המועדפים של castlegrande

Several days prior to this observation, the vixen was observed outside her den with five kits. At the time this observation was made, only four kits were observed outside the den; the vixen and the fifth kit were not seen.

A female Giant Ichneumon wasp (Megarhyssa macrurus) oviposits into the side of a tree.

I was honored to have this observation selected as observation of the day for June 11, 2020, and again as observation of the week (week of June 21, 2020). It is covered in this blog post: A Trip to Texas Provides a Long Sought Photographic Opportunity - Observation of the Week, 6/21/20.

This is by far the rarest and coolest herp I’ve found at LLELA, especially since this is the first observation of one on iNaturalist! I had been wondering if the nearby ephemeral pond could be suitable habitat for small-mouthed salamanders, and conditions were just right (55 degrees Fahrenheit overcast and heavy rains the day before) to find this individual under a log. Some interesting behaviors I saw from this individual were lifting up and wagging its tail in the air and producing a little chirp sound. Last picture is as flipped

Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans)

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

Green Lynx Spider preying on Apiomerus spissipes on the leaves and stems of Snow-on-the-Prairie (Euphorbia bicolor). Both are predators of other insects and likely had the same idea to hunt for pollinating insects coming in for a bite to eat at the blooms of Snow-on-the-Prairie but instead one of them ended up on the menu of the other. For some interesting facts on Green Lynx Spider see, Russell McLendon, “8 Intriguing Facts about the Green Lynx Spider,” Treehugger, October 2, 2020: https://www.treehugger.com/green-lynx-spider-facts-5080278

I have a 100 gallon tub of water near my house so wildlife can drink. Just as it was getting dark a short while ago something caught my eye and this small White-tailed buck came to drink. Somehow this fella got a plastic jug caught up in his velvet antlers...I hope he can get it off. I had to chuckle at this sight, however, something I had certainly never seen before. Anyway, he drank some water then trotted away. Hope he will be OK!