Window on a Texas Wildscape

Monday, June 9, 2014

Beautiful fly, odd behavior

We had wonderful rains this morning. Perhaps more tonight. Thank you, L0rd! This afternoon, I went outside to the back yard and roamed around a while. When I spotted either a tarantula hawk wasp or Mydas fly, I ran inside to grab my camera (I startled James in the process). Alas, upon my hasty return, the monster insect had already vanished. Instead, I noticed two flies interacting so I shot photos of them. The two flies socialized some but didn't attempt to mate. Then the one fly seemed to "lick" the limestone. I've got an inquiry into Bugguide.net about that. I believe this is a tachinid fly, Microphthalma sp. Very cool.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Treasure in the street

Thymophylla pentachaeta

The bright yellow orange caught my eye. I leaned down for a closer look. A sweet wildflower! Right on the edge of our street! I set a few rocks by it as a marker. Then I thumbed through Marshall Enquist's Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country–parralena. But the Wildflower Center lists the common name as dogweed (Thymophylla pentachaeta). Either way, the plant is dainty and fern-like. I love it. Treasure in the street!

A few blooms in the Meadow

Wright's skullcap (Scutellaria wrightii)

Mock pennyroyal (Hedeoma drummondii)

Mock pennyroyal

Mock pennyroyal

Wild petunia (Ruellia nudiflora)

Lost Ladybug Project

Hippodamia convergens

I spotted this ladybug while checking for aphids on my tropical milkweed in the back yard. So I offered it an oleander aphid, which it readily accepted, and took its photo to contribute to the Lost Ladybug Project. (Some of my contributions are here.)

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Aphid attack!

A few oleander aphids on my milkweek? That's nature. But when I see my plants turning yellow and black, then it's time to wage WAR. Yesterday, I tried spraying water on the pesky critters. Finger rubbing, too. Checked today, and still a bunch left. So I used soapy water and my fingers. I'll just keep checking and dousing and rubbing. Sorry, guys!