Southwestern-us-endemic
Guides
Acmaeodera neoneglecta
Acmaeodera neoneglecta is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Fisher in 1949. It belongs to the 'tubulus-species group' within the genus, characterized by small size (<8 mm), black coloration with yellow maculations on the elytra, and membership in the 'Truncatae' group (prosternal margin nearly straight). The species occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where adults have been collected from flowers of various plants including cacti and herbaceous species.
Acroplectis haemanthes
Acroplectis haemanthes is a small tortricid moth described by Edward Meyrick in 1927. It occurs in the southwestern United States across six states. Adults are active primarily from spring through early summer, with some records in autumn. The species remains poorly known, with limited biological data beyond basic collection records.
Alexicles
Alexicles moth
Alexicles is a monotypic genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae. Its sole species, Alexicles aspersa, occurs in the southwestern United States. The genus was established by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1883. Adults are active during summer months.
Alexicles aspersa
alexicles moth
Alexicles aspersa, the alexicles moth, is a tiger moth and the sole species in its genus. It is endemic to the southwestern United States, with records limited to New Mexico and Arizona. The species was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1883. Little is known of its biology beyond its restricted geographic range.
Anania labeculalis
Anania labeculalis is a small crambid moth described by George Duryea Hulst in 1886. It is restricted to the southwestern United States, with records from Arizona to western Texas. The species is characterized by its ochreous yellow forewings with brownish subterminal and costal shading, and contrasting white-based hindwings.
Argyrotaenia graceana
Argyrotaenia graceana is a small moth in the family Tortricidae, first described by Powell in 1960. The species is restricted to the southwestern United States, with confirmed records from California, Arizona, and New Mexico. Adults are active during mid-summer, with flight records from July to August.
Aristotelia bifasciella
Aristotelia bifasciella is a small moth in the twirler moth family Gelechiidae, described by August Busck in 1903. It occurs in the southwestern United States, specifically California, Arizona, and Utah. The species is distinguished by its distinctive wing pattern featuring two dark brown transverse bands on a pale yellowish-white background. Like other members of the genus Aristotelia, it is attracted to ultraviolet light sources at night.
Carmenta mimuli
coronopus borer
Carmenta mimuli, commonly known as the coronopus borer, is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae. The species exhibits two color morphs: a dark typical form found in Arizona, and a lighter whitish non-typical form distributed across the southwestern United States from Kansas to Arizona. Adults are active from late spring through late autumn. The larvae are known to feed on perennial Solanaceae plants.
Catocala chelidonia
Catocala chelidonia is a moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Grote in 1881. It belongs to the genus Catocala, commonly known as underwing moths, characterized by cryptic forewings that conceal brightly colored hindwings. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and has three recognized subspecies with distinct geographic ranges. Adults are active during summer months, and larvae feed on oak species.
Coelocnemis sulcata
Coelocnemis sulcata is a nocturnal tenebrionid beetle found in coniferous woodlands of the southwestern United States. The species has been documented on the trunks of Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) at night, where it has been observed in mating pairs. It occurs at moderate to high elevations in southwestern Utah, with records from approximately 6000 feet. Activity peaks in late summer, with observations in September.
Elachista ischnella
Elachista ischnella is a species of micro-moth in the family Elachistidae, described by Kaila in 1997. It is known from the southwestern United States. As with many Elachista species, detailed biological information remains limited.
Eunota praetextata pallidofemora
Virgin River Tiger Beetle
Eunota praetextata pallidofemora is a subspecies of tiger beetle in the family Carabidae (subfamily Cicindelinae), described by Acciavatti in 1981. It is known from the Virgin River region of the southwestern United States. As a member of the genus Eunota, it belongs to a group of tiger beetles specialized for saline and alkaline habitats. The subspecies epithet 'pallidofemora' refers to pale femora, suggesting a distinguishing leg coloration.
Evergestis triangulalis
Evergestis triangulalis is a small crambid moth described in 1914, known from the southwestern United States. Adults display distinctive wing patterning with brown-scaled forewings and pale smoky hindwings. The species exhibits an unusually extended adult activity period spanning most of the year.
Givira theodori
Theodore Carpenterworm Moth
Givira theodori is a moth in the family Cossidae, commonly known as carpenter millers. It is found in the southwestern United States, with records from Arizona, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas. The species was named in honor of Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell, who collected the original specimens. It is a relatively small cossid moth with a wingspan of approximately 26 mm.
Glaucodontia pyraustoides
Glaucodontia pyraustoides is a species of moth in the family Crambidae, and the sole member of its genus. It was described by Munroe in 1972. The species is known from a small number of records in the southwestern United States. Very little has been published about its biology or ecology.
Gyascutus planicosta obliteratus
Gyascutus planicosta obliteratus is a subspecies of metallic wood-boring beetle (family Buprestidae) found in the southwestern United States. The species is associated with saltbush habitats, particularly Atriplex canescens (four-winged saltbush), on which adults have been observed perching. The subspecies represents one of several regional forms within the Gyascutus planicosta complex. Field observations from southeastern New Mexico indicate late-season adult activity in September.
Halysidota davisii
Davis' Tussock Moth
Halysidota davisii, commonly known as Davis' tussock moth, is a species of tiger moth in the family Erebidae. It was described by Henry Edwards in 1874 and is named in honor of Dr. Davis. The species has a restricted distribution in the southwestern United States. Adults are active during summer months, with larvae feeding on specific host plants.
Haplochrois bipunctella
Haplochrois bipunctella is a small moth in the family Elachistidae. It occurs in the southwestern and south-central United States, where its larvae are specialized gall-formers on Croton engelmannii. The species has a single documented host plant and exhibits distinctive larval behaviors including petiole gall formation and seed mining. Adults are active during the warm season from late spring through early autumn.
Hemiphileurus illatus
Lesser Triceratops Beetle
Hemiphileurus illatus is a rhinoceros beetle in the subfamily Dynastinae, known as the lesser triceratops beetle. Adults are black, 19–25 mm long, with a pitted exoskeleton and two cephalic horns—smaller in females. Unlike its congener Phileurus truncatus, it lacks a third horn. The species is native to the southwestern United States and is attracted to UV light.
Lophocampa mixta
Speckled Tussock Moth
Lophocampa mixta is a tussock moth in the family Erebidae, described by Berthold Neumoegen in 1882. The species occurs in the southwestern United States, specifically Arizona and Texas. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 37 mm. Larvae feed on Quercus emoryi (Emory oak).
Lycomorpha fulgens
Lycomorpha fulgens is a small moth in the family Erebidae, described by Henry Edwards in 1881. It is restricted to the southwestern United States. The species exhibits striking aposematic coloration with predominantly red forewings and black hindwings, characteristic of the lycid beetle mimicry complex to which the genus belongs.
Nephrogramma separata
Three-spotted Kidney Moth
Nephrogramma separata is a small crambid moth known as the Three-spotted Kidney Moth. It occurs in the southwestern United States, specifically Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. The species has a forewing length of 8–10 mm and is active as an adult from July through September. It belongs to the subfamily Glaphyriinae within the family Crambidae.
Pachybrachis diversus
Screwbean Pachy
Pachybrachis diversus is a small leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cryptocephalinae. It belongs to a large genus of North American cryptocephaline beetles commonly known as 'scripture beetles' for their often ornate elytral patterns. The species was described by Fall in 1915 and has been collected in the southwestern United States, particularly in Arizona. Based on field observations, it appears to be attracted to ultraviolet and mercury-vapor lights in oak-juniper woodland habitats.
Philonome nigrescens
Philonome nigrescens is a small moth species in the family Tineidae, first described by Sohn and Davis in 2015. It is native to the southwestern United States, with confirmed records from Arizona and New Mexico. The species name derives from Latin 'nigrescere' (meaning 'verging on black'), referencing the dark ground color of the forewings. The species is characterized by distinctive wing markings including white longitudinal and costal fasciae on dark brown forewings with a coppery luster.
Phtheochroa perspicuana
Phtheochroa perspicuana is a small tortricid moth described in 1920 from the southwestern United States. The species is known from limited records in Arizona and Texas. Adults are active in at least two distinct periods, with observations in January and August.
Platynota wenzelana
Platynota wenzelana is a small tortricid moth found in the southwestern United States. The species was described by Haimbach in 1915. Adults have a wingspan of 20–24 mm. Like other members of the genus Platynota, the larvae are likely leafrollers, though specific host plant associations for this species have not been documented. The species is poorly studied compared to related taxa such as P. stultana, which is a significant agricultural pest.
Pygarctia flavidorsalis
Pygarctia flavidorsalis is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1913. It is characterized by white wings and thorax contrasting with orange head, abdomen, and femora. The species is known from the southwestern United States, with records from Arizona, Texas, and Oklahoma.
Quadrina diazoma
Quadrina diazoma is the sole species in the monotypic genus Quadrina, described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1881. This lappet moth (family Lasiocampidae) is restricted to the southwestern United States. As a monotypic genus, it represents a distinct lineage within the Lasiocampidae with no close relatives sharing its generic classification.
Rumatha bihinda
A snout moth species described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1922. Adult males have a wingspan of 30–35 mm, females 32–36 mm. The species is restricted to the southwestern United States. Larvae are stem-borers in Cylindropuntia cacti.
Schinia ligeae
Schinia ligeae is a noctuid moth first described by Smith in 1893. The species is restricted to the southwestern United States, with confirmed records from Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. Larvae feed on two specific host plants: Machaeranthera canescens and Xylorhiza tortifolia, both members of the Asteraceae family.
Spissistilus rotundatus
Spissistilus rotundatus is a treehopper species in the family Membracidae, native to the southwestern United States. It is one of two North American species in the genus Spissistilus, alongside the economically significant S. festinus (three-cornered alfalfa hopper). Unlike its congener, S. rotundatus has a restricted geographic range and is not known to be a significant agricultural pest. The species exhibits the characteristic wedge-shaped body form typical of treehoppers in this genus.
Tarache areloides
A small noctuid moth of the subfamily Acontiinae, first described from the southwestern United States in 1912. Adults have forewings 12–14 mm in length and are active from July through September. The species exhibits a distinctive bird-dropping mimicry coloration, a common defensive adaptation among acontiine moths.