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  ABC > Home > THE FAUNA PROJECT > Survey March 16, 2023


The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Fauna Project

A team of twelve performed this week's survey under cool and drizzly conditions that gradually cleared. Arachnids can have up to eight eyes, which are often fairly easy to see on spiders. The related scorpions have one large pair and three tiny ones: they are arrayed on the edge of the "cheek" corner, visible in the image below.

Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings:


Zonotrichia albicollis (white-throated sparrow)
photo by Harriett Wolf


Cardinalis cardinalis (northern cardinal)
photo by Bill Boyd


Thryomanes bewickii (Bewick's wren)
photo by Beth Kirkhart


Paraeschra georgica (Georgian prominent)
photo by Val Bugh


Estigmene acrea (salt marsh moth)
photo by Katherine Daniels


Polistes exclamans (paper wasp)
photo by Beth Kirkhart


Toxomerus marginatus (flower fly)
photo by Katherine Daniels


Psellidotus sp. (soldier fly)
photo by Katherine Daniels


Balaustium sp. (pollen mite)
photo by Katherine Daniels


Schizocosa sp. (wolf spider)
photo by Joe Fernandes


Dolomedes triton (fishing spider)
photo by Dan Hardy


Mecaphesa sp. (crab spider)
photo by Beth Kirkhart


Centruroides vittatus (striped bark scorpion)
photo by Beth Kirkhart


Obolopteryx catinata (spoon-tailed short-winged katydid nymph)
photo by Joe Fernandes


Melanoplus sp. (spur-throated grasshopper nymph)
photo by Joe Fernandes


Rhinacloa forticornis (western plant bug nymph)
photo by Katherine Daniels


Pseudoxenetus regalis (plant bug nymph)
photo by Val Bugh


Baeoalitriozus diospyri (persimmon psyllid)
photo by Val Bugh


Chrysoperla plorabunda (green lacewing larva)
photo by Val Bugh


Sympetrum corruptum (variegated meadowhawk)
photo by Katherine Daniels

  • Birds:
    American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
    American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
    American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
    Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
    Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)
    Black-bellied Whistling-duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
    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)
    Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
    Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
    Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus)
    Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
    Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
    Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)
    Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
    Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
    Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
    House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
    Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris)
    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)
    Purple Martin (Progne subis)
    Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
    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)
    Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
    White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)
    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)
    Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)
    Common Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), fresh scat
    Northern Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

  • Reptiles, Amphibians & Fish:
    Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)
    Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus)
    Redstripe Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus rubrileatus)
    Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)
    Rio Grande Leopard Frog (Lithobates berlandieri), adult & tadpoles
    Gulf Coast Toad (Incilius nebulifer)
    Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)

  • Misc.:
    Millipede (Aniulus sp.)
    Harvestman (Leiobunum sp.)
    Striped Bark Scorpion (Centruroides vittatus)
    Pollen Mite (Unknown sp.)
    Dwarf Gray Striped Isopod (Nagurus cristatus)
    Pillbug (Armadillidium vulgare)
    Pond Snail (Unknown sp.)

  • Insects & Spiders:
    orderfamilygenus/speciescommon name

    lepidoptera  nymphalidae  Vanessa atalanta  Red Admiral
        Junonia coenia  Common Buckeye
        Phyciodes tharos  Pearl Crescent
        Asterocampa celtis  Hackberry Emperor (larva)
      pieridae  Colias eurytheme  Orange Sulphur
        Zerene cesonia  Southern Dogface
        Nathalis iole  Dainty Sulphur
      lycaenidae  Callophrys henrici  Henry's Elfin
        Callophrys gryneus  Juniper Hairstreak
        Hemiargus isola  Reakirt's Blue
      hesperiidae  Pyrgus communis/albescens  Common/White Checkered-skipper
        Hylephila phyleus  Fiery Skipper
        Atalopedes campestris  Sachem
      noctuidae  Spodoptera ornithogalli  Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth (adult & larva)
        Galgula partita  The Wedgling
        Maliattha concinnimacula  Red-spotted Lithocodia
        Cerathosia tricolor  Moth
        Morrisonia mucens  Gray Woodgrain
        Psaphida resumens  Figure-eight Sallow
        Copivaleria grotei  Grote's Sallow
        Rachiplusia ou  Gray Looper Moth
        Dargida diffusa  Wheat-head Armyworm Moth
        Peridroma saucia  Pearly Underwing
        Tripudia quadrifera  Moth
        Elaphria festivoides  Festive Midget
        Elaphria chalcedonia  Chalcedony Midget
        Phosphila miselioides  Spotted Phosphila
        Xerociris wilsonii  Wilson's Wood-nymph
        Agrotis malefida  Rascal Dart
        Hemieuxoa rudens  Moth
        Lacinipolia erecta  Moth
        Crambodes talidiformis  Verbena Moth
        Helicoverpa zea  Corn Earworm Moth
      erebidae  Plusiodonta compressipalpis  Moonseed Moth
        Caenurgina erechtea  Forage Looper Moth
        Phyprosopus callitrichoides  Curve-lined Owlet
        Hypena scabra  Green Cloverworm Moth
        Cissusa new sp.  Moth
        Phoberia atomaris  Common Oak Moth
        Eubolina impartialis  Moth
        Melipotis acontioides  Royal Poinciana Moth
        Isogona tenuis  Thin-lined Owlet
      arctiidae  Estigmene acrea  Salt Marsh Moth
      nolidae  Meganola minuscula  Confused Meganola
      notodontidae  Schizura errucata  Prominent
        Paraeschra georgica  Georgian Prominent
      saturniidae  Hyalophora cecropia  Cecropia Moth (larva)
      geometridae  Digrammia pallidata  Moth
        Digrammia atrofasciata  Moth
        Iridopsis defectaria  Brown-shaded Gray Moth
        Anavitrinella atristrigaria  Gulf Coast Gray
        Glena quinquelinearia  Five-lined Glena
        Holochroa dissociarius  Moth
        Phigalia strigataria  Small Phigalia (adult & larva)
        Euchlaena marginaria  Ochre Euchlaena
        Costaconvexa centrostrigaria  Bent-line Carpet
        Lobocleta ossularia  Drab Brown Wave
        Isturgia dislocaria  Pale-veined Isturgia
        Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria  Blackberry Looper Moth
        Nemoria zygotaria  Emerald
        Eupithecia miserulata  Common Eupithecia
      crambidae  Diastictis fracturalis  Fractured Western Snout Moth
        Urola nivalis  Snowy Urola
        Udea rubigalis  Celery Leaftier Moth
        Uresiphita reversalis  Genista Caterpillar Moth (adult & larva)
        Achyra rantalis  Garden Webworm Moth
        Pyrausta volupialis  Pyrausta Moth
        Pyrausta onythesalis  Pyrausta Moth
        Conchylodes octonalis  Eight-barred Lygropia Moth
        Desmia subdivisalis  Moth
        Palpita atrisquamalis  Gracile Palpita Moth
        Hileithia magualis  Moth
        Diacme elealis  Paler Diacme Moth
        Parapediasia teterrella  Bluegrass Webworm Moth
        Nomophila nearctica  Lucerne Moth
        Euchromius ocelleus  Grass-veneer Moth
      pyralidae  Honora mellinella  Moth
        Salebriaria annulosella  Moth
        Eurythmia angulella  Moth
        Tampa dimediatella  Tampa Moth
        Homoeosoma electella  Sunflower Moth
        Peoria opacella  Grass-veneer Moth
      tortricidae  Bactra verutana  Javelin Moth
        Platynota rostrana  Omnivorous Platynota Moth
        Platynota flavedana  Black-shaded Platynota Moth
        Unknown sp.  Leafroller Moth
        Unknown sp.  Leafroller (larva)
      gelechiidae  Battaristis concinnusella  Moth
        Deltophora glandiferella  Moth
        Aristotelia sp.  Moth
        Anacampsis paltodoriella  Moth
        Anacampsis comparanda  Moth
        Gnorimoschema sp.  Moth
      depressariidae  Ethmia semilugens  Ethmia Moth
        Ethmia sp.  Ethmia Moth (larva)
      blastobasidae  Hypatopa sp.  Moth
        Blastobasis glandulella  Acorn Moth
        Pigritia sp.  Moth
      plutellidae  Plutella xylostella  Diamondback Moth
      lacturidae  Lactura subfervens  Moth
      pterophoridae  Adaina ambrosiae  Plume Moth
      ypsolophidae  Ypsolopha ochrella  Agarita Slug Moth
      momphidae  Mompha rufocristatella  Moth
      cosmopterigidae  Periploca sp.  Moth
      heliozelidae  Heliozela aesella  Shield-bearing Moth

    coleoptera  chrysomelidae  Glyptina sp.  Flea Beetle
      coccinellidae  Coccinella septempunctata  Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
      cerambycidae  Molorchus bimaculatus  Longhorn Beetle
      buprestidae  Agrilus subcinctus  Metallic Woodborer
      cantharidae  Rhagonycha lineola  Soldier Beetle
      scarabaeidae  Phyllophaga rubiginosa  June Beetle
        Diplotaxis sp.  Scarab
      elateridae  Melanotus sp.  Click Beetle
        Unknown sp.  Click Beetle
      zopheridae  Zopherus nodulosus  Ironclad Beetle

    hemiptera  coreidae  Acanthocephala terminalis  Coreid Bug
      largidae  Largus sp.  Largus Bug (adult & nymph)
      lygaeidae  Oncopeltus fasciatus  Large Milkweed Bug
      miridae  Neolygus sp.  Plant Bug
        Phytocoris sp.  Plant Bug
        Lopidea major  Plant Bug (adult & nymph)
        Pseudoxenetus regalis  Plant Bug (nymph)
        Rhinacloa forticornis  Western Plant Bug (nymph)
      veliidae  Microvelia sp.  Small Water Strider
      reduviidae  Zelus renardii  Assassin Bug
      pentatomidae  Mecidea major  Grass Stink Bug

    homoptera  cicadellidae  Cuerna costalis  Leafhopper
        Excultanus excultus  Leafhopper
        Norvellina helenae  Leafhopper
        Osbornellus sp.  Leafhopper
        Xestocephalus brunneus  Leafhopper
      cercopidae  Lepyronia quadrangularis  Spittlebug (nymph)
      aphalaridae  Pachypsylla sp.  Hackberry Psyllid
      triozidae  Baeoalitriozus diospyri  Persimmon Psyllid
      dactylopiidae  Dactylopius sp.  Cochineal Insect

    hymenoptera  apidae  Apis mellifera  Honey Bee
      vespidae  Polistes exclamans  Paper Wasp
      formicidae  Solenopsis invicta  Imported Fire Ant
        Camponotus decipiens  Carpenter Ant
        Crematogaster laeviuscula  Acrobat Ant
        Monomorium minimum  Little Black Ant
      cynipidae  Belonocnema kinseyi  Gall Wasp
        Unknown sp.  Gall Wasp
      braconidae  Phanerotoma sp.  Braconid Wasp
        Unknown sp.  Braconid Wasp
      ichneumonidae  Ophion sp.  Ichneumon
        Unknown sp.  Ichneumon
      pergidae  Acordulecera sp.  Pergid Sawfly

    diptera  syrphidae  Toxomerus marginatus  Flower Fly
        Copestylum avidum  Flower Fly
      tachinidae  Vanderwulpia sequens  Tachinid Fly
        Unknown sp.  Tachinid Fly
      stratiomyidae  Psellidotus sp.  Soldier Fly
        Nemotelus bruesii  Soldier Fly
      milichiidae  Unknown sp.  Freeloader Fly
      lauxaniidae  Neodeceia sp.  Lauxaniid Fly
      tephritidae  Neotephritis finalis  Fruit Fly
      conopidae  Zodion sp.  Thick-headed Fly
      ulidiidae  Delphinia picta  Picture-winged Fly
      dolichopodidae  Condylostylus sp.  Long-legged Fly
      pyrgotidae  Boreothrinax maculipennis  Pyrgotid Fly
      tipulidae  Tipula sp.  Crane Fly
      ceratopogonidae  Forcipomyia sp.  Biting Midge
      chironomidae  Chironomus sp.  Midge
      cecidomyiidae  Unknown sp.  Gall Midge

    odonata  coenagrionidae  Enallagma civile  Familiar Bluet
        Telebasis salva  Desert Firetail (naiad)
      libellulidae  Sympetrum corruptum  Variegated Meadowhawk

    orthoptera  acrididae  Arphia simplex  Plains Yellow-winged Grasshopper
        Chortophaga viridifasciata  Northern Green-striped Grasshopper
        Melanoplus femurrubrum  Red-legged Grasshopper (nymph)
        Melanoplus sp.  Spur-throated Grasshopper (nymph)
      tettigoniidae  Pediodectes nigromarginatus  Black-margined Shieldback (nymph)
        Paracyrtophyllus robustus  Truncated True Katydid (nymph)
        Obolopteryx catinata  Spoon-tailed Short-winged Katydid (nymph)
      gryllidae  Gryllus sp.  Field Cricket

    isoptera  termitidae  Gnathamitermes sp.  Long-jawed Desert Termite

    neuroptera  chrysopidae  Chrysoperla sp.  Green Lacewing
        Chrysoperla plorabunda  Green Lacewing (larva)
        Unknown sp.  Green Lacewing (eggs)

    trichoptera  philopotamidae  Chimarra sp.  Black Caddisfly
      hydropsychidae  Cheumatopsyche sp.  Netspinning Caddisfly

    araneae  salticidae  Phidippus sp.  Jumping Spider
        Hentzia palmarum  Long-jawed Jumper
      araneidae  Mangora placida  Orbweaver
      thomisidae  Mecaphesa sp.  Crab Spider
      tetragnathidae  Tetragnatha sp.  Longjawed Orbweaver
      miturgidae  Cheiracanthium inclusum  Sac Spider
      oxyopidae  Oxyopes salticus  Striped Lynx
        Peucetia viridans  Green Lynx
      pisauridae  Dolomedes triton  Fishing Spider
      lycosidae  Schizocosa sp.  Wolf Spider

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