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For my own personal interest, I maintain on my home computer a list of all the species of life that I observe living specimens of on the property where I live, either in the house, in the front or back yard, or potentially in my "airspace" above. I've decided to move the list on-wiki, because it can be useful for collaboration. In particular, I'd like to upload photos of as many of these as possible - as needed.

Plant [87]

Pteridophyta (Ferns & horsetails) [1]

Pteridopsida (Modern ferns) [1]

Polypodiales [1]

Lomariopsidaceae

Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants) [86]

Magnoliids [1]

Laurales [1]

Lauraceae (Laurel family)

  • Persea americana - Avocado - Sprouted from the compost pile, embarrassing the one I'd been trying for months to sprout on my windowsill.

Monocots [27]

Asparagales [16]

Orchidaceae

Iridaceae (Iris family)

  • Iris sp. - Iris - Planted by Aunt in front flower bed.

Asphodelaceae (Asphodel family)

  • Aloe vera - Aloe - Gift from Mom, potted in living room, eventually destroyed by the F. catus.
  • Haworthia sp. - Bought this at the store, and I have no idea what happened to it. Maybe it's still in the house!

Alliaceae (Onion family)

Habranthus tubispathus, after a shower

Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis family)

  • Habranthus tubispathus - Rio Grande copper lily - Pops up in the front yard after rain in June and July.
  • Lycoris radiata - Red spider lily - Grew in front flower bed in late summer.
  • Narcissus sp. - Daffodil - Sprouted in flower bed, probably left by previous tennant.

Hyacinthaceae (Hyacinth family)

Ruscaceae (Ruscus family)

  • Dracaena fragrans - Corn plant - Potted specimen brought from sister's house. It died.
  • Dracaena sanderiana - Lucky "bamboo" - Store-bought, planted in dirt, lives in breakfast room.
  • Liriope sp. - Liriope - Planted by Mom and Aunt in front flower bed.
  • Sansevieria trifasciata - Mother-in-law's tongue - Gift from sister, lives in project room.
Liliales [2]

Liliaceae (Lilly family)

  • Tulipa sp. - Tulip - Growing in front flower bed. Must have been planted by previous residents.

Smilacaceae (Sarsaparilla family)

  • Smilax sp. (S. bona-nox?) - Grenbrier - Grows in backyard as pernicious weed. Variegated variety.
Commelinales [3]

Commelinaceae (Spiderwort family)

  • Commelina communis - Asiatic dayflower - Found growing in front yard it May, as the summer heat started to kick in.
  • Tradescantia pallida - Wandering jew - Planted in front of the house by Mom and Aunt.
  • Tradescantia spathacea - Moses-in-the-cradle - Gift from Kiersty at work. Lives on front windowsill in living room.
Poales [4]

Poaceae (Grass family)

  • Cenchrus sp. - Sandbur - Grows as a pernicious weed in the back yard once it gets hot.
  • Zea mays - Maize - Planted in garden from store-bought seeds. My people call it "corn".
  • Cynodon dactylon - Bermuda grass - Grows in front and back yards.
  • Festuca arundinacea - Tall fescue grass - Grows in front and back yards.
Zingiberales [2]

Cannaceae (Canna family)

  • Canna sp. - Canna - Planted in front and side of house by Mom and Aunt.

Zingiberaceae (Ginger family)

Eudicots [58]

Ranunculales [1]

Berberidaceae (Barberry family)

  • Nandina domestica - Nandina - Bought at nursery, and taken away by Mom. It's all over town, though.
Caryophyllales [4]

Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family)

  • Spinacia oleracea - Spinach - Planted in garden from store-bought seeds in February, taken out in April

Cactaceae (Cactus family)

  • Gymnocalycium mihanovichii - Red cactus - Received as gift, grafted to Hylocereus below. Graft died.
  • Hylocereus sp. - Green cactus, used as a base for grafted Red cactus - After the red one died, it seems fine. Lives on windowsill.

Caryophyllaceae (Carnation family)

  • Stellaria media - Common chickweed - Grew wild in front yard as an early spring weed. I think there's still some out there.
Saxifragales [3]

Crassulaceae (Orpine family)

  • Crassula ovata - Jade plant - Gift from sister for housewarming. Lives on front windowsill in living room.
  • Kalanchoe tomentosa - Panda plant - Gift from sister for housewarming. Lives in project room.
  • Sedum burrito - Baby Burro's Tail - Gift from sister for housewarming. Died.
Santalales [1]

Santalaceae (Sandalwood family)

  • Phoradendron sp. - Mistletoe - Falls from tree branches and lands in back yard frequently.
Ericales [1]

Primulaceae (Primrose family)

Solanales [5]

Solanaceae (Nightshade family)

Gentianales [4]

Apocynaceae (Dogbane family)

  • Cynanchum laeve - Honeyvine milkweed - grows as a weed, climbing on other weeds. Present in May.
  • Nerium oleander - Oleander - Planted in front of house by Mom and Aunt.
  • Vinca major - Greater periwinkle - Growing in front of house.

Rubiaceae (Madder, Bedstraw and Coffee family)

  • Galium aparine - Stickywilly - Grew wild everywhere as an early spring weed. Mostly gone by May.
Lamiales [14]

Oleaceae (Olive family)

  • Ligustrum ovalifolium - Japanese privet - Two of these are growing in the back yard. Seems to handle the summer drought better than most species.
Ruellia angustifolia growing at Mom's house

Acanthaceae (Acanthus family)

  • Ruellia angustifolia - Wild petunia - Planted in front by Mom and Aunt. Hasn't bloomed; photo is from Mom's house.

Bignoniaceae (Trumpet creeper family)

  • Campsis radicans - Common trumpet creeper - Grows wild in the back yard as a pernicious weed. Wants to pull the fence down.

Lamiaceae (Mint family)

  • Lamium amplexicaule - Henbit deadnettle - Grew wild as a(n edible) weed in early spring. Mostly gone by April.
  • Lavandula sp. - Lavender - Sprouted from store-bought seeds. Not doing too well. Didn't work out.
  • Mentha sp. - Mint - Planted by Mom and Aunt alongside house.
  • Origanum vulgare - Oregano - Sprouted from store-bought seeds, then planted in herb garden. Now I can't find it out there. Presumed dead.
  • Salvia officinalis - Common sage - Growing (barely) in herb garden from store-bought seeds.
  • Rosmarinus officinalis - Rosemary - Sprouted from store-bought seeds. Not doing too well. Didn't work out.
  • Thymus vulgaris - Common thyme - Growing in herb garden from store-bought seeds.

Plantaginaceae (Plantain family)

  • Veronica sp. - Speedwell - Grew wild as a weed in early-mid spring. Pretty flower.
  • Ocimum basilicum - Basil - Growing in herb garden from store-bought seeds.

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort family)

Apiales [1]

Apiaceae (Carrot family)

Asterales [9]
Ambrosia trifida - Ragweed

Asteraceae (Aster family)


Geraniales [1]

Geraniaceae (Geranium and cranesbill family)

Malpighiales [1]

Violaceae (Violet family)

Oxalidales [1]

Oxalidaceae (Oxalis family)

  • Oxalis sp. - Yellow wood-sorrel - Growing wild in back yard, from mid-spring
Fabales [2]

Fabaceae (Legume family)

  • Arachis hypogaea - Peanut - Growing in herb garden after a Sciurus niger buried it there.
  • Medicago arabica - Spotted medick, heart clover - Grew wild as weed in patches of front and back yards in the spring.
Rosales [4]

Rosaceae (Rose family)

  • Rhaphiolepis indica - Indian Hawthorne - Growing in back yard, bought from nursery
  • Rosa sp. - Rose - Growing in front flower bed.

Cannabaceae (Cannabis family)

  • Celtis laevigata - Sugarberry or Southern Hackberry tree - Growing in back yard.

Moraceae (Mulberry and fig family)

  • Ficus elastica - Rubber plant, Rubber fig - George the rubber plant, my constant companion since '04, in breakfast room.
Cucurbitales [1]

Cucurbitaceae (Melon family)

Fagales [1]

Fagaceae (Beech family)

  • Quercus sp. - Oak. A couple of volunteer trees, growing in front and back yards.
Brassicales [2]

Brassicaceae (Crucifers/Mustard and cabbage family)

Malvales [2]

Malvaceae (Mallow family)

  • Abelmoschus esculentus - Okra - Growing in garden from store-bought seeds.
  • Hibiscus sp. - Hibiscus - Growing wild in front of house, near south property line.

Fungus [3]

Ascomycota (Sac fungi) [2]

Eurotiomycetes

Eurotiales

Trichocomaceae

Saccharomycetes

Saccharomycetales

Saccharomycetaceae

Basidiomycota [1]

Agaricomycetes

Boletales

Boletaceae

  • Boletus sp. ( B. bicolor?) - Two-colored bolete - Growing wild by garden in back yard.

Animal [70]

Mollusca (Molluscs) [1]

Bivalvia

Veneroida

Veneridae (Venus clam family)

Annelida (Segmented worms) [1]

Clitellata [1]

Haplotaxida [1]

? - Earthworm - In back yard, any time I turn over some dirt w/ a shovel.

Arthropoda [37]

Insecta [35]

Odonata [1]

Libellulidae

Dermaptera [1]

Forficulidae

  • Forficula auricularia - European earwig - I don't even remember. They're everywhere. One was inside a pecan I wanted to eat.
Orthoptera [1]

? - Crickets in yard

Blattaria [1]

Blattidae

  • Periplaneta americana - American cockroach - Only seen one (1) in house. More under junk in the yard. Indoors, I kill these on sight.
Hemiptera [5]

Cicadidae (Cicada family)

  • Tibicen sp. - Dog-day cicada - Found its molted skin clinging to the side of the house, late June, and pretty much everywhere by mid-July. They're also what you hear outside.

Cydnidae (Burrowing bug family)

  • Pangaeus bilieatus - Peanut burrowing bug - Found on my arm after mowing the front lawn in late May.

Pentatomidae (Stink bug family)

  • ? - Stink bug found in house.

Nabidae (Damsel bug family)

Reduviidae (Assassin bug family)

  • Zelus renardii (Leafhopper assassin bug) - Found in kitchen, photographed, then released outside, February 2010.
Coleoptera [8]
Diabrotica undecimpunctata on a Solanum lycopersicum leaf.

Carabidae (Ground beetle family)

  • ? - Ground beetle found under a brick

Chrysomelidae (Leaf beetle family)

Coccinellidae (Ladybug family)

Tenebrionidae (Darkling beetle family)

Scarabaeidae (Scarab beetle family)

  • Phyllophaga sp. - June bug - Seen hanging on window screen in - you guessed it - June.
Hymenoptera [4]

Apidae (Honey bee family)

  • Apis mellifera - European honey bee - Seen buzzing 'round flowers in the back. We like this species.

Formicidae (Ant family)

  • Solenopsis invicta - Red Imported Fire Ant - Accidentally discovered w/ my foot in back yard. This species, I kill on sight.

Vespidae (Wasp family)

Evaniidae (Ensign wasp family)

  • Evania appendigaster - Cockroach egg parasitoid wasp - found on kitchen counter in June. Controls cockroaches, so we like this one.
Neuroptera [1]

Chrysopidae - (Green lacewing family)

  • ? - Green lacewing seen hanging out on the ceiling at night.
Diptera [5]

Culicidae (Mosquito family)

  • Aedes albopictus - Asian tiger mosquito - This one is killed on sight. Damned invasive day-feeding pests.

Sciaridae (Dark-winged fungus gnat family)

  • ? - Gnats seen hanging 'round sprouts on windowsill in project room.

Tipulidae (Crane fly family)

  • Tipula(?) sp. - Crane fly - Seen in house.

Muscidae (Housefly family)

Syrphidae (Hoverfly family)

  • ? - Hoverfly seen hanging out on ivy by front door.
Siphonaptera [1]

Pulicidae (Common flea family)

  • ? - Flea - Followed me in from the yard. Now eradicated inside the house, I hope. Not too fussed about which species it was.
Lepidoptera [7]
Asterocampa celtis in the back yard

Geometridae (Geometrid moth family)

Lycaenidae (Gossamer-winged butterfly family)

  • Strymon melinus - Gray Hairstreak - Seen in front of house, near the hibiscus.
  • Calycopis cecrops - Red-banded Hairstreak - Seen hanging out near garden, early April.

Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterfly family)

Pieridae (Yellow and white family)

  • Pieris rapae - Small cabbage white - seen flitting about backyard.

Malacostraca [2]

Isopoda [2]

Armadillidiidae

  • Armadillidium vulgare(?) - Common pillbug - Under something in the back yard.
  • ? - Other, non-ball-rolling woodlouse - Under something in the back yard.

Chordata [31]

Actinopterygii [1]

Perciformes [1]

Osphronemidae

  • Betta splendens - Siamese fighting fish - Purchased at pet store, named "Malcolm". He eventually died.

Aves [20]

Columbiformes [1]

Columbidae (Dove family)

Accipitriformes [1]

Cathartidae

Piciformes [2]

Picidae (Woodpecker family)

Passeriformes [16]

Corvidae (Crow family)

Regulidae (Kinglet family)

Paridae (Titmouse family)

Troglodytidae (Wren family)

Mimidae (Mockingbird family)

  • Mimus polyglottos - Northern mockingbird - Seen in back yard. Doesn't visit feeders.
  • Toxostoma rufum - Brown thrasher - Seen perched on back yard fence. Seems shy.

Sturnidae (Starling family)

Turdidae (Thrush family)

  • Turdus migratorius - American robin - Seen in front and back yard, patrolling for invertebrates. Good work, Turdus.

Passeridae (Sparrow family)

Cardinalidae (Cardinal family)

Emberizidae (Bunting family)

Fringillidae (Finch family)

Icteridae (American blackbird family)

Reptilia [2]

Squamata [2]

Colubridae (Common snake family)

  • Thamnophis sp. - Garter snake - Found in back yard while cleaning out the weird corner.

Gekkonidae (Gecko family)

Mammalia [8]

Sciurus niger, eating some Arachis hypogaea seed.
Didelphimorphia [1]

Didelphidae (Common opossum family)

  • Didelphis virginiana - Virginia opossum - Spotted by reasonably reliable friends in back yard at night.
Carnivora [4]

Canidae (Dog family)

Mustelidae (Mustelid family)

Procyonidae (Raccoon family)

  • Procyon lotor - common raccoon - Visits the back yard at night, sometimes comes up to the window.

Felidae (Cat family)

  • Felis catus - domestic cat - These patrol the property, but never quite manage to catch an avian... so far!
Rodentia [2]

Muridae

  • Rattus norvegicus - Brown rat - Saw one in kitchen once, bleh. Spreading dryer sheets around the attic seems to have worked, for now.

Sciuridae (Squirrel family)

  • Sciurus niger - Fox squirrel - Ubiquitous, feeds on anything he can get his greedy little paws into.
Primate [1]
Homo sapiens, photographed in Oregon, now living right here in Texas.

Hominidae (Hominid family)

  • Homo sapiens - Human - Spotted in mirror, and occasionally just hanging around.