I found the insects. It is an Iron Cross Blister Beetle. See the link
below:
http://www.arizonensis.org/sonoran/fieldguide/arthropoda/tegrodera.html
Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA
On 4/4/2015 11:03 AM, Jim Nichols wrote:
Chris,
All of these images are nice, and informative to someone like me who
has never explored the southwest, but the final closeup image of the
insects is outstanding. I hope someone can identify them for you.
Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA
On 4/4/2015 10:50 AM, Chris Trask wrote:
Yesterday I ventured down to the Sonoran Desert National
Monument for hiking and wildflower hunting. I had thought that the
southern entrance was restored to the public after seven years of
closure, but I was mistaken. So, I looked to see if the rumors of the
western entrance being restored after being obliterated years ago by
the highway and states lands departments, and found it to be true.
So, in I went. Unfortunately, I was a few weeks late for the peak of
the wildflowers, but I drew upon my knowledge of the area and made my
way to a narrow wash that afforded a wide variety of soils and
shading to see what remained.
I opted to hike up an adjacent drainage to get some scenic
views of the area. After ascending to the saddle between the two, I
took this panorama looking southward:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/16823577567/
and after crossing over to my intended drainage took this panorama
looking westward:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/16844775559/
Shortly after descending into the wash, I took this typical
view looking upstream:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/17029538542/
I was not disappointed, and among the flowers remaining I found
Rock Hibiscus:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/17029691642/
Scorpionweed:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/17029723992/
and a very nice specimen of Counterclockwise Nipple Cactus, which I
was most hoping to find on this journey:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/16823649047/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/16843273918/
I later came across an unusual sight of a shrub with numerous
large insects on it:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/16843584020/
they were very colourful, and not the least bit camera-shy:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/16408697444/
I have no idea at all what they are, but perhaps one of our
bugologists can sort that out.
Chris
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro
- Hunter S. Thompson
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