Spring-fall-activity
Guides
Cicindela albissima
Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle
Cicindela albissima is a highly endemic tiger beetle restricted to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes in southern Utah. Adults are distinguished by nearly pure white elytra with reduced pigmentation, contrasting with a bronze to brown thorax. The species exhibits a bimodal adult activity pattern with peak abundance in mid-April to early May, followed by a smaller secondary emergence in late August to October. Originally described as a subspecies of C. limbata, molecular and morphological evidence elevated it to full species status. The entire global population occupies approximately 400 hectares, making it one of North America's most geographically restricted tiger beetles.
Heleomyzidae
Sun flies, Heleomyzid flies
Heleomyzidae is a family of small to medium-sized flies in the order Diptera, comprising over 740 described species in approximately 76 genera. The family is distributed worldwide, with the greatest diversity in the Holarctic region. Adults are frequently observed at lights in early spring and late fall. Larval ecology is diverse, with many species associated with decaying organic matter, fungi, carrion, or bird nests.