Rabbitbrush-associate
Guides
Crossidius coralinus ascendens
Crossidius coralinus ascendens is a subspecies of longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) in the genus Crossidius, a strictly North American group. This subspecies occurs in California and exhibits the characteristic red-and-black coloration of C. coralinus, with males showing variable development of black elytral markings (thin to moderately expanded sutural stripes) while females typically display more consistently expanded black areas. Adults emerge in late August and September to feed on yellow flowers of Ericameria nauseosa (gray rabbitbrush), their larval host plant. The subspecies was described by Linsley in 1957 and is one of several geographically segregated populations within the highly polytopic C. coralinus species complex.
Crossidius coralinus caeruleipennis
Crossidius coralinus caeruleipennis is a subspecies of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, tribe Trachyderini. It is considered among the most visually striking of the C. coralinus subspecies due to its bright orange coloration. The subspecies is endemic to the Owens Valley of eastern California, where adults are found on flowers of gray rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa). It was described by Linsley in 1957 and is distinguished from other orange-colored subspecies by its larger size and reduced black markings.
Crossidius coralinus jocosus
Crossidius coralinus jocosus is a subspecies of longhorned beetle in the tribe Trachyderini, endemic to North America. It is characterized by its notably small size compared to other C. coralinus subspecies and reduced black elytral markings. Adults emerge in late summer and early fall to feed on yellow flowers of gray rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa). The subspecies occurs in southeastern Colorado, where it appears to be isolated from nominotypical populations by the San Juan Mountains.
Crossidius hirtipes allgewahri
Crossidius hirtipes allgewahri is a subspecies of longhorned beetle described by LeConte in 1878. It belongs to the highly polytopic and morphologically variable species C. hirtipes, which comprises 16 recognized subspecies distributed across the Great Basin and adjacent regions of western North America. The subspecies epithet honors Allgewahr, likely a collector or colleague of LeConte. Like other members of the genus, it is associated with rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus/Ericameria) host plants.
Gnorimoschema octomaculella
Rabbitbrush stem gall moth
A small gelechiid moth described by Vactor Tousey Chambers in 1875. The larvae are gall-formers on rabbitbrush (Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus). Known from California and Washington.
Paradejeania rutilioides nigrescens
Spiny Tachinid Fly, Hedgehog Fly
Paradejeania rutilioides nigrescens is a subspecies of the spiny tachinid fly, a large, robust parasitoid fly in the family Tachinidae. It is distinguished from the nominate subspecies by darker coloration. The species is known from western North America, where adults are active in late summer and fall, commonly visiting flowers of rabbitbrush and other late-season blooms. Like other tachinids, it parasitizes caterpillars, with documented hosts including tiger moths in the family Erebidae.
Synnoma lynosyrana
rabbitbrush webbing moth
Synnoma lynosyrana, the rabbitbrush webbing moth, is the sole species in the monotypic genus Synnoma. It belongs to the subfamily Tortricinae of the family Tortricidae. The species is found in western North America, with records from Arizona. Its common name suggests an association with rabbitbrush (Ericameria/Chrysothamnus species).