AZ Bugz
There are almost no bugs out here compared to Pennsylvania but man - they are nasty. Below follow pix taken around the house as I encounter strange creatures of the desert new to my East Coast eyes.

Right before we left for the Grand Canyon Amy & I found a cool praying mantis on my back window. Here are a couple of shots from before he took off.
   

Although recently deceased in this photo this scorpion is the largest I actually found in my yard. He/she was almost 5 inches ling and an inch wide.

I was talking to Mom & Dad on the phone and noticed this big Stick Bug climbing on the back window. Sorry about the screen in the way of the bug.
   

This new addition is a super huge Solipugida that I found in Mexico, not in my house or yard. This monster was discovered by some of the orphan kids we visited in Mexico and the photo does not do it's size justice!

A new spider to add to the bestiary today: this one had a good thing going by living in a large pot by my front door. I emptied out the pot and dumped it upside down to get a stick out of it and this fat spider hopped out. I was "that" close to sticking my hand in after the stick. How foolish of me! I didn't get close enough t count the eyes so I can't be sure what make and model this guy is for sure.
       

Here is some bizarre spider thing that I found in my garage. I could see this guy from all the way down the street - the photos just don't convey how huge he (or she) was. Nasty!
Update: Andi did some thorough investigation and with the help of ASU's Biology department the "spider" was identified as being not a spider at all but instead a bizarre scorpion! The family Solipugida are "wind" or "sun" scorpions. They are not venomous and have no pointy end on the business side. They eat your standard issue scorpions and therefore (despite their high fright-factor) are good bugs. There does not seem to be much info about this particular model number of Solipugida but I was amazed while searching to learn the the most common "spider" in my house is also a scorpion I am innundated with scorps! Many thanks to Andi and someone named Stan Faeth, Professor & Chair of ASU's Department of Biology who sent this info to Andi.

Here is a favorite pic of mine of a wasp from my back deck. There are so few flying insects out here but you get the occasional bee or wasp: