The Kiowa Dancer in Arizona is a relatively widely distributed but local species that until recently had, however, not been found in the western half of the state, including in Maricopa County. This situation changed in 2010 when one individual was discovered at the Phoenix Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area (Robert Witzeman, personal communication). Following this discovery, in the past four years Kiowa Dancers have been noticed at three other Maricopa County locations (2011: Wild Horse Pass; 2013: Papago Park; 2014: Gilbert Water Ranch).

Taken collectively, these observations suggest that the species may be expanding its range westward. Supporting this proposition, four males were seen on 13 May 2014 along the stream feeding the Quitobaquito Pond at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (Pima County; photos below). This site is located approximately 90 km (56 miles) west of the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, the westernmost location where Kiowa Dancers had been found to date in Arizona. The May 2014 observation is also only the second to document the presence of the species in Pima County.