The past few weeks I've been making regular trips to imperial county, all over the place in the desert. Ive been finding some neat stuff.. here are all the species I've collected, so far..
Scorpions/other arachnids:
Hadrurus arizonensis -'Giant desert-hairy scorpion'
These are big scorpions, the one pictured is nearly 6" long with the tail stretched out.. they're common around washes, where sand has deposits of clay, making the sediment stable and perfect for burrowing. They look fearsome, and can be quite mean, but generally, they seem to find humans more-so of a curiosity than a threat.
Smeringurus mesaensis -'Giant sand scorpion'
Another large species, found in transient dunes and washes, where sand is dominant, and fine.
Smeringurus vachoni immanis (no common name)
Female:
Male:
This species I was quite excited to find, they're by no means common, and only like a particular habitat type- rocky cliffs and hills, with cobbled soil, with large boulders strewn about. unlike S. mesaensis, these arent dune dwellers, and prefer to climb on rocks. These scorpions display sexual dimorphism- males have huge claws, and extremely long tails, not to mention they're much more aggressive than females.
Serradigitus subtilimanus (no common name, but the species name means 'long and slender-handed')
Extremely rare. Known from only a few specimens. Even rarer, is the fact that this specimen i caught is pallid, normally they're dark. Very very fast, skittish and quick to sting.
Paravaejovis waeringi (no common name) (top is a pallid dune-morph, bottom is a specimen from a rocky wash)
Small, but very aggressive. They're yet another species that's quick to sting. the one pictured nailed me good, venom is painful, but extremely short-lived. effects are non-noticeable within three minutes of the sting.
Eremobates sp 'Camel-spider/Windscorpion
This large specimen was found in ocotillo wells, running around, looking for prey. After capturing her, I tossed in a large adult antlion, which she ripped apart with great relish
BEETLES:
Asbolus verrucosus, the Blue death-feigning beetle.
Very popular pets, a single beetle is worth $10.00 or more, depending on the current supply and demand trends. I sell them for $5.00, but even when I do this, i have cheapskates trying to lowball me. lol, really? at any rate, they're really cool beetles, very social.
Asbolus laevis, Smooth death-feigning beetle
Not as well known, only found in areas where dunes remain intact in imperial county, they have a smooth dark shell, with a bluish coating. They're far more active and social, behaving like ants, almost.
Edrotes ventricosus- 'Inflated' darkling beetle (bottom two specimens in pic below)
Common in our deserts, these hilarious looking beetles also make a noise similar to the warning sound velvet ants produce when harassed.
Eusattus dilatatus 'wide dune beetle'
rare, and only found within the imperial sand dunes region, these beetles are so specialized, that they cannot survive without fine sand. They have an attractive golden ring around the pronotum.
Cryptoglossa muricata 'Murex death-feigning beetle'
Common, but not well known due to their nomadic habits. Quite striking beetles, very tough, often seen wandering around during the height of summer, when even desert iguanas are seeking refuge from the heat.
Asidina confluens 'Confluent darkling beetle'
A strange species, which is found around Palo verde trees in the imperial deserts, they're more solitary and difficult to care for
TARANTULAS
Aphonopelma iodius
Beautiful enormous tarantulas, my female is 5.5" in diagonal legspan, very docile (unless you screw with her enclosure).
Her male suitor, pictured below, is much smaller..