brazos county

Southern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa micans: Apidae) 1.5-1.9 cm (0.55-0.75 in) long. Female, species sexually dimorphic. Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Cultivated flower garden at ca 91 m (300 ft) elevation.

Four-toothed Mason Wasp (Monobia quadridens: Vespidae) 1.5-2.1 cm (0.59-0.83 in) long. Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Cultivated flower garden at ca 91 m (300 ft) elevation.

Bold Jumping Spider (Phidippus addax: Salticidae) 1.0-2.0 cm (0.4-0.8 in) long. It has caught a small Noctuid moth and is looking for a dinner companion; any takers (lol)?. Open manicured area with Post Oaks (Quercus stellata) at ca. 101 m (330 ft) elevation. Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA.

Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus subsp. prosopidicola) Male, species sexually dimorphic. Photographed at Austins Colony Park, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Openings adjacent to a riparian woodland of Carter Creek at ca. 88 m (290 ft) elevation.

Solider Fly (Hoplitimyia mutabilis: Statiomyidae) This Solider fly measures 9-12 mm (0.35-0.47 in) long. Photographed on this attractive native shrub (Ageratina havenensis: Asteraceae) Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Cultivated flower garden at ca 91 m (300 ft) elevation.

Flower Fly (Eristalis dimidiata: Syrphidae) 10-14 mm (0.39-0.55 in) long. Foraging on a native White Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides: Asteraceae). Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Cultivated flower garden at ca 91 m (300 ft) elevation.

Five-banded Typhiid Wasp (Myzinum quinquecincium: Thynnidae) They range in length from 3.0-3.5 cm (1.18-1.38 in). Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Cultivated flower garden at ca 91 m (300 ft) elevation.

Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestries: Hesperiidae) This grass skipper has a wingspan ranging from 2.54-3.18 cm (1.0-1.25 in). Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Cultivated flower garden at ca 91 m (300 ft) elevation.

Flower Fly (Helophilus fasciatus: Syrphidae) 1.2-1.5 cm (0.47-0.59 in) long. Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Cultivated flower garden at ca 91 m (300 ft) elevation.

Big-headed Ground Beetle (Scarites subterranean: Carabidae) Length 1.5-3.0 cm (0.59-1.18 in). It has a a brown mite on the left side of its pronotum (the large area behind its head). Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Cultivated flower garden at ca 91 m (300 ft) elevation.

Cuckoo Leafcutting Bee (Coelioxys texana: Megachilidae) They range in size from 1.1-1.3 cm (-.43-0.51 in) long. Foraging on Chrysanthemum rubellum: Asteraceae. Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Cultivated flower garden at ca 91 m (300 ft) elevation.

Greater Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus: Sphecidae) They range in size from 2.5-3.8 cm (1.0-1.5) in long. A non aggressive species but often leery. At least in our area they have a fondness for Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) This one was on Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)...

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui: Nymphalidae) Wingspan 5.1-6.4 cm (2.0-2.5 in). Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Post Oak Savannah Vegetational Area. Garden area at ca. 96 m (300 ft) elevation.

Flower Fly (Eupeodes americanus: Syrphidae. 9-12 mm (0.35-0.47 in) long. Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Post Oak Savannah Vegetational Area. Garden area at ca. 96 m (300 ft) elevation.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! Thick-headed Fly (Physocephala texana: Conopidae) Length 1.1-2.5 cm (0.43-0.98 in) Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Post Oak Savannah Vegetational Area. Garden area at ca. 96 m (300 ft) elevation.

Question Mark (Polygonial interrogationis: Nymphalidae) Wingspan 5.7-7.6 cm (2.25-3.0 in). Open-wing,dorsal view (winter form). Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Post Oak Savannah Vegetational Area. Garden area at ca. 96 m (300 ft) elevation.

Hover Fly (Allograpta obliqua: Syrphidae) This species is 6-7 mm (0.24-l0.28 in) long. Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Post Oak Savannah Vegetational Area. Garden area at ca. 96 m (300 ft) elevation. This Hover Fly was foraging on a cultivated Gomphrena.

Red-cross Beetle (Collops balteatus: Melyridae) Length 6-8 mm (0.24-0.31 in) long. Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Post Oak Savannah Vegetational Area. Garden area at ca. 96 m (300 ft) elevation. I thank Blaine Mathieson for getting me to the genus.

Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophilus proximus: Colubridae) Non venomous and only bites if handled roughly. These snakes reach lengths of 69-86 cm (27-34 in) and this individual certainly challenged that upper limit. Photographed at Lick Creek Park, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, USA...

Little Sulphur (Eurema lisa: Pieridae) Wingspan 3.2-3.8 cm (1.25-1.50 in). Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Post Oak Savannah Vegetational Area. Garden area at ca. 96 m (300 ft) elevation.

Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillar (Euchaetes egle: Erebidae) Caterpillar ranges in size from 3.2-4.3 cm (1.3-1.7 in) long. Munching the leaves of Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica: Asclepiadaceae) Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Cultivated grounds at ca. 91 m (300 ft)...

Horsefly-like Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa tabniformis: Apidae) They range in size from 1.3-3.0 cm (0.5-1.2 in). This one is nectar robbing. Most Carpenter Bees and some Bumble Bees do this when there are no tubular flowers with an orifice broad enough for them to crawl down into since they have...

Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum: Libellulidae) Male, species sexually dimorphic. Total length is 3.3-4.3 cm (1.3-1.7 in) long. Photographed at Austins Colony Park, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Riparian woodland adjacent to Carter Creek at ca. 88 m (290 ft) elevation.

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus subsp. virginianus) My wife and I took a little drive about last night about an hour before sunset and we found this Great Horned Owl and two Barred Owls. The Barred Owls were both on natural settings and in the open but they were not very friendly (lol)...

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) Female, females look the same as males but with a shorter tail. Open manicured area with Post Oaks (Quercus stellata) at ca. 101 m (330 ft) elevation. Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA.