Mexico
Guides
Cesonia trivittata
Cesonia trivittata is a ground spider species in the family Gnaphosidae, first described by Banks in 1898. It is found in the United States and Mexico. As a member of the genus Cesonia, it is part of a group of spiders commonly known as ground spiders, though many species in this genus are frequently observed in vegetation rather than strictly on the ground surface.
Cesonia ubicki
Cesonia ubicki is a species of ground spider in the family Gnaphosidae, described by Platnick and Shadab in 1980. The species is distributed across the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other members of the genus Cesonia, it is a small, agile predator. Specific details about its ecology and behavior remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Ceuthophilus variegatus
variegated camel cricket
Ceuthophilus variegatus is a camel cricket species described by Scudder in 1894. Like other members of the genus Ceuthophilus, it possesses the characteristic humpbacked appearance, extraordinarily long antennae, and powerful hind legs that define camel crickets. The species is recorded from northeastern Mexico and Texas, placing it in the southern portion of the genus's North American range. As with other Ceuthophilus species, it likely inhabits dark, damp environments including caves, woodlands, and human structures.
Chaetarthria ochra
Chaetarthria ochra is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It was described by D.C. Miller in 1974. The species is known from Central America and North America, with records from the southwestern United States (Arizona and California) and Mexico. As a member of the Chaetarthriinae subfamily, it belongs to a group of small hydrophilid beetles often associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats.
Chaetophloeus
Chaetophloeus is a genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae, established by LeConte in 1876. The genus currently contains at least 17 species in Mexico, with three new species described from Central Mexico in 2022: C. psittacanthi, C. woodi, and C. zapotecanus. Members exhibit sexual dimorphism in the fifth abdominal ventrite, a newly recognized diagnostic character.
Chaetophloeus heterodoxus
Chaetophloeus heterodoxus is a species of bark beetle in the subfamily Scolytinae. It was first described by Casey and later formally named by Wood & Bright in 1992. The species was recently documented in Mexico for the first time, extending its known range beyond previously recorded North American localities.
Chalcolepidius
click beetles
Chalcolepidius is a genus of click beetles (family Elateridae) comprising approximately 63 species, with the majority distributed in the Americas. Species within this genus are typically large, metallic-colored beetles associated with woody vegetation. The genus was revised by Casari in 2002, and new distribution records continue to be documented, particularly in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Chalcolepidius apacheanus
Apache click beetle
Chalcolepidius apacheanus is a large click beetle (family Elateridae) native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The species belongs to a genus characterized by metallic coloration and substantial body size among click beetles. Field observations indicate adults are associated with dead or dying coniferous trees, particularly ponderosa pine, where they have been observed at the base of trunks and in association with wood-boring beetle galleries. The species is active during summer months in montane pine-oak woodlands.
Chariesterus cuspidatus
Chariesterus cuspidatus is a species of leaf-footed bug in the family Coreidae, first described by Distant in 1892. It belongs to the tribe Chariesterini within the subfamily Coreinae. The species has been recorded from parts of North and Central America including Texas, northwestern Mexico, and Panama. Like other members of Coreidae, it is a true bug with piercing-sucking mouthparts. Available information about its biology and ecology remains limited.
Chihuahuanus
Chihuahuanus is a genus of scorpions in the family Vaejovidae, established in 2013 and endemic to northern Mexico. The genus comprises medium-sized scorpions that are not considered medically important to humans. Two described species, C. coahuilae and C. crassimanus, have been characterized for venom composition, revealing toxic fractions with lethal effects in mammals and insects and antimicrobial activity against bacterial pathogens.
Chihuahuanus crassimanus
Thick-handed Scorpion
Chihuahuanus crassimanus is a scorpion species in the family Vaejovidae, originally described as Vaejovis crassimanus by Pocock in 1898. It is commonly known as the Thick-handed Scorpion. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico, inhabiting arid and semi-arid regions. Like other vaejovid scorpions, it is a terrestrial predator adapted to desert environments.
Chionodes phalacra
Chionodes phalacra is a small gelechiid moth with a wingspan of approximately 9 mm. It is characterized by dark fuscous forewings marked with distinctive pale cream-colored spots and streaks. The species has been recorded from Texas, Arizona, Mexico, and Cuba.
Chlaenius sparsus
Chlaenius sparsus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by LeConte in 1863. As a member of the genus Chlaenius, it belongs to a group commonly known as "vivid metallic ground beetles" or "colorful foliage ground beetles." The species occurs in North America and Mexico. Like other Chlaenius species, it is likely predatory, though specific natural history details for this species remain poorly documented.
Chlorotettix scutellatus
Chlorotettix scutellatus is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Osborn in 1918. The genus Chlorotettix belongs to the tribe Pendarini within the subfamily Deltocephalinae. This species is part of a diverse group of leafhoppers that feed on plant sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts. Information on this specific species is limited in the provided sources, though the genus is known to contain numerous species distributed across North America.
Chlosyne eumeda
Eumeda Checkerspot
Chlosyne eumeda is a checkerspot butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, described by Godman and Salvin in 1894. It is primarily found in Mexico, with rare strays occasionally reaching southern Arizona and southern Texas. The species belongs to a genus of brush-footed butterflies known for their distinctive checkered wing patterns.
Chlosyne fulvia
Fulvia checkerspot
Chlosyne fulvia, the Fulvia checkerspot, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. The species ranges from the southwestern United States (Kansas, Colorado, southern Utah, Arizona) south to central Mexico. Adults have a wingspan of 32–50 mm and feed on flower nectar. The larvae are specialized feeders on Castilleja species, particularly Castillega integra and Castilleja lanata.
Chlosyne rosita
Rosita Patch
Chlosyne rosita is a butterfly species in the family Nymphalidae, characterized by distinctive orange-red patches on the wings. It occurs throughout Central America and Mexico, with occasional records in the southwestern United States. The species is similar in appearance to the more widespread crimson patch (Chlosyne janais).
Chromolepida mexicana
Chromolepida mexicana is a species of stiletto fly in the family Therevidae, described by Cole in 1923. Stiletto flies are predatory insects characterized by their slender bodies and distinctive wing venation. The genus Chromolepida is part of a diverse family of brachyceran flies found primarily in arid and semi-arid regions. Very few observations of this species exist in public databases.
Chrosiothes jocosus
Chrosiothes jocosus is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae. The species was described by Gertsch & Davis in 1936. It occurs in the United States and Mexico, representing a relatively restricted North American distribution within its genus.
Chrotoma dunniana
Chrotoma dunniana is a monotypic species of long-horned beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It is the sole member of the genus Chrotoma, which belongs to the tribe Bothriospilini within the subfamily Cerambycinae. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Information on its biology and ecology remains limited due to its rarity and restricted distribution.
Chrysanthrax arenosus
Chrysanthrax arenosus is a bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, known from Mexico and New Mexico. Like other bee flies, it is a pollinator as an adult and a parasitoid as a larva. The genus Chrysanthrax includes species that can be identified by distinctive wing patterns. Adults frequent flowering areas where they feed on nectar.
Chrysanthrax juncturus
Chrysanthrax juncturus is a bee fly species in the family Bombyliidae, distributed in the southwestern United States and Mexico. As a member of this diverse fly family, it likely shares the characteristic bee-mimicking appearance and parasitic larval lifestyle typical of many bombyliids, though specific details for this species remain poorly documented.
Chrysina beyeri
Beyer's scarab, Beyer's jewel scarab
Chrysina beyeri, commonly known as Beyer's scarab or Beyer's jewel scarab, is a species of shining leaf chafer in the family Scarabaeidae. This bright green beetle is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, with records from southeastern Arizona, Texas, and the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Sinaloa, and Sonora. The species is known to come to mercury-vapor and ultraviolet lights at night in oak/juniper woodland habitats.
Chrysina gloriosa
glorious beetle, glorious scarab, Glorious Jewel Scarab
Chrysina gloriosa is a metallic green scarab beetle renowned for its striking iridescent appearance. Adults measure 20–30 mm in length and display bright green elytra with silver longitudinal stripes, though rare red and purple color forms occur. The species inhabits sky island mountain ranges in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where adults feed primarily on juniper foliage and larvae develop in decaying wood of Arizona sycamore. Active both diurnally and nocturnally, adults are most frequently encountered from June through August and are strongly attracted to ultraviolet light sources. The beetle's structural coloration arises from cholesteric liquid crystal organization of chitin molecules in the cuticle, producing optical properties that change with light incidence angle.
Chrysobothris bacchari
coyote bush buprestid
Chrysobothris bacchari is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as the coyote bush buprestid. The species is native to North America and was first described by Van Dyke in 1923. Its common name suggests an association with coyote bush (Baccharis spp.), though specific host relationships require further documentation. The larval stage has been formally described from specimens in the United States and Mexico.
Cibolacris parviceps
Cream Grasshopper
Cibolacris parviceps, commonly known as the cream grasshopper, is a small grasshopper species in the family Acrididae. It inhabits arid and semi-arid environments of the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico. The species is notable for its cryptic, stone-like coloration that provides effective camouflage in desert habitats. It overwinters as nymphs rather than eggs, an uncommon trait among North American grasshoppers.
Cibolacris samalayucae
Samalayuca Dune Grasshopper
Cibolacris samalayucae is a species of slant-faced grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is endemic to dune systems, with its name derived from Samalayuca, a dune field in northern Mexico. The species occurs in Mexico, with records extending into the southwestern United States. As a member of the tribe Cibolacrini, it is closely related to Cibolacris parviceps, with which it shares morphological adaptations for life in sandy environments.
Cicindela latesignata
Western Beach Tiger Beetle, Angel's Tear
Cicindela latesignata is a tiger beetle species known by the common names Western Beach Tiger Beetle and Angel's Tear. It belongs to the subfamily Cicindelinae within the ground beetle family Carabidae. The species is native to coastal regions of western North America and Mexico, where it inhabits sandy beach habitats. Like other tiger beetles, it is a fast-running, visually acute predator with distinctive elytral markings.
Cicindelidia hornii
Horn's Tiger Beetle
Cicindelidia hornii is a tiger beetle species in the family Cicindelidae, commonly known as Horn's Tiger Beetle. The species was originally described by Schaupp in 1884 as Cicindela hornii and later transferred to the genus Cicindelidia. Based on available records, the species has been documented from Mexico and the United States, though detailed biological and ecological information appears limited in published sources. The species is currently recognized as valid in some databases (iNaturalist) but listed as a synonym in others (Catalogue of Life, GBIF), indicating taxonomic uncertainty that requires clarification.
Cicinnus
sack-bearer moths
Cicinnus is a genus of sack-bearer moths (family Mimallonidae) in the subfamily Cicinninae. Species in this genus are characterized by their uniformly pink or pale coloration and relatively simple wing patterns. The genus includes C. chambersi, described in 2020 from southeastern Arizona, which represents the first U.S. Cicinnus species described in nearly 50 years. C. melsheimeri is the most widespread North American species, while other species occur primarily in Mexico.
Cionomimus insolens
Mistletoe Weevil
Cionomimus insolens is a species of true weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae. It has been recorded in association with mistletoe, Phoradendron densum, in Mexico, and is known from North America more broadly. The species was originally described by Dietz in 1891 under the genus Cionistes.
Cirrhencyrtus
Cirrhencyrtus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae, described by Timberlake in 1918. Species in this genus are known to parasitize mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), with documented associations with Ferrisia virgata and Dysmicoccus brevipes in southern Chiapas, Mexico. The genus is represented in major entomological collections, including the UCR Encyrtidae collection, which holds specimens of C. ehrhorni and C. diversicolor.
Citheronia splendens
Splendid Royal Moth
Citheronia splendens, the splendid royal moth, is a large saturniid moth found from southern Arizona southward into central and southeastern Mexico. Adults have a wingspan of 106–150 mm and are active from July to August. The species was first described by Herbert Druce in 1886 and is recognized by three described subspecies.
Citheronia splendens sinaloensis
Citheronia splendens sinaloensis is a subspecies of giant silkmoth in the family Saturniidae, described by Hoffmann in 1942. It belongs to a genus whose larvae are commonly known as "hickory horned devils" due to their large size and prominent horn-like tubercles. The subspecies epithet "sinaloensis" indicates a type locality in Sinaloa, Mexico, distinguishing it from the nominate subspecies C. splendens splendens found in Arizona. Like other members of the genus, it undergoes complete metamorphosis with dramatically different appearances between early and late larval instars.
Clematodes vanduzeei
papago creosotebush grasshopper
Clematodes vanduzeei is a species of short-horned grasshopper in the family Acrididae, commonly known as the papago creosotebush grasshopper. It is found in North America, with confirmed records from Arizona and northwestern Mexico. The species was described by Hebard in 1923 and is classified within the subfamily Copiocerinae. Two subspecies are recognized: C. v. vanduzeei and C. v. papago.
Coelioxys aztecus
Coelioxys aztecus is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Megachilidae. As a member of the genus Coelioxys, this species is an obligate brood parasite (kleptoparasite) of other bees, primarily targeting leafcutter bees (Megachile). The species was described by Cresson in 1878 and occurs in Middle America. Like other Coelioxys, females possess a distinctive pointed abdomen adapted for inserting eggs into host nest cells.
Coelotrachelus rudis
Coelotrachelus rudis is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, specifically within the subfamily Aphodiinae. The species was described by LeConte in 1878 and is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It belongs to a genus of dung beetles, though specific ecological details about this particular species remain limited in the available literature.
Colaspis hesperia
Western Brown Colaspis Leaf Beetle
Colaspis hesperia is a leaf beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae, native to southwestern North America. The specific epithet "hesperia" derives from the Greek word for "western," reflecting its geographic distribution. It is closely related to Colaspis brunnea. The species has been documented in 51 observations on iNaturalist.
Colaspis viriditincta
Colaspis viriditincta is a leaf beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Charles Frederic August Schaeffer in 1919. The specific epithet refers to a green-tinged coloration. It is known from Arizona and Mexico. The genus Colaspis includes species associated with various host plants, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited.
Colecerus marmoratus
Texas Marbled Weevil
Colecerus marmoratus, commonly known as the Texas marbled weevil, is a broad-nosed weevil in the family Curculionidae. It is native to North America, with records concentrated in Texas and Mexico. The species is part of the subfamily Entiminae, a diverse group of weevils characterized by their broad rostrums.
Colladonus kirkaldyi
Colladonus kirkaldyi is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Deltocephalinae, first described by Ball in 1911. It belongs to the genus Colladonus, which contains several North American leafhopper species. Very little specific information is available for this particular species in the provided sources.
Colliuris lioptera
Colliuris lioptera is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, first described by Bates in 1891. It belongs to a genus whose members are sometimes mistaken for tiger beetles due to similar appearance. The species has been recorded from Mexico and the United States, placing it within the Middle and North American faunal regions. Like other Colliuris species, it is sensitive to soil management practices and may serve as an indicator of agricultural disturbance.
Collops balteatus
Red Cross Beetle
Collops balteatus, commonly known as the red cross beetle, is a species of soft-winged flower beetle in the family Melyridae. It is found in the south-central United States and Mexico. The species belongs to a family whose adults are frequently observed on flowers, where they feed on pollen and small insects.
Coloradia pandora davisi
Coloradia pandora davisi is a subspecies of giant silkmoth in the family Saturniidae, first described by Barnes and Benjamin in 1926. It represents the southernmost population of Coloradia pandora, distributed in Middle America and the southwestern United States. Like other Hemileucinae, adults do not feed and rely on fat reserves accumulated during the larval stage. The subspecies is distinguished from the nominate form by geographic range and subtle morphological differences.
Comadia
agave red worm (larvae of C. redtenbacheri), chinicuil (larvae of C. redtenbacheri), gusano rojo del maguey (larvae of C. redtenbacheri)
Comadia is a genus of carpenter moths (Cossidae) established in 1911, comprising 11 described species distributed in North America, particularly Mexico. The genus is best known for Comadia redtenbacheri, whose larvae are economically significant as edible insects (chinicuil or gusano rojo del maguey) and agricultural pests of Agave species. Larvae are internal borers of agave tissues, with a long, non-uniform life cycle exceeding one year. Adults are nocturnal with documented calling and mating behaviors. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revision and molecular studies to clarify species boundaries.
Comadia redtenbacheri
agave red worm, chinicuil, gusano rojo del maguey
Comadia redtenbacheri is a moth in the family Cossidae, commonly known as the agave red worm or chinicuil. It is a specialist phytophagous species whose larvae bore into Agave plants, particularly the rhizomes. The species has significant cultural and economic importance in Mexico as a traditional food source. Adults are small moths with forewings 12–14 mm in males and 13–16 mm in females. The species has a long, non-uniform life cycle that can exceed one year.
Compsodes schwarzi
Schwarz's Hooded Cockroach
Compsodes schwarzi is a small cockroach species in the family Corydiidae, commonly known as Schwarz's hooded cockroach. It occurs in the southern United States and Mexico, with records from Arizona, Florida, and Texas. The species was originally described as Latindia schwarzi by Caudell in 1903 before being transferred to Compsodes. It belongs to a group of cockroaches sometimes referred to as 'hooded cockroaches' due to morphological features of the pronotum.
Conalcaea
Conalcaea is a genus of spur-throated grasshoppers in the family Acrididae. The genus contains three recognized species: C. cantralli, C. huachucana (Huachuca grasshopper), and C. miguelitana. These grasshoppers are restricted to the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Conibius gagates
Conibius gagates is a darkling beetle species in the family Tenebrionidae, described by Horn in 1870. It is native to Mexico and belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized beetles typically associated with arid and semi-arid environments. The specific epithet "gagates" derives from Latin, meaning "jet-black" or referring to lignite coal, suggesting a dark coloration. As with many tenebrionid beetles, it likely occupies ground-dwelling ecological niches in dry habitats.
Conibius opacus
Conibius opacus is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1866. The species is known from Mexico and belongs to a genus of tenebrionid beetles. As with many darkling beetles, specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in the available literature.