Arizona beetles

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klawfran3

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Hey there all, I'm planning a trip to Arizona over the summer, possibly in June or July. I'm looking to collect as many kinds of beetle as I can and was wondering if anyone knows of some good spots or tips. I'll be using blacklights and possibly mercury vapor if I can get one to work worth a power inverter for me.

I'm really wanting to collect specifically:

chrysina gloriosa or other chrysina

Phanaeus vindex

Dynastes granti

And any other beetles with colors or large size.

I normally focus on hymemoptera and diptera bit I want to collect some beetles for my preserved collection and breeding.

I'll be there for a week, but I don't know the best time to go off the year or places to visit. I'll be road tripping around to the best places that people can tell me about.

Thanks all.

 
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Dynastes granti comes out in August ~ September.

You should check bugguide's data page (for month and States)on those species.

 
Second Madera Canyon, also Box Canyon. If you are looking for general beetles, also try parking lots at night. There is a car-wash in Rio Rico that has been good in July

 
Awesome! thanks for all the suggestions guys!

What would be the best way to attract them to me, light traps or just searching through the forest during the day? I've never gone collecting for them, so I wouldn't know.

 
No I did see those desert beetles (darklings), scorpions, spiders, loads of moths and sand roaches... if I went for an actual camping trip focused on entomological study and collection I'd find more. Typically go south Arizona if you want to find desert species and go north if you want giant d granti or any temperate species. The cities aren't really good for getting insects. I tried lookin for some in November no luck cause it's cold

 
Kevinswither said:
No I did see those desert beetles (darklings), scorpions, spiders, loads of moths and sand roaches... if I went for an actual camping trip focused on entomological study and collection I'd find more. Typically go south Arizona if you want to find desert species and go north if you want giant d granti or any temperate species. The cities aren't really good for getting insects. I tried lookin for some in November no luck cause it's cold
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Were they interesting kinds of moths? I'd be interesting in light trapping them too.

Also does anyone know if Chrisyna are attracted to UV light or would I have to get a mercury vapor?

 
klawfran3 said:
Were they interesting kinds of moths? I'd be interesting in light trapping them too.

Also does anyone know if Chrisyna are attracted to UV light or would I have to get a mercury vapor?
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I did see some nice large and small moths flyin around. Arizona is legit pretty good, been trying to find neobarretta spinosa.

 
If you happen to find any Eremoblatta nymphs on your trip, please collect some for me lol!
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Would love to get them into culture! That goes for anyone else in AZ, west Texas, southern CA and southern NV!

 
Hisserdude said:
If you happen to find any Eremoblatta nymphs on your trip, please collect some for me lol!
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Would love to get them into culture! That goes for anyone else in AZ, west Texas, southern CA and southern NV!
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I'll keep an eye out for them! I'll be around the Joshua Tree area next week if anyone wants to meet up, do they live there?

 
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Kevinswither said:
No I did see those desert beetles (darklings), scorpions, spiders, loads of moths and sand roaches... if I went for an actual camping trip focused on entomological study and collection I'd find more. Typically go south Arizona if you want to find desert species and go north if you want giant d granti or any temperate species. The cities aren't really good for getting insects. I tried lookin for some in November no luck cause it's cold
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Sounds really fun. I need to go to AZ! Ever find a tarantula just walking outside?

 
Hisserdude said:
YES, they do live in that area! Check under rocks, among plant roots in sandy soil and perhaps in rodent burrows to find them, they are pretty small, round and very hairy.

Here's an individual from that area:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/739724/bgimage
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ooh that's beautiful! I'll definitely search for them, hopefully I can find more than one! If I can find more I'll contact you. I'll be blacklighting too, think they might come to that?

 
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