juliestromberg's Favorites
Photos / Sounds
What
Crucifer Aphids (Genus Lipaphis)Observer
mjplagensDescription
on Caulanthus lasiophyllum
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Pigweed Flea Beetle (Disonycha glabrata)Observer
kneubaueDescription
Measured 5 mm body. Elytra yellowish with three wide black stripes on each elytron, with the marginal edge black, orange head, body, and legs except for black on the apical hind femur area and tarsi. Found floating on the surface of water under Lantana. Dried and flew off on a rainy day.
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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
