Open-habitat-specialist
Guides
Bombus pensylvanicus
American bumblebee, Sonoran bumblebee
Bombus pensylvanicus is a threatened bumble bee species historically widespread across eastern North America. Populations have declined approximately 90% since the early 2000s, with range contractions particularly severe in northern and eastern portions of its former distribution. The species is a long-tongued pollinator favoring open grassland and agricultural habitats. It maintains a typical bumble bee colony cycle with queens initiating nests in early spring and colonies persisting until late autumn. The species is of significant conservation concern and has been proposed for Endangered Species Act protection.
Cicindelidia punctulata chihuahuae
Chihuahua Tiger Beetle, Chihuahua Punctured Tiger Beetle
Cicindelidia punctulata chihuahuae is a western subspecies of the punctured tiger beetle, distinguished from the nominate eastern subspecies by its greenish coloration. It occurs in dry grassland and open habitats with exposed clay or sandy-loam substrates across the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico. Adults are active during warmer months, with observations spanning late spring through fall. The subspecies exhibits characteristic tiger beetle behaviors including fast running flight and visual predation on small arthropods.
Helcystogramma fernaldella
Fernald's Helcystogramma Moth
Helcystogramma fernaldella is a small gelechiid moth described by August Busck in 1903. It is distributed across northern North America, from Alaska and Yukon eastward to New Brunswick and New England. The species inhabits open grassland environments and completes its life cycle with larval overwintering.
Pholisora mejicanus
Mexican Sootywing
Pholisora mejicanus, commonly known as the Mexican Sootywing, is a skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is distributed from the southwestern United States through most of Mexico, occupying open habitats including disturbed roadsides, railways, and mountainous gulches. The species exhibits rapid, darting flight typical of skippers and can be distinguished from similar Pholisora species by the blue-gray underside of its hindwings with contrasting black veins.