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  ABC > Home > THE FAUNA PROJECT > Survey May 14, 2026


The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Fauna Project

It was warm and sunny as nineteen volunteers completed this week's survey. The ant shown below on a Reakirt's Blue caterpillar is obtaining honeydew from one of a pair of dorsal nectary glands located on the larva's seventh abdominal segment. At the same time, a pair of yellow pimple-like tentacle organs are everted on the eighth segment. There are conflicting theories as to their actual function.

Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings:


Obolopteryx catinata (spoon-tailed short-winged katydid, male)
photo by Julie Shaw


Chlorochroa ligata (conchuela)
photo by Joe Fernandes


Hippodamia convergens (convergent lady beetles mating)
photo by Vince VanderHeijden


Pelidnota punctata (grapevine beetle)
photo by Val Bugh


Nemognatha sp. (blister beetle)
photo by Julie Shaw


Argiope aurantia (black and yellow garden spider, immature)
photo by Dave Christie


Harrisina coracina (grapeleaf skeletonizer)
photo by Vince VanderHeijden


Hemiargus isola & Brachymyrmex patagonicus
(Reakirt's blue larva & rover ant)
photo by David Cook


Pachydiplax longipennis (blue dasher obelisking)
photo by Joe Fernandes


Allograpta obliqua (flower fly)
photo by Michael Knox


Allograpta exotica (flower fly)
photo by Julie Shaw


Nemotelus kansensis (soldier fly: male & female)
photo by Katherine Daniels & Mika Geiger


Sylvilagus floridanus (eastern cottontail)
photo by David Cook


Callophrys gryneus (juniper hairstreak)
photo by Yvonne Karnath


Strymon melinus (gray hairstreak)
photo by Vince VanderHeijden


Satyrium favonius (oak hairstreak)
photo by Katherine Daniels


Anthophora californica (digger bee)
photo by Mika Geiger


Protandrena new sp. (mining bee)
photo by Mika Geiger


Geococcyx californianus (greater roadrunner)
photo by Bill Boyd


Vireo griseus (white-eyed vireo)
photo by Yvonne Karnath

  • Birds:
    American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
    Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens)
    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)
    Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)
    Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
    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)
    Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
    Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)
    Chuck-will's-widow (Caprimulgus carolinensis)
    Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)
    Dickcissel (Spiza americana)
    Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)
    Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
    Eastern Wood-pewee (Contopus virens)
    Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)
    Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
    Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)
    Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
    Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
    House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
    Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)
    Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)
    Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)
    Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
    Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
    Nashville Warbler (Vermivora ruficapilla)
    Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
    Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
    Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)
    Purple Martin (Progne subis)
    Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
    Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
    Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
    Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)
    Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
    Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
    Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)
    Western Cattle-egret (Bubulcus ibis)
    Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)
    White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)
    White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
    Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
    Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)
    Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)
    Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

  • Mammals:
    Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)
    Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), fresh scat

  • Reptiles & Amphibians:
    Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus)
    Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)
    Texas Spotted Whiptail (Aspidoscelis gularis gularis)
    Redstripe Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus)
    Rio Grande Leopard Frog (Lithobates berlandieri)

  • Misc.:
    Pollen Mite (Balaustium sp.)

  • Insects & Spiders:
    orderfamilygenus/speciescommon name

    lepidoptera  nymphalidae  Agraulis vanillae  Gulf Fritillary (adult & larva)
        Danaus gilippus  Queen
        Vanessa virginiensis  American Lady
        Vanessa atalanta  Red Admiral
        Anthanassa texana  Texan Crescent
        Libytheana carinenta  American Snout
      pieridae  Eurema nicippe  Sleepy Orange
        Phoebis sennae  Cloudless Sulphur
        Pontia protodice  Checkered White
      papilionidae  Papilio polyxenes  Black Swallowtail (larva)
        Battus philenor  Pipevine Swallowtail (adult & larva)
      lycaenidae  Hemiargus isola  Reakirt's Blue (adult & larva)
        Strymon melinus  Gray Hairstreak
        Satyrium favonius  Oak Hairstreak
        Callophrys gryneus  Juniper Hairstreak
        Atlides halesus  Great Purple Hairstreak
      hesperiidae  Burnsius communis/albescens  Common/White Checkered-skipper
        Burnsius philetas  Desert Checkered-skipper
        Erynnis funeralis  Funereal Duskywing
        Erynnis horatius  Horace's Duskywing
        Copaeodes aurantiaca  Orange Skipperling
      noctuidae  Galgula partita  The Wedgling
        Tripudia quadrifera  Moth
        Micrathetis triplex  Triplex Cutworm Moth
        Tarache aprica  Exposed Bird Dropping Moth
        Xerociris wilsonii  Wilson's Wood-nymph
        Chloridea virescens  Tobacco Budworm (larva)
        Unknown sp.  Moth (larva)
      erebidae  Aon noctuiformis  Moth
        Melipotis indomita  Moth
        Eubolina impartialis  Moth
        Catocala amica  Girlfriend Underwing
        Metria amella  Live Oak Metria
      arctiidae  Pareuchaetes insulata  Yellow-winged Pareuchaetes (larva)
        Hypoprepia fucosa  Painted Lichen Moth
      notodontidae  Litodonta hydromeli  Prominent
      sphingidae  Hyles lineata  White-lined Sphinx (larva)
      geometridae  Digrammia atrofasciata  Moth
        Digrammia pallidata  Moth
        Rindgea cyda  Mesquite Looper Moth
        Rindgea nigricomma  Moth
        Psamatodes abydata  Dot-lined Angle
        Iridopsis defectaria  Brown-shaded Gray Moth
        Lobocleta ossularia  Drab Brown Wave
        Glenoides texanaria  Texas Gray Moth
        Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria  Blackberry Looper
        Synchlora frondaria  Camouflaged Looper (larva)
        Nemoria bifilata  White-barred Emerald
        Cyclophora nanaria  Dwarf Tawny Wave (larva)
        Glena quinquelinearia  Five-lined Glena
        Euacidalia sp.  Moth
      crambidae  Pyrausta pseuderosnealis  Pyrausta Moth
        Urola nivalis  Snowy Urola
        Uresiphita reversalis  Genista Caterpillar (larva)
        Hileithia magualis  Moth
        Diastictis fracturalis  Fractured Western Snout Moth
        Achyra rantalis  Garden Webworm Moth
        Microtheoris ophionalis  Yellow-veined Moth
        Microtheoris vibicalis  Whip-marked Snout Moth
        Glaphyria sesquistrialis  White-roped Glaphyria
        Lipocosma polingi  Moth
        Lineodes interrupta  Moth
      pyralidae  Adelphia petrella  Moth
        Homoeosoma electella  Sunflower Moth (adult & larva)
        Eurythmia angulella  Moth
        Goya new sp.  Moth
        Anderida peorinella  Grass-veneer Moth
        Peoria tetradella  Grass-veneer Moth
        Ephestiodes gilvescentella  Dusky Raisin Moth
        Ephestiodes infimella  Moth
        Unknown sp.  Moth
      tortricidae  Pelochrista salaciana  Leafroller Moth
        Archips argyrospila  Fruit Tree Leafroller Moth
        Rhopobota finitimana  Moth
        Platynota flavedana  Black-shaded Platynota Moth
        Sparganothis demissana  Moth
        Eumarozia malachitana  Sculptured Moth
        Bactra verutana  Javelin Moth
        Choristoneura houstonana  Juniper Budworm Moth
        Crocidosema plebejana  Cotton Tipworm Moth
        Paralobesia viteana  Grape Berry Moth
      gelechiidae  Sophronia roseicrinella  Moth
        Isophrictis similiella  Moth
        Compsolechia crescentifasciella  Moth
        Aristotelia sp.  Moth
        Unknown sp.  Moth
      depressariidae  Ethmia semilugens  Ethmia Moth
      blastobasidae  Hypatopa punctiferella  Moth
      momphidae  Mompha albocapitella  Moth
      coleophoridae  Coleophora sp.  Moth
      zygaenidae  Harrisina coracina  Grapeleaf Skeletonizer (larva)
      oecophoridae  Inga cretacea  Chalky Inga
      scythrididae  Scythris trivinctella  Moth
      elachistidae  Haplochrois bipunctella  Moth
      plutellidae  Plutella xylostella  Diamondback Moth
      gracillariidae  Parectopa bumeliella  Moth
        Cameraria sp.  Moth
      acrolophidae  Acrolophus griseus  Tubeworm Moth
        Acrolophus texanella  Texas Tubeworm Moth
        Acrolophus mortipennella  Tubeworm Moth
        Acrolophus sp.  Tubeworm Moth

    coleoptera  chrysomelidae  Systena hudsonias  Flea Beetle
        Phyllotreta sp.  Flea Beetle
        Brachypnoea sp.  Leaf Beetle
        Pachybrachis turbidus  Leaf Beetle
        Acanthoscelides sp.  Bean Weevil
      coccinellidae  Harmonia axyridis  Multi-colored Asian Lady Beetle
        Coccinella septempunctata  Seven-spotted Lady Beetle (adult & larva)
        Hippodamia convergens  Convergent Lady Beetle
      buprestidae  Acmaeodera neglecta  Metallic Woodborer
        Acmaeodera ornatoides  Metallic Woodborer
      hydrophilidae  Berosus exiguus  Water Scavenger Beetle
        Berosus miles  Water Scavenger Beetle
      carabidae  Selenophorus sp.  Ground Beetle
        Bembidion impotens  Ground Beetle
        Bradycellus tantillus  Ground Beetle
      staphylinidae  Philonthus rufulus  Rove Beetle
        Heterothops sp.  Rove Beetle
        Carpelimus sp.  Rove Beetle
      anthicidae  Acanthinus argentinus  Antlike Flower Beetle
      erotylidae  Languria sp.  Lizard Beetle
      scraptiidae  Allopoda sp.  False Flower Beetle
        Diclidia laetula  False Flower Beetle
      mordellidae  Mordellistena cervicalis  Tumbling Flower Beetle
      nitidulidae  Omosita nearctica  Sap Beetle
      dermestidae  Orphilus ater  Dermestid Beetle
      anthribidae  Trigonorhinus limbatus  Fungus Weevil
      meloidae  Nemognatha sp.  Blister Beetle
      oedemeridae  Oxacis trirossi  False Blister Beetle
      laemophloeidae  Laemophloeus terminalis  Lined Flat Bark Beetle
      hybosoridae  Hybosorus illigeri  Scavenger Scarab
      scarabaeidae  Euphoria kernii  Flower Scarab
        Pelidnota punctata  Grapevine Beetle
      tenebrionidae  Eleodes goryi  Desert Stink Beetle
        Eleodes fusiformis  Desert Stink Beetle
      curculionidae  Anthonomus fulvus  Weevil
        Smicronyx lineolatus  Weevil
        Epicaerus sp.  Broad-nosed Weevil

    hemiptera  coreidae  Leptoglossus phyllopus  Eastern Leaf-footed Bug (nymph)
        Mozena lunata  Mesquite Bug
      rhopalidae  Harmostes reflexulus  Scentless Plant Bug
        Arhyssus sp.  Scentless Plant Bug
      lygaeidae  Lygaeus kalmii  Small Milkweed Bug
        Nysius sp.  False Chinch Bug
      rhyparochromidae  Pseudopachybrachius basalis  Seed Bug
      berytidae  Jalysus wickhami  Stilt Bug
      miridae  Polymerus basalis  Plant Bug
        Calocoris barberi  Plant Bug (adult & nymph)
        Lidopus heidemanni  Jumping Tree Bug
      reduviidae  Zelus renardii  Assassin Bug (nymph)
      scutelleridae  Sphyrocoris obliquus  Shield Bug
      pentatomidae  Chlorochroa ligata  Conchuela (adult & nymph)
        Euschistus sp.  Stink Bug (nymph)

    homoptera  cicadellidae  Graphocephala hieroglyphica  Leafhopper
        Graphocephala versuta  Leafhopper
        Agalliopsis peneoculata  Leafhopper
        Scaphoideus sp.  Leafhopper
        Scaphytopius sp.  Leafhopper
        Scaphytopius elegans  Leafhopper
        Menosoma cincta  Leafhopper
        Cuerna costalis  Leafhopper (adult & nymph)
        Homalodisca vitripennis  Glassy-winged Sharpshooter
        Paraphlepsius sp.  Leafhopper
        Empoasca sp.  leafhopper
        Cetexa sp.  Leafhopper
        Atanus sp.  Leafhopper
        Macrosteles sp.  Leafhopper
        Gyponana sp.  Leafhopper (nymph)
        Trypanalebra maculata  Leafhopper
      tropiduchidae  Dictyonissus griphus  Planthopper (adult & nymph)
      acanaloniidae  Acanalonia parva  Planthopper
      aphrophoridae  Lepyronia quadrangularis  Spittlebug
      clastopteridae  Clastoptera xanthocephala  Sunflower Spittlebug
      cercopidae  Prosapia bicincta  Two-lined Spittlebug
      cixiidae  Oecleus sp.  Planthopper
      issidae  Fowlerium acutum  Planthopper
      membracidae  Tortistilus abnorma  Treehopper
        Tortistilus inermis  Treehopper
        Heliria cristata  Treehopper
      aphididae  Aphis nerii  Oleander Aphid
        Macrosiphum gaurae  Beeblossom Aphid
        Unknown sp.  Aphid

    hymenoptera  apidae  Apis mellifera  Honey Bee
        Centris atripes  Digger Bee
        Anthophora californica  Digger Bee
        Xylocopa virginica  Eastern Carpenter Bee
        Ceratina sp.  Small Carpenter Bee
      andrenidae  Protandrena new sp.  Mining Bee
        Protandrena sp.  Mining Bee
      halictidae  Agapostemon sp.  Green Sweat Bee
        Augochloropsis metallica  Green Sweat Bee
        Lasioglossum sp.  Sweat Bee
        Halictus ligatus  Furrow Bee
      megachilidae  Osmia subfasciata  Mason Bee
        Megachile sp.  Leafcutter Bee
        Heriades sp.  Resin Bee
      vespidae  Polistes exclamans  Paper Wasp
        Polistes rubiginosus  Red Wasp
        Euodynerus hidalgo  Mason Wasp
        Brachygastra mellifica  Mexican Honey Wasp
      crabronidae  Tachytes sp.  Digger Wasp
      sphecidae  Sphex lucae  Digger Wasp
      scoliidae  Scolia nobilitata  Scoliid Wasp
      pompilidae  Pepsis sp.  Tarantula-hawk Wasp
      formicidae  Leptogenys elongata  Ant (male)
        Brachymyrmex patagonicus  Rover Ant
        Unknown sp.  Ant
      cynipidae  Belonocnema kinseyi  Gall Wasp
      ichneumonidae  Anomalon sp.  Ichneumon
      tenthredinidae  Unknown sp.  Common Sawfly

    diptera  syrphidae  Allograpta obliqua  Flower Fly
        Allograpta exotica  Flower Fly
        Copestylum marginatum  Flower Fly
        Copestylum tamaulipanum  Flower Fly
        Hypocritanus fascipennis  Flower Fly
        Eupeodes volucris  Flower Fly
      bombyliidae  Villa sp.  Bee Fly
      platystomatidae  Rivellia sp.  Signal Fly
      muscidae  Coenosia sp.  Tiger Fly
      stratiomyidae  Nemotelus kansensis  Soldier Fly
        Psellidotus sp.  Soldier Fly
      dolichopodidae  Condylostylus sp.  Long-legged Fly
      sarcophagidae  Unknown sp.  Flesh Fly
      limoniidae  Gonomyia alexanderi  Crane Fly
        Unknown sp.  Crane Fly
      ceratopogonidae  Forcipomyia sp.  Biting Midge
      cecidomyiidae  Unknown sp.  Gall Midge
        Unknown sp.  Wood Midge
      chaoboridae  Chaoborus punctipennis  Phantom Midge
      chironomidae  Chironomus sp.  Midge

    odonata  coenagrionidae  Argia immunda  Kiowa Dancer
        Telebasis salva  Desert Firetail
      libellulidae  Libellula croceipennis  Neon Skimmer
        Orthemis ferruginea  Roseate Skimmer
        Pachydiplax longipennis  Blue Dasher

    orthoptera  acrididae  Melanoplus femurrubrum  Red-legged Grasshopper (adult & nymph)
        Melanoplus differentialis  Differential Grasshopper (nymph)
        Melanoplus ponderosus  Ponderous Grasshopper (nymph)
        Melanoplus sanguinipes  Migratory Grasshopper
        Melanoplus flabellatus  Dallas Short-winged Grasshopper (nymph)
        Melanoplus plebejus  Plebeian Grasshopper (nymph)
        Melanoplus bispinosus  Two-spined Spur-throated Grasshopper
        Hesperotettix speciosus  Showy Grasshopper (nymph)
        Paraidemona sp.  Spurthroated Grasshopper
        Schistocerca americana  American Bird Grasshopper
        Schistocerca lineata  Spotted Bird Grasshopper (nymph)
        Schistocerca sp.  Bird Grasshopper
        Boopedon gracile  Graceful Range Grasshopper (adult & nymph)
        Mermiria bivittata  Two-striped Mermiria (nymph)
        Lactista azteca  Aztec Bandwing
        Arphia simplex  Plains Yellow-winged Grasshopper
        Chortophaga viridifasciata  Northern Green-striped Grasshopper (adult & nymph)
        Encoptolophus costalis  Dusky Grasshopper
        Spharagemon equale  Say's Grasshopper
      tettigoniidae  Obolopteryx catinata  Spoon-tailed Short-winged Katydid (adult & nymph)
        Scudderia furcata  Fork-tailed Bush Katydid (nymph)
        Pediodectes haldemanii  Haldeman's Shieldback
        Conocephalus strictus  Straight-lanced Meadow Katydid (nymph)
      tetrigidae  Paratettix mexicanus  Pygmy Grasshopper

    blattodea  corydiidae  Arenivaga tonkawa  Sand Roach

    neuroptera  coniopterygidae  Unknown sp.  Dustywing
      chrysopidae  Chrysoperla rufilabris  Green Lacewing (larva)
        Unknown sp.  Green Lacewing (larva & eggs)

    trichoptera  leptoceridae  Oecetis inconspicua  Long-horned Caddisfly
        Nectopsyche sp.  White Miller
      hydropsychidae  Hydropsyche sp.  Netspinning Caddisfly
      hydroptilidae  Unknown sp.  Microcaddisfly

    araneae  araneidae  Argiope aurantia  Black and Yellow Garden Spider
        Araneus sp.  Orbweaver
      salticidae  Anasaitis canosa  Jumping Spider
        Pelegrina galathea  Peppered Jumper
      thomisidae  Mecaphesa sp.  Crab Spider
        Misumessus lappi  Crab Spider
        Xysticus sp.  Crab Spider
      oxyopidae  Oxyopes salticus  Striped Lynx
        Oxyopes sp.  Lynx Spider
        Peucetia viridans  Green Lynx
      dictynidae  Dictyna sp.  Meshweb Weaver

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