Pocket Prairie: Two Months of Insect Diversity

I thought it to be about time for me to make note of the insect diversity that has resulted from the pocket prairie installation 5/2020. So in the past two months -- that is, early May through early July -- here are the various insects seen on, in, and around the pocket prairie garden. Keep in mind that we also have a creek habitat out back, so many of those creature (dragonflies, robber flies) also come visit the prairie to eat. The most recent photo of P. henei (robber fly) is shown with a bee meal in his grasp.

Circle of life peeps. And with a prairie ecosystems, all the players are HERE. Plant it and they will come!

Posted on July 8, 2020 06:23 PM by dirtnkids dirtnkids

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Magnolia Green Jumping Spider (Lyssomanes viridis)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

American Bumble Bee (Bombus pensylvanicus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Two-spotted Longhorn Bee (Melissodes bimaculatus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Yellow-collared Scape Moth (Cisseps fulvicollis)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Ant-mimic Sac Spiders (Genus Castianeira)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

North American Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Clubbed Mydas Fly (Mydas clavatus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Margined Shining Leaf Chafer (Callistethus marginatus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Two-spotted Longhorn Bee (Melissodes bimaculatus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Plains Bee Assassin (Apiomerus spissipes)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Loopers (Family Geometridae)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Glassy-winged Sharpshooter (Homalodisca vitripennis)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

North American Luna Moth (Actias luna)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

Looks pretty tattered. Wing appears deformed.

Photos / Sounds

What

Southern Two-striped Walkingstick (Anisomorpha buprestoides)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Oblique Longhorn (Svastra obliqua)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Two-spotted Longhorn Bee (Melissodes bimaculatus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Abbot's Bagworm Moth (Oiketicus abbotii)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Obscure Bird Grasshopper (Schistocerca obscura)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Scaly Bee Fly (Lepidophora lepidocera)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Lunate Longhorn-cuckoo Bee (Triepeolus lunatus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Two-spotted Longhorn Bee (Melissodes bimaculatus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Hidalgo Mason Wasp (Euodynerus hidalgo)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

May 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Cicada-killer Wasp (Sphecius speciosus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Gulf Fritillary (Dione vanillae)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

I believe it to be Melissodes bimaculatus who frequents the prairie. A cuckoo be was lingering nearby ...

Photos / Sounds

What

Two-spotted Longhorn Bee (Melissodes bimaculatus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Two-spotted Longhorn Bee (Melissodes bimaculatus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Two-spotted Longhorn Bee (Melissodes bimaculatus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

Kind of a captive subject.

Photos / Sounds

What

Harlequin Flower Beetle (Gymnetis thula)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Oblique Longhorn (Svastra obliqua)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Oblique Longhorn (Svastra obliqua)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Concave Longhorn-Cuckoo (Triepeolus concavus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Oblique Longhorn (Svastra obliqua)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Entelegyne Spiders (Infraorder Entelegynae)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Mabel Orchard Orbweaver (Leucauge argyrobapta)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Cicada-killer Wasp (Sphecius speciosus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

Doing what she does with a Resh cicada!

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

Nymph? It moved sideways and looks like an immature individual.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Two-spotted Scoliid Wasp (Scolia dubia ssp. dubia)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Broad-striped Forceptail (Aphylla angustifolia)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Lunate Zale Moth (Zale lunata)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

American Bumble Bee (Bombus pensylvanicus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Tooth-necked and Aberrant Longhorn Beetles (Subfamily Prioninae)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

Laying eggs on senna.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Needham's Skimmer (Libellula needhami)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

American Bumble Bee (Bombus pensylvanicus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Concave Longhorn-Cuckoo (Triepeolus concavus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Oblique Longhorn (Svastra obliqua)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee (Megachile xylocopoides)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Lunate Longhorn-cuckoo Bee (Triepeolus lunatus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Brazilian Skipper (Calpodes ethlius)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Gold-marked Thread-waisted Wasp (Eremnophila aureonotata)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Broad-striped Forceptail (Aphylla angustifolia)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Southern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa micans)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Eastern Velvet Ant (Dasymutilla occidentalis)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

June 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Pleasing Picture-winged Antlion (Glenurus gratus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

So delighted to be retrieved for this guy! Seemed too delicate to handle, so we scrubbed screenshots from video. BEAUTIFUL creature.

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Green June Beetle (Cotinis nitida)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Swamp Darner (Epiaeschna heros)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

Second photo taken 24 hrs later.

Photos / Sounds

What

Two-spotted Longhorn Bee (Melissodes bimaculatus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp (Sceliphron caementarium)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Concave Longhorn-Cuckoo (Triepeolus concavus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

Melissodes? Epeolus? Nothing I’ve yet seen. I went to get the camera for this one. iNat’s ID algorithm didn’t help me much. Help!

Photos / Sounds

What

Lunate Longhorn-cuckoo Bee (Triepeolus lunatus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Aloeus Ox Beetle (Strategus aloeus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

New World Banded Thynnid Wasps (Genus Myzinum)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Broad-striped Forceptail (Aphylla angustifolia)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Bees and Apoid Wasps (Superfamily Apoidea)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Angle (Macaria aemulataria)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Five-banded Thynnid Wasp (Myzinum quinquecinctum)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Red-marked Pachodynerus Wasp (Pachodynerus erynnis)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Southern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa micans)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Guinea Paper Wasp (Polistes exclamans)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Nearctic Blue Mud-dauber Wasp (Chalybion californicum)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Golden-reined Digger Wasp (Sphex habenus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

Screenshots scrubbed from video. Very large wasp, tarantula wasp size.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Metric Paper Wasp (Polistes metricus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Peppered Jumping Spider (Pelegrina galathea)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Coarse-backed Red Paper Wasp (Polistes rubiginosus)

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

dirtnkids

Date

July 2020

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

Auto ID’d. H. ligatus was also present.

Comments

Here they are, slightly more organized and by common names.

Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) - 19

Carolina Satyr
Cloudless Sulphur
Black Swallowtail
Painted Lady
Horace’s Duskywing
Gulf Fritillary
Eastern Giant Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Monarch
Queen
Phaon Crescent
Colorful Zale Moth
Brazilian Skipper
Clouded Skipper
Yellow-collared Scape Moth
Luna Moth
Macaria (genus)
Geometer Moth (family)
Bagworm (family)

Wasps - 15

Five-banded Thynnid
Red-marked Pachodynerus
Guinnea Paper
Common Blue Mud-dauber
Golden-reined Digger
Metric Paper
Course-backed Red Paper
Common Eastern Velvet Ant
Yellow-legged Mud-dauber
Pseudodynerus quadrisectus
Eastern Cicada-killer
Holopyga (genus)
Pseudodynerus
Blue-winged Scoliid
Eremnophila aureonotata

Dragonflies and Allies - 11

Common Whitetail
Picture-winged Antlion
Swamp Darner
Broad-striped Forceptail
Needham’s Skimmer
Roseate Skimmer
Slaty Skimmer
Fragile Forktail
Eastern Pondhawk
Blue Dasher
Citrine Forktail

Bees - 16

Southern Carpenter
Eastern Carpenter
Parkinson’s Carpenter
Ligated Furrow
Poey’s Furrow
Lunate Longhorn Cuckoo
Two-spotted Long-horned
Oblique Sunflower
Oblique Sunflower subspecies
American Bumblebee
Pugnacious Leafcutter
Parallel Leafcutter
Thumbed Leafcutter
Poecilanthrax lucifer
Horsefly-like Carpenter
Flat-tailed Leafcutter

Spiders - 4

White-cheeked Jumping
Mabel Orchard Orbweaver
Magnolia Green Jumping
Ant-mimic Sac (genus)

Beetles, True Bugs, and Grasshoppers - 15

Common Green June
Aloeus Ox Beetle
Harlequin Flower
Wheel Bug
Margined Shining Leaf Chafer
Staphylinina (subtribe)
Southern Two-striped Walkingstick
Glassy-winged Sharpshooter
Apiomerus spissipies
Short-horned grasshopper (family)
Harpalus (genus)
Apidinae (family)
Prionid (subfamily)
Rugosana (genus)
Orthostethus infuscatus

Flies - 5

Promachus hinei
Diogmites neoternatus
Limoneth maurator
Clubbed Mydas
Charcoal Bee (genus)

Posted by dirtnkids almost 4 years ago

Absolutely awe-inspiring, Shannon. More butterflies & moths (for those of us who are not fully committed to the insect world) but nearly as many native bees.

Posted by margohj almost 4 years ago

Awesome!

Posted by pauline34 almost 4 years ago

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