Photos / Sounds
What
Smaller Sand Cricket (Ellipes minuta)Observer
todd_jacksonDescription
Pygmy mole cricket colonies were observed throughout an ephemeral prairie stream at this location throughout the summer. After rain occurred the burrows, referred to by some as "galleries," could be seen a few inches from the completely saturated mud along the edge of the receding water. Photos above include these galleries and the adjacent habitat. Several hundred individuals could be seen jumping out of their burrows when I stepped onto the damp soil along the stream, but only a few could be photographed. Dragging a butterfly net over the galleries seemed to be the best way to get some in front of the camera.
Photos / Sounds
What
Smaller Sand Cricket (Ellipes minuta)Observer
todd_jacksonDescription
Pygmy mole cricket colonies were observed throughout an ephemeral prairie stream at this location throughout the summer. After rain occurred the burrows, referred to by some as "galleries," could be seen a few inches from the completely saturated mud along the edge of the receding water. Photos above include these galleries and the adjacent habitat. Several hundred individuals could be seen jumping out of their burrows when I stepped onto the damp soil along the stream, but only a few that hopped onto the water surface could actually be photographed.
Photos / Sounds
What
Dark Cahill (Stenonema femoratum)Observer
todd_jacksonDescription
Thank you Roger Rohrbeck for identifying this subimago on BugGuide! I saw dozens of individuals emerging as the sun was setting, with Cullen Hanks, Cody Dodson and Lauren Suzanne.
Photos / Sounds
What
Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta ssp. elegans)Observer
todd_jacksonDescription
One individual, possible recently hatched, making its way from an upland mowed park onto a trail about 60 feet from the stream channel.
Photos / Sounds
What
Mexican Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis)Observer
todd_jacksonDescription
This poor little guy was dead when we found him under the bridge. Observed while collecting stream macroinvertebrates with Elizabeth Welch from Austin Youth River Watch. Since there's a pretty good general consensus that bats on the ground are not good to pick up we left him in place, and my photos might not be ideal, but later while getting ready to post them here I noticed a whitish patch on his nose. It doesn't look like the images of white-nose syndrome that I have seen online, but I'm not really sure what I should be looking for. If you know what to look for then check out the close up of the head. Also, some guy got in the paper a day or two ago because he was exposed to a bat that apparently tested positive for rabies. Don't know where that was, but it was in Austin.
Photos / Sounds
What
Sponges (Phylum Porifera)Observer
todd_jacksonDescription
We often encounter freshwater sponges in Barton Creek and in other creeks in the Austin area. They are frequently overlooked, but actually appear to be quite common. I'm going to find out if I can culture some for identification later.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)Observer
todd_jacksonDescription
One individual, observed moving downstream. I've seen a similar (perhaps the same) individual in the creek during this same time of year for the past two years.
What
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)Observer
todd_jacksonDescription
Strymon melinus sharing a Rosemary flower with Apis mellifera
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Checkered-Skipper and Allies (Complex Burnsius communis)Observer
todd_jacksonDescription
This is either Pyrgus communis or Pyrbus albescens, but the two species cannot be reliably separated in the field. Dissection of male genitalia in the lab is required for a positive ID. That being said, this is probably P. albescens, which appears to be replacing P. communis in the southern states.
Photos / Sounds
What
Parkinsonia Horse-fly Carpenter (Xylocopa tabaniformis ssp. parkinsoniae)Observer
todd_jacksonPhotos / Sounds
What
Prairie Phlox (Phlox pilosa)Observer
todd_jacksonDescription
This appears to be either Phlox pilosa or Phlox cuspidata. Can anybody separate the two from these photos?