After rain the previous night, it was hot and sunny as a group of fifteen participated in this week's survey. Predation isn't always just about the attacker grabbing a meal to satisfy its hunger, although that is exactly what is happening with the ribbon snake/tadpole interaction shown below. The paper wasp in the following image will not eat the caterpillar it has just slaughtered, but instead will take the remains back to its colony's nest to feed the queen's grubs. Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings: Callophrys gryneus (juniper hairstreak) photo by Julie Shaw Danaus plexippus (monarch) photo by Beth Kirkhart Chioides albofasciatus (white-striped longtail) photo by Dan Hardy Junonia coenia (common buckeye) photo by Katherine Daniels Chelinidea tabulata & Chelinidea vittiger (opuntia bugs) photo by Dan Zinn & Val Bugh Lygaeus kalmii (small milkweed bug) photo by Katherine Daniels Orchelimum silvaticum (long-spurred meadow katydid molting) photo by Dan Hardy Melanoplus ponderosus (ponderous grasshopper) photo by Beth Kirkhart Ischnura ramburii (Rambur's forktail) photo by Dan Hardy Thryomanes bewickii (Bewick's wren) photo by Bill Boyd Carpodacus mexicanus (house finch) photo by Harriett Wolf Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus & Rana berlandieri (redstripe ribbon snake eating Rio Grande leopard frog tadpole) photo by Dan Hardy & Val Bugh Polistes rubiginosus & Unknown sp. (red wasp with moth larva) photo by Beth Kirkhart Vespula maculifrons (eastern yellowjacket) photo by Val Bugh Bombus pensylvanicus (American bumble bee) photo by Sam Fruehling Archytas marmoratus (tachinid fly) photo by Katherine Daniels Euparyphus sp. (soldier fly) photo by Val Bugh Spragueia guttata (spotted spragueia moth) photo by Dan Hardy Uloborus glomosus (feather-legged orbweaver) photo by Julie Shaw Peucetia viridans & Lasioglossum sp. (green lynx eating sweat bee) photo by Val Bugh Birds: American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus) Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) Common Raven (Corvus corax) Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris) Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) Purple Martin (Progne subis) Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) Woodhouse's Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma woodhouseii) Mammals: Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) Northern Raccoon (Procyon lotor) Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Reptiles, Amphibians & Fish: Texas Spotted Whiptail (Aspidoscelis gularis gularis) Ground Skink (Scincella lateralis) Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus) Texas Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri) Redstripe Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus) Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) Rio Grande Leopard Frog (Rana berlandieri), adult & tadpole Rio Grande Cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) Misc.: Land Snail (Linisa texaniana) Asian Trampsnail (Bradybaena similaris) Land Snail (Rabdotus sp.) Globular Drop (Helicina orbiculata) Harvestman (Leiobunum sp.) Pillbug (Armadillidium vulgare) Earthworm (Unknown sp.) Insects & Spiders: order family genus/species common name lepidoptera   nymphalidae   Agraulis vanillae   Gulf Fritillary (adult, larva & pupa)       Euptoieta claudia   Variegated Fritillary       Danaus plexippus   Monarch       Danaus gilippus   Queen       Junonia coenia   Common Buckeye       Asterocampa celtis   Hackberry Emperor    pieridae   Eurema nicippe   Sleepy Orange       Eurema lisa   Little Yellow       Nathalis iole   Dainty Sulphur       Phoebis sennae   Cloudless Sulphur    papilionidae   Battus philenor   Pipevine Swallowtail       Papilio cresphontes   Giant Swallowtail       Papilio polyxenes   Black Swallowtail (larva)    lycaenidae   Callophrys gryneus   Juniper Hairstreak       Strymon melinus   Gray Hairstreak (adult & larva)       Calycopis isobeon   Dusky-blue Groundstreak       Leptotes marina   Marine Blue (adult & larva)    hesperiidae   Pyrgus communis/albescens   Common/White Checkered-skipper       Pyrgus philetas   Desert Checkered-skipper       Chioides albofasciatus   White-striped Longtail       Thorybes pylades   Northern Cloudywing       Euphyes vestris   Dun Skipper       Lerema accius   Clouded Skipper       Lerodea eufala   Eufala Skipper       Hylephila phyleus   Fiery Skipper    noctuidae   Spodoptera frugiperda   Fall Armyworm (larva)       Spodoptera ornithogalli   Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth       Acronicta vinnula   Delightful Dagger Moth       Ogdoconta cinereola   Common Pinkband       Tripudia quadrifera   Moth       Cobubatha lixiva   Moth       Spragueia guttata   Spotted Spragueia Moth    erebidae   Zale lunata   Lunate Zale       Lesmone detrahens   Detracted Owlet    sphingidae   Manduca sexta   Carolina Sphinx (larva)       Hemaris diffinis   Snowberry Clearwing (larva)    geometridae   Iridopsis defectaria   Brown-shaded Gray Moth       Glenoides texanaria   Texas Gray Moth       Nemoria zygotaria   Emerald       Tornos scolopacinaria   Dimorphic Gray       Glena quinquelinearia   Five-lined Glena       Macaria aequiferaria   Woody Angle    crambidae   Urola nivalis   Snowy Urola       Palpita quadristigmalis   Four-spotted Palpita       Achyra rantalis   Garden Webworm Moth       Pyrausta inornatalis   Inornate Pyrausta Moth       Uresiphita reversalis   Genista Caterpillar (larva)       Eoreuma densella   Wainscot Grass-veneer Moth       Petrophila jaliscalis   Moth    pyralidae   Peoria tetradella   Grass-veneer Moth    tortricidae   Bactra verutana   Javelin Moth       Ecdytolopha mana   Leafroller Moth       Unknown sp.   Moth    gelechiidae   Polyhymno luteostrigella   Moth       Anacampsis fullonella   Moth       Anacampsis paltodoriella   Moth    coleophoridae   Coleophora sp.   Moth coleoptera   chrysomelidae   Asphaera lustrans   Flea Beetle    buprestidae   Acmaeodera mixta   Metallic Woodborer    carabidae   Bembidion impotens   Ground Beetle    erotylidae   Languria mozardi   Lizard Beetle    bostrichidae   Xylobiops basilaris   Powder-post Beetle    staphylinidae   Carpelimus sp.   Rove Beetle       Philonthus rufulus   Rove Beetle    tenebrionidae   Eleodes goryi   Darkling Beetle    scarabaeidae   Aphodius pseudolividus   Aphodiine Dung Beetle       Phyllophaga torta   June Beetle    hydrophilidae   Berosus pugnax   Water Scavenger Beetle       Tropisternus lateralis   Water Scavenger Beetle    dytiscidae   Coptotomus venustus   Predaceous Diving Beetle hemiptera   coreidae   Acanthocephala terminalis   Coreid Bug (adult & nymph)       Leptoglossus phyllopus   Eastern Leaf-footed Bug (adult & nymph)       Leptoglossus clypealis   Leaf-footed Bug       Narnia femorata   Mesquite Bug (adult & nymph)       Chelinidea vittiger   Opuntia Bug       Chelinidea tabulata   Opuntia Bug       Chariesterus antennator   Euphorbia Bug    largidae   Largus sp.   Largus Bug    alydidae   Alydus pilosulus   Broad-headed Bug    lygaeidae   Lygaeus kalmii   Small Milkweed Bug    reduviidae   Zelus renardii   Assassin Bug    pentatomidae   Euschistus servus   Brown Stink Bug (adult & nymph)       Oebalus pugnax   Rice Stink Bug       Cosmopepla lintneriana   Stink Bug       Thyanta custator   Stink Bug homoptera   cicadellidae   Oncometopia sp.   Leafhopper (nymph)       Homalodisca vitripennis   Glassy-winged Sharpshooter       Cuerna costalis   Leafhopper       Agallia constricta   Leafhopper       Scaphoideus sp.   Leafhopper       Jikradia olitoria   Leafhopper    cercopidae   Clastoptera xanthocephala   Sunflower Spittlebug    membracidae   Stictocephala sp.   Treehopper    flatidae   Metcalfa pruinosa   Citrus Planthopper    delphacidae   Liburniella ornata   Planthopper    acanaloniidae   Acanalonia conica   Planthopper    aphididae   Tetraneura sp.   Aphid hymenoptera   apidae   Apis mellifera   Honey Bee       Bombus pensylvanicus   American Bumble Bee    halictidae   Lasioglossum sp.   Sweat Bee       Augochloropsis metallica   Green Sweat Bee    megachilidae   Megachile fortis   Leaf-cutter Bee    vespidae   Polistes exclamans   Paper Wasp       Polistes rubiginosus   Red Wasp       Vespula maculifrons   Eastern Yellowjacket    pompilidae   Pepsis sp.   Spider Wasp    formicidae   Camponotus texanus   Carpenter Ant       Neivamyrmex swainsonii   Common Army Ant       Pheidole sp.   Big-headed Ant    evaniidae   Evania appendigaster   Ensign Wasp    argidae   Sphacophilus sp.   Sawfly (adult, larva & pupa) diptera   syrphidae   Copestylum avidum   Flower Fly       Copestylum mexicanum   Black Flower Fly       Copestylum tricinctum   Flower Fly       Copestylum tamaulipanum   Flower Fly       Allograpta obliqua   Flower Fly       Dioprosopa clavata   Flower Fly       Nausigaster sp.   Flower Fly    bombyliidae   Poecilanthrax lucifer   Bee Fly       Geron sp.   Bee Fly    stratiomyidae   Euparyphus sp.   Soldier Fly    dolichopodidae   Condylostylus sp.   Long-legged Fly    calliphoridae   Cochliomyia macellaria   Secondary Screwworm    tachinidae   Unknown sp.   Tachinid Fly       Archytas marmoratus   Tachinid Fly    asilidae   Promachus hinei   Robber Fly       Efferia sp.   Robber Fly       Atomosia melanopogon   Robber Fly    muscidae   Unknown sp.   Fly    richardiidae   Automola rufa   Richardiid Fly    chironomidae   Unknown sp.   Midge odonata   coenagrionidae   Argia plana   springwater Dancer       Argia immunda   Kiowa Dancer       Ischnura ramburii   Rambur's Forktail       Ischnura posita   Fragile Forktail       Telebasis salva   Desert Firetail    aeshnidae   Anax junius   Common Green Darner    libellulidae   Libellula croceipennis   Neon Skimmer       Libellula luctuosa   Widow Skimmer       Pachydiplax longipennis   Blue Dasher       Dythemis fugax   Checkered Setwing       Celithemis eponina   Halloween Pennant       Erythrodiplax umbrata   Band-winged Pennant       Pantala flavescens   Wandering Glider orthoptera   acrididae   Melanoplus differentialis   Differential Grasshopper (adult & nymph)       Melanoplus ponderosus   Ponderous Grasshopper (adult & nymph)       Melanoplus femurrubrum   Red-legged Grasshopper       Melanoplus flabellatus   Dallas Short-winged Grasshopper       Melanoplus plebejus   Plebeian Grasshopper (nymph)       Hesperotettix speciosus   Showy Grasshopper       Aidemona azteca   Aztec Spurthroat (nymph)       Mermiria bivittata   Two-striped Mermiria       Schistocerca obscura   Obscure Bird Grasshopper (adult & nymph)       Schistocerca lineata   Spotted Bird Grasshopper (adult & nymph)       Schistocerca americana   American Bird Grasshopper (nymph)       Chortophaga viridifasciata   Northern Green-striped Grasshopper (nymph)       Lactista aztecus   Aztec Bandwing       Arphia simplex   Plains Yellow-winged Grasshopper    tettigoniidae   Conocephalus strictus   Straight-lanced Meadow Katydid       Orchelimum silvaticum   Long-spurred Meadow Katydid    gryllidae   Oecanthus varicornis   Tree Cricket dermaptera   anisolabididae   Euborellia annulipes   Ring-legged Earwig psocoptera   psocidae   Blaste posticata   Barklouse araneae   salticidae   Phidippus audax   Bold Jumper       Anasaitis canosa   Jumping Spider    araneidae   Argiope aurantia   Black and Yellow Garden Spider       Neoscona crucifera   Orbweaver       Cyclosa turbinata   Trashline Orbweaver    oxyopidae   Oxyopes salticus   Striped Lynx       Peucetia viridans   Green Lynx    thomisidae   Mecaphesa sp.   Crab Spider       Mecaphesa dubia   Crab Spider    tetragnathidae   Tetragnatha sp.   Longjawed Orbweaver       Tetragnatha laboriosa   Silver Longjawed Orbweaver    miturgidae   Cheiracanthium inclusum   Sac Spider    uloboridae   Uloborus glomosus   Feather-legged Orbweaver    pisauridae   Dolomedese triton   Fishing Spider    pholcidae   Modisimus texanus   Cellar Spider