And to think, I used to run from bugs . . .

26 July, 2019; Vail AZ

Black light really does show the scorpions

The desert is an entirely different world at night; usually, it's so thick with bugs slapping into my face or landing on my arms, that I stay inside.  But, Phoebe needs company when she goes outside at night (the coyote howls are close, and the neighbors occasionally see bobcats) - so, I'm becoming familiar with some of my nocturnal neighbors.

This scorpion really stood out on the paver.  After taking the photo, I used the cup and some cardboard (my invasive species relocation kit) to move this guy out of the yard.  Phoebe was being a bit too curious to leave it in my yard.

Not very big - maybe 2"

More spiders . . . 

In addition to my resident Wolf Spider, I also have a smallish grey tarantula (at least I think that's what it is).  This one is very shy and as soon as the light hits it, he runs for his burrow.

All fuzzy and grey; maybe 3" including his legs

This guy was just passing through one night

Phoebe found this guy and was very interested.  Fortunately, she left it when I yelled at her and I got her into the house before taking a couple pics.  This tarantula was one of the bigger ones I've seen in Arizona - about the size of a saucer.  When I got too close, it would hop around - so after a couple of pics, I left it alone.  It was crossing my back yard like it was on a mission.

At night, there are hundreds (and more hundreds) of bugs attracted to the lights in the house

I find this understandable but kind of gross.  I feel a bit like I'm under siege.  I usually put on a porch light and then sneak Phoebe out a side door to keep too many bugs from flying into the house when I open a door.  Fortunately, they're gone in the morning.  Well, the alive ones are gone.  Every morning I use a leaf blower to clear the front and back porches from the many (this morning I counted over 100 of just one species) bug corpses.  I'm surprised that the local birds don't come and eat more of them. A yucky part of being in the desert.

I'm seeing a lot of these huge (3") crickets?, cicadas?

These big mantis's are really bright green (2") - kind of pretty

You could kiss this guy if you're looking for a very angry prince, or to get high or maybe die

Like almost everything around here, this Sonoran Desert Toad is poisonous.  According to my amphibians and reptiles book: "the largest toad in the United States, this toad secretes toxins that can cause hallucinations, paralysis, or death in dogs and other vertebrates" (I'm a vertebrate).

This young one was on my front porch when I went outside to try to get a better pic of the green mantis.  Needless to say, I was startled!!  You can see the orange bumps typical of young ones and the telltale big glands on legs and neck which distinguish it from a bullfrog.  This one was around 4-5".