Family Asilidae...

OR ROBBER FLIES, described by Eaton & Kaufman(2006), being to other insects what falcons are to other birds. That is, swift predators on the wing. They can all generally be recognized by the usually "bearded face" and the concave top of their head between their eyes. Many act like flycatchers, perching on logs, leaves, twigs, or the ground, cocking their heads at insects passing overhead, and dashing out to apprehend a victim.

I found this guy on a low leaf while looking for Bumblebee Moths (H. diffinis).
I left.
It cocked its head at me.

(Hemaris diffinis) To bee or not to bee...

Also known as the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth. A member of the Sphingidae family of moths; also known as sphinx moths or hawk moths. "Sphingids" are powerful fliers that are often observed hovering at flowers to nectar. Many of them are diurnal, and are frequently mistaken for hummingbirds and bumble bees.

Anyhow, yesterday I was half walking/half running in large ungraceful circles around a local arboretum in McLennan Co., TX trying to keep up with a Zebra Heliconian (Heliconius charithonia) a beautiful tropical longwing butterfly, rare but apparently not a first for the Waco area. I never got a picture. But its only the second time I've seen this unmistakable stunner, the first being at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in Alamo, TX...right on the border in the lower Rio Grande Valley.

But of less interest to me at the time, there were several sphinx moths that I wasn't too familiar with hovering around the blooming shrubs spread all over the property. I took a number of pictures, all came out quite fuzzy. These guys seemed to be always on the move.

In discussion with a couple of fellows far more educated on this family than I, I sent a couple of pics that proved, to them, diagnostic documentation of "the Texas phenotype" of H. Diffinis.

From a gentleman who has spent "a fair amount of work with Sphingids." :

"Matt,

'I have
> found ova and larvae of this Hemaris on urban plantings of Lonicera
> sempervirens (Coral Honeysuckle) in the San Antonio area. Evidence is that
> this species will also use the introduced Japanese Honeysuckle and other
> Lonicera species as well. The Texas phentotype seems to be somewhat larger
> than nominate H. diffinis from other localities. I have collected larvae
in
> Washington, Missouri, and Arizona, and none approach the size of larvae
> from the San Antonio area.'" - M. Van Buskirk. Helotes, TX

Not being a fan of introduced exotic species on our native landscapes, I do know this area has plenty of the familiar Japanese Honeysuckle. But a by-product of adaptation by an insect, already a mimic, led to this learning experience for me. It may even be a county record, to boot.

http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/hdiffinis.htm

The preceding link has some incredible pictures of various regional phenotypes of this lep and its larvae, as well as an excellent life history account.

Mothra

I was out in the back kicking the tennis balls around with the birthday boy, when I noticed a glitch in The Matrix on the trunk of a Live Oak (Quercus virginiana). Turned out that it was not a glitch but a moth, a little less than silver dollar size. Per Eaton and Kaufman, Field Guide to Insects of North America, 2006..."The genus Acronicta includes about 75 species of dagger moths. The Greater Dagger Moth (Acronicta lobeliae), widespread and common, is one of the largest; its larvae feed on oak."

You ought to look up a picture of the Greater Dagger Moth larvae. Wierd, wild, stuff.

Anyhow, I wonder how close to an ID this is. Any help out there is appreciated.

Happy Birthday!

On this date 3 years ago, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, my faithful companion Anakin III was born. Six weeks later, I picked him up while I was in El Paso. Young Skywalker weighs in at a healthy(I'm serious, he's healthy) 101.5 pounds. We have seen each other through alot these past 3 years. Here is to many more yet to come. I couldn't have asked for a more loyal, loving, and gentle dog.(May could have asked for a smaller one though) Happy birthday buddy.

GCWA Field Biologist

Allow me to backtrack a bit, I recently served as a seasonal Golden-cheeked Warbler Field Biologist with The Nature Conservancy at Fort Hood, TX. The Golden-cheeked Warbler(Dendroica chrysoparia)only breeds in the mixed juniper-oak woodlands of central Texas. The female uses the stringy bark of mature Ashe Juniper(Juniperus ashei)as nesting material. Ashe Juniper reach mature status at around 30-yrs old. As such a habitat specialist, this bird is particular vulnerable to alteration or destruction of juniper-oak woodlands, and is a federally endangered species. As human population growth continues to boom, and unabated development grows and paves from Austin to San Antonio and points westward, Fort Hood in Killeen holds perhaps the largest area of prime Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo(Vireo atricapilla),also endangered, breeding habitat left in the world.

This became quite a strenuous field job over time. But I am thrilled to have been a part of this project, one that's been on-going since the 1980's. I am very proud to have done my small part to help. This job ended back in June.

My next job will be on a 37-acre atoll in the Northwest Islands, Hawai'i. More on that later.

Welcome

Welcome to my weblog. The title of this blog, "Where the Sidewalk Ends", is the title of a particular volume of poems and drawings by Shel Silverstein. It not only was one of my favorite books as a kid, but the title nicely reflects my work, my life, my interests and advocations, and where I generally feel comfortable and at peace. We cannot clear and pave everything, though we seem to be giving a valiant effort to do so, as a species.

"Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell."-- E. Abbey

Sit still. In silence, with me, observe and listen to the world around you. Listen to that hum. Feel that vibration. Hear the song.

The purpose of this site is to update friends and family of my whereabouts. The opportunity to share photographs and journal-type entries that illustrate my travels.

In truth, it is really just an experiment. I've never done anything like this. I'm curious as to how much time one must put in to it, and if I'll end up having that as well as the energy.

Again, thanks for checking in and continue to seek out the places beyond the concrete, those wonderful worlds within our own...that begin, just past where the sidewalk ends.