#resh cicada

Found this poor guy on his back on our back porch and it seems he (or she) had a bad molt so I’ve adopted it now.

@marshmallow-fluffy submitted: Cicada that fell in the pool and Yelled about it until I fished it out, and whose species I am wondering about. Also a leaf that looked sorta like a bug, but is definitely and absolutely a leaf. Found in [removed]. Please remove location.

@vespertinecat submitted: Hi there! I just thought that now that submissions are open, I'd send in my collection of photos for everyone to see. This isn't exhaustive, and I have many photos of these (or multiples of the same species/at different stages), but here's a nice collection of them identified to the best of my ability! All of these are taken in North Texas.

1. Yellow garden spider.

2. Wolf spider, specific species unknown; if you know, I'd love to know as well!

3. The same wolf spider with coin for scale. They were released outside afterwards.

4. Spotted orbweaver; this picture was tough to get due to any little breeze shaking her entire web.

5. The same spotted orbweaver with her web illuminated! Every single day she took it down, then at night she put this magnificent web back up again! This thing was a couple feet in length overall. Absolutely impressive from such a little spider.

6. This, my dear friends, is a bedbug. I have photos of various sizes and such. You don't want to know. Don't ask. You can ask to see the other bugs, though.

7. Unknown cobweb spider. Unfortunately, onenicebug and I weren't able to identify this one, but there's a whole family of them living in one of our bathrooms. We no longer have gnats.

8. Resh Cicada. To the best of my knowledge, this is a Resh. It was just hanging out on my house, chilling. Probably taunting the yellow garden spider below; who knows.

5.28.25

Resh Cicada

Megatibicen resh

Observed at Galveston Island State Park (9.27.24, 3.28.25, 5.28.25). It is native to the area and most of North America. It is also endemic (only found here) to North America.

The males produce songs that can be louder than lawnmowers with their tymbals, a membrane that forms part of their sound producing organ.

They have a pattern on their back, or dorsal side, that camouflages them in their tree habitats.

They molt their exoskeletons multiple times during their life cycle. Unlike periodical cicadas that emerge every 13 or 17 years the resh cicadas emerge every year.

They are edible and considered a delicacy in some cultures.

Their wings are naturally anti microbial and waterproof.

#reshcicada #megatibicenresh #citizenscience #cicada #native #endemic #insect #nature #outdoors #may #may28 #2025 #picoftheday #project365 #day148

5.29.25

Peacock Flower

Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Observed 5.23.25 on Galveston. It is a nonnative-noninvasive tropical flower that originates from the tropical Americas including the West Indies.

It can thrive in various climates especially subtropical and tropical and can be drought tolerant. It can grow up to 20 feet and can be shaped into shrubs or trees.

In some cultures it has been used for medicinal purposes with the fruits being edible but the seeds are toxic to animals including cats and dogs.

It is a great attractor to pollinators and the flowers can be used to make natural fabric dyes.

#peacockflower #Caesalpiniapulcherrima #citizenscience #nonnative #noninvasive #tropical #flower #nature #outdoors #may #may29 #2025 #picoftheday #project365 #day149

5.30.25

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Observed 5.17.25 at Galveston Island State Park. They are nonnative migrants that pass through the area to & from their northern breeding grounds and wintering grounds in South America and Mexico. They migrate further south during the winter than most North American ducks.

They can be found in shallow bodies of water such as small wetlands, flooded fields, coastal marshes and mudflats. They feed on green plants, seeds and aquatic invertebrates.

They are social animals, seen flying together in flocks. They nest in grass and are known to renest if their first nest is lost early in the season.

There was a banded male that was at least 23 years old.

#bluewingedteal #Spatuladiscors #citizenscience #nonnative #duck #nature #outdoors #may #may30 #2025 #picoftheday #project365 #day150

5.31.25

Golden Ball Cactus

Parodia lenninghausii

Observed at Galveston Island State Park, everyday. He’s the office cactus, Timmothee 🤣 This species originates from Rio Grande do Sul province in southern Brazil.

The golden spines are soft to the touch. The cactus can produce big, yellow flowers once it reaches maturity and is in optimal conditions. It thrives in soil with good drainage and watered sparingly. It can tolerate cold temps for a little while but doesn’t do well with frost.

#goldenballcactus #Parodialenninghausii #citizenscience #cactus #nonnative #flora #nature #outdoors #may #may31 #2025 #picoftheday #project365 #day151

6.1.25

Catchfly Prairie Gentian

Eustoma exaltatum

Observed along Stewart Road on Galveston 6.1.25. It is an annual herb that is native to the area and all along coastal prairies and marshes in Southern US and Mexico. Though it is often found in moist areas it is not limited to them.

It can grow up to 3 feet high and has a long tap root that reaches deep in the soil for water.

“Catchfly” refers to its sticky nature and that it attracts and traps insects.

Some believe it symbolizes resilience, love and romance.

#catchflyprairiegentian #Eustomaexaltatum #citizenscience #native #wildflower #nature #outdoors #june #june1 #2025 #picoftheday #project365 #day152

6.2.25

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Observed 5.11.25 at Lafitte’s Cove on Galveston. They are nonnative migrants that come through during spring and fall migrations. They winter in parts of South America, Central America and Mexico and Breed in Southern Canada and Northern and Eastern US.

They are mostly monogamous but can sometimes have two mates each with their own territory. They are very territorial, defending with in-flight posturing and chasing.

They hunt for insects by using a technique called “flashing” that uses their bright patches of feathers to scare insects, making them easier to catch.

#americanredstart #Setophagaruticilla #citizenscience #nonnative #migrants #wild #bird #june #june2 #2025 #picoftheday #project365 #day153

6.3.25

Green-spored Parasol

Chlorophyllum molybdites

Observed near 61st Street on Galveston. It is native to the area and most of North America. It thrives in grassy areas such as lawns and parks.

Also known as the false parasol, this poisonous mushroom is often confused with the edible parasol mushroom, making it the most common cause of mushroom poisoning in North America. The toxin, Molybdophyllysin, causes gastrointestinal distress such as vomiting and diarrhea.

The green spores are a key characteristic to differentiate from the edible parasol mushroom that has creamy white spores.