This is a log of beetle observations made in the Cuyamacas (and occasionally elsewhere, as well). It was initiated in June of 2016.
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June 16, 2016: Short day trip to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park to check on the Poodle-dog Bush.
The Poodle-dog Bush (Eriodictyon parryi) is flowering in a huge way again, after several years of presence opposite the entrance to the Paso Picacho Campground. Here is a link to a post I made on this plant in 2013: cwwildernessjournal.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-dreaded-poodle-dog-bush.html. It was mostly being visited by honey bees (and hummingbirds), but not many other insects. The Common Yarrow was blooming all over and had a better diversity of visitors.
Here are a few of the beetles seen:
The Poodle-dog Bush (Eriodictyon parryi) is flowering in a huge way again, after several years of presence opposite the entrance to the Paso Picacho Campground. Here is a link to a post I made on this plant in 2013: cwwildernessjournal.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-dreaded-poodle-dog-bush.html. It was mostly being visited by honey bees (and hummingbirds), but not many other insects. The Common Yarrow was blooming all over and had a better diversity of visitors.
Here are a few of the beetles seen:
Mordellid (tumbling flower beetle), on Common Yarrow. There were many of these present.
Anthaxia sp., a small buprestid. Slightly blurry image, as the wind never stopped blowing, and these beetles are very small.
Acmaeodera hepburni, with a mordellid, on Common Yarrow, Achillea millefolium. There were lots of these out, and many were mating. One stack of THREE of them looked extremely photogenic, but they dispersed immediately in the warm sun as I approached.
Hippodamia convergens, a spot-less form. Very poor image, but I don't see the spot-less variety very often. It was on the Poodle-dog Bush, whose perilous hairs can be seen in the image, also.
June 20, 2016: Beetles at the black light on my patio (Cuyamaca Woods).
Prionus californicus, male. Twelve antennal segments, distinguishing it from Prionus lecontei. First seen of the season (here).
Polyphylla decemlineata. Several have appeared at the light this season so far.
Serica fimbriata. I don't see this species as often here in the mountains. It can be moderately numerous at lights at lower elevations in San Diego County (in the foothills), in my experience.
Cyclocephala sp. - another undetermined one.
Pacificanthia consors (the Brown Leatherwing). EXTREMELY common visitor to the light in the warm months. One of many seen this season.
June 25, 2016: Brief notes on beetles seen at the black light on the patio.
A couple nights ago, a Nicrophorus sp. carrion beetle appeared at the light, but I did not have time to photograph it. Last night (June 25th), one appeared again (maybe the same individual?). It had a small load of phoretic mites on it.
A couple nights ago, a Nicrophorus sp. carrion beetle appeared at the light, but I did not have time to photograph it. Last night (June 25th), one appeared again (maybe the same individual?). It had a small load of phoretic mites on it.
Also, the first Euthysanius sp. arrived (that I have observed this season). Two individuals.
July 3 - July 14, 2016: Road trip from San Diego County to Otter Rock, Oregon and back.
We made a journey to the Oregon coast, with camping and exploring along the way. Much of the territory on the northern California coast through Oregon was cool and often damp (and at some times downright rainy). But some insects, including beetles, were to be found. The most productive time, insect-wise was had in Plumas County, just south of Mount Lassen, in the southern Cascade Range in northern California. Unfortunately we only stayed there one night. Here are some of the beetles seen on the trip.
A small dytiscid (about 15 mm, give or take), in Williams, California, in the northern Central Valley. It was a hot, dry evening in this agricultural town, and this beetle came to lights near Interstate 5.
Timarcha intricata, a chrysomelid. At first I thought this was a tenebrionid of some sort, but it is a member of a genus well represented in the Old World. This little beetle (about 10 mm or so) was walking on the road at Patrick's Point State Park, on the northern California coast (in Humboldt County). It was a very chilly night and this was one of the few arthropods seen after dark!
Coelus sp., a small sand-loving species. At the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area in the Carter Lake vicinity.
Eleodes sp. (most likely). Small, and fairly numerous at the Oregon Dunes NRA.
Megeleates sequoiarum, a small bumpy tenebrionid, and one of my favorite beetles of the trip...an admittedly beetle-poor trip. This, and the following, were all seen at Domingo Spring Campground in Lassen National Forest in the southern Cascades (in California). It was: 1) Warm and 2) Dry there, much more favorable conditions for insects than the cool and wet of further north and west.
Odonteus obesus, a nice little geotrupid which I seem to see on almost every trip we take to the forests of the Sierras, Oregon or Utah.
Dichelonyx sp., to be determined.
Anatis rathvoni, one of the Giant Lady Beetles. This one was resting on a conifer after dark, nowhere near a light.
Tragosoma harrisii (formerly Tragosoma depsarium). A hyper-beetle, not interested in slowing down for a photo.
The next road trip will be to southeastern Arizona!
July 31 - August 4, 2016: Road trip to the Chiricahua Mountains in extreme southeastern Arizona
We spent several days in the Chiricahuas, using the Stewart Campground as base camp. It was fairly dry in the campground when we arrived, but in the next couple days some impressive rain occurred in the area, and Cave Creek transformed into a roaring river (from a dry, rock-strewn stream-bed). The insects were diverse, and we visited one new location: Horseshoe Canyon. Here are some of the beetles seen.
Ancognatha manca, a small dynastine. These are extremely common in the Cave Creek area at this time of year! They very readily come to a black light.
These Brachinus sp. (bombardier beetles) appeared in large numbers after dark each night (except the wettest night). They were eating crushed juniper berries, and crushed acorns. Here are a couple more images of them.
With another carabid friend.
Green tortoise beetles in Cave Creek Canyon (near Sunnyflat Campground).
Calligrapha serpentina, in Horseshoe Canyon, which is a bit south of Cave Creek Canyon. Horseshoe Canyon was very rich and seemed untraveled by people, for the most part. There were ranches scattered along its length, at least for several miles up (as far as we went), and many had stock tanks which attracted aquatic insects. Generally Horseshoe Canyon had less tree cover than Cave Creek Canyon, but was was still well worth a visit (two visits, in fact!).
In the desert scrub just to the east of Horseshoe Canyon, Canthon imitator and Canthon indigaceus were busily making the cow dung disappear. These are Canthon imitator. This was just following a heavy rain.
Canthon indigaceus pair with their ball.
Lycus fernandezi pair (yes, a pair). Horseshoe Canyon.
Here are some beetles found near Portal, the small town closest to Cave Creek Canyon.
Chauliognathus lecontei, along road to Paradise from Portal.
Gyascutus caelatus - a large buprestid found on Acacia sp.
Dorsal view of Gyascutus caelatus, showing the yellow secretions.
Sphaenothecus bivittatus, a small cerambycid.
The next several images are from the campsite - beetles that appeared at or near the black light. We were very lucky to be minimally disturbed by rain events at night.
Chlaenius pimalicus, a not-so-often observed carabid. It ran through our campsite one night after dark.
Chrysina lecontei
Copris arizonensis - a male.
A nice hefty Dynastes granti female. She appeared at the black light and I took several photos. Then I placed her on a tree trunk and by morning she was gone.
Here she is on the trunk - semi-camouflaged.
Enaphalodes atomarius, one of two members of this genus to appear at the light in our campground.
Enaphalodes niveitectus, smaller and whiter than the above species.
Epipocus unicolor, a handsome fungus beetle. Very small...but indeed handsome!

Orizabus sp., one of a couple that appeared. Unsure as to their species.
Very small cerambycid visitor to the black light.
We took a day trip to the high country at Rustler Park one day. The area had burned extensively in 2011, and the campground was completely different from what we had seen last (in 2008). The meadow was still flower-filled, and insect-filled as well.
Macrodactylus uniformis and friends, at one of the big sunflowers in the meadow.
There was a lot of this sort of thing happening on the flowers!
A mass of Hippodamia convergens.
One of the last beetles seen on the trip was this Gymnetina howdeni, found dead on the road near the Sunnyflat Campground. First Gymnetina for me anywhere to date!
There was plenty of thunder, lightning and wetness on this trip, but overall we were't too disrupted by it - just as it should be. This is lightning over the Chiricahuas as seen from Portal.
March 10-12, 2017: Camping in Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert
We typically make a journey to the local desert sometime in spring to camp for a couple night, and this was the time for this year's trip. It was fairly warm (low nineties in the daytime), and the heavy rains - over five inches - over the prior weeks and months had brought out more than the usual amount of flowers. There were also far more than the usual human visitors, as well! Some beetles were observed.
We typically make a journey to the local desert sometime in spring to camp for a couple night, and this was the time for this year's trip. It was fairly warm (low nineties in the daytime), and the heavy rains - over five inches - over the prior weeks and months had brought out more than the usual amount of flowers. There were also far more than the usual human visitors, as well! Some beetles were observed.
Anatis rathvoni, seemingly out of place in the desert, even thought it was a riparian area. It appeared at a blacklight.
Coenonycha lurida, at the black light.
Diplotaxis sp. - no surprise! At the black light.
Tomarus gibbosus - another very common and expected species. Many showed up at the black light.
Edrotes ventricosus - many of these little fuzzies were out after dark.
An odd tenebrionid, identity unknown (probably Stenomorpha sp.). It was about 10-12 mm long, and slightly hairy. Only one was seen and I've never seen its kind before.
March 18, 2017 - May 7, 2017: Beetles seen following the rainy winter and spring, in the Cuyamaca Mountains, Anza Borrego Desert, and Algodones Dunes.
Here are some of my favorite images from quite a few trips here and there in the region after the wonderful, much-needed wet season of 2016/2017!
Here are some of my favorite images from quite a few trips here and there in the region after the wonderful, much-needed wet season of 2016/2017!
Lytta magister in flight. There were many of these beetles flying around in a field of Desert Sunflowers, E. of Ocotillo Wells. I've never seen so much flight in an area before!

Callisthenes semilaevis, dining on a large Hyles lineata caterpillar. This area along Henderson Canyon Road in Borrego Springs had been heavily visited by people coming for the flower bloom, and I think this caterpillar had been stepped on.
Lytta auriculata mating pair, Plum Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert.
Trirhabda geminata, Plum Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert.
Cysteodemua armatus, hanging in there, around 13 miles N. of Glamis in the Algodones Dunes.
Embaphion depressum, which came to an oatmeal trail laid out in the dunes. Around 13 miles N. of Glamis in the Algodones Dunes.
Lytta melaena also hanging in there, norther Algodones Dunes.
Phodaga alticeps, in display mode. Northern Algodones Dunes. I also saw them along Henderson Canyon Road in Borrego Springs this season.
The same individual above, but with display stance more relaxed.
Phyllophaga mucorea, northern Algodones Dunes.
May 7, 2017: A new species for me found in the Anza Borrego Desert.
Poecilonota salixi, a nice buprestid found by beating along the San Felipe Creek, N. of Scissors Crossing. It was a cold, damp day, so the beetle did not want to extend its legs and antennae!
June 25, 2017 - July 14, 2017: Road trip from San Diego County to Wisconsin and back. Here are some of the beetles of interest seen on this 5000 mile-plus trip across a big chunk of the United States.
First night of the journey. Mogollon Rim, Arizona. A big thunderstorm dropped rain and hail on us, but a few insects were found by beating dead pine branches. This was one them (Enoclerus moestus).
In western Kansas we spent one night in a primitive state park (no facilities) called Hamilton County State Park. Many Cicindelidia punctulata were present before and after dark.
Chlaenius sericeus, dining on a grasshopper (of which there seemed to be millions). Hamilton Co. State Park, Kansas.
Epicauta sp., Hamilton Co. State Park, Kansas.
Strigoderma sp. (maybe S. arbicola, the San Chafer?). This was the Nebraska Sandhills (Keller Park State State Recreation Area, to be specific, a real little gem in N. Nebraska).
Small dung beetle, maybe Boreocanthon sp.? Keller Park State State Recreation Area, Nebraska.
I believe that this is Geotrupes splendidus, based on the punctate striae and other characteristics. Kettle-Moraine State Forest, Wisconsin. It was on a path in the forest on a warm, humid day (how most summer days are in the midwest).
Cicindela sexguttata, Kettle-Moraine State Forest, Wisconsin. I understand that this is a pretty common beetle in these whereabouts, but it's flashiness is quite an eye-catcher for those who live in southern California (especially San Diego County!).
On the way home now, by a more southerly route. The heat and humidity got pretty tough to handle on this second part of the trip (especially in east Texas). This was one of the milder locales, the Berryman Campground in the Mark Twain National Forest, Missouri, dominated by rich mixed deciduous-coniferous forest. This was the first Bolitotherus cornutus that I had ever seen. It is a female, so lacks the weird horns of the male, but still interesting. It came to a black light.
Glischrochilus obtusus, a sap-feeding beetle. Several were doing just that on a sap flow at the base of a tree. Berryman Campground, Mark Twain National Forest, Missouri.
Meracantha contracta, a small tenebrionid. Berryman Campground in the Mark Twain National Forest, Missouri.
Pelidnota punctata, Berryman Campground in the Mark Twain National Forest, Missouri. Needless to day, this is a very common beetle species in the midwest in the summer. They were seen in several locations at lights (and I've never NOT seen them on midwestern road trips).
Lucanus capreolus, a nice male found under a street light, Lake Eufaula, Oklahoma. Oklahoma always seems to deliver when it comes to seeing impressive species of beetles, and other things (we saw courting Mississippi Kites at this same spot the next morning).
Now we are in West Texas. I did not photograph beetles in Glen Rose, Texas (East Texas). This was another new species for me, although I had know it was here (Monahans Sandhills State Park). Embaphion muricatum.
Ellipsoptera lepida, being very cooperative for photos after dark (Monahans Sandhills S, Texas).
This one was in the last stages of consuming some small prey item.
One more - they were crying out to be photographed.
Finally - after no luck 5 years previously in the Davis Mountains, Texas. Chrysina woodii. These were even to be found at the post office after dark in Fort Davis!
We spent one more night before arriving home again (in the Chiricahua Mts., Arizona) but I photographed birds more than insects there.
We spent one more night before arriving home again (in the Chiricahua Mts., Arizona) but I photographed birds more than insects there.