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  ABC > Home > THE FAUNA PROJECT > Survey August 25, 2022


The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Fauna Project

A team of twelve conducted this week's survey under hot, humid and cloudy conditions. Mealybugs are plant parasites that produce wax from dermal pores. This enveloping white layer is water repellent and can shield the insects from pathogens, desiccation, insecticides and some predators. The ants shown below are an additional defense as they diligently protect their source of carbohydrate-rich honeydew.

Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings:


Archytas sp. (tachinid fly)
photo by Joe Fernandes


Eristalis stipator (flower fly)
photo by Beth Kirkhart


Anthrax albofasciatus (bee fly)
photo by Beth Kirkhart


Dielis plumipes (scoliid wasp)
photo by Val Bugh


Dasymutilla vesta (velvet ant male)
photo by Joe Fernandes


Unknown sp. & Solenopsis sp. (mealybugs & fire ants)
photo by Val Bugh


Apiomerus spissipes (bee assassin eating bee)
photo by Linda Crabtree


Merocoris distinctus (coreid bug)
photo by Val Bugh


Megatibicen resh (cicada)
photo by Joe Fernandes


Manduca sexta (Carolina sphinx larva)
photo by Katherine Daniels


Microtheoris ophionalis & Microtheoris vibicalis
(yellow-veined moth & whip-marked snout moth)
photo by Val Bugh


Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus (redstripe ribbon snake)
photo by Beth Kirkhart


Dryophytes cinereus (green tree frog)
photo by Harriett Wolf


Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus & Dryophytes cinereus
(redstripe ribbon snake eating green tree frog)
photo by Joe Fernandes


Campylacantha olivacea (fuzzy olive-green grasshopper)
photo by Sam Fruehling


Syrbula admirabilis & Syrbula montezuma
(handsome grasshopper & Montezuma's grasshopper)
photo by Sam Fruehling & Beth Kirkhart


Latrodectus mactans (southern black widow)
photo by Beth Kirkhart


Peucetia viridans (green lynx)
photo by Dan Hardy


Oxyopes apollo (lynx spider guarding egg sac)
photo by Val Bugh


Gladicosa pulchra (wolf spider)
photo by Val Bugh

  • Birds:
    American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
    Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
    Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)
    Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)
    Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus)
    Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)
    Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
    Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
    Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
    Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
    Common Raven (Corvus corax)
    Dickcissel (Spiza americana)
    Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
    Great Egret (Ardea alba)
    House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
    House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
    Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
    Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
    Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
    Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
    Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)
    Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
    Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
    Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
    Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus)
    Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)
    Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
    White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)
    White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
    Woodhouse's Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma woodhouseii)
    Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens)

  • Mammals:
    Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)
    White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

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

  • Misc.:
    Harvestman (Leiobunum sp.)
    Deer Tick (Ixodes scapularis)
    Black-velvet Leatherleaf Slug (Belocaulus angustipes)
    Globular Drop (Helicina orbiculata)

  • Insects & Spiders:
    orderfamilygenus/speciescommon name

    lepidoptera  nymphalidae  Agraulis vanillae  Gulf Fritillary
        Danaus gilippus  Queen
      pieridae  Eurema nicippe  Sleepy Orange
      papilionidae  Papilio cresphontes  Giant Swallowtail
        Papilio polyxenes  Black Swallowtail
        Battus philenor  Pipevine Swallowtail
      lycaenidae  Hemiargus isola  Reakirt's Blue
        Leptotes marina  Marine Blue
        Strymon melinus  Gray Hairstreak
        Strymon istapa  Mallow Scrub-hairstreak
        Callophrys gryneus  Juniper Hairstreak
        Calycopis isobeon  Dusky-blue Groundstreak
      hesperiidae  Lerema accius  Clouded Skipper
        Atalopedes campestris  Sachem
        Hylephila phyleus  Fiery Skipper
        Chioides albofasciatus  White-striped Longtail
        Pyrgus communis/albescens  Common/White Checkered-skipper
        Erynnis horatius  Horace's Duskywing
      noctuidae  Spragueia obatra  Moth
        Ponometia candefacta  Olive-shaded Bird Dropping Moth
        Tarache aprica  Exposed Bird Dropping Moth
        Tarache quadriplaga  Bird Dropping Moth
        Micrathetis triplex  Triplex Cutworm Moth
        Galgula partita  The Wedgling
        Xerociris wilsonii  Wilson's Wood-nymph
      erebidae  Aon noctuiformis  Moth
        Phytometra orgiae  Moth
      sphingidae  Manduca sexta  Carolina Sphinx (larva)
      geometridae  Digrammia pallidata  Moth
        Psamatodes abydata  Dot-lined Angle
      crambidae  Urola nivalis  Snowy Urola
        Pyrausta augustalis  Pyrausta Moth
        Uresiphita reversalis  Genista Caterpillar (larva)
        Achyra rantalis  Garden Webworm Moth
        Diastictis fracturalis  Fractured Western Snout Moth
        Desmia subdivisalis  Moth
        Lineodes interrupta  Moth
        Petrophila jaliscalis  Moth
        Microtheoris ophionalis  Yellow-veined Moth
        Microtheoris vibicalis  Whip-marked Snout Moth
        Euchromius ocelleus  Grass-veneer Moth
        Fissicrambus sp.  Grass-veneer Moth
      pyralidae  Anderida peorinella  Grass-veneer Moth
        Homoeosoma electella  Sunflower Moth
        Eurythmia angulella  Moth
        Salebriaria pumilella  Moth
        Pococera euphemella  Mesquite Leaftier Moth
        Elasmopalpus lignosellus  Lesser Cornstalk Borer Moth
        Chararica hystriculella  Moth
        Baphala pallida  Moth
        Canarsia ulmiarrosorella  Elm Leaftier Moth
        Unknown sp.  Moth
      tortricidae  Cydia latiferreana  Filbertworm Moth
        Pseudexentera knudsoni  Leafroller Moth
      gelechiidae  Aristotelia new sp.  Moth
        Sophronia roseicrinella  Moth
        Coleotechnites sp.  Moth
        Gnorimoschema saphirinella  Moth
        Hypatima sp.  Moth
      scythrididae  Scythris trivinctella  Moth
        Neoscythris fissirostris  Moth
      oecophoridae  Inga cretacea  Chalky Inga
        Inga obscuromaculella  Moth
      elachistidae  Haplochrois bipunctella  Moth
      yponomeutidae  Atteva aurea  Ailanthus Webworm Moth
      gracillariidae  Phyllonorycter sp.  Moth
      heliodinidae  Aetole tripunctella  Moth
      bucculatricidae  Bucculatrix sp.  Ribbed Cocoon-maker Moth
      acrolophidae  Acrolophus piger  Tubeworm Moth

    coleoptera  chrysomelidae  Pachybrachis texanus  Leaf Beetle
        Cryptocephalus fulguratus  Leaf Beetle
        Acanthoscelides pectoralis  Bean Weevil
        Mimosestes amicus  Bean Weevil
        Zabrotes spectabilis  Bean Weevil
      coccinellidae  Cycloneda sanguinea  Red Lady Beetle (adult & larva)
        Olla v-nigrum  Ashy Gray Lady Beetle
      carabidae  Pasimachus californicus  Ground Beetle
        Bembidion impotens  Ground Beetle
        Selenophorus sp.  Ground Beetle
      staphylinidae  Philonthus rufulus  Rove Beetle
        Carpelimus sp.  Rove Beetle
        Tachyporus jocosus  Crab-like Rove Beetle
      hydrophilidae  Berosus sp.  Water Scavenger Beetle
      dytiscidae  Thermonectus basillaris  Predaceous Diving Beetle
        Coptotomus venustus  Predaceous Diving Beetle
        Celina sp.  Predaceous Diving Beetle
      noteridae  Hydrocanthus atripennis  Burrowing Water Beetle
      scarabaeidae  Phyllophaga sp.  June Beetle
        Martineziana dutertrei  Aphodiine Dung Beetle
      bostrichidae  Xylobiops sp.  Powder-post Beetle

    hemiptera  coreidae  Acanthocephala terminalis  Coreid Bug
        Leptoglossus phyllopus  Eastern Leaf-footed Bug
        Leptoglossus clypealis  Leaf-footed Bug
        Mozena lunata  Mesquite Bug
        Narnia femorata  Cactus Bug (adult & nymph)
        Chelinidea vittiger  Opuntia Bug (adult & nymph)
        Merocoris distinctus  Coreid Bug
      alydidae  Hyalymenus tarsatus  Texas Bow-legged Bug
      largidae  Largus sp.  Largus Bug
      lygaeidae  Oncopeltus fasciatus  Large Milkweed Bug
        Lygaeus kalmii  Small Milkweed Bug
      rhyparochromidae  Heraeus plebejus  Seed Bug
      rhopalidae  Harmostes reflexulus  Scentless Plant Bug
      miridae  Phytocoris sp.  Plant Bug
        Eustictus sp.  Plant Bug
        Pseudatomoscelis seriatus  Cotton Flea Hopper
      notonectidae  Buenoa sp.  Backswimmer
      corixidae  Unknown sp.  Water Boatman
      reduviidae  Zelus renardii  Assassin Bug
        Apiomerus spissipes  Bee Assassin
      scutelleridae  Camirus porosus  Shield Bug
      pentatomidae  Banasa euchlora  Stink Bug
        Euschistus servus  Brown Stink Bug
        Euschistus tristigmus  Stink Bug

    homoptera  cicadellidae  Homalodisca vitripennis  Glassy-winged Sharpshooter
        Paraphlepsius irroratus  Leafhopper
        Excultanus excultus  Leafhopper
        Planicephalus flavicosta  Leafhopper
        Unknown sp.  Leafhopper
      cixiidae  Oecleus sp.  Planthopper
        Melanoliarus sp.  Planthopper
      flatidae  Metcalfa pruinosa  Citrus Planthopper
      membracidae  Stictocephala sp.  Treehopper
      cicadidae  Megatibicen resh  Cicada
      pseudococcidae  Unknown sp.  Mealybug
      aphididae  Aphis nerii  Oleander Aphid
        Pemphigus populitransversus  Poplar Petiole-gall Aphid
      dactylopiidae  Dactylpius sp.  Cochineal Insect

    hymenoptera  apidae  Apis mellifera  Honey Bee
        Bombus pensylvanicus  American Bumble Bee
        Anthophora sp.  Digger Bee
        Xylocopa micans  Southern Carpenter Bee
      halictidae  Augochloropsis metallica  Green Sweat Bee
        Augochlorella sp.  Green Sweat Bee
        Lasioglossum sp.  Sweat Bee
      megachilidae  Megachile sp.  Leaf-cutter Bee
      vespidae  Polistes exclamans  Paper Wasp
        Polistes rubiginosus  Red Wasp
        Polistes dorsalis  Paper Wasp
        Polistes apachus  Apache Wasp
        Vespula squamosa  Southern Yellowjacket
        Parancistrocerus minimoferus  Mason Wasp
        Euodynerus crypticus  Mason Wasp
      crabronidae  Bicyrtes quadrifasciata  Sand Wasp
        Tachytes sp.  Digger Wasp
      sphecidae  Chalybion sp.  Blue Mud Dauber
        Sceliphron caementarium  Yellow-and-black Mud Dauber
        Isodontia auripes  Brown-legged Grass-carrying Wasp
        Prionyx sp.  Thread-waisted Wasp
        Ammophila sp.  Thread-waisted Wasp
        Sphex ichneumoneus  Great Golden Digger Wasp
        Sphex lucae  Digger Wasp
        Sphex texanus  Digger Wasp
      pompilidae  Pepsis sp.  Tarantula-hawk Wasp
        Episyron sp.  Spider Wasp
        Notocyphus dorsalis  Spider Wasp
        Entypus unifasciatus  Cresson's Spider Wasp
        Tachypompilus ferrugineus  Rusty Spider Wasp
        Unknown sp.  Spider Wasp
      scoliidae  Dielis plumipes  Scoliid Wasp
      mutillidae  Dasymutilla vesta  Velvet Ant
      formicidae  Solenopsis sp.  Fire Ant
      leucospidae  Leucospis affinis  Leucospid Wasp

    diptera  syrphidae  Toxomerus marginatus  Flower Fly
        Eristalis stipator  Flower Fly
        Dioprosopa clavata  Flower Fly (larva)
        Nausigaster sp.  Flower Fly
      bombyliidae  Geron sp.  Bee Fly
        Toxophora virgata  Bee Fly
        Anthrax albofasciatus  Bee Fly
      stratiomyidae  Hoplitimyia mutabilis  Soldier Fly
        Unknown sp.  Soldier Fly (larva)
      asilidae  Efferia sp.  Robber Fly
        Atomosia melanopogon  Robber Fly
      dolichopodidae  Condylostylus sp.  Long-legged Fly
      tabanidae  Tabanus sp.  Horse Fly
      tachinidae  Archytas sp.  Tachinid Fly
      milichiidae  Desmometopa sp.  Freeloader Fly
      cecidomyiidae  Unknown sp.  Gall Midge
      limoniidae  Limonia communis  Crane Fly
      culicidae  Aedes albopictus  Asian Tiger Mosquito
        Psorophora cyanescens  Mosquito
      chironomidae  Ablabesmyia sp.  Midge
        Unknown sp.  Midge

    odonata  libellulidae  Libellula croceipennis  Neon Skimmer
        Pachydiplax longipennis  Blue Dasher
        Erythemis simplicicollis  Eastern Pondhawk
        Pantala flavescens  Wandering Glider
      coenagrionidae  Telebasis salva  Desert Firetail
        Enallagma civile  Familiar Bluet
        Ischnura posita  Fragile Forktail

    orthoptera  acrididae  Melanoplus ponderosus  Ponderous Grasshopper
        Melanoplus differentialis  Differential Grasshopper
        Melanoplus femurrubrum  Red-legged Grasshopper
        Melanoplus plebejus  Plebeian Grasshopper (adult & nymph)
        Melanoplus flabellatus  Dallas Short-winged Grasshopper
        Hesperotettix speciosus  Showy Grasshopper
        Campylacantha olivacea  Fuzzy Olive-green Grasshopper
        Syrbula admirabilis  Handsome Grasshopper (adult & nymph)
        Syrbula montezuma  Montezuma's Grasshopper
        Mermiria bivittata  Two-striped Mermiria
        Orphulella pelidna  Spotted-wing Grasshopper
        Boopedon gracile  Graceful Range Grasshopper
        Eritettix abortivus  Texas Short-winged Slant-faced Grasshopper
        Schistocerca lineata  Spotted Bird Grasshopper
        Trachyrhachys kiowa  Kiowa Grasshopper
        Chortophaga viridifasciata  Northern Green-striped Grasshopper
        Arphia simplex  Plains Yellow-winged Grasshopper
        Lactista aztecus  Aztec Bandwing
        Trimerotropis maritima  Seaside Grasshopper
        Hippiscus ocelote  Wrinkled Grasshopper
      gryllidae  Gryllus sp.  Field Cricket
        Eunemobius carolinus  Carolina Ground Cricket
      tettigoniidae  Conocephalus strictus  Straight-lanced Meadow Katydid
        Pediodectes nigromarginatus  Black-margined Shieldback
        Obolopteryx catinata  Spoon-tailed Short-winged Katydid

    blattodea  ectobiidae  Pseudomops septentrionalis  Pale-bordered Field Cockroach

    isoptera  termitidae  Gnathamitermes sp.  Long-jawed Desert Termite
        Tenuirostritermes sp.  Nasutiform Termite
      rhinotermitidae  Reticulitermes sp.  Subterranean Termite

    neuroptera  myrmeleontidae  Myrmeleon sp.  Antlion (larva)
      hemerobiidae  Sympherobius sp.  Brown Lacewing
      ascalaphidae  Ululodes macleayanus  Owlfly
      coniopterygidae  Unknown sp.  Dustywing

    trichoptera  leptoceridae  Oecetis inconspicua  Long-horned Caddisfly

    araneae  salticidae  Phidippus arizonensis  Arizona Jumper
        Habronattus cognatus  Jumping Spider
        Maevia sp.  Jumping Spider
      araneidae  Argiope aurantia  Black and Yellow Garden Spider
      oxyopidae  Peucetia viridans  Green Lynx
        Oxyopes apollo  Lynx Spider
      tetragnathidae  Tetragnatha sp.  Longjawed Orbweaver
      thomisidae  Mecaphesa sp.  Crab Spider
      lycosidae  Gladicosa pulchra  Wolf Spider
      theridiidae  Latrodectus mactans  Southern Black Widow
      pholcidae  Holocnemus pluchei  Marbled Cellar Spider

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  ABC > Home > THE FAUNA PROJECT > Survey August 25, 2022