A team of fifteen conducted this week's survey on a hot and mostly sunny morning. While the mantisfly and the mantis shown below have a number of superficial similarities that assist in the capture of prey, such as huge eyes, raptorial front legs and elongated prothorax, they belong in unrelated insect orders: Neuroptera and Mantodea. Convergent evolution has resulted in their analogous appearance. Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings: Anax junius (common green darner, male) photo by Julie Shaw Graphocephala hieroglyphica (leafhopper molting) photo by Val Bugh Agraulis vanillae (gulf fritillary, male) photo by Bill Boyd Agraulis vanillae (gulf fritillaries mating) photo by Julie Shaw Latrodectus mactans (southern black widow with egg sac) photo by Val Bugh Tetragnatha sp. (longjawed orbweaver) photo by Val Bugh Neoscona crucifera & Eleodes goryi (orbweaver eating darkling beetle) photo by Larry Swift Dictyna sp. (meshweb weaver) photo by Julie Shaw Colonus sylvanus (jumping spider) photo by Val Bugh Apiomerus spissipes (bee assassin) photo by Larry Swift Mozena lunata (mesquite bug) photo by Sadie McDonald Leptomantispa pulchella (mantisfly) photo by Dan Hardy Stagmomantis carolina (Carolina mantis nymph) photo by Val Bugh Pseudosermyle strigata (walkingstick nymph) photo by Sadie McDonald Herichthys cyanoguttatus (Rio Grande cichlids) photo by Pat Dittmar Scincella lateralis (ground skink) photo by Val Bugh Monopis crocicapitella, Cosmopterix sp. & Ancylis comptana (moths) photo by Val Bugh Hybosorus illigeri (scavenger scarab) photo by Val Bugh Xylocopa virginica (eastern carpenter bee) photo by Barbara Ribble Ceratina cockerelli (small carpenter bee) photo by Val Bugh Birds: Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus) Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) Common Raven (Corvus corax) Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris) Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) Purple Martin (Progne subis) Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) Woodhouse's Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma woodhouseii) Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) Mammals: Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) Hispid Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus) Reptiles, Amphibians & Fish: Texas Spotted Whiptail (Aspidoscelis gularis gularis) Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus) Ground Skink (Scincella lateralis) Rio Grande Leopard Frog (Rana berlandieri) Rio Grande Cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) Misc.: Gall Mites (Unknown sp.), galls on Texas Persimmon Chigger (Unknown sp.) Harvestman (Leiobunum sp.) Insects & Spiders: order family genus/species common name lepidoptera   nymphalidae   Agraulis vanillae   Gulf Fritillary       Euptoieta claudia   Variegated Fritillary       Danaus plexippus   Monarch       Danaus gilippus   Queen       Chlosyne lacinia   Bordered Patch (adult & larva)    pieridae   Eurema nicippe   Sleepy Orange       Eurema lisa   Little Yellow       Nathalis iole   Dainty Sulphur       Phoebis sennae   Cloudless Sulphur    papilionidae   Battus philenor   Pipevine Swallowtail    lycaenidae   Leptotes marina   Marine Blue    hesperiidae   Pyrgus communis/albescens   Common/White Checkered-skipper       Chioides albofasciatus   White-striped Longtail       Celotes nessus   Common Streaky-skipper       Euphyes vestris   Dun Skipper       Lerema accius   Clouded Skipper       Hylephila phyleus   Fiery Skipper    noctuidae   Catabena lineolata   Fine-lined Sallow       Xerociris wilsonii   Wilson's Wood-nymph       Chloridea virescens   Tobacco Budworm (larva)    erebidae   Melipotis indomita   Moth    notodontidae   Schizura errucata   Prominent    geometridae   Iridopsis defectaria   Brown-shaded Gray Moth       Glenoides texanaria   Texas Gray Moth       Digrammia pallidata   Moth       Nemoria bifilata   White-barred Emerald       Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria   Blackberry Looper Moth (adult & larva)       Synchlora frondaria   Southern Emerald       Glena quinquelinearia   Five-lined Glena    crambidae   Urola nivalis   Snowy Urola       Uresiphita reversalis   Genista Caterpillar Moth       Desmia funeralis   Grape Leaffolder Moth       Fissicrambus sp.   Grass-veneer Moth    pyralidae   Peoria opacella   Grass-veneer Moth       Adelphia petrella   Moth    tortricidae   Cydia latiferreana   Filbertworm Moth       Cydia membrosa   Leafroller Moth       Epiblema strenuana   Ragweed Borer Moth       Ancylis comptana   Strawberry Leafroller Moth       Sparganothis demissana   Leafroller Moth       Paralobesia viteana   Grape Berry Moth       Unknown sp.   Moth    gelechiidae   Polyhymno luteostrigella   Moth       Isophrictis similiella   Moth       Anacampsis fullonella   Moth       Stegasta bosqueella   Red-necked Peanutworm Moth    blastobasidae   Unknown sp.   Moth    scythrididae   Scythris trivinctella   Moth    cosmopterigidae   Cosmopterix sp.   Moth    heliodinidae   Aetole tripunctella   Moth    elachistidae   Haplochrois bipunctella   Moth    depressariidae   Durrantia piperatella   Moth    pterophoridae   Exelastis pumilio   Plume Moth    tineidae   Monopis crocicapitella   Bird Nest Moth coleoptera   chrysomelidae   Pachybrachis turbidus   Leaf Beetle       Charidotella sexpunctata   Golden Tortoise Beetle       Algarobius bottimeri   Bean Weevil    coccinellidae   Scymnus sp.   Lady Beetle (larva)    carabidae   Calosoma sayi   Ground Beetle    bostrichidae   Xylobiops basilaris   Powder-post Beetle    staphylinidae   Philonthus sp.   Rove Beetle       Paederus sp.   Rove Beetle    tenebrionidae   Eleodes goryi   Darkling Beetle       Strongylium hemistriatum   Darkling Beetle    hybosoridae   Hybosorus illigeri   Scavenger Scarab    elateridae   Diplostethus texanus   Click Beetle    nitidulidae   Cryptarcha strigatula   Sap Beetle    hydrophilidae   Tropisternus collaris   Water Scavenger Beetle       Tropisternus lateralis   Water Scavenger Beetle    dytiscidae   Copelatus chevrolati   Predaceous Diving Beetle    anthicidae   Vacusus vicinus   Ant-like Flower Beetle    curculionidae   Cylindrocopturus sp.   Weevil hemiptera   coreidae   Acanthocephala terminalis   Coreid Bug (adult & nymph)       Leptoglossus phyllopus   Eastern Leaf-footed Bug       Chariesterus antennator   Euphorbia Bug (nymph)       Mozena lunata   Mesquite Bug       Narnia femorata   Cactus Bug (adult & nymph)       Chelinidea vittiger   Opuntia Bug (nymph)       Chelinidea tabulata   Opuntia Bug    largidae   Largus sp.   Largus Bug    lygaeidae   Oncopeltus fasciatus   Large Milkweed Bug (adult & nymph)    rhyparochromidae   Neopamera bilobata   Seed Bug       Myodocha serripes   Long-necked Seed Bug    miridae   Phytocoris sp.   Plant Bug       Keltonia tuckeri   Plant Bug       Clivinema sp.   Plant Bug    reduviidae   Zelus renardii   Assassin Bug (adult & nymph)       Arilus cristatus   Wheel Bug       Apiomerus spissipes   Bee Assassin       Diaditus sp.   Assassin Bug    cydnidae   Amnestus sp.   Burrowing Bug       Pangaeus bilineatus   Burrowing Bug    scutelleridae   Sphyrocoris obliquus   Shield Bug    pentatomidae   Euschistus obscurus   Stink Bug       Oebalus pugnax   Rice Stink Bug       Cosmopepla lintneriana   Stink Bug       Banasa euchlora   Stink Bug homoptera   cicadellidae   Homalodisca vitripennis   Glassy-winged Sharpshooter       Osbornellus scalaris   Leafhopper       Illinigina illinoiensis   Leafhopper       Graminella nigrifrons   Leafhopper       Scaphoideus sp.   Leafhopper       Excultanus excultus   Leafhopper       Rugosana sp.   Leafhopper       Graphocephala hieroglyphica   Leafhopper       Graphocephala versuta   Leafhopper       Norvellina helenae   Leafhopper       Eutettix pictus   Leafhopper       Draeculacephala sp.   Leafhopper       Empoasca sp.   Leafhopper       Exitianus exitiosus   Gray Lawn Leafhopper       Hamana manifesta   Leafhopper       Atanus sp.   Leafhopper       Erythroneura sp.   Leafhopper    cercopidae   Clastoptera xanthocephala   Sunflower Spittlebug    membracidae   Stictocephala sp.   Treehopper    flatidae   Metcalfa pruinosa   Citrus Planthopper    acanaloniidae   Acanalonia parva   Planthopper (nymph)    cicadidae   Tibicen superbus   Superb Cicada       Tibicen texanus   Cicada    aphididae   Tinocallis sp.   Aphid       Uroleucon sp.   Aphid       Aphis nerii   Oleander Aphid hymenoptera   apidae   Apis mellifera   Honey Bee       Bombus pensylvanicus   American Bumble Bee       Xylocopa virginica   Eastern Carpenter Bee       Xylocopa micans   Southern Carpenter Bee       Ceratina cockerelli   Small Carpenter Bee    halictidae   Augochloropsis metallica   Green Sweat Bee    vespidae   Polistes exclamans   Paper Wasp    sphecidae   Chlorion cyaneum   Cockroach Hunter    mutillidae   Timulla oajaca   Velvet Ant    formicidae   Camponotus decipiens   Carpenter Ant       Camponotus texanus   Carpenter Ant       Pseudomyrmex ejectus   Twig Ant       Cyphomyrmex rimosus   Ant    braconidae   Unknown sp.   Braconid Wasp    argidae   Sphacophilus sp.   Argid Sawfly diptera   syrphidae   Copestylum tamaulipanum   Flower Fly       Allograpta obliqua   Flower Fly    stratiomyidae   Hermetia illucens   Black Soldier Fly    tachinidae   Unknown sp.   Tachinid Fly    milichiidae   Unknown sp.   Freeloader Fly    phoridae   Unknown sp.   Scuttle Fly    ulidiidae   Delphinia picta   Picture-winged Fly    ceratopogonidae   Forcipomyia sp.   Biting Midge    cecidomyiidae   Unknown sp.   Gall Midge (larva) odonata   coenagrionidae   Argia plana   Springwater Dancer       Ischnura ramburii   Rambur's Forktail    libellulidae   Libellula croceipennis   Neon Skimmer       Libellula luctuosa   Widow Skimmer       Pachydiplax longipennis   Blue Dasher       Dythemis fugax   Checkered Setwing       Tramea onusta   Red Saddlebags    aeshnidae   Anax junius   Common Green Darner orthoptera   acrididae   Melanoplus differentialis   Differential Grasshopper (adult & nymph)       Melanoplus ponderosus   Ponderous Grasshopper (adult & nymph)       Melanoplus flabellatus   Dallas Short-winged Grasshopper       Melanoplus plebejus   Plebeian Grasshopper (nymph)       Aidemona azteca   Aztec Spurthroat (nymph)       Hesperotettix speciosus   Showy Grasshopper       Mermiria bivittata   Two-striped Mermiria       Syrbula montezuma   Montezuma's Grasshopper (nymph)       Syrbula admirabilis   Handsome Grasshopper       Schistocerca obscura   Obscure Bird Grasshopper (adult & nymph)       Schistocerca lineata   Spotted Bird Grasshopper       Schistocerca americana   American Bird Grasshopper (nymph)       Chortophaga viridifasciata   Northern Green-striped Grasshopper       Lactista aztecus   Aztec Bandwing    tettigoniidae   Scudderia furcata   Fork-tailed Bush Katydid (nymph)       Arethaea sp.   Thread-legged Katydid       Orchelimum silvaticum   Long-spurred Meadow Katydid       Conocephalus strictus   Straight-lanced Meadow Katydid (adult & nymph)       Pediodectes nigromarginata   Black-margined Shieldback    gryllidae   Oecanthus varicornis   Tree Cricket       Neonemobius nr. mormonius   Collared Ground Cricket       Gryllus sp.   Field Cricket mantodea   mantidae   Stagmomantis carolina   Carolina Mantis (nymph) phasmatodea   diapheromeridae   Pseudosermyle strigata   Walkingstick (nymph) neuroptera   chrysopidae   Unknown sp.   Green Lacewing (larva)    myrmeleontidae   Peruveleon dorsalis   Antlion    mantispidae   Leptomantispa pulchella   Mantisfly psocoptera   amphientomidae   Stimulopalpus japonicus   Tropical Barklouse (adult & nymph) trichoptera   hydroptilidae   Unknown sp.   Microcaddisfly araneae   salticidae   Phidippus audax   Bold Jumper       Colonus sylvanus   Jumping Spider       Colonus puerperus   Jumping Spider       Anasaitis canosa   Jumping Spider    araneidae   Argiope aurantia   Black and Yellow Garden Spider       Neoscona crucifera   Orbweaver       Cyclosa turbinata   Trashline Orbweaver       Mangora gibberosa   Orbweaver       Mangora placida   Orbweaver    oxyopidae   Peucetia viridans   Green Lynx    thomisidae   Mecaphesa sp.   Crab Spider    tetragnathidae   Tetragnatha sp.   Longjawed Orbweaver    lycosidae   Unknown sp.   Wolf Spider    dictynidae   Dictyna sp.   Meshweb Weaver    theridiidae   Steatoda triangulosa   Checkered Cobweb Weaver       Latrodectus mactans   Southern Black Widow (adult & eggs)