Identificaciones de oopla

Collected as part of "Teddy's Tigers," a survey of the cicindelid species of Teddy Roosevelt National Park, 2001–2003 (Kritsky, G., and J. Smith. 2005. Teddy's Tigers: The Cicindelidae (Coleoptera) of Teddy Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota. Cicindela 37(1–2): 1–16). All specimens are the property of the National Park Service and are housed in the TRNP collection at Medora, ND.

Lucerne Moth (Nomophila nearctica)

7 August 2022
Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center (CCNHC)
Denton, Denton County, Texas

One of the other things we noticed while observing the quickly drying wetlands pond's bed was that moths had made a home of the pond bed which exhibited large cracks as the moisture left it. One such moth was this Lucerne Moth.

Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)

7 August 2022
Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center (CCNHC)
Denton, Denton County, Texas

While we observed that the large wetlands pond was fast disappearing due to the extended heat and drought of the previous weeks (and months), we also noticed that the predominant plant taking over the dried pond's bed was Rough Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) together with Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon). Fiery Skippers were perching on and off on different Rough Cockleburs on the still partly moist but dried spongy pond bed. I managed to take a pic of the female represented in this observation. For details on Fiery Skipper see the following Butterflies of America page for Northern Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus phyleus): https://butterfliesofamerica.com/t/Hylephila_phyleus_a.htm

Fiery Skipper is one of the most widespread skippers in the Western Hemisphere since it is found from California to Florida thence south to Argentina. It is also present in Hawaii.

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

8 August 2022
Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center (CCNHC)
Denton, Denton County, Texas

A small flock of 20 Canada Geese flew overhead, circled, and landed on the nearly completely dried bed of the wetlands pond.

Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)

7 August 2022
Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center (CCNHC)
Denton, Denton County, Texas

An uncommon visitor to the site. Observed at the large wetlands pond which is fast disappearing with the ongoing heat and drought.

Pecan (Carya illinoinensis)

4 August 2022
TWU Golf Course
Denton, Denton County, Texas

Note: The Texas Woman’s University (TWU) Golf Course closed permanently on May 4, 2018, after being in service for 80 years. Some of the trees that remain at the site are documented in this photographic series. The University intends to utilize the land to build (and expand) in the indefinite future. Surely many of these trees will be felled in the process.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)

24 July 2022
Avondale Park
Denton, Denton County, Texas

The third Yellow-crowned Night-Heron we saw on our walk. It was calmly peering into the creek no doubt looking for possible prey.