It was hot and sunny as a team of ten conducted this week's survey. Unlike species that attack wooden buildings, the Desert Termites shown below are rarely pests. They are, however, important components of arid ecosystems, where they contribute to nutrient cycling by consuming dead grass and other vegetation. Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings: Chioides albofasciatus (white-striped longtail) photo by Julie Shaw Phyciodes tharos (pearl crescent) photo by Bill Boyd Calephelis perditalis (rounded metalmark) photo by Katherine Daniels Hemiargus isola (Reakirt's blue) photo by Katherine Daniels Coptotriche sp. (trumpet leafminer moth) photo by Val Bugh Agraulis vanillae (gulf fritillary larva) photo by Katherine Daniels Pachybrachis texanus (leaf beetle) photo by Val Bugh Asphaera lustrans (flea beetle) photo by Joe Fernandes Oulema variabilis (leaf beetle) photo by Val Bugh Aidemona azteca (Aztec spurthroat nymph) photo by Julie Shaw Oncometopia orbona (leafhopper) photo by Joe Fernandes Oncopeltus fasciatus (large milkweed bug) photo by Joe Fernandes Vespula squamosa (southern yellowjacket) photo by Val Bugh Unknown sp. & Solenopsis invicta (mealybugs & imported fire ant) photo by Julie Shaw Gnathamitermes sp. (long-jawed desert termites) photo by Beth Kirkhart Icterus spurius (orchard oriole, immature male) photo by Bill Boyd Erythemis simplicicollis (eastern pondhawk, immature male) photo by Beth Kirkhart Erythemis simplicicollis (eastern pondhawk, mature male) photo by Katherine Daniels Argiope aurantia (black and yellow garden spider egg sac) photo by Katherine Daniels Eumenes sp. (potter wasp nest) 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 Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) Common Raven (Corvus corax) Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) Purple Martin (Progne subis) Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps) Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) Woodhouse's Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma woodhouseii) Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) Mammals: Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Reptiles & Fish: Texas Spotted Whiptail (Aspidoscelis gularis gularis) Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus) Eastern Blackneck Garter Snake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis ocellatus) Redstripe Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus) Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) Snake (Unknown sp.), skeleton Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) Rio Grande Cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) Sailfin Molly (Poecilia latipinna) Misc.: Harvestman (Leiobunum sp.) Insects & Spiders: order family genus/species common name lepidoptera   nymphalidae   Agraulis vanillae   Gulf Fritillary (adult & larva)       Danaus gilippus   Queen       Vanessa cardui   Painted Lady       Phyciodes tharos   Pearl Crescent    lycaenidae   Hemiargus isola   Reakirt's Blue       Callophrys gryneus   Juniper Hairstreak       Strymon melinus   Gray Hairstreak (larva)       Strymon istapa   Mallow Scrub-hairstreak    pieridae   Eurema nicippe   Sleepy Orange    riodinidae   Calephelis perditalis   Rounded Metalmark    papilionidae   Papilio cresphontes   Giant Swallowtail    hesperiidae   Lerema accius   Clouded Skipper       Hylephila phyleus   Fiery Skipper       Chioides albofasciatus   White-striped Longtail       Pyrgus communis/albescens   Common/White Checkered-skipper       Pyrgus philetas   Desert Checkered-skipper       Erynnis horatius   Horace's Duskywing    erebidae   Melipotis indomita   Moth       Phyprosopus callitrichoides   Curve-lined Owlet    geometridae   Digrammia atrofasciata   Moth       Iridopsis defectaria   Brown-shaded Gray Moth    crambidae   Urola nivalis   Snowy Urola    pyralidae   Peoria tetradella   Grass-veneer Moth       Peoria opacella   Grass-veneer Moth       Anderida peorinella   Grass-veneer Moth       Tampa dimediatella   Tampa Moth       Eurythmia angulella   Moth       Salebriaria pumilella   Moth       Ephestiodes gilvescentella   Dusky Raisin Moth    tortricidae   Ancylis comptana   Strawberry Leafroller Moth       Sonia constricta   Leafroller Moth    gelechiidae   Neodactylota liguritrix   Moth       Unknown sp.   Moth    scythrididae   Scythris trivinctella   Moth       Neoscythris fissirostris   Moth    oecophoridae   Antaeotricha humilis   Dotted Antaeotricha Moth    depressariidae   Durrantia piperatella   Moth    blastobasidae   Pigritia sp.   Moth    ypsolophidae   Ypsolopha unicipunctella   Agarita Slug Moth    heliodinidae   Aetole bella   Moth       Aetole tripunctella   Moth    elachistidae   Elachista sp.   Moth    tischeriidae   Coptotriche sp.   Trumpet Leafminer Moth coleoptera   chrysomelidae   Pachybrachis texanus   Leaf Beetle       Asphaera lustrans   Flea Beetle       Oulema variabilis   Leaf Beetle       Algarobius bottimeri   Bean Weevil    buprestidae   Agrilus sp.   Metallic Woodborer    hydrophilidae   Berosus sp.   Water Scavenger Beetle    dytiscidae   Copelatus chevrolati   Predaceous Diving Beetle    carabidae   Pasimachus californicus   Ground Beetle    scarabaeidae   Phyllophaga sp.   June Beetle    bostrichidae   Xylobiops sp.   Powder-post Beetle    nitidulidae   Stelidota coenosa   Sap Beetle hemiptera   coreidae   Acanthocephala terminalis   Coreid Bug       Leptoglossus phyllopus   Eastern Leaf-footed Bug (adult & nymph)       Narnia femorata   Cactus Bug (adult & nymph)    alydidae   Hyalymenus tarsatus   Texas bow-legged Bug (adult & nymph)    lygaeidae   Oncopeltus fasciatus   Large Milkweed Bug       Lygaeus kalmii   Small Milkweed Bug    rhopalidae   Unknown sp.   Scentless Plant Bug (eggs)    berytidae   Jalysus sp.   Stilt Bug    reduviidae   Zelus cervicalis   Assassin Bug       Diaditus sp.   Assassin Bug    pentatomidae   Banasa euchlora   Stink Bug       Euschistus servus   Brown Stink Bug       Thyanta custator   Stink Bug homoptera   cicadellidae   Homalodisca vitripennis   Glassy-winged Sharpshooter       Oncometopia orbona   Leafhopper       Eutettix sp.   Leafhopper       Texananus sp.   Leafhopper       Cetexa sp.   Leafhopper       Graphocephala hieroglyphica   Leafhopper       Cuerna costalis   Leafhopper       Draeculacephala sp.   Leafhopper       Paraphlepsius irroratus   Leafhopper       Acinopterus sp.   Leafhopper    cixiidae   Oecleus sp.   Planthopper    cercopidae   Lepyronia quadrangularis   Spittlebug    flatidae   Metcalfa pruinosa   Citrus Planthopper    membracidae   Stictocephala sp.   Treehopper    pseudococcidae   Unknown sp.   Mealybug    cicadidae   Hadoa texana   Cicada       Neotibicen superbus   Superb Cicada hymenoptera   apidae   Apis mellifera   Honey Bee       Bombus pensylvanicus   American Bumble Bee       Melissodes sp.   Digger Bee       Xylocopa virginica   Eastern Carpenter Bee    halictidae   Augochloropsis metallica   Green Sweat Bee       Augochlorella sp.   Green Sweat Bee       Lasioglossum sp.   Sweat Bee       Halictus sp.   Furrow Bee    megachilidae   Megachile sp.   Leaf-cutter Bee       Dianthidium subrufulum   Resin Bee       Dianthidium sp.   Resin Bee       Coelioxys sp.   Parasitic Leaf-cutter Bee    vespidae   Polistes exclamans   Paper Wasp       Polistes rubiginosus   Red Wasp       Polistes dorsalis   Paper Wasp       Polistes metricus   Paper Wasp       Vespula squamosa   Southern Yellowjacket       Vespula maculifrons   Eastern Yellowjacket       Eumenes smithii   Potter Wasp       Eumenes fraternus   Potter Wasp       Parancistrocerus minimoferus   Mason Wasp       Brachygastra mellifica   Mexican Honey Wasp    crabronidae   Bicyrtes quadrifasciata   Sand Wasp       Tachysphex sp.   Digger Wasp    sphecidae   Chalybion sp.   Blue Mud Dauber       Sceliphron caementarium   Yellow-and-black Mud Dauber       Prionyx sp.   Thread-waisted Wasp       Ammophila sp.   Thread-waisted Wasp       Sphex ichneumoneus   Great Golden Digger Wasp       Sphex pensylvanicus   Great Black Wasp    pompilidae   Pepsis sp.   Tarantula-hawk Wasp       Tachypompilus ferrugineus   Spider Wasp       Episyron sp.   Spider Wasp    formicidae   Solenopsis invicta   Imported Fire Ant       Forelius sp.   Ant       Brachymyrmex patagonicus   Rover Ant       Pseudomyrmex ejectus   Twig Ant    leucospidae   Leucospis affinis   Leucospid Wasp    cynipidae   Unknown sp.   Gall Wasp diptera   bombyliidae   Geron sp.   Bee Fly       Neodiplocampta miranda   Bee Fly    asilidae   Promachus hinei   Robber Fly       Saropogon sp.   Robber Fly    dolichopodidae   Condylostylus sp.   Long-legged Fly    calliphoridae   Lucilia sp.   Blow Fly    agromyzidae   Unknown sp.   Leaf-miner Fly    chironomidae   Tanypus neopunctipennis   Midge       Unknown sp.   Midge odonata   libellulidae   Libellula croceipennis   Neon Skimmer       Libellula luctuosa   Widow Skimmer       Erythemis simplicicollis   Eastern Pondhawk       Perithemis tenera   Eastern Amberwing       Plathemis lydia   Common Whitetail       Tramea onusta   Red Saddlebags       Dythemis velox   Swift Setwing       Pantala sp.   Glider    coenagrionidae   Telebasis salva   Desert Firetail       Argia plana   Springwater Dancer       Argia immunda   Kiowa Dancer orthoptera   acrididae   Melanoplus ponderosus   Ponderous Grasshopper       Melanoplus differentialis   Differential Grasshopper       Melanoplus femurrubrum   Red-legged Grasshopper       Melanoplus flabellatus   Dallas Short-winged Grasshopper       Melanoplus plebejus   Plebeian Grasshopper (nymph)       Aidemona azteca   Aztec Spurthroat (nymph)       Hesperotettix speciosus   Showy Grasshopper       Syrbula montezuma   Montezuma's Grasshopper (nymph)       Mermiria bivittata   Two-striped Mermiria       Schistocerca lineata   Spotted Bird Grasshopper       Lactista aztecus   Aztec Bandwing       Chortophaga viridifasciata   Northern Green-striped Grasshopper    mogoplistidae   Cycloptilum sp.   Scaly Cricket    tettigoniidae   Scudderia furcata   Fork-tailed Bush Katydid (adult & nymph)       Orchelimum silvaticum   Long-spurred Meadow Katydid       Pediodectes bruneri   Bruner Shieldback mantodea   mantidae   Stagmomantis carolina   Carolina Mantis (nymph) isoptera   termitidae   Gnathamitermes sp.   Long-jawed Desert Termite neuroptera   myrmeleontidae   Myrmeleon sp.   Antlion (larva)    ascalaphidae   Ululodes macleayanus   Owlfly    mantispidae   Leptomantispa pulchella   Mantisfly    coniopterygidae   Unknown sp.   Dustywing araneae   salticidae   Phidippus audax   Bold Jumper       Phidippus arizonensis   Arizona Jumper       Anasaitis canosa   Jumping Spider       Pelegrina galathea   Peppered Jumper       Hentzia palmarum   Long-jawed Jumper       Colonus sylvanus   Jumping Spider       Maevia sp.   Jumping Spider    araneidae   Argiope aurantia   Black and Yellow Garden Spider    oxyopidae   Peucetia viridans   Green Lynx    thomisidae   Mecaphesa dubia   Crab Spider       Mecaphesa sp.   Crab Spider    pisauridae   Dolomedes triton   Fishing Spider    lycosidae   Schizocosa sp.   Wolf Spider    miturgidae   Cheiracanthium inclusum   Sac Spider    tetragnathidae   Tetragnatha sp.   Longjawed Orbweaver    theridiidae   Steatoda triangulosa   Checkered Cobweb Weaver    pholcidae   Holocnemus pluchei   Marbled Cellar Spider