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  ABC > Home > THE FAUNA PROJECT > Survey March 24, 2022


The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Fauna Project

This week's survey was completed by twenty-three volunteers under cold, sunny conditions. The two tiny bees shown below are both in the family Halictidae and feed on nectar. However, while the Sweat Bee collects pollen for its young, the Blood Bee does not. It is a kleptoparasite, laying its eggs in the provisioned nest of the Sweat Bee.

Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings:


Lucilia sp. (blow fly)
photo by Dwayne Mann


Stictomyia longicornis (picture-winged fly)
photo by Val Bugh


Paralimna sp. (shore fly)
photo by Tasneem Ahsanullah


Gymnoclytia sp. (tachinid fly)
photo by Julie Shaw


Lasioglossum sp. & Sphecodes sp. (sweat bee & blood bee)
photo by Julie Shaw


Reticulitermes sp. (subterranean termite worker)
photo by Tasneem Ahsanullah


creatures found under rocks:
top:Tenuirostritermes sp., Cyphoderus similis, Unknown sp.
(nasutiform termite soldier, slender springtail, velvet mite)
bottom: Unknown sp. (earthworm)
photo by Val Bugh


Unknown sp. (click beetle larva)
photo by Sofia Maass


Euagrus chisoseus (funnelweb spider)
photo by Tasneem Ahsanullah


Thanatus formicinus (running crab spider)
photo by Sofia Maass


Habronattus cognatus (jumping spider)
photo by Tasneem Ahsanullah


Pyrocephalus rubinus (vermilion flycatcher, female)
photo by Dan Hardy


Polioptila caerulea (blue-gray gnatcatcher)
photo by Beth Kirkhart


Aphelocoma woodhouseii (Woodhouse's scrub-jay)
photo by Beth Kirkhart


Pooecetes gramineus (vesper sparrow)
photo by Annelia Williams


Spinus psaltria (lesser goldfinch)
photo by Bill Boyd


Callophrys henrici & Callophrys gryneus
(Henry's elfin & juniper hairstreak)
photo by Dwayne Mann & Joe Fernandes


Danaus plexippus (monarch)
photo by Beth Kirkhart


Hyalophora cecropia (Cecropia moths mating)
photo by Harriett Wolf


Sympetrum corruptum (variegated meadowhawk)
photo by Beth Kirkhart

  • Birds:
    American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
    American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
    Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
    Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)
    Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
    Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)
    Black-bellied Whistling-duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
    Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus)
    Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
    Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
    Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
    Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
    Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
    Common Raven (Corvus corax)
    Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)
    Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
    Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)
    Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)
    Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons)
    Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
    Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
    House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
    House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
    Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris)
    Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
    Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)
    Meadowlark (Sturnella sp.)
    Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
    Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
    Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
    Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
    Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
    Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
    Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
    Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)
    Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
    Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps)
    Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
    Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)
    White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
    White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)
    White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
    White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
    Woodhouse's Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma woodhouseii)
    Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata)

  • Mammals:
    White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
    Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)
    Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)

  • Reptiles, Amphibians & Fish:
    Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus)
    Ground Skink (Scincella lateralis)
    Western Slimy Salamander (Plethodon albagula)
    Rio Grande Leopard Frog (Rana berlandieri), adult & tadpoles
    Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)

  • Misc.:
    Julid Millipede (Aniulus sp.)
    Stone Centipede (Unknown sp.)
    Soil Centipede (Unknown sp.)
    Striped Bark Scorpion (Centruroides vittatus)
    Velvet Mite (Unknown sp.)
    Slender Springtail (Cyphoderus similis)
    Slender Springtail (Entomobrya sp.)
    Earthworm (Unknown sp.)
    Milk Snail (Otala lactea)

  • Insects & Spiders:
    orderfamilygenus/speciescommon name

    lepidoptera  nymphalidae  Euptoieta claudia  Variegated Fritillary
        Danaus plexippus  Monarch
        Vanessa atalanta  Red Admiral
        Vanessa virginiensis  American Lady
      lycaenidae  Callophrys henrici  Henry's Elfin
        Callophrys gryneus  Juniper Hairstreak
        Strymon melinus  Gray Hairstreak
      papilionidae  Battus philenor  Pipevine Swallowtail
        Papilio polyxenes  Black Swallowtail
      pieridae  Eurema nicippe  Sleepy Orange
        Colias eurytheme  Orange Sulphur
        Zerene cesonia  Southern Dogface
      hesperiidae  Pyrgus communis/albescens  Common/White Checkered-skipper
        Erynnis horatius  Horace's Duskywing
        Chioides albofasciatus  White-striped Longtail
        Atalopedes campestris  Sachem
        Hylephila phyleus  Fiery Skipper
      noctuidae  Galgula partita  The Wedgling
        Orthimella fidelis  Faithful Quaker
      arctiidae  Spilosoma dubia  Dubious Tiger Moth
      erebidae  Aon noctuiformis  Moth
        Cissusa new sp.  Moth
      nolidae  Meganola minuscula  Confused Meganola
      thyrididae  Thyris sepulchralis  Mournful Thyris Moth
      sphingidae  Hyles lineata  White-lined Sphinx
      saturniidae  Hyalophora cecropia  Cecropia Moth
      geometridae  Digrammia pallidata  Moth
        Digrammia atrofasciata  Moth
        Phigalia strigataria  Small Phigalia
        Phigalia titea  The Halfwing
        Glena quinquelinearia  Five-lined Glena
        Cleora sublunaria  Double-lined Gray
        Isturgia dislocaria  Pale-veined Isturgia
        Eupithecia bolterii  Moth
      crambidae  Diastictis fracturalis  Fractured Western Snout Moth
      pyralidae  Ephestiodes sp.  Moth
        Homoeosoma electella  Sunflower Moth
      gelechiidae  Battaristis concinnusella  Moth
        Gnorimoschema saphirinella  Moth
      ypsolophidae  Ypsolopha ochrella  Agarita Slug (larva)
      heliozelidae  Heliozela aesella  Shield-bearing Moth

    coleoptera  chrysomelidae  Diabrotica undecimpunctata  Spotted Cucumber Beetle
        Asphaera lustrans  Flea Beetle
      coccinellidae  Harmonia axyridis  Multi-colored Asian Lady Beetle
        Hippodamia convergens  Convergent Lady Beetle
      elateridae  Unknown sp.  Click Beetle (larva)

    hemiptera  rhopalidae  Harmostes reflexulus  Scentless Plant Bug
      reduviidae  Melanolestes picipes  Black Corsair
      cydnidae  Sehirus cinctus  Burrowing Bug
      pentatomidae  Thyanta custator  Stink Bug

    homoptera  cicadellidae  Unknown sp.  Leafhopper

    hymenoptera  apidae  Apis mellifera  Honey Bee
        Xylocopa virginica  Eastern Carpenter Bee
      megachilidae  Osmia ribifloris  Mason Bee
      halictidae  Halictus sp.  Sweat Bee
        Lasioglossum sp.  Sweat Bee
        Sphecodes sp.  Blood Bee
      vespidae  Polistes rubiginosus  Red Wasp
        Euodynerus foraminatus  Mason Wasp
        Eumenes fraternus  Potter Wasp
      crabronidae  Liris sp.  Cricket Wasp
      formicidae  Crematogaster laeviuscula  Acrobat Ant
        Solenopsis invicta  Imported Fire Ant
        Pheidole sp.  Big-headed Ant
        Forelius sp.  Ant
        Camponotus decipiens  Carpenter Ant
      cynipidae  Unknown sp.  Gall Wasp
        Callirhytis quercusbatatoides  Southern Live Oak Stem Gall

    diptera  syrphidae  Copestylum avidum  Flower Fly
        Copestylum marginatum  Flower Fly
        Toxomerus marginatus  Flower Fly
        Myolepta sp.  Flower Fly
      tachinidae  Archytas marmoratus  Tachinid Fly
        Gymnoclytia sp.  Tachinid Fly
        Paradidyma sp.  Tachinid Fly
      calliphoridae  Lucilia sp.  Blow Fly
        Cynomya cadaverina  Bluebottle Fly
      sarcophagidae  Unknown sp.  Flesh Fly
      anthomyiidae  Unknown sp.  Root Maggot Fly
      ephydridae  Paralimna sp.  Shore Fly
      asilidae  Efferia sp.  Robber Fly
      tephritidae  Dioxyna picciola  Fruit Fly
        Eutreta sp.  Fruit Fly
      dolichopodidae  Medetera sp.  Long-legged Fly
      platypezidae  Unknown sp.  Flat-footed Fly
      lauxaniidae  Neodeceia sp.  Lauxaniid Fly
      ulidiidae  Stictomyia longicornis  Picture-winged Fly
      psychodidae  Unknown sp.  Moth Fly
      chironomidae  Chironomus sp.  Midge
      ceratopogonidae  Forcipomyia sp.  Biting Midge
      tipulidae  Tipula sp.  Crane Fly

    odonata  libellulidae  Sympetrum corruptum  Variegated Meadowhawk

    orthoptera  acrididae  Chortophaga viridifasciata  Northern Green-striped Grasshopper
        Lactista aztecus  Aztec Bandwing (adult & nymph)
        Arphia simplex  Plains Yellow-winged Grasshopper (adult & nymph)
        Eritettis abortivus  Texas Short-winged Slant-faced Grasshopper (adult & nymph)
        Melanoplus plebejus  Plebeian Grasshopper (nymph)
        Melanoplus sp.  Spur-throated Grasshopper (nymph)
        Paraidemona sp.  Spur-throated Grasshopper (nymph)
      tettigoniidae  Pediodectes haldemani  Haldeman's Shieldback (nymph)
        Pediodectes nigromarginatus  Black-margined Shieldback (nymph)
        Arethaeae ambulator  Walking Thread-legged Katydid (nymph)
      gryllidae  Gryllus sp.  Field Cricket (nymph)
      rhaphidophoridae  Ceuthophilus sp.  Camel Cricket (nymph)

    blattodea  ectobiidae  Parcoblatta sp.  Wood Roach

    isoptera  rhinotermitidae  Reticulitermes sp.  Subterranean Termite
      termitidae  Tenuirostritermes sp.  Nasutiform Termite

    thysanoptera  thripidae  Unknown sp.  Thrips

    archaeognatha  unknown family  Unknown sp.  Jumping Bristletail

    araneae  salticidae  Phidippus audax  Bold Jumper
        Habronattus coecatus  Jumping Spider
        Habronattus cognatus  Jumping Spider
      araneidae  Mangora placida  Orbweaver
      oxyopidae  Oxyopes salticus  Striped Lynx
      thomisidae  Mecaphesa sp.  Crab Spider
      philodromidae  Thanatus formicinus  Running Crab Spider
      lycosidae  Schizocosa sp.  Wolf Spider
        Rabidosa rabida  Rabid Wolf Spider
      hahniidae  Cicurina sp.  Spider
      amphinectidae  Metaltella simoni  Spider
      miturgidae  Cheiracanthium inclusum  Sac Spider
      dipluridae  Euagrus chisoseus  Funnelweb Spider

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