The dozen participants in this week's survey enjoyed a chilly morning that warmed quickly under sunny skies. The autumn Monarchs migrating to Mexico are normally in reproductive diapause, conserving their energy for the winter months ahead. Such a state, though, is difficult to maintain when there is plentiful food, warmth, and potential mates in close proximity, as demonstrated in the photo below. Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings: Papilio cresphontes (giant swallowtail) photo by Joe Fernandes Danaus plexippus (monarchs mating) photo by Joe Fernandes Junonia coenia (common buckeye) photo by Beth Kirkhart Junonia coenia (common buckeye, different view) photo by Beth Kirkhart Nathalis iole (dainty sulphur) photo by Oscar Vaz Atalopedes campestris & Mecaphesa asperata (sachem & northern crab spider) photo by Dan Zinn Helicoverpa zea (corn earworm moth) photo by Val Bugh Agriphila vulgivagella (vagabond crambus moth) photo by Val Bugh Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus (redstripe ribbon snake) photo by Harriett Wolf Odocoileus virginianus (white-tailed deer) photo by Bill Boyd Baeolophus atricristatus (black-crested titmouse) photo by Oscar Vaz Dryobates scalaris (ladder-backed woodpecker) photo by Bill Boyd Sympetrum corruptum (variegated meadowhawk, male) photo by Oscar Vaz Sympetrum corruptum (variegated meadowhawk, female) photo by Oscar Vaz Hyalymenus tarsatus (Texas bow-legged bug: adult & nymph) photo by Joe Fernandes Prionyx sp. (thread-waisted wasp) photo by Justin Council Melissodes sp. (long-horned bee, male) photo by Beth Kirkhart Melissoptila pinguis (long-horned bee, female) photo by Justin Council Hemipenthes scylla (bee fly) photo by Linda Crabtree Unknown sp. (mosquito larvae) photo by Val Bugh Birds: American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 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) Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) Common Raven (Corvus corax) Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) Dickcissel (Spiza americana) Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris) Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) Meadowlark (Sturnella sp.) Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) Woodhouse's Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma woodhouseii) Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) Mammals: Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Coyote (Canis latrans), fresh scat Northern Raccoon (Procyon lotor), fresh scat Reptiles, Amphibians & Fish: Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus) Redstripe Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus) Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) Rio Grande Leopard Frog (Lithobates berlandieri) Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) Misc.: Harvestman (Leiobunum sp.) Striped Bark Scorpion (Centruroides vittatus) Julid Millipede (Aniulus sp.) Insects & Spiders: order family genus/species common name lepidoptera   nymphalidae   Agraulis vanillae   Gulf Fritillary (adult, larva & pupa)       Euptoieta claudia   Variegated Fritillary       Danaus gilippus   Queen       Danaus plexippus   Monarch       Libytheana carinenta   American Snout       Asterocampa celtis   Hackberry Emperor       Junonia coenia   Common Buckeye       Vanessa virginiensis   American Lady       Vanessa cardui   Painted Lady    pieridae   Zerene cesonia   Southern Dogface       Colias eurytheme   Orange Sulphur       Nathalis iole   Dainty Sulphur       Eurema lisa   Little Yellow       Eurema nicippe   Sleepy Orange (adult & larva)       Phoebis sennae   Cloudless Sulphur    papilionidae   Battus philenor   Pipevine Swallowtail       Papilio polyxenes   Black Swallowtail       Papilio cresphontes   Giant Swallowtail    lycaenidae   Strymon melinus   Gray Hairstreak       Strymon istapa   Mallow Scrub-hairstreak       Callophrys gryneus   Juniper Hairstreak       Atlides halesus   Great Purple Hairstreak       Hemiargus isola   Reakirt's Blue       Hemiargus ceraunus   Ceraunus Blue       Leptotes marina   Marine Blue    hesperiidae   Hylephila phyleus   Fiery Skipper       Atalopedes campestris   Sachem       Lerema accius   Clouded Skipper       Nastra julia   Julia's Skipper       Lerodea eufala   Eufala Skipper       Amblyscirtes celia   Celia's Roadside-skipper       Erynnis funeralis   Funereal Duskywing       Chioides albofasciatus   White-striped Longtail       Pyrgus communis/albescens   Common/White Checkered-skipper       Systasea pulverulenta   Texas Powdered-skipper    noctuidae   Chrysodeixis includens   Soybean Looper Moth       Spodoptera exigua   Beet Armyworm Moth       Spodoptera frugiperda   Fall Armyworm Moth       Catabenoides terminellus   Moth       Helicoverpa zea   Corn Earworm Moth    erebidae   Zale lunata   Lunate Zale       Hypocala andremona   Moth    arctiidae   Horama panthalon   Texas Wasp Moth    sphingidae   Hyles lineata   White-lined Sphinx (larva)    geometridae   Digrammia pallidata   Moth       Digrammia atrofasciata   Moth       Psamatodes abydata   Dot-lined Angle       Iridopsis defectaria   Brown-shaded Gray Moth       Eupithecia miserulata   Common Eupithecia (larva)    crambidae   Udea rubigalis   Celery Leaftier Moth       Uresiphita reversalis   Genista Caterpillar Moth       Spoladea recurvalis   Hawaiian Beet Webworm Moth       Samea castellalis   Stained-glass Moth       Parapediasia teterrella   Bluegrass Webworm Moth       Euchromius ocelleus   Grass-veneer Moth       Agriphila vulgivagella   Vagabond Crambus       Microcrambus croesus   Grass-veneer Moth    pyralidae   Amyelois transitella   Moth       Elasmopalpus lignosellus   Lesser Cornstalk Borer Moth    tortricidae   Cydia latiferreana   Filbertworm Moth       Unknown sp.   Moth    scythrididae   Scythris fuscicomella   Moth    plutellidae   Plutella xylostella   Diamondback Moth    carposinidae   Carposina ottawana   Peach Fruitworm Moth    gracillariidae   Acrocercops quinquistrigella   Moth       Caloptilia triadicae   Moth coleoptera   chrysomelidae   Diabrotica undecimpunctata   Spotted Cucumber Beetle       Sennius discolor   Bean Weevil    coccinellidae   Olla v-nigrum   Ashy Gray Lady Beetle       Cycloneda sanguinea   Red Lady Beetle    cerambycidae   Sphaenothecus bivittata   Longhorn Beetle    buprestidae   Acmaeodera flavomarginata   Metallic Woodborer    carabidae   Pasimachus californicus   Ground Beetle    mordellidae   Mordella atrata   Tumbling Flower Beetle    meloidae   Epicauta immaculata   Blister Beetle    tenebrionidae   Eleodes fusiformis   Desert Stink Beetle       Eleodes goryi   Desert Stink Beetle       Platydema micans   Darkling Beetle hemiptera   coreidae   Acanthocephala terminalis   Coreid Bug       Leptoglossus phyllopus   Eastern Leaf-footed Bug    alydidae   Hyalymenus tarsatus   Texas Bow-legged Bug (adult & nymph)    miridae   Taylorilygus apicalis   Plant Bug       Parthenicus sp.   Plant Bug       Oncerometopus nigriclavus   Plant Bug       Reuteroscopus ornatus   Plant Bug    anthocoridae   Orius tristicolor   Minute Pirate Bug    scutelleridae   Sphyrocoris obliquus   Shield Bug    pentatomidae   Mecidea major   Grass Stink Bug       Thyanta custator   Stink Bug (nymph)       Podisus maculiventris   Predatory Stink Bug (nymph) homoptera   cicadellidae   Cuerna costalis   Leafhopper       Acinopterus sp.   Leafhopper       Balclutha neglecta   Leafhopper       Chlorotettix sp.   Leafhopper       Eratoneura sp.   Leafhopper       Hymetta balteata   Leafhopper    aphididae   Tetraneura nerii   Aphid    dactylopiidae   Dactylopius sp.   Cochineal Insect hymenoptera   apidae   Apis mellifera   Honey Bee       Bombus pensylvanicus   American Bumble Bee       Melissoptila pinguis   Long-horned Bee       Melissodes sp.   Long-horned Bee       Nomada texana   Cuckoo Bee       Triepeolus sp.   Cuckoo Bee       Xylocopa virginica   Eastern Carpenter Bee    halictidae   Augochloropsis metallica   Green Sweat Bee       Augochlora pura   Green Sweat Bee    andrenidae   Protandrena sp.   Bee    megachilidae   Megachile sp.   Leaf-cutter Bee       Stelis sp.   Dark Bee    sphecidae   Prionyx sp.   Thread-waisted Wasp    vespidae   Polistes dorsalis   Paper Wasp       Polistes rubiginosus   Red Wasp       Vespula squamosa   Southern Yellowjacket       Euodynerus hidalgo   Mason Wasp       Euodynerus crypticus   Mason Wasp       Eumenes fraternus   Potter Wasp    pompilidae   Notocyphus dorsalis   Spider Wasp    formicidae   Leptogenys elogata   Ant       Crematogaster laeviuscula   Acrobat Ant    braconidae   Unknown sp.   Braconid Wasp    ichneumonidae   Metopius sp.   Ichneumon diptera   syrphidae   Hypocritanus fascipennis   Flower Fly       Allograpta obliqua   Flower Fly       Toxomerus marginatus   Flower Fly       Palpada pusilla   Flower Fly       Eristalis stipator   Flower Fly       Copestylum marginatum   Flower Fly       Meromacrus acutus   Flower Fly    bombyliidae   Hemipenthes scylla   Bee Fly    stratiomyidae   Hoplitimyia mutabilis   Soldier Fly    tachinidae   Trichopoda sp.   Feather-legged Fly       Archytas lateralis   Tachinid Fly       Archytas sp.   Tachinid Fly       Unknown sp.   Tachinid Fly    calliphoridae   Cochliomyia macellaria   Secondary Screwworm Fly    tephritidae   Neotephritis finalis   Fruit Fly    chloropidae   Neodiplotoxa sp.   Frit Fly    dolichopodidae   Condylostylus sp.   Long-legged Fly       Unknown sp.   Long-legged Fly    agromyzidae   Cerodontha sp.   Leaf-miner Fly       Unknown sp.   Leaf-miner Fly    ceratopogonidae   Forcipomyia bipunctata   Biting Midge       Unknown sp.   Biting Midge    limoniidae   Gonomyia alexanderi   Crane Fly       Unknown sp.   Crane Fly    chironomidae   Chironomus sp.   Midge       Endochironomus nigricans   Midge    culicidae   Culiseta inornata   Mosquito       Unknown sp.   Mosquito (larva)    cecidomyiidae   Anarete sp.   Wood Midge odonata   libellulidae   Libellula croceipennis   Neon Skimmer       Tramea lacerata   Black Saddlebags       Sympetrum vicinum   Autumn Meadowhawk       Sympetrum corruptum   Variegated Meadowhawk    coenagrionidae   Argia immunda   Kiowa Dancer       Argia plana   Springwater Dancer       Enallagma civile   Familiar Bluet       Telebasis salva   Desert Firetail orthoptera   acrididae   Melanoplus ponderosus   Ponderous Grasshopper       Melanoplus differentialis   Differential Grasshopper       Melanoplus femurrubrum   Red-legged Grasshopper       Melanoplus plebejus   Plebeian Grasshopper       Melanoplus flabellatus   Dallas Short-winged Grasshopper       Melanoplus bispinosus   Two-spined Spur-throated Grasshopper       Syrbula admirabilis   Handsome Grasshopper       Syrbula montezuma   Montezuma's Grasshopper       Schistocerca americana   American Bird Grasshopper (nymph)       Schistocerca lineata   Spotted Bird Grasshopper       Schistocerca nitens   Gray Bird Grasshopper (adult & nymph)       Chortophaga viridifasciata   Northern Green-striped Grasshopper (adult & nymph)       Trimerotropis pallidipennis   Pallid-winged Grasshopper       Trachyrhachys kiowa   Kiowa Grasshopper    gryllidae   Gryllus sp.   Field Cricket    tettigoniidae   Conocephalus strictus   Straight-lanced Meadow Katydid (nymph) mantodea   mantidae   Litaneutria minor   Ground Mantis neuroptera   chrysopidae   Chrysoperla rufilabris   Green Lacewing (larva)       Unknown sp.   Green Lacewing    myrmeleontidae   Myrmeleon sp.   Antlion (larva)    berothidae   Lomamyia squamosa   Beaded Lacewing trichoptera   hydropsychidae   Cheumatopsyche sp.   Netspinning Caddisfly    leptoceridae   Oecetis inconspicua   Long-horned Caddisfly ephemeroptera   baetidae   Callibaetis sp.   Small Minnow Mayfly araneae   salticidae   Phidippus audax   Bold Jumper       Phidippus cardinalis   Cardinal Jumper    oxyopidae   Peucetia viridans   Green Lynx    thomisidae   Mecaphesa asperata   Northern Crab Spider       Mecaphesa sp.   Crab Spider