Arizona Naturalists >>> Sonoran Desert Naturalist >>> Field Guide >>> Insects, Spiders, Centepedes and Scorpions >>> Bugs, Aphids and Scales

Sonoran Desert Bugs

Among the distinguishing features of bugs are the mouthparts. These are modified into an elongate proboscis that can be pierced into the food object and through which liquified food is ingested. Adult of most species have wings although many are wingless and more-or-less sessile. Immatures resemble the adults but do not have wings (late instar immatures may have wing buds). Plant feeders, predators and even blood suckers are included in this order. There are thousands of species inhabiting the Sonoran Desert ecosystem. This guide shows only a select few.

Say's Stinkbug

Chlorochroa sayi

Emerald green with snowy spots. Outline in orange and an orange spot at tip of scutellum (triangular plate behind thorax). More info

Conchuela Bug

Chlorochroa ligata

Dark brown to nearly black. Outline in orange. Feeds on developing buds and seeds. More info

Creosote Stink Bug

Dendrocoris contaminatus

Rusty brown in shades similar to the host plant, Cresosote Bush (Larrea tridentata). Smaller than other stink bugs. More info

Spined Stink Bug

Loxa flavicollis

Large green stink bug (roughly pentagonal in shape) with lateral spines behind head. More info

Brown Stink Plant Bug

Holcostethus sp.

Medium-sized bug with a grainy texture to the color. Occurs especially on trees and shrubs with developing seeds. More info

Green Stink Bug

Acrosternum hilare

All-green, pentagonal bug found on wide variety of trees and plants, usu. those with developing fruit or seeds. More info

Harlequin Bug

Murgantia histrionica

Pentagonal shape intricately marked with bright yellow and/or orange on black. On mustard and capper plants. More info

Painted Stink Bug

Bagrata hilaris

A non-native bug recently transplanted from Afica or Europe to Southern California. It could spread eastward into the Arizona Sonoran Desert. More info

Narrow Stink Bug

Mecidea sp.

Pale brown or tan stink bug that is more slender than pentagonal. May be encountered on grass species. More info

Seed Bug

Nysius sp.

Small brown or gray bugs abundant on grasses and weeds with seeds. A number of similar species. More info

Milkweed Bug

Lygeaus kalmii

Sometimes gregarious red, black and white bugs on milkweeds and other plants in seed. Often in tandem. More info

Charcoal Seedbug Bug

Neacoryphus lateralis

Sometimes really abundant red & black bugs of late spring to fall. On seeding plants. More info

Redcoat Seed Bug

Melanopleurus sp.

Dressed like a British Soldier and not at all obscure as it inhabits composite inflorescences. More info

Dirt Colored Seed Bug

Pseudopamera sp?

Rather small and often hidden under rocks or leaf litter. Enlarged femur on first pair of legs. More info

Bordered Plant Bug

Largus sp.

Large bug mostly dark marked with bright orange around border and on underside of abdoment. Common on plants with maturing seeds. A couple of similar species. See nymph lower on this page. More info

Bordered Plant Bug (nymph)

Largus sp.

Metalic blue with orange triangle. Immature stage, and thus wingless, of Largus shown above. More info

Orange Fiddleneck Plant Bug

Plagiognathus moerens

Small, brightly colored, active bug in flower clusters of orange fiddleneck. Many similar bugs found on wide variety of plants. More info

Creosote Bush Plant Bug

Orthotylinae

Small, green and golden brown, active bug on new growth of Creosote Bush. Many similar bugs found on other Sonoran Desert plants. More info

Mesquite Coreid

Mozena sp.

Large tan or dark brown bug with sharp, flared points behind head and enlarged hind legs. Young are greenish. More info

Leaf-footed Bug

Leptoglossus zonatus

Large bugs with conspicuous flags on legs and white zigzag on back. Feeds on developing fruits. More info

Prickly Pear Leaf-footed Bug

Narnia sp.

Gray-brown bugs often in pairs on prickly pears. Medium-large size. More info

Leaf-footed Bug

Acanthocephala granulosus

Very large, conspicuous bugs most often on mesquite pods. Bright orange tips to legs and antennae set off by all black body. More info

Cactus Bug

Chelinidea vittiger

Gray-brown bugs on prickly pears with light-colored, geometric lines across wings. Leave brown circles on cactus pads. More info

Assassin Bug

Zelus sp.

Spindly-legged predators often on flowers. Prey sticks to glue on legs. More info

Orange Assassin

Pselliopsis sp.

Boldly colored predator of caterpillars and other bugs. Legs sharply banded with black rings. More info

Bee Assassin

Apiomeris spissipes

Warning colored in black, red and yellow. Beak pierces bees and other insect prey. More info

Negro Bug

Corimelaena sp.

Small black bugs marked with some orange appearing like beetles due to enlarged scutellum. Common on desert tobacco. More info

Toad Bug

Gelastocoris oculatus

Hops along on damp sand adjacent to riparian streams blending in perfectly. Predaceous. More info

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Creosote Bush Tree Hopper

Multareoides bifurcatus

Small hopping bug normally confined to young twigs of Creosote Bush, Larrea tridentata. Double point on pronotum. More info

Creosote Bush Tree Hopper

Centrodontus atlas

A dippled texture and a tough pronotum. Normally rests concealed within creosote bush twigs. More info

Mesquite Thorn Hopper

Platycentrus acuticornis

Double-thorned plant hopper hugs stems to appear as a part of the plant. Feeds on mesquite sap. More info

Ambrosia Treehopper

Entylia turrita

Pale brown or tan with lighter striations. Close associate with Canyon Ragweed or possibly other composite plants. More info

Seep Willow Plant Hopper

Oeclidius sp.

Small hopping bug with gossamer wings. May be found on Baccharis, plants of the composite family. More info

Oleander Aphid

Aphis nerii

Rather formless, yellow-orange, blobs with black, spindly legs. Walking infrequently. Found on members of milkweed and dogbane plant families. More info

Brown Ambrosia Aphid

Macrosiphum ambrosias

Port wine colored blobs appearing in colonies on bursage, brittlebush and other sunflowers. Spring mostly. More info

Smoketree Sharpshooter

Homalodisca liturata

Brightly colored hopper found on various desert trees and shrubs. Also on wide variety of cultivated shrubs. More info

Chilopsis Sharpshooter

Neokolla sp.

Small (few mm's) hopping insects found mostly on Desert Willow. Brightly colored; pointed shape. More info

Bursage Leafhopper

Graphocephala cythura

Turquoise leafhoppers about 4 mm long on bursage or other composites. More info

Flatid Planthopper

Ormenis saucia

There are a number of similar looking flatids in the desert looking like little moths that can jump and fly. Snowy white or pastel shades of blue or green. More info

Apache Cicada

Diceroprocta apache

Often heard, more rarely seen. Emerges from soil during summer months after feeding on roots. More info

Water Strider

Gerris sp.

Glides on surface film of calm waters and preys on insects trapped there. Long spidery legs. More info

Cottonwood Petiole Gall Aphid

Pemphigus sp.

Whitish aphids concealed inside a swelling on the leaf-stem of fremont cottonwood. More info

Wax Scale

Icerya rileyi

Little resemblance to an insect. Immobile, nearly leggless and covered in thick coating of wax. More info

Whitefly

Aleyrodidae

The wintering stage of the whitefly appears as a white speck usu. on the underside of an evergreen leaf. More info

Cochineal Scale

Dactylopius

On prickly pears and chollas appears as cottony masses with red blob bug inside. More info

Meally Bug

Pseudococcidae

Flat, mostly immobile bugs with meally wax coating. Ants almost always in attendence. More info

Hackberry Gall Psyliid

Pachpsylla sp.

Small, nearly sessile bugs that are normally concealed inside galls. This species specific to hackberries. More info