Photos / Sounds

Observer

gcwarbler

Date

March 1, 2017 10:01 PM CST

Description

This was one of the nice discoveries on the first day of March; first for the yard. I keep photographing Eupithecia's in hopes of uncovering something different and it finally worked. This is Bolter's Pug Moth which ranges from AZ east to Central Texas. MPG at present does not show any Texas records:
http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=7500
The species is sparsely recorded in Texas but has been documented as far east as Waco (McClennan Co.). This appears to be a 2nd Travis County record, just a few days after the first one was uploaded to BG: http://bugguide.net/node/view/1343373

The first image is a marked-up version to illustrate key points for identifying this species (based on McDunnough's 1949 monograph and a more recent article by Blanchard & Knudson (1985)*).

  1. FWs narrower and more pointed than most other common Eupithecia's.
  2. Oblique dark marks from costa meeting at the discal spot, forming a conspicuous "triangle" on the costal margin.
  3. Discal spot a prominent vertical bar.
  4. Thin black line extending from lower end of discal spot towards base of FW.
  5. Pale unmarked buff/gray areas flanking the discal spot; also the inner 2/3 of HW similarly unmarked (more so than most other Eupithecia).
    The black inverted "Y" or 3-bladed "propeller" on the thorax seems to be diagnostic for this species, at least among CenTex Eupithecia's.

These ID notes have been added to the BG species page here:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/1043092

  • Blanchard, A., and E. C. Knudson. "The Eupithecia (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) of Texas, with the description of a new species." Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington (USA) (1985).

Photos / Sounds

What

Sumpweed (Iva annua)

Observer

cmeckerman

Date

October 4, 2020 10:43 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Fungus Moths, Clothes Moths, & Allies (Family Tineidae)

Observer

cmeckerman

Date

April 14, 2017 09:53 PM CDT

Description

This was attracted to a UV light at night.

Photos / Sounds

What

Fungus Moths, Clothes Moths, & Allies (Family Tineidae)

Observer

cmeckerman

Date

October 4, 2020 09:09 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Fungus Moths, Clothes Moths, & Allies (Family Tineidae)

Observer

cmeckerman

Date

April 30, 2022 10:05 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-spotted Lady Beetles (Tribe Coccinellini)

Observer

cmeckerman

Date

April 16, 2017 10:53 PM CDT

Description

This was attracted to a UV light at night.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cmeckerman

Date

October 4, 2020 10:26 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Lantana (Lantana × strigocamara)

Observer

ronstephens

Date

November 1, 2021 11:18 AM CDT

Description

Leon Creek North Hausman Rd Area

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cmeckerman

Date

October 12, 2021 10:00 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cmeckerman

Date

September 14, 2021 09:15 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Pine Tip Moths (Genus Rhyacionia)

Observer

cmeckerman

Date

April 20, 2017 11:06 PM CDT

Description

This was attracted to a UV light at night.

Photos / Sounds

What

Wax Myrtle Wave (Cyclophora myrtaria)

Observer

cmeckerman

Date

April 18, 2017 09:58 PM CDT

Description

This was attracted to a UV light at night.

Photos / Sounds

What

Georgia Dichomeris Moth (Dichomeris georgiella)

Observer

victorengel

Date

June 12, 2021 09:38 PM CDT

Tags

Photos / Sounds

Observer

ptexis

Date

May 5, 2021 07:17 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

gcwarbler

Date

May 25, 2021 01:11 PM CDT

Description

This was a strangely fortunate accident. This small adult male bagworm moth emerged from one of the cases that I had collected a few weeks ago:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/78107299
I don't know which one; I had thrown them all into a single baggy and had assumed that they were all from a previous year and thus unoccupied. This moth probably emerged on/about May 19.
The grid behind the moth is made up of 5 mm squares, so the FW length of this moth is pretty close to 7.5 mm. This moth must have struggled mightly to get out of the baggy because it is lacking 90% of its scales on the wings and body. However, it offers one fortuitous advantage: The wing venation is fairly clearly visible on the FWs in several of my images, including the first two pics here. This allowed me to compare this moth with illustrations in Davis's exhaustive monograph on the family published as a Bulletin of the U.S. National Museum in 1964. The venation of this moth is a good match to the genus Astala as illustrated by Davis (p. 196, Fig. 160) and different from that of Cryptothelea (Fig. 156). I had previously thought all of my small blackish bagworms were Cryptothelea gloverii. With the present example, along with the array of cases shown in the recent observation (which resemble those of Astala in Davis's monograph), and measurements I have made of several of these adults, I can now confidently assign ALL of these to the genus Astala. Two species are widespread in Texas: Astala confederata and A. edwardsi. The first of these is slightly smaller and perhaps more widespread and is a likely candidate for the present moth but details separating the two species require microscopic examination of scales on the wings.
I'm happy to have a proper generic placement for all these small bagworm moths from Salton Drive. To reiterate: The small bags which I documented in the above observation are the ONLY type of bagworm cases that I've seen on the property, and the small blackish adults are the ONLY adults of this general type that I have ever documented at the location. I feel comfortable correlated the two, especially after the emergence of this adult.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

gcwarbler

Date

April 15, 2017 05:45 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

White Prickly Poppy (Argemone albiflora)

Observer

cmeckerman

Date

April 30, 2021 10:00 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Twirler Moths (Family Gelechiidae)

Observer

pfau_tarleton

Date

May 9, 2021 09:04 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Woodhouse's Toad (Anaxyrus woodhousii)

Observer

juliatheexplora

Date

August 24, 2020 08:16 PM CDT

Place

Austin (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Filbertworm Moth (Cydia latiferreana)

Observer

cbark

Date

October 1, 2020 08:30 PM CDT

Description

Attracted via blacklight

Photos / Sounds

What

Dark-banded Tallula (Tallula atrifascialis)

Observer

cbark

Date

October 1, 2020 08:31 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Belted Grass-Veneer (Euchromius ocellea)

Observer

cbark

Date

October 1, 2020 08:32 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cmeckerman

Date

October 22, 2020 11:14 PM CDT

Description

A micro moth that I haven't seen before. It seems distinct enough that I might have a shot at identifying it.

Photos / Sounds

What

Sunflower Seed Maggot (Neotephritis finalis)

Observer

cmeckerman

Date

April 27, 2019 08:30 AM -05

Description

This was collected in a sweep net. Each tick mark is 1mm.

This specimen is preserved in isopropyl alcohol.

Photos / Sounds

What

Bog Lygropia Moth (Lygropia rivulalis)

Observer

cmeckerman

Date

April 24, 2020 11:32 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Spined Stilt Bug (Jalysus wickhami)

Observer

cmeckerman

Date

April 28, 2018 03:04 PM CDT

Description

This specimen came from a sweep net survey.

At least one of the images is on a blue grid paper (1mm spacing) or with a mm ruler.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cmeckerman

Date

October 14, 2016 02:53 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cmeckerman

Date

April 28, 2018 02:42 PM CDT

Description

This specimen came from a sweep net survey.

At least one of the images is on a blue grid paper (1mm spacing) or with a mm ruler.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

brunokostulak

Date

March 2, 2020 12:43 AM UTC

Photos / Sounds

Observer

efry

Date

February 12, 2020 04:14 PM CST

Description

I found this in my professors pond sample during lab. It was long and green with a circular ball in the middle.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cmeckerman

Date

February 28, 2019 10:40 AM CST

Description

Approximately 1600x magnification.

Photos / Sounds

What

Grasses (Family Poaceae)

Observer

cottez

Date

February 9, 2020

Description

Organism was found at Gilleland Creek Trail on February 9 2020
Weather was overcast and had just rained
This plant was located on a patch of dirt not occupied by grass

Photos / Sounds

Observer

lalygutierrez

Date

February 7, 2020

Description

Didn't really move until I got about 7in away, was hesitant to move and seemed as though it used its legs to guide itself

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cmharper

Date

October 12, 2019 12:08 PM HST
Other Animals

Photos / Sounds

What

Kararehe (Animals) (Kingdom Animalia)

Observer

theresa_goodwin

Date

September 18, 2019 06:00 PM CDT

Description

I found about 5 of these in the sample I took from my families tank. It was swimming around at a medium pace.

Photos / Sounds

What

Lantanas (Genus Lantana)

Observer

eanyiam

Date

September 6, 2018 07:26 PM CDT

Description

The soil was rich around the area surrounf this plant. The leaves were spread open and the color seemed to attract insects.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cmeckerman

Date

April 27, 2019 08:30 AM -05

Description

This was collected in a sweep net. Each tick mark is 1mm.

This specimen is preserved in isopropyl alcohol.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mikef451

Date

April 29, 2019 01:02 PM CDT

Description

Diptera
Rimrock Trail
Balcones Canyonlands NWR
Burnet, Co
4/29/19

Photos / Sounds

Observer

pycnoporus

Date

August 18, 2018 01:58 PM EDT

Description

Growing from soil under mulch. Disturbed area under poplar tree in front yard of country home. Recent heavy rains and humid conditions.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

nanofishology

Date

April 6, 2018 09:46 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus)

Observer

m_hoekwater

Date

October 25, 2017 04:50 PM CDT

Description

These came by my office window. I thought they were called Mexican eagles but I might be wrong.

Photos / Sounds

What

White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)

Observer

a_hernandez

Date

October 9, 2014 03:45 PM CDT

Description

A beautiful bird in its natural environment on a tree at Frontera Audubon in South Texas on Thursday, October 9, 2014 at 3:45 pm. The small bird has a brownish body with very distinctive bright yellow markings on its face and body. What is the purpose of its coloring?

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)

Observer

m_guyette

Date

April 24, 2018 03:54 PM CDT

Description

Bird ran into the screen door and was stunned, allowing for really close photos(:

Photos / Sounds

What

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Observer

g_parker

Date

May 6, 2018 10:04 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Southern Stargazer (Astroscopus y-graecum)

Observer

l_eliaz

Date

April 29, 2018 05:28 PM CDT

Description

Striped tail, caught off the shore on Galveston. My father has grown up fishing in Galveston and has never seen this kind of fish before. Please help with an ID.

Photos / Sounds

What

Coyote (Canis latrans)

Observer

p_connell

Date

October 13, 2017 03:52 PM CDT

Description

Was found right next to a road. We were driving through a forest.

Photos / Sounds

What

Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)

Observer

r_prettyman

Date

April 28, 2018 02:56 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Western Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne olivacea)

Observer

k_pedersen

Date

January 25, 2018 03:45 PM CST

Photos / Sounds

What

Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea)

Observer

soilmagic

Date

August 18, 2017 01:10 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Northern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)

Observer

e_chapman

Date

September 17, 2017 07:54 AM CDT

Description

This snake was resting on the edge of a river.

Photos / Sounds

What

Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera)

Observer

e_kim

Date

April 27, 2016 11:30 AM CDT

Description

I found this at the UT turtle pond. There was lots of sunlight.

Photos / Sounds

What

Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)

Observer

soilmagic

Date

March 20, 2018 02:44 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Texas Coralsnake (Micrurus tener)

Observer

soilmagic

Date

March 13, 2018 11:23 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

Observer

soilmagic

Date

April 18, 2018 03:57 PM CDT

Description

Last photo shows the rattle. Counted 8.

Photos / Sounds

What

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

Observer

g_parker

Date

May 6, 2018 10:04 PM CDT