Found the head waters!

Found the head waters!

 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…

Caterpillar

Caterpillar

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…

Suds

Suds

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…

Congratulations to Jeff Quayle!

Congratulations to Jeff Quayle!

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…

Soothsayer or prophet

Soothsayer or prophet

  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…

Warm afternoon…91 degrees

Warm afternoon…91 degrees

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…

Up a creek!

Up a creek!

 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…

Clouds and Xerociris wilsonii

Clouds and Xerociris wilsonii

 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…

Thread-legged bugs

Thread-legged bugs

 Yesterday, Jeanne brought me a walkingstick bug to take photos of it. I was missing a closeup in my photo collection. First thing I noticed when I got home and looked in the container was that the bug had bent itself midway in the body at a 45 degree angle. I wondered, could a walkingstick…