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  ABC > Home > THE FAUNA PROJECT > Survey April 6, 2017


The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Fauna Project

The morning was very cool and sunny as eight volunteers participated in this week's survey. Most insects mate then lay eggs (see stink bug eggs below). One reason that aphids are so successful in spite of being on the menu of many predators is that, at times, they not only reproduce by parthenogenesis but also skip the egg bit and just give birth to live young (see below). Additional survey pictures can be viewed on Dvori's Flickr page.

Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings:


Bubo virginianus (great horned owl nestlings)
photo by Dvori Bird


Vanessa atalanta (red admiral)
photo by Dan Zinn


Megisto cymela (little wood-satyr)
photo by Val Bugh


Nathalis iole (dainty sulphur)
photo by Val Bugh


Ogdoconta cinereola (common pinkband)
photo by Barbara Ribble


Mompha eloisella (red-streaked mompha moth)
photo by Val Bugh


Hyalophora cecropia (Cecropia moth larva)
photo by Val Bugh


Papilio multicaudata (two-tailed swallowtail larva)
photo by Val Bugh


Melalgus plicatus (powder-post beetle)
photo by Val Bugh


Aphis nerii (oleander aphids giving birth)
photo by Val Bugh


Podisus maculiventris & Chlorochroa ligata
(predatory stink bug & conchuela eggs)
photo by Val Bugh


Hypselonotus punctiventris (coreid bug nymph)
photo by Dvori Bird


Charmon sp. (braconid wasp)
photo by Barbara Ribble


Isodontia sp. (grass-carrying wasp)
photo by Val Bugh


Bombus pensylvanicus (American bumble bee queen)
photo by Val Bugh


Apis mellifera (honey bee)
photo by Dvori Bird


Copestylum marginatum (flower fly)
photo by Barbara Ribble


Neacreotrichus sp. (bee fly)
photo by Dvori Bird


Pogonognathellus sp. (slender springtail)
photo by Dvori Bird


Sceloporus olivaceus (Texas spiny lizard)
photo by Barbara Ribble

  • Birds:
    American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
    Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)
    Black-bellied Whistling-duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
    Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus)
    Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
    Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
    Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)
    Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
    Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)
    Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
    House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
    Hummingbird (Archilochus sp.)
    Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
    Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)
    Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
    Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
    Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
    Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)
    White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)
    White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)

  • Mammals:
    Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)

  • Reptiles & Amphibians:
    Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus)
    Texas Spotted Whiptail (Cnemidophorus gularis gularis)
    Redstripe Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus)
    Texas Map Turtle (Graptemys versa)
    Rio Grande Leopard Frog (Rana berlandieri)

  • Misc.:
    Slender Springtail (Pogonognathellus sp.)
    Harvestman (Leiobunum sp.)

  • Insects & Spiders:
    orderfamilygenus/speciescommon name

    lepidoptera  nymphalidae  Agraulis vanillae  Gulf Fritillary
        Euptoieta claudia  Variegated Fritillary
        Danaus gilippus  Queen
        Danaus plexippus  Monarch (adult & pupa)
        Polygonia interrogationis  Question Mark
        Vanessa atalanta  Red Admiral
        Vanessa virginiensis  American Lady
        Junonia coenia  Common Buckeye
        Chlosyne lacinia  Bordered Patch
        Phyciodes vesta  Vesta Crescent
        Phyciodes texana  Texan Crescent
        Thessalia theona  Theona Checkerspot
        Megisto cymela  Little Wood-satyr
      pieridae  Kricogonia lyside  Lyside Sulphur
        Zerene cesonia  Southern Dogface (adult & pupa)
        Colias eurytheme  Orange Sulphur
        Nathalis iole  Dainty Sulphur
        Eurema lisa  Little Yellow
        Eurema nicippe  Sleepy Orange
        Phoebis sennae  Cloudless Sulphur
        Pontia protodice  Checkered White
      papilionidae  Papilio cresphontes  Giant Swallowtail (larva)
        Papilio multicaudata  Two-tailed Swallowtail (larva)
        Papilio glaucus  Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
        Papilio polyxenes  Black Swallowtail (larva)
      lycaenidae  Strymon melinus  Gray Hairstreak
        Calycopis isobeon  Dusky-blue Groundstreak
        Callophrys gryneus  Juniper Hairstreak
        Callophrys henrici  Henry's Elfin (larva)
        Hemiargus isola  Reakirt's Blue
      hesperiidae  Erynnis funeralis  Funereal Duskywing
        Chioides albofasciatus  White-striped Longtail
        Systasea pulverulenta  Texas Powdered-skipper
        Lerema accius  Clouded Skipper
        Euphyes vestris  Dun Skipper
        Hylephila phyleus  Fiery Skipper
        Amblyscirtes celia  Celia's Roadside-skipper
      noctuidae  Galgula partita  The Wedgling
        Ogdoconta cinereola  Common Pinkband
        Alypia octomaculata  Eight-spotted Forester
        Ozarba aeria  Moth
        Megalographa biloba  Bilobed Looper Moth
      arctiidae  Estigmene acrea  Saltmarsh Caterpillar (larva)
        Cisthene tenuifascia  Thin-banded Lichen Moth
      erebidae  Eubolina impartialis  Moth
        Bleptina caradrinalis  Bent-winged Owlet
      notodontidae  Elasmia sp.  Prominent (larva)
      saturniidae  Hyalophora cecropia  Cecropia Moth (larva)
      geometridae  Tornos scolopacinaria  Dimorphic Gray
        Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria  Blackberry Looper Moth
        Phigalia strigataria  Small Phigalia (larva)
        Nemoria zygotaria  Emerald
        Cyclophora nanaria  Dwarf Tawny Wave
        Glenoides texanaria  Texas Gray Moth
      crambidae  Uresiphita reversalis  Genista Caterpillar (adult & larva)
        Urola nivalis  Snowy Urola
        Palpita gracialis  Moth
        Pyrausta pseudonythesalis  Pyrausta Moth
        Pyrausta inornatalis  Inornate Pyrausta Moth
        Petrophila jaliscalis  Moth
        Lipocosma polingi  Moth
      pyralidae  Homoeosoma electella  Sunflower Moth
      tortricidae  Archips argyrospila  Fruit Tree Leafroller Moth
        Sparganothoides lentiginosana  Lentiginos Moth
      elachistidae  Ethmia semilugens  Ethmia Moth
      oecophoridae  Inga obscuromaculella  Moth
      blastobasidae  Pigritia murtfeldtella  Moth
      gelechiidae  Hypatima sp.  Moth
      xyloryctidae  Scythris fuscicomella  Moth
      pterophoridae  Adaina ambrosiae  Ambrosia Plume Moth
      momphidae  Mompha eloisella  Red-streaked Mompha Moth
      heliodinidae  Aetole sp.  Moth
      acrolophidae  Acrolophus mortipennella  Tubeworm Moth

    coleoptera  coccinellidae  Harmonia axyridis  Multi-colored Asian Lady Beetle
        Cycloneda sanguinea  Red Lady Beetle (larva)
        Cycloneda munda  Lady Beetle (larva)
        Coccinella septempunctata  Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
        Psyllobora renifer  Lady Beetle
      chrysomelidae  Diabrotica undecimpunctata  Spotted Cucumber Beetle
        Brachypnoea sp.  Leaf Beetle
      meloidae  Nemognatha sp.  Blister Beetle
      melyridae  Attalus rufiventris  Soft-winged Flower Beetle
      anthribidae  Trigonorhinus limbatus  Fungus Weevil
      scarabaeidae  Euphoria kernii  Flower Scarab
        Trichiotinus texanus  Texas Flower Scarab
      mordellidae  Mordellistena cervicalis  Tumbling Flower Beetle
      scraptiidae  Allopoda sp.  False Flower Beetle
      buprestidae  Acmaeodera neglecta  Metallic Woodborer
        Acmaeodera ornatoides  Metallic Woodborer
      cerambycidae  Eupogonius sp.  Longhorn Beetle
      carabidae  Plochionus timidus  Ground Beetle
      bostrichidae  Melalgus plicatus  Powder-post Beetle
      attelabidae  Haplorhynchites sp.  Flower Weevil

    hemiptera  coreidae  Acanthocephala terminalis  Coreid Bug
        Leptoglossus phyllopus  Eastern Leaf-footed Bug
        Hypselonotus punctiventris  Coreid Bug (adult & nymph)
      lygaeidae  Oncopeltus fasciatus  Large Milkweed Bug
      rhopalidae  Harmostes reflexulus  Scentless Plant Bug
        Arhyssus sp.  Scentless Plant Bug
      miridae  Lopidea major  Plant Bug
        Lopidea sp.  Plant Bug
        Hesperolabops gelastops  Cactus Plant Bug (nymph)
        Taedia sp.  Plant Bug
        Poecilocapsus lineatus  Four-lined Plant Bug
        Slaterocoris sp.  Plant Bug
      reduviidae  Zelus renardii  Assassin Bug
        Zelus tetracanthus  Four-spined Assassin Bug
      thyreocoridae  Galgupha sp.  Ebony Bug
      scutelleridae  Sphyrocoris obliquus  Shield Bug
      pentatomidae  Trichopepla semivittata  Stink Bug
        Chlorochroa ligata  Conchuela (adult & eggs)
        Euschistus servus  Brown Stink Bug
        Podisus maculiventris  Predatory Stink Bug (eggs)

    homoptera  cicadellidae  Cuerna costalis  Leafhopper (nymph)
      cercopidae  Clastoptera sp.  Spittlebug
      aphididae  Aphis nerii  Oleander Aphid

    hymenoptera  apidae  Apis mellifera  Honey Bee
        Bombus pensylvanicus  American Bumble Bee (queen)
        Anthophora sp.  Digger Bee
        Centris atripes  Digger Bee
        Xylocopa parkinsoniae  Large Carpenter Bee
        Xylocopa virginica  Eastern Carpenter Bee
        Xylocopa micans  Southern Carpenter Bee
      halictidae  Halictus sp.  Sweat Bee
      vespidae  Polistes exclamans  Paper Wasp
        Polistes rubiginosus  Red Wasp
        Polistes metricus  Paper Wasp
        Parazumia symmorpha  Mason Wasp
        Euodynerus sp.  Mason Wasp
        Monobia quadridens  Mason Wasp
      scoliidae  Campsomeris plumipes  Scoliid Wasp
      sphecidae  Sceliphron caementarium  Yellow-and-black Mud Dauber
        Isodontia sp.  Grass-carrying Wasp
      cynipidae  Unknown sp.  Gall Wasp
      braconidae  Charmon sp.  Braconid Wasp
      ichneumonidae  Itoplectis conquisitor  Ichneumon
      tenthredinidae  Unknown sp.  Common Sawfly (larva)

    diptera  syrphidae  Copestylum tamaulipanum  Flower Fly
        Copestylum avidum  Flower Fly
        Copestylum marginatum  Flower Fly
        Allograpta obliqua  Flower Fly
        Mallota bautias  Flower Fly
        Eristalis sp.  Flower Fly
      tachinidae  Archytas marmoratus  Tachinid Fly
        Trichopoda pennipes  Feather-legged Fly
        Trichopoda lanipes  Feather-legged Fly
        Trichopoda plumipes  Feather-legged Fly
      stratiomyidae  Nemotelus sp.  Soldier Fly
      bombyliidae  Neacreotrichus sp.  Bee Fly
        Poecilanthrax lucifer  Bee Fly
      lauxaniidae  Unknown sp.  Lauxaniid Fly
      anthomyiidae  Unknown sp.  Root Maggot Fly
      dolichopodidae  Condylostylus sp.  Long-legged Fly
        Chrysotus sp.  Long-legged Fly
      culicidae  Unknown sp.  Mosquito
      chironomidae  Unknown sp.  Midge

    odonata  libellulidae  Libellula croceipennis  Neon Skimmer
        Orthemis ferruginea  Roseate Skimmer
      aeshnidae  Anax junius  Common Green Darner
      coenagrionidae  Argia immunda  Kiowa Dancer
        Argia plana  Springwater Dancer
        Argia nahuana  Aztec Dancer
        Enallagma civile  Familiar Bluet
        Ischnura posita  Fragile Forktail

    orthoptera  acrididae  Melanoplus ponderosus  Ponderous Grasshopper (nymph)
        Melanoplus differentialis  Differential Grasshopper (nymph)
        Melanoplus plebejus  Plebeian Grasshopper (nymph)
      tettigoniidae  Scudderia furcata  Fork-tailed Bush Katydid (nymph)
        Dichopetala catinata  Spoon-tailed Short-winged Katydid (nymph)

    neuroptera  chrysopidae  Chrysoperla sp.  Green Lacewing
        Unknown sp.  Green Lacewing (eggs & larva)

    thysanoptera  aeolothripidae  Aeolothrips sp.  Predatory Thrips

    ephemeroptera  baetidae  Callibaetis pictus  Small Minnow Mayfly

    psocoptera  unknown  Unknown sp.  Barklouse

    araneae  araneidae  Cyclosa turbinata  Trashline Orbweaver
      thomisidae  Mecaphesa sp.  Crab Spider
      salticidae  Colonus sylvanus  Jumping Spider
      oxyopidae  Oxyopes salticus  Striped Lynx
      dictynidae  Dictyna sp.  Meshweb Weaver
      lycosidae  Rabidosa rabida  Rabid Wolf Spider
      uloboridae  Uloborus glomosus  Feather-legged Orbweaver

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