A Selection of Insects
and other Arthropods
Arizona's Montane Woodlands

Above 1500 meters elevation (5000 ft.), depending on local slope, soil, and fire regime conditions, forests of Ponderosa Pine and Firs are prevalent. The biggest swath of montane woodland streches from the Grand Canyon south and east connecting to the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico. Water may be concentrated in deep canyons or poorly drained meadows. In the highest mountains forest finally give way to alpine habitat. This index represents a small assortment of the insects and other arthropods that inhabit these forests.

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Giant Crab Spider

Giant Crab Spider

Very large flattened spider and largely light brown in color. Nocturnal roaming hunter often seen climbing walls. More ...

Carolina Wolf Spider

Carolina Wolf Spider

Large spider to be seen at night roaming on ground hunting without a web. More ...

Harvestman

Harvestmen

Ovoid body without clear divisions of head or abdomen. Eight very long spindly legs. More ...

Litaneutria ground mantis

Ground Mantis

Almost impossible to see as it hunts for insects on the forest floor. Up to 20 mm long. More ...

California Angle-winged Katydid

Katydid

Large, mostly green tree-dwelling crickets that are active by night. Males produce clicking sound. Long hair-like antennae. More ...

Cricket, Gryllus

Field Cricket

In moist meadows and around cabins crickets lull us to rest on warm evenings with their loud chirping song. More ...

Red-legged Grasshopper

A healthy ponderosa woodland will have many species of grasshoppers. More ...

Kermes scale insect

Gall-like Scale

Wine-colored, pea-sized bug with no visible legs, wings or head! Attached to oak tree stems. More ...

Cicada Platypedia

Forest Cicada

Makes soft scratchy sounds from high in trees during June. Spends most of life attached to roots under ground. More ...

Ambush Bug

Hides perfectly right at the center of a sunflower disc awaiting a bee to kill and eat! More ...

Leaf-footed Bug

Leaf-footed Bug

Large, ungainly bugs often in groups and with enlarged hind legs. Feeds on shoots, buds and fruits. More ...

Polistes Wasp

Comanche Paper Wasp

Familiar nests of paper tubes affixed in a sheltered spot. Visits flowers and vegetation. More ...

Bumblebee Bombus huntii

Hunt's Bumblebee

Large fuzzy bees. This one has patches of rusty brown setae. More ...

Formica ant

Wood Ant

Ubiquitous ants in woodlands and shrublands foraging on trees and foliage. Sprays formic acid in defense. More ...

Ground Beetle, Galerita atripes

False Bombidier

Medium-sized, agile ground beetles active on warm summer nights. More ...

Agrilus metalic wood-boring beetle

Jewel Beetle

Good-sized, metallic emerald green with distinct grooves on elytra. In moist forest zones with douglas fir. More ...

Derobrachus beetle

Root Borer

This giant longhorn beetle also occurs in the lower deserts where it's called the Palo Verde Root Borer. More ...

Pole Borer Cerambycidae

Pole Borer

Solidly built longhorn beetle with shorter legs and antennae. Inhabits rotting pine poles. More ...

Plusiotus lecontei

Leconte's Chrysina

Bronze and jade jewel scarab. Also found in lower canyons in Rim Country. Emerges after monsoon rains. More ...

Acmaeodera Beetle

Flower Buprestid

Very colorful beetles often seen on flowers in late summer. More ...

Freckled Glassywing

Glassywing

Grayish moth with partly transparent wings. Red abdomen flashes when disturbed. More ...

Metal-Mark Butterfly

Metal-Mark

A couple of kinds of metalmark butterflies can be found and tend to be bright orange marked with black. More ...

Giant Robberfly

Giant Robberfly

Very large fly that can catch and eat other large flying insects. Often sits on sunny perch. More ...

Therevidae Fly

Stiletto Fly

Long tapered body is the namesake of these non-biting flies. Usully found near water because immatures live in moist sand or rotting wood. More ...

Juniper Bud Gall

The small orange larva at the center belongs to a gall midge, a minute fly. The galls are look like juniper berries. More ...


Arizona Naturalist
Sycamore Canyons


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Copyright Michael J. Plagens, page created 21 December 2016,
updated 9 Apr. 2020.