Pinacate Beetle
Eleodes ca. spinipes
Large and jet-black. Sticks rear end up when disturbed. Forages by walking on ground. More info
Convergent Lady Bird
Hippodamia convergens
Tomato-red with ca. 12 black spots. Pronotum shiny black with two converging white lines. Predatory on aphids and found on wide variety of plants. More info
Seven-spot Ladybird
Coccinella septempunctata
Tomato-red with seven black spots. Pronotum shiny black with two, lateral white spots. Predatory on aphids and found on wide variety of plants. Introduced. More info
Ashy Gray Lady Bird
Olla v-nigrum
Distinct pattern on dorsum of head and pronotum. Feeds on aphids particularily on trees in the spring. Can also be black with two orange spots! More info
Ambrosia Leaf Beetle
Zygogramma tortuosa
Light tan marked with burgandy brown. Found on leaves of Ambrosia. More info
Creosote Litter Leaf Beetle
Pachybrachus mellitus
Golden yellow brown. Small beetles less than 5mm. Found on leaves of Larrea. More info
Casebearer Leaf Beetle
Cryptocephalus atrofasciatus
Small, often colorful and intricately patterned. Head nearly obscured from above by pronotum. Many kinds. Found on fresh leaves of buckwheats and other plants. More info
Mesquite Casebearer
Cryptocephalus maccus
Small, shiny and intricately marked beetle with head obscured from view above. Found on new leaves of Velvet Mesquite. More info
Striped Willow Flea Beetle
Disonycha alternata
Elytra with three dark stripes on an amber background. Pronotum red-orange. Can jump. Found on new foliage of willows in spring. More info
Three-lined Potato Beetle
Lema daturaphila
Yellow with three black stripes. Pronotum with two black spots. Found on plants in potato family, Solanaceae. More info
Brittlebush Leaf Beetle
Trirhabda geminata
Light gray with pale yellow bordering. Feeds exclussively(?) on leaves of Brittlebush. More info
Mining Leaf Beetle
Monoxia sp.
Very small beetle that is usually associated with thick-leaved desert plants. Creates hollow blisters within the leaves. More info
Canyon Ragweed Leaf-miner
Microrhopala
Closely associated with Asteraceae plants. Flat, v. small, shiny beetles found on leaf surfaces. Larvae tunnel inside a leaf. More info
Clavate Tortoise Beetle
Plagiometriona clavata
Closely associated with Datura plants. Mottled, golden brown and partly transparent shell that can hide body, head and legs. More info
Burroweed Leaf Beetle
Leptinotarsa lineolata
Pronotum is metalic green and elytra have dark stripes. Found on leaves of Hymenoclea. More info
Flower Longhorn
Crossidius sp.
Yellow-orange and black with long, stout antennae (horns). Found on flowers in late summer/fall. More info
Longhorn Beetle
Schizax senex
Dark burgandy to black with a paler yellow stripe along dorsum following wing edges. More info
Double-banded Bycid
Sphaenothecus bivittata
Dark brown with two light-colored bands. Long, stout antennae (horns). Found on flowers in late summer/fall. More info
Acmaeodera
Acmaeodera alicia
Bullet-shaped beetles usu. back and marked with bright colors. On flowers and foliage in spring and fall. More info
Wood-boring Beetle
Hippomelas spenicus
One of largest buprestids in Sonoran Desert. Dark brown with coppery pubescence. Large-eyed and wary. More info
Round-headed Borer
Chrysobothris sp.
Mostly dark brown or black with coppery sheen. Shiny dots on elytra. Adults are attracted to dead or dying tree branches. Many similar species. More info
Net-winged Beetle
Lycus sanguineus
Bold black and red on wings that have finely netted vein structure. Found on flowers mostly in spring. More info
Fernandez Net-winged Beetle
Lycus fernandezi
Orange and black net-patterned elytra. Notice notch in black portion. Often on flowers taking nectar. More info
Diurnal Firefly
Pyropyga nigricans
Yes a firefly with no light organ for an insect that is active by day. Riparian habitats, irrigated yards and farms. More info
Iron Cross Beetle
Tegrodera aloga
Brightly colored, large and conspicuous. Feeds on leaves and flowers in spring. Head and pronotum red. More info
Red-eared Blister Beetle
Lytta auriculata
Elytra are irridescent blue-black and are rather soft textured. Head is red. Found chewing flowers in spring. More info
Elegant Blister Beetle
Eupompha elegans
Elytra are blue-black with orange markings that may form a kind of cross or reduced to small shoulder marks. More info
Orange Blister Beetle
Nemognatha sp.
Bright orange beetles often found resting in tops of flower heads. Emerge in spring. Parasites of solitary nesting bees. More info
Fig-Eater Beetle
Cotinis mutabilis
Dark emerald green 'June bug' emerges in summer around monsoon time. Powerful digging legs. Flies well. Common in cities and riparian areas to feed on ripe fruit and leaves. More info
Masked Chafer
Cyclocephala melanocephala
Robust beetles with strong legs. Found as adults in flowers or on new foliage. Often coming to lights. Many similar species, known as scarabs. More info
Grant's Rhinocerous Beetle
Dynastes granti
Stupendous beetle - the males have a pair of stout, forward-projecting horns. Large beetles come to lights. Likely only in the highest elevations of the Sonoran Desert. More info
Tiger Beetle
Cicindela oregona
Active and agile predators; large eyes and long legs. Flies about and lands/runs near damp sandy soil. Bright metalic blues, greens or browns. Several species. More info
Soft-winged Flower Beetle
Attalus sp.
Small, mostly colorful beetles found on foliage and within flowers. Narrow pronotum between elytra and head. Many kinds. More info
Silver Twig Weevil
Ophryastes argentata
Mottled black and white with pitted sculpture. Prominent snout. Found on leaves and twigs of Larrea tridentata (Creosote Bush). More info
Datura Weevil
Trichobaris compacta
Silvery gray weevil about 6 mm long and found on foliage of Sacred Datura and other Jimson Weed species, Datura. More info
Cocklebur Root Weevil
Baris sp.
One of thousands of possible weevil species that could be found in the Sonoran Desert. This one is associated with plants in the sunflower family. More info