“El Glorioso” is back!

Many aerial displays on May 20, 2026!

On May 20, 2026, as I was out on a walking survey looking for our “El Guapo,” our Mesoxaea texana, I saw another pair of familiar, large, gorgeous, green eyes buzzing around the Texas Kidneywood. It has been a little over a year—May 17, 2025—since I last saw “El Glorioso.”

Let’s compare and contrast “El Glorioso” on the left and “El Guapo” on the right:

I am hoping to see the female Protoxaea gloriosa on future visits!

Thank you for your visit, and thank you for your time!

• “El Glorioso,” our Protoxaea gloriosa, is back on the South Texas Sand Sheet!
• Lycus fernandezi – a species of net-winged beetle on the South Texas Sand Sheet.
• Night Skies Deep in the Heart of West Texas & the South Texas Sand Sheet
• “El Guapo,” our rare Mesoxaea texana, catching some Z’s on the South Texas Sand Sheet!
• Mesoxaea texana update from the South Texas Sand Sheet, and guess what? The Protoxaea gloriosa are back!!!!!!!

The post “El Glorioso,” our Protoxaea gloriosa, is back on the South Texas Sand Sheet! appeared first on El Mesteño® Ranch and Arboretum.

• “El Glorioso,” our Protoxaea gloriosa, is back on the South Texas Sand Sheet!
• Lycus fernandezi – a species of net-winged beetle on the South Texas Sand Sheet.
• Night Skies Deep in the Heart of West Texas & the South Texas Sand Sheet
• “El Guapo,” our rare Mesoxaea texana, catching some Z’s on the South Texas Sand Sheet!
• Mesoxaea texana update from the South Texas Sand Sheet, and guess what? The Protoxaea gloriosa are back!!!!!!!

The post “Mesoxaea texana nectaring on Waltheria indica on the South Texas Sand Sheet!” appeared first on El Mesteño® Ranch and Arboretum.

A Tepanec Long-horned bee enjoying a brief stop on a glossy, dark green Coma leaf.

About the Texas native bee:

“Abundant throughout the United States and Canada, these fast-flying bees are hairy and generally large. Males have extraordinarily long antenna.”

Source: Wilson, Joseph S., and Olivia Messinger Carril.   “The Bees in Your Backyard:  A Guide to North America’s Bees.”  Princeton:  Princeton University Press, 2016. 

“Melissodes means ‘bee-like.’ Meslissa means ‘bee’ and -odes means ‘looks like’ or ‘resembles.'”

Source: Wilson, Joseph S., and Olivia Messinger Carril.   “The Bees in Your Backyard:  A Guide to North America’s Bees.”  Princeton:  Princeton University Press, 2016. 

Note: Less than twenty-four hours after its initial capture, this Tepanec Long-horned bee was returned, alive and unharmed, to the exact tree he was found on. He buzzed off without skipping a beat!

About the Coma tree:

“Shrubs or trees up to 30′ tall (usually less), with milky sap, forming thickets from root sprouts. Side branches usually long slender thorns. Flowers: Radial, fragrant, in clusters from the leaf axils; petals 5, white, up to 3/16″ long. Leaves: Alternate; blades spatulate to ovate, tapering onto the petioles, up to 1 and 5/8″ long. The sweet fragrance of plants in bloom can be detected from long distances.”

Source: Richardson, Alfred, and Ken King.  “Plants of Deep South Texas.“  College Station:  Texas A & M University Press, 2011. 

Coma is an attractive evergreen tree that is part of the Tamaulipan Thornscrub habitat that dots the landscape out on the South Texas Sand Sheet.

Books referenced:

• Bravo, Esteban. “Incredible Edibles of South Texas.” (What to Eat & How to Get It). Copy Zone. McAllen, Texas. 2013.
• Peacock, Dexter and Forrest S. Smith.  “A Photographic Guide to the Vegetation of the South Texas Sand Sheet.” ” Texas A & M University Press.  College Station.  2020. 
• Eason, Michael.  “Wildflowers of Texas.”  Timber Press Field Guide.  Timber Press, Inc.  Portland, Oregon.  2018
• Richardson, Alfred, and Ken King.  “Plants of Deep South Texas.”  College Station:  Texas A & M University Press, 2011. 
• Wilson, Joseph S., and Olivia Messinger Carril.   “The Bees in Your Backyard:  A Guide to North America’s Bees.”  Princeton:  Princeton University Press, 2016. 

Online resources:

• Wikipedia: Melissodes tepaneca
• Encyclopedia of Life: Tepanec Long-horned Bee
• Discover Life: Melissodes tepaneca
• Bug Guide: Species Melissodes tepaneca – Tepanec Long-horned Bee
• iNaturalist: Tepanec Long-horned Bee (Melissodes tepaneca)

Related articles accessed online:

• “Alfisols.”  U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service.  U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Retrieved on September 19, 2023.
• “From the CEO:  Exploring the South Texas Sand Sheet.” Neal Wilkins.  East Foundation.  May 2021. Retrieved on September 19, 2023.
• Native Plant Project.  Online Version of the Tree Handbook. “Coma Del Sur.”  Retrieved on April 4, 2024. 
• Native Plant Society of Texas.  “Pollinator Landscaping:  Member Recommended Resources.” Retrieved on April 4, 2024. 
• “Native Pollinators and Private Lands:  Native Bee Needs.”  Retrieved September 13, 2023.
• “Plant Lists & Collections.”  Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.  University of Texas at Austin.  Retrieved September 16, 2023.
• “Plants of the South Texas Sand Sheet—Photos & Essay” by William R. Carr.  [Web Presentation by Bob Harms].  The University of Texas at Austin.  William R. Carr, Botanist, The Nature Conservancy of Texas and Research Affiliate, Plant Resources Center.  Retrieved on September 19, 2023.
• “Pollinator Conservation.” Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.  University of Texas at Austin.  Retrieved September 16, 2023.
• Runyon, Robert.  “Vernacular Names of Plants Indigenous to the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas.” The Brownsville News Publishing Co.  Brownsville, Texas.  1948. Retrieved on September 16, 2023, in PDF format.
• “Tamaulipan Mixed Deciduous Thornscrub.”  Texas Parks & Wildlife.  Retrieved on September 19, 2023.
• “Thorns and All:  Conservation Partners Show Love to Thornscrub Habitat in South Texas.”  U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  Aubry Buzek.  January 11, 2023.  Retrieved on September 19, 2023.
• Wildlife Austin Program.  “Native Solitary Bees:  Kid-friendly bees for schoolyards.”  Retrieved September 15, 2023.
• Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.  “Endangered Species Conservation.” Retrieved September 15, 2023.
• Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. (n.d.). Nesting & Overwintering Habitat | Xerces Society. Nesting and Overwintering Habitat for Pollinators and Other Beneficial Insects. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
• Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. (n.d.). “Who are the pollinators?” Xerces Society. Retrieved September 15, 2023.

• “El Glorioso,” our Protoxaea gloriosa, is back on the South Texas Sand Sheet!
• Lycus fernandezi – a species of net-winged beetle on the South Texas Sand Sheet.
• Night Skies Deep in the Heart of West Texas & the South Texas Sand Sheet
• “El Guapo,” our rare Mesoxaea texana, catching some Z’s on the South Texas Sand Sheet!
• Mesoxaea texana update from the South Texas Sand Sheet, and guess what? The Protoxaea gloriosa are back!!!!!!!

The post “Tepanec Long-horned Bees Nectaring on Coma on the South Texas Sand Sheet,” by C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist appeared first on El Mesteño® Ranch and Arboretum.