Southwestern-north-america
Guides
Leutiola ajo
Leutiola ajo is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, first described by Knight in 1968. It belongs to a genus of mirids found in arid regions of western North America. The species is documented from scattered localities across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Very little is known of its biology due to limited collection records.
Lintneria smithi
Smith's Sphinx
Lintneria smithi is a species of sphinx moth in the family Sphingidae, commonly known as Smith's Sphinx. It is a poorly known species with only three to four recorded locations across its restricted range in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The moth has a thick, elongated body and a wingspan of approximately 9 centimeters. Very little is known about its life history, including host plant relationships and larval development.
Lipocosma albinibasalis
Fancy Lipocosma
Lipocosma albinibasalis is a small crambid moth described by Munroe in 1995. It occurs in arid regions of southwestern North America including Arizona, California, and Baja California. Adults are active during summer months.
Loxostege albiceralis
Tan-edge Loxostege
Loxostege albiceralis is a crambid moth described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1878. It occurs in arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The species is notable as a documented host for the mason wasp Euodynerus annulatus, which provisions its nests with Loxostege caterpillars. Adults are active across an extended flight season from early spring through autumn.
Loxostege quaestoralis
Loxostege quaestoralis is a small crambid moth described from western North America in 1914. Adults are active during winter months with a wingspan of approximately 19 mm. The species exhibits distinctive wing patterning with dark hindwings contrasting against pale forewings.
Lytta arizonica
Lytta arizonica is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by Selander in 1957. It is placed in the subgenus Paralytta within the genus Lytta. The species is found in North America, with collection records indicating presence in the southwestern United States.
Lytta biguttata
Two-spotted Lytta
Lytta biguttata is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, placed in the subgenus Paralytta. The species is found in arid and semi-arid regions of western North America and Central America. Like other meloids, it possesses chemical defenses and has been observed on flowers of Asteraceae, including Cirsium and yellow composite flowers.
Lytta magister
desert blister beetle, master blister beetle
Lytta magister is a large, conspicuous blister beetle native to southwestern North America. Adults are readily identified by their striking aposematic coloration: bright red head, legs, and prothorax contrasting sharply with black elytra. The species is strongly associated with desert environments, where adults emerge in spring and are frequently observed in aggregations on flowers. Larvae are predatory or parasitic on ground-nesting bees, a common life history pattern in the family Meloidae. The species possesses chemical defenses typical of the family, including cantharidins that can cause blistering upon contact with skin.
Malobidion
Malobidion is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) described by Schaeffer in 1908. The genus contains three described species distributed in the southwestern United States and Mexico: M. auricome, M. brunneum, and M. grande. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Hesperophanini within the subfamily Cerambycinae. The genus is characterized by moderate body size and relatively sparse documentation in scientific literature.
Maricopodynerus maricoporum
Maricopodynerus maricoporum is a species of potter wasp in the subfamily Eumeninae, first described by Viereck in 1908. The genus Maricopodynerus is a small group of solitary wasps endemic to arid regions of southwestern North America. As with other eumenine wasps, females construct mud nests provisioned with paralyzed caterpillars for their larvae. The species epithet 'maricoporum' refers to the Maricopa people or region in Arizona, indicating the type locality.
Melacoryphus rubicollis
Melacoryphus rubicollis is a seed bug in the family Lygaeidae, known from the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized seed bugs often found in association with vegetation. Limited published information exists on its biology, though related species in the genus have been documented forming aggregations in suitable habitats.
Melanoplus arizonae
Arizona Spur-Throat Grasshopper
Melanoplus arizonae is a species of spur-throated grasshopper in the family Acrididae, first described by Scudder in 1878. It belongs to the large genus Melanoplus, which contains many economically significant grasshopper species in North America. The species is found in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Metepeira gosoga
Metepeira gosoga is an orb-weaving spider in the family Araneidae, found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other members of its genus, it constructs a distinctive web consisting of a small orb web connected to a tangled labyrinth of silk surrounding a thimble-shaped retreat. The species is poorly documented in the scientific literature, with most information inferred from better-studied congeners.
Methia mormona
Methia mormona is a species of longhorned beetle (family Cerambycidae) described by Linell in 1897. The species belongs to the tribe Methiini and has been documented from southwestern North America, including New Mexico and adjacent regions. Adults are attracted to ultraviolet and mercury vapor lights at dusk, with observations indicating peak activity during the summer months in montane juniper-oak-pinyon woodland habitats.
Microphotus
Microphotus is a genus of fireflies (family Lampyridae) endemic to the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico. The genus comprises ten described species, with seven occurring in the United States and three in Mexico. Members are commonly known as desert fireflies, with Microphotus octarthrus specifically bearing this common name. The genus was established by LeConte in 1866 and has been the subject of recent taxonomic revisions describing several new species in 2021.
Microschatia inaequalis
Microschatia inaequalis is a species of darkling beetle (family Tenebrionidae) native to southwestern North America. Its known distribution is restricted to southern California south of Los Angeles and northern Baja California Norte. As a member of the Tenebrionidae, it belongs to a large family of beetles commonly associated with arid and semi-arid environments.
Mojavia
Mojavia is a monotypic moth genus in the family Crambidae, established by Eugene G. Munroe in 1961. The genus contains a single species, Mojavia achemonalis, described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1914. This small moth is characterized by distinctive pink and olivaceous coloration on the forewings and is restricted to arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Momar fumidus
Momar fumidus is a species of planthopper in the family Achilidae, first described by Ball in 1933. It belongs to the tribe Plectoderini within the subfamily Myconinae. The species has been documented in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Like other achilid planthoppers, it is associated with fungal hosts.
Momar maculifrons
Momar maculifrons is a species of planthopper in the family Achilidae, first described by Van Duzee in 1912. This species belongs to the order Hemiptera and is found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Planthoppers in this family are typically associated with fungal hosts and are not well studied compared to their relatives in other fulgoroid families.
Nemomydas desideratus
Nemomydas desideratus is a species of mydas fly in the family Mydidae, described by Johnson in 1912. Members of this genus are among the largest flies in North America. The species is known from a small number of observations, suggesting it may be uncommon or have restricted habitat requirements. Mydidae are generally associated with arid and semi-arid environments.
Neoclytus mucronatus vogti
Neoclytus mucronatus vogti is a subspecies of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Linsley in 1957. It belongs to the tribe Clytini within the subfamily Cerambycinae. The subspecies is known from southwestern North America, with records from California and Mexico. Like other members of the genus Neoclytus, it is associated with woody plants and has been observed on western soapberry (Sapindus saponaria ssp. drummondii) in sand shrubland habitats.
Neofidia humeralis
Neofidia humeralis is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It was first described by French entomologist Édouard Lefèvre in 1877, originally as two separate species (Fidia humeralis and Fidia plagiata) that were later synonymized. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico, with records from Arizona, New Mexico, and southward through the Sierra Madre mountain systems to Oaxaca.
Neohelvibotys arizonensis
Neohelvibotys arizonensis is a small crambid moth described by H.W. Capps in 1967. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico, with a wingspan of 20–24 mm. Adults are active during summer months, with flight periods varying by latitude and elevation.
Neonemobius mormonius
Collared Ground Cricket, Mormon Ground Cricket
Neonemobius mormonius, commonly called the collared ground cricket or Mormon ground cricket, is a small ground cricket species in the family Trigonidiidae. It inhabits arid and semi-arid regions of southwestern North America. The species is relatively well-documented with over 1,500 observations on iNaturalist.
Neopalpa neonata
Neopalpa neonata is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by Povolný in 1998. It is one of only two species in the genus Neopalpa, which is restricted to the southwestern North American desert region. The species has been recorded from California, Arizona, and western Mexico. Its congener, Neopalpa donaldtrumpi, was described in 2017 and shares the same general distribution.
Noctueliopsis bububattalis
Tawny Bantam
Noctueliopsis bububattalis is a small crambid moth native to southwestern North America. It was first described by George Duryea Hulst in 1886. Adults are active in early spring and can be recognized by their distinctive dark maroon-brown forewings with white transverse lines. The species is commonly known as the Tawny Bantam.
Ochthebius puncticollis
minute moss beetle
Ochthebius puncticollis is a species of minute moss beetle in the family Hydraenidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1852. This small beetle is known from arid and semi-arid regions of southwestern North America, with records from Arizona, California, and Utah in the United States, as well as Mexico. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with moist microhabitats in otherwise dry environments, typically inhabiting the margins of streams, springs, and seeps where moss and algae grow.
Odontota arizonica
Odontota arizonica is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, recorded from the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The species has been collected on several plant species including oaks, legumes, and ornamental plants, though its specific foodplant relationships remain incompletely known. Like other members of the genus Odontota, it likely exhibits leaf-mining larval biology.
Oecleus monilipennis
A small planthopper in the family Cixiidae, first described by Van Duzee in 1923. The species is known from arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Like other cixiids, it likely feeds on plant roots during the nymphal stage and above-ground plant parts as an adult. The specific epithet 'monilipennis' refers to the beaded or necklace-like appearance of the wing venation.
Oecleus perpictus
Oecleus perpictus is a species of planthopper in the family Cixiidae, described by Van Duzee in 1929. It belongs to the tribe Oecleini, a group of cixiids characterized by their association with xeric and semi-arid environments. The species is recorded from the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Like other cixiids, it is presumed to have piercing-sucking mouthparts and a life cycle involving root-feeding nymphs and winged adults.
Oecleus snowi
Oecleus snowi is a species of planthopper in the family Cixiidae, first described by Ball in 1905. It belongs to the tribe Oecleini within the subfamily Cixiinae. The species has been recorded from the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, with distribution records spanning Arizona, California, and the Baja California peninsula. As a member of the Cixiidae, it is presumed to be a plant-feeding insect with nymphal stages occurring in soil or leaf litter, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Oeme rigida
Rigid Oeme
Oeme rigida is a longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) described by Thomas Say in 1826. The species is native to western North America, with records from the United States and Mexico. Two subspecies are recognized: O. r. rigida (nominate) and O. r. deserta Casey, 1924. Adults have been collected from dead pinyon pine (Pinus edulis) branches, suggesting larval development in coniferous wood.
Oncideres pustulata
Coastal Huisache Girdler
Oncideres pustulata is a species of longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1854. It is distributed across Mexico and the southern United States. The species is a twig girdler, with larvae that develop within girdled branches of host plants in the genera Leucaena and Prosopis. It is known to feed on Leucaena leucocephala, Leucaena pulverulenta, Prosopis alba, and Prosopis chilensis.
Ophryastes desertus
Ophryastes desertus is a species of broad-nosed weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae. It is native to arid regions of southwestern North America. The species was described by Horn in 1876 and is classified within the subfamily Entiminae, tribe Ophryastini.
Opomydas limbatus
Opomydas limbatus is a species of mydas fly in the family Mydidae. Mydas flies are among the largest flies in North America and are characterized by their elongate bodies and wasp-mimicking appearance. This species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other mydas flies, adults are likely nectar feeders at flowers.
Orgerius triquetrus
Orgerius triquetrus is a species of planthopper in the family Dictyopharidae, described by Doering and Darby in 1943. It belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized fulgoroid insects characterized by elongated bodies and often distinctive head structures. The species is known from the southwestern United States, with records from Arizona and California. Like other dictyopharids, it is presumed to feed on plant sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Osmia foxi
Osmia foxi is a species of mason bee in the family Megachilidae, subgenus Melanosmia. It was long considered enigmatic, known only from the male holotype until its redescription in 2011, which included the first description of the female. The species is restricted to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, where it occurs in montane pine-oak forest habitats. It exhibits the metallic coloration typical of many Osmia species.
Oxycnemis advena
Oxycnemis advena is a small noctuid moth described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1882. It is restricted to the mountainous regions of southwestern North America, occurring in southern Arizona, eastern Nevada, southern California, and southern Baja California. Adults are active during mid-summer, with flight records from July to August. The species is one of relatively few in the genus Oxycnemis, which belongs to the tribe Psaphidini within the subfamily Amphipyrinae.
Pacarina puella
little mesquite cicada
Pacarina puella, commonly known as the little mesquite cicada, is a small cicada species in the family Cicadidae. It is distributed across parts of North America and Central America, with records from the southwestern United States including Arizona, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, as well as Mexico. The species is associated with mesquite (Prosopis) host plants. Adults are active during summer months and are attracted to ultraviolet light sources.
Pacarina shoemakeri
Little Juniper Cicada
Pacarina shoemakeri, commonly known as the little juniper cicada, is a small cicada species in the family Cicadidae described by Sanborn and Heath in 2012. It is native to southwestern North America, with documented occurrences in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. The species is associated with juniper woodlands and has been observed in pinyon-juniper habitats.
Paratyndaris
Paratyndaris is a genus of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae, subfamily Polycestinae) comprising 36 described species distributed across southwestern North America, Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies. The genus was revised by Nelson & Bellamy (2004), who recognized three subgenera: Knulliella (6 species), Paratyndaris (26 species), and Waltersia (4 species). Species in this genus are typically associated with dead or dying wood of woody plants, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The genus is taxonomically significant as one of the more diverse lineages within the tribe Tyndarini.
Paruroctonus baergi
sand swimmer scorpion
Paruroctonus baergi, commonly known as the sand swimmer scorpion, is a scorpion species in the family Vaejovidae. It is native to arid regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The species is known for its burrowing behavior in sandy desert habitats. It was originally described as Vaejovis baergi before being transferred to the genus Paruroctonus.
Philotes sonorensis
Sonoran blue, stonecrop blue
Philotes sonorensis, the Sonoran blue or stonecrop blue, is the sole species in the monotypic genus Philotes. This small butterfly is found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, inhabiting arid rocky environments. The species has a wingspan of 22–25 mm. Larvae are specialized feeders on Dudleya species (stonecrops), boring into leaves. The subspecies P. s. extincta from the upper San Gabriel River wash was declared extinct in 1970 after three decades of annual sampling documented its disappearance.
Phyllonorycter deserticola
Phyllonorycter deserticola is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gracillariidae, described by Davis & Deschka in 2001. It inhabits restricted, mostly arid environments across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The species is notable for its specialized leaf-mining larvae that feed exclusively on Populus species, including several cottonwood and hybrid poplars. Adults are active from late July through early October in two generations per year, with the second generation overwintering.
Phytocoris ramosus
Phytocoris ramosus is a plant bug species in the family Miridae, first described by Uhler in 1894. It is distributed across the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, including Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Baja California. Like other members of its genus, it is primarily plant-feeding but may occasionally prey on smaller insects. The species is attracted to lights at night.
Platydracus phoenicurus
Platydracus phoenicurus is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. The genus Platydracus contains many of the larger rove beetles, with species typically measuring 20-35 millimeters in length. Like other rove beetles, members of this genus have shortened forewings (elytra) that expose most of the abdomen, and are known for rapid movement and defensive secretion of foul substances. The specific epithet 'phoenicurus' refers to the reddish tail or abdomen, a characteristic coloration feature of this species.
Poanes taxiles
Taxiles Skipper
Poanes taxiles is a skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae, native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This species is closely related to Poanes melane (Umber Skipper), with which it has been historically confused or synonymized. Like other Poanes skippers, it is associated with grassland and riparian habitats. Adults are active during warmer months and visit a variety of flowering plants for nectar.
Polyphylla hammondi
Hammond's Lined June Beetle
Polyphylla hammondi is a large scarab beetle in the subfamily Melolonthinae. Adults measure 24.8–35.5 mm in length and are highly variable in coloration with almost no stripes or mottling. Males possess greatly enlarged, fan-like antennae used to detect female sex pheromones. The species is strongly associated with sand dune habitats across the Great Plains and southwestern North America. Males are attracted to lights at night and exhibit distinctive splayed-antennae behavior when actively searching for females. Females are rarely encountered and may be flightless.
Ponometia huita
Ponometia huita is a small moth species in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Acontiinae. It was originally described as Acontia huita by Smith in 1903 and later transferred to Ponometia. The genus Ponometia contains numerous small, often brightly patterned noctuid moths commonly known as bird-dropping moths due to their camouflage appearance. This species is part of a taxonomically complex group with ongoing revisions.
Procymbopteryx belialis
Procymbopteryx belialis is a small crambid moth and the sole member of its genus. It has been documented in the Mexican state of Guerrero and in southern Arizona, USA. The species was described by Druce in 1899. Records suggest it occupies arid or semi-arid environments in the southwestern United States and western Mexico.