Our visit was over. So it was time to head back east. Another overnight stay at Monahans Sandhills State Park.
Last sunrise, at my brother’s before hitting the road!
Rest areas are a great place to stretch your legs. Most of the time, I end up back at the fence to look things over.
At the fence line at the rest area, on the private property was a new plant for me. It is the Brownfoot (Acourtia wrightii). Besides the insects sure liked it too. The Gray Hairstreak was a visitor! Often as is the case, I find the best plants and animals where the habitat is left natural. The mowed parts of the rest areas are often barren except for non-natives 🙁 Besides the insects sure liked natural areas better too.
Thread-waisted Wasp (Ammophila procera group)!
Nearby was the Western Spotted Orbweaver (Neoscoma oaxacensis)! Also at the fence line were several species of lizards. I could not get close enough for photos however.
Our stop for the night was Monahans Sandhills State Park again. I just love the place. And I always can find something different! The Dainty Sulphur on Plains Sunflower (Helianthus petiolaris) allowed me to get close.
Bordered Patch on Plains Sunflower (Helianthus petiolaris)!
A bee on the Plains Sunflower!
There is no common name for the Paranapiacaba tricincta. However it belongs family of the Skeletonizing Leaf Beetles and Flea beetles (Galerucinae).
This moth may belong to either Pyralidae or Crambidae families.
As the evening worn on, more moths were showing up at the Plains Sunflower. Yes, additionally beetles were lurking on the flower too.
Another moth!
Here was an exciting find! The Yellow Sunflower Moth (Stiria rugifrons) caterpillar!
It really blends in with Plains Sunflower disk flowers (that is the center part of the flower). I found a dozen of them clustered on a single plant.
A bee and Ambush bug (Phymata) paid a visit too!
Here the Green Sweat Bee (Agapostemon texanus) weighted down with pollen!
Then it got dark! And out comes the UV light for the walk. Several of the scorpions were coming out of the sand.
The photo does not do the fluorescing of this Sand-treater Cricket (Daihinibaenetes) justice. It was not as bright as the scorpions but definitely caught my eye.
A flashlight view.
Finally, the Ten-lined June beetle (Polyphylla decemlineata) was lurking in the restroom lights.
It really has a hairy underside!
To conclude today’s post, the Ten-lined June beetle movie!
Wow, the antennae on that June beetle are amazing! Looks like it’s ready to set sail at any moment. Do y’all tent camp or do you have some kind of trailer?
Very fun!! Btw I think the insect with the ambush bug is actually a bee fly, based on wing venation.
Thanks I was thinking that but too lazy to check. 🤷🏻♀️
Wow, the antennae on that June beetle are amazing! Looks like it’s ready to set sail at any moment. Do y’all tent camp or do you have some kind of trailer?
We have a trailer. And love it. No sleeping on the ground.
The june beetle sure is a cute one.