3 Adult Polydamas Swallowtails documented over several days often seen together. Ovipositing witnessed on Aristolochia tomentosa and fimbriata. Many eggs located. One eclosing from chrysalis was noted 2 days ago.
Observation in the survey at Lobanillo Swales, a park on the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail.
It was a high point of the trip to East TX to see these in bloom. A large patch scattered about under the trees near the highway.
For more info on the Swales see:
https://www.nps.gov/elte/learn/photosmultimedia/lobanillo-swales.htm
I didn't know what this was, thought a freeze or disease had affected it. It was in a meadow by the Nails Creek Unit boat ramp & I was bending over taking photos of an Astragaus.
I thought this was a grey hairstreak at first, but as it was flitting about, the wings seemed to be almost light blue in color, which surprised me. I managed to get a shot of it after it landed, and the patterning seems different from the usual hairstreaks I see around here (though I don’t necessarily pay close attention).
For further details, this was at a nursery nectaring on a planted Buddleia marrubifolia before it took off and landed on the ground.
Protected species - location masked.
Growing near the water's edge, Lake Charlotte.
Some sort of liat?
I think
Previously was growing along edge of pine plantation. Trees were recently clearcut when photo was taken.
Copyright © 2012 - Charles Bordelon, Texas Lepidoptera Survey
Det. Ed Knudson
First Confirmed U.S. Record
Copyright © 2017 Jan Dauphin
First U.S. Record
Copyright © 2017 E Cavazos
@quantumactivist
Spikelets 1.5 - 2mm long and glabrous to slightly pubescent.
Lower sheaths and nodes densely pilose. Upper sheaths and nodes sparsely pilose. Nodes with glabrous to glabrate band directly beneath
Only observed one plant.
Found at a depth of about 2500 feet
Durand White Oak (??) observed at Bird Pond unit of USFWS near Danciger TX. Single isolated (but large) specimen, in low swampy woods just east of Bird Pond. Leaves have minor usually-single points (bristles) on the ends of the lobes, and the trunk's bark seems more furrowed and less shingly/scaly, unlike other Durand Oaks in the area. Another difference is the low swampy ground, where Durands are usually found on upland sites near good drainage. No acorns were observed on low-hanging limbs or on ground. Magnificent specimen, whatever it is, and SO WORTHY of propagation for landscape use in this area (since it grows in low wet ground)! Please be sure to see adult (human) at base of trunk in left-most photo, to gain appreciation of its size.
Maybe, not sure if I keyed this out right.
This is a very early sighting as far as I can determine. I have seen a Harvester on one other occasion, in the summer.
Deep sand, hillside blowout.
Tentative, not many leaves to go off of
In seepage bog
High-quality savanna on sandstone slope. Lemon scent.
This beauty was found in a Walgreens parking lot by Bill Nichols of College Station. It allowed him to relocate it to a safer grassy area nearby.
ID please -- this looks very much like a Channeled or Island Apple snail, but as far as I can find these haven't been seen in Central Texas, so I'm wondering. I back onto a lake full of 'em.
Large. Approx. 2.5 - 3". Appeared to be digging in the hard soil of the driveway. Was moved over a few feet to the edge of the driveway to a less exposed area. Single posterior "horn." Photos & entry by CP.
If the ID is correct, possibly the first record for Dallas county. I went back to see the fruits 09/13/19.
Bryoandersonia illecebra? (spoon leaved Moss)
Caught and released safely. Wrapped itself quite a bit in the fishing line but went ahead and rope wrapped the bill and cut all fishing line off fish and removed hook. The gills, spiracles, and fish were never removed from water during the process and whole release. Once fish was free of all line idled the boat into the current to have water flow over the gills, fished showed good strength , removed rope wrap and he swam off great. Ate a cut lady fish on the bottom, was fishing for redfish, probably close to 5-6 foot in length including the bill. Not an intentional catch but definitely an interesting one.
McKittrick Canyon Wilderness Study Area