Mesoxaea texana Archives - El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum https://elmestenoranch.com/category/native-bees/mesoxaea-texana/ Hidalgo County, Texas Tue, 08 Oct 2024 14:32:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7 https://elmestenoranch.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/cropped-20180808_093253-1-32x32.jpg Mesoxaea texana Archives - El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum https://elmestenoranch.com/category/native-bees/mesoxaea-texana/ 32 32 194751585 “Female Mesoxaea texana on the South Texas Sand Sheet” https://elmestenoranch.com/2024/10/_/6166/ Tue, 08 Oct 2024 14:32:49 +0000 https://elmestenoranch.com/?p=6166 by C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist Female Mesoxaea texana nectaring on Waltheria indica. Thank you for visiting elmestenoranch.com!

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Female Mesoxaea texana nectaring on Waltheria indica.

Thank you for visiting elmestenoranch.com!

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]]> 6166 “Making more Mesoxaea texana on the South Texas Sand Sheet” https://elmestenoranch.com/2024/10/_/6141/ Mon, 07 Oct 2024 14:38:28 +0000 https://elmestenoranch.com/?p=6141 May 28, 2023.

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Female: Shiny, black eyes ~~~ Male: Green, jewel-toned eyes

When I first encountered these two rare bees, they were in flight.

In fact, they flew right in front of me, and I almost ran into them.

I was confused as to what I was seeing.

Front view of the two, conjoined Mesoxaea texana in the act of copulation.

Initially, these two rare bees appeared to be a very long insect flying about three (3) feet above the ground.

It took me a few seconds to realize that this “really long insect” I had nearly bumped into was actual two Mesoxaea texana—conjoined—while in flight.

The Texas native plant these two Mesoxaea texana alighted on was a Salvia ballotiflora, also known as Shrubby Blue Sage.

By the way, this plant has been observed to be a favorite nectar and pollen source for them.

These two remained conjoined for quite some time.

Rough estimates, based on the metadata for all images and videos taken that day, suggest that they were in this state for approximately several minutes.

I have been stewarding this land for these bees since the Fall of 2020.

Their watch, care, and preservation has turned into one of the main “Passion Projects” of this chapter of my life.

Stay tuned. There is definitely more to come.

Thanks for your time!

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]]> 6141 “Mesoxaea texana nectaring on Waltheria indica on the South Texas Sand Sheet!” https://elmestenoranch.com/2024/09/_/6117/ Mon, 02 Sep 2024 03:38:17 +0000 https://elmestenoranch.com/?p=6117 by C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist

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He’s BACK!!!!!
A “hovering” display….
A green-eyed male Mesoxaea texana is a repeat visitor to the South Texas Sand Sheet!
This rare, ground nesting bee has earned a few terms of endearment: “MT” and “El Guapo!”

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