Desert

Guides

Polycesta aruensis
Desert-dwelling Polycesta
Polycesta aruensis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle (family Buprestidae) in the subfamily Polycestinae. It is found in desert regions of southwestern North America and Central America. Adults have been observed on flowers and associated with partially dead trees, where they likely develop as larvae in the wood. The species exhibits synchronized emergence events that can produce temporary aggregations of adults.
Buprestidae Polycestinae jewel-beetle wood-boring-beetle desert North-America Central-America xylophagous
Prasinalia
Prasinalia is a genus of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) established by Casey in 1909. The genus contains at least two recognized species: Prasinalia cuneata (Horn, 1868) and Prasinalia imperialis (Barr, 1969). Based on field observations by buprestid specialists, species in this genus are considered significant finds for collectors and are associated with western North American habitats, particularly in southern California and the southwestern United States.
Buprestidae jewel-beetle western-North-America southern-California montane desert
Prasinalia imperialis
Algodones White Wax Jewel Beetle
Prasinalia imperialis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as the Algodones White Wax Jewel Beetle. It is endemic to the Algodones Dunes of North America, with an extremely restricted geographic range. The species is rarely observed, with only five documented observations on iNaturalist. As a member of the jewel beetle family, it likely exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration and wood-boring larval habits typical of Buprestidae, though specific details remain poorly documented.
endemic desert sand-dunes rare jewel-beetle
Pseudethmia protuberans
Pseudethmia protuberans is a small moth and the sole species in its genus. It is endemic to the lower elevation deserts of south-eastern California and probably north-eastern Baja California. The species was described by Clarke in 1950. It belongs to the family Ethmiidae, a group of small moths often associated with arid habitats.
endemic desert monotypic-genus rare California-fauna
Psychomastax
monkey grasshoppers
Psychomastax is a genus of monkey grasshoppers in the family Eumastacidae, first described by Rehn and Hebard in 1918. The genus contains at least four described species distributed in arid regions of the western United States, primarily California and Nevada. These grasshoppers are characterized by their distinctive morphology typical of Eumastacidae, which are known for their jumping ability and often colorful appearance. The genus name reflects their placement within the Psychomastacini tribe.
Eumastacidae monkey-grasshopper California Nevada desert montane western-North-America
Pterotermes occidentis
western dry-wood termite
Pterotermes occidentis is a primitive dry-wood termite and the sole species in the monotypic genus Pterotermes. It inhabits extremely arid environments in the Sonoran Desert region, living entirely within single pieces of dry timber. Unlike many termites, it does not maintain contact with soil and completes its entire life cycle within its wood host.
termite dry-wood-termite Kalotermitidae desert xeric Sonoran-Desert wood-feeding primitive-Isoptera monotypic-genus
Pyrota
Pyrota is a genus of blister beetles in the family Meloidae, comprising at least 30 described species. The genus is characterized by complex and highly distinctive courtship behavior involving prolonged physical contact between sexes. Males alternate between mounting above females for dorsal acts (palpation, dorsal antennation, rocking) and positioning behind them for posterior acts (leg grasp, palpal insertion beneath elytra, lifting female body, posterior antennation, abdominal curvature and stroke, genital hold). Adults exhibit little aggressive behavior and copulate in a linear position for extended periods with abdominal pumping by the male. Some species show extreme size dimorphism between mating individuals.
blister-beetle Meloidae courtship-behavior sexual-dimorphism aposematic-coloration North-America South-America desert aggregations cantharidin spermatophore-transfer ethology reproductive-isolation Pyrotini
Rhaphiomidas
flower-loving flies
Rhaphiomidas is a genus of mydid flies comprising fewer than 30 species and subspecies restricted to desert regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Adults are active for brief periods in spring or fall, with multiple species in the same dune system often separated by seasonal timing. Several taxa are critically endangered due to habitat loss from development and recreational disturbance.
desert sand-dune endangered mydidae allochronic ant-association habitat-specialist
Sagenosoma
elsa sphinx moth (sole species)
Sagenosoma is a monotypic genus of sphinx moths in the family Sphingidae, established by Jordan in 1946. The sole species, Sagenosoma elsa (elsa sphinx moth), is restricted to arid regions of the south-western United States and northern Mexico. Adults fly during spring and summer months, with larvae recorded feeding on a specific desert shrub.
monotypic desert nocturnal specialist-herbivore
Saltonia
Saltonia is a monotypic genus of North American cribellate araneomorph spiders containing the single species Saltonia incerta. The genus was first described in 1942 and has undergone several taxonomic revisions, most recently moved to the family Argyronetidae in 2025. It represents a rare relict lineage restricted to hypersaline desert habitats in southwestern North America.
spider cribellate monotypic relict hypersaline desert salt-flat rare
Saltonia incerta
Rare sheet-web-weaving spider, sole representative of monotypic genus Saltonia. Restricted to salt crusts of intermittent or dry lakes, streams, and rivers in desert southwestern North America. Previously presumed extinct following 1905 flooding of type locality at Salton Sea, but rediscovered in 1990s at multiple sites. Genetic analyses reveal significant population structure with two major clades (New Mexico versus California-northern Baja California) and minimal gene flow among isolated populations in fragmented desert salt flat habitats.
spider Araneae Dictynidae salt-flat desert endemic rare-species refugia population-genetics conservation monotypic-genus Salton-Sea salt-crust
Scaphytopius hymenocleae
Scaphytopius hymenocleae is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Van Duzee in 1923. It belongs to the large genus Scaphytopius, which contains numerous North American species often associated with shrubs and herbaceous plants. The species name references Hymenoclea, a genus of desert shrubs in the Asteraceae family, suggesting a potential host association. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a xylem-feeding insect utilizing piercing-sucking mouthparts.
leafhopper Cicadellidae Desert North-America Scaphytopius
Schistocerca shoshone
green bird grasshopper, green valley grasshopper
Schistocerca shoshone is a large grasshopper in the bird grasshopper group, recognized by its green coloration. The species exhibits notable dietary plasticity: while fundamentally polyphagous, populations have been observed specializing on single host plants including Simmondsia and Prosopis when these dominate local vegetation. Genetic differences between populations may underlie this feeding behavior variation. It ranges across southwestern North America and has been documented as far north as Colorado.
grasshopper bird-grasshopper locust polyphagy monophagy dietary-plasticity southwestern-North-America riparian desert Simmondsia Prosopis
Serradigitus joshuaensis
Serradigitus joshuaensis is a small scorpion in the family Vaejovidae, described from specimens collected near Joshua Tree, California. The species belongs to a genus characterized by serrated tarsal claws, a trait reflected in the name Serradigitus. It inhabits arid regions of the southwestern United States and is one of several species in this genus adapted to desert environments.
scorpion vaejovid desert southwestern-USA nocturnal
Serradigitus wupatkiensis
Serradigitus wupatkiensis is a scorpion species in the family Vaejovidae, first described by Stahnke in 1940. It belongs to the genus Serradigitus, which is characterized by serrated or toothed structures on the pedipalp fingers. The species is found in North America, with the specific epithet referencing Wupatki, likely indicating a type locality in the southwestern United States. Like other vaejovid scorpions, it is a small to medium-sized species adapted to arid environments.
scorpion arachnid vaejovidae southwestern-united-states desert
Smeringurus vachoni
Vachon's Hairy Scorpion, Vachon's Sand Scorpion
Smeringurus vachoni is a small to medium-sized burrowing scorpion endemic to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Formerly classified in Paruroctonus, it was reassigned to Smeringurus based on morphological and genetic studies. This psammophilic (sand-dwelling) species constructs shallow burrows in loose sandy substrates and is primarily nocturnal. It is distinguished by its densely setose (hairy) pedipalps and metasoma, an adaptation for sensory function in sandy environments.
scorpion burrowing desert nocturnal psammophilic vaejovidae southwestern-north-america sand-dwelling setose non-medically-significant-venom
Smeringurus vachoni immanis
Smeringurus vachoni immanis is a subspecies of scorpion in the family Vaejovidae, native to the southwestern United States. It belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive metasomal (tail) morphology. The subspecies designation indicates geographic or morphological differentiation from the nominate form S. vachoni vachoni. Like other members of Smeringurus, it is adapted to arid environments and exhibits fossorial or nocturnal habits typical of desert scorpions.
scorpion arachnid desert nocturnal vaejovidae southwestern-united-states subspecies
Smeringurus vachoni vachoni
Smeringurus vachoni vachoni is a subspecies of scorpion in the family Vaejovidae. It belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized scorpions found in arid regions of western North America. The nominate subspecies is distinguished from the other subspecies, S. v. mesaensis, primarily by geographic distribution.
scorpion arachnid desert Mojave Vaejovidae
Solifugae
solifuges, camel spiders, sun spiders, wind scorpions, solpugids
Solifugae is an order of arachnids comprising over 1,200 described species in approximately 147 genera and 16 families. These animals are neither true spiders nor scorpions, though they share superficial similarities with both. They are characterized by exceptional speed, large powerful chelicerae used for predation and stridulation, and a preference for arid habitats. The order is divided into two suborders: Australosolifugae (predominantly Southern Hemisphere) and Boreosolifugae (predominantly Northern Hemisphere).
arachnida predator desert nocturnal cursorial generalist-predator non-venomous fossorial stridulation urban-legend
Sosippus californicus
Funnel-web wolf spider
Sosippus californicus is a large wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, notable for being one of the few web-building members of an otherwise nomadic hunting family. It constructs sheet-like webs with funnel-shaped retreats, superficially resembling those of true funnel-web weavers (Agelenidae). The species ranges from southern California through Arizona and Mexico to Costa Rica, where it is particularly abundant in riparian habitats.
web-building subsocial riparian desert maternal-care
Spaniacris
spanistic desert grasshoppers
Spaniacris is a genus of desert grasshoppers in the family Romaleidae, established by Hebard in 1937. The genus contains at least one described species, S. deserticola. These insects are associated with arid environments and are part of the diverse grasshopper fauna of western North America.
grasshopper desert orthoptera romaleidae california
Sphaeropthalma mendica
velvet ant
Sphaeropthalma mendica is a desert-adapted velvet ant (family Mutillidae) native to western North America. It belongs to the S. unicolor species-complex, which includes both Mediterranean-adapted and desert-adapted species. Phylogeographic studies indicate that S. mendica diverged from its sister species S. unicolor during the early Pleistocene, with subsequent population structuring among desert populations. Like all velvet ants, females are wingless and possess a potent sting, while males are winged.
velvet-ant Mutillidae desert Pleistocene biogeography western-North-America Sphaeropthalma-unicolor-species-complex Hymenoptera
Spirostreptidae
Flatplate Millipedes
Spirostreptidae is a family of large millipedes in the order Spirostreptida, commonly known as flatplate millipedes. The family comprises approximately 100 genera distributed across tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles, and the eastern Mediterranean. Members are characterized by their elongated cylindrical bodies and are primarily soil-dwelling detritivores, though some species exhibit arboreal habits. The family includes both synanthropic species that can become urban pests and species with specialized thermoregulatory and social behaviors.
millipede diplopod soil-fauna detritivore tropical desert thermoregulation aggregation synanthropic gonopod-taxonomy
Stahnkeus deserticola
A medium-sized scorpion in the family Vaejovidae, originally described from Arizona. The species epithet 'deserticola' indicates its association with desert habitats. It was transferred from the genus Vaejovis to the genus Stahnkeus based on phylogenetic and morphological studies. The genus Stahnkeus was established to accommodate a distinct lineage of vaejovid scorpions found in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
scorpion vaejovidae desert southwestern-united-states arizona arachnida
Stenaspis solitaria
Stenaspis solitaria is a longhorn beetle species in the family Cerambycidae, described by Thomas Say in 1824. It occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico, where it has been collected from various woody hosts including Acacia species and Baccharis sarothroides. Field observations indicate adults are active during summer months, particularly July and August, and are often found by beating vegetation or sweeping flowering plants.
Cerambycidae longhorn-beetle Southwest-US Arizona Mexico Acacia Baccharis desert thorn-scrub summer-active
Stenaspis verticalis arizonicus
Stenaspis verticalis arizonicus is a subspecies of longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae, subfamily Cerambycinae, tribe Trachyderini. It was described by Casey in 1912 and is known from the southwestern United States and Mexico. The subspecies is associated with desert scrub and woodland habitats, particularly in Arizona and adjacent regions. Adults have been observed on Baccharis sarothroides (desert broom), where mating pairs have been documented.
Cerambycidae Cerambycinae Trachyderini Arizona desert Baccharis longhorn-beetle subspecies
Superstitionia
Superstitionia is a monotypic genus of scorpions containing the single species S. donensis. It is the only genus in the family Superstitioniidae. Unlike other members of its family, which are cave-adapted and lack pigmentation and lateral eyes, S. donensis is darkly pigmented and possesses lateral eyes. The genus was established in 1940 based on specimens from the Superstition Mountains of Arizona.
scorpion monotypic-genus desert southwestern-North-America cave-adapted-family-outlier
Superstitioniidae
Superstitioniidae is a monotypic family of scorpions containing only the genus Superstitionia and its sole species, Superstitionia donensis. The family is endemic to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, where it inhabits rocky desert environments. It was established by Stahnke in 1940 and represents one of the most taxonomically restricted lineages within Scorpiones.
scorpion monotypic desert southwestern-North-America cave-associated relict
Systasea
Powdered-Skippers
Systasea is a genus of skipper butterflies in the family Hesperiidae, established by Edwards in 1877 as a replacement for the preoccupied name Lintneria. The genus comprises three recognized species distributed in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Members are commonly known as Powdered-Skippers and are characterized by distinctive wing morphology including transparent spots on the forewing and deeply notched hindwing margins.
skipper butterfly Lepidoptera Hesperiidae Pyrginae Powdered-Skipper desert Southwest transparent-spots notched-hindwing
Tanaoceridae
desert long-horned grasshoppers
Tanaoceridae is a small family of grasshoppers comprising two genera, Mohavacris and Tanaocerus. These insects are notable for their exceptionally long, thread-like antennae that equal or exceed body length, a trait unusual among Caelifera that can cause confusion with crickets (Ensifera). They are nocturnal, winter-active insects of arid regions, with apterous (wingless) bodies and cryptic coloration adapted to desert environments.
Orthoptera Caelifera grasshopper desert nocturnal winter-active apterous North-America
Tanaocerus
desert long-horned grasshoppers
Tanaocerus is a genus of desert-dwelling grasshoppers in the family Tanaoceridae, containing at least two described species: T. koebelei and T. rugosus. These insects are restricted to arid regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The genus is notable for its elongated antennae, a distinctive trait that separates it from most other grasshopper groups.
grasshopper desert long-horned nocturnal orthoptera southwestern-US Mexico
Tetramesa
Tetramesa is a genus of minute phytophagous wasps in the family Eurytomidae comprising over 200 described species. Members are exclusively associated with grasses (Poaceae), where they typically induce stem or inflorescence galls. The genus exhibits pronounced host specificity, with most species restricted to a single grass species or closely related congeners. Several species have been deployed as biological control agents against invasive grasses, including T. romana for giant reed (Arundo donax) and candidate agents for medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) and African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula). Adults feed on nectar. Recent phylogenomic studies have synonymized the genera Aiolomorphus and Cathilaria within Tetramesa.
biological-control gall-wasp grassland invasive-species-management host-specificity cryptic-species phylogenomics Eurytomidae Chalcidoidea Hymenoptera phytophagy Poaceae stem-gall inflorescence-gall integrated-pest-management riparian-restoration molecular-systematics species-delimitation GMYC COI 28S biocontrol-agent Arundo-donax giant-reed medusahead African-lovegrass Eragrostis Sporobolus barley-jointworm integrated-taxonomy Southern-Hemisphere-diversity grassland-expansion Miocene-diversification monophagy host-range-testing non-target-effects tick-habitat cattle-fever-tick Rio-Grande Big-Bend-National-Park greenhouse-rearing oviposition-behavior water-deficit-stress generation-time parasitoid Eurytoma-amicophaga Eurytominae Walker-1848 Terebrantes Apocrita microhymenoptera minute-wasp reduced-wing-venation antennal-segmentation mesosoma-sculpture ovipositor molecular-operational-taxonomic-units MOTU species-boundaries cryptic-diversity sampling-effects SPEDE-sampler 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variety breeding selection genetic-improvement yield quality stress-tolerance nutrient-use-efficiency water-use-efficiency photosynthetic-efficiency harvest-index grain-filling source-limitation sink-limitation assimilate-transport phloem-loading phloem-unloading remobilization senescence stay-green antioxidant reactive-oxygen-species oxidative-stress heat-stress cold-stress drought-stress salinity-stress metal-stress nutrient-deficiency nutrient-toxicity soil-pH soil-texture soil-structure soil-organic-matter soil-microbial-community rhizosphere mycorrhiza nitrogen-fixation phosphorus-solubilization potassium-mobilization micronutrient-uptake allelopathy competition facilitation niche-differentiation resource-partitioning temporal-partitioning spatial-partitioning morphological-partitioning physiological-partitioning phenological-partitioning competitive-exclusion competitive-displacement priority-effect founder-effect mass-effect species-sorting neutral-theory ecological-drift 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information-sharing alarm-call mobbing distraction-display broken-wing-display tailing persecution attack escape flight fight freeze faint death-feigning tonic-immobility startle-response withdrawal avoidance dishabituation latent-inhibition blocking overshadowing relative-validity conditioned-inhibition spontaneous-recovery renewal reinstatement rapid-reacquisition latent-learning insight-learning observational-learning vicarious-learning emulation imitation social-facilitation social-inhibition audience-effect bystander-effect conformity obedience compliance commitment consistency foot-in-the-door door-in-the-face low-ball that's-not-all sunk-cost endowment-effect loss-aversion risk-aversion risk-seeking probability-weighting hyperbolic-discounting temporal-discounting intertemporal-choice optimal-foraging marginal-value-theorem prey-choice patch-choice diet-breadth central-place-foraging load-size travel-time handling-time search-time encounter-rate prey-density prey-profitability prey-handling prey-detection prey-pursuit prey-capture prey-consumption prey-rejection ingestion-rate digestion-rate assimilation-efficiency production-efficiency ecological-efficiency trophic-transfer-efficiency Lindeman-efficiency ten-percent-rule pyramid-of-numbers pyramid-of-biomass pyramid-of-energy food-chain trophic-network energy-flow material-cycling biogeochemical-cycle carbon-cycle nitrogen-cycle phosphorus-cycle sulfur-cycle water-cycle hydrological-cycle atmospheric-circulation ocean-circulation thermohaline-circulation El-Niño La-Niña ENSO NAO AO PDO AMO climate-oscillation climate-anomaly weather-extreme drought flood heat-wave cold-snap storm hurricane typhoon cyclone tornado thunderstorm lightning wildfire volcanic-eruption earthquake tsunami landslide avalanche meteor-impact mass-extinction background-extinction speciation-rate extinction-rate net-diversification turnover standing-diversity fossil-record taphonomy preservation-bias sampling-bias collection-bias publication-bias citation-bias language-bias geographic-bias temporal-bias taxonomic-bias size-bias abundance-bias habitat-bias facies-bias Lagerstätte Konservat-Lagerstätte Konzentrat-Lagerstätte trace-fossil body-fossil chemical-fossil molecular-fossil biomarker isotope-signature paleoclimate-proxy paleoecology paleobiogeography paleoecosystem paleocommunity paleoenvironment paleogeography paleolatitude paleolongitude continental-drift plate-tectonics seafloor-spreading subduction orogeny mountain-building basin-formation sedimentation erosion weathering soil-formation pedogenesis horizon-development profile-development chronosequence toposequence biosequence climosequence landform geomorphology topography relief elevation slope aspect curvature roughness drainage watershed catchment basin subbasin reach segment zone riffle pool run glide cascade waterfall wetland marsh swamp bog fen mire peatland tundra taiga boreal-forest temperate-forest temperate-rainforest temperate-grassland tropical-forest tropical-rainforest tropical-dry-forest tropical-savanna tropical-grassland desert hot-desert cold-desert semiarid steppe prairie pampas veld savanna woodland shrubland chaparral maquis garigue fynbos kwongan mallee mulga mogote karst cave sinkhole doline polje uvala ponor spring seep oasis wadi arroyo gully ravine canyon gorge valley dale glen strath rift graben horst fault fold anticline syncline monocline dome plateau mesa butte escarpment bluff cliff crag tor inselberg bornhardt kopje hill knoll mound ridge spur saddle pass col gap notch cleft fissure joint bedding-plane foliation lineation cleavage schistosity gneissic-banding magma lava igneous-rock sedimentary-rock metamorphic-rock mineral crystal grain texture structure fabric composition chemistry mineralogy petrology geochemistry geophysics geochronology radiometric-dating isotopic-dating dendrochronology varve-chronology lichenometry archaeomagnetism paleomagnetism thermoluminescence optically-stimulated-luminescence electron-spin-resonance cosmogenic-nuclide exposure-dating burial-dating terrestrial-cosmogenic-nuclide in-situ-cosmogenic-nuclide meteoric-cosmogenic-nuclide fallout-radionuclide lead-210 cesium-137 plutonium americium radiocarbon carbon-14 calibration-curve intcal marine-reservoir-effect terrestrial-reservoir-effect hard-water-effect contamination pretreatment combustion graphitization accelerator-mass-spectrometry liquid-scintillation-counting gas-proportional-counting beta-counting gamma-spectrometry alpha-spectrometry mass-spectrometry inductively-coupled-plasma-mass-spectrometry thermal-ionization-mass-spectrometry secondary-ion-mass-spectrometry laser-ablation-inductively-coupled-plasma-mass-spectrometry electron-microprobe scanning-electron-microscopy transmission-electron-microscopy light-microscopy confocal-microscopy fluorescence-microscopy polarizing-microscopy phase-contrast-microscopy differential-interference-contrast-microscopy dark-field-microscopy bright-field-microscopy stereomicroscopy dissecting-microscopy microtomy sectioning staining mounting embedding fixation preservation collection curation vouchering repository herbarium museum archive database registry catalogue checklist inventory survey monitoring assessment evaluation appraisal audit review synthesis rapid-review scoping-review narrative-review critical-review state-of-the-art-review literature-review bibliometric-analysis citation-analysis co-citation-analysis bibliographic-coupling co-authorship-analysis collaboration-network knowledge-map concept-map ontology taxonomy classification nomenclature typification designation description diagnosis illustration measurement morphometry meristics count ratio index score rank grade scale level category class group set subset cluster clade lineage branch stem crown root node tip terminal internal basal derived ancestral plesiomorphic apomorphic synapomorphic autapomorphic homologous homoplastic convergent parallel reversal gain loss duplication deletion insertion inversion fusion fission polyploidy aneuploidy chromosome-number genome-size gene-number transcriptome proteome metabolome lipidome glycome interactome phenome connectome epigenome microbiome virome mycobiome bacteriome phytobiome rhizobiome endobiome ectobiome parasitome pathobiome diseasome toxome exposome foodome nutriome pharmacome toxicome adverse-outcome-pathway mode-of-action mechanism-of-action target-site receptor-binding enzyme-inhibition ion-channel-blockade membrane-disruption DNA-intercalation inflammation cell-differentiation cell-migration cell-adhesion cell-signaling signal-transduction gene-expression transcription translation post-translational-modification protein-folding protein-degradation protein-trafficking vesicle-transport exocytosis endocytosis phagocytosis pinocytosis mitophagy pexophagy ribophagy ER-phagy lysophagy lipophagy glycophagy ferritinophagy aggrephagy xenophagy entosis cytosis syncytium plasmodesmata gap-junction tight-junction adherens-junction desmosome hemidesmosome focal-adhesion cell-polarity cell-asymmetry cell-division mitosis meiosis cytokinesis karyokinesis chromosome-segregation spindle-assembly checkpoint DNA-replication DNA-recombination transposition retrotransposition horizontal-gene-transfer vertical-gene-transfer endosymbiosis symbiogenesis holobiont hologenome extended-phenotype niche-construction ecosystem-engineering keystone-process ecological-function ecosystem-function ecosystem-good natural-capital natural-resource renewable-resource non-renewable-resource common-pool-resource public-good private-good club-good externality market-failure government-failure policy-failure institutional-failure tragedy-of-the-commons free-rider collective-action social-dilemma prisoner's-dilemma chicken-game assurance-game coordination-game zero-sum-game positive-sum-game negative-sum-game win-win lose-lose win-lose Pareto-optimal Pareto-improvement Kaldor-Hicks-improvement cost-benefit-analysis cost-effectiveness-analysis multi-criteria-decision-analysis decision-support-system expert-system knowledge-based-system rule-based-system case-based-reasoning machine-learning deep-learning neural-network random-forest support-vector-machine decision-tree regression-tree classification-tree clustering-algorithm dimensionality-reduction feature-selection feature-extraction pattern-recognition image-analysis signal-processing time-series-analysis spatial-analysis geographic-information-system remote-sensing satellite-imagery aerial-photography drone-imagery LiDAR radar sonar seismic geophysical geochemical biogeochemical ecoinformatics bioinformatics computational-biology systems-biology synthetic-biology biotechnology nanotechnology genetic-engineering genome-editing CRISPR TALEN zinc-finger-nuclease transgenic cisgenic intragenic subgenic agrobacterium-mediated-transformation biolistics electroporation microinjection protoplast-fusion somatic-hybridization cybrid asymmetric-hybrid synthetic-polyploid doubled-haploid haploid-induction anther-culture microspore-culture ovule-culture embryo-culture endosperm-culture protoplast-culture cell-culture tissue-culture organ-culture shoot-culture root-culture callus-culture suspension-culture bioreactor hairy-root-culture transformation hardening micropropagation clonal-propagation meristem-culture shoot-tip-culture axillary-bud-culture nodal-culture leaf-culture petiole-culture stem-culture internode-culture rhizome-culture bulb-culture corm-culture tuber-culture seed-culture zygotic-embryo-culture somatic-embryo-culture somatic-embryogenesis organogenesis caulogenesis rhizogenesis adventitious-shoot-formation direct-regeneration indirect-regeneration primary-metabolism secondary-metabolism biosynthesis biotransformation bioconversion biodegradation bioremediation phytoremediation mycoremediation zooremediation bioaugmentation biostimulation natural-attenuation monitored-natural-attenuation engineered-natural-attenuation permeable-reactive-barrier pump-and-treat soil-vapor-extraction air-sparging thermal-desorption incineration landfilling containment capping slurry-wall grout-curtain sheet-piling clay-liner geomembrane geotextile geogrid geocomposite geosynthetic geofabric geonet geocell geopipe geostrip geofoam geobag geotube geocontainer geomat geoblanket geospacer geodrain geoinjection geogrout geopier geocolumn geopile geowall geoberm geotrench geocut geofill geolift geoslab geopanel geoblock geobrick geotile geopaver geoweb geomattress geocushion
Trachitropis arizonicus
Trachitropis arizonicus is a species of grasshopper in the family Pamphagidae, a group commonly known as the toad grasshoppers. The genus Trachitropis is native to arid and semi-arid regions of western North America. Species in this genus are characterized by their robust, toad-like body form and are typically associated with rocky or gravelly desert habitats. The specific epithet "arizonicus" indicates its primary association with Arizona.
grasshopper toad-grasshopper Pamphagidae Arizona desert Orthoptera Caelifera North-America arid-habitat rocky-habitat
Trachymyrmex arizonensis
Arizona Fungus-farming Ant
Trachymyrmex arizonensis is a higher-attine fungus-growing ant native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species cultivates symbiotic fungi as its primary food source, showing strong partner fidelity with its fungal cultivar lineage. Phylogenetic studies reveal a pattern of 'one-to-one with some exceptions' in its ant-fungal specificity, with high fidelity to its own fungal subclade and rare instances of horizontal fungal transfer between colonies. Males exhibit distinctive morphology with reduced head size relative to body, a trait shared with other attine ants.
fungus-growing-ant higher-attine mutualism coevolution Arizona desert
Trachymyrmex nogalensis
Trachymyrmex nogalensis is a fungus-gardening ant species from southern Arizona, described by Byars in 1951. As a member of the attine tribe, it cultivates fungal gardens as its primary food source. The queen caste was first characterized in a 2007 taxonomic revision, having previously been undescribed. The species is one of nine North American Trachymyrmex species recognized in that revision.
fungus-gardening attine ant myrmicine Arizona desert
Tragidion armatum
Tragidion armatum is a longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Adults exhibit bright orange and black coloration that mimics tarantula hawk wasps (Pompilidae: Pepsis, Hemipepsis). The species breeds in dead flower stalks of Yucca and Agave plants. It was described by LeConte in 1858, with T. armatum brevipenne later synonymized under it.
Cerambycidae longhorn-beetle mimicry desert Yucca Agave New-Mexico Texas Mexico Pompilidae-mimic
Trimerotropis pallidipennis
pallidwinged grasshopper
The pallidwinged grasshopper is a moderately-sized bandwinged grasshopper with the most extensive distribution of any bandwinged grasshopper in the New World, ranging from southwestern Canada to Argentina. It inhabits desert and semidesert environments where populations undergo sporadic irruptions that can cause significant agricultural damage. The species possesses strong flight capabilities and is known for nocturnal swarming behavior attracted to artificial lights. Outbreaks are typically brief, lasting one to two years, and are associated with above-normal rainfall that promotes egg survival and nymphal development.
grasshopper pest desert bandwinged swarming agricultural-pest western-North-America polyphagous strong-flier light-attracted
Trimerotropis pallidipennis
Pallid-winged Grasshopper, Pallidwinged Grasshopper
Trimerotropis pallidipennis is a moderately-sized bandwinged grasshopper with the widest distribution of any bandwinged grasshopper in the New World, ranging from southwestern Canada to Argentina. It is primarily a desert and semi-desert species that exhibits sporadic irruptive population outbreaks in western North America, during which it becomes a significant agricultural pest. The species possesses strong flight capabilities that enable long-distance dispersal and migration from deteriorating habitats. Population irruptions have been documented in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Utah, with outbreaks typically lasting one to two years.
grasshopper pest desert bandwinged migratory agricultural-pest western-North-America irruptive-population polyphagous
Trogloderus arcanus
Trogloderus arcanus is a species of darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae) described in 2019. It belongs to the psammophilic genus Trogloderus, a group restricted to dunes and sandy habitats in the western United States. The species was described as part of a phylogenetic revision of the genus.
beetle darkling-beetle psammophilic desert dune-specialist
Trogloderus skillmani
Trogloderus skillmani is a newly described species of psammophilic darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae: Amphidorini) from the eastern Great Basin and Mohave Desert regions of the western United States. Described in 2019 by Johnston as part of a comprehensive phylogenetic revision of the genus, it is one of six new species recognized in a genus previously considered monotypic. The species is restricted to dunes and sandy desert habitats. Molecular phylogenetic analysis dates the most recent common ancestor of Trogloderus to approximately 5.2 million years ago, with current species having diversified during the mid-Pleistocene driven by geographic features of the Intermountain Region.
psammophilic darkling-beetle desert dune new-species 2019 Great-Basin Mohave-Desert Intermountain-Region biogeography phylogenetics Amphidorini Pleistocene-speciation
Trox gemmulatus
Hide beetle
Trox gemmulatus is a hide beetle in the family Trogidae, native to arid and semi-arid regions of western North America. These beetles specialize in consuming desiccated animal remains, including dried skin, fur, feathers, and connective tissue. Adults are typically 8–11 mm in length and are known for their rough, debris-caked appearance and thanatosis behavior—feigning death when disturbed. The species is most active during spring and is frequently associated with the final stages of vertebrate decomposition.
hide-beetle carrion decomposition desert forensic-entomology keratin-feeder thanatosis Trogidae western-North-America
Tytthotyle maculata
Furnace Heat Lubber
Tytthotyle maculata is a species of lubber grasshopper in the family Romaleidae, commonly known as the Furnace Heat Lubber. It is native to arid regions of western North America, particularly California and surrounding areas. As a member of the Romaleidae, it belongs to a family known for large, flightless or poorly flying grasshoppers with aposematic coloration. The specific epithet 'maculata' refers to spotted or mottled patterning.
grasshopper lubber Romaleidae Orthoptera California desert arid-habitat western-North-America flightless aposematic
Uloborus diversus
hackled orb-weaver, featherlegged orb-weaver
Uloborus diversus is a cribellate orb-weaving spider in the family Uloboridae. It inhabits desert regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species is one of few North American spiders that lack venom glands, instead subduing prey through silk constriction. It has become an important model organism for studying the evolution of spidroins (spider silk proteins) and the neurobiology of orb-web construction behavior. A chromosome-level genome assembly has been completed to support this research.
cribellate orb-weaver non-venomous model-organism desert genome neurobiology silk Uloboridae hackled-orb-weaver stabilimentum
Xenylla
springtails
Xenylla is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Hypogastruridae, containing at least 120 described species. Members are small, soil-dwelling hexapods found across diverse biomes including tropical, desert, Antarctic, and Amazonian regions. The genus includes species used as biomarkers for soil pollution assessment, notably Xenylla welchi, which exhibits sensitive physiological responses to heavy metal contamination.
soil-fauna pollution-indicator biomarker heavy-metal-sensitivity tropical Antarctic desert Amazonian
Xeracris minimus
least desert grasshopper
Xeracris minimus, commonly known as the least desert grasshopper, is a species of slant-faced grasshopper in the family Acrididae. The species is found in Central America and North America. It belongs to a genus adapted to arid environments, as indicated by the genus name 'Xeracris' (from Greek xeros, dry, and Acris, a related grasshopper genus).
grasshopper desert orthoptera acrididae slant-faced-grasshopper xeric-habitat central-america north-america
Xeracris snowi
Snow's Desert Grasshopper
Xeracris snowi is a species of slant-faced grasshopper in the family Acrididae, known as Snow's Desert Grasshopper. It belongs to the tribe Cibolacrini and is found in arid regions of southwestern North America and Central America. The species was described by Caudell in 1916.
grasshopper slant-faced-grasshopper desert arid Orthoptera Acrididae Xeracris Cibolacrini
Xeropsamobeus desertus
Xeropsamobeus desertus is a species of aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is found in desert regions of southwestern North America and northwestern Mexico. The species was described by Van Dyke in 1918.
dung-beetle desert arid Aphodiinae Scarabaeidae Coleoptera North-America Mexico USA
Yersiniops
Grasshopper Mantises
Yersiniops is a genus of ground-dwelling mantids native to the Americas, distinguished by their cursorial hunting strategy of actively running down prey rather than ambushing from vegetation. The genus is characterized by pointed, 'horned' eyes and predominantly gray coloration. Two species, Y. solitarius and Y. sophronicus, occur in the United States, where they inhabit arid western regions. These small mantids represent one of two ground mantid genera in North America, alongside Litaneutria.
ground-mantid cursorial-predator desert grassland western-United-States horned-eyes Amelidae Litaneutriini Mantodea active-hunter running-predator arid-habitat cryptic-coloration photogenic-face-on-view
Yersiniops sophronicus
Yersin's ground mantis
Yersiniops sophronicus, commonly known as Yersin's ground mantis, is a small ground-dwelling mantid native to North America. Unlike typical ambush mantids that perch on vegetation, this species has adopted a cursorial hunting strategy, actively running down prey in open habitats. It belongs to a small group of ground mantids in the genera Yersiniops and Litaneutria that are specialized for life in arid and semi-arid environments. The species is distinguished from its congener Litaneutria by pointed upper eye margins that create a 'horned' facial appearance.
ground-mantis cursorial-predator desert grassland cryptic horned-eyes
Zizula cyna
cyna blue
Zizula cyna, commonly known as the cyna blue, is a small butterfly species in the family Lycaenidae. Adults display violet blue upperwings and pale gray underwings marked with tiny black dots. The species is active from March to November in most of its range, with adults feeding on flower nectar and larvae developing on flower buds of Acanthaceae species.
butterfly Lycaenidae Neotropical subtropical desert small blue migratory stray Acanthaceae nectar-feeder