Desert-fauna
Guides
Acanalonia clypeata
Acanalonia clypeata is a small planthopper in the family Acanaloniidae, native to the Southwestern United States. It measures approximately 7 mm in length and 3 mm in width. The species has been documented feeding on a range of desert-adapted host plants.
Acmaeodera pubiventris yumae
Acmaeodera pubiventris yumae is a subspecies of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Knull in 1937. It belongs to the nominate subgenus Acmaeodera (s. str.) and is part of a species complex associated with woody host plants in western North America. The subspecies epithet "yumae" suggests a connection to the Yuma region, though precise type locality details are not provided in available sources. Like other members of Acmaeodera, adults are likely active during warmer months and associated with flowers or host plant foliage.
Actiastes
Actiastes is a genus of ant-loving beetles in the family Staphylinidae, established by Casey in 1897. The genus contains nine described species distributed across North America. Members belong to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a diverse group of small rove beetles often associated with ant colonies.
Adoxomyia
soldier flies
Adoxomyia is a genus of soldier flies (Stratiomyidae) comprising at least 30 described species. The genus has a broad geographic distribution, with species documented across the Palaearctic, Nearctic, Oriental, and Neotropical regions. Larvae develop in decaying vegetable substrates, particularly rotting roots and stems of plants in desert and arid environments. Adults are often associated with flowers.
Anachemmis
Anachemmis is a genus of North American false wolf spiders in the family Zoropsidae. First described by Ralph Vary Chamberlin in 1919, it was briefly synonymized with Titiotus before being reconfirmed as a distinct genus in 1999. The genus contains five species distributed in the southwestern United States and Mexico. All species were described or redescribed by Platnick & Ubick in 2005.
Anthophora urbana
Urbane Digger Bee
Anthophora urbana is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Apidae, commonly known as the Urbane Digger Bee. It is native to Central America and North America, with a broad distribution that includes arid regions such as the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. The species is a floral generalist, collecting pollen and nectar from diverse plant species. A. urbana is notable for being proposed as a candidate for California's state bee due to its widespread presence and representation of solitary native bees.
Anthrax nigriventris
Anthrax nigriventris is a species of bee fly (family Bombyliidae) described by Marston in 1970. The species is characterized by its dark ventral coloration, as indicated by the specific epithet 'nigriventris' (meaning 'black-bellied'). Like other members of the genus Anthrax, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of ground-nesting insects, though specific host records for this species have not been documented. The species occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Cuba.
Apatides
horned powder-post beetles
Apatides is a genus of beetles in the family Bostrichidae, commonly referred to as horned powder-post beetles. The genus was established by Casey in 1898 and contains at least four described species, including Apatides fortis, A. pollens, A. puncticeps, and A. robustus. Members of this genus are wood-boring beetles that have been documented in western Texas and neighboring regions, where they are attracted to ultraviolet light sources.
Aphonopelma chalcodes
Desert Blonde Tarantula, Arizona Blonde Tarantula, Western Desert Tarantula, Mexican Blonde Tarantula
Aphonopelma chalcodes is a large-bodied burrowing tarantula native to the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts of the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism: females are uniformly tan with a pale, densely hairy carapace that gives the "blonde" common name, while males have black legs, copper-colored cephalothorax, and reddish abdomen. Females are sedentary, occupying deep burrows for their entire lives, whereas mature males abandon their burrows to wander in search of mates during summer monsoon season. The species is notable for its longevity, with females living 24–30 years and males 5–10 years, and for its popularity in the pet trade due to docile temperament and relatively low venom toxicity.
Apiocera
Flower-loving Flies
Apiocera is the sole genus in the family Apioceridae, comprising approximately 150 species of flies commonly known as flower-loving flies. The genus is divided into four subgenera, each restricted to a different continent: Apiocera (Australia), Ripidosyrma (southern Africa), Pyrocera (North America), and Anypenus (South America). Despite their common name, most species do not visit flowers. The family was historically broader, with other genera now transferred to Mydidae.
Apiocera painteri
Apiocera painteri is a species of flower-loving fly described by Cazier in 1963. It belongs to the family Apioceridae, a small group of brachyceran flies commonly known as flower-loving flies due to their association with flowers. The genus Apiocera is primarily distributed in arid and semi-arid regions of western North America. Like other apiocerids, this species is likely associated with sandy soils where larvae develop.
Arenivaga
sand cockroaches, desert cockroaches
Arenivaga is a genus of sand cockroaches in the family Corydiidae, comprising approximately 48 species distributed across the southwestern United States, Florida, and Mexico. These insects are highly adapted to arid environments, inhabiting sandy soils and dunes with moisture content below 1%. The genus exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism, with winged males and wingless, fossorial females that 'swim' through sand. A 2014 revision by Heidi Hopkins added 39 new species to the previously known nine, revealing a remarkable radiation in desert habitats.
Arethaea mescalero
Mescalero Thread-leg Katydid
Arethaea mescalero is a species of thread-leg katydid in the family Tettigoniidae, described by Hebard in 1936. This phaneropterine katydid is endemic to sand dune habitats in the southwestern United States, particularly in New Mexico. The species is characterized by its slender, elongated legs adapted for life in sandy environments. It is one of several species in the genus Arethaea, commonly known as thread-leg katydids, which are specialized for sandy habitats.
Arivaca ostreella
Arivaca ostreella is a small snout moth species described by Émile Louis Ragonot in 1887. It occurs in the southwestern United States, specifically from southern Arizona through New Mexico to Texas. Adults are active in July and have a wingspan of approximately 25 mm. The species belongs to the subfamily Phycitinae within the family Pyralidae.
Ataenius stephani
Ataenius stephani is a small dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Cartwright in 1974. It belongs to the aphodiine subfamily, a group commonly associated with decomposing organic matter. The species has been documented in the southwestern United States and western Mexico.
Baileya
Desert Marigolds
Baileya is a genus of moths in the family Nolidae, subfamily Risobinae, established by Grote in 1895. The genus includes species commonly known as 'desert marigolds,' a name shared with an unrelated plant genus of the same name. The moths are found in North America, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The genus name creates potential for confusion with Baileya (Asteraceae), a genus of desert wildflowers.
Balcanocerus dolosus
Balcanocerus dolosus is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Eurymelinae. Originally described by Ball in 1902, this species belongs to a genus found in western North America. The specific epithet 'dolosus' (Latin for 'deceitful' or 'cunning') may allude to its cryptic appearance or behavior. Like other idiocerine leafhoppers, it likely feeds on woody plant hosts.
Blapstinus alutaceus
Blapstinus alutaceus is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, described by Blatchley in 1910. It belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized beetles commonly found in arid and semi-arid regions of North America. The species is part of the tribe Blapstinini, which contains numerous taxonomically challenging species that are often distinguished by subtle morphological characters.
Bootettix argentatus
Creosote Bush Grasshopper
Bootettix argentatus is a slant-faced grasshopper in the family Acrididae, commonly known as the creosote bush grasshopper. The species exhibits extreme dietary specialization, feeding exclusively on the creosote bush Larrea divaricata. It is distributed across arid regions of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America.
Bulia similaris
Similar Graphic
Bulia similaris is a moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Calpinae, described by Richards in 1936. It is native to arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The species has a wingspan of approximately 32 mm. It is not known to be an agricultural pest, unlike some congeners.
Cactobrosis fernaldialis
blue cactus borer
Cactobrosis fernaldialis, commonly known as the blue cactus borer, is a snout moth species found in desert regions of the southwestern United States. Adults exhibit bivoltine flight periods in spring and late summer through autumn. The species is notable for its larval specialization on Ferocactus wislizeni.
Cactopinus
Cactopinus is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, established by Schwarz in 1899. The genus contains over 20 described species, with distributions primarily in arid regions of southwestern North America including California and Mexico. Species in this genus are associated with cactus hosts, as indicated by the genus name. Two species, C. cactophthorus and C. mexicanus, were reclassified to the new genus Cactopinorus.
Capnobotes fuliginosus
sooty longwing
Capnobotes fuliginosus, commonly known as the sooty longwing, is a large katydid species found in arid regions of western North America and Mexico. First described by Cyrus Thomas in 1872, this species reaches up to 75 mm in length and is characterized by its brownish-gray coloration, long wings, and notably darker hindwings that are displayed when the insect is startled. It produces a loud, continuous, shrill song and is known to be preyed upon by the wasp Palmodes praestans.
Carmenta prosopis
Carmenta prosopis is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described by Henry Edwards in 1882. It occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The larvae feed on mesquites (Prosopis species). As a member of the clearwing moth group, it exhibits wasp-mimicking appearance and diurnal activity patterns typical of the family.
Carmenta wellerae
Carmenta wellerae is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described in 1976 from specimens collected in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It belongs to a genus of seed-feeding moths characterized by wasp-mimicking appearance and diurnal activity. The species is associated with mountainous terrain and has a restricted known distribution.
Chionodes meddix
Chionodes meddix is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by Ronald W. Hodges in 1999. The species is known from arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States. As with many Chionodes species, detailed biological information remains limited.
Chrysidinae
cuckoo wasps
Chrysidinae is the largest and most familiar subfamily of cuckoo wasps, containing approximately 3000 species across 48 genera worldwide. These wasps are renowned for their brilliant metallic coloration, primarily in blues and greens, and their heavily sculptured exoskeletons. They are obligate brood parasites of solitary bees and wasps, with females incapable of stinging due to modification of the sting apparatus into an egg-laying tube. Their distinctive defensive behavior involves rolling into a ball to protect vulnerable appendages when threatened.
Cisthene angelus
angel lichen moth
Cisthene angelus is a small moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae, described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1904. It belongs to the lichen moth tribe Lithosiini, characterized by larvae that feed on lichens. The species occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Like other tiger moths in the genus Cisthene, it likely produces ultrasonic clicks as a defense against bat predation, though this specific behavior has not been directly documented in C. angelus.
Codocera gnatho
Codocera gnatho is a species of sand-loving scarab beetle in the family Ochodaeidae, first described by Fall in 1907. It belongs to a small family of beetles specialized for sandy habitats. The species occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Coenopoeus
Coenopoeus is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) in the subfamily Lamiinae, tribe Acanthocinini. The genus contains two described species: Coenopoeus niger and Coenopoeus palmeri. These beetles are associated with cactus habitats, with C. palmeri specifically documented as feeding on staghorn cacti (Cylindropuntia species). Adults are nocturnal and feed externally on cactus tissues, while larvae are internal miners within cactus stems.
Copestylum mexicanum
Mexican Cactus Fly
Copestylum mexicanum, commonly known as the Mexican cactus fly, is a species of syrphid fly in the family Syrphidae. The species is documented in the southwestern United States, with observations spanning multiple states including Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. Adults have been observed visiting flowers, particularly those of pricklypear cacti (Opuntia species) and other desert flora. The species is part of a diverse assemblage of flower-visiting insects in arid and semi-arid habitats.
Cremastocheilus planipes
Cremastocheilus planipes is a myrmecophilous scarab beetle in the genus Cremastocheilus, commonly known as anteater scarabs. These beetles are specialized inhabitants of ant colonies, where they live as predators of ant brood. The species exhibits remarkable morphological and behavioral adaptations for infiltrating and surviving within hostile ant nests. Like other members of its genus, C. planipes is poorly studied and infrequently encountered due to its cryptic lifestyle.
Cremastocheilus puncticollis
anteater scarab beetle
Cremastocheilus puncticollis is a species of anteater scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. Like other members of the genus Cremastocheilus, this species is a specialized myrmecophile that lives within ant colonies. The species is found in the southwestern United States, specifically in Arizona and California. Adults are predators of ant larvae and pupae, employing remarkable behavioral and morphological adaptations to infiltrate and survive within hostile ant nests.
Crocidema
broad-nosed weevils
Crocidema is a genus of broad-nosed weevils in the beetle family Curculionidae. The genus contains six described species, all described by Van Dyke between 1934 and 1951. Species are restricted to western North America, with distributions in Arizona and California. The genus is classified in the subfamily Entiminae, tribe Byrsopagini.
Crossidius suturalis melanipennis
Crossidius suturalis melanipennis is a subspecies of longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It belongs to the genus Crossidius, a group of flower-visiting beetles associated with composite plants in arid and semi-arid regions of western North America. This subspecies was described by Penrose in 1984 and is part of a complex of subspecies within C. suturalis that show geographic variation in coloration and elytral markings.
Cryptocephalini
case-bearing leaf beetles
Cryptocephalini is a tribe of leaf beetles within the subfamily Cryptocephalinae, characterized by case-bearing larvae that construct and carry protective cases. The tribe comprises approximately 987–988 species in the Palaearctic region alone, with substantial diversity in arid and Mediterranean zones. Some species exhibit myrmecophilous associations with ants.
Dasymutilla sicheliana
Dasymutilla sicheliana is a species of velvet ant (family Mutillidae), a group of solitary parasitoid wasps in which females are wingless and males are winged. The species occurs in arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other Dasymutilla species, females possess a powerful sting used for defense and host subjugation. The species develops as an external parasitoid of ground-nesting bees and wasps.
Dichomeris delotella
Dichomeris delotella is a small gelechiid moth described by August Busck in 1909. It occurs in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Adults are active from spring through early autumn, with phenology varying by region.
Diguetia canities
desert bush spider
Diguetia canities, commonly known as the desert bush spider, is a species of coneweb spider in the family Diguetidae. It is the most widely distributed species in its genus, occurring across desert and semidesert habitats from California to Oklahoma and Texas. The spider constructs a distinctive dome-shaped sheet web with a tubular retreat, often placed in bushes or cacti less than 60 cm above ground. It produces a potent insect-selective venom peptide called Dc1a.
Diplotaxis curvaticeps
Diplotaxis curvaticeps is a species of scarab beetle described by Fall in 1909. It belongs to the subfamily Melolonthinae, a group commonly known as May or June beetles and chafers. The species is distributed across parts of Central America and North America, with documented occurrences in the southwestern United States (Texas) and several Mexican states including Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, and Tamaulipas. As a member of the genus Diplotaxis, it is part of a group of small scarab beetles often associated with sandy habitats and nocturnal activity patterns.
Diplotaxis pubipes
Hairy-footed Diplotaxis
Diplotaxis pubipes is a small scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Melolonthinae. The species was described by Schaeffer in 1907 and is known from the southern United States (Texas) and Mexico (San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, Veracruz). Like other members of the genus Diplotaxis, it is attracted to lights at night and has been observed congregating on low vegetation, presumably to detect pheromone trails of potential mates.
Dropephylla cacti
Dropephylla cacti is a rove beetle species in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Omaliinae, described by Schwarz in 1899. The species epithet 'cacti' suggests an association with cactus habitats. It is recorded from arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States including Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada. As a member of the omaliine rove beetles, it likely inhabits decaying plant matter, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Edrotes ventricosus
hairy robot beetle, desert hairy robot beetle
Edrotes ventricosus is a small darkling beetle native to southwestern North American deserts. Adults are distinctive for their rounded, compact body shape and dense covering of dorsal hairs. The species is herbivorous and has been observed feeding on several plant species including saltgrass and cheat grass. It is active primarily from early spring through late winter, with year-round activity in the southern portion of its range. The beetle has become popular in the pet trade due to its manageable care requirements and appealing appearance.
Epicauta wheeleri
Orange-necked Blister Beetle, ethereal beef weevil
Epicauta wheeleri is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, found in southwestern North America. It exhibits striking iridescence in desert sunlight and has pronounced body segmentation that resembles weevils, leading to the colloquial name "ethereal beef weevil" in southern Utah and Nevada. Despite this resemblance, it is not a true weevil. The species is often observed in and around cattle pastures.
Epipagis disparilis
Epipagis disparilis is a moth in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae. It was described by Dyar in 1910. The species is known from a limited geographic range in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Based on iNaturalist records, it has been documented from at least 16 observations.
Eremobates kiseri
windscorpion, sun spider, camel spider
Eremobates kiseri is a species of solifuge (sun spider or windscorpion) in the family Eremobatidae, described by Muma & Brookhart in 1988. Solifugids are arachnids distinct from spiders and scorpions, characterized by their large, powerful chelicerae (jaws) and rapid movement. Like other members of the genus Eremobates, this species is native to arid and semi-arid regions of North America. The species name honors an individual, following the pattern of many Eremobates species named after collectors or researchers.
Eremobates pallidus
pale windscorpion
Eremobates pallidus is a species of windscorpion (Solifugae) described by Muma and Brookhart in 1988. The specific epithet "pallidus" refers to its pale coloration. Windscorpions, also known as sun spiders or camel spiders, are arachnids characterized by their large chelicerae and rapid running speed. This species belongs to the family Eremobatidae, one of the most diverse families within the order Solifugae, which are primarily distributed in arid and semi-arid regions of North America.
Eupompha viridis
Green Blister Beetle
Eupompha viridis is a blister beetle species in the family Meloidae, first described by George Henry Horn in 1883. The species is known from North America, with records from the southwestern United States and adjacent regions. Like other members of the genus Eupompha, it is associated with creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) habitats. The specific epithet 'viridis' refers to the green coloration characteristic of this species. The genus Eupompha is part of the tribe Eupomphini, a group of blister beetles notable for their specialized host plant associations and often bright, aposematic coloration.
Eupomphini
Eupomphini is a tribe of blister beetles (Meloidae) comprising approximately 7 genera and more than 20 described species. Members exhibit hypermetamorphosis, a complex developmental pattern involving dramatically different larval forms. The tribe includes notable genera such as Tegrodera (iron cross blister beetles) and Cysteodemus (desert spider beetles). Species are primarily distributed in arid and semi-arid regions of North America.
Eusattus dilatatus
Eusattus dilatatus is a darkling beetle species in the family Tenebrionidae, described by LeConte in 1851. The genus Eusattus comprises sand-dwelling darkling beetles found in arid regions of western North America. This species, like congeners, is adapted to sandy habitats and exhibits morphological specializations for burrowing in loose substrates. Available records indicate occurrence in Mexico, though detailed biological information remains limited.