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  ABC > Home > THE FAUNA PROJECT > Survey June 3, 2010


The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Fauna Project

After a night of thunderstorms, wind and heavy rain, the drizzle that accompanied this survey was absolutely peaceful. Temperatures remained around 70°F but the precipitation kept flying insects to a minimum. While they were harder to spot, they were easier to observe once found. Especially exciting was a moth in the family Sesiidae, which very effectively mimicked a wasp. Eggs were another highlight: we found those of an owlfly and also saw an Acanaloniid planthopper ovipositing.

Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings:


Acanalonia parva (planthopper ovipositing on grass stem)
photo by Val Bugh


Argiope aurantia (black and yellow garden spider, immature female)
photo by Val Bugh


Ammophila sp. (thread-waisted wasp)
photo by Val Bugh


Brochymena sp. (rough stink bug nymph)
photo by Val Bugh


Digrammia pallidata (geometrid moth)
photo by Val Bugh


Acrosternum hilare (green stink bug nymph)
photo by Val Bugh


Tetragnatha laboriosa (silver longjawed orbweavers mating)
photo by Val Bugh


Neoscona oaxacensis (orbweaver, male)
photo by Val Bugh


Oncometopia orbona (leafhopper)
photo by Val Bugh


Unknown sp. (owlfly eggs and sticky barrier structures)
photo by Val Bugh


Polacantha sp. (robber fly, male)
photo by Val Bugh


Vitacea admiranda (clearwing moth)
photo by Val Bugh


Pyrgus communis/albescens (common or white checkered-skipper, female)
photo by Val Bugh


Hemaris diffinis (snowberry clearwing moth)
photo by Val Bugh


Asterocampa clyton (tawny emperor caterpillars)
photo by Val Bugh


Texananus areolatus (leafhopper)
photo by Val Bugh


Thionia acuta (planthopper in the family Issidae)
photo by Val Bugh


Xysticus sp. (crab spider)
photo by Val Bugh


Zelus tetracanthus (four-spined assassin bug)
photo by Val Bugh

  • Birds:
    Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)
    Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
    Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
    Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
    Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)
    Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
    Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
    Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Picoides scalaris)
    Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
    Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
    Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
    Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)
    Purple Martin (Progne subis)

  • Misc.:
    Flat-backed Millipede (order Polydesmida)
    Land Snail (Rabdotus sp.)

  • Insects & Spiders:
    orderfamilygenus/speciescommon name

    lepidoptera  nymphalidae  Euptoieta claudia  Variegated Fritillary
        Danaus gilippus  Queen
        Chlosyne lacinia  Bordered Patch (larva)
        Asterocampa clyton  Tawny Emperor (larva)
      pieridae  Nathalis iole  Dainty Sulphur
        Eurema nicippe  Sleepy Orange
        Pontia protodice  Checkered White
      lycaenidae  Hemiargus isola  Reakirt's Blue
      papilionidae  Papilio polyxenes  Black Swallowtail (larva)
      hesperiidae  Pyrgus communis/albescens  Common/White Checkered-skipper
      noctuidae  Catocala amica  Girlfriend Underwing
        Ogdoconta cinereola  Common Pinkband
      arctiidae  Estigmene acrea  Saltmarsh Caterpillar
        Hypoprepia miniata  Scarlet-winged Lichen Moth
      geometridae  Digrammia pallidata  Moth
        Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria  Blackberry Looper Moth
        Prochoerodes lineola  Large Maple Spanworm Moth
        Euchlaena sp.  Moth
      sphingidae  Hemaris diffinis  Snowberry Clearwing
        Darapsa myron  Virginia Creeper Sphinx
      pyralidae  Ephestiodes sp.  Moth
      crambidae  Uresiphita reversalis  Genista Caterpillar Moth
        Urola nivalis  Snowy Urola
      sesiidae  Vitacea admiranda  Clearwing Moth
      pterophoridae  Adaina ambrosiae  Plume Moth (larva)

    odonata  coenagrionidae  Ischnura ramburii  Rambur's Forktail
        Enallagma civile  Familiar Bluet
      libellulidae  Unknown sp.  Dragonfly (exuviae)

    diptera  syrphidae  Toxomerus marginatus  Flower Fly
      tachinidae  Archytas sp.  Tachinid Fly
        Unknown sp.  Tachinid Fly
      sarcophagidae  Unknown sp.  Flesh Fly
      asilidae  Atomosia sp.  Robber Fly
        Polacantha sp.  Robber Fly
      dolichopodidae  Condylostylus sp.  Long-legged Fly

    coleoptera  chrysomelidae  Asphaera lustrans  Flea Beetle
        Brachypnoea sp.  Leaf Beetle
      coccinellidae  Harmonia axyridis  Multi-colored Asian Ladybird
      mordellidae  Mordella marginata  Tumbling Flower Beetle
      scarabaeidae  Euphoria kernii  Flower Scarab
      attelabidae  Homoeolabus analis  Oak Leaf Roller (leaf rolls)
      curculionidae  Listronotus sp.  Weevil

    hemiptera  reduviidae  Zelus tetracanthus  Four-spined Assassin Bug (adult & nymph)
        Zelus renardii  Assassin Bug (adult & nymph)
      nabidae  Hoplistoscelis sp.  Damsel Bug
      coreidae  Acanthocephala terminalis  Coreid Bug (nymph)
        Anasa tristis  Squash Bug (adult & nymph)
        Leptoglossus clypealis  Leaf-footed Bug
      pentatomidae  Acrosternum hilare  Green Stink Bug (adult & nymph)
        Oebalus pugnax  Rice Stink Bug (nymph)
        Chlorochroa ligata  Conchuela (adult, nymph & egg)
        Brochymena sp.  Rough Stink Bug (nymph)
        Euschistus sp.  Stink Bug (nymph)

    homoptera  cicadellidae  Homalodisca vitripennis  Glassy-winged Sharpshooter
        Cuerna costalis  Leafhopper
        Neokolla dolobrata  Leafhopper
        Texananus areolatus  Leafhopper
        Tinobregmus vittatus  Leafhopper
        Graphocephala versuta  Leafhopper
        Oncometopia orbona  Leafhopper
      cercopidae  Clastoptera sp.  Spittlebug
        Lepyronia quadrangularis  Leafhopper
      acanaloniidae  Acanalonia parva  Planthopper
      issidae  Thionia acuta  Planthopper
      flatidae  Metcalfa pruinosa  Citrus Planthopper (nymph)

    hymenoptera  apidae  Apis mellifera  Honey Bee
      sphecidae  Ammophila sp.  Thread-waisted Wasp
      vespidae  Polistes exclamans  Paper Wasp
      braconidae  Unknown sp.  Braconid Wasp (cocoons)
      ichneumonidae  Unknown sp.  Ichneumon

    orthoptera  tettigoniidae  Dichopetala catinata  Spoon-tailed Short-winged Katydid
        Scudderia furcata  Fork-tailed Bush Katydid (adult & nymph)
        Arethaea ambulator  Walking Thread-legged Katydid
        Pediodectes grandis  Grand Shieldback (nymph)
      acrididae  Lactista aztecus  Aztec Bandwing (nymph & adult)
        Eritettix abortivus  Texas Short-winged Slant-faced Grasshopper
      gryllidae  Gryllus sp.  Field Cricket (nymph)
        Oecanthus sp.  Tree Cricket (nymph)

    neuroptera  ascalaphidae  Ululodes macleayanus  Owlfly
        Unknown sp.  Owlfly (eggs)
      mantispidae  Unknown sp.  Mantisfly
      chrysopidae  Unknown sp.  Green Lacewing

    araneae  araneidae  Argiope aurantia  Black and Yellow Garden Spider
        Cyclosa turbinata  Trashline Orbweaver
        Neoscona arabesca  Arabesque Orbweaver
        Neoscona crucifera  Orbweaver
        Neoscona oaxacensis  Orbweaver
        Mangora placida  Orbweaver
        Eustala sp.  Orbweaver
      mimetidae  Mimetus sp.  Pirate Spider
      tetragnathidae  Tetragnatha laboriosa  Silver Longjawed Orbweaver
      linyphiidae  Frontinella communis  Bowl and Doily Spider
      lycosidae  Rabidosa rabida  Rabid Wolf Spider
      thomisidae  Misumenops sp.  Crab Spider
        Xysticus sp.  Crab Spider
      oxyopidae  Oxyopes salticus  Striped Lynx

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