Southwest
Guides
Acmaeodera cazieri
Acmaeodera cazieri is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Knull in 1960. It occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it has been collected from flowers of various herbaceous plants and shrubs. The species is associated with desert and semi-arid habitats, particularly in Arizona and adjacent regions. Adults have been observed on yellow-flowered composites, prickly poppy (Argemone), and trailing four o'clock (Allionia incarnata).
Agaeocera gentilis
Agaeocera gentilis is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species occurs in southwestern North America and Central America, with two recognized subspecies: A. g. gentilis and A. g. peninsularis. Field observations indicate adults are active during summer months and have been collected from Sphaeralcea (globemallow) vegetation.
Agrilus ornatulus
Ornate soapberry Borer
Agrilus ornatulus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Horn in 1891. The species is associated with soapberry (Sapindus saponaria) as its larval host plant, with adults collected by beating or sweeping foliage. It occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The specific epithet 'ornatulus' refers to the ornate or decorated appearance typical of many Agrilus species.
Apiomerus cazieri
Desert Bee Assassin
Apiomerus cazieri is a species of assassin bug (family Reduviidae) endemic to the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The species was described in 2011 and is commonly known as the Desert Bee Assassin. It is an active predator with documented prey including the checkered beetle Trichodes ornatus and honey bees (Apis mellifera). The species belongs to the genus Apiomerus, whose members are frequently observed hunting on flowers where they ambush pollinators.
Ataenius setiger
Ataenius setiger is a species of aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It occurs in Central America and North America, with records from Mexico and the southwestern United States. As a member of the genus Ataenius, it belongs to a group of small scarab beetles commonly associated with dung and decomposing organic matter.
Attagenus bicolor
carpet beetle
Attagenus bicolor is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae, subfamily Attageninae. It is known from the southwestern and western United States, specifically Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with dried organic materials, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Celotes nessus
Common Streaky-Skipper
Celotes nessus, commonly known as the common streaky-skipper, is a small skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, with occasional strays reaching farther north. The species is multivoltine, with adults active from spring through late summer. Larvae feed on mallow species, while adults visit flowers for nectar.
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.
Dasymutilla nogalensis
velvet ant
Dasymutilla nogalensis is a velvet ant species native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The male and female were originally described as separate species in 1928—Dasymutilla atrifulva for males and Dasymutilla nogalensis for females—before being synonymized in 2007 based on their conspecific status. As a member of the family Mutillidae, this species exhibits the characteristic sexual dimorphism of velvet ants: wingless females and winged males.
Diacrita plana
Diacrita plana is a species of picture-winged fly in the family Ulidiidae, first described by Steyskal in 1947. The genus Diacrita includes several species distributed in southern North America. Like other ulidiids, this species likely exhibits the characteristic patterned wings that give the family its common name. Available records indicate it has been observed in limited numbers, with eight observations documented on iNaturalist.
Eremopedes ephippiatus
Saddled Shieldback
Eremopedes ephippiatus, commonly known as the Saddled Shieldback, is a katydid species in the family Tettigoniidae. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The species was originally described by Scudder in 1899 under the name Cacopteris ephippiata. It belongs to the tribe Platycleidini, a group of shieldback katydids characterized by their flattened, shield-like pronotum.
Euchaetes antica
Euchaetes antica is a small moth in the family Erebidae, described by Francis Walker in 1856. It is distributed across the southwestern United States and Central America, ranging from Arizona and New Mexico south through Mexico to Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in forewing length, with males measuring 13–15 mm and females 16–20 mm. Larvae feed specifically on Asclepias subverticillata, a milkweed species.
Euphoria sonorae
Euphoria sonorae is a flower scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Cetoniinae. It is a cryptic species that has been observed feeding on flower nectar. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
Eupithecia sonora
Eupithecia sonora is a small geometrid moth described in 2008, known from limited localities in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It belongs to the diverse genus Eupithecia, commonly called "pugs," which are characterized by narrow wings and distinctive resting postures. The species exhibits slight sexual dimorphism in forewing length.
Insara covilleae
Creosote Bush Katydid
Insara covilleae, commonly known as the creosote bush katydid, is a phaneropterine katydid species in the family Tettigoniidae. The species was described by Rehn & Hebard in 1914 and is found in North America, with confirmed records from the southwestern United States and Mexico. The common name reflects its association with creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), which serves as a primary host plant. The species is part of the genus Insara, which contains several bush katydid species found in arid and semi-arid regions.
Kibramoa
Kibramoa is a genus of spiders in the family Plectreuridae, first described by Ralph Vary Chamberlin in 1924. The genus comprises seven species and one subspecies, all restricted to arid regions of Mexico and the southwestern United States. These spiders are among the lesser-known members of Plectreuridae, a family characterized by elongated chelicerae and haplogyne genitalia.
Lochmaeocles marmoratus
Southwestern Marbled Longhorn
Lochmaeocles marmoratus is a longhorn beetle (family Cerambycidae) described by Casey in 1913. It occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico. As a member of the tribe Onciderini, it is likely associated with woody host plants, though specific details for this species remain limited. The species epithet 'marmoratus' refers to a marbled appearance.
Lycus arizonensis
Arizona Net-winged Beetle
Lycus arizonensis is a species of net-winged beetle in the family Lycidae, characterized by amber coloration with black-tipped elytra. Males are slightly smaller than females. The species occurs in the Southwestern United States and Mexico, where adults have been observed on flowers of desert kidneywood (Eysenhardtia orthocarpa).
Lygistopterus perfacetus
Lygistopterus perfacetus is a species of net-winged beetle in the family Lycidae. Members of this genus are characterized by their soft, flexible elytra and often bright coloration. The species is known from the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Like other lycids, adults are typically found in association with flowers or vegetation and are thought to be mimics of other chemically defended insects.
Megacyllene snowi
Megacyllene snowi is a species of longhorn beetle in the tribe Clytini, described by Casey in 1912. It belongs to a genus of North American beetles characterized by bold yellow and black banding patterns that resemble wasps. Records indicate it occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico, with specific observations from the east side of the Chiricahua Mountains in Arizona.
Pandeleteius rotundicollis
Pandeleteius rotundicollis is a species of broad-nosed weevil described by Fall in 1907. It belongs to the family Curculionidae, one of the largest families of beetles. The species is known from scattered localities in southwestern North America, with records from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Like other members of its genus, it likely inhabits arid and semi-arid environments, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Pyropyga decipiens
Sneaky Elf
Pyropyga decipiens is a firefly species in the beetle family Lampyridae, commonly known as the 'Sneaky Elf.' It belongs to the 'dark firefly' group—species that lack the conspicuous bioluminescent flashes typical of better-known fireflies. The species is widely distributed across North America, with records from New Brunswick, Canada, throughout the United States, and into the southwestern regions. Despite being one of the most common fireflies in parts of the western United States, particularly the Front Range of Colorado and the Southwest, it was notably omitted from major firefly field guides. Adults are diurnal or crepuscular and do not produce the dramatic light displays associated with other firefly genera.
Scolops viridis
Green Dictyopharid Planthopper
Scolops viridis is a planthopper species in the family Dictyopharidae, first described by Ball in 1902. It belongs to the infraorder Fulgoromorpha, a group known for their distinctive head structures and jumping abilities. The species is recorded from the southwestern United States including Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. As a member of the Dictyopharidae, it shares family-level characteristics of having an elongated, often enlarged head structure.
Systasea
Powdered-Skippers
Systasea is a genus of skipper butterflies in the family Hesperiidae, established by Edwards in 1877 as a replacement for the preoccupied name Lintneria. The genus comprises three recognized species distributed in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Members are commonly known as Powdered-Skippers and are characterized by distinctive wing morphology including transparent spots on the forewing and deeply notched hindwing margins.
Tinacrucis noroesta
Tinacrucis noroesta is a species of tortricid moth described by Powell in 2009. It is known from a limited number of localities in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The species has a wingspan of 29–37 mm. It belongs to the tribe Atteriini within the subfamily Tortricinae.
Titanebo
Titanebo is a genus of running crab spiders in the family Philodromidae, first described by Gertsch in 1933. The genus comprises 14 species distributed in the southwestern United States and Mexico. These spiders were historically classified under the genus Ebo but were reassigned to Titanebo based on taxonomic revision. They are characterized by their elongated second pair of legs, a distinctive trait among philodromid spiders.
Uroctonites huachuca
Uroctonites huachuca is a scorpion species in the family Vaejovidae, first described by Gertsch and Soleglad in 1972. The species is named after the Huachuca Mountains in southeastern Arizona, which constitute its type locality and primary known range. It belongs to a genus of medium-sized scorpions distributed in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Ypsolopha barberella
Ypsolopha barberella is a moth of the family Ypsolophidae, first described by Busck in 1903. It is known from the southwestern United States, specifically Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. As a member of the Ypsolophidae family, it shares the group's characteristic resting posture and larval web-building behavior, though specific details for this species remain limited.