Kiowa Creek Sanctuary Insect, Spider, and Arthropod List for April 21, 2012

Compiled by Eric R. Eaton, 34 Murray Heights Dr., Colorado Springs, CO  80916 (719) 447-0927 bugeric24@yahoo.com

Order Family Genus Species Common Name Image? Notes
Diplopoda millipede Y Under board in pasture
Araneae Theridiidae Latrodectus hesperus Western Black Widow N In rock wall by house
Gnaphosidae Ground spider N Quick as lightning
Lycosidae Pardosa Thin-legged wolf spider Y At edge of marsh
Schizocosa Wolf spider Y In field
Philodromidae Thanatus Running crab spider N In field
Salticidae Phidippus Jumping spider Y In field
Odonata Aeshnidae Darner dragonflies N Over field, marsh
Orthoptera Acrididae Chortophaga viridifasciata Northern Green-striped Grasshopper Y In field
Xanthippus corallipes Red-shanked Grasshopper Y In field
Psoelessa texana Texas Spotted Range Y In field
Eritettix simplex Velvet-striped grasshopper Y In field
Grasshopper species Y In field
Hemiptera Reduviidae Zelus sp. Assassin bug Y Egg clutch on shed
Nabidae Damsel Bug Y Nymph on shed
Lygaeidae Nysius sp.
False Chinch Bug
Y On shed
Cicadellidae Cuerna Leafhopper N In field
Coleoptera Carabidae Cicindela purpurea Cowpath Tiger Beetle Y On dike
nebraskana Nebraska Tiger Beetle Y On dike
Coccinellidae Hippodamia convergens Convergent Lady Beetle Y In field; prey of tiger beetle
Curculionidae Otiorhynchus ovatus Strawberry Root Weevil Y On shed
Weevil species Y On rock wall by house
Lepidoptera Pieridae Pieris rapae Cabbage White Y
Colias Sulphur Butterfly N In field near house
Lycaenidae Strymon melinus Gray Hairstreak Y
Nymphalidae Vanessa cardui Painted Lady Y Everywhere
virginiensis American Lady Y In field
Euptoieta claudia Variegated Fritillary Y In pine forest edge
Hesperiidae Pyrgus xanthus Mountain Checkered-skipper Y ID tentative
Arctiidae Lophocampa ingens Pine Webworm N ID tentative
Noctuidae Euxoa auxiliaries Army Cutworm Moth Y On shed
Diptera Syrphidae Eupeodes Flower Fly Y Everywhere
Hymenoptera Sphecidae Mischocyttarus flavitarsis Western Paper Wasp N In black widow web
Podalonia Cutworm hunter wasp Y In fields
Formicidae Formica Wood ants Y Nest near house
Pompilidae Spider wasp N In field
Halictidae Lasioglossum Sweat Bee Y In field

A couple more additions or so are pending identification from images and a specimen.  Habitats in the area are diverse and appear mostly healthy.  The dike and eroded fields were most diverse.  Hay fields were unproductive on this day, as was pine forest, but that will change as spring progresses into summer.

The Nebraska Tiger Beetle may be of noteworthy.  It is widespread, but only locally common.  There may be additional species of Cicindela that show up in summer and fall.

Thanks to Jeannie Mitchell for extending the invitation to participate in documenting the biodiversity of this unique parcel of land.  I look forward to continuing to explore there.