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  ABC > Home > THE FAUNA PROJECT > Survey November 17, 2011


The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Fauna Project

Despite the sunshine, the morning remained chilly and windy as five people conducted this week's survey. The flight muscles of butterflies must be at a high enough temperature for them to function, so those species that are active in the winter usually have very hairy bodies to help retain the heat that they absorb from the sun. The Common/White Checkered-skipper pictured below is a good example.

Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings:


Danaus plexippus (monarch)
photo by Val Bugh


Hemiargus isola (Reakirt's blue)
photo by Val Bugh


Pyrgus communis/albescens (common/white checkered-skipper)
photo by Harriett Wolf


Agraulis vanillae (gulf fritillary, larva)
photo by Val Bugh


Cucullia sp. (moth, larva)
photo by Val Bugh


Manduca rustica (rustic sphinx, larva)
photo by Val Bugh


Andrena sp. (mining bee)
photo by Val Bugh


Pasimachus sp. (ground beetle)
photo by Val Bugh


Copestylum avidum (flower fly - hairy eyes!)
photo by Val Bugh


Lucilia sp. (blow fly)
photo by Val Bugh


Unknown sp. (midge, male)
photo by Val Bugh


Trimerotropis pallidipennis (pallid-winged grasshopper)
photo by Val Bugh


Craspeduchus uhleri (seed bug)
photo by Val Bugh


Stagmomantis carolina (Carolina mantis, nymph)
photo by Val Bugh


Mecaphesa sp. (crab spider, male)
photo by Val Bugh


Spinus psaltria (lesser goldfinch)
photo by Barbara Ribble


Pipilo maculatus (spotted towhee)
photo by Harriett Wolf

  • Birds:
    Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus)
    Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
    Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
    European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
    Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
    Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
    Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
    Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
    Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
    Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
    Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)
    Western Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica)

  • Mammals:
    Hispid Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus)

  • Insects & Spiders:
    orderfamilygenus/speciescommon name

    lepidoptera  lycaenidae  Hemiargus isola  Reakirt's Blue
      nymphalidae  Danaus plexippus  Monarch
        Euptoieta claudia  Variegated Fritillary
        Vanessa virginiensis  American Lady
        Vanessa atalanta  Red Admiral
        Agrauilis vanillae  Gulf Fritillary (adult & larva)
      pieridae  Eurema nicippe  Sleepy Orange
      hesperiidae  Pyrgus communis/albescens  Common/White Checkered-skipper
      noctuidae  Cucullia sp.  Moth (larva)
      crambidae  Uresiphita reversalis  Genista Caterpillar
      sphingidae  Manduca rustica  Rustic Sphinx (larva)

    coleoptera  carabidae  Pasimachus sp.  Ground Beetle

    hemiptera  coreidae  Unknown sp.  Coreid Bug (egg)
      lygaeidae  Craspeduchus uhleri  Seed Bug
      miridae  Engytatus modestus  Plant Bug (nymph)
        Dichrooscytus sp. sp.  Plant Bug
        Lopidea sp.  Plant Bug

    homoptera  monophlebidae  Icerya purchasi  Cottony Cushion Scale

    hymenoptera  apidae  Apis mellifera  Honey Bee
      megachilidae  Megachile sp.  Leaf-cutter Bee
      andrenidae  Andrena sp.  Mining Bee
      formicidae  Solenopsis invicta  Imported Fire Ant

    diptera  syrphidae  Copestylum avidum  Flower Fly
        Allograpta obliqua  Flower Fly
        Eristalis sp.  Flower Fly
        Palpada vinetorum  Flower Fly
        Eupeodes americanus  Flower Fly
        Helophilus sp.  Flower Fly
      dolichopodidae  Condylostylus sp.  Long-legged Fly
        Unknown sp.  Long-legged Fly
      calliphoridae  Cynomya cadaverina  Bluebottle Fly
        Lucilia sp.  Blow Fly
      chironomidae  Unknown sp.  Midge
      anthomyiidae  Unknown sp.  Root Maggot Fly

    odonata  libellulidae  Sympetrum corruptum  Variegated Meadowhawk

    orthoptera  acrididae  Trimerotropis pallidipennis  Pallid-winged Grasshopper

    mantodea  mantidae  Stagmomantis carolina  Carolina mantis (nymph)

    araneae  thomisidae  Mecaphesa sp.  Crab Spider

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