The Invertebrate Fauna of Kerr County, Texas | home
Gonzales, Caldwell, Wilson, and Atascosa Counties, 26 August 2003
Here, below, are pictures of some of the more unusual and some of the more common bugs photographed on a trip with Greg Lasley and Brush Freeman to Gonzales and Caldwell Counties on 26 August 2003. We were in search of the local Blue-faced Ringtail, photographed by Bob Honig in 1991, but otherwise not seen in Texas since the 1970s, until Greg, determined to find it, did so in Gonzales County this summer. Today we located about 40 individuals, though we were only able to photograph two females, one rather beat up. [Greg's outstanding photos from earlier in the summer are at http://www.greglasley.net/bfringtail.html].
We also located two individual Leafwings, one each in Gonzales and Caldwell Counties, of which we are unsure of the identification. I photographed the Gonzales critter, we tried to net the Caldwell bug for a closer look but it was skittish and when it flew it was gone. The photos are distant and a bit unclear when enlarged. Awaiting some help from pros. [There was some split opinion on this creature. For now it will labelled the obvious -- Goatweed Leafwing, as suggested by Dr. Crhis Durden who has worked with the group].
We also found a couple of the scarce and local Ivory-striped Sylphs. One was caught and a photo is presented below.
After parting with Brush and Greg about 11 a.m. i made an extended trip south of San Antonio to return to Kerr County and stopped at a couple of other interesting sites -- one each in Wilson and Atascosa Counties. Pictures from those are also posted below.
A complete report of the trip follows.
Guadalupe River, south of Gonzales, Gonzales County
8 a.m. to about 9:30 a.m.
Blue-faced Ringtail, Erpetogomphus eutainia
Rather ragged female on Johnson Grass, Sorghum halepense
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Blue-faced Ringtail, Erpetogomphus eutainia
Cleaner female on Johnson Grass, Sorghum halepense, and Snake-cotton, Froehlichia sp.
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Pearl Crescent, Phyciodes tharos
Rather ragged individual on Johnson Grass, Sorghum halepense
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Tawny Emperor, Asterocampa clyton
on trash and Bermuda Grass, Cynodon dactylon
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Clouded Skipper, Lerema accius
on Purple Bindweed, Ipomoea cf. trichocarpa
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
cf. Julia's Skipper, Nastra julia
on Fleabane, Pluchea sp.
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Hackberry Emperor, Asterocampa celtis
on Boneset sp., Eupatorium sp.
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Fiery Skipper, Hylephila phyleus
on sedge sp.
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Bordered Patch, Chlosyne lacinia
on Johnson Grass, Sorghum halepense, with Snake-cotton, Froehlichia, and on Giant Ragweed
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Phaon Crescent, Phyciodes phaon
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Goatweed Leafwing, Anaea andria
on Giant Ragweed
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
identification supplied by Dr. Chris Durden, University of Texas
Texan Crescent, Phyciodes texana
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Smoky Rubyspot, Hetaerina titia
on sedge
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Powdered Dancer, Argia moesta
Orange form female (left) on Fleabane?, Pluchea sp., and male (right) on Boneset, Eupatorium sp.
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Roseate Skimmer, Orthemis ferruginea
Distant female on stick
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Eastern Ringtail, Erpetogomphus designatus
Eating Powdered Dancer, Argia moesta, male
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Flag-tailed Spinyleg, Dromogomphus spoliatus
on river rock along Guadalupe River
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Eastern Pondhawk, Erythemis simplicicollis
eating male Powdered Dancer, Argia moesta, on Giant Ragweed
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Russet-tipped Clubtail, Stylurus plagiatus
on Giant Ragweed
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
beetle sp.
on Snake-cotton, Froehlichia
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
yellowjacket sp.
on Snake-cotton, Froehlichia
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
wasp sp.
on Boneset sp., Eupatorium
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Green Lynx Spider sp.
on Boneset sp., Eupatorium
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
grasshopper sp.
on Giant Ragweed
Guadalupe River south of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
San Marcos River, east of Luling, Caldwell County
10 a.m. to about 11:30 a.m.
Eastern Amberwing, Perithemis tenera
San Marcos River west of Luling, Caldwell County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Ivory-striped Sylph, Macrothemis imitans leucozona
in Greg Lasley's grasp
San Marcos River west of Luling, Caldwell County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Ivory-striped Sylph, Macrothemis imitans leucozona
San Marcos River west of Luling, Caldwell County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by Greg Lasley
Common Sanddragon, Progomphus obscurus
Distant, ugly photo. On banks of San Marcos River
San Marcos River west of Luling, Caldwell County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
flat-winged skipper sp.
on Water-Primrose, Ludwigia octovalvis
By virtue of the hooked antennal club and white FW spots i assign this to the skippers, as opposed to the metalmarks which,
by shape and pattern, were considered for this very worn individual. Horace's Duskywing provides a rough match (spot pattern, background color, perching aspect), but FW shape, and the HW symmetrical notches lead me to strongly believe this is of the Mazan's/Hayhurst's Scallopwing complex.
San Marcos River west of Luling, Caldwell County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Gray Hairstreak, Strymon melinus
on Fogfruit, Phyla cf. incisa
San Marcos River west of Luling, Caldwell County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Southern Skipperling, Copaeodes minima
on Fogfruit, Phyla cf. incisa
San Marcos River west of Luling, Caldwell County, Texas, 26 August 2003
Not previously documented for the county (according to USGS records)
photos © by tony gallucci
San Antonio River, west of Floresville, Wilson County
about 1:00 p.m.
Pearl Crescent, Phyciodes tharos
on Bermuda Grass, Cynodon dactylon
San Antonio River, Floresville City River Park, Wilson County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
purple and brown grasshopper sp.
on banks of the San Antonio River
San Antonio River, Floresville City River Park, Wilson County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Atascosa River, Pleasanton, Atascosa County
about 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
28º 58.123' 98º 28.903'
Black Setwing, Dythemis nigrescens
Atascosa River, Pleasanton City Park, Atascosa County, Texas, 26 August 2003
Not previously documented for the county (according to USGS and Abbott records)
photos © by tony gallucci
Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata
Atascosa River, Pleasanton City Park, Atascosa County, Texas, 26 August 2003
Not previously documented for the county (according to USGS and Abbott records)
photos © by tony gallucci
Eastern Amberwing, Perithemis tenera
Atascosa River, Pleasanton City Park, Atascosa County, Texas, 26 August 2003
Not previously documented for the county (according to USGS and Abbott records)
photos © by tony gallucci
Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis
Atascosa River, Pleasanton City Park, Atascosa County, Texas, 26 August 2003
Not previously documented for the county (according to USGS and Abbott records)
photos © by tony gallucci
Eastern Pondhawk, Erythemis simplicicollis
Atascosa River, Pleasanton City Park, Atascosa County, Texas, 26 August 2003
Not previously documented for the county (according to USGS and Abbott records)
photos © by tony gallucci
Viceroy, Limenitis archippus
on Giant Ragweed
Atascosa River, Pleasanton City Park, Atascosa County, Texas, 26 August 2003
Not previously documented for the county (according to USGS records)
photos © by tony gallucci
Camp Rio Vista, Hunt, Kerr County,
about 9:00 p.m.
waiting in the yard when i returned home
Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus
Camp Rio Vista, Kerr County, Texas, 26 August 2003
photos © by tony gallucci
Trip report, 26 August 2003
27 August 2003
Greg Lasley & Brush Freeman invited me to tag along on a trip to Gonzales and Caldwell Counties yesterday, 26 August 2003. We were in search of the local Blue-faced Ringtail, photographed by Bob Honig in 1991, but otherwise not seen in Texas since the 1970s, until Greg, determined to find it, did so in Gonzales County this summer. He photographed it and later took Dr. John Abbott to see them.
We located about 40 individuals, though we were only able to photograph two females, one rather beat up. The greater mass of them was found hunting, as accurately described in the Dunkle guide, at the head of a series of riffles, over fast but flat water. They were oriented generally downstream, but might be better described as oriented toward the rising sun (at least for this moment), as they were obliquely oriented to the flow of water by about 30-45 degrees.
We also located two individual Leafwings, one each in Gonzales and Caldwell Counties, of which we are unsure of the identification (Tropical looked right in the field, but checking references [Scott, Opler, Pyle, Glassberg] has muddied the picture -- neither place has previous documentation of this species; Goatweed Leafiwng, of course, should be common and likely; but we haven't much experience with Leafwings). I photographed the Gonzales critter, we tried to net the Caldwell bug for a closer look but it was skittish and when it flew it was gone. The critters were both unmarked, bright “Julia” orange above (i would not have described either as being “red-orange”). The underside of the Gonzales Co. bug seemed to not have the dark HW stripe of Tropical though a hint is there; but did appear to have a somewhat scalloped edge on the HW; the Caldwell butterfly was not seen well below. The photos are distant and a bit unclear when enlarged, but seem to show some characters of each. Would much appreciate commentary from those who know this critter.
We also found a couple of the scarce and local Ivory-striped Sylphs on the San Marcos River. They were hunting in short dashes along the sandy bank edge of the east side of the San Marcos (also, probably coincidentally, oriented toward the morning sun, and perpendicular to the flow). One was caught and a photo is on the website.
The few butterflies were nectaring mostly on Boneset (Eupatorium sp.) and Fogfruit (Phyla cf. incisa).
Brush had checked the location of his previously found Clay-colored Robin in Gonzales, but did not find it singing. He did have a group of Mississippi Kites lifting off there early a.m.
After parting with Brush and Greg about 11 a.m. i extended my trip to south of San Antonio to return to Kerr County and stopped at a couple of other interesting sites - notably one in Atascosa County, where i photographed a Viceroy (no USGS records listed). Seems there are no Abbott or USGS records of ANY Odonates from Atascosa County. Pictures of five the nine species i found there are also posted on the website.
Included below are all the additional critters seen on the trip.
* = Photographed
* * * * * * *
TX: Gonzales Co., on the Guadalupe River, off US183, south of Gonzales
ca. 8:00 - 9:30 a.m.
LEPIDOPTERA
*1 large pale Sulphur sp.
5 Gray Hairstreak
*1 Bordered Patch
*1 Phaon Crescent
*3 Pearl Crescent
*3 Texan Crescent
1 Red Admiral
*2 Hackberry Emperor
*1 Tawny Emperor
*1 cf. Goatweed Leafwing
10 Queen
1 Monarch
1 Common/White Checkered-Skipper (no USGS records for this county)
*2 Fiery Skipper
*1 Julia's Skipper
*1 Clouded Skipper
10 dark skipper sp.
ODONATA
*40 Smoky Rubyspot
8 American Rubyspot
1 Blue-ringed Dancer
*400 Powdered Dancer
4 River Cruiser sp.
*2 Flag-tailed Spinyleg
3 Pale-faced Clubskimmer
*2 Russet-tipped Clubtail
*10 Eastern Ringtail
*40 Blue-faced Ringtail (* by Lasley)
*3 Eastern Pondhawk
*2 Roseate Skimmer (poor photo)
4 Black Saddlebags
IN/VERTEBRATES OF INTEREST
good variety of wasps at Snake Cotton (Froehlichia sp.), Giant Ragweed, Fleabane (Pluchea sp.), and Boneset sp. (Eupatorium sp.)
Several Tiger Beetles
*1 Lynx Spider
2 Mississippi Kite
4 Spotted Sandpiper
2 Belted Kingfisher
1 Green Kingfisher
1 hummingbird sp.
1 Great Crested Flycatcher
2 White-eyed Vireo
10 Cave Swallow
2 Yellow Warbler
1f Painted Bunting
1m Orchard Oriole
* * * * * * *
TX: Caldwell Co., on the San Marcos River, off US90, west of Luling
ca. 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
LEPIDOPTERA
1 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (* by Lasley)
2 Giant Swallowtail
1 Blue sp.
*3 Gray Hairstreak
4 Phaon Crescent
1 Texan Crescent
1 Tawny Emperor
1 cf. Goatweed Leafwing
1 Funereal Duskywing
*1 very worn flat-winged skipper, Perhaps Mazan's/Hayhurst's Scallopwing (Hayhurst's has been recorded in Caldwell County previously)
1 Clouded Skipper (no USGS records for this county)
8 Common/White Checkered-Skipper (no USGS records for this county)
8 Fiery Skipper
4+ dark skipper sp.
1 gold-colored skipper sp.
*1 Southern Skipperling (no USGS records for this county)
ODONATA
30 Smoky Rubyspot
1 Blue-fronted Dancer
10 Blue-ringed Dancer
*1 Eastern Amberwing
1 Bronzed River Cruiser
2 Pale-faced Clubskimmer
1 Russet-tipped Clubtail
1 Flag-tailed Spinyleg
*2 Common Sanddragon (poor photo)
2 Eastern Pondhawk
2 Common Whitetail
1 Roseate Skimmer
2 Black Saddlebags
1 Swift Setwing
*2 Ivory-striped Sylph (* by Lasley)
IN/VERTEBRATES OF INTEREST
100s of Tiger Beetles
1 Belted Kingfisher
1 Green Kingfisher
1 hummingbird sp.
1 Great Crested Flycatcher
2 White-eyed Vireo
8 Cave Swallow
4 Painted Bunting
10 Dickcissel
* * * * * * *
TX: Wilson Co., Floresville City River Park, on the San Antonio River, southwest of Floresville near Mision de las Cabras
ca. 1:00 p.m.
LEPIDOPTERA
1 Tawny Emperor
*2 Pearl Crescent
1 flat-winged skipper sp.
ODONATA
30 Smoky Rubyspot
6 Powdered Dancer
1 Eastern Pondhawk
IN/VERTEBRATES OF INTEREST
*1 purple and brown grasshopper
1 Spiderhunter sp.
1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo
1 Green Kingfisher
* * * * * * *
TX: Atascosa Co., Pleasanton City Park, on the Atascosa River, in Pleasanton
ca. 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
LEPIDOPTERA
1 Gray Hairstreak
2 American Snout
3 Phaon Crescent
*1 Viceroy (no USGS records for this county)
ODONATA
1 Blue-ringed Dancer (no Abbott records for this county) (no USGS records for this county)
2 Powdered Dancer (no Abbott records for this county) (no USGS records for this county)
1 Pale-faced Clubskimmer (no Abbott records for this county) (no USGS records for this county)
*2 Eastern Amberwing (no Abbott records for this county) (no USGS records for this county)
*40 Eastern Pondhawk (no Abbott records for this county) (no USGS records for this county)
*6 Blue Dasher (no Abbott records for this county) (no USGS records for this county)
*2 Black Saddlebags (no Abbott records for this county) (no USGS records for this county)
*6 Black Setwing (no Abbott records for this county) (no USGS records for this county)
2 Swift Setwing (no Abbott records for this county) (no USGS records for this county)
VERTEBRATES OF INTEREST
1 Yellow Warbler
* * * * * * *
OTHER INVERTS ON THE ROAD (Kerr, Kendall, Guadalupe, Gonzales, Caldwell, Wilson, Atascosa, Frio, Medina, Bandera back to Kerr County)
Fire Ants
Field Cricket
Black Saddlebags (Wilson, Atascosa, Medina, Bandera, Kerr Cos.)
Common Green Darner (Medina County)
Pennant sp. (Guadalupe County)
White sp. (Wilson County)
Sulphur sp. (Wilson County)
Pipevine Swallowtail (Wilson, Atascosa, Frio, Medina Cos.)
Giant Swallowtail (Wilson County)
Queen (Wilson County)
hundreds of moths under the lights at the new Buc-ee's at I-10 and US183 (Luling)
OTHER VERTS ON THE ROAD (Kerr, Kendall, Guadalupe, Gonzales, Caldwell, Wilson, Atascosa, Frio, Medina, Bandera back to Kerr County)
Common Carp
Common Mosquitofish
Blanchard's Cricket Frog
Rio Grande Leopard Frog
Green Anole
Green Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Little Blue Heron
Snowy Egret
Cattle Egret
Wood Stork (3 overhead in downtown Pleasanton)
Turkey Vulture
Black Vulture
Blue-winged Teal (6 south of La Vernia)
Red-tailed Hawk (2 Gonzales County)
Crested Caracara (2 Guadalupe County)
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper (1)
*Great Horned Owl (1 on a light post at my gate as i returned home)
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
White-winged Dove (ca. 3000 from Devine to Hondo, mostly in “clouds” around Hondo)
Inca Dove
Common Ground-Dove (3 Medina County)
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Atascosa, Guadalupe, Wilson Cos.)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1 Wilson County)
Chimney Swift
Downy Woodpecker (Gonzales, Caldwell, Atascosa Cos.)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (few, except 90+ in Kerr County)
Western Kingbird (Gonzales, Atascosa Cos.)
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Loggerhead Shrike (1 Wilson County; many grasshoppers on barbed wire in other places)
American Crow
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Carolina Wren
Northern Cardinal
Pyrrhuloxia (Atascosa, Medina Cos.)
House Finch
House Sparrow
Great-tailed Grackle
Common Grackle
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Armadillo (1)
Fox Squirrel
Ringtail (1)
Stiped Skunk (6)
Hog-nosed Skunk (1)
Dog (mutt, Blue Heeler, Chesapeake Bay Retriever)
Axis Deer
White-tailed Deer
Cattle (Brangus, Black Angus, White Brahman, Santa Gertrudis, Hereford, Holstein, Jersey, Maine-Anjou, Range, Black Baldy, Limousin, Texas Longhorn)
Thompson's Gazelle (15)
Springbok (1)
Blackbuck (21)
Topi Hartebeeste (1)
Gemsbok (1)
Goat (Spanish, Boer)
Markhor (1)
Sheep (Mouflon, Barbados, Medium Wool, Hawaiian Black)
Horse (Quarter, Tobiano Paint, Palomino, Arab)
Ass (Sicilian Donkey, Poitou)
