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Classes and Orders of Insects and bugs
*CLASS
CRUSTACEA: Sowbug. Terrestrial crustaceans, related to crabs and shrimp.
With 7 pairs of legs and strongly segmented bodies. True antennae present,
usually bending at several points. Body usually grey or black and 10 mm long or
less. Common in gardens, under boards, damp areas etc. Occasional pests;
sometimes eat seedlings, developing strawberries. Nuisances in damp places.
Metamorphosis simple. Mouth parts chewing.
CLASS DIPLOPODA: Millipede. Worm‑like, cylindrical arthropods with many segmented bodies. Most segments with two pairs of walking legs (as found in centipedes), but can produce foul‑smelling, defensive chemicals. Primarily plant feeders and scavengers. Occasional nuisances in flower beds rich in organic matter. Bodies black or brown; length variable, from a few mm to 100 mm (Orthoporus). Usually under rocks or boards; crawl on surface after summer rains. Mouth parts chewing. Metamorphos is simple. True antennae present.
*CLASS CHILOPODA: Centipede. Body many‑segmented, but usually flattened and with only one pair of legs per segment. Poison claws near head; some species have painful, venomous bites. Length from a few mm to 150 mm. Color variable‑ red, orange, grey and green. Desert centipedes often found under rocks, boards and "cowpies." Long‑legged house centipedes usually found in buildings. Mouthparts chewing. Metamorphosis simple. Antennae present.
CLASS ARACHNIDA‑ Spiders, Scorpions, Mites and Ticks. Tiny to large arthropods, usually with two body regions prosoma (cephalothorax) and opisthosoma (abdomen); latter sometimes segmented. Eyes simple. Always wingless. No antennae; pedipalpi or one pair of legs often substitute for antennae. Four pairs of walking legs usually present (three pairs of legs in larval mites and ticks). Mouth parts usually a combination of chewing ‑sucking. Metamorphosis simple.
Order Scorpionida: Scorpion. Medium to large (to 100 mm. in Arizona) arachnids with elongate tails tipped with stingers. Pedipalpi modified as claws. Venom of most common species similar in effect to wasp venom; a few species with lethal venoms. One dangerous species, Centruroides exilicauda (formerly C. sculpturatus) distributed in southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Predators. Found occasionally in buildings and commonly under rocks and bark; most dangerous species usually bark scorpions.
Order Acarina: Spider Mites (Tetranychidae). Tiny arachnids, most usually I mm or less in length. Common name comes from ability of these mites to spin fine silk. Exclusively plant feeders; can be extremely serious plant pests particularly when weather conditions are hot and dry. Mouth parts (stylets) paired, adapted to puncture individual plant cells. Affected cells usually are killed by these mites; damage is cumulative, speckly at first with plant taking on a dry, faded, or bronzed appearance. Foliage may be lost prematurely; severe infestations can defoliate plants or even kill some. Typically found on undersides of host foliage; many species with broad host ranges. Adults usually slow moving, dirty white with darker gray patches on either side of body. All stages of nymphs found in same places as adults along with cast skins and pearly, spherical eggs. Life cycle includes: egg, larva (6legged), 2‑3 nymph stages (each 8‑legged) and adult (8 legs). Never have wings, yet they can be blown from plant to plant or transferred from plant to plant when foliage touches. Cosmopolitan.
Eriophyid mites (Eriophyidae). Extremely small, vermiform mites with 2 pairs of legs. Largest adults typically require high magnification (100x or higher) to see them. Plant feeders on foliage, stem tissue or inside buds of foliage or flowers. Typical reactions by host plants include elaborate galls, knots and granular clumps of gall‑like tissue. Typically active when host buds begin to swell and tissues start appearing. Common examples include the granular galls on seedless ash trees (male flowers affected), cockscomb gall of cottonless cottonwood (male flowers affected), "big bud" of filbert and some other shade and nut trees. Galls typically grow around mite colonies in the spring; mites feed and reproduce inside galls until they mature and dry. When galls crack open, the mites leave, "springing" into the air by somersaulting head over tail, Galls usually not debilitating to hosts, but people may object to galls presence.
Tick. Largest of the mites, up to several mm long. Blood‑sucking ectoparasites; transmit certain animal diseases, Opisthosoma and prosoma without distinct separation. Opisthosoma leathery, flattened in unfed ticks; opisthosoma globose when tick is engorged. With sucking mouthparts, instead of the combination found in other arachnids. Larval ticks with three pairs of legs: all other stages with four pairs. Usually found on mammals and birds. Common dog ticks often a serious problem to dogs and their owners.
Order Araneida: Spider. Tiny to large arachnids; spin silk from spinnerets on tips of opisthosoma. Common predators usually with wide range of arthropod prey; introduced European sowbug spider feeds only on sowbugs. Numerous species. Black widow and violin spiders venomous; tarantula overrated as a dangerous arthropod. With poison fangs. All spin silk, many species do not build webs, Generally can be found almost anywhere; very common under rocks, boards and dead plants, in vegetation, on and in houses, on flowers, and on the ground. Often taken in sweep net samples
CLASS INSECTA: Insects. (Remainder of orders and families in manual.) With three body parts (head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs of walking legs, compound (many faceted) eyes; adults Wingless or with one or two pairs of wings. Mouthparts may be chewing, sucking or a modification of these. Metamorphosis simple or complete. With true antennae.
Order Thysanura: Silverfish. Metamorphosis simple. Mouthparts chewing. Wingless. With two or three hairlike appendages at end of abdomen. Antennae long, many‑segmented. Body carrot‑shaped, about 10mm long, often silvery. Common pests in houses; eat starchy substances, including paste, paper finishes and some paper and fabric. Often collected around books or papers, or found trapped in sinks.
Order Odonata Dragonflies and Damselflies. Metamorphosis simple, Mouthparts chewing. With two pairs of long, many‑veined wings. Immatures (naiads or nymphs) aquatic. Predators as nymphs and adults. Antennae short, bristle‑like, inconspicuous.
'Dragonfly. Medium to large (to almost 80 mm) insects: legs spiny. Head spherical; almost completely covered by compound eyes. Wings out stretched when at rest. Common around standing or very slow moving water, including stock tanks, sometimes seen miles from water; may be very numerous. Prey on variety of insects, including other dragonflies and mosquitoes. Usually considered beneficial. Often difficult to catch; use the aerial net and catch the dragonfly as it rests, or in early morning when the dragonflies are not as alert or as fast.
Damselfly. Similar to dragonflies, but smaller, with thinner body and with wings held over the back when at rest. Usually slow, weak fliers; often collected while sweeping vegetation. Preferred habitats similar to those of dragonflies. Body length usually 50 mm or less.
Order Orthoptera: Grasshoppers, Katydids, Crickets Mantids, Walkingsticks, and Cockroaches. Metamorphosis simple. Mouthparts chewing. Order diverse and difficult to characterize; sometimes divided into two or more separate orders. Some with jumping legs; others with walking legs only or first pair modified for grasping prey. Many species with leathery forewings and membranous hindwings; others with short wings or wingless.
*Short‑horned Grasshopper. Common grasshoppers; widely distributed. Antennae filamentous, much shorter than body. Tarsi 3segmented. Size variable: 10‑80 mm long, depending on species. Ovipositor reduced or not apparent. Often categorized as lubber, slant‑faced, spur‑throated, or band‑winged grasshoppers. Collected by sweeping, aerial netting and capturing by hand. Some very difficult to catch. Several species common pests Of rangeland and/or crops; others eat weeds.
*Long‑horned Grasshopper. Usually with filamentous, fragile, antennae that are often much longer than the body. Tarsi 4segmented. Often wingless. Some resemble leaves (katydids). Ovipositors flattened, blade‑like. Colors usually more uniform than for short‑homed grasshoppers; usually green or brown, sometimes mottled or striped. Colors usually fade after death: many specimens turn brown and shrivel because bodies are soft and decompose readily. Reasonably common; often nocturnal. Few pests, except for the Mormon cricket and some near relatives that devastate rangeland. Most phytophagous; some predators. Size variable; 15‑80 mm, depending on species.
*Camel Cricket. Similar to wingless long‑homed grasshoppers, but more hump‑backed. Tarsi 4‑segmented. Hind legs very long. Ovipositor flattened, blade‑like. Usually gray or brown. Found under rocks and in caves, or occasionally on sandy soils at sunrise. Not known to be pests. Size variable; usually less than 40 mm, long.
Jerusalem Cricket. With relatively short hind legs, large spherical heads, and distinct separation between the wingless thorax and bold shorter than body. Tarsi 4‑segmented. Usually nocturnal: frequently collected under rocks, in pitfall traps, or while digging. Probably omnivorous; rarely pests. Not venomous. Length usually less than 50 mm.
Cricket. Somewhat flattened and with shorter threadlike antennae than long‑homed grasshoppers or camel crickets. With 3‑segmented tarsi (unlike other hopping Orthoptera except short‑horned grasshoppers). Ovipositor long and needle‑like. Males and females of many species with elongate cerci. Common examples Include tree crickets (chirp in trees at night or found in alfalfa), field and house crickets (brown or black; often found under boards, hay bales and in cracks; males chirp loudly at night; may feed on fabric and paper inside homes). Size variable but usually less than 30 mm.
*Mantid. Usually large (over 25 mm). Front legs modified for grasping; first coxae very long. Prothorax elongate, mobile, neck‑like. Eyes bulbous; head triangular. All stages predaceous; beneficial, although they will kill bees. Occasionally come to lights, but often found in bushes, trees, or on bark. Some species wingless; others usually weak fliers.
'Walkingsticks. Very slender, twig‑like insects; usually wingless. Adults up to 50 mm long. One New Mexico species common on mesquite; commonly seen resting on walls, fences. Tarsi 5segmented. Plant feeding. Seldom pests.
*German Cockroach. Bodies flattened, usually about 10 mm long. Color grey‑brown. Head usually not visible from above. Tarsi spiny and (as in other roaches) 5‑segmented. Prothorax with two black stripes. Antennae filamentous. 'Typically nocturnal. Found inside and outside houses, usually around water sources. Can be serious pests in kitchens, pantries and bathrooms. Omnivorous; feed on many kinds of stored products, all types of food and garbage not properly stored. Defecate frequently, leaving brownish‑black spots; with pungent, ammonia‑like odor.
*Oriental Cockroach. Size of adults intermediate between German and American cockroaches. Body broadly oval. Females with very short wings. Color dark brown to black. Body flattened, head not visible from above; legs and 5‑segmented tarsi spiny. Nocturnal; commonly hide in crevices in rock walls and under man‑hole covers for underground utilities. Commonly associated with garbage and filth; especially obnoxious pests in homes, hospitals, food processing plants, etc. Body length approximately 25 mm.
*American Cockroach. Larger than Oriental cockroach; length to 30 nun. Both sexes winged. Color reddish‑brown, prothorax yellowish with a pair of reddish‑brown patches. Antennae filamentous, but often broken. Common in sheds, homes and other buildings. Can be a pest in buildings; habits like German cockroaches. Destroy books, papers and some fabric; contaminate foodstuffs, dishes and cooking utensils.
*Order Isoptera: Termite. Metamorphosis simple. Mouthparts chewing. Small, soft‑bodied, "thick waisted" and usually off‑white, social insects with bead‑like antennae. Workers sterile; nymphs live and work in the nest with the workers. Tarsi 4‑segmented. Reproductives winged; fore‑ and hindwings roughly equal in size and many veined. Wings lost soon after swarming or mating flight. Many common species with soldier caste; most soldiers thick waisted, off‑white, with enlarged black or reddish‑brown heads with protruding mandibles. Many major pests of wood and wood products; often cause serious structural damage. Others beneficial from standpoint of converting dead wood and other cellulose to humus. Gut contains symbiotic one‑celled animals that digest wood. Usually collected in dead wood; Reproductives often swarm in the evenings after rains. Workers usually 5 mm long or less, except in dampwood termites where workers are about 10mm long. Soldiers and reproductives are slightly larger than workers of respective species.
*Order Dermaptera: Earwig. Metamorphosis simple‑ Mouthparts chewing. Small to medium‑sized, flattened, elongate insects with flexible forceps at end of abdomen. Tarsi 3‑segmented. Usually 2 pairs of wings; hindwings membranous, folded under short leathery forewings. Females usually guard nests; eggs laid in cavities in the soil. Nocturnal, plant‑feeding; sometimes predaceous. Some serious pests; others beneficial predators. Common under boards and debris. Occasionally confused with rove beetles, which lack the forceps‑like cerci of earwigs and have complete metamorphosis. Body length 1015 mm.
*Order Anoplura: Sucking Louse. Metamorphosis simple. Mouthparts sucking, withdrawn into head when not in use. Usually less than 4 mm long. Dorsoventrally flattened, rather than laterally flattened like fleas. Antennae short, tarsi 1‑segmented and pliers like; adapted for grasping hairs of host. All ectoparasitic, some on man and domestic animals.
Order Hemiptera: True Bugs. Metamorphosis simple. Mouthparts sucking. Forewings divided into leathery and membranous halves (Hemi‑ = half, ‑ptera = wing). Wings held flat over body when at rest. Tarsi with 3 or fewer segments.
*Water Boatman. Usually less than 10 mm long. Aquatic bug with very short forelegs; first legs with tarsi 1‑segmented and scoop shaped. Middle and hind legs nearly equal length. Hind legs long, flattened and oar like, often with zebra stripes across the dorsal surface. Swim right side up; backswimmers swim upside down. Feed on algae. Do not bite; backswimmers do. Common in ponds and stock tanks. Adults fly.
Backswimmer. Aquatic bugs, usually a bit larger than water boatmen. Dorsal surface convex and often brightly colored (red, etc.). No zebra stripes. Front legs without scoop‑like tarsi. Swim upside down. Hind legs oar‑like and longer than middle pair. Predators; backswimmers can bite If handled. Found in ponds, stock tanks and puddles. Adults fly. Commonly 8 mm long, some species reach 17MM
*Waterstrider. Middle legs closer to hind legs than front legs. Tarsi 2 segmented. Legs elongate and spread widely away from slender body. Adults usually dark brown and white. Found on the surfaces of canals, rivers, ponds, etc. With or without wings. All are predators or scavengers; do not bite. Body length usually about 10 mm.
Plant or Leaf Bug. Mostly less than 10 mm long, with 2 dosed cells in membranous part of forewings. Ocelli absent. Beak 4 ‑segmented. Color variable; some quite brightly colored. All rather soft‑bodied Nearly all feed on plant sap; some serious' pests. Some jump (fleahoppers). Common in sweep net samples, especially from alfalfa and cotton.
'Ambush Bug. Small (10‑13 mm), stout‑bodied bugs With greatly enlarged raptorial front legs. Antennae 4‑segmented, slightly clubbed. Ocelli present. Beak 3‑segmented. Abdomen angled; wider posteriorly. Usually yellow with green or brown on wings and abdomen. Predators. Usually do not bite. Found commonly in late summer or fall while sweeping or beating flowers or flowering shrubs.
*Assassin Bug. Body oval, elongate or very elongate. Beak 3segmented, curved and fitting into groove anterior to front legs. Head elongate. Antennae 4‑segmented. Ocelli usual present but absent in the most elongate species. Edges of abdomen often extend laterally. Front legs somewhat raptorial. Usually 10‑25 mm long. Common in sweep net samples in late summer or early fall. Most species predaceous; a few blood‑feeders transmit certain diseases to humans. Many can inflict painful bite. Most are beneficial.
Damsel Bug. Similar to assassin bugs, but usually smaller, 3.5‑11 mm long. Beak 4‑segmented. Antennae 4‑5‑segmented. Ocelli present. Front legs slightly raptorial Winged or wingless. Membrane of hemelytra usually with numerous small cells around the margin. Predators. Usually do not bite. Beneficial.
Seed Bug. Small to medium‑sized, relatively hard‑bodied bugs with ocelli. Antennae and beak 4‑segmented. Tarsi 3‑segmented, with a pad at base of claws. Front femora sometimes thickened as in assassin bugs and damsel bugs. Membrane of forewing with only 4‑5 veins. Some ‑ species brightly colored. Most less than 10 mm long. Some species pests (e.g. false chinch bugs); some beneficial (big‑eyed bugs). Plant feeders Usually attack seeds; big‑eyed bugs are predators. Do not bite. Swept from plants or found on ground...,
*Leaf‑footed Plant Bug. Mostly medium‑sized to large, somewhat elongate, dark colored bugs. Head narrower and shorter than pronotum. Hind tibiae of some species expanded and flattened. Membranous portion of forewing with numerous veins. Some pests (e.g.; bug, leaf‑footed plant bug). Majority feed on plants; us some species predaceous ‑Found on cacti, many shrubs and trees; occasionally in sweep net samples. Many species 18 mm long or less.
'Stink Bug. Broadly oval, often shield‑shaped bugs. Scutellum large and triangular. Body usually longer than 7 mm. Tibiae with few spines. Some plant feeders and crop pests; one species predaceous on Colorado potato beetle (a leaf beetle). Common in sweep net samples and various plants, at lights and occasionally on tree‑bark. Color variable; usually brown or green.
Order Homoptera: Cicada, Leafhoppers, Planthoppers, Treehoppers, Whiteflies, Aphids, and Scale 'Insects. Metamorphosis simple. Mouthparts sucking; phytophagous. Winged or wingless. Variable order with individuals ranging in size from large cicadas to nearly microscopic males of some scale insects.
Cicada. Large insects, most 25‑50 mm long. Two pairs of membranous wings, each with numerous veins. Male with sound producing organs on venter of abdomen. With 3 ocelli. Do not jump Common during summer; male cicadas make loud chirring noises heard in trees and shrubs during the day. Occasionally found at lights. Most specimens caught by stalking singing males. Generally not pests; egg laying occasionally damages twigs of young trees.' Long-lived nymphs subterranean; feed on root sap of various trees and shrubs.
*Treehopper. Small, hump‑backed jumping insects, usually less than 10 mm In length. Pronotum expanded, often projecting backward over abdomen. Often with sharp spines or corners on green or brown body. Hind tibiae without comb‑like row of spines. Common in sweep net samples. Feed on trees, shrubs, weeds, grasses and other forage. Not important economically except for occasional damage on forage crops.
Leafhopper. Small (usually under 10 mm), cigar‑ or wedge‑shaped tarsal claw with comb‑like row of spines on hind tibiae. Coloration variable, often green or brown, but can have red stripes or other colorful markings. Many serious pests of cultivated crops; some important vectors of certain plant diseases. Common in sweep net, samples. Easy to find in almost any field during the warmer months. Usually mounted on points.
*Planthopper. (Includes several families in superfamily Fulgoroidea). Similar to treehoppers, but antennae are attached to sides of head beneath eyes; hind tibiae lack rows of comb‑like spines. Generally small (under 13 mm), phytophagous, jumping insects. Wings bulge near middle of body in some species; a few have projections on their heads. Most species not economically important. Common in sweep net samples taken in late summer.
*Aphid. Soft‑bodied, pear‑shaped, small (4‑8 mm) insects, usually with two tube‑like projections (cornicles) on abdomen. Winged or wingless. Adults and immatures found together; often numerous. Occasionally tended by ants; exude large amounts of sugary honeydew. Some species host specific; others have extremely broad host range. Some serious pests of assorted field crops and ornamentals. Many transmit certain plant diseases. Should be preserved in alcohol or on microscope slides.
Scale Insect. (Includes several families in the superfamily Coccoidea). ,Many species not insect‑like in appearance, except when recently hatched. Bodies of older immatures and adults covered with nonliving scales, either waxy and soft or hard and variously ornamented, Females wingless and usually legless. Males usually two‑winged; nearly microscopic, Ground pearls, armored scales, wax scales, soft scales and cochineal insects included in this group; cochineal insects found on cacti in New Mexico. Often found on perennial orchard, yard, garden or potted plants; some serious pests, weakening or killing their hosts or blemishing fruit. Females usually collected within their scales and dried; males routinely mounted on microscope slides. Mealybugs and soft scales can be stored in alcohol Body size usually 1‑2 mm; a few species reach 5 mm in diameter
Order Neuroptera: Net‑winged insects. Metamorphosis complete. Mouthparts chewing. Two pairs of membranous wings with many veins. Antennae relatively long, thread‑like, pectinate or clubbed as opposed to short, threadlike antennae of Odonata. Tarsi 5‑segmented (3‑segmented in Odonata).
*Green Lacewing. Most about 10 mm long. Wings and body pale green. Eyes gold or copper. Produce a bad smell when brushed or crushed. Eggs laid singly on thin stalks. Larvae and adults predaceous, usually on aphids. Among the most beneficial insects in crops. Very delicate, fluttery flyers. Often attracted to lights at night.
Antlion. Like damselflies, but with knobbed antennae. Extremely slender and often quite large, to 50 mm. Larvae (doodlebugs) dig conical pits in sand; antlion name comes from common food of larvae: ants. Adults common at lights; occasionally found resting on vegetation. Not economically important.
*Order Coleoptera: Beetles. Metamorphosis complete. Mouthparts chewing. Forewings (elytra) without veins, usually hardened. Antennae of various types including filamentous, beadlike, clubbed, serrate, elbowed, lamellate, or pectinate.. filamentous beadlike clubbed elbowed lamellate
First abdominal segment (a) divided by hindcoxae or (b) not divided by hind coxae. (cx = coxa; tr = trochanter; fm = femur)
(a)
Tiger Beetle. First abdominal segment divided by hind coxae. Tarsi with 5 segments. Head at eyes as wide or wider than pronotum thorax. Mandibles often enlarged and with distinctive teeth; mandibles sometimes visible from above. Legs slender. Antennae threadlike. Hind trochanter bean‑shaped and offset toward the midline. Found near water, in undergrowth, on hillsides, on field margins, or along woodland paths. Often metallic and/or with distinctive markings. Predators. Often good flyers. Usually collected with an aerial net, pits usually 10‑20 mm long.
Ground Beetle. First abdominal segment divided by hindcoxae. Tarsi with 5 segments. Head at eyes usually narrower than pronotum. Mandibles varied. Hind trochanter bean‑shaped an offset toward the midline. Antennae filamentous. Found near water, under rocks and running on ground; sometimes metallic but often black or brown, occasionally mottled. Predators as adults and larvae. Usually poor flyers. Often found under stones, especially along bodies of water, also collected by sweeping or pitfall trapping. Some species beneficial. Many common species 10 mm long or less; a few reach 25 mm.
Diving Beetle (Predaceous Diving Beetle). First abdominal segment divided by hindcoxae. Tarsi with 5 segments. Head at eyes narrower than pronotum. Mandibles not visible from above, legs not slender, hind legs oar‑like. Antennae filamentous and long palps near mouth very short. Found in quiet water: stock tanks, ponds, lakes, etc. 'Usually brown or black, sometimes spotted; predators. Can fly but usually observed swimming. Sometimes come to lights but best collected with a dip net. Commonly 10‑12 mm long; some are only 3 mm long while the largest reach 35 mm.
Hister Beetle. First abdominal segment not divided by hind coxae. Tarsi with 5 segments. Head at eyes narrower than pronotum. Mandibles often pincerlike. Legs often flattened, with lateral teeth. Antennae clubbed. Found in decaying organic matter. Usually shiny black, sometimes with red markings, occasionally metallic green. Predators. Can fly but usually seen crawling. Usually collected by turning over rotting plant matter; occasionally come to lights. Commonly 7‑10 mm long; smallest are 0.5 mm long.
Water Scavenger Beetle. First abdominal segment not divided by hind coxae. Tarsi with 5 segments; hind tarsi flattened with fringe of hairs. palpi usually longer than antennae. Body oval or elliptical, often with ventral keel or spine. Antennae short and clubbed. Color usually black or brown. Usually aquatic but a few live in dung. Predators of small aquatic animals. Size variable;. from a few mm to 40 mm long.
Carrion Beetle. First abdominal segment not divided by hind coxae. Tarsi with 5 segments. Forewings long in some species; short in others, ‑exposing 1‑3 abdominal segments. Body relatively soft, flattened. Usually ca. 10 mm in length. Antennae clubbed. Solid black, dark gray or black with yellow, orange or red markings. Feed on carrion, occasionally found in dung. Collected by turning over dead animals or baiting a pitfall with meat, especially fish.
Rove Beetle. First abdominal segment not divided by hind coxae. Tarsi with 5 segments. Forewings short, exposing 3‑6 abdominal segments. Body elongate, slender. Abdomen soft, flexible. Sometimes confused with earwigs, but lack forceps. Antennae filamentous or clubbed. Often less than 5 mm long; some common species reach 10 mm. Found on carrion, dung, along streams, under rocks, in fungi, under bark, in decaying vegetable matter. Predators and scavengers, some feed on fly larvae and have been used in biological control programs around domestic animal units.
Soldier Beetle. First abdominal segment not divided by hind coxae. Tarsi with 5 segments. Body elongate, parallel‑sided. Head visible from above. Body and wings soft. Color black, yellow or brown, often with red, yellow or orange. Usually around 10 mm long. Common on flowers, especially yellow composites in summer and fall. Larvae are predators, adults feed on pollen and nectar. Easily collected by sweeping.
*Dermestid Beetle. First abdominal segment not divided by hind coxae. Tarsi 5 segmented. Generally small (under 5 mm), elongate to oval beetles, often with scales or hairs on elytra. Carrion beetles usually larger, 10 mm or more. Antennae clubbed. Color usually brown or black, sometimes mottled. Larvae feed on dead plant and animal matter. Often serious pests in stored products, carpets, upholstery, fur coats, and insect and plant collections.
Soft‑winged Flower Beetle, First abdominal segment not divided by hind coxae. Tarsi with 5 segments. Forewing broadest posteriorly; small, somewhat wedge‑shaped beetles, usually less than 8 mm long. Antennae serrate or filamentous, sometimes with basal segments enlarged. Often black, metallic green or blue with red, orange or yellow. Some are predators; others feed on pollen. Relatively common on flowers and in various field crops.
Checkered Beetle. First abdominal segment not divided by hind coxae. Tarsi with 5 segments. Body elongate, often with long erect hairs. Pronotum usually narrower than forewings or head. Usually black, often with red, orange or yellow markings. Antennae clubbed or filamentous. Predators of wood‑boring insects; one species attacks stored meats. Adults often collected on flowers. Most species 5‑12 mm long.
*Click Beetle. First abdominal segment not divided by hind coxae. Tarsi 5 segmented. Body elongate, flattened, and with posterior corners of pronotum pointed. Clicking mechanism on underside, between bases of legs. Overturned adults can right themselves by clicking their bodies, often with a distinct sound. Usually brown or black, occasionally patterned; some with eye spots, with light organs at comers of pronotum or metallic green. Larvae are wireworms; some predators, but most are root and seed feeders. Some pests of crops. Adults common at lights. Occasionally collected while sweeping or found under wood or bark. Size usually .10‑30 mm.
Metallic Wood‑boring Beetle. First abdominal segment not divided by hind coxae. Tarsi with 5 segments. Usually metallic or bronzed, especially ventrally. Resembling click beetles, only shorter usually and cannot click. Antennae short, serrate or filamentous. Usually 5 mm. Several common species on willows, mesquite and flowering composites. Larvae called flat‑headed borers; bore into wood of trees and shrubs. Some pests in orchards,, ornamental shrubs, trees, and structural timber. Ad u Its feed on leaves, bark and flowers. Some species collected by sweeping flowers, especially in summer and fall. Use aerial net for single beetles.
Sap Beetle. First abdominal segment not divided by hind coxae. Tarsi all 4 or 5 segmented. Antennae with 3‑segmented club. Body shape varies, usually robust‑elongate. Abdomen often exposed beyond short elytra. Color usually black or brown, marked with red or yellow. Usually small (ca. 3 mm long), but occasionally larger. Common in flower heads, fungi, or decaying fruit and vegetables; thistle heads sometimes contain many sap beetles.
*Ladybird Beetle. First abdominal segment not divided by hind coxae; Tarsi apparently with 3 segments. Shape usually oval to nearly hemispherical. Head mostly concealed. Often brightly colored: red, yellow or orange with black spots or black with red or yellow spots. Some totally black. Usually about 5 mm. Common in alfalfa and other crops, on roadside weeds; gregarious in fall in the mountains. Most predator% several species have been used in biological control. Very few pests; Mexican bean beetle defoliates beans and related crops. Commonly collected by sweeping.
*Blister Beetle. First abdominal segment not divided by hind coxae. Tar‑Sal formula 5‑5‑4. Body usually elongate; pronotum narrower than head or forewings. Body soft; elytra usually soft, sometimes exposing abdomen. Antennae filamentous or beadlike. Color black, grey, brown, metallic purple green or blue, some are banded, striped or spotted with red, black or other colors. Size usually around 10 mm. Larvae usually beneficial, feeding on grasshopper egg pods; some species parasitize bees, however. Adults produce cantharidin, a blistering agent that may kill horses or other stock when ingested in hay. Adults common on plants and flowers, which they often defoliate. Often collected by sweeping or by hand picking as they run over the. ground.
*Darkling Beetle. ‑ First abdominal segment not divided by hind coxae. Tarsal formula 5‑5‑4. Body elongate or hemispherical. Antennae usually 11‑segmented, filamentous, beadlike or clubbed.. Eyes usually notched. Often confused with ground beetles' darkling beetles differ by having 4 tarsal segments on the hind legs, no division in the 1st abdominal segment, conical hind coxae. and notched eyes. Usually black or brown and from a few mm to 30 mm long. Mostly scavengers that can be found under rocks, on the ground, in rotten wood, in fungi; etc.; some species pests of stored grains. Easily collected in pit fall traps or while running over the ground in the desert.
Twig Borer. First abdominal segment not divided by hind coxae. Tarsi with 5 Segments. Antennae clubbed, 3‑4 segmented. He41d mostly concealed from above. Elongate body, usually with tubercles or teeth on pronotum. Usually about 10 mm in length and dark brown or black. Often found at lights. Feeds by boring into twigs or branches.
*Scarab Beetle. First abdominal segment not divided by hind coxae. Tarsi 5‑segmented. Antennae lamellate. Body usually robust. Size minute (2 mm) up to at least 50 mm in some unicorn beetles. Color variable: black, brown, green, metallic green, green with silver stripes, mottled gray and brown, etc. Common at lights, under dung, in sweep net samples, on fruit trees, rose bushes, composite flowers, rotten wood, in lawns, etc. Includes several economic species: figeater, Japanese beetle (not found in New Mexico), white grubs (June beetles) among others. Feed on fruit pollen, or leaves as adults; larvae feed on rotting organic matter dung, or roots.
*Long‑horned Beetle. First abdominal segment not divided by hind coxae. Tarsi apparently 4‑segmented. Antennae usually at least half as long as body (there are exceptions!). Eyes usually notched. Tarsi usually with pads similar to those of leaf beetles and snout beetles. Size from a few mm to over 50 mm. Color variable, often brown or black; but some metallic, mottled, or with colorful bands or stripes. Often found on flowers, in decaying wood, or around lights. Larvae feed as borers (round‑headed borers) in wood of various forbs, shrubs and trees. Some species destructive in cut logs and firewood or timbers made from them; adults often feed on pollen. Can be collected from wood, on bark or by sweeping flowers.
Leaf Beetle. First abdominal segment not divided by hind coxae. Tarsi apparently 4‑segmented. Antennae almost always shorter than half of body length; usually filamentous or beadlike. Tarsi with pads. Body usually oval, but sometimes elongate . Eyes not notched. Size usually 10 mm or less. Color variable, often metallic, striped, spotted or mottled. Often destructive Pests, many of these beetles feed on crop plants and ornamentals, both as larvae and adults. Found almost anywhere plants grow and often taken in sweep net samples.
Snout Beetle. First abdominal segment not divided by hind coxae. Tarsi appear 4‑segmented. With a more or less distinct snout; some species with very long snout. Antennae elbowed and clubbed. Size usually less than 10 mm. Color variable, but usually grey, brown or black, sometimes metallic. Many pests of crops and ornamentals, both as adults and as larvae. Found in sweep net samples, at lights, and on various plants.
*Bark Beetle. First abdominal segment not divided. Tarsi apparently 4‑segmented. Antennae elbowed and clubbed. Body elongate, cylindrical, somewhat pill‑like. Most species small; less than 5 mm. Color usually dark; brown, black or red. Many serious pests of shade and forest trees where they bore into bark or wood.
02/01/2009