Welcome to my nature blog! I love sharing my photos of North Texas! I will keep looking out and hope you do too.
Comments welcome. Thank you, Mary
Yesterday, after we climbed out of the creek bed, we walked along the top of the mesa in the prairie. So the following are a few things that capture my eye on the top of the mesa. Gayfeather (Liatris mucronata) with a Meshweb weaver (Dictynidae) web under the blooms. Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) on Gayfeather. We…
Today, we went back to find the head waters of this unnamed creek we had been exploring for the last few weeks. You know, the same one in “up a creek” post, but ran out of time to continue that day. Success today! Barely got going and came across several of these beautiful Lecanora species…
I was surprised to see this Wilson’s wood-nymph moth (Xerociris wilsonii) caterpillar was still out. The two that I collected on Sept. 28, 2020 have already pupated and were from the same area. I had fed the ones I caught for only two days before they had pupated. A mess of Meshweb Weavers (Dictynidae) spider webs. Sky…
The suds were interesting. And yes, I did some work today. LOL Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus) managed to get wet so it was cooperative for a closeup. side view Beet Webworm moth (Spoladea recurvalis) dining on Frostweed (Verbesina virginica). There are tons of Millipede (Diplopoda) species world wide. This one may be in…
Yesterday, I said that I might be able to find an answer on the little white bug on the Maximillian Sunflower. I think I got it. Here it is again so you don’t have to go back to previous post. It is an Ensign Scale (Ortheziidae). Family was as close as I could get. There…
Every year the Native Plant Society of Texas recognizes organizations and individuals. The Shirley Lusk Memorial, honors a citizen scientist for collecting and preserving Texas native plants for public education by providing outstanding contribution of herbarium voucher specimens. Jeff Quayle is recognized this year for his collection of over 1000 herbarium specimens stored at the…
Today I found this Praying Mantis. I have learned new words and parts of the Praying Mantis that I have never really looked at before. So I’m sharing some of this new knowledge that I have gleaned from the world wide web and my books. Greek for mantis means ‘soothsayer, prophet’. There are 12 species…
Shield-backed katydid (Tettigoniinae family) hanging out on the gayfeather (Liatris mucronata). Green June Beetle (Cotinis nitida) found on the trail dead. I placed it on the Russula species mushroom for a better photo. Underside is even more pretty. Buffalo Gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) blooms again. This afternoon after it warmed up, the Spotted Cucumber beetles…
Normally in 2020, this would be a bad place to be “up a creek”, BUT today…well, we went up a creek and it was wonderful on the LBJ National Grasslands. Also of note, I saw 100+ White Pelicans, 100+ Monarchs (most at the grasslands), and one Yellow-shafted Flicker today. House Wrens started showing a week…
The morning started off with some cool clouds. Just love the patterns. Ailanthus Webworm Moth (Atteva aurea) Five-banded Thynnid Wasp (Myzinum quinquecinctum) This is a Wilson’s wood-nymph moth (Xerociris wilsonii) caterpillar. It is the 30th record in the US and a new record for Wise County. Last year, Jeanne found one on her place in Montague…