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Fox 26 Houston features NDC Summer Programs

Chelsea Edwards from Houston’s own Fox 26 visited with NDC Executive Director DeAndra Ramsey and Head Naturalist Eric Duran on a recent trip out to learn more about the Nature Discovery Center and Russ Pitman Park. She shared a piece she put together highlighting our summer programs for children, families, and adults, helping bring awareness to the Greater Houston Area about one of the area’s best kept secrets. We’re definitely fans of dropping the secrecy and spreading the word about our mission to ignite lifelong curiosity, understanding, and respect for nature through education. Please feel free to share this video with family and friends and help us broaden our audience this summer and for years to come!

Click image to play video.
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Happy World Bee Day!

In honor of World Bee Day I’m sharing this recent social media post from Eric Duran, Head Naturalist.

The oblique longhorn bee also called the sunflower bee is one of our gorgeous and helpful native bees. This gorgeous little insect was recently seen flying around with its friends in the wildflower garden in front of the nature center building. We plant an encourage native Texas wildflowers to help our native pollinators. Come by the Nature Discovery Center soon and see some of our gorgeous little native bees.

Eric Duran, Instagram May 12 3:30pm
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Results of the 2022 Fall BioBlitz

Green Anole

Eric Duran
Head Naturalist

Twice a year, once in the Spring and once in the Fall, we try to count all of the living wild species of plants, animals, slime molds, and fungi that we can find in Russ Pitman Park, where the Nature Center is located.

This counting of species is referred to as a “BioBlitz”. It’s an important part of understanding the life at the Nature Center, and how it may be changing over time. We want to be able to answer questions about population trends, introduced non-native species, and general biodiversity.

Our staff naturalists conduct this count, along with volunteer naturalists and biologists. For many institutions, a Bio-blitz is just one day, but we have a limited staff and relatively small volunteer corps, so our bio-blitzes usually last for about 2 weeks. This month, because of busy schedules and even fewer available volunteers, we decided to make the Fall BioBlitz last for the entire month of October. We may just move to having both our Spring and Fall BioBlitzes last a full month in the future.

As a practice, we like to enter much of our observations into E-Bird and iNaturalist, so that our data is accessible to biologists around the world and through time, going forward. That way, our local data can become part of big picture scientific data.

This was a really successful Fall BioBlitz!

This year, we counted 359 total species, which was comparable to last year’s Fall Bio-blitz count of 361. This number is still more than 2020 and 2019. The relatively cooler weather this year, and lack of rain before and during the BioBlitz probably negatively impacted the species count.

As with most of the counts we do, we found a few new species for the park (at least as far as we know from records). Although the Wandering Glider is the most widespread dragonfly in the world, we had yet to add it to one of our BioBlitz lists. We were also finally able to add Black Saddlebags, another common dragonfly, as well as the common fall butterfly, the Sleepy Orange. The Fireflag Plume Moth was a totally new species for the park, as were the Black-shouldered Drone Fly, the Australian Cockroach, the Flat-faced Longhorn Beetle, and the Trainwrecker mushroom.

It usually takes 2-4 weeks to get all of the species, that we photographed, identified, so that we can compile an accurate count. As far as we know at this, time, we’ve IDed everything we can, and we are ready to present to you the final version of the Fall 2022 Bio-blitz for the Nature Discovery Center in Russ Pitman Park!

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at eduran@naturediscoverycenter.org.

Thank you!


All photos by Eric Duran. CC BY-SA – Some rights reserved.

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RUSS PITMAN PARK FALL 2022 BIOBLITZ (October – 2022)

ALL SPECIES: (360)

ANIMALS: (183)

VERTEBRATES: (59)

INVERTEBRATES: (124)

FUNGI: (25)

SLIME MOLDS: (2)

PLANTS: (150)

Feather of a Red-bellied Woodpecker

Mammals: (4)

Gray Squirrel – Sciurus carolinensis

Fox Squirrel – Sciurus niger

Raccoon – Procyon lotor

Roof Rat – Rattus rattus

Birds: (44)

Downy Woodpecker – Picoides pubescens

Red-bellied Woodpecker – Melanerpes carolinus

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – Sphyrapicus varius

Cooper’s Hawk – Accipiter cooperii

Red-tailed Hawk – Buteo jamaicensis

Broad-winged Hawk – Buteo platypterus

Turkey Vulture – Cathartes aura

Black Vulture – Coragyps atratus

Eastern Screech Owl – Megascops asio

Ruby-throated Hummingbird – Archilochus colibris

Rufous Hummingbird – Selasphorus rufus

Chimney Swift – Chaetura pelagica

White-winged Dove – Zenaida asiatica

Carolina Wren – Thryothorus ludovicianus

Northern Cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalis

Indigo Bunting – Passerina cyanea

Summer Tanager – Piranga rubra

American Crow – Corvus brachyrhynchos

Blue Jay – Cyanocitta cristata

Carolina Chickadee – Poecile carolinensis

Tufted Titmouse – Baeolophus bicolor

American Robin – Turdus migratorius

Hermit Thrush – Catharus guttatus

Blue-headed Vireo – Vireo solitarius

Philadelphia Vireo – V. philadelphicus

White-eyed Vireo – V. griseus

Black & White Warbler – Mniotilta varia

Orange-crowned Warbler – Vermivora celata

Tennessee Warbler – Leiothlypis peregrina

Nashville Warbler – L. ruficapilla

Yellow-throated Warbler – Setophaga dominica

American Redstart – Setophaga ruticilla

Black-throated Green Warbler – S. virens

Wilson’s Warbler – Cardellina pusilla

Yellow-rumped Warbler – Setophaga coronate

Pine Warbler – S. pinus

Magnolia Warbler – S.magnolia

Northern Mockingbird – Mimus polyglottus

Eastern Wood-Peewee – Contopus virens

Eastern Phoebe – Sayornis phoebe

Great Crested Flycatcher – Myiarchus crinitus

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Polioptila caerulea

Ruby-crowned Kinglet – Regulus calendula

Golden-crowned Kinglet – R. satrapa

Eastern Screech Owl

Reptiles: (8)

Three-toed Box Turtle – Terrapene Carolina

Red-eared Slider – Trachemys scripta elegans

Green Anole – Anolis carolinensis

Cuban Brown Anole – Anolis sagrei

Ground Skink – Scincella lateralis

Mediterranean Gecko – Hemidactylus turcicus

Rough Earth Snake – Haldea striulata

Brahminy Blind Snake – Indotyphlops braminus

Amphibians: (1)

Gulf Coast Toad – Incilius nebulifer

Bony Fish: (2)

Mosquitofish – Gambusia affinis

Tilapia – Tilapia zillii (introduced)

Fiery Skipper

INVERTEBRATES (Non-insects):  (18)

Mollusks: (3)

Asian Tramp Snail – Bradybaena similaris

Globular Drop – Oligyra orbiculata

Flatcoil Snail – Polygyra sp.

Segmented Worms: (1)

Common Earthworm – Lumbricus terrestris

Arachnids: (12)

Wolf Spider – Tigrosa georgicola

Wolf spider – Tigrosa sp.

House Orbweaver – Metazygia zilloides

Common Orbweaver – Mangora sp.

Common House Spider – Parasteatoda tepidariorum

Spinybacked Orbweaver – Gasteracantha cancriformis

South American Hacklemesh Spider – Metaltella simony

Long-jawed Orbweaver – Tetragnatha sp.

Yellow Garden Spider – Argiope aurantia

Orchard Orbweaver – Leucage sp.

Funnel Weaver – Barronopsis sp.

Brown Widow – Lactrodectus geometricus

Crustaceans: (2)

Comm. Striped Woodlouse – Philoscia muscorum

Common Pillbug – Armadillidium vulgare

Roseate Skimmer

INSECTS/Hexapods: (106)

Dragonflies and Damselflies: (9)

Roseate Skimmer – Orthemis ferruginea

Great Blue Skimmer – Libellula vibrans

Wandering Glider – Pantala flavascens

Neon Skimmer – Libellula corceipennis

Blue Dasher – Pachydiplax longipennis

Slough Amberwing – Perithemis domitia

Black Saddlebags –  Tramea lacerata

Band-winged Dragonlet – Erythrodiplax umbrata

Citrine Forktail – Ischnura hastata

Caddisflies: (1)

Net-spinning Caddisfly – Hydropsychinae

Butterflies and Moths: (33)

Monarch – Danaus plexipus

Common Buckeye – Junonia coenia

Tawny Emperor – Asterocampa clyton

Spicebush Swallowtail – Papilio troilus

Eastern Giant Swallowtail – Papilio cresphontes

American Black Swallowtail – Papilio polyxenes

Gulf Fritillary – Agraulis vanilla

Horace’s Duskywing – Erynnis horatius

Clouded Skipper – Lerema accius

Ocola Skipper – Panoquina ocola

Fiery Skipper – Hylephila phyleus

Dorantes Longtail – Thorybes dorantes

Cloudless Sulphur – Phoebis sennae

Little Yellow – Pyrisitia lisa

Sleepy Orange – Abaeis nicippe

Texan Crescent – Anthanassa texana

Pearl Crescent – Phyciodes tharos

Gray Hairstreak – Strymon melinus

Abbot’s Bagworm Moth – Oiketicus abbotii

Southern Flannel Moth – Megalopyge opercularis

Indian Meal Moth – Plodia interpunctella

Feather-edged Petrophila – Petrophila fulicalis

Curve-horned Moth – Gelechioidea

Dusky Herpetogramma Moth – Herpetogramma phaeopteralis

Pannaria Wave – Leptostales pannaria

Assembly Moth – Samea catellalis

Genista Broom Moth – Uresiphita reversalis

Hawaiian Beet Webworm Moth – Spoladea recurvalis

Spotted Beet Webworm Moth – Hymenia perspectalis

Greater Wax Moth – Galleria mellonella

Celery Leaftier Moth – Udea rubigalis

Green Cloverworm Moth – Hypena scabra

Moonseed Moth – Plusiodonta compressipalpis

Angle Moth – Rindgea nigricomma

Wedgeling Moth – Galgula partita

Lesser Cornstalk Borer Moth – Elasmopalpus lignosella

Pecan Borer Moth – Gretchena bolliana

Cobbler Moth – Condica sutor

Soybean Looper Moth – Chrysodeixis includes

Wainscot Green Veneer – Eoreuma densellus

Erebinae (caterpillar)

Unicorn Prominent – Coelodasys unicornis

White-speck Moth – Mythimna unipunctata

Dot-lined Angle – Pasamatodes abydata

Eggplant Leafroller Moth – Lineodes integra

Green Cutworm Moth – Anicla infecta

Black-shaded Platynota Moth – Platynota flavedana

American Idea Moth – Idea americalis

Milky Argyria Moth – Argyria lacteella

Fire-flag Plume Moth – Sphenarches anisodactylus

Bicolored Ecdytolopha Moth – Ecdytolopha mana

Moonseed Moth

Flies: (14)

Goldenrod Gall Fly – Erosta solidaginis

Hackberry Aciculate Gall Midge – Celticecis aciculate

Hackberry Globular Leaf Gall Midge – Celticecis globosa

Long-legged fly – Condylostylus sp.

Oriental Latrine Fly – Chrysomya megacephala

Leaf-miner Fly – family Agromyzidae

Dusky-winged Hoverfly – Ocyptamus fuscipennis

Black-shouldered Drone Fly – Eristalis dimidiata

Calligrapher Fly – Toxomerus sp.

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly – Heliophilus fasciatus

Non-biting Midge – Chironomus sp.

Common Flesh Fly – Sarcophaga sp.

Crane Fly – Tipuloidaea

Beefly – Bombyliidae

Bees, Wasps, Sawflies, Ants: (23)

Eastern Carpenter Bee – ‎Xylocopa virginica

Southern Carpenter Bee – Xylocopa micans

Horsefly-like Carpenter Bee – Xylocopa tabaniformis

Western Honeybee – Apis mellifera

Leafcutter Bee – Megachile sp.

Carpenter Mimic Leafcutter Bee – Megachile xylocopoides

American Bumblebee – Bombus pensylvanicus

Small black sweat bee – Halictidae

Metallic Epauletted Sweat Bee – Augochloropsis metallica

Carpenter Ant – Camponotus sp. – subgenus Myrmentoma

Black Crazy Ant – Paratrechina longicornis

Graceful Twig Ant – Pseudomyrmex gracilis

Red Imported Fire Ant – Solenopsis invicta

Metric Paper Wasp – Polistes metricus

Southern Live Oak Stem Gall Wasp – Callirhytis quercusbatatoides

Braconid Wasp – Atanycolus sp.

Red-marked Pachodynerus – Pachodynerus erynnis

Yellow-legged Mud Dauber – Sceliphron caementarium

Spider Wasp – Pompilini

Feather-legged Scoliid Wasp – Dielis plumipes

Gold-marked Thread-wasted Wasp – Eremnophila aureonotata

Blue-eyed Ensign Wasp – Evania appendigaster

Weevil Wasp – Cerceris sp.

Beetles: (7)

Asian Ladybird Beetle – Harmonia axyridis

Ground Beetle – Notiobia terminata

June Beetle – Phyllophaga sp.

Ground Beetle – Agonum sp.

Drugstore Beetle – Stegiobium paniceum

Flat-faced Longhorn Beetle – Ataxia crypta

Red-shouldered Bostrichid – Xylobiops basilaris

True Bugs: (8)

Hackberry Petiole Gall Psyllid – Pachypsylla venusta

Scissor-grinder Cicada – Neotibicen pruinosi

Giant Leaf-footed Bug – Acanthocephala declivis

Eastern Leaf-footed Bug – Leptoglossus phyllopus

Ambush Bug – Phymata fasciata

Brokenback Bug – Taylorilygus apicalis

Jewel Bug – Orsilochides stictica

Planthopper – Cyarda sp.

Coppery Leafhopper – Jikradia olitoria

Cockroaches: (5)

Suriname Roach – Pycnoscelus surinamensis

American Cockroach – Periplaneta americana

Asian Cockroach – Blatella asahinai

Smoky Brown Cockroach – Periplaneta fuliginosa

Australian Cockroach – Periplaneta australasiae

Termites: (1)

Eastern Subterranean Termite – Reticulitermes flavipes

Earwigs: (1)

Yellow-legged earwig – Euborellia arcanum

Lacewings: (3)

Brown Lacewing – Micromus subanticus

Brown Lacewing – Hemerobiinae

Green Lacewing – Chrysopa quadripunctata

SLIME MOLD: (2)

Dog Vomit Slime Mold – Fuligo septica

Chocolate Tube Slime – Stemonitis splendens

Green-spored Parasols

FUNGI: (25)

Hairy Hexagonia – Hexagonia hydnoides

False Turkey Tail – Stereum ostrea

Southern Clamshell – Fomes fasciatus

Crowded Parchment Fungus – Stereum complicatum

Bracket Fungus – Ganoderma sessile

Bracket Fungus – Trametes lactinea

Oak Bracket – Pseudoinonotus dryadeus

Turkey Tail Fungus – Trametes versicolor

Mustard Yellow Polypore – Fuscoparia gilva

Hypoxylon Canker – Biscogniauxia atropunctata

Common Tarcrust – Diatrype stigma

Ceramic Parchment fungus – Xylobolus frustulatus

Firerug Inkcap – Coprinellus sect. Disseminati

Splitgill Mushroom – Schizophyllum commune

Honeycomb Bracket fungus – Favolus brasiliensis

Green-spored Parasol – Chlorophyllum molybdites

Wood Ear Fungus – Auricularia sp.

Deer Mushroom – Pluteus cervinus

Trainwrecker – Neolentinus lepideus

Pore lichen – Pertusaria sp.

Graffiti Lichen – Graphis sp.

Common Greenshield Lichen – Flavoparmelia caperata

Eastern Speckled Shield Lichen – Punctelia bolliana

Whitewash Lichen – Phlyctis argena

Cartilage Lichen – Ramalina complanata

Blue Mistflower, an important fall blooming wildflower

PLANTS: (150)

There are of course way more than ___ plants in Russ Pitman Park.

The Nature Discovery Center, however, already has a rather voluminous and exhaustive plant list for the park. Thus, the naturalists who participated in the first Bio-blitz did not attempt to document all or even most of the plants in the park. Participants simply noted plants they found interesting, observed fruiting or blooming, or thought may not already be on the official park list of plants.

During future Bio-blitzes, we will invite plant specialists to help us survey more systematically, for a more thorough accounting of plants present in the park.

Mosses: (1)

Unidentified moss sp.

Ferns: (3)

Resurrection Fern – Pleopeltis michauxiana

Japanese Climbing Fern – Lygodium japonicum

Southern Wood Fern – Dryopteris ludoviciana

Palms: (2)

Dwarf Palmetto – Sabal minor

Mexican Fan Palm – Washingtonia robusta

Grasses/Sedges/Rushes: (14)

Indiangrass – Sorghastrum nutans

Switch Grass – Panicum virgatum

Gulf Muhly – Muhlenbergia capillaris

Eastern Gamagrass – Tripsacum dactyloides

Basketgrass – Oplismenus hirtellus

Wood Oats (Inland Sea Oats) – Chasmanthium latifolium

Southeastern Wildrye – Elymus glabriflorus

Bermuda Grass – Cynodon dactylon

Big Bluestem – Andropogon gerardi

Hairy Crabgrass – Digitaria sanguinalis

Umbrella Papyrus – Cyperus involucratus

Cherokee Sedge – Carex cherokeensis

True sedge – Carex sp.

Deep-rooted Sedge – Cyperus enterianus

Broadleaf Plants: (130)

Mexican Plum – Prunus mexicanus

Boxelder Maple – Acer negundo

Red Maple – Acer rubrum

Southern Sugar Maple – Acer floridanum

American Sycamore – Platanus occidentalis

American Sweetgum – Liquidambar occidentalis

Chinese Privet – Ligustrum sinense

Tree Privet – Ligustrum lucidum

Ornamental Pear – Pyrus sp.

Black Willow – Salix nigra

Gum Bumelia – Sideroxylon langunosum

River Birch – Betula nigra

Sweetbay Magnolia – Magnolia virginiana

Southern Magnolia – Magnolia grandiflora

Sugar Hackberry – Celtis laevigata

Green Ash – Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Red Mulberry – Morus rubra

Chinese Mulberry – Morus alba

Shummard Red Oak – Quercus shumardii

Southern Live Oak – Quercus virginiana

Loquat-leaf Oak – Quercus rysophylla

Bur Oak – Quercus macrocarpa

Swamp Chestnut Oak – Quercus michauxii

Live Oak – Quercus virginiana

Willow Oak – Quercus phellos

Water Oak – Quercus nigra

Bald Cypress – Taxodium distichum

Loblolly Pine – Pinus taeda

Spruce Pine – Pinus glabra

Roughleaf Dogwood – Cornus drummondii

Eastern Redbud – Cercis canadensis

Carolina Laurelcherry – Prunus caronliniana

American Hornbeam – Carpinus caroliniana

Mexican Buckeye – Ungnadia speciosa

Osage Orange – Maclura pomifera

Orchid Tree – Bauhinia variegata

Shining Sumac – Rhus copallinum

Pecan – Carya illinoinensis

American Elm – Ulmus americana

Cedar Elm – Ulmus crassifolia

Northern Catalpa – Catalpa speciose

Chinese Raintree – Koelrueteria elegans

American Basswood – Tilia Americana

Camphor Tree – Cinnamomum camphora

Coralberry – Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

False Indigo – Amorpha fruticosa

Senna sp.

Parsley Hawthorn – Crataegus marshallii

Yaupon Holly – Ilex vomitoria

Chinese Holly – Ilex cornuta

Possumhaw Holly – Ilex decidua

American Black Elderberry – Sambucus canadensis

Southern Arrowwood – Viburnum dentatum

Buttonbush – Cephalanthus occidentalis

American Beautyberry – Callicarpa americana

Heavenly Bamboo – Nandina domestica

Common Lantana – Lantana camara

Texas Lantana – Lantana x urticoides

Groundsel Tree – Baccharis halimifolia

Redbay – Persea borbonia

Straggler Daisy – Calyptocarpus vialis

Texas Frogfruit – Phyla nodiflora

Yard Aster – Symphotrichum divaricatum

Panicled Aster – Symphotrichum lanceolatum

False Daisy – Eclipta prostrata

Blue Mistflower – Conoclinium coelestinum

Tall Goldenrod – Solidago altissima

Seaside Goldenrod – Solidago sempervirens

Giant Goldenrod – Solidago canadensis

Narrowleaf Sunflower – Helianthus angustifolius

Camphorweed – Pluchea camphorata

Opposite-leaf Spotflower – Acmella repens

Spiny Chloracantha – Chloracantha spinosa

Cuban Jute – Sida rhombifolia

Illinois Bundleflower – Desmanthus illinoensis

Chamberbitter – Phyllanthus urinaria

Leafy Elephant’s-foot – Elephantopus carolinianus

Frostweed – Verbesina virginica

Missouri Ironweed – Vernonia missurica

Mexican Primrose-willow – Ludwigia octovalvis

Three-seeded Mercury – Acalypha sp.

Lizard’s Tail – Saururus cernuus

Obedient Plant – Physostegia virginiana

Brazos Penstemon – Penstemon tenuis

Hairy Crabweed – Fatoua villosa

Pickerelweed – Pontederia cordata

Rattlesnake Master – Eryngium yuccifolium

Cast Iron Plant – Aspidistra elatior

Monkey grass – Liriope sp.

Mexican Shrimp Plant – Justicia brandegeeana

Mexican Ruellia – Ruellia simplex

Wild Petunia – Ruellia caerula

Wedelia – Sphagneticola calendulacea

Turk’s Cap – Malvaviscus arboreus

Whitemouth Dayflower – Commelina erecta

Scarlet Sage – Salvia coccinea

Giant Blue Sage – Salvia azurea

Ball Moss – Tillandsia recurvata

Late Boneset – Eupatorium serotinum

Eastern False Aloe – Manfreda virginica

Narrowleaf Sunflower – Helianthus angustifolius

White Clover – Trifolium repens

Alligatorweed – Alternathera philoxeroides

Swamp Criunum – Crinum sp.

Spotted Spurge – Euphorbia maculata

Painted Spurge – Euphorbia heterophylla

Mock Strawberry – Potentilla indica

Peruvian Lily – Alstroemeria aurea

Tahitian Bridalveil – Gibasis pellucida

Blue Violet – Viola sororia

Shrubby Boneset – Ageratina havanensis

Pitcher’s Leatherflower – Clematis pitcher

Swamp Leatherflower – Clematis crispa

Mugwort – Artemisia sp.

Climbing Hempvine – Mikania scandens

Tievine – Ipomoea cordatotriloba

Saltmarsh Morning-glory – Ipomoea sagittata

Mustang Grape – Vitis mustangensis

Muscadine Grape – Vitis rotundifolia

American Trumpetvine – Campsis radicans

Carolina Snailseed – Cocculus carolinus

Virginia Creeper – Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Poison Ivy – Toxicodendron redicans

Japanese Honeysuckle – Lonicera japonica

Saw Greenbriar – Smilax bona-nox

Cross Vine – Bignonia capreolata

Blackberry/Dewberry – Rubus sp.

Scarlet Creeper – Ipomoea hederifolia

Pepper Vine – Ampelopsis arborea

Catclaw Vine – Dolichandra unguis-cati

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Fall 2021 Bio-blitz Results

Eric Duran
Head Naturalist

Twice a year, once in the Spring and once in the Fall, we try to count all of the living wild species of plants, animals, slime molds, and fungi that we can in Russ Pitman Park.

This counting of species is referred to as a “Bio-blitz”. Its an important part of understanding the life at the Nature Center, and how it may be changing over time. We want to be able to answer questions about population trends, introduced non-native species, and general biodiversity.

Rough Earth Snake
Yellow-rumped Warbler

Our staff naturalists conduct this count, along with volunteer naturalists and biologists. For many institutions, a Bio-blitz is just one day, but we have a limited staff and relatively small volunteer corps, so our bio-blitzes usually last for about 2 weeks. As a practice, we like to enter much of our observations into E-Bird and iNaturalist, so that our data is accessible to biologists around the world and through time, going forward. That we, our local data can become part of big picture scientific data.

This was a really successful Fall BioBlitz!

This year, we counted 361 total species, which beat last year’s Fall Bio-blitz count of 340. The relatively warm weather and recent rains helped with counting so many species.

Re-banded Fungus Beetle

As with most of the counts we do, we found a few new species for the park (at least as far as we know from records). Florida Oakgall Borer Moth, Red-banded Fungus Beetle, and newly encountered species of light colored Russula mushroom all made an appearance for us… all species that we have no record of being in the park before. This is always thrilling for our naturalists!

Florida Oakgall Borer Moth

It usually takes 2-4 weeks to get all of the species, that we photographed, identified, so that we can compile an accurate count. As far as we know at this, time, we’ve IDed everything we can, and we are ready to present to you the final version of the Fall 2021 Bio-blitz for the Nature Discovery Center in Russ Pitman Park!

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at eduran@naturediscoverycenter.org.

Thank you!


Yellow-rumped Warbler photo – Nature Discovery Center – All Rights Reserved.
All other photos by Eric Duran. CC BY-SA – Some rights reserved.

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RUSS PITMAN PARK FALL 2021 BIOBLITZ (10/6 – 10/22)

ALL SPECIES: (361)

ANIMALS: (167)
VERTEBRATES: (41)
INVERTEBRATES: (126)

FUNGI: (40)

SLIME MOLDS: (2)

PLANTS: (152)

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Mammals: (4)

Gray Squirrel – Sciurus carolinensis

Fox Squirrel – Sciurus niger

Raccoon – Procyon lotor

Virginia Opossum – Didelphis virginiana

Birds: (27)

Black-bellied Whistling Duck – Dendrocygna autumnalis

White Ibis – Eudocimus albus

Downy Woodpecker – Picoides pubescens

Red-bellied Woodpecker – Melanerpes carolinus

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – Sphyrapicus varius

Monk Parakeet – Myiopsitta monachus

Cooper’s Hawk – Accipiter cooperii

Turkey Vulture – Cathartes aura

Ruby-throated Hummingbird – Archilochus colibris

Rufous Hummingbird – Selasphorus rufus

Chimney Swift – Chaetura pelagica

White-winged Dove – Zenaida asiatica

Northern Cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalis

Blue Jay – Cyanocitta cristata

Carolina Chickadee – Poecile carolinensis

Tufted Titmouse – Baeolophus bicolor

American Robin – Turdus migratorius

Hermit Thrush – Catharus gutttatus

Black & White Warbler – Mniotilta varia

American Redstart – Setophaga ruticilla

Wilson’s Warbler – Cardellina pusilla

Yellow-rumped Warbler – Setophaga coronata

Northern Mockingbird – Mimus polyglottus

Eastern Wood-Peewee – Contopus virens

Great Crested Flycatcher – Myiarchus crinitus

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Polioptila caerulea

Baltimore Oriole – Icterus galbula

Reptiles: (5)

Three-toed Box Turtle – Terrapene Carolina

Red-eared Slider – Trachemys scripta elegans

Green Anole – Anolis carolinensis

Cuban Brown Anole – Anolis sagrei

Rough Earth Snake – Haldea striulata

Green Tree Frog

Amphibians: (3)

Gulf Coast Toad – Incilius nebulifer

Rio Grande Chirping Frog – Eleutherodactylus cystignathoides

Green Tree Frog – Dryophytes cinereus

Bony Fish: (2)

Mosquitofish – Gambusia affinis

Tilapia – Tilapia zillii

INVERTEBRATES (Non-insects):  (22)

Mollusks: (5)

Asian Tramp Snail – Bradybaena similaris

Globular Drop – Oligyra orbiculata

Dome Snail – Ventridens sp.

Rosy Wolf Snail – Euglandina rosea

Flatcoil Snail – Polygyra sp.

Segmented Worms: (1)

Common Earthworm – Lumbricus terrestris

Arachnids: (13)

Wolf Spider – Tigrosa georgicola

House Orbweaver – Metazygia sp.

Spinybacked Orbweaver – Gasteracantha cancriformis

Tangleweb Spider – Theridion sp.

South American Hacklemesh Spider – Metaltella simony

American House Spider – Parasteatoda tepidariorum

Long-jawed Orbweaver – Tetragnatha sp.

Brown Crab Spider – Thomisidae

White Crab Spider – Thomisidae

Garden Ghost Spider – Hibana gracilis

Funnel Weaver – Agelenidae

Yellow Garden Spider – Argiope aurantia

Common Hentz Jumping Spider – Hentzia palmarum

Orchard Orbweaver – Leucage sp.

Crustaceans: (2)

Comm. Striped Woodlouse – Philoscia muscorum

Common Pillbug – Armadillidium vulgare

Yellow-collared Scape Moth

INSECTS/Hexapods: (104)

Dragonflies: (2)

Band-winged Dragonlet – Erythrodiplax umbrata

Roseate Skimmer – Orthemis ferruginea

Butterflies and Moths: (33)

Monarch – Danaus plexipus

Spicebush Swallowtail – Papilio troilus

Gulf Fritillary – Agraulis vanilla

Horace’s Duskywing – Erynnis horatius

Cloudless Sulphur – Phoebis sennae

Sachem – Atalopedes campestris

Clouded Skipper – Lerema accius

Common Buckeye – Junonia coenia

Painted Lady – Vanessa cardui

Question Mark – Polygonia interrogationis

Red Admiral – Vanessa atalanta

Long-tailed Skipper – Urbanus proteus

Fiery Skipper – Hylephila phyleus

Little Yellow – Pyrisitia lisa

Eastern Giant Swallowtail – Papilio cresphontes

Texan Crescent – Anthanassa texana

Gray Hairstreak – Strymon melinus

Dorantes Longtail – Thorybes dorantes

Tropical Checkered Skipper – Burnsius oileus

Bagworm moth – Psychidae

Southern Flannel Moth – Megalopyge opercularis

Fall Webworm Moth – Hyphantria cunea

Indian Meal Moth – Plodia interpunctella

Grass Moths – family Crambidae

Yellow-collared Scapemoth – Cisseps fulvicollis

Feather-edged Petrophila – Petrophila fulicalis

Melonworm Moth – Diaphania hyalinata

Dagger Moth – Agrotis sp.

Curve-horned Moth – Gelechioidea

Yellow Nutsedge Moth – Diploschizia impigritella

Dusky Herpetogramma Moth – Herpetogramma phaeopteralis

Florida Oakgall Borer Moth – Synanthedon sapygaeformis

Pannaria Wave – Leptostales pannaria

Flies: (15)

Goldenrod Gall Fly – Erosta solidaginis

Long-legged fly – Condylostylus sp.

Oriental Latrine Fly – Chrysomya megacephala

Leaf-miner Fly – family Agromyzidae

Dusky-winged Hoverfly – Ocyptamus fuscipennis

Non-biting Midge – Chironomus sp.

Yellow Fever Mosquito – Aedes aegypti

Inland Floodwater Mosquito – Aedes vexans

Lauxaniidae

Freeloader Fly – Milichiidae

White-footed Woods Mosquito – Psorophora ferox

Common Flesh Fly – Sarcophaga sp.

Soldier Fly – Hoplitimyia mutabilis

Soldier Fly – Microchrysa sp.

Greenbottle Fly – Lucilia sp.

Bees, Wasps, Sawflies, Ants: (19)

Eastern Carpenter Bee – ‎Xylocopa virginica

Southern Carpenter Bee – Xylocopa micans

Western Honeybee – Apis mellifera

Leafcutter Bee – Megachile sp.

American Bumblebee – Bombus pensylvanicus

Carpenter Ant – Camponotus sp.

Carpenter Ant – Myrmentoma sp.

Black Crazy Ant – Paratrechina longicornis

Graceful Twig Ant – Pseudomyrmex gracilis

Sawfly – subtribe Mesostenina

Metric Paper Wasp – Polistes metricus

Guinea Paper Wasp – Polistes exclamans

Tarantula Hawk Wasp – Calopompilus maculipennis

Southern Live Oak Stem Gall Wasp – Callirhytis quercusbatatoides

Short-tailed Ichneumon Wasp – Enicospilus sp.

Great Black Digger Wasp – Sphex pensylvanicus

Braconid Wasp – Atanycolus sp.

Gold-marked Thread Wasted Wasp – Eremnophila aureonotata

Hunter’s Little Paper Wasp –Polistes dorsalis

Beetles: (11)

Click Beetle – Orthostethus infuscatus

Asian Ladybird Beetle – Harmonia axyridis

Ground Beetle – Carabidae

June Beetle – Phyllophaga sp.

Water Scavenger Beetle – Enochrinae

Predaceous Water Beetle – Laccophilus sp.

Pinhole Borer Beetle – Euplatypus compositus

Ground Beetle – Agonum sp.

Comb-clawed Darkling Beetle – Lobopoda sp.

Skin Beetle – Dermestidae

Red-banded Fungus Beetle – Megalodacne fasciata

True Bugs: (13)

True Spittlebug – Aphrophoridae

Oleander Aphid – Aphis nerii

Hackberry Petiole Gall Psyllid – Pachypsylla venusta

Scissor-grinder Cicada – Neotibicen pruinosis

Planthopper – Tylozygus bifidus

Stink Bug – Euschistus obscurus

Green Stinkbug – Chinavia hilaris

Wheel Bug – Arilus cristatus

Giant Leaf-footed Bug – Acanthocephala declivis

Planthopper – Homalodisca sp.

Planthopper – Cedusa sp.

Planthopper – Cyarda sp.

Texas Bow-legged Bug – Hyalymenus tarsatus

Cockroaches: (4)

Suriname Roach – Pycnoscelus surinamensis

American Cockroach – Periplaneta americana

Asian Cockroach – Blatella asahinai

Smoky Brown Cockroach – Periplaneta fuliginosa

Termites: (1)

Eastern Subterranean Termite – Reticulitermes flavipes

Earwigs: (1)

Yellow-legged earwig – Euborellia arcanum

Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: (3)

Great Anglewing Katydid – Microcentrum rhombifolium

Narrow-winged Tree Cricket – Oecanthus niveus

Broad-tipped Conehead – Neoconocephalus triops

Lacewings: (2)

Brown Lacewing – family Hemerobiidae

Green Lacewing – Chrysopa sp.

SLIME MOLD: (2)

Dog Vomit Slime Mold – Fuligo septica

Chocolate Tube Slime – Stemonitis splendens

Reishi fungus – Ganoderma sessile

FUNGI: (40)

Hairy Hexagonia – Hexagonia hydnoides

False Turkey Tail – Stereum ostrea

Crowded Parchment Fungus – Stereum complicatum

Bracket Fungus – Ganoderma sessile

Bracket Fungus – Trametes lactinea

Oak Bracket – Pseudoinonotus dryadeus

Turkey Tail Fungus – Trametes versicolor

Mustard Yellow Polypore – Fuscoparia gilva

Hypoxylon Canker – Biscogniauxia atropunctata

Common Tarcrust – Diatrype stigma

Ceramic Parchment fungus – Xylobolus frustulatus

Trichoderma sp.

Firerug Inkcap – Coprinellus domesticus

Splitgill Mushroom – Schizophyllum commune

Honeycomb Bracket fungus – Favolus brasiliensis

Reddening Lepiota – Leucogaricus americanus

Red Russula – Russula sp.

Russula cerolens

Green-spored Parasol – Chlorophyllum molybdites

Grisette – Amanita vaginata

Wood Ear Fungus – Auricularia sp.

Peeling Oysterling – Crepidotus mollis

Golden-haired Inkcap – Parasola auricorna

Trooping Crumblecap – Coprinellus disseminates

Bolete – Hortiboletus sp.

Deer Mushroom – Pluteus sp.

Golden Chanterelle – Cantahrellus sp.

Unknown mushroom #1 – Myceana sp.

Unknown mushroom #2 – ?

Pore lichen – Pertusaria sp.

Rough-speckled Shield Lichen – Punctelia rudecta

Powdered Ruffle Lichen – Parmotrema hypotropum

Common Greenshield Lichen – Flavoparmelia caperata

Whitewash Lichen – Phlyctis argena

Sinewed Bushy Lichen – Ramalina americana

Cartilage Lichen – Ramalina celastri

Perforated Ruffle Lichen – Parmotrema perforatum

Bristly Beard Lichen – Usnea hirta

Lichen – Dirinaria sp.

Unknown lichen #1

Missouri Ironweed

PLANTS: (152)

There are of course way more than ___ plants in Russ Pitman Park.

The Nature Discovery Center, however, already has a rather voluminous and exhaustive plant list for the park. Thus, the naturalists who participated in the first Bio-blitz did not attempt to document all or even most of the plants in the park. Participants simply noted plants they found interesting, observed fruiting or blooming, or thought may not already be on the official park list of plants.

During future Bio-blitzes, we will invite plant specialists to help us survey more systematically, for a more thorough accounting of plants present in the park.

Mosses: (1)

Unidentified moss sp.

Ferns: (3)

Resurrection Fern – Pleopeltis michauxiana

Japanese Climbing Fern – Lygodium japonicum

Southern Wood Fern – Dryopteris ludoviciana

Palms: (2)

Dwarf Palmetto – Sabal minor

Mexican Fan Palm – Washingtonia robusta

Grasses/Sedges/Rushes: (11)

Indiangrass – Sorghastrum nutans

Eastern Gamagrass – Tripsacum dactyloides

Basketgrass – Oplismenus hirtellus

Wood Oats (Inland Sea Oats) – Chasmanthium latifolium

Bermuda Grass – Cynodon dactylon

Big Bluestem – Andropogon gerardi

Hairy Crabgrass – Digitaria sanguinalis

Umbrella Papyrus – Cyperus involucratus

Cherokee Sedge – Carex cherokeensis

True sedge – Carex sp.

Deep-rooted Sedge – Cyperus enterianus

Broadleaf Plants: (135)

Mexican Plum – Prunus mexicanus

Boxelder Maple – Acer negundo

Red Maple – Acer rubrum

Southern Sugar Maple – Acer floridanum

American Sycamore – Platanus occidentalis

American Sweetgum – Liquidambar occidentalis

Chinese Privet – Ligustrum sinense

Tree Privet – Ligustrum lucidum

Ornamental Pear – Pyrus sp.

Black Willow – Salix nigra

Gum Bumelia – Sideroxylon langunosum

River Birch – Betula nigra

Sweetbay Magnolia – Magnolia virginiana

Southern Magnolia – Magnolia grandiflora

Sugar Hackberry – Celtis laevigata

Green Ash – Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Red Mulberry – Morus rubra

Chinese Mulberry – Morus alba

Shummard Red Oak – Quercus shumardii

Southern Live Oak – Quercus virginiana

Loquat-leaf Oak – Quercus rysophylla

Bur Oak – Quercus macrocarpa

Swamp Chestnut Oak – Quercus michauxii

Live Oak – Quercus virginiana

Willow Oak – Quercus phellos

Water Oak – Quercus nigra

Bald Cypress – Taxodium distichum

Loblolly Pine – Pinus taeda

Spruce Pine – Pinus glabra

Roughleaf Dogwood – Cornus drummondii

Eastern Redbud – Cercis canadensis

Carolina Laurelcherry – Prunus caronliniana

American Hornbeam – Carpinus caroliniana

Mexican Buckeye – Ungnadia speciosa

Osage Orange – Maclura pomifera

Orchid Tree – Bauhinia variegata

Shining Sumac – Rhus copallinum

Pecan – Carya illinoinensis

American Elm – Ulmus americana

Cedar Elm – Ulmus crassifolia

Northern Catalpa – Catalpa speciose

Chinese Raintree – Koelrueteria elegans

American Basswood – Tilia Americana

Camphor Tree – Cinnamomum camphora

Coralberry – Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

False Indigo – Amorpha fruticosa

Senna sp.

Parsley Hawthorn – Crataegus marshallii

Yaupon Holly – Ilex vomitoria

Chinese Holly – Ilex cornuta

Possumhaw Holly – Ilex decidua

American Black Elderberry – Sambucus canadensis

Southern Arrowwood – Viburnum dentatum

Buttonbush – Cephalanthus occidentalis

American Beautyberry – Callicarpa americana

Heavenly Bamboo – Nandina domestica

Common Lantana – Lantana camara

Texas Lantana – Lantana x urticoides

Straggler Daisy – Calyptocarpus vialis

Texas Frogfruit – Phyla nodiflora

Yard Aster – Symphotrichum divaricatum

Panicled Aster – Symphotrichum lanceolatum

Blue Mistflower – Conoclinium coelestinum

Tall Goldenrod – Solidago altissima

Seaside Goldenrod – Solidago sempervirens

Giant Goldenrod – Solidago canadensis

Narrowleaf Sunflower – Helianthus angustifolius

Camphorweed – Pluchea camphorata

Opposite-leaf Spotflower – Acmella repens

Spiny Chloracantha – Chloracantha spinosa

Cuban Jute – Sida rhombifolia

Illinois Bundleflower – Desmanthus illinoensis

Chamberbitter – Phyllanthus urinaria

Leafy Elephant’s-foot – Elephantopus carolinianus

Frostweed – Verbesina virginica

Missouri Ironweed – Vernonia missurica

Mexican Primrose-willow – Ludwigia octovalvis

Three-seeded Mercury – Acalypha sp.

Lizard’s Tail – Saururus cernuus

Obedient Plant – Physostegia virginiana

Brazos Penstemon – Penstemon tenuis

Hairy Crabweed – Fatoua villosa

Pickerelweed – Pontederia cordata

Rattlesnake Master – Eryngium yuccifolium

Cast Iron Plant – Aspidistra elatior

Monkey grass – Liriope sp.

Mexican Shrimp Plant – Justicia brandegeeana

Mexican Ruellia – Ruellia simplex

Wild Petunia – Ruellia caerula

Wedelia – Sphagneticola calendulacea

Turk’s Cap – Malvaviscus arboreus

Whitemouth Dayflower – Commelina erecta

Scarlet Sage – Salvia coccinea

Ball Moss – Tillandsia recurvata

Late Boneset – Eupatorium serotinum

Eastern False Aloe – Manfreda virginica

Narrowleaf Sunflower – Helianthus angustifolius

White Clover – Trifolium repens

Alligatorweed – Alternathera philoxeroides

Swamp Criunum – Crinum sp.

Spotted Spurge – Euphorbia maculata

Graceful Spurge – Euphorbia hypericifolia

Painted Spurge – Euphorbia heterophylla

Oriental False Hawk’sbeard – Youngia japonica

Sensitive Plants – Mimosa strigillosa.

Mock Strawberry – Potentilla indica

Carolina Ponysfoot – Dichondra carolinensis

Largeleaf Pennywort – Hydrocotyle bonariensis

Peruvian Lily – Alstroemeria aurea

Tahitian Bridalveil – Gibasis pellucida

Blue Violet – Viola sororia

Shrubby Boneset – Ageratina havanensis

Aster  – Boltonia sp.

Pitcher’s Leatherflower – Clematis pitcher

Swamp Leatherflower – Clematis crispa

Yellow Star Grass – Hypoxis hirsute

Mugwort – Artemisia sp.

Groundsel Tree – Baccharis halimifolia

Redbay – Persea borbonia

Climbing Hempvine – Mikania scandens

Tievine – Ipomoea cordatotriloba

Saltmarsh Morning-glory – Ipomoea sagittata

Mustang Grape – Vitis mustangensis

Muscadine Grape – Vitis rotundifolia

American Trumpetvine – Campsis radicans

Carolina Snailseed – Cocculus carolinus

Virginia Creeper – Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Poison Ivy – Toxicodendron redicans

Japanese Honeysuckle – Lonicera japonica

Saw Greenbriar – Smilax bona-nox

Cross Vine – Bignonia capreolata

Blackberry/Dewberry – Rubus sp.

Scarlet Creeper – Ipomoea hederifolia

Pepper Vine – Ampelopsis arborea

Catclaw Vine – Dolichandra unguis-cati

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Center Receives Community Assistance Grant from Junior League of Houston

Bailey Kinney, Development Director of the Nature Discovery Center, recently received a Junior League of Houston (JLH) Community Assistance Grant of $10,000 on behalf of the Center. Thanks to the Junior League’s support, the Nature Discovery Center will offer on-site camp scholarships and reach beyond location limitations with creative Nature on the Go programs. These programs will ensure more children are able to participate in hands-on nature education this year. Pictured with Bailey are representatives of the JLH, and Licorice, one of the Center’s beloved ambassador animals.

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Fall 2020 BioBlitz for Russ Pitman Park (species count)

by Eric Duran, Head Naturalist

eduran@naturediscoverycenter.org

Twice a year, the Nature Discovery Center has a BioBlitz, one in the Spring, and one in the Fall.

A bioblitz is a chance for an organization to count as many species of living things as they possibly can in a given area.

This helps us keep an eye on how populations of plants, fungi, animals, and slime molds are doing in our park (Russ Pitman Park) from year to year, as well as how living things may be faring in the Houston area. We’ll be able to understand long term trends as the years go on, and we continue to do them, as well.

A bioblitz is also a chance for our staff to better understand what’s living here in the park, and keep a detailed list of everything that may be living here (and is observable). For our naturalists and staff, its also a lot of fun!

Asian Banded Snail with Trooping Crumblecaps

This year’s Fall 2020 BioBlitz, just ended, and we’re happy to report the count here.

The final list is compiled, and the numbers are counted. This year we set the dates to 10/9 – 10/26, giving us a little over 2 weeks, because we had very little help with observations this year (Covid-19 being the reason).

I did most of the species observations this year, but we got help from retired Senior Naturalist Mary Ann Beauchemin, Mary Spolyar from the Native Plant Society and the Gulf Coast Master Naturalists, Office Manager Pam Dunker, naturalist and teacher Debbie Lancaster, and our community of resident birdwatchers.

This year, we counted 340 species over all, which broke down like this…

ANIMALS: (139 species)

VERTEBRATES: (50 species)

INVERTEBRATES: (89 species)

FUNGI: (36 species)

SLIME MOLDS: (1 species)

PLANTS: (164 species)

There’s nothing new and exciting to report this year, but we had a very good bird list for a Fall Bioblitz, and we identified a few small insects that hadn’t been listed in the park before. We ended up having a good insect and invertebrate count, because of the warm weather. Overall, we were up from last year’s Fall Bioblitz (our first Fall Bioblitz, as a matter of fact). We had several people helping us last year, but we actually got a higher number of species! (Last year we only had 281 species.)

Let’s hope that covid is more under control for the Spring Bioblitz 2021, which will be sometime in mid-late April.

Common Green June Beetle

If you have any questions about the list, or our BioBlitzes, please contact me, Head Naturalist, Eric Duran at eduran@naturediscoverycenter.org.

Okay, so, here’s the list:

RUSS PITMAN PARK FALL 2020 BIOBLITZ (10/9 – 10/26)

ALL SPECIES: (340)

ANIMALS: (139)

VERTEBRATES: (50)

INVERTEBRATES: (89)

FUNGI: (36)

SLIME MOLDS: (1)

PLANTS: (164)

Rough Earth Snake

ANIMALS: 139 Species

Mammals: (3)

Gray Squirrel – Sciurus carolinensis

Fox Squirrel – Sciurus niger

Black Rat – Rattus rattus

Birds: (38)

Downy Woodpecker – Picoides pubescens

Cooper’s Hawk – Accipiter cooperii

Chimney Swift – Chaetura pelagica

Northern Cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalis

Blue Jay – Cyanocitta cristata

Red-bellied Woodpecker – Melanerpes carolinus

Eastern Screech Owl – Megascops asio

White-winged Dove – Zenaida asiatica

Carolina Chickadee – Poecile carolinensis

American Robin – Turdus migratorius

Ovenbird – Seiurus aurocapilla

Black-bellied Whistling Duck – Dendrocygna autumnalis

Carolina Wren – Thryothorus ludovicianus

American Crow – Corvus brachyrhynchos

Great Horned Owl – Bubo virginianus

Red-shouldered Hawk – Buteo lineatus

Ruby-throated Hummingbird – Archilochus colibris

American Redstart – Setophaga ruticilla

Gray Catbird – Dumetella carolinensis

Empid flycatcher – family Empidae

Northern Mockingbird – Mimus polyglottus

Eastern Wood-Peewee – Contopus virens

House Finch – Haemorhous mexicanus

Red-tailed Hawk – Buteo jamaicensis

Nashville Warbler – Leiothlypis ruficapilla

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Polioptila caerulea

White-eyed Vireo – Vireo griseus

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – Sphyrapicus varius

Magnolia Warbler – Setophaga magnolia

Swainson’s Thrush – Catharus ustulatus

Black & White Warbler – Mniotilta varia

Wood Thrush – Hylocichla mustelina

Philadelphia Vireo – Vireo philadelphicus

Blue-headed Vireo – Vireo solitarius

Summer Tanager – Piranga rubra

Yellow-rumped Warbler – Setophaga coronata

Black-throated Green Warbler – Setophaga virens

Black Vulture – Coragyps atratus

Reptiles: (6)

Three-toed Box Turtle – Terrapene Carolina

Red-eared Slider – Trachemys scripta elegans

Green Anole – Anolis carolinensis

Cuban Brown Anole – Anolis sagrei

Ground Skink – Scincella lateralis

Rough Earth Snake – Haldea striulata

Amphibians: (2)

Gulf Coast Toad – Incilius nebulifer

Rio Grande Chirping Frog – Eleutherodactylus cystignathoides

Bony Fish: (1)

Mosquitofish – Gambusia affinis

INVERTEBRATES (Non-insects):  (17)

Mollusks: (3)

Asian Tramp Snail – Bradybaena similaris

Globular Drop – Oligyra orbiculata

Dome Snail – Ventridens sp.

Segmented Worms: (1)

Common Earthworm – Lumbricus terrestris

Flatworms: (1)

Chinese Hammerhead Planarian – Bipalium kewense

Arachnids: (8)

Wolf Spider – family Lycosidae

House Orbweaver – Metazygia sp.

Spinybacked Orbweaver – Gasteracantha cancriformis

Bifurcate Trashline Orbweaver – Allocyclosa bifurca

Tangleweb Spider – Theridion sp.

South American Hacklemesh Spider – Metaltella simony

Twin-flagged Jumping Spider – Anasaitis canosa

American House Spider – Parasteatoda tepidariorum

Crustaceans: (4)

Comm. Striped Woodlouse – Philoscia muscorum

Lawn Shrimp (Amphipod/hopper) – Talitridae

Common Pillbug – Armadillidium vulgare

Powder Blue Isopod – Porcellionides pruinosis

Horace’s Duskywing Skipper feeding on Rudbeckia hirta

INSECTS/Hexapods: (72)

Springtails: (1)

Elongate-bodied Springtail – Salina banksi

Dragonflies: (1)

Band-winged Dragonlet – Erythrodiplax umbrata

Butterflies and Moths: (19)

Monarch – Danaus plexipus

Spicebush Swallowtail – Papilio troilus

Gulf Fritillary – Agraulis vanilla

Horace’s Duskywing – Erynnis horatius

Cloudless Sulphur – Phoebis sennae

Tawny Emperor – Asterocampa clyton

Ocola Skipper – Panoquina ocola

Dun Skipper – Euphyes vestris

Clouded Skipper – Lerema accius

Common Buckeye – Junonia coenia

Painted Lady – Vanessa cardui

Bagworm moth – Psychidae

Southern Flannel Moth – Megalopyge opercularis

Fall Webworm Moth – Hyphantria cunea

Indian Meal Moth – Plodia interpunctella

Grass Moths – family Crambidae

Yellow-collared Scapemoth – Cisseps fulvicollis

Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth – Anticarsia gemmatalis

Southern Beet Webworm – Herpetogramma bipunctalis

Flies: (10)

Secondary Screwworm Fly – Cochliomyia macellaria

Goldenrod Gall Fly – Erosta solidaginis

Long-legged Fly – Condylostylus patibulatus

Long-legged fly – Condylostylus sp.

Asian Tiger Mosquito – Aedes albopicta

Oriental Latrine Fly – Chrysomya megacephala

Leaf-miner Fly – family Agromyzidae

Hoverfly – family Syrphidae

Dusky-winged Hoverfly – Ocyptamus fuscipennis

Grass Fly – Thaumatomyia sp.

Bees, Wasps, Sawflies, Ants: (20)

Eastern Carpenter Bee – ‎Xylocopa virginica

Southern Carpenter Bee – Xylocopa micans

Strand’s Carpenter bee – Xylocopa strandi

Western Honeybee – Apis mellifera

Carpenter Mimic Leafcutter Bee – Megachile xylocopoides

Carpenter Mimic Cuckoo Leafcutter Bee – Coelioxys dolichos

American Bumblebee – Bombus pensylvanicus

Carpenter Ant – Camponotus sp.

Black Crazy Ant – Paratrechina longicornis

Graceful Twig Ant – Pseudomyrmex gracilis

Paper wasp – Polistes dorsalis

Dark paper Wasp – Polistes fuscatus

Metric Paper Wasp – Polistes metricus

Yellow-legged Mud Duaber Wasp – Sceliphron caementarium

Four-toothed Mason Wasp – Monobia quadridens

Tarantual Hawk Wasp – Calopompilus maculipennis

Thread Wasted Sand Wasp – Ammophila sp.

Black Ichneumon Spiderhunter – subfamily Ichneumoninae

Gall Wasp – Andricus sp.

Southern Live Oak Stem Gall Wasp – Callirhytis quercusbatatoides

Beetles: (8)

Click Beetle – family Elateridae

Asian Ladybird Beetle – Harmonia axyridis

Ground Beetle – Carabidae

June Beetle – Phyllophaga sp.

Diaprepes Root Weevil – Diaprepes abbreviates

Metallic Flea Beetle – Altica sp.

Common Green June Beetle – Cotinis nitida

Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle – Libidomera clivicollis

True Bugs: (3)

Aphids – family Aphididae

Hackberry Petiole Gall Psyllid – Pachypsylla venusta

Scissor-grinder Cicada – Neotibicen pruinosis

Cockroaches: (4)

Suriname Roach – Pycnoscelus surinamensis

American Cockroach – Periplaneta americana

Cockroach – Blatella sp.

Smoky Brown Cockroach – Periplaneta fuliginosa

Termites: (1)

Eastern Subterranean Termite – Reticulitermes flavipes

Earwigs: (1)

Yellow-legged earwig – Euborellia arcanum

Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: (1)

Great Anglewing Katydid – Microcentrum rhombifolium

Lacewings: (2)

Brown Lacewing – family Hemerobiidae

Green Lacewing – Chrysopidae

Bark Lice: (1)

Tree Cattle – Cerastipsocus venosus

SLIME MOLD: (1)

Carnival Candy Slime Mold – Arcyria denudata

Perforated Ruffle Lichen (seen last year)

FUNGI: (36)

Hairy Hexagonia – Hexagonia hydnoides

False Turkey Tail – Stereum ostrea

Bracket Fungus – Ganoderma sessile

Bracket Fungus – Trametes lactinea

Hoof Fungus – Fomes fomentarius

Mustard Yellow Polypore – Fuscoparia gilva

Firerug Inkcap – Coprinellus domesticus

Turkey Tail Fungus – Trametes versicolor

Common Tarcrust – Diatrype stigma

Ceramic Parchment fungus – Xylobolus frustulatus

Splitgill Mushroom – Schizophyllum commune

Crowded Parchment Fungus – Stereum complicatum

Oak Bracket – Pseudoinonotus dryadeus

Honeycomb Bracket fungus – Favolus sp.

Trametes cubensis

Dyer’s Polypore – Phaeolus schweinitzii

Reddening Lepiota – Leucogaricus americanus

Bonnet Mushrooms – Mycena sp.

Pseudosperma rimosum

Trichoderma sp.

Red Russula – Russula sp.

Family Stophariaceae

Common Browncup – Phylloscypha phyllogena

Pore lichen – Pertusaria sp.

Rough-speckled Shield Lichen – Punctelia rudecta

Powdered Ruffle Lichen – Parmotrema hypotropum

Common Greenshield Lichen – Flavoparmelia caperata

Common Script Lichen – Graphis scripta

Whitewash Lichen – Phlyctis argena

Plyctis sp.

Sinewed Bushy Lichen – Ramalina americana

Viridothelium virens

Farinose Cartilage Lichen – Ramalina farinacea

Perforated Ruffle Lichen – Parmotrema perforatum

Mealy Rim Lichen – Lecanora strobilina

Hoary Rosete Lichen – Physcia aipolia

“Blue” Mistflower

PLANTS: (164)

There are of course way more than this number of plants in Russ Pitman Park.

The Nature Discovery Center, however, already has a rather voluminous and exhaustive plant list for the park. Thus, the naturalists who participate in our Bio-blitz do not attempt to document all or even most of the plants in the park. Participants simply noted plants they found interesting, observed fruiting or blooming, or thought may not already be on the official park list of plants.

Mosses: (2)

Unidentified moss sp.

Unidentified moss #2

Ferns: (3)

Resurrection Fern – Pleopeltis michauxiana

Japanese Climbing Fern – Lygodium japonicum

Southern Wood Fern – Dryopteris ludoviciana

Palms: (2)

Dwarf Palmetto – Sabal minor

Mexican Fan Palm –

Grasses/Sedges/Rushes: (16)

Indiangrass – Sorghastrum nutans

Eastern Gamagrass – Tripsacum dactyloides

Basketgrass – Oplismenus hirtellus

Virginia Wildrye – Elymus virginicus

Switchgrass – Panicum virgatum

Wood Oats (Inland Sea Oats) – Chasmanthium latifolium

Florida Paspalum – Paspalum floridanum

Bermuda Grass – Cynodon dactylon

Marsh Bristlegrass – Setaria parviflora

Big Bluestem – Andropogon gerardi

Hairy Crabgrass – Digitaria sanguinalis

Umbrella Papyrus – Cyperus involucratus

Cherokee Sedge – Carex cherokeensis

True sedge – Carex sp.

Deep-rooted Sedge – Cyperus enterianus

Shortleaf Spike Sedge – Cyperus brevifolius

Broadleaf Plants: (141)

Mexican Plum – Prunus mexicanus

Boxelder Maple – Acer negundo

Red Maple – Acer rubrum

Black Willow – Salix nigra

Gum Bumelia – Sideroxylon langunosum

Coralberry – Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

River Birch – Betula nigra

Sweetbay Magnolia – Magnolia virginiana

False Indigo – Amorpha fruticose

Mulberry – Morus sp.

Senna sp.

Parsley Hawthorn – Crataegus marshallii

Shummard Red Oak – Quercus shumardii

Loblolly Pine – Pinus taeda

Yaupon Holly – Ilex vomitoria

American Black Elderberry – Sambucus canadensis

Southern Magnolia – Magnolia grandiflora

Sugarberry – Celtis laevigata

Green Ash – Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Southern Arrowwood – Viburnum dentatum

Southern Live Oak – Quercus virginiana

Buttonbush – Cephalanthus occidentalis

Chinese Holly – Ilex cornuta

Roughleaf Dogwood – Cornus drummondii

Eastern Redbud – Cercis canadensis

Carolina Laurelcherry – Prunus caronliniana

Loquat-leaf Oak – Quercus rysophylla

Bur Oak – Quercus macrocarpa

Bald Cypress – Taxodium distichum

Common Lantana – Lantana camara

Texas Lantana – Lantana x urticoides

American Beautyberry – Callicarpa americana

American Hornbeam – Carpinus caroliniana

Mexican Buckeye – Ungnadia speciosa

Osage Orange – Maclura pomifera

Possumhaw – Ilex decidua

Orchid Tree – Bauhinia variegata

Shining Sumac – Rhus copallinum

Pecan – Carya illinoinensis

American Elm – Ulmus americana

Groundsel Bush – Baccharis halimifolia

Southern Sugar Maple – Acer floridanum

Swamp Chestnut Oak – Quercus michauxii

American Sycamore – Platanus occidentalis

American Sweetgum – Liquidambar occidentalis

Chinese Privet – Ligustrum sinense

Ornamental Pear – Pyrus sp.

Tree Privet – Ligustrum lucidum

Willow Oak – Quercus phellos

Common Gardenia – Gardenia jasminoides

Cedar Elm – Ulmus crassifolia

Water Oak – Quercus nigra

Northern Catalpa – Catalpa speciose

Chinese Raintree – Koelrueteria elegans

American Basswood – Tilia Americana

Camphor Tree – Cinnamomum camphora

Straggler Daisy – Calyptocarpus vialis

Frogfruit – Phyla sp.

Yard Aster – Symphotrichum divaricatum

Blue Mistflower – Conoclinium coelestinum

Climbing Hempvine – Mikania scandens

Tall Goldenrod – Solidago altissima

Seaside Goldenrod – Solidago sempervirens

Giant Goldenrod – Solidago canadensis

Tievine – Ipomoea cordatotriloba

Narrowleaf Sunflower – Helianthus angustifolius

Camphorweed – Pluchea camphorata

Opposite-leaf Spotflower – Acmella repens

Spiny Chloracantha – Chloracantha spinosa

Cuban Jute – Sida rhombifolia

Chamberbitter – Phyllanthus urinaria

Leafy Elephant’s-foot – Elephantopus carolinianus

Frostweed – Verbesina virginica

Missouri Ironweed – Vernonia missurica

Mexican Primrose-willow – Ludwigia octovalvis

Three-lobed False Mallow – Malvastrum coromandelianum

Three-seeded Mercury – Acalypha sp.

Lizard’s Tail – Saururus cernuus

Buttonweed – Diodia virginiana

Obedient Plant – Physostegia virginiana

Mustang Grape – Vitis mustangensis

Muscadine Grape – Vitis rotundifolia

Brazos Pensemon – Penstemon tenuis

American Trumpetvine – Campsis radicans

Carolina Snailseed – Cocculus carolinus

Catclaw Vine – Dolichandra unguis-cati

Hairy Crabweed – Fatoua villosa

Pickerelweed – Pontederia cordata

Rattlesnake Master – Eryngium yuccifolium

Cast Iron Plant – Aspidistra elatior

Monkey grass – Lirope sp.

Shrimp Plant – Justicia brandegeeana

Mexican Ruellia – Ruellia simplex

Heavenly Bamboo – Nandina domestica

Wedelia – Sphagneticola calendulacea

Turk’s Cap – Malvaviscus arboreus

Whitemouth Dayflower – Commelina erecta

Wild Petunia – Ruellia caerula

Poison Ivy – Toxicodendron redicans

Scarlet Sage – Salvia coccinea

Virginia Creeper – Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Ball Moss – Tillandsia recurvata

Japanese Honeysuckle – Lonicera japonica

Late Boneset – Eupatorium serotinum

Saw green Briar – Smilax bona-nox

Cross Vine – Bignonia capreolata

Eastern False Aloe – Manfreda virginica

Western Ragweed – Ambrosia psilostachya

Maximillian Sunflower – Helianthus maximiliani

Tickseed Beggar’s Ticks – Bidens aristosa

Downy Lobelia – Lobelia puberula

Pepper Vine – Ampelopsis arborea

Giant Ragweed – Ambrosia trifida

Scarlet Creeper – Ipomoea hederifolia

Crow Poison – Nothoscordum bivalve

White Clover – Trifolium repens

Bladder Pod – Sesbania vesicaria

Alligatorweed – Alternathera philoxeroides

Swamp Criunum – Crinum sp.

False Daisy – Eclipta prostrata

Carolina Crane’s-bill – Geranium carolinianum

Spotted Spurge – Euphorbia maculata

Graceful Spurge – Euphorbia hypericifolia

Painted Spurge – Euphorbia heterophylla

Wisteria – Wisteria sp.

Oriental False Hawk’sbeard – Youngia japonica

Sensitive Plants – Mimosa strigillosa.

American Hog Peanut – Amphicarpaea bracteata

Greater Plantain – Plantago major

Broad-leaved Dock – Rumex obtusifolius

Mock Strawberry – Potentilla indica

Carolina Ponysfoot – Dichondra carolinensis

Southern Dewberry – Rubus trivialis

Pennsylvania Blackberry – Rubus pensilvanicus

Largeleaf Pennywort – Hydrocotyle bonariensis

Goosefoot Plant – Syngonium podophyllum

Black Snakeroot – Sanicula canidensis

Peruvian Lily – Alstroemeria aurea

Tahitian Bridalveil – Gibasis pellucida

Blue Violet – Viola sororia

Shrubby Boneset – Ageratina havanensis

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Fall Planting Season is Coming

It’s almost fall planting season! Visit these two great native plant events hosted by our partners at the Native Plant Society and the Garden Club of Houston!

Wildscapes Workshop
Saturday, September 21
8 am – 3:30 pm
Anderson-Clarke Center at Rice University
https://npsot.org/wp/houston/event-overview/wildscapes-workshop/

Bulb & Plant Mart
Thursday – Saturday, October 3 – 5
The Church of St. John the Divine
https://www.gchouston.org/bulb-plant-mart/

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2019 Spring Fling!

Despite a dreary forecast, we had over 400 people attend our annual Spring Fling! A Big Thank You to the volunteers and families who came out to enjoy the beauty of spring with us! Including the April Showers!

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New Tween Summer Camp Offered!

We are pleased to announce that kids ages 11 to 12 will have a new option for summer fun this year at the Nature Discovery Center! Our new Survivor Camp (offered August 5 – 9) is going to be an incredible opportunity for tweens to learn and test new skills in outdoor survival, from shelter building, to filtering water, finding edible plants and insects, and starting a fire without a match or cooking with the sun. This camp is all about finding out if you have what it takes to survive alone in the woods and learning new strategies to ensure that you can! Advance registration is required. You can register your tween online here.

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Nature Discovery Center Welcomes Bethany Foshée as New Executive Director

Bethany Foshée, an avid birder and naturalist, a driven educator, and a devoted conservationist, has spent her entire adult life preparing to be the director of a nature center, a passion she hoped to eventually pursue. Today, Tuesday, January 29, 2019, the Nature Discovery Center will welcome her as their new Executive Director. Foshée brings with her 20 years of experience in animal care, environmental education, volunteer and community outreach programs, and project management. Foshée has spent the last 5.5 years as Edith L. Moore Sanctuary Manager for the Houston Audubon Society, and has spent the past 11 years as the Director of the Houston Audubon Docent Guild. Before her time with Houston Audubon, Foshée worked locally with YES Prep Public Schools, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Memorial Park Conservancy, and the Houston Zoo.

“We are thrilled to have Bethany join the Nature Discovery Center team,” said Nature Discovery Center Board President Jennifer Nelsen. “Her breadth of experience, from grant writing to maintenance of facilities and grounds, from direction of environmental education programs to volunteer coordination and the development of community partnerships, make her uniquely qualified to lead and support the team in igniting lifelong curiosity, understanding, and respect for nature through education.”

As our world becomes increasingly urbanized and our climate increasingly imperiled, reconnecting people with nature is more imperative than ever. Foshée believes that by delivering meaningful outdoor recreation and interpretive opportunities, and by reminding people of the joy that can only be found in nature, we can engage our community in ways that foster a true appreciation for protecting our natural spaces.

Foshée’s passion for providing all people with the opportunity to connect with nature grew from her own childhood discoveries. “Growing up in the urban complex of Houston, my earliest experiences in nature included exploring our city’s channeled bayous, vacant lots and utility easements. While these settings might not sound picturesque or even truly ‘natural,’ they informed me of one powerful lesson: we are part of nature. ” When asked about her new role as Executive Director of the Nature Discovery Center, Foshée said “The Center offers families and children a chance to be present… present to nature around them and to each other… vital joys in life that are often lacking in our modern, urban lives. I am humbled and excited to join the NDC team to continue our great work together.”

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