LRGV Big Memorial Day Weekend - 50 species - 29-30 May 2010

5/29/10

Got up at 4:00 am this morning to drive down to chase the Tamaulipan Clubtails which had been found back on May 10 by Tom Pendleton at the NABA property on the Rio Grande. Arrived at 9:40 . . . searched there with Dad, Dave & Jan Dauphin & Co from 9:40 to noon, then I ran over to Bentsen from 12:30-5:00 (searching Resaca La Parida Banco and the Resaca Viejo trail). Briefly stopped at Anzalduas just to check out the area - had never been there and didn't realize it was a "real PARK", so aside from one interesting species, was dissappointed there and only searched there from 5:00-5:30. Overall, did really well on diversity with 42 species and 2 "lifers" (all CAPS)

At NABA, we searched the "Tamaulipan Clubtail" stretch right by the river . . . had 7 species of Clubtails, along with some other interesting critters:


Smoky Rubyspot (Hetaerina titia) 1-2
Amelia's Threadtail (Neoneura amelia) 2


Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis) lots
Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) 10+
Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) lots
Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) 10+
Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) 1

Flag-tailed Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spoliatus) 5-6


Eastern Ringtail (Erpetogomphus designatus) 10+



TAMAULIPAN CLUBTAIL (Gomphus gonzalezi) 5-6 males & 1 female




Sulphur-tipped Clubtail (Gomphus militaris) 4-5

Ringed Forceptail (Phyllocycla breviphylla) lots, mostly teneral


Five-striped Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides albrighti) 10+



Russett-tipped Clubtail (Stylurus plagiatus) lots, mostly teneral



Bronzed River Cruiser (Macromia annulata) 1 teneral male


Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps) 1
Four-spotted Pennant (Brachymesia gravida) 4-5
Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) 10+
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) 10+

Great Pondhawk (Erythemis vesiculosa) 4-5


Needham's Skimmer (Libellula needhami) 4-5


Hyacinth Glider (Miathyria marcella) 1


Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) 10+
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) 10+

Striped Saddlebags (Tramea calverti) 5-6


Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) 4-5
Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) 1



At Bentsen from 12:30-5:00, found

Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis) lots
Kiowa Dancer (Argia immunda) 1

Golden-winged Dancer (Argia rhoadsi) lots


Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) 2
Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) 10+

Caribbean Yellowface (Neoerythromma cultellatum) 4-5


Common Green Darner (Anax junius) 1


Narrow-striped Forceptail (Aphylla protracta) 2-3



Flag-tailed Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spoliatus) 5-6
Sulphur-tipped Clubtail (Gomphus militaris) 4-5
Five-striped Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides albrighti) 4-5


Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps) 4


Red-tailed Pennant (Brachymesia furcata) lots
Four-spotted Pennant (Brachymesia gravida) lots

Tawny Pennant (Brachymesia herbida) 2-3



Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) 1

Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) lots


Pin-tailed Pondhawk (Erythemis plebeja) 10+



Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) lots
Great Pondhawk (Erythemis vesiculosa) lots

Needham's Skimmer (Libellula needhami) 10+


Spot-tailed Dasher (Micrathyria aequalis) lots



Thornbush Dasher (Micrathyria hagenii) 1


Carmine Skimmer (Orthemis discolor) at least 1


Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) lots


Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) lots

Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea) 1


Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) 1

Mexican Scarlet-tail (Planiplax sanguiniventris) at least 6



ARCH-TIPPED GLIDER (Tauriphila argo) 5-6



Striped Saddlebags (Tramea calverti) lots


Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) lots

At Anzalduas, from 5:00-5:30

Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis) lots
Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) lots
Eastern Ringtail (Erpetogomphus designatus) 4-5


Five-striped Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides albrighti) 4-5
Four-spotted Pennant (Brachymesia gravida) 10+
Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) lots
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) lots

Marl Pennant (Macrodiplax balteata) 1


Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) 10+
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) lots
Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) 10+

5/30/10

Started the day at Santa Ana this morning. I was cloudy and looked like it might rain all morning. Searched from about 8:30-11:30 - low numbers but some interesting bugs with one notable "Lifer" (CAPS) - basically I walked the Willow Lakes trails and the entrance pond. Found:

Rainpool Spreadwing (Lestes forficula) 1


Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) 10+
Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) 10+
Desert Firetail (Telebasis salva) 2
Turquoise-tipped Darner (Rhionaeschna psilus) 1 fly-by in parking lot right before I left
Ringed Forceptail (Phyllocycla breviphylla) 1 teneral
Red-tailed Pennant (Brachymesia furcata) lots
Four-spotted Pennant (Brachymesia gravida) 1 over road at entrance
Pin-tailed Pondhawk (Erythemis plebeja) 10+
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) 10+
Great Pondhawk (Erythemis vesiculosa) 10+
Spot-tailed Dasher (Micrathyria aequalis) 1
THREE-STRIPED DASHER (Micrathyria didyma) 1




Thornbush Dasher (Micrathyria hagenii) lots


Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) 5-6
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) lots
Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) 3-4

Arrived at Salineno at about 1:00, where it was sunny and warm. Nothing too exciting until I was about to leave, when I noticed a group of Straw-colored Sylphs working the little inlet adjacent to the boat-ramp, so I stayed another hour trying to get quality flight shots . . . then got lucky and got a pair hung up in copulation. The list from Salineno

Smoky Rubyspot (Hetaerina titia) 10+
Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) a bazillion


Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) lots
Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) 10+
Flag-tailed Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spoliatus) 10+


Eastern Ringtail (Erpetogomphus designatus) 10+


Sulphur-tipped Clubtail (Gomphus militaris) 2


Five-striped Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides albrighti) 5-6
Pale-faced Clubskimmer (Brechmorhoga mendax) 1, maybe a 2nd

Checkered Setwing (Dythemis fugax) 1


Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) lots
Swift Setwing (Dythemis velox) 2
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) lots

Straw-colored Sylph (Macrothemis inacuta) at least 4 males, at least 2 females




Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) lots