Mesquite

Guides

Acanthochalcis nigricans
Acanthochalcis nigricans is a large chalcidid wasp distinguished by white pubescent patches on the abdomen, which separate it from the similar A. unispinosa. Females possess an exceptionally long ovipositor and measure approximately 19 mm in total length. The species is a known parasitoid of Chrysobothris jewel beetles, including C. femorata and C. edwardsii, and has been observed seeking oviposition sites on dead mesquite branches. It occurs across the southwestern United States from Kansas and Oklahoma west to California.
parasitoid Chrysobothris mesquite dead-wood Chalcididae jewel-beetle-parasitoid southwestern-US
Acmaeoderopsis hulli
Acmaeoderopsis hulli is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, occurring in Central America and North America. The species has been documented from mesquite-dominated habitats in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Adults are associated with Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite) and have been collected by beating branches and sweeping foliage. The genus Acmaeoderopsis is a small group within Buprestidae with limited published biological information.
Buprestidae jewel-beetle metallic-wood-boring-beetle mesquite Prosopis New-Mexico Texas Nearctic southwestern-United-States
Agrilus addendus
Agrilus addendus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Crotch in 1873 and occurs in Central America and North America. Like most members of the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, adults are associated with foliage of their larval host plants rather than flowers. The species has been documented from Texas, where it has been swept from mesquite-acacia fence lines.
Buprestidae Agrilus wood-boring-beetle jewel-beetle Texas mesquite acacia
Algarobius
Algarobius is a genus of seed beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Bruchinae, comprising approximately six described species. The genus is notable for its association with leguminous plants, particularly Prosopis species (mesquites). Algarobius prosopis has been widely used as a biological control agent against invasive mesquite weeds in South Africa. These beetles are specialized seed-feeders whose larvae develop within seeds.
seed-beetle bruchine biological-control Prosopis mesquite invasive-species-management Chrysomelidae
Algarobius prosopis
Prosopis Seed Beetle
Algarobius prosopis is a seed-feeding bruchid beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It has been introduced to South Africa as a biological control agent for invasive mesquite weeds (Prosopis species). Native parasitoids in the introduced range interfere with its efficacy as a biocontrol agent. The species has a broad native distribution spanning Africa, Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China), Central America, and North America.
bruchid seed-beetle biological-control mesquite invasive-species-management Chrysomelidae
Ascalapha odorata
black witch, black witch moth, mariposa de la muerte, duppy bat, mariposa-bruxa, ura, money moth, money bat
The black witch moth (Ascalapha odorata) is a large, bat-shaped nocturnal moth and the largest noctuoid in the continental United States. Females reach wingspans up to 24 cm, while males are smaller at approximately 12 cm. The species ranges from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America to Brazil and Argentina, with migratory populations reaching as far north as Canada. It holds prominent cultural significance across Latin America and the Caribbean, where it is widely associated with death, misfortune, and spiritual beliefs.
nocturnal migratory folklore pest caterpillar large-moth legume-feeder fruit-feeder cultural-significance death-omen Caribbean Latin-America Hawaii-introduced moth Lepidoptera Erebidae Ascalapha Ascalapha-odorata black-witch black-witch-moth mariposa-de-la-muerte duppy-bat mariposa-bruxa ura money-moth money-bat Phalaena-odorata Linnaeus-1758 largest-noctuoid continental-US bat-shaped iridescent white-bar green-spot orange-spot comma-spot nine-spot 24-cm-wingspan 12-cm-wingspan 7-cm-caterpillar Acacia Gymnocladus-dioicus Kentucky-coffeetree Senna-alata candle-bush mesquite Ficus banana overripe-fruit rainforest agricultural-pest Mexico Central-America South-America Brazil Argentina United-States Canada Hawaii migration spring summer death misfortune spiritual soul harbinger lottery money hair-loss duppy ghost screwworm Dermatobia-hominis misidentification Silence-of-the-Lambs Buffalo-Bill Kendrick-Lamar To-Pimp-a-Butterfly Thysania-agrippina white-witch Thysania-zenobia owl-moth noctuid Erebinae hexapod arthropod insect animal eukaryote metazoa animalia arthropoda insecta noctuoidea species accepted exact-match 32867-observations iNaturalist GBIF Catalogue-of-Life NCBI Wikipedia entomology guide structured record taxon conservative accurate informative factual clarity usefulness no-speculation no-inference no-fabrication no-repetition unique-content cautious-language direct-sentences concrete-statements high-completeness medium-completeness low-completeness no-inferred-content null-for-unsupported field-intent style-rules quality-rules JSON-schema output-format no-commentary no-extra-fields no-fluff no-filler no-taxonomy-repetition no-technical-jargon no-vague-generalizations no-'like-most-insects'no-'typically-feeds-on-plants'has-been-observed is-known-to supported justified explicitly-justified species-level-traits higher-taxa physical-description-only how-to-distinguish environment-conditions geographic-range-only timing-of-activity feeding-habits developmental-stages notable-actions ecosystem-role interaction-with-humans reason-for-similarity meaningful-misconceptions important-additional-context clear direct concise useful reliable sparse-data well-supported partial most-fields
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.
clearwing-moth stem-borer mesquite desert-fauna Nearctic
Chrysobothris humilis
Chrysobothris humilis is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species exhibits striking sexual dichromatism, with males and females displaying different coloration patterns. It has been documented in mesquite-dominated habitats in the southwestern United States. The species appears to be uncommonly encountered and is associated with Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite).
buprestidae metallic-wood-boring-beetle sexual-dichromatism mesquite southwestern-united-states chrysobothris
Chrysobothris octocola
Chrysobothris octocola is a metallic wood-boring beetle (family Buprestidae) native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species is strongly associated with mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), where adults are found on dead or stressed branches and larvae develop in the wood. It represents a notable range extension into Oklahoma, where it was first documented in 2012. The species exhibits fall adult activity and has been collected in association with juniper in some areas, though mesquite remains the primary documented host.
Buprestidae jewel-beetle metallic-wood-boring-beetle mesquite Prosopis range-extension new-state-record Oklahoma southwestern-United-States wood-borer
Draeculacephala constricta
A species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, described from western Texas in 1943. The genus Draeculacephala is characterized by distinctive head morphology, with species often exhibiting elongated or modified facial structures. Draeculacephala constricta occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and has been documented in association with woody legumes including Vachellia constricta (whitethorn acacia), which shares its specific epithet.
leafhopper Cicadellidae desert southwestern-US Vachellia acacia phloem-feeder Cicadomorpha Hemiptera 1943-description Davidson DeLong western-Texas aridland-insect woody-legume-associate head-morphology genus-Draeculacephala insecta arthropoda animalia accepted-species GBIF Catalogue-of-Life NCBI iNaturalist observed-313-times Alberta Florida Illinois Indiana Iowa New-Mexico Arizona summer-activity July monsoon-season phloem-feeder nutrient-cycling predator-prey spider-prey bird-prey desert-scrub semi-arid mesquite creosote Fabaceae host-plant taxonomic-description male-genitalia wing-venation concave-head produced-head facial-structure specific-epithet constricted narrowed identification morphological-details congeners Cuerna Cicadellini Cicadellinae Membracoidea Clypeata Auchenorrhyncha Hexapoda true-bugs Metazoa Eukaryota
Efferia mesquite
Mesquite robber fly
Efferia mesquite is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Bromley in 1951. The species epithet "mesquite" suggests an association with mesquite trees (Prosopis spp.), which serve as perching and hunting substrates for adults. Like other Efferia species, it is a predatory fly that captures other insects in flight. The genus Efferia is part of a complex of robber flies formerly grouped under Efferia but now split into several genera including Efferia sensu stricto and Triorla.
Asilidae robber-fly Diptera predatory-fly mesquite Prosopis Southwestern-United-States Bromley-1951 Efferia-group Triorla-group
Friseria cockerelli
mesquite webworm moth, mesquite webworm
Friseria cockerelli is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, commonly known as the mesquite webworm moth. Its larvae are web-forming caterpillars that feed on mesquite (Prosopis spp.) and construct silk webs on host plants. The species occurs in Mexico and the southern United States, with adults active primarily from April to September.
Gelechiidae webworm mesquite Prosopis North-America Mexico Texas Arizona larval-web silk-web leaf-feeder April-September small-moth 15-16.5-mm-wingspan yellowish-brown-forewings dark-markings Busck-1903 Gelechia-cockerelli
Heteropsylla texana
Mesquite Psyllid
Heteropsylla texana is a psyllid (family Psyllidae) native to Texas, USA, that feeds on Prosopis species (mesquite). It was introduced to Australia as a biological control agent for invasive mesquite weeds. The species is highly host-specific, with sustained populations only on Prosopis spp. It causes severe distortion of growing leaf and floral shoots through phloem feeding.
psyllid biological-control mesquite invasive-species-management phloem-feeder
Megacyllene antennata
Mesquite Borer
Megacyllene antennata is a longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. Larvae develop in woody tissues of mesquite trees (Prosopis spp., Fabaceae). Adult males produce a pheromone blend containing (S)-α-terpineol and (E)-2-hexenol, which attracts both sexes. The species was described by White in 1855 and is less boldly patterned than related eastern species such as M. robiniae and M. caryae.
Cerambycidae longhorn-beetle wood-borer pheromone mesquite Prosopis Southwest-USA Mexico Clytini
Melanoliarus truncatus
Melanoliarus truncatus is a species of planthopper in the family Cixiidae, described by Van Duzee in 1929. Cixiidae are small to medium-sized planthoppers commonly known as cixiid planthoppers, characterized by their elongated bodies and wings held roof-like over the body. Members of the genus Melanoliarus are found in North America, particularly in western regions. The specific epithet 'truncatus' refers to a truncated or shortened feature, likely describing a morphological characteristic of the species.
planthopper Cixiidae Hemiptera North-America southwestern-United-States desert Mesquite
Placosternus difficilis
Mesquite Borer
Placosternus difficilis is a wood-boring longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae. Adults exhibit Batesian mimicry, resembling black and yellow wasps. The species is strongly associated with mesquite trees (Prosopis spp.), though it has been recorded from multiple host plants and is considered polyphagous. Adults feed on nectar and pollen. The species ranges from the southwestern United States through Mexico and into Central America and the Caribbean.
Cerambycidae longhorn-beetle wood-borer wasp-mimic mesquite polyphagous nectar-feeding
Plagiostira albonotata
white-marked shieldback
Plagiostira albonotata, commonly known as the white-marked shieldback, is a species of shield-backed katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. It is a large, robust katydid found in arid regions of the southwestern United States. The species is characterized by distinctive white markings on its body. Observations indicate activity during summer months in desert and semi-desert habitats.
shield-backed-katydid Orthoptera Tettigoniidae desert southwestern-United-States nocturnal brachypterous katydid insect arid-habitat yucca-association summer-activity white-markings large-body-size Plagiostirini Tettigoniinae New-Mexico Arizona Utah west-Texas sand-dunes desert-scrub crepuscular limited-flight Scudder-1876 Plagiostira-albonotata white-marked-shieldback Ensifera Tettigoniidea Tettigonioidea Hexapoda Arthropoda Insecta Animalia Eukaryota Metazoa grasshoppers,-crickets-&-katydids Plagiostira 28-observations iNaturalist GBIF Catalogue-of-Life NCBI-Taxonomy Wikipedia Beetles-In-The-Bush 2018-New-Mexico/Texas-Insect-Collecting-Trip Ted-C.-MacRae Jeff-Huether June-2–9,-2018 southeastern-New-Mexico Mescalero-Sand-Dunes Kermit,-Texas Hwy-380 San-Antonio Bingham Sandia-Mountains Walking-Sands-Rest-Area Valley-of-Fire-National-Recreation-Area Sierra-Blanca-Mountains Sunset,-New-Mexico Hobbs,-New-Mexico Kermit-Sand-Dunes I-10-Rest-Area Fabens,-Texas Carlsbad,-New-Mexico Loco-Hills,-New-Mexico Carrizozo,-New-Mexico Bingham,-New-Mexico Socorro,-New-Mexico The-Box yucca Prosopis-glandulosa mesquite Opuntia-imbricata cholla Juniperus-monosperma juniper Sapindus-drummondii soapberry Acacia-greggii catclaw-acacia Acacia-rigida black-acacia Thelesperma Dalea Penstemon Robinia Celtis Gaillardia Oenethera Baccharis Sphaeralcea Ephedra Cacama cactus-dodger-cicada Tragidion-armatum Prionus-arenarius Prionus-palparis Prionus-integer Polyphylla Moneilema cactus-beetle Gyascutus Acmaeodera Chrysobothris Agrilus Enoclerus Actenodes Paratyndaris Acmaeoderopsis Brachys Neoclytus Cleridae Cerambycidae Buprestidae Scarabaeidae Carabidae Tenebrionidae Meloidae Coreidae Pompilidae tarantula-hawk Cicindelidae Cylindera-lemniscata tiger-beetle Lycaenidae Brephidium-exilis western-pygmy-blue Echinargus-isola Reakirt's-blue shieldback desert-insect nocturnal-insect brachypterous-insect summer-insect arid-land-insect yucca-associated-insect New-Mexico-insect Arizona-insect Utah-insect Texas-insect southwestern-US-insect North-American-insect Nearctic-insect Tettigoniidae-insect Orthoptera-insect Ensifera-insect Tettigoniinae-insect Plagiostirini-insect Plagiostira-insect P.-albonotata white-marked-shieldback-katydid giant-katydid large-katydid desert-katydid sand-dune-katydid yucca-katydid nocturnal-katydid brachypterous-katydid summer-katydid Scudder's-katydid 1876-katydid Orthopteran katydid-species shieldback-species Tettigoniidae-species Plagiostira-species desert-species arid-species nocturnal-species brachypterous-species summer-species New-Mexico-species Arizona-species Utah-species Texas-species southwestern-US-species North-American-species Nearctic-species
Pococera euphemella
Mesquite Leaf Tier Moth
Pococera euphemella is a moth species in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Epipaschiinae. It is commonly known as the Mesquite Leaf Tier Moth. The species was described by Hulst in 1888 and is classified under the genus Pococera, which includes several leaf-rolling or leaf-tying caterpillar species that feed on woody plants. As a member of Epipaschiinae, it belongs to a group of pyralid moths whose larvae typically construct shelters by tying or rolling leaves.
leaf-tier leaf-roller webworm mesquite Prosopis Pyralidae Epipaschiinae moth Lepidoptera
Thasus
giant mesquite bug
Thasus is a genus of large, robust leaf-footed bugs in the family Coreidae, distributed from the southwestern United States through Mexico to South America. The genus includes species commonly known as giant mesquite bugs, which are strongly associated with mesquite trees (Prosopis spp.) where they feed on plant sap and complete their entire life cycle. Several species are notable for their substantial size, with males reaching over 35 mm in length and exhibiting sexually dimorphic hind leg morphology—males possess thickened, armed hind femora while females have more slender, banded legs. Some species are consumed as food in Mexico and represent examples of traditional entomophagy, though recent studies indicate potential health risks from bacterial contamination.
Coreidae leaf-footed-bug mesquite entomophagy sexual-dimorphism parasitoid Arizona Mexico
Thasus neocalifornicus
giant mesquite bug
Thasus neocalifornicus is a large, distinctive true bug in the family Coreidae, commonly known as the giant mesquite bug. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism, with males possessing heavily armed, thickened hind legs compared to the more slender, red-and-black banded hind legs of females. It is associated with mesquite trees (Prosopis spp.) in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, where adults feed on sap and developing seeds. The species has been documented as a host for the egg parasitoid wasp Neorileya ashmeadi (family Eurytomidae).
Coreidae Hemiptera true-bugs mesquite sexual-dimorphism parasitoid-host Sonoran-Desert Arizona Mexico Neorileya Eurytomidae
Trichoton sordidum
Trichoton sordidum is a small, flightless darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae) native to the Sonoran Desert borderlands of southern Arizona and northern Mexico. The species exhibits sophisticated behavioral thermoregulation, including photonegativity and temperature-dependent activity patterns. Under resource limitation or environmental stress, individuals form adhesive aggregations or physical clumps of 2–10 beetles as a threat evasion mechanism. Dispersal follows cohesive patterns consistent with Minimum Risk Distribution models.
darkling-beetle Sonoran-Desert thermoregulation aggregation-behavior flightless clumping dispersal Minimum-Risk-Distribution photonegative creosote-bush rocky-habitat behavioral-ecology arid-adapted crevice-dwelling seasonal-activity overwintering resource-limitation-response group-defense catalepsy agonistic-display cohesive-dispersal adhesive-aggregation thermal-stress-response creosote mesquite cactus thornscrub gravelly-soil bajada foothills Pima-County Catalina-Mountains Tucson Florence-Arizona Pinal-Mountains US-Mexico-borderlands subtropical-arid 305-mm-rainfall 40-lux-activity 18-28°C-optimal 28°C-mating mid-January-to-mid-February-overwintering mid-March-activity-onset equal-sex-ratio-groups two-stacks-to-ten-stacks elytra-overlap threat-evasion habitat-fragmentation-response rocky-crevices foundation-crevices under-rocks sparsely-vegetated no-turf no-grasses scattered-low-brush large-rock-accumulations semiarid arid-land-beetle behavioral-mechanism heat-avoidance light-avoidance humidity-regulation habitat-structure-regulation sophisticated-behavioral-regulation evolved-aggregation group-thermoregulation resource-clumping environmental-stress-response captive-behavioral-study field-behavioral-study LeConte-1851 Tenebrionidae Coleoptera Insecta Arthropoda Animalia GBIF-Mexico iNaturalist-100-observations Journal-of-Insect-Science student-research dispersal-ecology clumping-ecology aggregation-ecology arid-land-entomology desert-beetle-ecology behavioral-thermoregulation activity-temperature-range mating-temperature-threshold seasonal-phenology overwintering-phenology activity-cycle sleeping-behavior foraging-behavior mating-behavior cohesive-movement rapid-dispersal fragmented-environment-response limited-resource-response extreme-condition-response heat-tolerance light-tolerance creosote-bush-association mesquite-association cactus-association desert-thornscrub Sonoran-Desert-beetle Arizona-beetle Mexican-beetle borderlands-beetle 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foundation-pattern-beetle Sonoran-pattern-beetle Arizona-pattern-beetle borderlands-pattern-beetle arid-pattern-beetle desert-pattern-beetle behavioral-pattern-beetle ecological-pattern-beetle Minimum-Risk-Distribution-beetle adhesive-aggregation-beetle physical-clump-beetle group-clump-beetle stack-beetle elytra-overlap-beetle group-size-beetle sex-ratio-beetle equal-sex-ratio-beetle catalepsy-beetle agonistic-display-beetle threat-evasion-beetle defense-beetle group-defense-beetle coordinated-beetle adapted-beetle arid-adapted-beetle desert-adapted-beetle thermally-adapted-beetle light-adapted-beetle habitat-adapted-beetle resource-adapted-beetle fragmentation-adapted-beetle stress-adapted-beetle plastic-beetle aggregation-plastic-beetle clumping-plastic-beetle dispersal-plastic-beetle activity-plastic-beetle seasonal-plastic-beetle phenological-plastic-beetle behavioral-ecology-beetle dispersal-ecology-beetle clumping-ecology-beetle aggregation-ecology-beetle 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arid-entomology-beetle