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  ABC > Home > THE FAUNA PROJECT > Survey November 9, 2023


The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Fauna Project

A team of sixteen participated in this week's survey on a warm, overcast morning. Yellowjacket nests produce queens and drones (see examples below) late in the year. After a virgin queen mates, sometimes with multiple drones, she goes into diapause for the winter, emerging in the spring to start a new colony.

Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings:


Falco sparverius (American kestrel)
photo by Beth Kirkhart


Mimus polyglottos (northern mockingbird)
photo by Bill Boyd


Spizella pusilla (field sparrow)
photo by Annelia Williams


Corvus corax & Corvus brachyrhynchos (common raven & American crows)
photo by Bill Boyd & Beth Kirkhart


Anolis carolinensis (green anole)
photo by Joe Fernandes


Lithobates berlandieri (Rio Grande leopard frog)
photo by Betty McCreary


Strymon istapa (mallow scrub-hairstreak)
photo by Sam Fruehling


top:Wallengrenia otho & Lerodea eufala (southern broken-dash & eufala skipper)
bottom: Atalopedes campestris & Hylephila phyleus (sachem & fiery skipper)
photo by Katherine Daniels, Dan Zinn, David Cook & Dan Zinn


Pasimachus californicus (ground beetle)
photo by David Cook


Panorpa nuptialis (scorpionfly, female)
photo by Michael Knox


Manduca sexta (Carolina sphinx moth larva)
photo by Joe Fernandes


Mozena lunata (mesquite bug nymph)
photo by David Cook


Hypselonotus punctiventris (coreid bug)
photo by Val Bugh


Chinavia hilaris (green stink bug nymph)
photo by Joe Fernandes


Vespula maculifrons (eastern yellowjacket queen)
photo by Val Bugh


Vespula maculifrons (eastern yellowjacket drone)
photo by Val Bugh


Brachygastra mellifica & Pachodynerus nasidens
(Mexican honey wasp & keyhole wasp)
photo by Val Bugh & Katherine Daniels


Aedes vexans (inland floodwater mosquito)
photo by Katherine Daniels


Empis sp. & Zodion sp. (dance fly & thick-headed fly)
photo by Joe Fernandes & Katherine Daniels


Musca domestica (house fly)
photo by David Cook

  • Birds:
    American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
    American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
    American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
    Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)
    Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
    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)
    Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
    Common Raven (Corvus corax)
    Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
    Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
    Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
    Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
    Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)
    Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)
    Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
    Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)
    House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
    House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
    Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris)
    Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
    Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)
    Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
    Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
    Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
    Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
    Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
    Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
    Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
    Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
    Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
    Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
    Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
    Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)
    Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
    Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)
    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)
    Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), fresh digging
    Hispid Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus)
    Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)
    Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), fresh scat
    Common Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), fresh scat
    Coyote (Canis latrans), calls & fresh scat

  • Reptiles, Amphibians & Fish:
    Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)
    Rio Grande Leopard Frog (Lithobates berlandieri)
    Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)

  • Misc.:
    Harvestman (Eumesosoma roeweri)
    Harvestman (Leiobunum sp.)
    Mite (Leptus sp.)
    Julid Millipede (Aniulus sp.)
    Land Snail (Polygyra cereolus)
    Milk Snail (Otala lactea)

  • Insects & Spiders:
    orderfamilygenus/speciescommon name

    lepidoptera  nymphalidae  Danaus plexippus  Monarch
        Agraulis vanillae  Gulf Fritillary
        Euptoieta claudia  Variegated Fritillary
        Vanessa cardui  Painted Lady
        Junonia coenia  Common Buckeye
      pieridae  Eurema lisa  Little Yellow
        Eurema nicippe  Sleepy Orange
      lycaenidae  Strymon melinus  Gray Hairstreak
        Strymon istapa  Mallow Scrub-hairstreak
      hesperiidae  Hylephila phyleus  Fiery Skipper
        Atalopedes campestris  Sachem
        Lerodea eufala  Eufala Skipper
        Wallengrenia otho  Southern Broken-dash
        Systasea pulverulenta  Texas Powdered-skipper (larva)
      noctuidae  Galgula partita  The Wedgling
        Cobubatha orthozona  Moth
        Bagisara rectifascia  Straight-lined Mallow Moth (larva)
        Elaphria festivoides  Festive Midget
        Sympistis sp.  Moth
        Rachiplusia ou  Gray Looper Moth
        Schinia chrysellus  Broomweed Flower Moth
      erebidae  Anticarsia gemmatalis  Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth
        Melipotis indomita  Moth
        Caenurgina erechtea  Forage Looper Moth
        Bulia deducta  Moth
        Eublemma minima  Everlasting Bud Moth
        Metria amella  Live Oak Metria
        Eubolina impartialis  Moth
        Phytometra orgiae  Moth
        Plusiodonta compressipalpis  Moonseed Moth (adult & larva)
      arctiidae  Estigmene acrea  Salt Marsh Moth (larva)
        Cisthene tenuifascia  Thin-banded Lichen Moth
      sphingidae  Hemaris diffinis  Snowberry Clearwing (larva)
        Manduca sexta  Carolina Sphinx (larva)
      geometridae  Digrammia pallidata  Moth
        Digrammia atrofasciata  Moth
        Pleuroprucha insulsaria  Common Tan Wave
        Iridopsis defectaria  Brown-shaded Gray Moth
        Anavitrinella atristrigaria  Gulf Coast Gray
        Eupithecia miserulata  Common Eupithecia (larva)
      crambidae  Agriphila vulgivagella  Vagabond Crambus
        Microcrambus croesus  Grass-veneer Moth
        Nomophila nearctica  Lucerne Moth
        Urola nivalis  Snowy Urola
        Uresiphita reversalis  Genista Caterpillar Moth (adult & larva)
        Pyrausta sp.  Pyrausta Moth (larva)
        Glaphyria sesquistrialis  White-roped Glaphyria
        Aethiophysa invisalis  Moth
      pyralidae  Anderida peorinella  Grass-veneer Moth
        Eurythmia angulella  Moth
        Homoeosoma electella  Sunflower Moth (adult & larva)
      tortricidae  Eumarozia malachitana  Sculptured Moth
        Cydia latiferreana  Filbertworm Moth
        Decodes basiplagana  Leafroller Moth
      gelechiidae  Battaristis concinnusella  Moth
        Isophrictis similiella  Moth
      lasiocampidae  Tolype velleda  Large Tolype
      carposinidae  Carposina ottawana  Peach Fruitworm Moth
      oecophoridae  Antaeotricha sp.  Bird Dropping Moth
      depressariidae  Ethmia delliella  Ladder-backed Ethmia
      autostichidae  Glyphidocera lactiflosella  Five-spotted Glyphidocera
      plutellidae  Plutella xylostella  Diamondback Moth
      glyphipterigidae  Glyphipterix circumscriptella  Sedge Moth
      scythrididae  Scythris fuscicomella  Moth
        Scythris trivinctella  Moth
      heliozelidae  Heliozela aesella  Shield-bearing Moth
      nepticulidae  Stigmella plumosetaeella  Pygmy Moth
        Acalyptris sp.  Pygmy Moth

    coleoptera  chrysomelidae  Diabrotica undecimpunctata  Spotted Cucumber Beetle
        Algarobius bottimeri  Bean Weevil
      coccinellidae  Scymnus sp.  Lady Beetle (larva)
      buprestidae  Acmaeodera flavomarginata  Metallic Woodborer
      carabidae  Pasimachus californicus  Ground Beetle
        Harpalus sp.  Ground Beetle
        Unknown sp.  Ground Beetle
      staphylinidae  Carpelimus sp.  Rove Beetle
        Unknown sp.  Rove Beetle
      heteroceridae  Heterocerus sp.  Variegated Mud-loving Beetle
      cleridae  Cymatodera balteata  Checkered Beetle
      mordellidae  Mordellistena cervicalis  Tumbling Flower Beetle
      meloidae  Epicauta pennsylvanica  Black Blister Beetle
        Epicauta immaculata  Blister Beetle
      tenebrionidae  Eleodes goryi  Desert Stink Beetle
        Eleodes tricostata  Desert Stink Beetle
      elateridae  Melanotus sp.  Click Beetle
      attelabidae  Haplorhynchites sp.  Flower Weevil
      curculionidae  Curculio sp.  Nut Weevil

    hemiptera  coreidae  Mozena lunata  Mesquite Bug (adult & nymph)
        Leptoglossus phyllopus  Eastern Leaf-footed Bug (adult & nymph)
        Hypselonotus punctiventris  Coreid Bug
      largidae  Largus sp.  Largus Bug (adult & nymph)
      lygaeidae  Oncopeltus fasciatus  Large Milkweed Bug
      miridae  Calocoris barberi  Plant Bug
        Pseudatomoscelis seriatus  Cotton Flea Hopper
        Neurocolpus sp.  Plant Bug
        Dichrooscytus sp.  Plant Bug
        Parthenicus sp.  Plant Bug
        Polymerus basalis  Plant Bug
      veliidae  Microvelia sp.  Small Water Strider (nymph)
      mesoveliidae  Mesovelia mulsanti  Water Treader
      reduviidae  Unknown sp.  Assassin Bug (eggs)
      pentatomidae  Chinavia hilaris  Green Stink Bug (adult & nymph)
        Euschistus servus  Brown Stink Bug
        Euschistus sp.  Stink Bug (nymph)

    homoptera  cicadellidae  Menosoma cincta  Leafhopper
        Empoasca sp.  Leafhopper
        Eutettix sp.  Leafhopper
        Cantura jucunda  Leafhopper
        Protalebrella conica  Leafhopper
        Trypanalebra maculata  Leafhopper
      cixiidae  Melanoliarus sp.  Planthopper
      delphacidae  Megamelus sp.  planthopper (adult & nymph)
        Liburniella ornata  Planthopper
      dactylopiidae  Dactylopius sp.  Cochineal Insect
      aphididae  Aphis nerii  Oleander Aphid
        Monellia caryella  Blackmargined Pecan Aphid

    hymenoptera  apidae  Apis mellifera  Honey Bee
        Bombus pensylvanicus  American Bumble Bee
        Bombus sonorus  Sonoran Bumble Bee
        Anthophora capistrata  Digger Bee
        Melissoptila pinguis  Long-horned Bee
        Xylocopa virginica  Eastern Carpenter Bee
      megachilidae  Megachile sp.  Leaf-cutter Bee
      vespidae  Pachodynerus nasidens  Keyhole Wasp
        Brachygastra mellifica  Mexican Honey Wasp
        Vespula maculifrons  Eastern Yellowjacket
      pompilidae  Entypus sp.  Spider Wasp
      mutillidae  Timulla oajaca  Velvet Ant
      formicidae  Solenopsis invicta  Imported Fire Ant
        Cyphomyrmex rimosus  Fungus Growing Ant
      cynipidae  Andricus texanus  Oak Gall Wasp (gall)
      braconidae  Meteorus sp.  Braconid Wasp
        Phanerotoma sp.  Braconid Wasp
      ichneumonidae  Ophion sp.  Ichneumon
        Anomalon sp.  Ichneumon
      pergidae  Acordulecera sp.  Sawfly

    diptera  syrphidae  Toxomerus marginatus  Flower Fly
        Allograpta obliqua  Flower Fly
      muscidae  Musca domestica  House Fly
      tachinidae  Ptilodexia sp.  Tachinid Fly
        Unknown sp.  Tachinid Fly
      tephritidae  Rhagoletis juniperina  Fruit Fly
      empididae  Empis sp.  Dance Fly
      conopidae  Zodion sp.  Thick-headed Fly
      phoridae  Unknown sp.  Scuttle Fly
      scatopsidae  Unknown sp.  Minute Black Scavenger Fly
      culicidae  Aedes vexans  Inland Floodwater Mosquito
      chironomidae  Unknown sp.  Midge

    odonata  libellulidae  Sympetrum corruptum  Variegated Meadowhawk
      lestidae  Lestes australis  Southern Spreadwing
      coenagrionidae  Argia immunda  Kiowa Dancer
        Enallagma civile  Familiar Bluet

    orthoptera  acrididae  Melanoplus differentialis  Differential Grasshopper
        Melanoplus ponderosus  Ponderous Grasshopper
        Melanoplus flabellatus  Dallas Short-winged Grasshopper
        Melanoplus plebejus  Plebeian Grasshopper
        Schistocerca americana  American Bird Grasshopper
        Schistocerca lineata  Spotted Bird Grasshopper
        Syrbula admirabilis  Handsome Grasshopper
      gryllidae  Gryllus sp.  Field Cricket
      mogoplistidae  Cycloptilum sp.  Scaly Cricket

    blattodea  blaberidae  Panchlora nivea  Green Roach

    isoptera  rhinotermitidae  Reticulitermes sp.  Subterranean Termite
      termitidae  Tenuirostritermes sp.  Nasutiform Termite

    neuroptera  chrysopidae  Chrysoperla rufilabris  Green Lacewing (larva)
      berothidae  Lomamyia squamosa  Beaded Lacewing

    mecoptera  panorpidae  Panorpa nuptialis  Scorpionfly

    psocoptera  psocidae  Hyalopsocus striatus  Barklouse

    trichoptera  hydropsychidae  Cheumatopsyche sp.  Netspinning Caddisfly

    araneae  araneidae  Neoscona crucifera  Orbweaver
        Argiope aurantia  Black and Yellow Garden Spider (adult & eggs)
      thomisidae  Mecaphesa sp.  Crab Spider
        Xysticus sp.  Crab Spider
      oxyopidae  Peucetia viridans  Green Lynx (adult & eggs)
      dictynidae  Dictyna sp.  Meshweb Weaver
      pholcidae  Crossopriza lyoni  Cellar Spider (adult & eggs)
      scytodidae  Scytodes atlacoya  Spitting Spider

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