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  ABC > Home > THE FAUNA PROJECT > Survey December 9, 2010


The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Fauna Project

The cold, breezy, sunny weather sure felt like winter this time, and the insects agreed - very few were apparent. Five people conducted this survey, with two compiling a bird list and three concentrating on invertebrates. The morning chill was epitomized by the Mockingbird warming itself in the sun. The lone Honey Bee we encountered spent several minutes unsuccessfully attempting to access the center of a flower from below. It finally flew onto the disk. Perhaps the cold had dulled its mental powers.

Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings:


Mimus polyglottos (northern mockingbird)
photo by Val Bugh


Acmaeodera flavomarginata (metallic wood-boring beetle)
photo by Val Bugh


Asphaera lustrans (flea beetle)
photo by Val Bugh


Peridroma saucia (pearly underwing)
photo by Val Bugh


Unknown sp. (root maggot fly, family Anthomyiidae)
photo by Val Bugh


Unknown sp. (long-legged fly, family Dolichopodidae)
photo by Val Bugh


Unknown sp. (tachinid fly)
photo by Val Bugh


Melanoplus sp. (spur-throated grasshopper)
photo by Val Bugh


Chortophaga viridifasciata (northern green-striped grasshopper)
photo by Val Bugh


Euagrus chisoseus (funnelweb spider)
photo by Val Bugh


Armadillidium vulgare (pillbugs)
photo by Val Bugh


Porcellionides pruinosus (sowbug)
photo by Val Bugh


Apis mellifera (honey bee)
photo by Val Bugh

  • Birds:
    American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
    Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)
    Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
    Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
    Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
    Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
    Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)
    House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
    Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)
    Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
    Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
    Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
    Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
    Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)
    Titmouse (Baeolophus sp.)
    Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)
    Western Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica)
    White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
    White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)

  • Mammals:
    White-tailed Deer tracks in garden (Odocoileus virginianus)

  • Misc.:
    Striped Bark Scorpion (Centruroides vittatus)
    Pillbug (Armadillidium vulgare)
    Sowbug (Porcellionides pruinosus)

  • Insects & Spiders:
    orderfamilygenus/speciescommon name

    lepidoptera  lycaenidae  Hemiargus isola  Reakirt's Blue (larva)
      noctuidae  Peridroma saucia  Pearly Underwing

    odonata  libellulidae  Sympetrum corruptum  Variegated Meadowhawk
        Sympetrum vicinum  Autumn Meadowhawk

    coleoptera  chrysomelidae  Asphaera lustrans  Flea Beetle
        Diabrotica undecimpunctata  Spotted Cucumber Beetle
      buprestidae  Acmaeodera flavomarginata  Metallic Woodborer

    hymenoptera  apidae  Apis mellifera  Honey Bee

    diptera  tachinidae  Unknown sp.  Tachinid Fly
      anthomyiidae  Unknown sp.  Root Maggot Fly
      dolichopodidae  Unknown sp.  Long-legged Fly

    orthoptera  acrididae  Melanoplus sp.  Spur-throated Grasshopper
        Lactista aztecus  Aztec Bandwing (adult & nymph)
        Chortophaga viridifasciata  Northern Green-striped Grasshopper (adult & nymph)

    araneae  araneidae  Argiope aurantia  Black and Yellow Garden Spider
        Neoscona crucifera  Orbweaver
      dipluridae  Euagrus chisoseus  Funnelweb Spider

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