50 Common Insects of the Southwest

The insect world is unmatched for its array of colorful species and their distinctive behaviors. Once you notice the tiny creatures, you can hardly stop watching as they fly gracefully, burrow busily, dance delicately, or even bang clumsily against you.

What are they doing? What do we call them? And why are they among the most successful life forms on Earth? Large color photographs get you close to the scintillating tiger beetle, the well-dressed rainbow grasshopper, the zippy orange skimmer, and even the blood-thirsty kissing bug. YouÂ’ll meet common southwestern species such as the mysterious black witch, the giant palo verde root borer (3 to 4 inches long!), the very focused tarantula hawk, and the rude Pinacate beetle.