Top 12 Most Common Insects in Guerrero Negro
Insects, home to a fascinating landscape of diversity and adaptation, thrive in various habitats within Guerrero Negro. The geographical diversity of Guerrero Negro, from its sandy deserts to coastal areas, impacts insect population dynamics and diversity. As vital forces in the ecosystem, insects play roles ranging from pollinators to pests. This insightful list of 12 common insects in Guerrero Negro explores these diverse creatures and their intricate association with the environment, welcoming you to appreciate both the welcomed and feared residents of Guerrero Negro.
Most Common Insects
1. Goldenrod crab spider
Rather than for its coloring, goldenrod crab spider (Misumena vatia) is named for its tendency to hunt within sprays of goldenrod. This species is capable of catching and consuming prey several times larger than itself, such as dragonflies or grasshoppers. Loyal parents, the females will guard their eggs until they hatch and the tiny spiders disperse, after which the female will die.
2. Eufala skipper
Lerodea eufala, the Eufala skipper or rice leaffolder, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found from the coast of Georgia, south through Florida and west across the southern United States to southern California, south through Mexico and Central America to Patagonia. In the summer, it expands its range north to central California, North Dakota, southern Wisconsin, northern Michigan and Washington, D.C. The wingspan is 25–32 mm. There are two generations, with adults on wing from February to October in the deep south. There are multiple generations throughout the year in Florida, southern Texas and Arizona. The larvae feed on various grasses including Sorghum halepense, Cynodon dactylon and Saccharum officinarum. Adults feed on the nectar from various flowers including croton, alfalfa, composites and lippia.
3. Arizona bark scorpion
The arizona bark scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus) is a fast, nocturnal creature that ambushes its prey. It feeds on a wide range of bugs, including beetles, spiders, and cockroaches. It uses the tiny hairs on its body to recognize terrains and find prey. Its yellow coloring might seem less intimidating than other scorpions, but it has a real powerful venom.
4. Hieroglyphic moth
Diphthera festiva is a butterfly from the spider owls family (Erebidae). The scientific name of the species was first validly published in 1775 by Fabricius.
5. Yellow-spotted diving beetle
The adult beetle has a length of 0.8–1.5 cm (0.31–0.59 in), with females slightly larger than males. The sunburst diving beetle has a black and streamlined carapace covered with bright yellow or golden spots. The male has a suction disk on each foreleg.
6. California spiny lobster
California spiny lobster (Panulirus interruptus) is a crustacean - a lobster, native to Baja California's coasts. It has no claws, only two large antennae. These lobsters are nocturnal and hide during the day with only their antennae protruding from their shelters, where they often aggregate in groups. This is a highly popular fishery species for both commercial and recreational fishing.
7. Turkestan cockroach
Turkestan cockroachs generally dwell outside, although the males occasionally come indoors for shelter or due to their attraction to light. In the U.S., this species is sometimes used as food for pet reptiles since they do not climb surfaces or burrow into the ground like other types of cockroaches.
8. Ello sphinx
Erinnyis ello, the ello sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. It is distributed from Argentina through Central America to the United States as far north as Nevada. The wingspan is 75–85 mm. The abdomen has gray and black bands. The forewing upperside of the female is pale gray with a few dark dots near the outer margin, while the forewing upperside of the male is dark gray and brown with a black band running from the base to the tip. In both sexes, the hindwing upperside is orange with a wide black border. Adults are on wing year-round in the tropics and southern Florida. Adults feed on the nectar of flowers, including common soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) and Chinese violet (Asystasia gangetica). The larva feeds on a variety of host plants, including papaya (Carica papaya) in the family Caricaceae; poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), Mexican jumping bean (Sebastiania pavoniana), Cnidoscolus urens, and cassava (Manihot esculenta) in the Euphorbiaceae; guavas (Psidium spp.) in the Myrtaceae; and saffron plum (Sideroxylon celastrinum) in the Sapotaceae. The ello sphinx can be parasitized by the braconid wasp Microplitis figueresi.
9. Mormon metalmark
In general, the butterfly has a wingspan of 2.5 - 3.5 cm, with males being slightly smaller than females. Females are further differentiated from males by their number of functional legs; females possess three pairs, while males do not utilize their shortened forelegs and thus only have two. The Canadian populations have been described as having white checked dark brown wings, a gray body, green eyes, and black and white banded antennae. There is a reddish tint towards the base of the forewings, and the ventral side of the wings are gray.
10. Fire centipede
Distinctive among its peers, fire centipede emits a mild, yet noticeable odor when threatened. This chemical defense wards off potential predators. Furthermore, fire centipede demonstrates a rapid burrowing behavior, hiding away during the day and emerging at dusk to hunt. In their nocturnal pursuits, they showcase remarkable agility, even scaling vertical surfaces to find prey.
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