Beetles of the Cuyamaca Mountains
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Beetles of Greater San Diego County

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     Callisthenes semilaevis
     det. P. Messer
     Lake Hodges, Rancho Bernardo, California

     Found on spring vegetation, coastal sage scrub habitat.

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      Callisthenes semilaevis
       Henderson Canyon Road, Borrego Springs, California

       One of many during a rich spring, following significant         rain in 2016/2017.

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​         Callisthenes semilaevis
       Henderson Canyon Road, Borrego Springs, California

       Eating a dead Hyles lineata caterpillar, which looks like         it might have been stepped on.

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       Callisthenes semilaevis
       Henderson Canyon Road, Borrego Springs, California

       Mating pair.

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     Calosoma parvicolle
     det. P. Messer
     Southwestern College campus, Chula Vista, California

     Found on a grassy lawn in spring.

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      Calosoma parvicolle
       Borrego Dunes area, S. of Pegleg Rd., Borrego                       Springs, California

       This was one of many in a rich spring following rains in         2016/2017.

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      Cicindela oregona
      Loveland Reservoir, California

      This individual was found along a stream edge on the            east side of the reservoir.

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     Cicindela latesignata
     S. of Imperial Beach, California

     This mating pair were right at the water's edge and got       slightly wet from a small wave!

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     Thermonectus marmoratus
     Santa Ysabel, California

     Found at lights at night.

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     Nicrophorus guttala
     East of Eagle Peak, California

     Oak parkland habitat.

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     Thinopinus pictus
     just north of Imperial Beach, California

     Found under seaweed at high tide mark.

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     Thinopinus pictus
     just north of Imperial Beach, California

     Found under seaweed at high tide mark.

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     Omorgus suberosus
     Borrego Springs, California

     This individual was found four days after a heavy                       monsoonal rain.



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     Pleocoma puncticollis
     Male
     Ramona, California

     Found at dusk after moderate rain, December 13, 2012.
     Oak woodland habitat, surrounded by chaparral.

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     Pleocoma puncticollis
     Male
     Ramona, California


     Found at dusk after moderate rain, December 13, 2012.
     Oak woodland habitat, surrounded by chaparral.

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     Pleocoma puncticollis
     Male
     Ramona, California




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     Bolbocerastes regalis
     Male
     Borrego Springs, California

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     Bolbocerastes regalis
     Female
     Borrego Springs, California

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     Hybosorus illigeri
     Borrego Springs, California

     This individual was found four days after a heavy                       monsoonal rain.


     This is a member of the Scavenger Scarab Beetle family. It       is non-native, and was introduced from Europe in the 19th       century.

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         Aphodius sp.
       Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

       This individual came to a black light in March.

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​       Diplotaxis sp.
       Borrego Springs, California




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       Dinacoma marginata
       San Felipe Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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​       Dinacoma marginata
       San Felipe Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California


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​       Dichelonyx sp.
       Fry Creek Campground, Palomar Mountain, California

       This individual was one of many that visited lights after               dark. This is a mixed deciduous/coniferous forest at                     around 4900 feet. 



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       Dichelonyx sp.
       Fry Creek Campground, Palomar Mountain, California

       This individual was one of many that visited lights after               dark. This is a mixed deciduous/coniferous forest at                     around 4900 feet. 

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​       Dichelonyx sp.
       Fry Creek Campground, Palomar Mountain, California

       Just before take-off.

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         Coenonycha lurida
       
Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

       This individual came to black light on a March night.

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     Paracotalpa ursina
     Mira Mesa, California


     This individual was found clinging to the Science Building at                       Miramar College on April 1, 2013. There is a small population that               exists on campus at this college, despite the intense construction               and disturbance of the area over the years.

     This species also occurs at nearby Miramar Lake.

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     Paracotalpa puncticollis
     Little Blair Valley, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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     Cyclocephala sp. (probably C. longula)
     Borrego Springs, California

     This individual was found four days after a heavy                       monsoonal rain.

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       Cyclocephala sp.
        Doane Pond, Palomar Mountain, California

        This individual was found exposed on a dirt pathway on a          sunny day, and moved to the shade for a photograph!

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     Tomarus gibbosus
     Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert State Park

     In riparian area.

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     Cremastocheilus armatus montanus
     det. W. Warner through Bugguide.net
     Ramona, California

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         Poecilonota salixi
       det. R. Velten
       San Felipe Creek area, Anza Borrego Desert

       
       This individual was beaten from a large willow on a cool,           damp day in May.



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       Poecilonota salixi
       det. R. Velten
       San Felipe Creek area, Anza Borrego Desert

       
       This individual was beaten from a large willow on a cool, damp day in           May.

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       Poecilonota salixi
       det. R. Velten
       San Felipe Creek area, Anza Borrego Desert

       
       This individual was beaten from a large willow on a cool,             damp day in May.

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        Poecilonota salixi
        det. R. Velten
        San Felipe Creek area, Anza Borrego Desert

       
        This individual was beaten from a large willow on a cool,            damp day in May.

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            Acmaeodera connexa 

        Doane Pond, Palomar Mountain, California

        This individual was found on a warm June day.

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        Acmaeodera connexa and bombyliids (Thevenetimyia sp.)
        Doane Pond, Palomar Mountain, California

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       Acmaeodera gibbula
       Scissors Crossing, Anza Borrego Desert, California



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Acmaeodera prorsa
Northern Laguna Mountains, California

Came to Lindgren funnel trap.

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     Acmaeodera retifera 
     Lake Sutherland, California

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     Acmaeodera vernalis
     Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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Acmaeodera sphaeralceae
Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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     Gyascutus planicosta
     Borrego Springs, California

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     Gyascutus planicosta
     Borrego Springs, California

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       Octinodes megalops
       San Felipe Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California

       This beetle came to a black light in a mesquite-dominated desert                   habitat.

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        Silis sp.
         Fry Creek Campground, Palomar Mountain, California

         This individual was flying about on vegetation in the late           afternoon.

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Enoclerus quadrisignatus
San Felipe Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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     Trichodes ornatus, yellow morph
     east of Ramona, on trail to Cedar Creek Falls

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     Trichodes ornatus, red morph
     Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert State Park
     

     In riparian area.

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     Trichodes ornatus pair
     Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

     This pair found on Encelia farinosa in a riparian area.

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      Coccinella septempunctata
       Loveland Reservoir, California

       This individual was on Brassica rapa (Field Mustard)

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          Coccinella septempunctata

       Loveland Reservoir, California

       This pair was found on Brassica rapa (Field Mustard)

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​       Hippodamia convergens
       Loveland Reservoir, California

       This pair was found on Brassica rapa (Field Mustard)

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       Hippodamia convergens
       Fry Creek, Palomar Mountain, California

       Many lady beetles, including this one, were nectaring on           Coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica). The adults of this               species are carnivorous, and also feed on nectar or                   pollen.

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          Anatis rathvoni
​       Coyote Canyon, 
Anza Borrego Desert, California

       This individual seemed out of place at a black light after           dark on a March evening. The nearest conifers were                   many miles distant!

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       Olla v-nigrum
​       1 mile W. Shelter valley, Anza Borrego Desert, California

       This one was on mesquite, on a cool, damp morning in             May.

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       Macrosiagon cruenta
       San Felipe Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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     Eusattus difficilis
     San Felipe Creek area, Anza Borrego Desert, California



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       Eusattus difficilis
       San Felipe Creek area, Anza Borrego Desert, California



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     Eusattus dubius
     Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

     This individual was found on a dirt road after dark. It was       quite small - around 8 mm long or so.



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     Stenomorpha cressoni
     Near Shelter Valley, Anza Borrego Desert, California

     Out after dark in a mesquite-dominated habitat.

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         Tenebrionid, possibly Stenomorpha sp.?
       
Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

       This tenebrionid was the only one of its kind seen. It was           about 10-12 mm long, so fairly small. Somewhat hairy. It             was out on a cool evening in March.

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     Eleodes armatus
     Clark's Dry Lake, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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Eleodes grandicollis
San Felipe Creek area, Anza Borrego Desert, California



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       Eleodimorpha bolcan
      
det. A. Johnston

       Fry Creek Campground, Palomar Mountain, California

       Several were seen after dark crawling on the forest floor.

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​       Asbolus verrucosus
       Coyote Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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         Asbolus verrucosus
       
Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

       Performing a "partial" headstand. Found at night on a dirt         road.

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     Cryptoglossa muricata
     Indian Gorge, Anza Borrego Desert, California











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Edrotes ventricosus
Coyote Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California
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       Microschatia inaequalis
       Lake Hodges, San Diego, California

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Cerenopus concolor
Coyote Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California


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Group of darkling beetles, rummaging around in debris outside an ant nest. The lighter one in the center is Cryptoglossa muricata.
San Felipe Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California
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     Cysteodemus armatus
     Borrego Springs, California

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       Cysteodemus armatus
       Borrego Dunes area, S. of Pegleg Rd., Borrego Springs,             California

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     Eupompha elegans
     Along Henderson Canyon Road, Borrego Springs,                     California

     This is the morph I see most often in the Anza Borrego             Desert.

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     Eupompha elegans
     Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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          Eupompha elegans
       Crest, California 

       A different morph than the one show above. This seems           to be a morph seen west of the mountains in southern               California.

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     Nemognatha sp. 
     Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert State Park,                       California


     In riparian area.

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     Nemognatha sp.
     Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert State Park,                       California

     This individual was found four days following heavy                 monsoonal rain. It is nectaring at Petalonyx thurberi,               which was flowering in some abundance at First Crossing.

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     Nemognatha sp.
     Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert State Park,                       California


     This is the same individual shown above, cleaning its               mouthparts after feeding!

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     Lytta auriculata
     Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert State Park,                       California

     In riparian area.

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       Lytta auriculata
       Indian Gorge, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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     Lytta magister
     Borrego Springs, California

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       Lytta magister
       Between Ocotillo Wells an Highway 86, Anza Borrego Desert

       Mating pair. One of many in field of Desert Sunflower following rains         of 2016/2017.

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       Lytta magister in flight
       Between Ocotillo Wells an Highway 86, Anza Borrego                 Desert

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       Lytta stygica
       San Felipe Creek area, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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      Lytta vulnerata
      Near Shelter Valley, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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     Lytta nitidicollis
     East of Ramona, California

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     Pyrota palpalis
     One mile W. of Shelter Valley, Anza Borrego Desert, California

     On a small composite flower several days following heavy
     monsoonal rains.

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       Derobrachus geminatus
       Anza Borrego Desert, California

       The very close-set eyes are one way to distinguish D. geminatus from         D. hovorei.



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     Eustromula validum
     Anza Borrego Desert, California

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     Phoracantha recurva
     Ramona, California

     A native of Australia. A pest of eucalyptus trees.

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      Osmidus guttatus     
     Borrego Springs, California

     This individual was found four days after a heavy                     monsoonal rain.



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     Anelaphus albofasciatus
     Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

     This individual came to a light set up after dark.

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       Oeme costata
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       Fry Creek Campground, Palomar Mountain, California

       Three females came to a light set-up after dark. This                 species was quite abundant in Cuyamaca Woods (North           Peak, Cuyamaca Mts.), in the five or so years following             the Cedar Fire, but then dwindled to none in that location         (at least that I have observed).

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        Callimoxys fuscipennis
        Fry Creek Campground, Palomar Mountain, California

        This individual was found resting on vegetation in the              late afternoon.

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     Plionoma suturalis
     Scissors Crossing, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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     Plionoma suturalis
     Scissors Crossing, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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     Judolia sexspilota
     Lake Sutherland, California

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      Neobellamira delicata australis
       Fry Creek Campground, Palomar Mountain, California

       This individual was flying around actively at Coffeeberry         (Rhamnus californica).

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          Cortodera falsa
       Plum Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

       This individual was visiting flowers in the desert during a         rich spring following a wet winter.

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​      Moneilema semipunctatum
       Indian Gorge, Anza Borrego Desert, California

       This individual was found walking on the ground on a               warm July night.

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     Tetraopes sp. (likely either T. femoratus or T. sublaevis)
     Lake Sutherland, California



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        Ipochus fasciatus
       Palomar College Arboretum, San Marcos, California

       Beaten from a Baccharis-like shrub.

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       Trirhabda geminata
       Culp Valley, Anza Borrego Desert, California

       This individual was on Encelia farinosa, for which this beetle species         has a strong association.




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     Chrysochus cobaltina
     Lake Sutherland, California

     A common visitor of milkweed.

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      Lema daturaphila
      Three-lined Potato Beetle
      Loveland Reservoir, California

      This adult and quite a few larvae were found on Brassica        rapa (Field Mustard)



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         Lema daturaphila
Larva
      Three-lined Potato Beetle
      Loveland Reservoir, California

      Several larvae, including this one, and one adult were              found on Brassica rapa (Field Mustard)

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       Trachymela sloanei
       Australian Tortoise Beetle

       This is a non-native species first found in Riverside                 County in 1998.
       This individual was found in February of 2016 under the           bark of a eucalyptus in Santa Ysabel, California.

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       Apleurus albovestitus
       Coyote Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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      Sphenophorus aequalis
       Clay-colored Billbug
       Lake Hodges, San Diego, California

       This individual was found at the water's edge.

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Sphenophorus sp.
Coyote Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California
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