juliestromberg's Favorites
Photos / Sounds
What
Botta's Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae)Observer
tsirtalisDescription
Piles of loose dirt and especially the deliberately-plugged tunnel opening are diagnostic for Botta's Pocket Gopher in this area. In the swimming pool area of the Wellton Microtel hotel.
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Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)Observer
mchew6Description
Still present 8/27/23
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Palo Verde Webworm (Faculta inaequalis)Observer
kneubaueDescription
~5 mm in length. Rescued from some water, dried, and flew off.
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Western Black Horse Fly (Tabanus punctifer)Observer
kneubaueDescription
~2 cm body, legs black, except basal third of fore tibiae, which are creamy white with long white hair; abdomen black. Dark wings, less opaque toward edges with one dark spot. Resting on the shady side of an Ash tree with an outside temperature of 107 degrees F.
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Neodiplocampta miraObserver
kneubaueDescription
Frequently surveyed a patch of dry hard packed dirt where native bees nest and then rested intermittently on a Salvia coccinea plant.
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Achemon Sphinx (Eumorpha achemon)Observer
kneubaueDescription
Hanging from a windchime
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Oenothera arizonicaObserver
cactus_huggerDescription
These have the weirdest fruits
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Shrubby Indian Mallow (Abutilon abutiloides)Observer
mjplagensDescription
The leaves are densly covered with stellate hairs giving them a velvety texture. Despite this a skipper butterfly larva gets past this defense: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/161521036
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Cellophane Bees (Genus Colletes)Observer
kneubaueDescription
In a non-irrigated disturbed area with desert plants.
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Genus AshmeadiellaObserver
kneubaueDescription
5 mm, rescued from some water, dried, and flew off.
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Dilophus tibialisObserver
kneubaueDescription
~6 mm body. Found with a male (see last photo) on the surface of a bucket of water on a windy day. See male here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/152890057
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Stalked Puffballs (Genus Tulostoma)Observer
mchew6Description
First such that I have noticed in the area.
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Curved-horn Moths (Superfamily Gelechioidea)Observer
mjplagensDescription
Larva on Pleradenophora bilocularis.
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Speckled Duns (Genus Callibaetis)Observer
kneubaueDescription
Resting on Spiderling stem; Boerhavia coccinea with an outside temperature of 86 degrees F.
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Genus MelissodesObserver
kneubaueDescription
Measured ~8 mm on a dried Gaillardia flower warming up in the morning sun with an outside temperature of 79 degrees F.
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Pink-spotted Hawkmoth (Agrius cingulata)Observer
mchew6Description
On Merremia dissecta
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Fatal Metalmark (Calephelis nemesis)Observer
mchew6Description
On Clematis drummondii
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Arizona Labyrinth Orb-Weaver (Metepeira arizonica)Observer
kneubaueDescription
~4-5 mm body.
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Observer
kneubaueDescription
Caught a white bug ~3-4 mm in length (likely a plant bug; Miridae, with long antennae) and hung suspended from the underside of a Ruellia leaf to consume it.
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Mason Bees (Genus Osmia)Observer
kneubaueDescription
~7mm and dark green/teal overall color. Short hairs on ventral abdomen. Might have been taking a nap under cloudy skies on a Saliva coccinea leaf.
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Prosopis Seed Beetle (Algarobius prosopis)Observer
kneubaueDescription
On a Meyer Lemon tree leaf near a detached blossom today, ~3-4 mm in length. Species suggested by Margarethe Brummerman on FB group SW U.S. Arthropods.
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Genus LysiphlebusObserver
kneubaueDescription
~2 mm body, antennal flagellum with 11 parts; the last segment longer. Found on a Romaine lettuce flower most of a windy day. The next day the wasp was in the same spot. Using a macro lens, a white glob was discovered stuck to her back legs (last photo taken 3/21/22). Using a small pointed stick, the legs were freed and the wasp flew away. Bob Zuparko confirmed genus on BugGuide.
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Tailed Cellar Spider (Crossopriza lyoni)Observer
mchew6Description
Having recently captured a giant crab spider.
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Observer
mjplagensDescription
On inflorescence of Ambrosia ambrosioides. Encelia farinosa nearby.
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Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae)Observer
mchew6Description
Her fifth year nesting in the same sugar sumac.
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Longhorn Cactus Fly (Odontoloxozus longicornis)Observer
kneubaueDescription
Found on a rotting orange or grapefruit peel in a compost pile. ID by Robert Velten on FB group SW U.S. Arthropods.
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Diacrita costalisObserver
kneubaueDescription
Attracted to porchlight. ID by Robert Velten of FB group SW U.S. Arthropods. Body measured 9 mm, nose to wingtip is ~12 mm. The fly spent a bit of time seemingly adjusting or cleaning its accordion-like mouthparts.
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Typical Treehoppers (Family Membracidae)Observer
stevejonesDescription
Host Larrea tridentata; nymph stage. Incidental capture; see at right in second and third photos.
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Stink Bugs (Family Pentatomidae)Observer
kneubaueDescription
Found empty egg cases on an Ash tree leaf.
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California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera)Observer
kneubaueDescription
Hundreds of bees, mostly honey bees, but also native bees were attracted to these native flowers.
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Creosote Moth (Digrammia colorata)Observer
kneubaueDescription
Attracted to porch light.
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Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe)Observer
stevejonesDescription
Nectaring on Physalis hederacea; some hang on to an individual flower for up to a minute. A nice change from the usual "focus...focus...flit!"
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Genus TrypanalebraObserver
mjplagensDescription
Several groups seen on new foliage of Abutilon palmeri.
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Rough Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex rugosus)Observer
kneubaueDescription
This alate queen was found wandering on a patio alone. Measured about 1 cm in length. ID suggestion for Pogonomyrmex rugosus by Derek Uhey of FB group Hymenopterists Forum.
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Arizona Small Carpenter (Ceratina arizonensis)Observer
kneubaueDescription
On Thai Basil; Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora flowers. Bee is approximately 4 mm in length without antennae. " Ivory marks: broad parallel-sided stripe on clypeus abruptly widened at apex, extending almost full length; spot at apex profemur and stripe extending full length of pro- tibia" as described on Discover life for female. https://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Ceratina+arizonensis
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Western Poplar Clearwing Moth (Paranthrene robiniae)Observer
ameedsDescription
100% thought this was a wasp. Wish I'd grabbed better shots.
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Achemon Sphinx (Eumorpha achemon)Observer
kneubaueDescription
On Vitis; grapevine, measured 6 cm in length.
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Golden Paper Wasp (Polistes aurifer)Observer
kneubaueDescription
Came to a porch light at night. Was resting on an outside window.
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Round-tailed Ground Squirrel (Xerospermophilus tereticaudus)Observer
reaglephoto
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Oak Gall Wasps (Tribe Cynipini)Observer
stevejonesDescription
Host Quercus turbinella
