User:Pompilid
The user name Pompilid refers to a group of wasps that prey on spiders, the best known of which is the Tarantula Hawk, a conspicuous resident of the Sonoran Desert where I live.
My name is Michael J. Plagens. I was borne in Detroit, Michigan, USA 1954. I attended Lakeview H.S. in St. Clair Shores and Wayne State University in Detroit. I eventually migrated to Tucson in Arizona where I completed Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Entomology. I took botany as a minor.
In 1981 I began my Ph.D. at the University of Florida in Gainesville. My dissertation was on spider ecology in corn fields. My PhD with major in entomology and minor in zoology was completed in 1985.
I returned to Arizona in 1986 and have devoted my spare time to the study and enjoyment of the Sonoran Desert.
On May 12, 2005 I was married to Zahra, a Nandi from Kenya. She is teaching me Kalenjin and Kiswahili. I am looking forward to many years of nature study in Kenya!
Digital Photographs Flora
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Acacia farnesiana -
Amaranthus palmeri -
Amaranthus albus Prostrate Pigweed -
Calotropis procera -
Calotropis procera -
Atriplex elegans Wheelscale Saltbush -
Boerhavia coccinea Scarlet Spiderling -
Boerhavia intermedia Spiderling -
Bowlesia incana Hairy Bowlesia -
Bouteloua aristidoides Needle Grama -
Bouteloua curtipendula Sideoats Grama -
Bouteloua rothrockii Rothrock Grama -
Brassica tournefortii -
Camissonia californica -
Castela emoryi -
Castillaja exserta -
Carnegiea gigantea + Parkinsonia microphylla -
Chenopodium album -
Clematis drummondii Virgin's Bower -
Chamaesyce florida -
Chamaesyce hyssopifolia Hyssop Spurge -
Chamaesyce polycarpa Prostrate Spurge -
Chamaesyce setiloba Yuma Sandmat -
Crassula connata Sand Pygmy-weed -
Cryptantha angustifolia Narrow-leaf Popcorn Flower -
Cryptantha pterocarya Wingnut Cryptanth -
Cryptantha pterocarya -
Cyperus rotundus Purple Nut-sedge -
Cynodon dactylon with fungal parasite Ustilago cynodontis -
Datura wrightii -
Dasylirion wheeleri Sotol -
Dichelostemma capitatum -
Dicoria canescens -
Draba cuneifolia -
Eriastrum eremicum -
Ferocactus wislizenii -
Fragaria chiloensis -
Galium stellatum -
Heliotropium currasivicum Heliotrope -
Herniaria cinerea -
Ipomoea barbatisepala Canyon Morning-glory -
Ipomoea hederacea Morning-glory -
Isocoma acradenia Alkali Goldenbush -
Jatropha cuneata Sangre de Drago -
Kallstroemia grandiflora Summer Poppy -
Larrea tridentata Creosote Bush -
Lycium fremontii Fremont Thornbush -
Mimulus cardinalis Cardinal Monkey Flower -
Monoptilon bellioides -
Nerium oleander Oleander Leaf Scorch disease -
Notholaena standleyi Standley Cloak Fern -
Oligomeris linifolia -
Parkinsonia aculeata Mexican Palo Verde -
Pectocarya recurvata Arch-nutted Comb Bur -
Petalonyx thurberi Sandpaper Plant -
Pluchea odorata Salt Marsh Fleabane -
Pluchea sericea Arrow Weed -
Prosopis pubescens Screwbean Mesquite -
Quercus emoryii Emory Oak -
Rhamnus crocea Hollyleaf Buckthorn -
Rhus ovata Sugar Sumac -
Schismus barbatus Mediterranean Grass -
Senna covesii Desert Senna -
Stephanomeria pauciflora Wire Lettuce -
Thymophylla pentachaeta -
Tidestromia lanuginosa Woolly Tidestromia -
Tiquilia plicata -
Trianthema portulacastrum
Digital Photographs Arthropoda
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Adelpha bredowii eulalia Arizona Sister -
Agapostemon texanus -
Aphis nerii Oleander Aphid -
Apiomerus Bee Assassin -
Calephelis nemesis Fatal Metalmark -
Cicindela oregona Tiger Beetle -
Condylostylus -
Gerridae Geris sp. Water Strider -
Gnathatermes perplexus Encrusting Termites -
Homalodisca liturata Smoketree Sharpshooter -
Ichneumonid parasite of buprestid larvae -
Kukulcania hibernalis -
Limenitis arthemis arizonensis -
larva of previous -
Lygaeus kalmii Milkweed Bug nymphs -
Lytta auriculata Red-eared Blister Beetle -
Oecobius annulipes Wall Spider -
Peucetia Green Lynx with eggs -
Prodoxidae (moth) -
Progomphus borealis -
Tegrodera latecincta -
Trimerotropis pallidipennis
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Other Biota
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Podaxis pistillaris -
Rumina decollata -
Sauromalus ater Common Chuckwalla
