Monsoon-season
Guides
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.
leafhopperCicadellidaedesertsouthwestern-USVachelliaacaciaphloem-feederCicadomorphaHemiptera1943-descriptionDavidsonDeLongwestern-Texasaridland-insectwoody-legume-associatehead-morphologygenus-Draeculacephalainsectaarthropodaanimaliaaccepted-speciesGBIFCatalogue-of-LifeNCBIiNaturalistobserved-313-timesAlbertaFloridaIllinoisIndianaIowaNew-MexicoArizonasummer-activityJulymonsoon-seasonphloem-feedernutrient-cyclingpredator-preyspider-preybird-preydesert-scrubsemi-aridmesquitecreosoteFabaceaehost-planttaxonomic-descriptionmale-genitaliawing-venationconcave-headproduced-headfacial-structurespecific-epithetconstrictednarrowedidentificationmorphological-detailscongenersCuernaCicadelliniCicadellinaeMembracoideaClypeataAuchenorrhynchaHexapodatrue-bugsMetazoaEukaryotaHippomelas planicauda
Hippomelas planicauda is a large buprestid beetle (family Buprestidae) found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species is associated with leguminous host plants, particularly Mimosa dysocarpa (velvetpod mimosa), on which adults are frequently collected by beating flowering branches. It occurs in desert scrub and canyon habitats of southeastern Arizona and adjacent regions, where it is often found in company with other large buprestids such as Hippomelas sphenicus and Gyascutus caelatus.
Ogdoconta moreno
Ogdoconta moreno is a small noctuid moth described by William Barnes in 1907. It is known only from southern Arizona in the United States, though its range likely extends into adjacent Mexico. The species exhibits distinctive wing patterning with contrasting light patches and angled transverse lines. Adults are active during the summer monsoon season.