A retired high-school science and mathematics teacher who for 44 years loved introducing young people to the awesomeness of nature. Outdoor education and hands-on experiences were a significant part of my curriculum. My wife and I have two daughters and three grandchildren. We live in the Texas Hill Country just NE of San Antonio.

I was born in San Diego. Grew up in New Hampshire. Taught in Michigan, Washington and California. Built 2 log homes - first one on 20 acres in Harrietta, Michigan and the second on Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound of Washington state. I love the out-of-doors and encouraging others (students, daughters and now grandchildren) to do the same.

A Texas Master Naturalist.

Mantids - Stagmomantis - revalidation of species - conspurcata
Link to Journal of Mantodea Research: descriptions & photos
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344211369_Revalidation_of_Stagmomantis_Stagmomantis_conspurcata_Serville_1839
S. carolina (Linné, 1763)
S. conspurcata (Serville 1839) (Anderson 2020)

• differs by having significantly larger body dimensions and lightly maculated to entirely hyaline wings. Further, conspurcata occupies a different ecoregion and elevation strata within the ountry. Whereas carolina occurs within the East Coast and higher elevations of the Midwest, conspurcata occurs throughout the lowland regions of the lower Midwest, Texas, and Gulf Coast, ranging into northern Mexico.

Blackberries of US and Canada
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/tuq

Crotons of the Trans Pecos
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/nathantaylor/13768-crotons-of-the-trans-pecos

Desert-chicories
https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/main.php?pg=show-key.php&keyid=40610
Carolina desert-chicory (Pyrrhopappus carolinianus): https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/natural/heritage/docs/pyrrhopappus-carolinianus-carolina-desert-chicory.pdf
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6295644.

Tuberous desert-chicory (Pyrrhopappus grandiflorus): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40399121.

Smallflower desert-chicory (Pyrrhopappus pauciflorus):
https://vwvw.backyardnature.net/n/h/tex-dand.htm
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1381312.

Snow on the prairie or Snow on the mountain?
Euphobia bicolor or Euphobia marginata?
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/euphorbia-species-of-the-united-states/journal/11153-euphorbia-marginata-snow-on-the-mountain-and-e-bicolor-snow-on-the-prairie

Lady Bird Beetles Guides
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/that_bug_guy/84001-guides-to-lady-beetles-coccinellidae-of-the-world

Lichen Guide:
https://www.waysofenlichenment.net/lichens/morphogroup_index.html

A good plant guide: Missouri Flora Web Page
https://www.missouriplants.com/

Identifying bees
https://shutterbee.net/identifying-bees/

Texas Plant Hoppers - Fulgoroidea
https://www.texasento.net/TX_Fulgoroidea.html

Texas Tree Hoppers - Membracidae
https://www.texasento.net/TX_Membracidae.html

Tickseed - Coreopsis
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ThyLLNtep3XcH52sW_rNYhwvrEjqFHet-4KP5z_Qo78/edit#slide=id.p

A Collection of Helpful Identification Guides