Photos / Sounds

What

Giant Prairie Robber Fly (Microstylum morosum)

Observer

rehb

Date

June 2024

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Fir Tussock Moth (Orgyia detrita)

Observer

kimberlywalks

Date

April 3, 2024 08:22 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue-eyed Ensign Wasp (Evania appendigaster)

Observer

sambiology

Date

June 20, 2022 12:08 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Magnificent Bryozoan (Pectinatella magnifica)

Observer

jblinde

Date

July 4, 2017 10:47 AM CDT

Description

Seen these before at the large wildlife blind at the same marsh, but not at the smaller blind- until now.

Photos / Sounds

What

Broad-winged Damselflies (Family Calopterygidae)

Observer

baxter-slye

Date

March 29, 2019 11:38 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

gcwarbler

Date

October 17, 2020 05:36 AM CDT

Description

One more moth from our cabin in Packwood, WA.

Photos / Sounds

What

Hammertails (Genus Efferia)

Observer

sambiology

Date

September 25, 2017

Description

Headed to the Wildlife Society meeting in Albuquerque, and Elizabeth and I made a few stops. There were some quilt stores on the way, and I explored a few places along the roads.

I'm going to be uploading these in bulk but ID'ing them further later.

Photos / Sounds

What

Beloved Emarginea Moth (Emarginea percara)

Observer

greglasley

Date

April 24, 2020 10:40 PM CDT
Fungi

Photos / Sounds

What

Fungi Including Lichens (Kingdom Fungi)

Observer

texslm

Date

March 20, 2020 12:13 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Atlantic Bluet (Enallagma doubledayi)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

April 22, 2016 01:39 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Snaketails (Genus Ophiogomphus)

Observer

robberfly

Date

June 26, 2015 02:56 PM PDT

Description

Grappletail ?

Photos / Sounds

What

Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus)

Observer

greglasley

Date

February 24, 2019 10:02 AM CST

Description

Southeast Metro Park,
Travis Co., Texas
24 February 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

Observer

ericisley

Date

January 17, 2019 09:50 AM CST

Photos / Sounds

What

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Observer

ericisley

Date

January 17, 2019 09:47 AM CST

Photos / Sounds

What

Three-lined Tiger Beetle (Cicindela trifasciata ssp. ascendens)

Observer

wildcarrot

Date

October 10, 2018 10:53 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Leconte's Haploa Moth (Haploa lecontei)

Observer

lfelliott

Date

May 30, 2017 05:32 AM CDT

Description

at blacklight

Photos / Sounds

What

Broad-banded Watersnake (Nerodia fasciata ssp. confluens)

Observer

sara39

Date

July 22, 2018 01:10 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

October 29, 2017 10:37 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

California Tiger Moth (Leptarctia californiae)

Observer

robberfly

Date

April 21, 2018 09:36 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Observer

jblinde

Date

February 24, 2018 05:46 PM CST

Photos / Sounds

What

Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus)

Observer

greglasley

Date

February 1, 2018 02:20 PM CST

Description

I have been visiting the Texas Panhandle in winter for 40 years (my first visit to this area was with @gcwarbler in 1978). I enjoy looking for northern hawks and other northern species that can show up in this area in winter. While Rough-legged Hawks are regular, I have never seen as many in one day as I saw today. I saw at least 18 different Rough-legged Hawks in the northern Panhandle today, way more than I saw of Red-taileds or Ferruginous Hawks). I think I am posting perhaps 6 of them, but this is just a fraction of what I saw. Amazing!

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Eupithecia Moth (Eupithecia miserulata)

Observer

gcwarbler

Date

January 31, 2018 08:52 PM CST

Description

The last couple of uploads for January at home.

Photos / Sounds

What

Northern Cinnabar Polypore (Trametes cinnabarina)

Observer

nickborja

Date

October 7, 2017 10:11 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Smallflower Desert-Chicory (Pyrrhopappus pauciflorus)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

April 14, 2017 08:13 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Snowy Urola Moth (Urola nivalis)

Observer

brennan3909

Date

April 16, 2017 09:46 AM HST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

colormeamber

Date

April 1, 2017 08:52 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue-eyed Grasses (Genus Sisyrinchium)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

April 1, 2017 03:37 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Lotus Hairstreak (Callophrys dumetorum)

Observer

robberfly

Date

March 26, 2017 11:21 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Chalky Percher (Diplacodes trivialis)

Observer

briangooding

Date

June 7, 2012 07:51 AM +07

Description

Female Diplacodes trivialis (two different individuals)

I got up early and wandered around looking for...dragonflies. And other stuff.

Very peaceful walk that seemed to last an eternity but end too quickly. This area was virtually a paradise on earth, if you can tolerate the heat/humidity.

There were rotting mangoes all over the ground because it wasn't economically feasible to pay people to pick and haul them off because they were so plentiful and cheap.

Lots of dragonflies too...this is where I first saw Rhyothemis triangularis and Pseudagrion rubriceps.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mako252

Date

March 1, 2017 10:55 AM CST

Photos / Sounds

What

Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus ruber)

Observer

greglasley

Date

December 12, 1987 09:10 PM CST

Description

I am posting scans of some old, marginal 35 mm slides. gcwarbler had retained many boxes of some of my culled slides from 20-30 years ago. I have enough to keep me busy for a while with scanning, etc. (thanks Chuck….I think!). These will all be of records I had not posted to iNat previously. Sorry for the marginal/poor quality of most of these but they are all I have.

Photos / Sounds

What

Morning-Glories (Genus Ipomoea)

Observer

wildcarrot

Date

November 26, 2016 12:33 PM CST

Photos / Sounds

What

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

January 2017

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

Juvenile. Pat Mayse Lake.

Photos / Sounds

What

Willet (Tringa semipalmata)

Observer

gpstewart

Date

January 26, 2017 03:14 PM CST

Description

Rt 48 Port Isabel, Cameron Co. TX

Photos / Sounds

What

Lineated Woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus)

Observer

gcwarbler

Date

January 8, 2017 03:08 PM CST

Description

Here is the first bird image I attempted to take at our hotel near Palenque NP, Chiapas, Mexico. Late afternoon and heavily backlit.

Photos / Sounds

What

Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor)

Observer

nlblock

Date

January 5, 2017 10:59 AM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Sapsuckers (Genus Sphyrapicus)

Observer

atassin

Date

January 14, 2017 10:33 PM CST

Photos / Sounds

What

White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

January 2017

Place

Private

Photos / Sounds

What

White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

January 2017

Place

Private

Photos / Sounds

What

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)

Observer

gpstewart

Date

January 5, 2017 12:24 PM CST

Description

Buchanan Dam- Llano Co TX

This Crescent does not seem to match the Phaon in my guide, input on ID greatly appreciated

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue-eyed Grasses (Genus Sisyrinchium)

Observer

wild-about-texas

Date

March 26, 2016 05:18 PM HST

Photos / Sounds

What

Pero mizon

Observer

jimjohnson

Date

May 27, 2015

Photos / Sounds

What

Fallen Bark Looper (Gastrophora henricaria)

Observer

vicfazio3

Date

November 4, 2016 05:30 AM AEDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Red Chanterelle (Cantharellus cinnabarinus)

Observer

cosmiccat

Date

October 15, 2016 12:29 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)

Observer

k8thegr8

Date

October 5, 2016 06:36 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Indomitable Graphic Moth (Melipotis indomita)

Observer

finatic

Date

September 17, 2016 09:53 PM PDT

Description

Pinal County, Arizona, US

Photos / Sounds

What

Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)

Observer

finatic

Date

September 17, 2016 10:55 AM PDT

Description

Pinal County, Arizona, US

Photos / Sounds

What

Red Rock Skimmer (Paltothemis lineatipes)

Date

September 12, 2016

Description

See photo

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)

Observer

gpstewart

Date

August 29, 2016 10:58 AM CDT

Description

Granger Lake- Bell Co. TX

This is first Teal that I have seen since spring

Photos / Sounds

Observer

gcwarbler

Date

July 27, 2016 08:20 AM CDT

Description

I had photographed the flowers of nodding onion (Allium cernuum) and only later noticed this cute little bee fly visiting the flowers. I tried to key this out to species but the images are just too fuzzy to be useful at that level. At least four species are known from NM: P. bicolor, loewi, scolopax, and suphureus.

Photos / Sounds

What

Angulose Prominent (Peridea angulosa)

Observer

greglasley

Date

August 18, 2016 08:57 AM CDT

Description

Any help on ID of this moth?

Photos / Sounds

What

Mexican Silverspot (Dione moneta ssp. poeyii)

Observer

juancruzado

Date

July 26, 2016 06:14 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

scottking

Date

August 4, 2016 04:56 PM CDT

Description

Thick-headed Fly
Soda Butte
Yellowstone National Park

Photos / Sounds

What

Western Forktail (Ischnura perparva)

Observer

jimjohnson

Date

July 19, 2016

Photos / Sounds

What

California Dancer (Argia agrioides)

Observer

jimjohnson

Date

July 19, 2016

Description

New species for Idaho.

Photos / Sounds

What

Hawaiian Beet Webworm Moth (Spoladea recurvalis)

Observer

sambiology

Date

July 31, 2016

Description

I guess moth week is over, but I'll still toss up the moth sheet! :)

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue-faced Ringtail (Erpetogomphus eutainia)

Observer

greglasley

Date

July 30, 2003 09:48 AM CDT

Description

Blue-faced Ringtail
Erpetogomphus eutainia
female
Guadalupe River, Independence Park near U.S. 183 bridge over the river.
Gonzales, Gonzales Co., Texas
30 July 2003

A couple of folks have asked me personally and on iNat:
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2735824
about Blue-faced Ringtail (Erpetogomphus eutainia) and the history of the population in Gonzales. I had never posted the initial record but will do so here and just give the history for those curious about it.

In June, 2003, Dr. John Abbott and I spent some time looking for dragonflies at Palmetto State Park in Gonzales Co., and he mentioned a small clubtail called Erpetogomphus eutainia (John did not speak common names in those days :-) which had last been seen in the 70s as far as he knew. He told me there were some records by Paulson, Dunkle, and others at Palmetto S.P. John had never seen the species and he hoped to find it sometime. I was fairly new into odonates at that time, and being retired from my law enforcement profession, I had the time to start really looking for this rare critter and I made it a mission to find it. I spent some time in the collection at U.T. looking at all the known Texas specimens of Erpetogomphus eutainia and made a list of all the locations where the specimens had been found. Essentially, all the Texas and U.S. records of the species at that time were from the San Marcos River in the general vicinity of Luling, Texas. During July, 2003, I went out to look for for this bug more than a dozen times. Finding places to access the San Marcos River was the most challenging issue, as most of you know that so much of Texas land is private. I scoured Palmetto S.P., boat launches and canoe launch areas between San Marcos and Luling, etc., and had no luck. I visited all the public parks in San Marcos which allowed access to the river as well as any bridge crossings, etc. The San Marcos River joins the Guadalupe River near Gonzales, so I started checking areas on the Guadalupe where I could get to or near the water. On July 30, 2003, I found a female clubtail on the south side of the Guadalupe River near the U.S. 183 bridge on the south side of Gonzales, and got a few photos of it. I was not certain this was the Erpetogomphus eutainia, but I thought it probably was. I was very eager to get home and look at my shots on a larger monitor. At home, after studying my shots, I felt fairly confident I had found a female Erpetogomphus eutainia.

Long story short, I sent John an email with images that I had taken in Gonzales. I called him on the phone and asked if he was at his computer and he said he was. I told him to check his email. He knew I had been looking for this species and asked me if I had found it. I said “you tell me”. He then saw my shots and said “You found it!” Two days later, on 2 August 2003, I took John back to the spot where we found several males and females and we both got images of a male eating a Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta):
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/143390
From that time up until 2010 or so, the species was regularly found at many areas of Independence Park as can be seen on the iNat maps. On some visits I found 10-20 individuals on a single visit. In 2011 and 2012 the species became harder to find, but there were a handful of records during both of those years. It has been mostly absent since 2012 (one sight record with no photos in 2014) which I mentioned in the record I posted yesterday:
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/3725913

So, that is the history of the bug at Gonzlaes as I know it. There have been a few records by some students of John’s another 20 or so miles down the Guadalupe River near Cuero in DeWitt Co., but I have never found them there. Ed Lam has photographed the species at Medina River Park south of San Antonio, but on two visits in proper season, I’ve not found it there either. There are a few other records along the Rio Grande in south Texas. This is a late season species with 95% of the records being between 1 July and 15 October. Why the species was relatively easily found 2003-2012, then mostly vanished for 4 years...I don't have a clue. Habitat seems pretty much the same as far as I can determine. But such population fluctuations certainly occur. As an example, in 2007 Carmine Skimmer (Orthemis discolor) was common to abundant in the Austin area and a dozen or more could be found in several areas in a short time. Since 2007 the species has been very rare in Austin and I can count the records on one hand that have occurred since 2007. No idea why.

Photos / Sounds

What

White-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtrusum)

Observer

scottking

Date

July 29, 2016 03:04 PM CDT

Description

White-faced Meadowhawk, male
St Olaf Natural Lands
Northfield, Minnesota

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

July 9, 2016 07:25 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Swift River Cruiser (Macromia illinoiensis)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

June 24, 2016 08:18 AM CDT

Place

LLELA (Google, OSM)

Description

Ok. This one has me stumped. We I first observed this I was thinking Swamp Darner but the Abdominal markings just don't match up. Then I started looking at Cruiser but most of them have green eyes. I even looked through emeralds and still not sure enough to even guess the family. This is the only angle I got but Briang got some photos also. Maybe his can help.

Help most appreciated here!

@greglasley @nlblock @briang

Photos / Sounds

Observer

briangooding

Date

July 20, 2011 03:18 PM CST

Description

Male Sympetrum eroticum ardens

Thanks to @scottking for the help on this one.

I took a trip to Yellow Mountain (Huangshan) which, at that time in my life, was probably the most dangerous mountain bus ride I had been on. Thankfully I befriended a strange guy whose awkward conversation kept me distracted from my own anxiety.

Immediately after the bus stopped and I got out I saw this beauty perching probably about head-height and I casually swiped it from underneath. So I guess I broke my own rule of taking an in situ shot prior to capture but I didn't want to draw any attention to it. I knew the local people would find it too strange and it could potentially cause some misunderstandings.

So, I took some photos discreetly and said goodbye to the only Sympetrum friend I ever met in China. If I could do it over I'd do it differently and risk confrontation, maybe carry any small guidebook with me to help bridge the understanding of this non-malevolent behavior.

I saw a few other species of dragonflies on the mountain besides this one (actually this was at the base--we still had to take a cable car to the top). Up highere we saw many Pantala flavescens visible hovering around scenic overlooks and couple of other Libellulidae I have yet to identify.

Comically, our bus ride pal hung out with us a bit and as we peered over the edge of a very dangerous and handicap-unfriendly lookout point he breathed a deep sigh, told us how beautiful it was and how it would be the perfect place to commit suicide. Thankfully, we all walked away together to check in to our overpriced hotel.

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Ilia Underwing (Catocala ilia)

Observer

greglasley

Date

May 26, 2016

Description

tentative ID. About 4 of these things came to my light and sheet last night.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

nlblock

Date

May 9, 2016

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)

Observer

lauramorganclark

Date

May 20, 2016

Photos / Sounds

What

Gray-banded Leafroller Moth (Argyrotaenia mariana)

Observer

nlblock

Date

May 14, 2016

Photos / Sounds

What

Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)

Observer

brennan3909

Date

May 18, 2016 10:33 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Texas Blind Snake (Rena dulcis)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

May 16, 2016 12:05 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Azure Bluet (Enallagma aspersum)

Observer

lfelliott

Date

May 15, 2016 12:12 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Plain-bellied Watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

May 8, 2016 07:54 AM CDT

Description

Thinking a yellow-bellied water snake. Photo taken at quite a distance and heavily cropped. Basing my guess on the stripes on the lower jaw.

Photos / Sounds

What

Red-lined Looper (Crypsiphona ocultaria)

Observer

vicfazio3

Date

April 20, 2016

Photos / Sounds

What

Huron Sachem (Atalopedes huron)

Observer

naturenut

Date

April 10, 2016

Photos / Sounds

What

Oklahoma Clubtail (Phanogomphus oklahomensis)

Observer

greglasley

Date

April 3, 2016

Description

Oklahoma Clubtail was very common at this location, in fact I saw ca. 50 of them. A couple of Ashy Clubtails were present as well.

Photos / Sounds

What

Falcate Orangetip (Anthocharis midea)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

March 5, 2016

Description

Not sure which species this is. Any advice for online sources would be appreciated.

Photos / Sounds

What

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

January 29, 2016

Description

Adult

Photos / Sounds

What

Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

January 29, 2016

Photos / Sounds

What

Girlfriend Underwing (Catocala amica)

Observer

gcwarbler

Date

June 15, 2010

Description

A number of these, along with C. micronympha, were seen on a hike up the Post Oak Creek watershed in mid-June at Balcones Canyonlands NWR.

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Round-headed Katydids (Genus Amblycorypha)

Observer

gcwarbler

Date

June 10, 2010

Description

I'm pretty sure this is in the genus Amblycorypha but there are a couple of species in Central Texas (including huasteca, oblongifolia, and perhaps others). The SINA website is currently offline so I'll have to study this one later.

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Silver-spotted Tiger Moth (Lophocampa argentata)

Observer

jimjohnson

Date

July 8, 2015

Photos / Sounds

Observer

kamanisujee

Date

August 24, 2015

Description

Thyas coronata is a species of moth of the Noctuidae family.
The larvae feed on Quisqualis indica also known as the Rangoon creeper, Drunken sailor

Photos / Sounds

What

Bathroom Moth Fly (Clogmia albipunctata)

Observer

gcwarbler

Date

November 23, 2015

Description

In restrooms at Brazos Bend SP. ID is based on a review of images on BG, particularly the two genera in the Paramormiini tribe, here:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/1118574/bgpage
I can only find one species mentioned for North America.

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Human (Homo sapiens)

Observer

connlindajo

Date

November 11, 2015 02:18 PM CST

Description

aka robberfly aka Liam O'Brien
Two years ago on Nov. 22, 2013, I added my first four observations to iNaturalist.org.

One of these, a monarch caterpillar (http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/465471),
was promptly identified by @robberfly.
I could say that he is one of the reasons I am addicted to iNat.

I am pleased to be able to add robberfly's photo to verify that I was fortunate to meet him. Great guy!
(By the way, my other three initial observations were IDed by @greglasley.)

Photos / Sounds

What

Human (Homo sapiens)

Observer

connlindajo

Date

November 11, 2015 12:06 PM CST

Description

aka kueda aka Ken-ichi Ueda
What can I say about this guy? Meeting him was like walking on holy ground.

I have emailed many really stupid questions about navigating on iNat and @kueda was always patient and helpful.

This is another treasured and "Favorites" observation of a fantastic iNaturalist!

Photos / Sounds

What

Thread-legged Bugs (Subfamily Emesinae)

Observer

jblinde

Date

November 21, 2015 03:42 PM CST

Photos / Sounds

What

Angle Moths and Allies (Tribe Macariini)

Observer

gcwarbler

Date

November 9, 2015

Description

This is an interesting Geometrid, probably a species of Digrammia or Rindgea, but the ground color is grayer than any others I photographed and the AM, median, and PM lines are light brown. I'll have to do some work on this one.

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Human (Homo sapiens)

Observer

greglasley

Date

November 11, 2015

Description

Texas iNat gathering in Dripping Springs on November 11, 2015.
Kneeling from left: @mchlfx (checkered shirt), @robberfly, @maractwin (blue shirt), @mksexton, @sambiology, @kueda (red bandana);
standing L to R: Bob (husband of taogirl) and Tuffy the dog, @greglasley, @lotus (sunglasses), @mikaelb, @blubayou (red blouse), @gpstewart (red shirt), @taogirl, @annikaml (sunglasses), @gcwarbler, @connlindajo, @brentano, @billdodd, Wilson (wife of cullen), @cullen, @cgritz, Aaron (husband of cgritz). Photo by Cheryl (wife of greglasley)

Photos / Sounds

What

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

August 28, 2015

Photos / Sounds

What

Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

August 28, 2015

Description

Mature male

Photos / Sounds

What

American Beaver (Castor canadensis)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

August 28, 2015

Photos / Sounds

What

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

August 21, 2015

Photos / Sounds

What

Northeastern Hammertail (Efferia aestuans)

Observer

greglasley

Date

July 24, 2015

Photos / Sounds

What

Pacific Clubtail (Phanogomphus kurilis)

Observer

beartracker

Date

April 19, 2015

Description

Exoskeleton and individual coming out of it.

Photos / Sounds

What

Dancers (Genus Argia)

Observer

aguilita

Date

June 13, 2015

Description

Note: A word of caution for all of us who might easily try and determine whether what we observed is a Blue-fronted Dancer female (Argia apicalis) (blue form) or a Powdered Dancer female (Argia moesta) (blue form) from photographic evidence alone. The females of these two species are virtually alike and both females of the two species also occur in a brown form to complicate matters further. Same rule applies with the brown form as with the blue. So we do not know whether the female blue form Argia damselfly we observed was a Blue-fronted Dancer or a Powdered Dancer. Thanks go to Greg Lasley for gently pointing this out and noting that after many years of studying and photographing dragonflies and damselflies he still cannot tell the two blue form females of these respective species apart (using only photographic evidence). Exercise care when IDentifying these two inscrutable Dancer (Argia) females. Therefore in the following observation we call our Argia blue form female Dancer, for short.

Two Damsels & Lunch

These pics were taken at the Lake Lewisville Environmental Learning Area (LLELA) on June 13, 2015, next to the Lake Lewisville dam’s spillway.

In the ode world, size matters. This is a quick play in five scenes about a lunch at which two damsels arrived but only one left.

It was early afternoon and there was a whole lot of preying going on. One of the preying events involved Dancer who swiftly caught a smaller male Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) in mid-air.

Dancer literally engaged and grabbed ahold of the Bluet's wings and using its larger size and wings went straight for the ground where it stood for a few seconds examining its lunch guest as if making sure it was down and secured. I was reminded of a wrestler.

Dancer then grabbed its new lunch companion from what we laypersons would call the neck area but those who study odes would call the occiput. So the Dancer grabs the Bluet by the neck and flies a short distance and lands on a green grassy area next to the trail and proceeds to properly devour her lunch. It focused on the thorax and eventually dispatched that. When it did so it dropped the abdomen and flew on to another grassy perch with the Bluet’s eyes in its mouth and there on that blade of yellowed grass proceeded to have what seemed like dessert. There was a definite order to things.

Once Dancer finished it just stood there and watched the wind press against her wings.

All this took place in sixty digital frames and lasted all of four minutes.

These are the five scenes (digital images) of this LLELA play.

Scene 1: Dancer pinned Bluet to the ground.

Scene 2: Dancer grabbed Bluet by the occiput (neck) and flew short distance to start her meal.

Scene 3: Meal was quick. We were reminded that in the damsel world one always has to be alert; lunch can be served on the wing.

Scene 4: After a meal of Bluet there were the eyes for dessert. Dancer changed to a new location and dispatched the remains.

Scene 5: And then ever so serenely Dancer perched on a blade of grass and stared into the wind.

Photos / Sounds

What

Four-spotted Pennant (Brachymesia gravida)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

June 28, 2015

Photos / Sounds

What

Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

June 25, 2015

Photos / Sounds

What

Swamp Darner (Epiaeschna heros)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

June 25, 2015

Description

My first swamp darner. Dang! These things are huge!

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mchlfx

Date

April 17, 2015

Description

Pretty small little butterfly. 1.5 to 2 inches estimate. These were quite abundant on the heavily wooded trail but none were very still for very long. Lucky to have gotten this shot.

Photos / Sounds

What

Four-spotted Pennant (Brachymesia gravida)

Observer

mchlfx

Date

June 19, 2015