A team of seventeen completed this week's survey under mostly cloudy, warm, breezy conditions. Saturating rain the previous night prompted termite colonies to release swarms of alates (winged males & females), that disperse to start new colonies. The example shown below is a "higher" termite, which differs from "lower" termites in having only gut bacteria without protozoa. These insects do not generally cause structural damage to buildings and instead are important recyclers of plant litter, grass and dung. Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings: Asterocampa celtis (hackberry emperor) photo by Harriett Wolf Phyciodes phaon (phaon crescent) photo by Beth Kirkhart Phyciodes tharos (pearl crescent) photo by Harriett Wolf Hemaris diffinis (snowberry clearwing: ovipositing & eggs) photo by Katherine Daniels Centris atripes (digger bee) photo by Katherine Daniels Litaneutria minor (ground mantis) photo by Val Bugh Megaphasma denticrus (giant walkingstick, male) photo by Julie Shaw grasshopper nymphs (upper left to lower right): Aidemona azteca (Aztec spurthroat), Lactista azteca (Aztec bandwing), Hippiscus ocelote (wrinkled grasshopper), Encoptolophus costalis (dusky grasshopper), Schistocerca nitens (gray bird grasshopper), Chortophaga viridifasciata (northern green-striped grasshopper), Melanoplus femurrubrum (red-legged grasshopper), Melanoplus plebejus (plebeian grasshopper) photo by David Cook (1) & Val Bugh (2-7) Dythemis fugax (checkered setwing) photo by George Ward Efferia sp. & Apis mellifera (robber fly eating honey bee) photo by Sam Fruehling Polacantha sp. (robber fly) photo by David Cook Sphecius speciosus (cicada killer) photo by Linda Crabtree Corvus brachyrhynchos (American crows) photo by Annelia Williams Pelegrina galathea (peppered jumpers mating) photo by Julie Shaw Gnathamitermes sp. (long-jawed desert termite alate) photo by Val Bugh Oecleus sp. (cixiid planthopper) photo by Sofia Maass Alydus pilosulus (broad-headed bug nymph) photo by Val Bugh Eleodes goryi (desert stink beetle) photo by Annelia Williams Moneilema armatum (cactus longhorn) photo by Linda Crabtree Estigmene acrea (salt marsh moth) photo by Katherine Daniels Birds: American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) American Robin (Turdus migratorius) Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 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 Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) 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 Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) Common Raven (Corvus corax) Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) Dickcissel (Spiza americana) 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 (Haemorhous mexicanus) Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris) Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) 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) Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) Mammals: White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) Northern Raccoon (Procyon lotor), fresh scat Common Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), fresh scat Coyote (Canis latrans), fresh scat Reptiles & Fish: Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus) Texas Spotted Whiptail (Aspidoscelis gularis gularis) Rio Grande Cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) Misc.: Harvestman (Leiobunum sp.) Harvestman (Eumesosoma roeweri) Mite (Leptus sp.) Striped Bark Scorpion (Centruroides vittatus) Black-velvet Leatherleaf Slug (Belocaulus angustipes) Asian Trampsnail (Bradybaena similaris) Land Snail (Rabdotus sp.) Texas Oval (Patera roemeri) Globular Drop (Helicina orbiculata) Insects & Spiders: order family genus/species common name lepidoptera   nymphalidae   Euptoieta claudia   Variegated Fritillary       Agraulis vanillae   Gulf Fritillary       Danaus plexippus   Monarch       Danaus gilippus   Queen       Anaea sp.   Leafwing       Junonia coenia   Common Buckeye       Polygonia interrogationis   Question Mark       Asterocampa celtis   Hackberry Emperor       Chlosyne lacinia   Bordered Patch       Phyciodes tharos   Pearl Crescent       Phyciodes phaon   Phaon Crescent    pieridae   Nathalis iole   Dainty Sulphur       Eurema nicippe   Sleepy Orange       Eurema lisa   Little Yellow    lycaenidae   Hemiargus isola   Reakirt's Blue       Strymon melinus   Gray Hairstreak (adult & larva)       Strymon istapa   Mallow Scrub-hairstreak    papilionidae   Battus philenor   Pipevine Swallowtail       Papilio polyxenes   Black Swallowtail       Papilio cresphontes   Giant Swallowtail       Papilio sp.   Swallowtail    hesperiidae   Hylephila phyleus   Fiery Skipper       Lerodea eufala   Eufala Skipper       Amblyscirtes celia   Celia's Roadside-skipper       Burnsius communis/albescens   Common/White Checkered-skipper       Erynnis horatius   Horace's Duskywing       Erynnis funeralis   Funereal Duskywing    noctuidae   Tarache aprica   Exposed Bird Dropping Moth       Cobubatha lixiva   Moth    erebidae   Plusiodonta compressipalpis   Moonseed Moth    arctiidae   Cisseps fulvicollis   Yellow-collared Scape Moth       Lycomorpha pholus   Black-and-yellow Lichen Moth       Estigmene acrea   Salt Marsh Moth    sphingidae   Hemaris diffinis   Snowberry Clearwing (adult & egg)    geometridae   Pleuroprucha insulsaria   Common Tan Wave (larva)       Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria   Blackberry Looper (larva)    crambidae   Uresiphita reversalis   Genista Caterpillar Moth (adult & larva)       Unknown sp.   Moth (larva) coleoptera   chrysomelidae   Asphaera lustrans   Flea Beetle       Anomoea flavokansiensis   Leaf Beetle    coccinellidae   Coccinella septempunctata   Seven-spotted Lady Beetle    cerambycidae   Moneilema armatum   Cactus Longhorn    carabidae   Pasimachus californicus   Ground Beetle    tenebrionidae   Eleodes goryi   Desert Stink Beetle       Eleodes fusiformis   Desert Stink Beetle    curculionidae   Chalcodermus collaris   Partridge-pea Weevil hemiptera   coreidae   Acanthocephala terminalis   Coreid Bug (adult & nymph)       Leptoglossus phyllopus   Eastern Leaf-footed Bug (nymph)       Hypselonotus punctiventris   Coreid Bug       Mozena lunata   Mesquite Bug (adult & nymph)       Catorhintha texana   Coreid Bug    alydidae   Alydus pilosulus   Broad-headed Bug (adult & nymph)    rhopalidae   Niesthrea louisianica   Scentless Plant Bug (nymph)       Harmostes reflexulus   Scentless Plant Bug    berytidae   Jalysus sp.   Stilt Bug    miridae   Tupiocoris sp.   Plant Bug (adult & nymph)       Oncerometopus nigriclavus   Plant Bug    gerridae   Aquarius remigis   Water Strider    pentatomidae   Thyanta custator   Stink Bug       Euschistus servus   Brown Stink Bug       Euschistus sp.   Stink Bug (nymph) homoptera   cicadellidae   Homalodisca vitripennis   Glassy-winged Sharpshooter       Graphocephala versuta   Leafhopper       Graphocephala hieroglyphica   Leafhopper (adult & nymph)       Cuerna costalis   Leafhopper (adult & nymph)       Penthimia americana   Leafhopper       Unknown sp.   Leafhopper    cixiidae   Oecleus sp.   Planthopper    flatidae   Flatormenis saucia   Planthopper    aphrophoridae   Lepyronia quadrangularis   Spittlebug    cicadidae   Hadoa texana   Cicada       Neotibicen superbus   Superb Cicada    aphididae   Uroleucon sp.   Aphid hymenoptera   apidae   Apis mellifera   Honey Bee       Melissodes bimaculatus   Digger Bee       Centris atripes   Digger Bee       Bombus pensylvanicus   American Bumble Bee       Bombus sonorus   Sonoran Bumble Bee    halictidae   Augochloropsis metallica   Green Sweat Bee    megachilidae   Megachile sp.   Leaf-cutter Bee    vespidae   Polistes rubiginosus   Red Wasp       Polistes dorsalis   Paper Wasp       Polistes exclamans   Paper Wasp       Polistes metricus   Paper Wasp       Euodynerus crypticus   Mason Wasp       Euodynerus hidalgo   Mason Wasp       Eumenes bollii   Potter Wasp       Brachygastra mellifica   Mexican Honey Wasp    crabronidae   Tachytes sp.   Digger Wasp       Sphecius speciosus   Cicada Killer    sphecidae   Chlorion cyaneum   Cockroach Hunter       Sphex lucae   Digger Wasp       Sphex texanus   Digger Wasp       Sphex ichneumoneus   Great Golden Digger Wasp       Prionyx sp.   Thread-waisted Wasp       Sceliphron caementarium   Yellow-and-black Mud Dauber    pompilidae   Tachypompilus ferrugineus   Rusty Spider Wasp       Pepsis sp.   Tarantula-hawk Wasp    formicidae   Solenopsis invicta   Imported Fire Ant       Camponotus decipiens   Carpenter Ant       Camponotus festinatus   Carpenter Ant    chrysididae   Caenochrysis sp.   Cuckoo Wasp    braconidae   Unknown sp.   Braconid Wasp    argidae   Sphacophilus argutus   Sawfly (adult & larva) diptera   bombyliidae   Aphoebantus sp.   Bee Fly       Systoechus sp.   Bee Fly    syrphidae   Toxomerus marginatus   Flower Fly       Nausigaster sp.   Flower Fly    calliphoridae   Lucilia cuprina   Bronze Bottle Fly    sarcophagidae   Unknown sp.   Flesh Fly    dolichopodidae   Condylostylus sp.   Long-legged Fly    lauxaniidae   Melanomyza femoralis   Lauxaniid Fly    tachinidae   Unknown sp.   Tachinid Fly    asilidae   Atomosia melanopogon   Robber Fly       Efferia sp.   Robber Fly       Polacantha sp.   Robber Fly    culicidae   Aedes albopictus   Asian Tiger Mosquito odonata   coenagrionidae   Argia plana   Springwater Dancer       Enallagma civile   Familiar Bluet    aeshnidae   Anax junius   Common Green Darner    libellulidae   Pachydiplax longipennis   Blue Dasher       Tramea onusta   Red Saddlebags       Dythemis fugax   Checkered Setwing orthoptera   acrididae   Melanoplus differentialis   Differential Grasshopper (adult & nymph)       Melanoplus ponderosus   Ponderous Grasshopper (adult & nymph)       Melanoplus flabellatus   Dallas Short-winged Grasshopper       Melanoplus plebejus   Plebeian Grasshopper (nymph)       Melanoplus femurrubrum   Red-legged Grasshopper (adult & nymph)       Melanoplus bispinosus   Two-spined Spur-throated Grasshopper       Paraidemona sp.   Spur-throated Grasshopper       Aidemona azteca   Aztec Spurthroat (nymph)       Hesperotettix speciosus   Showy Grasshopper       Schistocerca lineata   Spotted Bird Grasshopper (adult & nymph)       Schistocerca nitens   Gray Bird Grasshopper (adult & nymph)       Schistocerca americana   American Bird Grasshopper       Mermiria bivittata   Two-striped Mermiria (adult & nymph)       Syrbula admirabilis   Handsome Grasshopper (nymph)       Boopedon gracile   Graceful Range Grasshopper (adult & nymph)       Chortophaga viridifasciata   Northern Green-striped Grasshopper (nymph)       Arphia simplex   Plains Yellow-winged Grasshopper       Hadrotettix trifasciatus   Three-banded Range Grasshopper       Hippiscus ocelote   Wrinkled Grasshopper (nymph)       Trachyrhachys kiowa   Kiowa Grasshopper       Spharagemon equale   Say's Grasshopper       Encoptolophus costalis   Dusky Grasshopper (nymph)       Lactista azteca   Aztec Bandwing (adult & nymph)    tettigoniidae   Obolopteryx catinata   Spoon-tailed Short-winged Katydid       Amblycorypha huasteca   Texas False Katydid       Arethaea sp.   Thread-legged Katydid (nymph)       Orchelimum silvaticum   Long-spurred Meadow Katydid (adult & nymph)       Pediodectes haldemanii   Haldeman's Shieldback    gryllidae   Oecanthus varicornis   Tree Cricket (nymph)       Oecanthus sp.   Tree Cricket (nymph)       Gryllus sp.   Field Cricket (nymph)    tetrigidae   Paratettix mexicanus   Pygmy Grasshopper blattodea   ectobiidae   Parcoblatta sp.   Wood Cockroach isoptera   termitidae   Gnathamitermes sp.   Long-jawed Desert Termite (alate) phasmatodea   diapheromeridae   Megaphasma denticrus   Giant Walkingstick mantodea   mantidae   Litaneutria minor   Ground Mantis       Stagmomantis carolina   Carolina Mantis (nymph)    thespidae   Oligonicella scudderi   Scudder's Mantis (nymph) neuroptera   ascalaphidae   Ululodes macleayanus   Owlfly trichoptera   leptoceridae   Oecetis inconspicua   Long-horned Caddisfly    philopotamidae   Chimarra sp.   Black Caddisfly    hydropsychidae   Cheumatopsyche sp.   Netspinning Caddisfly araneae   araneidae   Argiope aurantia   Black and Yellow Garden Spider       Neoscona crucifera   Orbweaver       Neoscona oaxacensis   Orbweaver    salticidae   Phidippus audax   Bold Jumper       Phidippus texanus   Texas Jumper       Phidippus sp.   Jumping Spider       Hentzia palmarum   Long-jawed Jumper       Pelegrina galathea   Peppered Jumper       Anasaitis canosa   Jumping Spider    tetragnathidae   Tetragnatha sp.   Longjawed Orbweaver    oxyopidae   Peucetia viridans   Green Lynx    thomisidae   Mecaphesa sp.   Crab Spider    dictynidae   Dictyna sp.   Meshweb Weaver    theridiidae   Latrodectus mactans   Southern Black Widow    oecobiidae   Oecobius sp.   Wall Spider    pisauridae   Dolomedes triton   Fishing Spider    lycosidae   Rabidosa rabida   Rabid Wolf Spider       Pirata sp.   Wolf Spider