Spreading Pygymyleaf

Family:  Caryophyllaceae (Pink Family)

Flower Month:  February – August

Bloom Color:  White, Yellow

Duration:  Annual

Growth Form:  Forb

Armed / Unarmed:  Unarmed

Leaf Complexity:  Simple

Leaf Shape:  Subulate

Size Notes: Up to 5” tall

Fruit Type:  Capsule

Online sources for the information presented in this photo story:

1. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
2. U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service
3. United States Geological Survey
4. Burke Herbarium Image Collection
5. iNaturalist

• C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist
• C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist
• C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist
• “Cochineal – Under the Microscope”
• Mothing Supplies for Your Review and Consideration: Examples and Links

• American Badger
• Amphibians
• arachnid
• Arboretum
• Archaeology
• Astronomy
• At the water's edge ~ Stealth Cam Videos
• Bats on the Sand Sheet
• Birds
• Cacti
• Canid
• Chicle – a silly, fun-loving, stealthy Donkey
• Cochineal
• Donkey Tails: The Life and Times of Chicle
• Epiphytes
• Fauna
• Flora
• Flowering
• insect
• Insects
• Lechuza
• lizard
• Loeflingia squarrosa
• mammal
• Micrographs
• mite
• Mosses
• Mothing
• Native Bees
• Nature is my classroom.
• Nature Stories
• Night Pollinators
• Nights on the Sand Sheet
• non-insect Arthropods
• owls
• Pollinators
• rabbit
• Reptile
• Reptiles
• Sand Sheet Geology
• Shrubs and Bushes
• Skies over El Mesteño
• snake
• Snoop the Horse
• spider
• Thorn Thicket
• Tortoise
• Tracks
• Vines
• Wildflowers
• Wildflowers

The post C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist appeared first on El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum.

• C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist
• C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist
• C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist
• “Cochineal – Under the Microscope”
• Mothing Supplies for Your Review and Consideration: Examples and Links

• March 2024
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• August 2023
• June 2023
• May 2023
• November 2022
• November 2021
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• February 2021
• September 2020
• June 2020
• May 2020
• March 2020
• February 2020
• October 2019
• September 2019
• August 2019
• June 2019
• May 2019
• April 2019
• March 2019
• February 2019
• January 2019
• December 2018

The post C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist appeared first on El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum.

In the last edition of “The Chachalaca,” I went into detail about the substantial amounts of cochineal on the prickly pear cacti population at El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum over the last six (6) months.  I shared research about the historical use and economic importance of scale insects. 

I most especially had a lot of fun photographing them under my microscope. However, my article, “Cochineal:  Under the Microscope,” was just the first part of my cochineal story. This article will bring my cochineal story full circle. 

How did I extract dye from the insect?

After harvesting the cochineal, I was able to extract a dye from them by boiling the dried insects, including the “white fluff,” in filtered water in a pan on my stove top. Next, I strained the dye concoction through a small colander into a glass jar. Then, I was ready to begin my journey into dyeing assorted items with my cochineal extract.

What did I do with the cochineal extract?

I “went to town,” so to speak, finding unusual ways to apply cochineal to canvas, watercolor paper, and homemade paper. I tried to leave no stone unturned.   I worked with the cochineal extract application process using sponges and paint brushes, but mostly I used my hands. I quickly learned that cochineal would dye your skin and fingernails quite nicely. Hence, I began using disposable, vinyl gloves going forward. (Although the dye on my skin was not permanent, it did take a day, or so, of lots of hand washing to thoroughly remove.)

Making both homemade paper and homemade seed paper were two of my biggest cochineal dye project undertakings.  Let me just say that making paper is messy, so it is no surprise that I made huge messes in my garage with this part of my cochineal experiment.  Regardless of any drawbacks to my “paper caper,” I found it very satisfying to see the result of homemade seed paper in a lovely lilac hue.  The cochineal-dyed seed paper, sprinkled with a hand-picked “South Texas Sand Sheet” mix of seeds that were available at the time I made the seed paper, looked so beautiful and resembled delicate, small flat bread pizzas!

What did I use for this project?

Some of the things I used, while working with cochineal extract for craft projects and dyeing natural and synthetic fibers, are as follows:

• Textiles dyed: 100% Raw silk fabric, 100% cotton fabric, 100% cotton yarn, 50% / 50% cotton blend fabric, synthetic fibers (lace type), and gauze.
• Mordants used for dyeing textiles: Alum and Cream of Tartar
• Ready-made canvases.
• Watercolor paper.
• Inexpensive white acrylic paint.
• Paint brushes and eyedroppers.
• Melted wax, which was used to experiment with the Batik method of dyeing.
• Recycled paper scraps, an old blender, plastic tubs, buckets, sponges (to remove excess water from paper pulp), and a mould and deckle (that I made from old picture frames and plastic screen repair fabric) to make the homemade recycled paper and seed paper.
• Wildflower seeds, which were collected from the South Texas Sand Sheet, for use on the homemade seed paper.
• Natural materials, like leaves, rocks, twigs, orange slices, and coffee grounds, to create designs on watercolor paper.

Summary of the process I used to dye textiles:

Method used for dyeing textiles:  Solar

• Most of the textiles spent days sitting in the dye bath solution and being gently moved and stirred around in the dye bath to try and achieve a uniform appearance.
• After a few days in the dye bath, I removed the different textiles and allowed them to air dry for a few days to try and “fix” the dye.
• I could never quite get the dye’s level of saturation on the textiles to stay as intense as they appeared initially on the textiles coming out of the dye bath for the first time.
• I tried re-dyeing all the textiles numerous times to try to achieve darker, deeper, intense shades of purple and pink. Nevertheless, the colors achieved by subsequent dye baths never appeared to be any more intense than when they initially came out of their first dye bath.
• The textile that, in my opinion, yielded the nicest shade of red was the raw silk.
• After trial and error, including rinsing the textiles with tap water by hand and laundering some of the textiles in my washing machine on the gentlest cycle possible, I arrived at the conclusion that there are no fixed rules for dyeing with cochineal.
• The creative process and experimentation of using the cochineal scale insect in natural dye processes are equal parts science, adventure, and mystery.

What did I learn?

Alum yielded darker, intense shades of purple.

Cream of Tartar & Alum produced pinker shades.

Methods of application I found interesting :

• Using an eye dropper to create designs on both ready-made canvases and watercolor paper that I purchased at a local big box store.
• Drizzling cochineal extract over nature textures on watercolor paper to see what impressions were left behind once the nature material was removed.
• Mixing the cochineal dye extract with white acrylic paint to achieve a more uniform material that adhered nicely to the ready-made canvases when applied with a simple, inexpensive paint brush.

My cochineal journey—and my stories about it—have been a labor of love in my personal quest for knowledge about, and experience with, this tiny, crimson insect. What was my favorite thing produced in my cochineal experiment, you might wonder?  That is an easy answer. The homemade seed paper was, by far, the most enjoyable, rewarding product produced. 

If you missed the first part of my cochineal story, you may access it here:

• C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist
• C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist
• C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist
• “Cochineal – Under the Microscope”
• Mothing Supplies for Your Review and Consideration: Examples and Links

Thank you!

• March 2024
• December 2023
• September 2023
• August 2023
• June 2023
• May 2023
• November 2022
• November 2021
• August 2021
• February 2021
• September 2020
• June 2020
• May 2020
• March 2020
• February 2020
• October 2019
• September 2019
• August 2019
• June 2019
• May 2019
• April 2019
• March 2019
• February 2019
• January 2019
• December 2018

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“Cochineal – Under the Microcope” by Camille M. Rich, Steward & Texas Master Naturalist

On recent ranch trips over the last couple of months to El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum, I began noticing what seemed to me to be an extremely large amount of cochineal (Dactylopius coccus) on the Prickly Pear cacti (Opuntia engelmannii var. linderheimeri—significantly more than I had noted in previous years. Here in deep South Texas, we commonly refer to Prickly Pear cacti by its Spanish name “nopal.” 

What makes this year more unusual, as far as my memory can recollect, is that this year the amount of this scale insect seems to have more than doubled from previous years. This got me to thinking. Why is this happening?

Despite a few “Citizen Scientist” theories I have put together to try to better understand (and possibly explain) the cochineal explosion, I really do not have any answers—only more questions. Nevertheless, I now have plenty of scale insects available to be harvested to afford me the opportunity to pick up with a natural dyeing experiment using cochineal that I put on hold about a year and a half ago.

A few exciting, fun facts about cochineal:

• The cochineal insect has been used for centuries to produce a beautiful red pigment.
• Historically speaking, the regions of Puebla, Tlaxcala, and Oaxaca, Mexico, had systems for breeding of cochineal and engineering ways to breed them for maximum red pigmentation in the dyes they yielded.
• The Mayans and Aztecs used the cochineal pigment in rituals and for trade; red was symbolic of the gods, sun and blood.

• Farms where cochineal insects and their host cacti are cultivated together are called “Nopalries.”

• This bright red pigment has been used in many works of art, including “The Bedroom” by Vincent van Gogh.
• The red pigment became an international symbol for power in Europe, and the secret of its origin was carefully guarded by Spain.
• This highly sought after pigment was used in uniforms for the English—hence, the resulting term:  English “Redcoats.”

• This intense, red pigment became a symbol of authority and was utilized in the robes worn by Roman Catholic clergy.
• The red pigment, which is carminic acid, is the product of a substance that the female cochineal uses to protect her eggs from predators.
• The white, waxy substance on Prickly Pear cacti pads, which resembles “fluff” or cotton balls, is secreted by the tiny cochineal nymphs to protect them from water loss and the sun.

Microscopic view of what is happening in the “white fluff”:

• In South Africa, some cochineal species have been used as a means of biocontrol for invasive cacti species.
• Some insects are natural enemies of the cochineal including lady bugs, ants, parasitic wasps, and lacewings, just to name a few.
• Some rodents (most especially rats), birds, and reptiles also feast on cochineal.

• Some insects are natural enemies of the cochineal including lady bugs, ants, parasitic wasps, and lacewings, just to name a few.
• Some rodents (most especially rats), birds, and reptiles also feast on cochineal.
• It takes approximately 70,000 insects to make one pound of cochineal.
• Colors that cochineal can produce include scarlet, crimson, and orange.
• In more recent times, cochineal has been replaced by synthetic dyes.
• Nevertheless, cochineal continues to be used in cosmetics and beverages.

After a few months of monitoring this heavy infestation via, walking surveys of the prickly pear population, I have begun to observe what appear to be “end stages” of the effects of the current, heavy cochineal infestation on Prickly Pear cacti.

In the beginning of a cochineal infestation on an individual Prickly Pear cactus, I have observed that the individual’s pads will appear green and plump with moisture—sporting just a few patches of cochineal white “fluff” in the glochids that occur on the surface of the prickly pear pad.

Over time, the amount of white “fluff” increases over the surface area of the prickly pear pad.

Many of the green prickly pear pads, recently, are currently solid white with cochineal “fluff” —giving them the overall appearance of huge, Texas-size cotton balls. Prickly pear pads that have been under heavy cochineal infestation for some time will begin to turn shades of pale yellow or pale green—most assuredly on their way to turning brown, completely drying out, and withering away.

The “wilting” effect:

After a few weeks under heavy infestation, I also have begun to observe a simultaneous weakening of the central base structure of the affected Prickly Pear cacti. The afflicted Prickly Pear cacti will look as though they are “wilting” and begin to droop over. Once they have seemingly “wilted,” it becomes difficult for the cactus to bear the weight of their own pads.

From what I can discern, this “wilting” stage appears to most likely be the final stage before an individual cactus ends up on the ground—nothing more than a heap of pale yellow or pale green pads covered in cochineal.

The “end” stage:

After the “wilting effect” progresses to a point of severity that the Prickly Pear cacti gains an overall appearance of sporting pale green or pale yellow pads, combined with additional pads beginning to fall to the earth below, the cacti have entered what I have observed to be the final stage of infestation—the “the end stage.”

Almost as soon as I notice Prickly Pear cactus pads have begun to fall to the ground around what is left of the central base structure of an individual, it seems to be only a matter of a few more days before the cactus is dead.

Sometimes the “end stage” process draws out a big longer—to perhaps even another week or so—if a large Prickly Pear cactus of, say, approximately five to six feet tall in height by approximately six to eight feet in diameter, is under heavy cochineal infestation.

Ultimately, once the Prickly Pear cactus hits the red, sandy soil, there it will remain and continue the process of desiccation—drying up and withering away until it is nothing more than mere brown, crispy pads resembling Texas-size tortilla chips.

Small insect packs a large “punch” on the ecosystem.

It is quite incredible, really, that such a small insect could wreak such large-scale havoc on hardy, well-armored flora.

Good riddance to the prickly pear? …….maybe not…….

Frankly, in the beginning of this cochineal explosion, I saw the demise of a few Prickly Pear cacti as a bit of a blessing.

Why would I think this?

Well, most of the invasive grasses I battle with my shovel and stirrup hoe happen to be smack dab in the center of huge groups of stickery, thorny, unforgiving Prickly Pear patches. Consequently, I thought that if a few of these Prickly Pear patches died back down, it would help me get in closer to combat the invasive grasses that compete with our native grasses for prime real estate and moisture.

Currently, I am genuinely concerned about the overall status of the Prickly Pear population on my little patch of red, sandy soil.

After just a month or so of heavy cochineal infestation, I have observed that the Prickly Pear cacti seem to wither up and die under the effects of a heavy cochineal infestation. This is disconcerting to me as numerous animal inhabitants of this little ranch on the South Texas Sand Sheet utilize Prickly Pear cacti and Prickly Pear tunas as part of their diet throughout the late summer months.

Prickly Pear cacti provide food and shelter for wildlife.

Some of the animals that rely on the Prickly Pear cacti, for instance, include the Texas tortoise, javelina, and coyote, just to name a few. While other animal residents, such as rodents, snakes, and some birds choose the cover and protection of Prickly Pear cacti glochids and spines as the perfect spot to set up their base camps or build their nests. Prickly Pear blooms support numerous insects, including Texas native bees. Oh, and then there is the Prickly Pear jelly that I enjoy making and sharing, but I digress.

Texas tortoises on the South Texas Sand Sheet:

Coyotes on the South Texas Sand Sheet:

Javelina on the South Texas Sand Sheet:

Rodents on the South Texas Sand Sheet:

Snakes on the South Texas Sand Sheet:

Bird diversity on the South Texas Sand Sheet:

Pollinators on the South Texas Sand Sheet:

It is all connected…

Prickly pear cacti are an integral part of not only the South Texas Sand Sheet, but they are also an integral part of the endangeredTamaulipan Thornscrub Thicket that we are fortunate to still have represented in an ever-shrinking native plant habitat in the Rio Grande Valley. We must preserve what is left of our native habitat in Deep South Texas.

“One pot, one plant, one front porch, one frontyard, or one backyard at a time—we can ALL make a difference TOGETHER!”

Camille M. Rich

As a steward, I am going to do my best to try and maintain and preserve some prickly pear cacti.

I am going to keep an eye on the cochineal infestation on the Prickly Pear cacti on my little piece of the South Texas Sand Sheet.

In the Prickly Pear patch areas that are currently under heavy infestation, I am looking forward to, in the near future, significantly large areas of red, sandy soil “opening up” where large Prickly Pear cacti populations have historically crowded out all other forms of native habitat. The biocontrol effects of the Cochineal are helping me remove large areas of Prickly pear cacti that I have battled—for years—with my shovel and machete. These newly “opened up” areas will allow native wildflowers, native grasses, native shrubs, and native trees the opportunity to reforest areas where the Prickly Pear cacti have all but choked them out.

Frankly, the current, heavy Cochineal infestation is beneficial not only for the habitat, but it is also helping me out a great deal. How can this be? Well, the current, heavy Cochineal infestation is definitely saving me time, money spent to hire help, and lots of wear and tear on my hands, arms, legs, and back in the traditional methods of removing prickly pear cacti.

However, I am going to do my best to protect certain portions of the Prickly Pear population that seem to have evaded the current, heavy cochineal infestation. How will I do this? From what I have read, a simple solution of water and unscented dish soap sprayed on the Cochineal infestation will help control them.

As this article comes to a close…..

As I bring this portion of my “deep dive” into Cochineal to a close, I would just like to say that the interconnectedness of habitat and the creatures it supports is critical. This message cannot be overstated, overemphasized, or undershared.

The next phase of my “deep dive” into Cochineal will involve dyeing natural textiles with a dye concentrate extracted from this scale insect. Dyeing textles with Cochineal has been done for centuries, and I am excited to give a try.

Stay tuned. There is definitely more to come.

Bibliography for this article:

Botanical Colors. “Dyeing for Dummies:  The Wonders of Cochineal.”  Botanical Colors. Web. 20 June 2014. https://botanicalcolors.com/dyeing-for-dummies-the-wonders-of-cochineal/#:~:text=Cochineal%20is%20a%20red%20dye,Europe%20from%20Mexico%20and%20Peru. Accessed on 16 November 2023.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopedia. “Cochineal.”  Encyclopedia Britannica. Web.29 Sep. 2023. https://www.britannica.com/technology/cochineal. Accessed 15 November 2023.

Centro de Arte Textil Zapoteco Bii Dauu SC de RL. Facebook Page. Web. https://www.facebook.com/biidauuteotitlandelvalle?locale=es_LA  Accessed on 16 November 2023.

Conley, Mrs. Emma, and Mrs. Meta Lewis. “Vegetable Dyeing by Mrs. Emma Conley, Second Edition” Pineland School of Handicrafts, Inc. Pineland, N. C. First edition was printed in 1959.  [Print.]

Laveaga, Gabriela Soto. “Cochineal Origins.”   YouTube Channel:  Harvard Museums of Science and Culture. Web. 19 April 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkWZw1sPawA  Accessed on 15 November 2023. [“In this video from the online exhibit spotlight, ‘Cochineal: How Mexico Made the World See Red,’ Gabriela Soto Laveaga, Professor of the History of Science and Antonio Madero Professor for the Study of Mexico, Harvard University, explains the origins of cochineal.”]

Harvard University. “Cochineal:  A Product of Nature.”  Harvard Museums of Science & Culture. Web. https://hmsc.harvard.edu/online-exhibits/cochineal1/product-nature/. Accessed 15 November 2023.

Edinburg Scenic Wetlands and World Birding Center, Edinburg, TX. “Cochineal Insect:  The Natural Dye.” Edinburg Scenic Wetlands and World Birding Center. Web. 19 June  2021. https://edinburgwbc.org/news/f/cochineal-insect-the-natural-dye  Accessed on 16 November 2023.

Miller, Brittany J., Knowable Magazine. “Scientists are Making Cochineal, a Red Dye From Bugs, in the Lab.”  29 March 2022. Smithsonian Magazine. Web. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/scientists-are-making-cochineal-a-red-dye-from-bugs-in-the-lab-180979828/#. Accessed 15 November 2023.

Tull, Delena. Edible and Useful Plants of Texas and the Southwest:  A Practical Guide. 1987.  University of Texas Press, Austin. [Print]

Richardson, Alfred, and Ken King. 2011 Plants of Deep South Texas:  A Field Guide to the Woody and Flowering Species. College Station:  Texas A & M University Press. [Print]

Wikipedia. “Cochineal.”  Wikipedia:  The Free Encyclopedia. Web. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochineal#:~:text=A%20nopal%20cactus%20farm%20for,harvesting%20the%20insects%20by%20hand. Accessed 16 November 2023.

The post “Cochineal – Under the Microscope” appeared first on El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum.

My disclaimer…

The examples of items—that were either used in the mothing stations I designed or that I observed at other mothing events being used by others—are provided to the readers of this post to convey a visual representation of either the item used in a mothing station or the concept of mothing itself.

In many instances, I repurposed items I already had for the mothing stations I designed. Nevertheless, I did have to search the internet for some of the mothing station items that I used and listed below.  When I dove into mothing this summer, I quickly came to realize that some of the items I thought I needed for the mothing stations I designed were not readily available in my area.

Additionally, I would like to say that I am not suggesting that you go out and purchase any of these items. In fact, I also want to clearly state here that I am not getting paid—or compensated in any way— to promote or endorse any specific product(s), business(s), or online shopping platform(s).

I am sharing this list of items with you in the spirit of friendship, knowldege, empowerment, and transparency about mothing and all that I learned from my mothing experiences.

One last thing…

I would like each of you to have the best shot possible at having a really exceptional, fun, phenomenal mothing experience. Consequently, if this list can save you some research time, while giving you an overall idea of what mothing entails, than I will have accomplished my primary goal and purpose for this post.

My teacher’s heart will be full and satisfied.

Here is my “Top 16” mothing items list for your review:

1. LED UV Light Bulb

2. Plug-In Clamped Work Light

3. Plastic Spring Clamps

4. UV LED Black Light Bar

5. LED Black Light Floodlight Options

6. Portable Charger with USB ports

7. Reusable Zip Ties

8. Binder Clips

9. LED UV Black Light Flashlight

10. Grommet Setting Kit

11. Extra Grommets

12. PVC Pipe & Fittings

13. Livestock Panels

14. Portable Power Station by Jackery

15. Entolight LED UV Black Light by Entoquip

16. LepiLED Light Source by Dr. Gunnar Brehm

Wrapping it up…

It is really a fascinating world out there after the sun sets.  If you are curious about mothing, please try it!  You will not be disappointed!

Happy Mothing! 

P.S. If you would like to learn more about mothing basics for beginners, click on the link below:

“Mothing Basics”- written by a Beginner for Beginners by Camille M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist

• C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist
• C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist
• C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist
• “Cochineal – Under the Microscope”
• Mothing Supplies for Your Review and Consideration: Examples and Links

The post Mothing Supplies for Your Review and Consideration: Examples and Links appeared first on El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum.

Are you curious about “mothing?” What is it? How does one go about doing it?

Are you tired of trying to navigate the logistics of outdoor activities in the heat of the day? 

Are you curious about exploring the nature stories that unfold in your yard after dark? 

Are you looking for educational activities to prepare and conduct with curious individuals in your life that love to explore and investigate the outdoors?

Well, if you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you just might be the perfect candidate ready for an introduction into mothing. 

This past summer, I dove into the topic—and participatory science activity—of mothing.  Consequently, I have acquired a set of basic mothing skills, if you will, and have summarized them here. 

Mothing, in my own words, involves hunting for night pollinators after dark. It requires knowing where to look for them, a means of attracting them to you, and methods that can help ensure the best possibility for you to snap a picture of them–either with your cellphone or a camera–to try and identify them.

Spoiler alert: Much to my surprise, and delight, there are so many more night pollinators out after dark—not just moths! There are beetles, bees, flies, and ants, just to name a few. Actually, to be honest with you, I might have developed an incredible fascination, and “Citizen Scientist” preoccupation, with beetles after my deep-dive into mothing, but I digress.

My very basic summary of mothing comes from what I have learned during my recent, intial experiences creating mothing stations in my backyard and attending both private and community mothing events held on private property, in state parks, and nature centers. I had the opportunity to learn from experienced “Moth-ers” that know a whole lot more about the topic of mothing than I do. Their guidance and willingness to share helpful hints, tips, and tricks with me is much appreciated.

Having said all of that, I would like to present to you my take aways from my inaugural summer of mothing as a participant in the National Moth Week Global Citizen Science event: “Moth Week 2023.”

Mothing basics for beginners: My overview…

My overarching takeaways on mothing and mothing set ups that I have learned from my recent, beginner mothing experiences, including spending time in the field with entomologists and an expert in this field of study are as follows: 

• Have fun exploring night pollinators and the entire ecosystem that comes to life after dark in your own backyard!

• The ultraviolet light source that you use to attract moths is crucial. More wattage does not necessarily equal more moths (or other night pollinators) at your mothing set up. 

• There are many types of lights you can use for your mothing experience. 

• The sheet that you are using for your mothing station must be stretched as taut as possible against whatever structure, frame, or support system you have come up with to use for mothing.

• Envision old school bed-making where you put the sheets on the mattress—stretched firmly and tightly—so that you could proverbially bounce a quarter off of the mattress.

• The mothing station that was most preferred by an Entomologist at a private event was one in which the mothing sheet was pulled tautly between two poles using the grommets that had been set in the fabric. The grommets allowed the fabric to be stretched tightly and securely to a frame.

• Grommets were what I happened to use to stretch the sheet tautly across the mothing station preferred by the visiting Entomologist. I just happened to have a grommet setting kit on hand from other projects, and I thought that it might work for this application.

• However, instead of grommets, you could use also use a sewing machine to put reinforced buttonholes at various places along your mothing sheet edges. These reinforced buttonholes would also give you the opportunity to use a cord to loop through the buttonholes so that you could stretch your mothing sheet tightly against your mothing structure, frame, or support system you have selected for mothing. [I saw buttonholes in action at a community mothing event. They appeared to work very well.]

• I did learn of a “Holy Grail” LED light that is now on the top of my “mothing set up” bucket list of items. I got to see it in action at a community mothing event. It is called an LepiLED by Dr. Gunnar Brehm. A link to this item will appear at the end of this article.

• I also learned of another type of LED light specifically designed for mothing from an experienced “Moth-er.” I saw this light in action at a community mothing event but did not realize that it was a special light at the time. It emits two wavelengths of UV light at the same time—designed to mimick moonlight. The light is made by a company called Entoquip, and their propriety light is called an Entolight. A link to this item will appear at the end of this article.

• “National Moth Week Global Citizen Science” has a Video Library entitled, “Mothing with Carl.”  Very informative!!! Here is a link where you can access the video library, “Mothing with Carl”: https://nationalmothweek.org/video-library/

• In addition to moths, there are so many other interesting insects out after dark:  Beetles, bees, flies, and ants, just to name a few. All of these insects place a crucial role in the process of night pollination.

Would you like to try and make a mothing set up?

Here is a list of resources I used, or observed in use, for mothing stations:

• Support structures made from livestock panels, PVC pipe, clothesline, and ladders, just to name a few.

• LED UV Black Lights

• Bolt cutters to cut livestock panels. 

• Hacksaw to cut PVC pipe.  (Not a single mothing station I created and used—or saw being used—had the pvc components glued together.  Simply sliding or pushing them into place was sufficient for this mothing application.)

• Sheets from thrift stores.  The whiter and heavier the fabric, the more the white seems to “pop” under UV light.  Also, the heavier the weight / gauge of the fabric, the better it seems to stand up to elements and the fasteners being used to hold it in place once stretched as tight as possible.

• Zip Ties – Reusable

• Binder Clips – Various Sizes

• Plastic Spring Clamps – Various Sizes

• Headlamp

• Flashlight

• LED UV Black Light Flashlight

• Cellphone or camera to snap pictures of night pollinators that visit your mothing station.

• Grommet Setting Kit and Hammer / Mallet.

• Extra Grommets

• Eye Protection and Ear Protection when using Hammer / Mallet.

• Heavy Duty Cords / Rope- for example, cotton cord, twine, bungee type cord, parachute cord, clothesline, or other type of cord / twine that will be used to help affix the sheet to your structure(s).

• Tent Stakes and Hammer / Mallet.  If wind is an issue at your mothing set up location—meaning the wind might knock over your mothing set up design—you will need to secure it to something.  If all you have is the ground to work with, hopefully it will be some sort of surface that you can pound a tent stake into.  Then, using some form of fastener, for example a reusable zip tie, you can secure the mothing set up(s) to the stake(s).

• Safety Pins.  If your mothing set up has an artistic aspect to it, and the fabric needs to be held firmly in place for the design concept to be achieved, sometimes a good old-fashioned safety pin works very well for tidying up loose fabric ends, and so forth. 

• Extension Cords – varying lengths depending on how far away your mothing set up will be from your electricity source.  I found that at least one extension cord is needed per mothing set up.

• Reflective Tape – There are times when you might find yourself mothing with other individuals that have brought their equipment to a mothing event. When this happens, sometimes equipment can get inadvertently misplaced—especially in dark conditions where you are using a flashlight or headlamp to navigate. Therefore, I used reflective tape as a means to identify my equipment from that of friends and fellow “Moth-ers.” This made it easier to help get all of my equipment packed up and put away after mothing events.

• Surge Protectors – These will allow you to plug in multiple light sources for each mothing set up.

• Portable Power Station– I do not have one of these, but I have seen others use them quite wonderfully for mothing.  They are fantastic in that you are no longer bound by the requirements of staying within a proximal distance of your electricity source.

• Portable Charger with USB Port(s) – This smaller scale portable battery source is perfect for plugging in a low wattage LED light.  For example, a UV LED Black Light Bar with at least a 5-foot cord. 

How do you identify the night pollinators that come to your mothing station?

Where I go to find the answers…

Let’s say that you decide to try mothing.  You make your mothing station and are successfully able to attract night pollinators to your mothing sheet at your mothing station.  You snap a picture —or two, or three—of a night pollinator, but you have no idea what it is.   Now what?  How do you identify your discovery?

Like many of us that have been mothing and have a moth show up at our mothing station, or any other night pollinator show up at our mothing station for that matter, you will probably be just as curious about your discovery as we are.  It is highly likely that you will want to know what you have discovered.  This is where my favorite means of identifying insects comes into play—iNaturalist.

When using iNaturalist, I am given the opportunity to enlist a global community of Citizen Scientists’ to help me identify the night pollinators that visit my mothing station via uploading my observations (my pictures) into this online platform.

For those of you not familiar with iNaturalist, I offer, here, an abbreviated overview of what it is and what it is all about.  Briefly, iNaturalist is a nonprofit social network that enables individuals to record and share observations of living things—across the globe—either from iNat’s website on their laptop / desktop or via iNat’s mobile application on their cellphone or other electronic device—iPad, for example.   

Here are a few iNaturalist links for some of the species that have shown up at my mothing stations over the last few months:

• Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)
• Beetles (Order Coleoptera)
• Honey Bees, Bumble Bees, and Allies (Family Apidae) 
• True Weevils (Family Curculionidae) 
• Flies (Order Diptera) 
• Grasshoppers, Locusts, and Allies (Suborder Caelifera) 
• Texas Ants’s Check List 
• Dragonflies (Suborder Anisoptera) 
• Typical Leafhoppers (Family Cicadellidae) 

Wrapping it up…

As I bring this article to a close, I have tried to give you as succinct an overview of mothing as I possibly could.  This article was written after spending well over 100 hours researching, designing, creating, assembling, installing, monitoring, and enjoying mothing stations in several locations. 

If you add in an additional 20 hours of time traveling to other mothing events that were near me to learn from individuals that have much more experience than I do at mothing, I have easily spent weeks of my life dedicated to learning all I could about my latest, new participatory scientist activity referred to as “mothing.”

I have learned so much, and numerous opportunities and doors have opened up for me because of mothing.  Perhaps, for me, the best part of mothing has been making new acquaintances that share the same passion for nature and the natural community around us.  I look forward to getting to know them better as time moves forward.

In retrospect, I guess my biggest “aha” moment was seeing how many other insects are out after dark.  There are so many cool flies, beetles, ants, and even the occasional native bee, that come out after dark. Who knew?  I, for one, did not. 

It is really a fascinating world out there after the sun sets.  If you are curious about mothing, please try it! 

You will not be disappointed! 

Happy Mothing! 

P.S.   Don’t forget your UV black light LED flashlight! Scorpions glow under black light. Mesquite sap glows under black light. Lichen glows under black light, and even some caterpillars glow under black light!

My disclaimer about examples of items mentioned in this post:

• The examples of items included in the list of items and resources—that were either used in the mothing stations I designed or that I observed at other mothing events—are provided to the reader of this article to convey a visual representation of either the item used in a mothing station or the concept of mothing itself.

• I did have to search the internet for some of the mothing station items and resources that I used.

• Links to items found in internet searches for mothing items will be provided in another article that I have written on this topic. This article will be accessible to you, via a button with an embedded link, at the end of this post.

• I am not getting paid to promote or endorse any specific product(s), business(es), or online shopping platform(s), but when I dove into mothing this summer, I quickly came to realize that some of the items I thought I needed for the mothing stations I designed were not readily available in my area.

• I am not suggesting that you go out and purchase any of these items.

However, …

If the lists and examples I am sharing with you can save you some research time and help you get an overall idea of mothing so that you feel confident and competent to try mothing, then I will have accomplished my goal and purpose for this article.

If you would like a “deeper dive” into items for mothing stations, please click on the link directly below for a related post:

• March 2024
• December 2023
• September 2023
• August 2023
• June 2023
• May 2023
• November 2022
• November 2021
• August 2021
• February 2021
• September 2020
• June 2020
• May 2020
• March 2020
• February 2020
• October 2019
• September 2019
• August 2019
• June 2019
• May 2019
• April 2019
• March 2019
• February 2019
• January 2019
• December 2018

The post “Mothing Basics”- written by a Beginner for Beginners by Camille M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist appeared first on El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum.

Britannica online reveals the following information about Trapdoor spiders,

“Trap-door spiders construct burrows in the ground; at the entrance they build a silken-hinged door.  The spider feeds by quickly opening the trap door and grabbing an insect that is passing close by.  The door, often camouflaged, usually exceeds 2.5 cm (1 inch) in width.  Tunnels off the main tube may also have doors.  The spiders remain in the tube except when hunting.  They are timid and quickly retreat into the tube if frightened.”

There have been a few other historical observations of Trapdoor spiders at El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum.  Once upon a time, a brilliant, turquoise-colored Trapdoor spider, Ummidia funerea, came out after a rain back on February 8, 2019.  A year or so later, on May 23, 2020, a Southwestern Trapdoor spider was washed out of its tunnel by rain.  On the very next day, May 24, 2020, a Texas Brown tarantula was also washed out of its home due to rain.   

If you would like to read more about “The Southwestern Trapdoor Spider,” please click on “Fall 2023 Chachalaca” for a link that will take you to where you will find the rest of this nature story.

“Fall 2023 Chachalaca”

The post “The Southwestern Trapdoor Spider” by Camille M. Rich appeared first on El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum.

There was a lot of work to do in a very short amount of time.   Regardless of how difficult I thought pulling off this event would be, and despite my lack of knowledge on the subject matter, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work.  Cat and I were not alone in helping to pull this wonderful event together.  Many individuals dedicated their time to Moth Night at the STEC.  Pretty soon, after a blur of days in my hot carport where Cat and I assembled moth setups, to flurries of emails with questions regarding logistics to Mr. Edward Meza, STEC Director, and so forth, finally the day of the event arrived. 

While I was busy interacting with visitors, even guiding some of them out to the Tamaulipan thornscrub installation in front of the STEC building, Cat dutifully and methodically surveilled the moth set ups for moth activity.  Visitors also gathered around the moth setups—scouring them for insect activity.  Everyone waited on bated breath for that first moth to show up, and then it did!   The first moth showed up at a setup that Cat and I named “Small Fry.”

Here is Cat’s portrait of the first moth of the night at “Small Fry” —a fuzzy, pretty Theodore Carpenterworm Moth. (Givira theodori)

As the night wore on, many other insects visited the moth setups, but they did not show up as quickly as one would have hoped.  While we waited for them, many other incredible nature stories were unfolding.  For instance, while taking a break from the moth setups, several of us had the good fortune of sitting on a bench together and being dazzled by fellow Texas Master Naturalist, Drew Bennie, on how lichen glows under ultraviolet light.  Who knew?  I, for one, did not.

Images from “Moth Night at the South Texas Ecotourism Center”:

Scenic views from the South Texas Ecotourism Center:

If you would like to read more about “Moth Night at the South Texas Ecotourism Center,” please click on “Fall 2023 Chachalaca” for a link that will take you to where you will find the rest of this nature story.

“Fall 2023 Chachalaca”

The post “Moth Night at the South Texas Ecotourism Center” – A Nature Story – by Camille M. Rich appeared first on El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum.

OWLS

On fuzzy-edged feathers, flight is effortlessly taken—gliding. Dipping.  Diving.

Wing beats are soundless—stealthy.  Swooping.  Soaring.

Listen to the powerful silence—remarkable.   Calming.   Reassuring.

Syllables whispered out into the dark—song. Sing.  Rejoice.

By CmR

Throughout the ages, much has been written and noted about the owl.  Many cultures have revered, or even feared, the owl. Some even subscribing to the notion that owls are signs of impending doom or death.  I would agree with that if I happened to be a rodent, perhaps.  Otherwise, I believe the superstition surrounding owls to be great fiction. 

Out on the South Texas Sand Sheet, my trail cameras have captured Eastern Screech-Owls, and even a few Great Horned Owls, over the years. Despite zero trail camera appearances, I have also observed Barn Owls on numerous occasions. Each owl encounter, whether via trail camera footage or an in-person observation, has presented an exceptional opportunity to learn more about these nocturnal birds of prey.

As both a student and a steward of the South Texas Sand Sheet, I have prioritized preserving and maintaining habitat for owls. Additionally, I have tried my best to be a great learner—to observe and absorb as much as I possibly can about them. Now, the final piece of my participatory scientist’s educational journey on owls, to date, is for me to share what I have learned about them with you.

Over the course of many years of consistent camera trapping to document fauna at the watering hole, owls have made numerous cameo appearances after dark. They have graciously supplied me with lessons on how they turn their head towards sounds in the dark, their own version of a tail waggle, the way they shake their wet feathers to dry off, even to how careful they are when they kind of crouch down and lean over to get a sip of water.

What I think it comes down to…

My overall takeaway from years of owl experiences via my “trail camera relationship” with them is this: The presence of an owl on your property can be a sign of a balanced ecosystem—a healthy habitat whereby owls take up residence on a property and make it their home.  All they need is a nesting site, a food source, and a steady water supply. 

Native American beliefs…

“In Nature, everything has its own place and purpose. Humans must work at entering the natural environment in ways that demonstrate cooperative thinking in accordance with the wisdom of Nature.   When you meditate on giving thanks, first give thanks for Mother Earth and all the living things: the four-legged ones, the winged ones, and everything that has been touched by the Great One, including even the rocks and the trees.”

“Meditations with The Cherokee:  Prayers, Songs, and Stories of Healing and Harmony,” by J. T. Garrett, Ed. D.  Published by Bear & Company, Rochester, Vermont, 2001.

“Owl is a creature of the night and has been symbolically associated with wisdom because it can see what others cannot.  It is the only bird that flies in total silence…Owl is symbolic of discernment…”

“Shamanic Experience:  A Practical Guide to Psychic Powers,” by Kenneth Meadows.  Published by Bear & Company.  Rochester, Vermont.  1991, 2001, and 2003.

Mesteño Mini Movie featuring owls of the South Texas Sand Sheet:

Birding and feather experts weigh in…

     “19 species in 11 genera, all in the family Strigidae except Barn Owl in Tytonidae.  Owls are mainly nocturnal predators, distinctive, with large eyes facing forwards and surrounded by facial disk.  All have hooked bills and needle-sharp talons, used for catching animal prey. Forage mainly by perching and listening or watching for prey, and different species specialize in different prey: Many smaller species are insectivores, larger species take mainly mammals…Owls do not build nests, most species nest in cavities or crevices and readily accept man-made structures such as birdhouses: some use old nests of other birds or squirrels.”

“The Sibley Guide to Birds, Second Edition,” written and illustrated by David Allen Sibley.  Published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2014.

“Barn Owls (Tytonidae) and Typical Owls (Strigidae):  Leading primaries are often curved near the tip.  All flight feathers of the wing have a fuzzy appearance.  Strong barring or spotting is always present.  [Note:  Some hawks and kites also have fuzzy wing feathers, but to a much lesser degree.]”

“A Guide to North American Species Bird Feathers,” by S. David Scott and Casey McFarland.  Published by Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, 2010.

How do they fly so quietly?

“Owls achieve almost noiseless flight and can swoop down on their prey unheard. Two factors work together to accomplish this. First, large wings and a light body enable the owl to support itself easily and quietly in flight. A heavy-bodied bird requires hard-working wings that tend to be noisy. If you have ever heard a startled quail take flight, you have some idea of the noise some birds’ wings can make. Second, most owls have comb-like serrations on the leading edge of wing feathers that break up the turbulent air that typically creates a swooshing sound. Those smaller streams of air are further dampened by a velvety texture unique to owl feathers and by a soft fringe on a wing’s trailing edge. These structures together streamline the air flow and absorb the sound produced by the owl’s beating wings. Owls also have whisker-like feathers that cover the beak area and they have feathers covering their feet all the way to the talons. This is yet another adaptation owls have to be more silent flyers.”

Online Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife:  Introducing Birds to Young Naturalists:  Owls

Calls of the Eastern Screech-Owl:

“Tremolo song a long, whistled trill on one pitch, up to three seconds long. All calls given by both sexes, but female voice slightly higher-pitched than male.”

“The Sibley Guide to Birds, Second Edition,” written and illustrated by David Allen Sibley.  Published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2014.

Owl Species in Texas:

“Barn Owl, Flammulated Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Eastern Screech-Owl, Great Horned Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Elf Owl, Burrowing Owl, Barred Owl, Long-eared Owl, and Short-eared Owl.

Online Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife:  Introducing Birds to Young Naturalists:  Owls

Owls in my yard…

As I bring this article to a close, I would like to share a bit about my urban experiences with owls. You see, I have lived at the same residence for over twenty years. It has not been until the last five to eight years—that as large tracts of remaining brush have been cleared around me to make way for new subdivisions and commercial centers—I have heard owls in my own backyard. Some of the owls stayed for a few days, and some of the owls even stayed long enough to raise their young.

Can you spot the owlet in the photograph above?

Talk about fantastic camouflage!

Noteworthy guests in my backyard and the neighborhood I live in have included the Great Horned Owl, Barn Owl, and Eastern Screech-Owl.  I once even had Eastern Screech-Owls nesting in a tall, dead Crepe Myrtle that that I never cut down, because it provided superb habitat for all sorts of creatures.  Watching their owlets fledge was phenomenal!  A treasured nature story I will never forget!

What can we do to help owls?

• Owls can suffer poisoning (and potentially death) from eating poisoned prey.
• Use traps rather than poisons to control rodents.
• Reduce the use of insect pesticides.
• Leave dead trees, including dead palm trees, available for owls to both roost and nest in.
• Stay alert for owls on roads, or near roadsides, at night.
• Add a nest box specifically designed for owls to your property.
• Reduce unnecessary lighting at night in and around your property.

Related, published articles by Fellow Texas Master Naturalists:

• Rio Grande Valley Chapter Texas master Naturalist: Anita’s Blog — “The Dark of Night” by Anita Westervelt
• Rio Grande Valley Chapter Texas Master Naturalist: “Tiger of the Treetops” by Diane Hall

Text sources / resources for this article:

• “A Guide to North American Species Bird Feathers,” by S. David Scott and Casey McFarland. Published by Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, 2010.
• “Meditations with The Cherokee:  Prayers, Songs, and Stories of Healing and Harmony,” by J. T. Garrett, Ed. D.  Published by Bear & Company, Rochester, Vermont, 2001.
• “Shamanic Experience:  A Practical Guide to Psychic Powers,” by Kenneth Meadows.  Published by Bear & Company.  Rochester, Vermont.  1991, 2001, and 2003.
• “The Sibley Guide to Birds, Second Edition,” written and illustrated by David Allen Sibley.  Published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2014.

Online sources / resources for this article:

• Texas Parks & Wildlife: Introducing Birds to Young Naturalists: Owls
• Audubon: 13 Fun Facts About Owls
• iNaturalist on Screech-Owls
• iNaturalist Barn Owl Observations
• iNaturalist Great Horned Owl Observations
• iNaturalist Owls of the World Observations
• The Cornell Lab: All About Birds: Barn Owl
• The Cornell Lab: All About Birds: Eastern Screech-Owl
• The Cornell Lab: All About Birds: Great Horned Owl

Photo Credit: M. A. Jackson

The post Owls on the South Texas Sand Sheet by Camille M. Rich appeared first on El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum.

Badgers live predominantly solitary lives in a variety of habitats from plains, to prairies, to farmland, or at the edges of woods and thorn thickets.

Badgers dine on ground squirrels, rats, gophers, and mice. Sometimes, they eat snakes, birds, and reptiles, as well.  

“The American badger has a flat body with short legs and a triangular face with a long, pointed, tipped-up, nose. It has long brown or black fur with white stripes on its cheeks and one stripe running from its nose to the back of its head. It has small ears on the side of its head and long, sharp front claws.” Source: Nature Works (NH PBS)

“The American badger mates between July and August, but the embryos don’t really start to grow until December or February…The female gives birth in March.  She has 1 – 5 babies in an underground nest lined with grass.” Source: Nature Works (NH PBS)

You may learn more about the American Badger at the following sites:

• Texas Parks & Wildlife on Badgers
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on Badgers
• iNaturalist Observations for the American Badger
• iNaturalist Observations for Mustelids (Family Mustelidae)

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