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Insects & Arthropods of Death Valley National Park

The insects & arthropods most often spotted in Death Valley, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

5,340
recent observations
50
species listed
50
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 5,340 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Death Valley. The most frequently seen is the White-lined Sphinx, with 839 recorded sightings.

Most-observed insects & arthropods in Death Valley

White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata
839 observations · iNaturalist
Large Creosote Gall Midge
Asphondylia auripila
309 observations · iNaturalist
Smeringurus vachoni
Smeringurus vachoni
300 observations · iNaturalist
Pallid-winged Grasshopper
Trimerotropis pallidipennis
227 observations
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
222 observations
Master Blister Beetle
Lytta magister
199 observations · iNaturalist
Western Pygmy-Blue
Brephidium exilis
193 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Tarantula
Aphonopelma iodius
180 observations · iNaturalist
Veromessor pergandei
Veromessor pergandei
142 observations · iNaturalist
Sagebrush Checkerspot
Chlosyne acastus
141 observations · iNaturalist
Beck's Desert Scorpion
Paruroctonus becki
139 observations · iNaturalist
Ornate Checkered Beetle
Trichodes ornatus
138 observations
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
128 observations
Variegated Meadowhawk
Sympetrum corruptum
127 observations · iNaturalist
Giuliani's Dune Scarab
Pseudocotalpa giulianii
121 observations · iNaturalist
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
Coccinella septempunctata
116 observations
Desert Hairy Scorpion
Hadrurus arizonensis
109 observations
Convergent Lady Beetle
Hippodamia convergens
104 observations
Western Black Horse Fly
Tabanus punctifer
104 observations · iNaturalist
Inflated Beetle
Cysteodemus armatus
96 observations · iNaturalist
Vivid Dancer
Argia vivida
92 observations · iNaturalist
Armored Stink Beetle
Eleodes armata
91 observations · iNaturalist
Yellow Devil Scorpion
Paravaejovis confusus
82 observations · iNaturalist
Mojave Dunes Scorpion
Paruroctonus arenicola
80 observations · iNaturalist
Flame Skimmer
Libellula saturata
78 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Ironclad Beetle
Asbolus verrucosus
70 observations · iNaturalist
Acmaeodera tuta
Acmaeodera tuta
60 observations · iNaturalist
Syspira longipes
Syspira longipes
54 observations · iNaturalist
Edrotes ventricosus
Edrotes ventricosus
48 observations · iNaturalist
Paruroctonus shulovi
Paruroctonus shulovi
47 observations · iNaturalist
Eusattus muricatus
Eusattus muricatus
46 observations · iNaturalist
Alkali Grasshopper
Anconia integra
46 observations · iNaturalist
Large-tailed Aphideater
Eupeodes volucris
46 observations · iNaturalist
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
45 observations
Western Pondhawk
Erythemis collocata
45 observations · iNaturalist
Eupompha schwarzi
Eupompha schwarzi
43 observations · iNaturalist
Stahnkeus deserticola
Stahnkeus deserticola
37 observations · iNaturalist
Checkered White
Pontia protodice
36 observations · iNaturalist
Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes
35 observations
Lineostriastiria hutsoni
Lineostriastiria hutsoni
35 observations · iNaturalist
Dune Scorpion
Smeringurus mesaensis
34 observations · iNaturalist
Schinia ligeae
Schinia ligeae
34 observations · iNaturalist
Nevada Tiger Beetle
Ellipsoptera nevadica
32 observations · iNaturalist
Phodaga alticeps
Phodaga alticeps
30 observations · iNaturalist
Creosote Moth
Digrammia colorata
30 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Long-horned Grasshopper
Tanaocerus koebelei
29 observations · iNaturalist
American Rubyspot
Hetaerina americana
28 observations
American Snout
Libytheana carinenta
25 observations
Blue-ringed Dancer
Argia sedula
25 observations · iNaturalist
Arizona Bird-dropping Moth
Ponometia elegantula
23 observations · iNaturalist

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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