Thorn Thicket Archives - El Mesteño® Ranch and Arboretum

“El Glorioso,” our Protoxaea gloriosa, is back on the South Texas Sand Sheet!

Camille — Sun, 24 May 2026 20:13:01 +0000

by C. M. Smith Rich

“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!

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

Lycus fernandezi – a species of net-winged beetle on the South Texas Sand Sheet.

Camille — Sun, 24 May 2026 00:13:54 +0000

by C. M. Smith Rich

September 17, 2025—my first sighting.

Lycus fernandezi on Roemer’s Acacia.

Nicknames: “Fernando” &”Hang Glider.”

The first time I saw this creature was back on September, 17, 2025, late in the morning. It stood out as a bright pop of color on a verdant green, blooming Roemer’s Acacia – Senegalia roemeriana.

As I approached this boldly-colored, orange and black beetle to come in for a closer look, it lept off the native tree it was poised on and helicoptered itself up, up, and on out of my way—just like an action figure in a movie or cartoon. I was starstruck!

Its unique wing spread and flight pattern as it flew away from me that day left quite an impression on my mind and in my imagination. I wanted the chance to see it again. I wanted the chance to see that impressive liftoff again.

Consequently, I set out to try and record its “liftoff” for us to experience and enjoy.

Fast forward to May 20, 2026.

As a friend and I made our way about the endangered Tamaulipan thornscrub habitat looking for native bees on a walking survey, she saw something and called out for me to look.

I spun around and, yet again, that bright pop of color against the greens and greys stood out against the landscape.

Could it be? After all this time of looking, watching and waiting? Had “Hang Glider” returned?

“Hang Glider is back!”

“Hang Glider”

I am happy be able to present “Hang Glider” taking flight for your review and enjoyment:

Up, up, and away…

Thank you for visiting the website! Thank you for your time!

The post Lycus fernandezi – a species of net-winged beetle on the South Texas Sand Sheet. appeared first on El Mesteño® Ranch and Arboretum.

Night Skies Deep in the Heart of West Texas & the South Texas Sand Sheet

Camille — Sat, 23 May 2026 20:54:49 +0000

by C. M. Smith Rich

In December of 2020, I read an article by W. F. Strong in the Magic Valley EC Members’ magazine, TexasCoopPower, entitled “He Gave Us the Stars.” This article told the story of a man—Mr. William Johnson McDonald—whose extraordinary vision was the impetus behind the University of Texas’ McDonald Observatory located on Mount Locke and Mount Fowlkes in the Davis Mountains of West Texas.

After I read this article, I was enraptured, enthralled, and invigorated at the idea of visiting this spectacular place. At that very moment, with stars in my eyes, I added visiting the McDonald Observatory to a most prominent position on my vision board. Right next to it, I enthusiastically penciled in staying at the Indian Lodge in Davis Mountains State Park to my vision board, as well. (Two bucket list items for me!)

Fast forward, a little more than six years later after reading W. F. Strong’s article, to January 2026. My sister and I made our first trip to Hotel Limpia in Fort Davis, Texas, Davis Mountains State Park, the Indian Lodge at Davis Mountains State Park, and the McDonald Observatory on Mount Locke. Our main objective on what we considered a “scouting trip,” was to attend a two-day astrophotography class at the McDonald Observatory and take in as much of the surrounding sights as possible.

The Milky Way peaking through the Davis Mountains in the parking lot of Indian Lodge, Fort Davis, Texas.

Our first night at the Indian Lodge, skies were clear. We staked out some vantage points in the parking lot and seized the opportunity to start snapping portraits of the gorgeous night sky deep in the heart of West Texas. The next day—day 2 of our scouting trip—we were on track to begin our first day of astrophotography class in the Frank N. Bash Visitors Center at the McDonald Observatory.

A winter storm was nipping at our heels…

Shortly upon our arrival, though, we found ourselves facing the high probability that our trip would be cut short due to an approaching winter storm. Consequently, we kept moving at a pretty good clip to try and take in as many of the sights as we could before we had to decide whether to stay for the second to the last day of our trip (and day 2 of our astrophotography class) or leave a day and a half early and get home safely well ahead of the storm.

Night Skies over the McDonald Observatory.

Despite our pioneering spirit, tenacity, strong will, and desire to stay, we opted to leave West Texas a day and a half early in order to, ultimately, give me enough time to get out of the San Antonio area before the winter storm set in so I could head back to the Rio Grande Valley (RGV). In retrospect, leaving the Davis Mountains a day early did afford me just enough time to get back in the RGV and winterize things out at El Mesteño Ranch and my home before the freezing temperatures set in. It was a mad dash for sure. Whew!!!

As I reflect on this trip, I give my sister the majority of the credit for helping me with astrophotography. With her expertise, guidance, and experience, I was able to get some great photos of the Milky Way in the parking lot at Indian Lodge and of the night skies over the McDonald Observatory. Naturally, when I got back home in the RGV, I had to head out to El Mesteño Ranch on the South Texas Sand Sheet—just a few days after our full moon on February 1, 2026—to try and capture some of the incredible night skies deep in the heart of the South Texas Sand Sheet.

Sunset ushering in the night sky on the South Texas Sand Sheet…

Night Skies over the South Texas Sand Sheet

The Milky Way…

The Milky Way over El Mesteño Ranch®.

Mercury just above the horizon…

Orion

Moonlight on a tin roof…

Mesquite-filtered moonlight…

Thank you for your time!

The post Night Skies Deep in the Heart of West Texas & the South Texas Sand Sheet appeared first on El Mesteño® Ranch and Arboretum.

“El Guapo,” our rare Mesoxaea texana, catching some Z’s on the South Texas Sand Sheet!

Camille — Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:14 +0000

By C. M. Smith Rich

As of approximately April 21, 2026, the Mesoxaea texana are back on the South Texas Sand Sheet!

Net-new associated taxa: Berlandier’s Fiddlewood ~ Citharexylum berlandieri

The Mesoxaea texana have returned to the South Texas Sand Sheet several weeks earlier than I had anticipated—April 21, 2026—late in the afternoon, to be exact. There were approximately 7 to 10 individuals buzzing around two Berlandier’s Fiddlewoods that were exploding with blooms thanks to my generous, weekly waterings.

[Puerto Rico, Texas, has been in drought since December 2, 2025.]

Male Mesoxaea texana on Berlandier’s Fiddlewood.

The rare bees were spotted initially, on this day, at approximately 2:54 p.m., nectaring and collecting pollen from the two Berlandier’s Fiddlewoods I planted a few years back. The rare bees continued to hang out and remain on the Fiddlewoods the rest of the day—even right up until dusk was giving way to the first few minutes of darkness falling over the South Texas Sand Sheet, which was approximately 7:58 p.m.

Female Mesoxaea texana on Berlandier’s Fiddlewood.

Thankfully, I was able to get a picture of “El Guapo,” a handsome, male Mesoxaea texana, sleeping in the curved, green leaves as a gentle Southeasterly breezed rocked him to sleep. This is a sight I may never get to see again, and I do feel blessed to have had this opportunity to photograph it for us.

Slide show for your review and enjoyment:

Thank you for your time!

The post “El Guapo,” our rare Mesoxaea texana, catching some Z’s on the South Texas Sand Sheet! appeared first on El Mesteño® Ranch and Arboretum.

Mesoxaea texana update from the South Texas Sand Sheet, and guess what? The Protoxaea gloriosa are back!!!!!!!

Camille — Sun, 25 May 2025 16:25:55 +0000

Male Protoxaea gloriosa nectaring on Waltheria indica on May 21, 2025! It’s been four long years since I last laid eyes on them!

by C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist

Dear Fellow Nature Enthusiast,

As I was making the rounds on my little place out in the South Texas Sand Sheet on Saturday, May 17, 2025, scouting for bees, birds, butterflies, and blooms, I was ecstatic to see and record a male Mesoxaea texana (Mt) nectaring on Waltheria indica once again! Just like clockwork, and according to the records I have been keeping in my phenology journal, it was time for Mt to return!

The male Mt, which I have affectionately nicknamed “El Guapo” back in 20221” did not disappoint me. However, what made El Guapo’s sighting even more remarkable is that it was heralded just moments before by its fellow subfamily Oxaeinae member, the Protoxaea gloriosa!

The Protoxaea gloriosa, which I affectionately nicknamed “El Glorioso” back in 2021, was also nectaring on Waltheria indica!

Alternate view of the male Protoxaea gloriosa nectaring on Waltheria indica.

As an aside, the last Protoxaea gloriosa that I recorded on my place was in the Spring of 2021. Remaining hopeful that “El Gloriosa” would one day return, I have been looking for them ever since. It only took approximately four (4) years of waiting, and it was worth it! Now, I have given myself a photo / video challenge: Record as much of “El Glorioso” as possible.

Protoxaea gloriosa caught in a Lynx spider’s deadly embrace circa May 2021.

My phenology records show a cyclical trend—maybe pattern or cycle might be better descriptions—on the amount of time I might expect to see the Mesoxaea texana and indicate that I will get to document the male a few weeks before the female Mesoxaea texana show up. The overall trends on when the cycle starts and stops for this rare native bee, according to my phenology journal data entries, demonstrate that its arrival on the South Texas Sand Sheet has historically been from the months of May to June—even sometimes carrying over into the first week of July.

Last year, the Mesoxaea texana showed up between approximately May 26, 2024, through July 2, 2024. They were spotted on Salvia ballotiflora. A special treat occurred last Fall, 2024, when the Mesoxaea texana reappeared for a second cycle above the ground on the South Texas Sand Sheet from approximately August 24, 2024, through October 26, 2024. During their second cycle, they were spotted predominantly on Waltheria indica, but were also observed on Salvia ballotiflora, Eysenhardtia texana, and Funastrum cynanchoides.

Over the past four years, I have not been able to conduct the same amount of Citizen Science research for the Protoxaea gloriosa as I have for “El Guapo” because I have not laid eyes on it in four years. My luck seems to be changing this year, however! So now what? What about “El Glorioso?” How long will we possibly get to see it on the South Texas Sand Sheet? Will it be long enough to start collecting data? My hunch about “El Glorioso,” based on what I have learned, is that the patterns I have observed and documented for the Mesoxaea texana, its subfamily member, will also apply and hold true for it as well. I guess we will see. Time (and data) will tell their tale.

Male Mesoxaea texana nectaring on Waltheria indica.

I will be, once again, starting up my intermittent, random walking surveys of all nine monitored sights. I will be looking, in earnest, for their nests this year; it is on my bucket list to be able to document them! I will continue to record ground temperatures at the monitored sights, track rainfall, record what’s blooming, and generally keep my eye out for anything that seems remarkable and worthy of note during these two rare, native bees time above the ground in this cycle of their lives on the South Texas Sand Sheet.

A slideshow for you:

Please stay tuned! There is more to come, and thank you for your time!

The post Mesoxaea texana update from the South Texas Sand Sheet, and guess what? The Protoxaea gloriosa are back!!!!!!! appeared first on El Mesteño® Ranch and Arboretum.

“Male Mesoxaea texana on the South Texas Sand Sheet”

Camille — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 14:49:50 +0000

by C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist

Male Mesoxaea texana nectaring on Waltheria indica.

“Knocking the competition off the bloom!”

Thank you for visiting elmestenoranch.com!

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

“Female Mesoxaea texana on the South Texas Sand Sheet”

Camille — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 14:32:49 +0000

by C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist

Female Mesoxaea texana nectaring on Waltheria indica.

Thank you for visiting elmestenoranch.com!

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

“Mesoxaea texana nectaring on Waltheria indica on the South Texas Sand Sheet!”

Camille — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 03:38:17 +0000

by C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist

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!”

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

“Tepanec Long-horned Bees Nectaring on Coma on the South Texas Sand Sheet,” by C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist

Camille — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 15:44:59 +0000

Tepanec Long-horned Bee ~ Melissodes tepaneca

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!

This particular bee was found nectaring on a Coma tree (Bumelia celastrina).

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.

Tamaulipan Thornscrub is an endangered habitat.

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.

A glimpse into the Tamaulipan Thornscrub 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:

A Texas native bee photographed on the exact same Coma Tree in 2022. Although the exact species of Texas native bee is unknown, those antennae are definitively characteristic of male Long-horned bees.

“Roemer’s Acacia” by C.M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist

Camille — Sat, 18 May 2024 19:45:00 +0000

Roemer’s Acacia

Senegalia roemeriana

Exquisite blooms…

“This is a prickly, 3-7 ft., round-topped shrub or, more rarely, a small tree to 20 ft. with spreading branches. Branchlets with scattered straight or recurved prickles. Leaves divided into numerous leaflets 1/2 inch long or less. Fragrant, cream to greenish flowers 3/8 inch wide arising mostly from the axils of the leaves are followed by a narrow, leathery fruit. Fruit a brown to reddish, flat, curved pod up to 4 inches long and 1 1/8 inches broad. Young trunks are covered with smooth bark, becoming scaly with age. Twigs are armed with short, curved prickles; hence the common name, Catclaw.”
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Roemer’s acacia is a shrub that can grow from 15 to 20 feet in height and has a spread of 10 to 15 feet. It is a perennial, deciduous shrub that prefers sand, clay, gravelly, rocky, or limestone soil types. It requires full sun, and, once established, requires very little water to survive. It blooms in the Spring. Flower color varies from white to green. It provides both nectar and seeds for wildlife.
Native Plant Society of Texas

Leguminosae (Fabaceae)

“Roemer Acacia grows in dry limestone or gravelly soils. In good, deep soil it grows to 15′-20′, although on thin limestone hillsides in Edwards County it is a scraggly shrub of 3′ to 6′. It is drought resistant and fairly cold hardy, as are Gregg and Wright Acacia. Its globe-shaped flowers are a good source of honey.”
Texas Native Plant Database

“Fruit Characteristics: pods, flatter and not as twisted as Gregg Acacia’s.”
Texas Native Plant Database

Thorn Thicket Archives - El Mesteño® Ranch and Arboretum

“El Glorioso,” our Protoxaea gloriosa, is back on the South Texas Sand Sheet!

“El Glorioso” is back!

Many aerial displays on May 20, 2026!

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!

Lycus fernandezi – a species of net-winged beetle on the South Texas Sand Sheet.

September 17, 2025—my first sighting.

Nicknames: “Fernando” &”Hang Glider.”

Fast forward to May 20, 2026.

“Hang Glider is back!”

I am happy be able to present “Hang Glider” taking flight for your review and enjoyment:

Up, up, and away…

Thank you for visiting the website! Thank you for your time!

Night Skies Deep in the Heart of West Texas & the South Texas Sand Sheet

A winter storm was nipping at our heels…

Sunset ushering in the night sky on the South Texas Sand Sheet…

Night Skies over the South Texas Sand Sheet

The Milky Way…

Mercury just above the horizon…

Orion

Moonlight on a tin roof…

Mesquite-filtered moonlight…

Thank you for your time!

“El Guapo,” our rare Mesoxaea texana, catching some Z’s on the South Texas Sand Sheet!

As of approximately April 21, 2026, the Mesoxaea texana are back on the South Texas Sand Sheet!

Net-new associated taxa: Berlandier’s Fiddlewood ~ Citharexylum berlandieri

Slide show for your review and enjoyment:

Thank you for your time!

Mesoxaea texana update from the South Texas Sand Sheet, and guess what? The Protoxaea gloriosa are back!!!!!!!

A slideshow for you:

Please stay tuned! There is more to come, and thank you for your time!

“Male Mesoxaea texana on the South Texas Sand Sheet”

Male Mesoxaea texana nectaring on Waltheria indica.

Thank you for visiting elmestenoranch.com!

“Female Mesoxaea texana on the South Texas Sand Sheet”

Female Mesoxaea texana nectaring on Waltheria indica.

Thank you for visiting elmestenoranch.com!

“Mesoxaea texana nectaring on Waltheria indica on the South Texas Sand Sheet!”

“Tepanec Long-horned Bees Nectaring on Coma on the South Texas Sand Sheet,” by C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist

About the Texas native bee:

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:

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:

Online resources:

Related articles accessed online:

“Roemer’s Acacia” by C.M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist

Senegalia roemeriana

Want to share with others?

References:

Archives

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