remain limited.