Insects & Other Arthropods

Photo of the Hair Bear Scarab beetle on a stick posing in front of an Alcove Nature Trail pamphlet.

Photo by Raven Patrick

Insects of the Monument

Insects are the most diverse group of wildlife on the planet. With over a million insect species identified and thousands more discovered each year, it’s no surprise we find insects in our National Parks.

These little (and sometimes not so little) organisms are the foundations for ecosystems. They are food for many birds and reptiles, and they help recycle nutrients back into the food web. Insects are important pollinators, helping plants to reproduce and spread throughout environments. Without insects, waste would accumulate around us, most ecosystems would collapse, and humans and animals alike would struggle to survive.

With insects being incredibly important to our world’s survival, we should learn a little bit about them. Understanding the diversity of insects and their contributions to our environments can help us appreciate why they should be protected!

 

Taxonomical breakdown for all living creatures

Photo created by Raven Patrick

What are Insects?

All living organisms are classified through a system called taxonomy. Using taxonomy, living creatures are broken down into a Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species, and occasionally a Subspecies.

All animals fall into Kingdom Animalia. Animals include humans, insects, birds, amphibians, etc. Insects are classified under the Phylum Arthropoda. This Phylum includes crabs, lobsters, insects, and spiders. All creatures that have an exoskeleton (invertebrates) and jointed appendages fall within this Phylum. Humans and insects separate from one another by belonging to different Phylums.

We continue to classify insects down into Class Hexapoda (formerly known as Class Insecta). Class Hexapoda includes all animals with an exoskeleton, jointed appendages, three body segments, compound eyes, and a pair of antennae. Here, we separate insects from spiders.

Classifying insects to Order helps identify a grasshopper from a butterfly, or a beetle from a cicada. Identification tools can help you identify insects down to Order. Identifying insects down to family, genus, and species takes a keen eye and a lot of practice!

 

Insect Orders & Identification

With over 30 different insect orders existing throughout the world, it can be overwhelming when trying to identify an insect you come across. Here, we list some of the common orders of insects you see within the Monument, as well as examples.

 

 

Tessellate Bush Katydid

Photo by NPS R. Patrick

Orthoptera: Grasshoppers, Katydids, & Crickets

Grasshoppers, katydids, and crickets make up the order Orthoptera. These are our "noisy" insects. Most Orthopterans have noise-making appendages, making them some of the loudest creatures heard at night.

Insects in this order have obvious jumping legs and leathery wings called tegmina. Most are herbivores, although some are adapted to eat meat. Not only will predaceous Orthopterans eat other insects, but they can give you a quick bite too!

Examples of Orthopterans within the Monument include the Tessellate Bush Katydid, the Sooty Longwing Katydid, and the Badlands Grasshopper.

 

Western Leaf-footed Bug

Photo by NPS R. Patrick

Hemiptera: True Bugs, Cicadas, & Hoppers

Although we tend to call all insects “bugs”, only one insect order consists of true bugs: Order Hemiptera. This order has the true bugs (assassin bugs, giant water bugs, stink bugs), aphids, cicadas, and hoppers.

Almost all insects within this order have thick forewings called hemelytra, a prominent scutellum (large triangle on the thorax close to the head), and a proboscis-like mouth. These insects are generally herbivores and prey on the sap of many plant species. Because of the damage they can do to gardens and house plants, they are typically considered household pests. Hemipterans are very beneficial to ecosystems by being food for other animals, including birds, lizards, mammals, and other insects!

Examples of Hemipterans within the Monument include the Common Water Strider, Juniper Stink Bug, Western Leaf-footed Bug, and the southwestern Cicada.

 

Ten-lined June Beetle

Photo by NPS R. Patrick

Coleoptera: Beetles

The largest order of insects is Coleoptera, aka the beetles. Due to this order’s incredible diversity, there are few defining characteristics that apply to every beetle. However, in general, beetles will have a hardened pair of front wings called elytra, chewing mouthparts, and small antennae.

The large variation in morphology allows beetles to feed on plant or animal material, live in extreme heat or cold, and be beneficial or considered pests to humans.

Examples of Coleopterans within the Monument include the Ten-lined June Beetle, the California Root Borer Beetle, and the Desert Stink Beetle.

 

Two-tailed Swallowtail Butterfly

Photo by NPS C. Ladlow

Lepidoptera: Butterflies & Moths

The Lepidopterans include the butterflies and moths. These insects are easy to identify with their large wings and colorful patterns.

Although moths and butterflies are often confused for one another, there are some key differences between the two. Moths are generally notcurnal, have hairs instead of scales on their wings and bodies, are not usually as colorful as butterflies, and have plumose (feather-like) antennae. Butterflies are generally diurnal, have scales across their wings, are very colorful, and have clubbed antennae. Both butterflies and moths pollinate some of our unique plants such as desert four o'clock and yucca.

Examples of Lepidopterans within the Monument include the Two-tailed Swallowtail Butterfly, the White-lined Sphinx Moth, and the Sagebrush Checkerspot.

 

Large Carpenter Bee

Photo by NPS R. Patrick

Hymenoptera: Bees, Wasps, & Ants

Bees, wasps, and ants all fall under the order Hymenoptera. This order is typically characterized as having three obvious segments and a prominent ovipositor (modified into a stinger in some groups).

Additionally, most hymenopterans are eusocial, forming large colonies with worker castes. Bees help with the pollination of most of our flowers, including when prickly pear cacti or king cup cacti bloom.

Examples of Hymenopterans within the Monument include the Rough Harvester Ant, the Orange-tipped Woodborer Bee, and the Velvet Ant.

 

Robber Fly

Photo by NPS R. Patrick

Diptera: Flies

The order Diptera consists of some of the most beneficial (yet sometimes annoying) insects in the world: the flies. All flies only have one pair of wings, with the hindwings evolving to be reduced, golf-club like appendages called halteres.

A large diversity of flies exist, ranging between large flies that only eat nectar to small flies that will do whatever they can to give you a bite. Although sometimes annoying, flies serve an important role in ecosystems as decomposers and as food for many other insects, birds, and mammals.

Examples of Dipterans within the Monument include the Robber Fly, Biting Midges, and the Horse Fly.

 

California Mantis on the Visitor Center entrance

Photo by NPS R. Patrick

Mantodea: Praying Mantis

Order Mantodea includes the praying mantis, including those found within the Colorado National Monument. With front legs modified for catching and clinging on to prey, mantis make for formidable hunters in the insect world.

Mantis will reproduce in the late summer or early fall. After mating, the larger females will generally eat the smaller males. Females then lay giant egg masses called "oothecas" which hatch the following summer.

These fascinating insects help control our insect populations, ensuring not one species begins to overpopulate. Additionally, praying mantis are the only insects that can turn their heads!

Examples of Mantodeans within the Monument include the Carolina Mantids, the Ground Mantids, and the European Mantids.

 

Antlion Adult

Photo by NPS R. Patrick

Neuroptera: Antlions, Mantisflies, & Lacewings

The order Neuroptera includes obscure, rarely seen insects with heavily veined wings. These insects include the antlions, foracious insects who, while as a larvae, will dig sand pit traps to capture and eat smaller insects such as flies and ants. Antlion larvae can stay in their larvae form for anywhere between one to three years before emerging as beautiful antlion adults.

Mantidflies are very small insects, ranging between 20-35mm in size. They look like a mix between a praying mantis and a fly, and indeed they are carnivorous, generally feeding on spiders. Although Neuropterans can be elusive, they are a crucial part of our ecosystem, helping to keep ant and spider populations from overpopulating.

 

Important Non-Insects

Although we have plenty of neat insects scattered throughout the Monument, it is important to recognize the other arthropods that exist here as well.
Some of our insects and spiders are venomous. As with all of our animals, please practice safe distances and do not handle our insects and spiders. If an insect or spider is in an unsafe location, please tell a ranger. If you feel there is an emergency, please call 911.

 

Black Widows

These venomous spiders are located throughout the park under clifffaces and in other covered locations. Although potentially harmful to humans, they pose little to no threat if left undisturbed. They are incredibly beneficial to environments by removing harmful insects such as mosquitoes and other biting flies. All black widows with the red hourglass marking are females, with the males being much smaller with white and red markings along their abdomens.

 

Cellar Spiders

Cellar spiders have long, thin legs and a tan/yellowish coloration. They generally spin irregular webs in corners or buildings or windowsills. Although they may look intimidating, they are harmless to humans with most unable to pierce human skin. Additionally, cellar spiders are some of the only spiders capable of hunting and eating black widows! A common myth exists stating cellar spiders have some of the most potent venom in the world, although this myth has been debunked many times.

 

Huntsman Spiders

These spiders are one of the largest spiders found within Colorado National Monument. Belonging to the giant crab spider family, these spiders can reach 3-4 inches in length, are tan or beige colored, and have legs angled much like a crab. The huntsman spider is an admirable hunter with the ability to move quickly and jump, ensuring success when hunting other insects such as beetles and cockroaches. Although thought to be scary by most, they are not considered dangerous to humans. In fact, they are beneifical carnivores by keeping pest populations down.

 

Centipedes & Millipedes

Millipedes are not insects because they have more than 3 pairs of legs and more than 3 body segments. Millipedes found in the monument only reach about an inch in length. They are round, slow, and have anywhere between 36 to 400 legs. Millipedes are decomposers, preferring to eat decaying leaves and other dead plant matter. Due to their diets, they are commonly found underneath rocks and decaying plants. Millipedes are harmless, curling into a tight coil whenever threatened, and do not bite or sting. They are important decomposers in our environment and without them, nutrients would have a hard time recycling back into the food web.

Centipedes are also not insects because they have more than 3 pairs of legs and body segments. Centipedes, however, differ from millipedes in a number of ways. Centipedes only have one pair of legs per body segment and are primarily carnivorous. They eat other arthropods, worms, and occasionally other centipedes. Centipedes are nocturnal, although occasionally you can find them running around in the monument during the day. These arthropods can bite, and many have venom leading to painful bites. Although potentially more hazardous to humans than millipedes, centipedes are important carnivores that help mitigate our arthropod populations.

 

With so many unique arthropods out in the world, it is almost a guarantee you will find something neat if you take the time to go out and explore! Check out the following articles to learn about insects near YOU!

 

 

Article written by NPS R. Patrick
Updated 9/27/2024