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A Gallery of Insects Anza-Borrego Desert State Park(R) & Environs East San Diego County, California

Desert Orangetip caterpillar feasting on Lacepod seeds (Mustard Family)

Desert Orangetip (Anthocharis cethura) male sipping nectar at Fiddleneck

'Neumoegen's Sagebrush Checkerspot (Chlosyne acastus neumoegeni) on Orcutt's Aster shortly after emerging from its pupa. Its caterpillars eat this aster.

Henne's Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona hennei) at Desert Lotus

Electra Buck Moth (Hemileuca electra).  We found this in Box Canyon displaying its underside (left photo) and striped abdomen, obviously having just emerged from its pupa. When we returned to it a little later, it then appeared  with wings in their normal position showing the upperside (right photo).

Robust Assassin Bug (Apiomeris crassipes) eating  its prey, a Wedge-shaped Beetle (Rhipiphorus vierecki) captured on Sweetbush.

Punctate Bear Beetle  (Paracotalpa puncticollis) on California Juniper, its larval food plant. We have seen several of these large scarabs, 20 mm in length, warming up by exposing their black bellies to the sun.

Male bees (Megandrena enceliae) waking up after spending a night nestled in a Buckhorn cactus flower. Females probably sleep in their nests, which they provision with Creosote Bush pollen.

Alkali Goldenbush Longhorn (Crossidius suturalis pubescens) eating Alkali Golden-bush. Larvae of this beetle also eat this plant.