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  ABC > Home > THE FAUNA PROJECT > Survey November 18, 2010


The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Fauna Project

We had chilly, windy, and sunny conditions as four people conducted this week's survey. Many of the insects we found were basking in the sun to warm up. The Wheel Bug, one of our largest assassin bugs, should not be handled. It is capable of piercing skin and injecting venom with its stout rostrum (mouthparts). In spite of this, it is considered beneficial as it eats caterpillars and other garden pests.

Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings:


Agrotis venerabilis (venerable dart)
photo by Val Bugh


Agapostemon sp. (bee, family Halictidae)
photo by Val Bugh


Caloptilia sp. (moth, family Gracillariidae)
photo by Val Bugh


Nathalis iole (dainty sulphur)
photo by Val Bugh


Euptioeta claudia (variegated fritillary)
photo by Val Bugh


Colias eurytheme (orange sulphur)
photo by Val Bugh


Uresiphita reversalis (genista caterpillar)
photo by Val Bugh


Lactista aztecus (Aztec bandwing nymph & cotton flea hopper)
photo by Val Bugh


Cryptocephalus fulguratus (leaf beetle)
photo by Val Bugh


Dictyna sp. (meshweb weaver)
photo by Val Bugh


Neokolla uhleri (leafhopper)
photo by Val Bugh


Graphocephala versuta (leafhopper)
photo by Val Bugh


Helina sp. (fly, family Muscidae)
photo by Val Bugh


Copestylum marginatum (flower fly)
photo by Val Bugh


Copestylum mexicana (black flower fly)
photo by Val Bugh


Arilus cristatus (wheel bug)
photo by Val Bugh

  • Birds:
    American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
    Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)
    Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus)
    Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
    Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
    Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
    Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)
    Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
    Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)
    House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
    Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
    Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)
    Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
    Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
    Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
    Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
    Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
    Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
    Western Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica)
    Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata)

  • Insects & Spiders:
    orderfamilygenus/speciescommon name

    lepidoptera  nymphalidae  Danaus gilippus  Queen
        Agraulis vanillae  Gulf Fritillary
        Vanessa atalanta  Red Admiral
        Vanessa virginiensis  American Lady
        Euptoieta claudia  Variegated Fritillary
      pieridae  Eurema nicippe  Sleepy Orange
        Nathalis iole  Dainty Sulphur
        Colias eurytheme  Orange Sulphur
      lycaenidae  Hemiargus isola  Reakirt's Blue
        Strymon melinus  Gray Hairstreak
      hesperiidae  Lerema accius  Clouded Skipper
      noctuidae  Agrotis venerabilis  Venerable Dart
      arctiidae  Estigmene acrea  Saltmarsh Caterpillar
      geometridae  Nemoria zygotaria  Emerald
        Leptostales pannaria  Moth
        Unknown sp.  Inchworm
      crambidae  Uresiphita reversalis  Genista Caterpillar
      gracillariidae  Caloptilia sp.  Moth

    odonata  coenagrionidae  Argia immunda  Kiowa Dancer
      libellulidae  Sympetrum corruptum  Variegated Meadowhawk

    coleoptera  coccinellidae  Cycloneda sanguinea  Red Ladybird
      chrysomelidae  Asphaera lustrans  Flea Beetle
        Diabrotica undecimpunctata  Spotted Cucumber Beetle
        Ophraella sp.  Leaf Beetle
        Cryptocephalus fulguratus  Leaf Beetle
      cerambycidae  Sphaenothecus bivittata  Long-horned Beetle
      carabidae  Notiobia sp.  Ground Beetle
      curculionidae  Conotrachelus sp.  Weevil

    hemiptera  coreidae  Acanthocephala terminalis  Coreid Bug
        Hypselonotus punctiventris  Coreid Bug
        Leptoglossus phyllopus  Leaf-footed Bug
      reduviidae  Arilus cristatus  Wheel Bug
        Zelus renardii  Assassin Bug
      rhyparochromidae  Neopamera bilobata  Seed Bug
      miridae  Halticotoma valida  Yucca Plant Bug
        Pseudatomoscelis seriatus  Cotton Flea Hopper
      alydidae  Hyalymenus tarsatus  Texas Bow-legged Bug (nymph)
        Hyalymenus sp.  Broad-headed Bug
        Alydus pilosulus  Broad-headed Bug
      pentatomidae  Euschistus servus  Brown Stink Bug
        Euschistus obscurus  Brown Stink Bug
        Chinavia hilare  Green Stink Bug

    homoptera  cicadellidae  Neokolla uhleri  Leafhopper
        Graphocephala versuta  Leafhopper
        Gyponana sp.  Leafhopper

    hymenoptera  vespidae  Vespula squamosa  Southern Yellowjacket
      sphecidae  Prionyx sp.  Thread-waisted Wasp
      apidae  Apis mellifera  Honey Bee
      halictidae  Unknown sp.  Green Sweat Bee
        Agapostemon sp.  Sweat Bee

    diptera  syrphidae  Copestylum marginatum  Flower Fly
        Copestylum mexicana  Black Flower Fly
        Dioprosopa clavata  Flower Fly (larva)
      anthomyiidae  Unknown sp.  Root Maggot Fly
      sarcophagidae  Unknown sp.  Flesh Fly
      muscidae  Helina sp.  Fly

    orthoptera  acrididae  Schistocerca sp.  Bird Grasshopper (nymph)
        Schistocerca americana  American Bird Grasshopper
        Melanoplus sp.  Spur-throated Grasshopper
        Melanoplus ponderosus  Ponderous Grasshopper
        Eritettix abortivus  Texas Short-winged Slant-faced Grasshopper
        Lactista aztecus  Aztec Bandwing (adult & nymph)
        Chortophaga viridifasciata  Northern Green-striped Grasshopper
      tettigoniidae  Scudderia furcata  Fork-tailed Bush Katydid
        Pediodectes bruneri  Bruner's Shieldback
      tetrigidae  Paratettix mexicanus  Pygmy Grasshopper
      gryllidae  Gryllus sp.  Field Cricket (nymph)

    araneae  araneidae  Argiope aurantia  Black and Yellow Garden Spider
      salticidae  Phidippus audax  Bold Jumper
      lycosidae  Unknown sp.  Wolf Spider
      dictynidae  Dictyna sp.  Meshweb Weaver
      thomisidae  Mecaphesa sp.  Crab Spider
      oxyopidae  Peucetia viridans  Green Lynx

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