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  ABC > Home > THE FAUNA PROJECT > Survey October 27, 2022


The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Fauna Project

The weather was delightfully cool and sunny as a team of fourteen completed this week's survey. Some spiders with one annual generation remain in the egg stage through the winter. An exception is the Green Lynx. As shown below, they hatch in the autumn, while the mother is still alive to protect the babies. The adult will die, and the young spiders will disperse but remain tiny through the cold season until they begin to grow when temperatures warm in the spring.

Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings:


Spinus psaltria (lesser goldfinch)
photo by Oscar Vaz


Spizella pallida (clay-colored sparrow)
photo by Beth Kirkhart


Melospiza lincolnii (Lincoln's sparrow)
photo by Bill Boyd


Pooecetes gramineus (vesper sparrow)
photo by Annelia Williams


Hemidactylus turcicus (Mediterranean gecko)
photo by Val Bugh


Phidippus audax (bold jumper)
photo by Joe Fernandes


Peucetia viridans (green lynx hatchlings)
photo by Katherine Daniels


Mozena lunata (mesquite bug nymph)
photo by Dan Hardy


Pseudatomoscelis seriatus (cotton flea hopper)
photo by Beth Kirkhart


Limonia communis & Culex tarsalis
(crane fly & western encephalitis mosquito)
photo by Val Bugh


Toxomerus marginatus (flower fly)
photo by Dan Hardy


Eristalis stipator (flower fly)
photo by Katherine Daniels


Euodynerus hidalgo (mason wasp)
photo by Katherine Daniels


Vespula squamosa & Palpada vinetorum (southern yellowjacket
with decapitated flower fly)
photo by Joe Fernandes


Macrorrhinia aureofasciella (moth)
photo by Val Bugh


Hypocala andremona (moth)
photo by Joe Fernandes


Argyrogramma verruca (golden looper moth)
photo by Dan Hardy


Uresiphita reversalis (genista caterpillar moth)
photo by Katherine Daniels


Copaeodes minima (southern skipperling)
photo by Katherine Daniels


Atalopedes campestris (sachem)
photo by Katherine Daniels

  • Birds:
    American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
    American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
    American Pipit (Anthus rubescens)
    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)
    Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)
    Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
    Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
    Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
    Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)
    Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
    Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)
    House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
    House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
    Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris)
    Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)
    Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
    Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)
    Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
    Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
    Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
    Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
    Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata)
    Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
    Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
    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)
    Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
    White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
    White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
    Woodhouse's Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma woodhouseii)
    Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata)

  • Mammals:
    White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
    Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)
    Hispid Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus)
    Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), fresh scat
    Coyote (Canis latrans), fresh scat
    Northern Raccoon (Procyon lotor), fresh scat

  • Reptiles, Amphibians & Fish:
    Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus)
    Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)
    Texas Spotted Whiptail (Aspidoscelis gularis gularis)
    Mediterranean Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus)
    Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus)
    Redstripe Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus)
    Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)
    Rio Grande Leopard Frog (Lithobates berlandieri)
    Gulf Coast Toad (Incilius nebulifer), tadpoles
    Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)
    Sailfin Molly (Poecilia latipinna)

  • Misc.:
    Julid Millipede (Aniulus sp.)

  • Insects & Spiders:
    orderfamilygenus/speciescommon name

    lepidoptera  nymphalidae  Agraulis vanillae  Gulf Fritillary (adult & larva)
        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
        Phyciodes tharos  Pearl Crescent
      pieridae  Zerene cesonia  Southern Dogface
        Colias eurytheme  Orange Sulphur
        Nathalis iole  Dainty Sulphur
        Eurema lisa  Little Yellow
        Eurema nicippe  Sleepy Orange
        Phoebis sennae  Cloudless Sulphur (larva)
      papilionidae  Battus philenor  Pipevine Swallowtail
        Papilio cresphontes  Giant Swallowtail
      lycaenidae  Strymon melinus  Gray Hairstreak
        Strymon istapa  Mallow Scrub-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
        Copaeodes minima  Southern Skipperling
        Erynnis funeralis  Funereal Duskywing
        Erynnis horatius  Horace's Duskywing
        Chioides albofasciatus  White-striped Longtail
        Pyrgus communis/albescens  Common/White Checkered-skipper
        Systasea pulverulenta  Texas Powdered-skipper
      noctuidae  Chrysodeixis includens  Soybean Looper Moth
        Argyrogramma verruca  Golden Looper Moth
        Galgula partita  The Wedgling
        Spodoptera exigua  Beet Armyworm Moth
        Spodoptera ornithogalli  Fall Armyworm Moth
        Mythimna unipuncta  Armyworm Moth
        Diastema tigris  Lantana Moth (larva)
      erebidae  Hypena scabra  Green Cloverworm Moth
        Hypocala andremona  Moth
        Melipotis jucunda  Merry Melipotis
      arctiidae  Horama panthalon  Texas Wasp Moth
        Estigmene acrea  Salt Marsh Moth
        Cisseps fulvicollis  Yellow-collared Scape Moth
      notodontidae  Litodonta hydromeli  Prominent (larva)
      sphingidae  Hemaris diffinis  Snowberry Clearwing (larva)
      lasiocampidae  Tolype velleda  Large Tolype
      geometridae  Digrammia pallidata  Moth
        Digrammia atrofasciata  Moth
        Rindgea cyda  Mesquite Looper Moth
        Psamatodes abydata  Dot-lined Angle
        Iridopsis defectaria  Brown-shaded Gray Moth
        Cyclophora nanaria  Dwarf Tawny Wave
        Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria  Blackberry Looper (larva)
      crambidae  Udea rubigalis  Celery Leaftier Moth
        Uresiphita reversalis  Genista Caterpillar Moth
        Spoladea recurvalis  Hawaiian Beet Webworm Moth
        Palpita quadristigmalis  Four-spotted Palpita Moth
        Palpita atrisquamalis  Gracile Palpita Moth
        Hellula rogatalis  Cabbage Webworm Moth
        Lamprosema victoriae  Moth
        Nomophila nearctica  Lucerne Moth
        Petrophila jaliscalis  Moth
        Euchromius ocelleus  Grass-veneer Moth
        Agriphila vulgivagella  Vagabond Crambus
        Crambus quinquareatus  Grass-veneer Moth
      pyralidae  Homoeosoma electella  Sunflower Moth
        Honora mellinella  Moth
        Macrorrhinia aureofasciella  Moth
      tortricidae  Cydia latiferreana  Filbertworm Moth
        Pseudexentera knudsoni  Leafroller Moth
        Bactra verutana  Javelin Moth
      gelechiidae  Aristotelia elegantella  Elegant Aristotelia
        Recurvaria sp.  Moth
      pterophoridae  Adaina ambrosiae  Ambrosia Plume Moth
      scythrididae  Neocythris fissirostris  Moth
      plutellidae  Plutella xylostella  Diamondback Moth
      carposinidae  Carposina ottawana  Peach Fruitworm Moth
      gracillariidae  Acrocercops quinquistrigella  Moth
      yponomeutidae  Atteva aurea  Ailanthus Webworm Moth
      zygaenidae  Harrisina coracina  Grapeleaf Skeletonizer Moth

    coleoptera  chrysomelidae  Diabrotica undecimpunctata  Spotted Cucumber Beetle
        Cryptocephalus fulguratus  Leaf Beetle
        Helocassis clavata  Clavate Tortoise Beetle
      coccinellidae  Harmonia axyridis  Multi-colored Asian Lady Beetle
        Coccinella septempunctata  Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
        Cycloneda sanguinea  Red Lady Beetle
      buprestidae  Agrilus pectoralis  Metallic Woodborer
      meloidae  Epicauta immaculata  Blister Beetle
        Epicauta pennsylvanica  Black Blister Beetle
      tenebrionidae  Eleodes goryi  Desert Stink Beetle
        Bothrotes canaliculatus  Darkling Beetle
      staphylinidae  Carpelimus sp.  Rove Beetle

    hemiptera  coreidae  Leptoglossus phyllopus  Eastern Leaf-footed Bug (adult & nymph)
        Mozena lunata  Mesquite Bug (nymph)
        Chelinidea vittiger  Opuntia Bug (nymph)
      alydidae  Hyalymenus tarsatus  Texas Bow-legged Bug (nymph)
      largidae  Largus sp.  Largus Bug (adult & nymph)
      lygaeidae  Lygaeus kalmii  Small Milkweed Bug
        Oncopeltus fasciatus  Large Milkweed Bug
      rhopalidae  Niesthrea louisianica  Scentless Plant Bug
      miridae  Pseudatomoscelis seriatus  Cotton Flea Hopper
      mesoveliidae  Mesovelia sp.  Water Treader
      veliidae  Microvelia sp.  Small Water Strider (nymph)
      pentatomidae  Mecidea major  Grass Stink Bug
        Thyanta custator  Stink Bug
        Chinavia hilaris  Green Stink Bug (adult & nymph)
        Euschistus servus  Brown Stink Bug
        Trichopepla semivittata  Stink Bug

    homoptera  cicadellidae  Balclutha neglecta  Leafhopper
        Chlorotettix sp.  Leafhopper
        Erasmoneura vulnerata  Leafhopper
      delphacidae  Megamelus sp.  Planthopper (adult & nymph)
      aphididae  Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae  Waterlily Aphid

    hymenoptera  apidae  Apis mellifera  Honey Bee
        Bombus pensylvanicus  American Bumble Bee
        Bombus sonorus  Sonoran Bumble Bee
        Melissoptila pinguis  Long-horned Bee
        Melissodes sp.  Long-horned Bee
        Diadasia sp.  Chimney Bee
        Xylocopa virginica  Eastern Carpenter Bee
      colletidae  Hylaeus sp.  Masked Bee
      halictidae  Augochloropsis metallica  Green Sweat Bee
        Agapostemon sp.  Green Sweat Bee
        Halictus sp.  Furrow Bee
      andrenidae  Protandrena sp.  Bee
      megachilidae  Megachile sp.  Leaf-cutter Bee
      sphecidae  Prionyx sp.  Thread-waisted Wasp
        Sceliphron caementarium  Yellow-and-black Mud Dauber
      vespidae  Polistes dorsalis  Paper Wasp
        Polistes exclamans  Paper Wasp
        Polistes rubiginosus  Red Wasp
        Vespula squamosa  Southern Yellowjacket
        Euodynerus hidalgo  Mason Wasp
        Eumenes bollii  Potter Wasp
      pompilidae  Anoplius sp.  Spider Wasp
        Unknown sp.  Spider Wasp
      formicidae  Leptogenys elogata  Ant
        Solenopsis sp.  Fire Ant
      tiphiidae  Tiphia sp.  Tiphiid Wasp

    diptera  syrphidae  Hypocritanus fascipennis  Flower Fly
        Allograpta obliqua  Flower Fly
        Toxomerus marginatus  Flower Fly
        Dioprosopa clavata  Flower Fly
        Palpada vinetorum  Flower Fly
        Eristalis stipator  Flower Fly
        Copestylum marginatum  Flower Fly
        Copestylum avidum  Flower Fly
        Helophilus latifrons  Flower Fly
      bombyliidae  Poecilanthrax lucifer  Bee Fly
      tachinidae  Trichopoda sp.  Feather-legged Fly
        Archytas sp.  Tachinid Fly
        Cylindromyia sp.  Tachinid Fly
      calliphoridae  Cochliomyia macellaria  Secondary Screwworm Fly
      muscidae  Limnophora sp.  Fly
        Unknown sp.  Fly
      dolichopodidae  Condylostylus sp.  Long-legged Fly
      limoniidae  Limonia communis  Crane Fly
      chironomidae  Chironomus sp.  Midge
        Procladius sp.  Midge
      culicidae  Culex tarsalis  Western Encephalitis Mosquito

    odonata  libellulidae  Sympetrum corruptum  Variegated Meadowhawk
      coenagrionidae  Argia immunda  Kiowa Dancer
        Argia plana  Springwater Dancer
        Enallagma civile  Familiar Bluet

    orthoptera  acrididae  Melanoplus ponderosus  Ponderous Grasshopper
        Melanoplus differentialis  Differential Grasshopper
        Melanoplus femurrubrum  Red-legged Grasshopper
        Melanoplus plebejus  Plebeian Grasshopper
        Syrbula admirabilis  Handsome Grasshopper
        Eritettix abortivus  Texas Short-winged Slant-faced Grasshopper
        Schistocerca lineata  Spotted Bird Grasshopper
        Trimerotropis pallidipennis  Pallid-winged Grasshopper
        Lactista aztecus  Aztec Bandwing
      gryllidae  Gryllus sp.  Field Cricket (nymph)
      tettigoniidae  Orchelimum silvaticum  Long-spurred Meadow Katydid
        Scudderia furcata  Fork-tailed Bush Katydid (adult & nymph)

    isoptera  termitidae  Gnathamitermes sp.  Long-jawed Desert Termite

    thysanoptera  thripidae  Unknown sp.  Thrips

    neuroptera  chrysopidae  Chrysoperla rufilabris  Green Lacewing

    trichoptera  philopotamidae  Chimarra sp.  Black Caddisfly

    mecoptera  panorpidae  Panorpa nuptialis  Scorpionfly

    araneae  salticidae  Phidippus audax  Bold Jumper
      oxyopidae  Peucetia viridans  Green Lynx
      oecobiidae  Oecobius sp.  Wall Spider
      pholcidae  Unknown sp.  Cellar Spider

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