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  ABC > Home > THE FAUNA PROJECT > Survey March 23, 2023


The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Fauna Project

The weather was warm, windy and mostly cloudy as sixteen volunteers participated in this week's survey. Sphinx moths have a long proboscis that allows them to feed on nectar located deep within flowers. The pupa shown below has a very obvious structure that accommodates this substantial appendage.

Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings:


Unknown sp. (flesh fly)
photo by Joe Fernandes


Gonia sp. (tachinid fly)
photo by Katherine Daniels


Brachygastra mellifica (Mexican honey wasp)
photo by Katherine Daniels


Phidippus audax & Xylocopa virginica
(bold jumper looking at eastern carpenter bee in nest hole)
photo by Beth Kirkhart


Ptosima laeta & Anthaxia viridifrons (metallic woodborers)
photo by Joe Fernandes & Val Bugh


Halysidota harrisii (sycamore tussock moth)
photo by Pat Dittmar


Hyles lineata (white-lined sphinx)
photo by Barbara Ribble


Megisto cymela (little wood-satyr)
photo by George Ward


Danaus plexippus (monarch)
photo by George Ward


Celotes nessus (common streaky-skipper)
photo by George Ward


Spodoptera ornithogalli (yellow-striped armyworm)
photo by Sam Fruehling


Junonia coenia (common buckeye larva)
photo by Dwayne Mann


Vanessa cardui (painted lady larva)
photo by Dan Hardy


Nematocampa resistaria (horned spanworm)
photo by Val Bugh


Manduca sexta (Carolina sphinx pupa)
photo by Dwayne Mann


Vireo griseus (white-eyed vireo)
photo by Bill Boyd


Baeolophus atricristatus (black-crested titmouse)
photo by Beth Kirkhart


Bubo virginianus (great horned owl)
photo by Dwayne Mann


Sturnella sp. (meadowlark)
photo by Bill Boyd


Meleagris gallopavo (wild turkey)
photo by Beth Kirkhart

  • Birds:
    American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
    American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
    Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)
    Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
    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 Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
    Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)
    Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
    Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)
    House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
    Hummmingbird (Archilochus sp.)
    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)
    Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
    Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
    Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
    Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
    Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
    Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (tyrannus forficatus)
    Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
    Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)
    Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
    Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)
    Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
    White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
    White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)
    White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
    Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
    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
    Coyote (Canis latrans)
    Northern Raccoon (Procyon lotor), fresh scat

  • Reptiles, Amphibians & Fish:
    Ground Skink (Scincella lateralis)
    Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus)
    Redstripe Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus rubrileatus)
    Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)
    Rio Grande Leopard Frog (Lithobates berlandieri)
    Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)

  • Misc.:
    Millipede (Aniulus sp.)
    Bristly Millipede (Polyxenus sp.)
    Harvestman (Leiobunum sp.)
    Harvestman (Eumesosoma roeweri)
    Armoured Harvestman (Vonones sayi)
    Striped Bark Scorpion (Centruroides vittatus)
    Snout Mite (Unknown sp.)
    Gall Mite (Unknown sp.)
    Dwarf Gray Striped Isopod (Nagurus cristatus)
    Pillbug (Armadillidium vulgare)
    Land Snail (Polygyra cereolus)

  • Insects & Spiders:
    orderfamilygenus/speciescommon name

    lepidoptera  nymphalidae  Agraulis vanillae  Gulf Fritillary
        Euptoieta claudia  Variegated Fritillary
        Danaus gilippus  Queen
        Danaus plexippus  Monarch
        Vanessa atalanta  Red Admiral
        Vanessa virginiensis  American Lady
        Vanessa cardui  Painted Lady (larva)
        Junonia coenia  Common Buckeye (adult & larva)
        Phyciodes phaon  Phaon Crescent
        Megisto cymela  Little Wood-satyr
      pieridae  Colias eurytheme  Orange Sulphur
        Eurema nicippe  Sleepy Orange
      papilionidae  Battus philenor  Pipevine Swallowtail
        Papilio polyxenes  Black Swallowtail (larva)
        Papilio cresphontes  Giant Swallowtail
      lycaenidae  Callophrys gryneus  Juniper Hairstreak
      hesperiidae  Pyrgus communis/albescens  Common/White Checkered-skipper
        Pyrgus philetas  Desert Checkered-skipper
        Erynnis funeralis  Funereal Duskywing
        Celotes nessus  Common Streaky-skipper
        Thorybes pylades  Northern Cloudywing
        Hylephila phyleus  Fiery Skipper
        Atalopedes campestris  Sachem
        Copaeodes aurantiaca  Orange Skipperling
      noctuidae  Spodoptera ornithogalli  Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth (adult & larva)
        Galgula partita  The Wedgling
        Maliattha concinnimacula  Red-spotted Lithocodia
        Maliattha synochitis  Black-dotted Lithocodia
        Cerathosia tricolor  Moth
        Morrisonia mucens  Gray Woodgrain
        Condica videns  White-dotted Groundling
        Copivaleria grotei  Grote's Sallow
        Anicla infecta  Green Cutworm Moth
        Ponometia candefacta  Olive-shaded Bird Dropping Moth
        Tarache aprica  Exposed Bird Dropping Moth
        Tripudia quadrifera  Moth
        Elaphria festivoides  Festive Midget
        Micrathetis triplex  Triplex Cutworm Moth
        Cobubatha lixiva  Moth
        Phosphila miselioides  Spotted Phosphila
        Catabenoides terminellus  Moth
        Agrotis malefida  Rascal Dart
        Hemieuxoa rudens  Moth
        Lacinipolia erecta  Moth
        Crambodes talidiformis  Verbena Moth
        Helicoverpa zea  Corn Earworm Moth
        Chloridea virescens  Tobacco Budworm (larva)
      erebidae  Lesmone detrahens  Detracted Owlet
        Caenurgina erechtea  Forage Looper Moth
        Matigramma sp.  Moth
        Hypena scabra  Green Cloverworm Moth
        Cissusa new sp.  Moth
        Phoberia atomaris  Common Oak Moth
        Eubolina impartialis  Moth
        Melipotis jucunda  Merry Melipotis
        Isogona tenuis  Thin-lined Owlet
        Toxonprucha crudelis  Cruel Toxonprucha
        Zale edusina  Moth
      arctiidae  Estigmene acrea  Salt Marsh Moth (larva)
        Euerythra phasma  Red-tailed Specter
        Halysidota harrisii  Sycamore Tussock Moth
      eutellidae  Marathyssa basalis  Light Marathyssa
      notodontidae  Schizura errucata  Prominent
        Litodonta hydromeli  Prominent
      sphingidae  Hyles lineata  White-lined Sphinx (adult & larva)
        Hemaris diffinis  Snowberry Clearwing
        Manduca sexta  Carolina Sphinx (pupa)
      saturniidae  Hyalophora cecropia  Cecropia Moth (larva)
      thyrididae  Thyris sepulchralis  Mournful Thyris Moth
      geometridae  Digrammia pallidata  Moth
        Digrammia atrofasciata  Moth
        Glena quinquelinearia  Five-lined Glena
        Holochroa dissociarius  Moth
        Phigalia titea  The Halfwing
        Eubaphe unicolor  Moth
        Nematocampa resistaria  Horned Spanworm (larva)
        Lobocleta ossularia  Drab Brown Wave
        Isturgia dislocaria  Pale-veined Isturgia
        Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria  Blackberry Looper Moth
        Eupithecia miserulata  Common Eupithecia
      crambidae  Diastictis fracturalis  Fractured Western Snout Moth
        Urola nivalis  Snowy Urola
        Udea rubigalis  Celery Leaftier Moth
        Achyra rantalis  Garden Webworm Moth
        Pyrausta laticlavia  Southern Purple Mint Moth
        Pyrausta pseudonythesalis  Pyrausta Moth
        Hellula rogatalis  Cabbage Webworm Moth
        Hileithia magualis  Moth
        Diacme adipaloides  Darker Diacme Moth
        Fissicrambus sp.  Grass-veneer Moth
        Euchromius ocelleus  Grass-veneer Moth
      pyralidae  Chararica hystriculella  Moth
        Myelopsis alatella  Moth
        Eurythmia angulella  Moth
        Ephestiodes infimella  Moth
        Homoeosoma electella  Sunflower Moth
      tortricidae  Bactra verutana  Javelin Moth
        Pelochrista canana  Leafroller Moth
        Pseudexentera knudsoni  Leafroller Moth
        Platynota rostrana  Omnivorous Platynota Moth
        Platynota flavedana  Black-shaded Platynota Moth
        Platphalonidia magdalenae  Moth
        Unknown sp.  Leafroller (larva)
      gelechiidae  Stegasta bosqueella  Red-necked Peanutworm Moth
        Deltophora glandiferella  Moth
        Aristotelia rubidella  Moth
        Chionodes trichostola  Moth
        Phthorimaea operculella  Potato Moth
        Filatima sp.  Moth
        Telphusa perspicua  Moth
        Coleotechnites sp.  Moth
        Dichomeris setosella  Moth
      depressariidae  Ethmia semilugens  Ethmia Moth
        Ethmia apicipunctella  Ethmia Moth
      blastobasidae  Hypatopa sp.  Moth
        Blastobasis glandulella  Acorn Moth
      elachistidae  Elachista sp.  Moth
      plutellidae  Plutella xylostella  Diamondback Moth
      lacturidae  Lactura subfervens  Moth
      ypsolophidae  Ypsolopha ochrella  Agarita Slug Moth
        Ypsolopha unicipunctella  Agarita Slug Moth
      momphidae  Mompha eloisella  Red-streaked Mompha Moth
      scythrididae  Scythris fuscicomella  Moth
        Scythris trivinctella  Moth
      cosmopterigidae  Perimede sp.  Moth
        Cosmopterix sp.  Moth
      heliozelidae  Heliozela aesella  Shield-bearing Moth
      nepticulidae  Stigmella resplendensella  Pygmy Moth

    coleoptera  chrysomelidae  Systena hudsonias  Flea Beetle
        Smaragdina militaris  Leaf Beetle
        Xanthonia sp.  Leaf Beetle
        Cryptocephalus notatus  Leaf Beetle
      coccinellidae  Coccinella septempunctata  Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
        Cycloneda sanguinea  Red Lady Beetle
        Hippodamia convergens  Convergent Lady Beetle (larva)
        Harmonia axyridis  Multi-colored Asian Lady Beetle
        Olla v-nigrum  Ashy Gray Lady Beetle
      buprestidae  Ptosima laeta  Redbud Borer
        Anthaxia viridifrons  Metallic Woodborer
        Acmaeodera neglecta  Metallic Woodborer
      carabidae  Pasimachus californicus  Ground Beetle
        Calosoma scrutator  Caterpillar Hunter
      melyridae  Attalus scincetus  Soft-winged Flower Beetle
      cantharidae  Rhagonycha lineola  Soldier Beetle
        Ditemnus perforatus  Soldier Beetle
      melandryidae  Osphya varians  False Darkling Beetle
      scarabaeidae  Phyllophaga rubiginosa  June Beetle
        Diplotaxis sp.  Scarab
      bostrichidae  Melalgus plicatus  Powder-post Beetle
      elateridae  Melanotus sp.  Click Beetle
      mordellidae  Mordellistena cervicalis  Tumbling Flower Beetle
      zopheridae  Zopherus nodulosus  Ironclad Beetle

    hemiptera  coreidae  Acanthocephala terminalis  Coreid Bug
        Leptoglossus phyllopus  Eastern Leaf-footed Bug
        Narnia femorata  Cactus Bug
      largidae  Largus sp.  Largus Bug (nymph)
      lygaeidae  Oncopeltus fasciatus  Large Milkweed Bug (adult & nymph)
      rhopalidae  Harmostes reflexulus  Scentless Plant Bug
        Liorhyssus hyalinus  Hyaline Grass Bug
      miridae  Neocapsus cuneatus  Plant Bug
        Phytocoris sp.  Plant Bug
        Lopidea major  Plant Bug (adult & nymph)
        Hamatophylus guttulosus  Plant Bug
        Phoenicocoris claricornis  Plant Bug
        Oncerometopus sp.  Plant Bug
        Taylorilygus apicalis  Plant Bug
        Polymerus basalis  Plant Bug
      berytidae  Jalysus sp.  Stilt Bug
      reduviidae  Microtomus purcis  Assassin Bug (nymph)
      pentatomidae  Banasa euchlora  Stink Bug
        Chlorochroa ligata  Conchuela
        Euschistus servus  Brown Stink Bug
        Euschistus obscurus  Stink Bug

    homoptera  cicadellidae  Cuerna costalis  Leafhopper
        Excultanus excultus  Leafhopper
        Norvellina helenae  Leafhopper
        Xestocephalus superbus  Leafhopper
        Xestocephalus brunneus  Leafhopper
        Empoasca sp.  Leafhopper
        Penthimia americana  Leafhopper
        Scaphytopius elegans  Leafhopper
        Draeculacephala sp.  Leafhopper
        Sobara palliolata  Leafhopper
      cixiidae  Melanoliarus sp.  Planthopper
      aphididae  Aphis nerii  Oleander Aphid

    hymenoptera  apidae  Apis mellifera  Honey Bee
        Xylocopa virginica  Eastern Carpenter Bee
      halictidae  Augochloropsis metallica  Green Sweat Bee
        Augochlora pura  Green Sweat Bee
        Halictus sp.  Furrow Bee
      vespidae  Ancistrocerus adiabatus  Mason Wasp
        Unknown sp.  Mason Wasp
        Brachygastra mellifica  Mexican Honey Wasp
      sphecidae  Chlorion cyaneum  Cockroach Hunter
      formicidae  Solenopsis invicta  Imported Fire Ant
        Camponotus festinatus  Carpenter Ant
        Crematogaster laeviuscula  Acrobat Ant
        Brachymyrmex patagonicus  Rover Ant
        Labidus coecus  Legionary Ant (male)
      cynipidae  Belonocnema kinseyi  Gall Wasp
        Unknown sp.  Gall Wasp
      braconidae  Phanerotoma sp.  Braconid Wasp
        Atanycolus sp.  Braconid Wasp
        Unknown sp.  Braconid Wasp
        Unknown sp.  Aphid Mummy Wasp (adult, larva & pupa)
      ichneumonidae  Enicospilus sp.  Ichneumon
        Compsocryptus sp.  Ichneumon
        Unknown sp.  Ichneumon

    diptera  syrphidae  Toxomerus marginatus  Flower Fly
      tachinidae  Vanderwulpia sequens  Tachinid Fly
        Archytas sp.  Tachinid Fly
        Gonia sp.  Tachinid Fly
      stratiomyidae  Psellidotus sp.  Soldier Fly
        Nemotelus bruesii  Soldier Fly
        Cephalochrysa sp.  Soldier Fly
      asilidae  Efferia sp.  Robber Fly
      lauxaniidae  Trypetisoma sticticum  Lauxaniid Fly
      therevidae  Ozodiceromyia sp.  Stiletto Fly
      sarcophagidae  Unknown sp.  Flesh Fly
      anthomyiidae  Unknown sp.  Root Maggot Fly
      dolichopodidae  Condylostylus sp.  Long-legged Fly
      pyrgotidae  Boreothrinax maculipennis  Pyrgotid Fly
      tipulidae  Tipula sp.  Crane Fly
      ceratopogonidae  Forcipomyia sp.  Biting Midge
      chironomidae  Unknown sp.  Midge
      sciaridae  Unknown sp.  Dark-winged Fungus Gnat

    odonata  coenagrionidae  Ischnura sp.  Forktail
      libellulidae  Sympetrum corruptum  Variegated Meadowhawk

    orthoptera  acrididae  Eritettix abortivus  Texas Short-winged Slant-faced Grasshopper
        Chortophaga viridifasciata  Northern Green-striped Grasshopper
        Paraidemona sp.  Spur-throated Grasshopper (nymph)
        Melanoplus sp.  Spur-throated Grasshopper (nymph)
      tettigoniidae  Pediodectes nigromarginatus  Black-margined Shieldback (nymph)
        Pediodectes haldemani  Haldeman's Shieldback (adult & nymph)
        Obolopteryx catinata  Spoon-tailed Short-winged Katydid (nymph)
        Scudderia furcata  Fork-tailed Bush Katydid (nymph)
        Arethaea ambulator  Walking Thread-legged Katydid (nymph)
        Unknown sp.  Meadow Katydid (nymph)
      gryllidae  Gryllus sp.  Field Cricket (nymph)
        Neonemobius nr. mormonius  Collared Ground Cricket

    isoptera  termitidae  Tenuirostritermes sp.  Nasutiform Termite

    neuroptera  chrysopidae  Unknown sp.  Green Lacewing

    raphidioptera  raphidiidae  Agulla bicolor  Snakefly

    trichoptera  philopotamidae  Chimarra sp.  Black Caddisfly
      leptoceridae  Oecetis inconspicua  Long-horned Caddisfly

    thysanoptera  thripidae  Unknown sp.  Thrips

    araneae  salticidae  Phidippus audax  Bold Jumper
        Phidippus arizonensis  Arizona Jumper
      araneidae  Mangora gibberosa  Orbweaver
      thomisidae  Mecaphesa sp.  Crab Spider
      oxyopidae  Oxyopes salticus  Striped Lynx
      theridiidae  Latrodectus mactans  Southern Black Widow
      lycosidae  Schizocosa sp.  Wolf Spider

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