Greater San Diego County

Beetles of Greater San Diego County

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

Found on spring vegetation, coastal sage scrub habitat.

Callisthenes semilaevis
Henderson Canyon Road, Borrego Springs, California

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

Callisthenes semilaevis
Henderson Canyon Road, Borrego Springs, California

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

Callisthenes semilaevis
Henderson Canyon Road, Borrego Springs, California

Mating pair.

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

Found on a grassy lawn in spring.

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.

Cicindela oregona
Loveland Reservoir, California

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

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!

Thermonectus marmoratus
Santa Ysabel, California

Found at lights at night.

Nicrophorus guttala
East of Eagle Peak, California

Oak parkland habitat.

Thinopinus pictus
just north of Imperial Beach, California

Found under seaweed at high tide mark.

Thinopinus pictus
just north of Imperial Beach, California

Found under seaweed at high tide mark.

Omorgus suberosus
Borrego Springs, California

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

Pleocoma puncticollis
Male
Ramona, California

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

Pleocoma puncticollis
Male
Ramona, California

Bolbocerastes regalis
Male
Borrego Springs, California

Bolbocerastes regalis
Female
Borrego Springs, California

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.

Aphodius sp.
Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

This individual came to a black light in March.

 Diplotaxis sp.
Borrego Springs, California

Dinacoma marginata
San Felipe Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California

 Dinacoma marginata
San Felipe Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California

 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.

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.

 Dichelonyx sp.
Fry Creek Campground, Palomar Mountain, California

Just before take-off.

Coenonycha lurida
Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

This individual came to black light on a March night.

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.

Paracotalpa puncticollis
Little Blair Valley, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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

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

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!

Tomarus gibbosus
Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert State Park

In riparian area.

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

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.

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.

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.

Acmaeodera connexa
Doane Pond, Palomar Mountain, California

This individual was found on a warm June day.

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

Acmaeodera gibbula
Scissors Crossing, Anza Borrego Desert, California

Acmaeodera prorsa
Northern Laguna Mountains, California

Came to Lindgren funnel trap.

Acmaeodera retifera
Lake Sutherland, California

Acmaeodera vernalis
Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

Acmaeodera sphaeralceae
Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

Gyascutus planicosta
Borrego Springs, California

Octinodes megalops
San Felipe Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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

Silis sp.
Fry Creek Campground, Palomar Mountain, California

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

Enoclerus quadrisignatus
San Felipe Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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

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

In riparian area.

Trichodes ornatus pair
Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

This pair found on Encelia farinosa in a riparian area.

Coccinella septempunctata
Loveland Reservoir, California

This individual was on Brassica rapa (Field Mustard)

Coccinella septempunctata
Loveland Reservoir, California

This pair was found on Brassica rapa (Field Mustard)

 Hippodamia convergens
Loveland Reservoir, California

This pair was found on Brassica rapa (Field Mustard)

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.

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!

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

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

Macrosiagon cruenta
San Felipe Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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

 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.

Stenomorpha cressoni
Near Shelter Valley, Anza Borrego Desert, California

Out after dark in a mesquite-dominated habitat.

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.

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

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

Eleodimorpha bolcan
det. A. Johnston
Fry Creek Campground, Palomar Mountain, California

Several were seen after dark crawling on the forest floor.

 Asbolus verrucosus
Coyote Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California

Asbolus verrucosus
Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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

Cryptoglossa muricata
Indian Gorge, Anza Borrego Desert, California

Edrotes ventricosus
Coyote Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California

Microschatia inaequalis
Lake Hodges, San Diego, California

Cerenopus concolor
Coyote Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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

Cysteodemus armatus
Borrego Springs, California

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

Eupompha elegans
Along Henderson Canyon Road, Borrego Springs, California

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

Eupompha elegans
Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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.

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

In riparian area.

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.

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

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

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

In riparian area.

Lytta auriculata
Indian Gorge, Anza Borrego Desert, California

Lytta magister
Borrego Springs, California

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.

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

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

Lytta vulnerata
Near Shelter Valley, Anza Borrego Desert, California

Lytta nitidicollis
East of Ramona, California

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

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

Derobrachus geminatus
Anza Borrego Desert, California

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

Eustromula validum
Anza Borrego Desert, California

Phoracantha recurva
Ramona, California

A native of Australia. A pest of eucalyptus trees.

Osmidus guttatus
Borrego Springs, California

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

Anelaphus albofasciatus
Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

This individual came to a light set up after dark.

Oeme costata
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).

Callimoxys fuscipennis
Fry Creek Campground, Palomar Mountain, California

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

Plionoma suturalis
Scissors Crossing, Anza Borrego Desert, California

Plionoma suturalis
Scissors Crossing, Anza Borrego Desert, California

Judolia sexspilota
Lake Sutherland, California

Neobellamira delicata australis
Fry Creek Campground, Palomar Mountain, California

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

Cortodera falsa
Plum Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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

 Moneilema semipunctatum
Indian Gorge, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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

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

      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.

Chrysochus cobaltina
Lake Sutherland, California

A common visitor of milkweed.

Lema daturaphila
Three-lined Potato Beetle
Loveland Reservoir, California

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

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)

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.

Apleurus albovestitus
Coyote Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California

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

This individual was found at the water's edge.

Sphenophorus sp.
Coyote Creek, Anza Borrego Desert, California

Beetles of Greater San Diego County

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