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  ABC > Home > THE FAUNA PROJECT > Survey February 2, 2017


The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Fauna Project

Seven volunteers participated in our Groundhog Day survey. Although temperatures were well above freezing, it was chilly, cloudy and windy. Our two most common lady beetle species in this area, shown below, happen to be imports from Europe and Asia; they were purposefully introduced into North America for pest control.

Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings:


Grammia arge (moth)
photo by Val Bugh


Aon noctuiformis (moth)
photo by Val Bugh


Ellabella melanoclista (tropical fruitworm moth)
photo by Barbara Ribble


Platynota rostrana (omnivorous platynota moth)
photo by Val Bugh


Melanoplus gladstoni (Gladston's spurthroat grasshopper)
photo by Val Bugh


Blepharida rhois (sumac leaf beetle)
photo by Val Bugh


Diabrotica undecimpunctata (spotted cucumber beetle)
photo by Val Bugh


Coccinella septempunctata (seven-spotted lady beetle)
photo by Dvori Bird


Harmonia axyridis (multi-colored Asian lady beetle)
photo by Val Bugh


Sphyrocoris obliquus (shield bug)
photo by Val Bugh


Thyanta custator (stink bug)
photo by Val Bugh


Largus sp. (largus bug)
photo by Val Bugh


Aphis nerii (oleander aphid & exuviae)
photo by Val Bugh


Unknown sp. (dark-winged fungus gnat)
photo by Val Bugh


Unknown sp. (root maggot fly)
photo by Dvori Bird


Barronopsis texana (funnel weaver)
photo by Barbara Ribble


Trachelas sp. (spider)
photo by Val Bugh


Rana berlandieri (Rio Grande leopard frog eggs)
photo by Dvori Bird


Mimus polyglottos (northern mockingbird)
photo by Dan Zinn

  • Birds:
    American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
    American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
    Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus)
    Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
    Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
    Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
    Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
    Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
    Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
    Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
    Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
    Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
    Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
    Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
    White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)

  • Mammals:
    Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)

  • Amphibians:
    Rio Grande Leopard Frog (Rana berlandieri) eggs

  • Misc.:
    Millipede (Aniulus sp.)
    Stone Centipede (Unknown sp.)

  • Insects & Spiders:
    orderfamilygenus/speciescommon name

    lepidoptera  erebidae  Aon noctuiformis  Moth
      arctiidae  Estigmene acrea  Saltmarsh Moth (larva & adult)
        Grammia arge  Moth
      geometridae  Paleacrita vernata  Spring Cankerworm Moth
        Iridopsis defectaria  Brown-shaded Gray Moth
      crambidae  Pyrausta laticlavia  Southern Purple Mint Moth
      tortricidae  Platynota rostrana  Omnivorous Platynota Moth
      pterophoridae  Adaina ambrosiae  Ambrosia Plume Moth
      copromorphidae  Ellabella melanoclista  Tropical Fruitworm Moth

    coleoptera  coccinellidae  Harmonia axyridis  Multi-colored Asian Lady Beetle
        Coccinella septempunctata  Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
      chrysomelidae  Diabrotica undecimpunctata  Spotted Cucumber Beetle
        Blepharida rhois  Sumac Leaf Beetle

    hemiptera  largidae  Largus sp.  Largus Bug
      scutelleridae  Sphyrocoris obliquus  Shield Bug
      pentatomidae  Thyanta custator  Stink Bug

    homoptera  aphididae  Aphis nerii  Oleander Aphid
      cercopidae  Unknown sp.  Spittlebug (nymph)

    hymenoptera  formicidae  Solenopsis invicta  Imported Fire Ant

    diptera  anthomyiidae  Unknown sp.  Root Maggot Fly
      sciaridae  Unknown sp.  Dark-winged Fungus Gnat

    orthoptera  acrididae  Melanoplus gladstoni  Gladston's Spurthroat Grasshopper
      tetrigidae  Paratettix mexicanus  Pygmy Grasshopper (nymph)
      gryllidae  Gryllus sp.  Field Cricket

    neuroptera  chrysopidae  Chrysoperla sp.  Green Lacewing

    araneae  araneidae  Argiope aurantia  Black and Yellow Garden Spider (eggs)
      lycosidae  Schizocosa sp.  Wolf Spider
      corinnidae  Trachelas sp.  Spider
      agelenidae  Barronopsis texana  Funnel Weaver

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