Desert-arthropod
Guides
Amblycorypha insolita
Big Bend Oblong-winged Katydid, Big Bend False Katydid
Amblycorypha insolita is a species of phaneropterine katydid in the family Tettigoniidae, first described by Rehn & Hebard in 1914. Known as the Big Bend oblong-winged katydid or Big Bend false katydid, this species is endemic to the southwestern United States and adjacent northeastern Mexico. It belongs to a genus renowned for exceptional camouflage and acoustic communication.
Diceroprocta knighti
Dusty Flag-Bearer
Diceroprocta knighti is a cicada species in the family Cicadidae, distributed across the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Like other members of its genus, it is an annual cicada with a multi-year nymphal stage spent underground feeding on tree and shrub roots. Adults emerge during summer months, with males producing species-specific acoustic signals to attract females. The species is part of the diverse cicada fauna of the Sonoran Desert region, where it co-occurs with related congeners at different elevations.
cicadaDiceroproctaSonoran-Desertannual-cicadaHemipteraCicadidaeacoustic-communicationroot-feeding-nymphssummer-emergencesouthwestern-North-Americaxylem-feederdesert-arthropodinsect-songmulti-year-life-cycletymbal-organmonsoon-associated-emergenceCicadinaeFidicininiDavis-1917Dusty-Flag-BearerArizonaCaliforniaBaja-CaliforniaSinaloaSonoraMexicoUnited-Statesarthropodinsecttrue-bugAuchenorrhynchaCicadomorphaCicadoideaGuyalninaEleodes
pinacate beetles, desert stink beetles
Eleodes is the largest genus of darkling beetles in North America, comprising approximately 200 species. These beetles are endemic to western North America, ranging from southern Canada to central Mexico, with some species introduced to Colombia. Commonly known as pinacate beetles or desert stink beetles, they are flightless due to fused elytra and vestigial hindwings. All species possess chemical defense glands that produce quinone compounds, and many exhibit distinctive head-standing behavior when threatened. The genus shows remarkable ecological diversity, with species occupying deserts, forests, grasslands, and caves.
Eremobates pallipes
pale windscorpion, pale sun spider
Eremobates pallipes is a species of solifugid (windscorpion or sun spider) in the family Eremobatidae. It occurs in western North America from Arizona northward to Canada. Males exhibit courtship and copulatory behaviors involving cheliceral engagement with females. The species is one of approximately 200 described species in the genus Eremobates, which is the most species-rich genus of solifugids in North America.
Eremothera drachmani
windscorpion, sun spider
Eremothera drachmani is a species of solifuge (windscorpion or sun spider) described by Muma in 1986. It belongs to the family Eremobatidae, a diverse group of solifuges found primarily in arid and semi-arid regions. The species is known from Middle America, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented. Like other solifuges, it is a fast-moving, predatory arachnid adapted to hot, dry environments.
Orodaliscoides giulianii
A small dung beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, described from specimens collected in the Chihuahuan Desert region. The species is known from few records in the borderlands of Texas and Chihuahua. Like other members of Orodaliscoides, it is presumed to be associated with rodent burrows and their detritus.
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.
Tylanira bifurca
Tylanira bifurca is a small planthopper in the family Issidae, described by Ball in 1936. The species is known from the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico, with records from Arizona, Texas, and Coahuila. As a member of the tribe Thioniini, it belongs to a group of fulgoroid insects characterized by their compact body form and reduced wings in many species.