Light

Light

We know the amount light something received affects many things. Plants are one example that changes where it lives and how much it will grow within its light environments. However, I just learned that it can have an influence on some insect critters’ color. Totally amazing! Indeed there is so much to learn. And thanks…

Another

Another

Last year we had a cardinal that kept banging against our windows. It lasted into the winter even! However when spring rolled around he quit or died or something. I can only speculate what happened to him with what seemed to be a bird with only one brain cell. 🤷🏻‍♀️ As you can plainly see…

Seems cool?

Seems cool?

Well, it will seem cool in hind sight when the temperature reaches the forecasted high of 101 on Wednesday eh? Just saying. Although as we were out working in the field after lunch today it quickly seemed hot. 😉 Now that I have seen the leafhopper characteristics, I should check out the planthoppers sometime. Maybe…

Seven

Seven

Seven nature nerds came for the First Wednesday outing at the LBJ NG. And this unit had a prescribed burn this year. In fact, it may have been the first burn ever done on this particular unit. And it certainly was looking mighty good! And thanks to the six other nature nerds for joining with…

Looking for a mate

Looking for a mate

What do you think? Is it starting to feel like summer? In fact, when I was out a couple of days ago, the insects buzz seemed to be getting louder. A sure sign of summer for me. It stayed there all day. Perhaps it was waiting for dark? The adults do not feed, but the…

Tied down

Tied down

Where is that rain? This was a really weird critter that caught my eye in our garden pond. Oh my what was it? I had no clue other than it was a larva of some sort. Thanks to my entomologist it was narrowed down to a Horse Fly (Tabaninae) larva. Further investigation led me to…

Wanted: Dead or not alive

Wanted: Dead or not alive

There are several non-native thistles that have been spreading in Texas for a number of years. Most thistles you will see on the grasslands are native. They are great plants that are used by many pollinators. I have previous shown you the Painted Lady butterflies that uses our native thistles for a host plant. Good…

Mammals glow

Mammals glow

Warning: There is a photo of a dead mammal to follow. I had read that our opossums fluorescence with UV light. In fact, I have been waiting for just such an opportunity to shine my UV torch on one, alive or dead. So alive was preferable, but I don’t often see live ones at night,…