Diario de lafonlabs

Figured I would update those who are interested, but at the present time most of my work is being spent on Arilus cristatus identification and observations.

I hope to publish a photographic life history paper to assist in identification, with in-depth photographs of all life stages. However, this is more of a long-term project that I have on the backburner right now as I wrap up my undergraduate degree, and continue to work parttime with TAMUIC.

However, I am taking some time to upload all of the A. cristatus that I have access to at TAMUIC, which covers a little under 100 years worth of specimen. Granted there is only a couple dozen specimen, although as I prepare my own private collection of NA Wheel Bugs that will be donated to TAMUIC by the time I fill up a Cornell drawer full of them.

With a plethora of collecting methods (i.e., beat sheet, pitfall traps, lights, malaise) lots of insects can be collected within the College Station area. Using a variety of these methods can greatly increase the number of described species to the area.

I would recommend the following areas:

Whiskey Bridge (15 minutes north of Texas A&M Campus) - you can pull of the highway and park by the river and collect along the riverbed.

Fishtank Rd, behind the airport.

Yager Ln, by the water treatment plant. If you follow the pipe by the road, you can get to the road. Lots of aquatic insects.

Lick Creek Park

Polo Fields on campus.

Henshel Park

Lake Bryan (20 minutes north of Texas A&M campus)