Welcome to the twelfth “Accumulating Journey iReport” protecting a 22-day insect gathering journey (my longest in additional than 20 years!) encompassing six states from Might 15 to June 6, 2022. The journey began out with two days of setting traps in southern Illinois and throughout southern Missouri, continued with 9 days of gathering in western Texas, 3 days of gathering in southeastern New Mexico, and 5 days of gathering in southeastern Arizona, and ended with a day of gathering in excessive northwestern Oklahoma on the midway level in the course of the lengthy drive again to St. Louis. Alongside the way in which, I teamed up with six totally different folks throughout totally different components of the journey—Jason Hansen, Joshua Basham, and Tyler Hedlund in Texas and New Mexico and Norm Woodley, Steve Lingafelter, and Paul Kaufman in Arizona.
This report assembles the sector notes generated in the course of the journey, that are offered in “semi-rough” type—i.e., they’ve been flippantly polished however not additional modified based mostly on subsequent examination of collected specimens. As with all earlier “iReports” on this collection, this report is illustrated completely with iPhone images (thus the time period “iReport”). Earlier iReports on this collection embody:
– 2013 Oklahoma
– 2013 Nice Basin
– 2014 Nice Plains
– 2015 Texas
– 2018 New Mexico/Texas
– 2018 Arizona
– 2019 Arkansas/Oklahoma
– 2019 Arizona/California
– 2021 West Texas
– 2021 Texas/New Mexico/Arizona
– 2022 Oklahoma
Day 1 – Setting out jug traps
Salt Lick Level Land & Water Protect
Monroe Co., Illinois
I’m on my technique to west Texas for a few weeks and southern Arizona for one more week afterwards, however it’ll take a number of days to get there whereas I dangle insect traps right here in southern Illinois and at a bunch of localities in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. The traps are based mostly on an concept from fellow cerambycid specialist Dan Heffern, who calls them “jug traps”. The traps make the most of 8-oz bottles of 200 proof ethanol suspended inside a 1-G milk/water jug. A gap is drilled within the lid of the 8-oz bottle and a wick inserted to average launch of the ethanol, which attracts the beetles. 500 mL of a 50:50 combination of polypropylene glycol and water is positioned within the backside of the jug to behave as a killing agent and preservative for beetles which can be drawn to the entice and fall into the it. Early testing by Dan suggests the ethanol bait can last as long as 4–6 weeks and the beetles that fall into the traps don’t decompose inside that point interval, enabling them to be positioned at far more distant places than the fermenting bait traps that I’ve been using for a few years now within the glades of Jefferson Co. simply south of St. Louis however which must be checked weekly. Personally, I’m inserting two traps at every location—one with pure 200 proof ethanol and one other with a 50:50 combination of ethanol and purple wine (the latter is cheaper and has labored properly at a beetle attractant by itself). If the combination works in addition to pure ethanol (stays to be seen), it might be a technique to scale back price.
I selected this location based mostly on a go to final fall with the WGNSS Botany Group, once we discovered Sideroxylon lanuginosum (gum bumelia)—host of the strikingly spectacular Plinthocoelium suaveolens (bumelia borer) and one tree particularly that present proof of lively larval infestation by the telltale pile of frass on the base of the residing tree. The timber are rising in dry hilltop forest adjoining to a renovated hilltop prairie remnant, and the beetle has not been formally reported from Illinois. I’ve had good luck trapping this beetle within the glades south of St. Louis, so I’m hopeful these traps can even be efficient and that I can doc the incidence of bumelia borer in Illinois.
It was a tricky hike—principally uphill and I used to be attempting to get out and in rapidly. I had a little bit of bother finding the infested tree that we’d seen final fall (even with the placement GPS recorded), however finally I discovered it. At first, I had bother throwing the carabiner and twine over a excessive department—the slingshot concept that I had didn’t work with the rope tied to the carabiner, so I ended up simply throwing it and succeeded solely after many makes an attempt to develop my “method.” Then, horrors… someway the bottle carrying the combination of purple wine and ethanol broke and spilled a lot of the contents into my backpack. Fortuitously, there was simply sufficient nonetheless remaining within the bottle to principally fill the 8-oz bait bottle. From that time, the remainder of the entice went collectively as deliberate, and I hoisted it excessive above eye stage earlier than assembling the ethanol-only entice and inserting it about 100 ft from the primary. The longer-than-I-remembered hike and issues with the primary entice already had me near an hour off schedule, so I hoofed it again to the automotive as rapidly as I may, stopping solely briefly to choose up a tiny Glaphyrocanthon viridis (certainly one of our tiniest dung beetles) that I noticed land on the path. Once I get again to the automotive, I seen that I had made it about three-fourths of the way in which across the path and will have saved time if I had merely accomplished the circuit reasonably than doubling again! Ugh—an inauspicious begin to a protracted journey!
St. Joe State Park
St. Francois Co., Missouri
That is one other location that I visited lately with the WGNSS Botany Group and famous the incidence of Sideroxylon lanuginosum (gum bumelia) within the dry submit oak woodland bordering the bicycle path south of the Harris Department Trailhead. I hung the wine:ethanol entice not removed from the car parking zone on the west aspect of the path and the ethanol-only entice about 300 ft additional south on the east aspect of the path.
Once I returned to the automotive, any person had used a shiny wrist strap to tie a bicycle key chain to my door deal with. I’m undecided if it was a present from a fellow bike owner who acknowledged my license plate or just a random act of kindness—both method, I believe I’ll dangle the bicycle from my rear view mirror!
Hughes Mountain Pure Space
Iron Co., Missouri
This space options dry submit oak woodlands surrounding xeric igneous prairie (glades). I’m not conscious of the presence of Sideroxylon lanuginosum (gum bumelia) in these or another igneous glades, however the submit oak woodlands may help many different longhorned beetles which can be drawn to ethanol and fermenting bait traps (particularly species of Purpuricenus). I positioned the wine:ethanol entice on the north finish of the primary glades and the ethanol-only entice simply previous the south finish about 1/10 miles away.
Russell Mountain Trailhead
Iron Co., Missouri
That is one other space with igneous glades surrounded by dry submit oak woodland. I hung the wine:ethanol entice on the north finish of the primary glade and the ethanol-only entice on the south finish about 400 ft away. Whereas I used to be hanging the primary entice, I noticed a floor beetle (household Carabidae) crawling over the moss-covered rocks underneath the tree. I imagine it’s a species within the genus Dicaelus (notched-mouthed floor beetles).
Peck Ranch Conservation Space
Stegall Mountain Pure Space
Carter Co., Missouri
This space has a number of the most intensive igneous glades in southeastern Missouri, and it’s distant location made it a gorgeous spot for putting traps. Sadly, your complete pure space —glades and surrounding woodlands—has been subjected to a current prescribed burn. I’ve by no means had a lot luck gathering in habitats that had been burned in the last few years, so I had little hope that inserting traps right here could be well worth the effort. Nonetheless, I used to be there and figured if nothing else it might be an opportunity to collect some goal knowledge evaluating a lately burned space with related non-burned areas. I hung the wine:ethanol entice on the north finish of the glade subsequent to the fireplace tower and the ethanol-only entice within the dry submit oak woodland about 400 ft to the southwest.
Peck Ranch Conservation Space
Cater Co., Missouri
I had initially deliberate to hold these traps at Mule Hole Glade Natiral Space—additionally in Peck Ranch Conservation Space however distinct from Stegall Mountain by the truth that the glade substrate is limestone reasonably than rhyolite. This leads to a calcareous versus acidic setting, leading to a very totally different (and richer) glade flora—together with doubtlessly Sideroxylon lanuginosum (gum bumelia) and its beetle affiliate Plinthocoelium suaveolens. Sadly, after driving from Stegall Mountain by this huge conservation space for about half an hour, I encountered a gate that prevented entry to the glades. It was late within the day, and reasonably than drop the placement, I made a decision to simply put the traps the place I ended up—a dry-mesic upland deciduous forest apparently with a cheer substrate. I hung the wine:ethanol entice close to the automotive on the east aspect of the street main south behind the gate and the ethanol-only entice additionally on the east aspect of the street about 230 ft additional south.
Day 2 – Setting out extra jug traps!
Mark Twain Nationwide Forest
Bald Hill Glade Pure Space
Ripley Co., Missouri
I’d hoped to make it right here yesterday, however the day simply ran out and I ended up spending the evening in Doniphan. An amazing little espresso store on the town put me in the fitting state of mind this morning to make the trek into this—one of the fantastically distant high-quality glades in all of Missouri. The Forest Service roads resulting in the glade turn into more and more tough the nearer one will get, and the ultimate 1-mile spur required a little bit of log/department removing to cross by and even bushwhacking round and underneath fallen timber earlier than an impassable blockage about midway down. The final half-mile has been deserted for at the least 10 years, and strolling it by foot required a eager sense of studying the forest to discern the hardly seen remnant path.
Eventually, I made it to the glade correct—a beautiful tract of remnant xeric dolomite prairie (glade) with dry submit oak woodlands interspersed and surrounding the glades. I hung the purple wine entice in a submit oak on the east aspect of the primary glade (previous the primary small glade) and the ethanol-only entice in a gum bumelia tree on the reverse finish of the glade about 1/10 of a mile to the southwest. Alongside the way in which, I photographed and picked up Nemognatha nemorensis (a blister beetle—household Meloidae) on a flower of Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf coreopsis).
As with the primary cease yesterday, I underestimated the time wanted to hike to the glade, dangle the traps, and get again to the automotive, so by the that point I used to be already off schedule. Nonetheless, contemplating the standard of the realm, I made a decision to hold one of many two Lindgren funnel traps (baited with ethanol) close to the automotive.
Shortly after turning off the spur onto the Forest Service street, I handed by a department that regarded suspiciously “pruned” (i.e., reduce from the within by a cerambycid larva). I ended and walked again to the department, which turned out to be Carya alba (mockernut hickory), and the scale of the department on the reduce (~1” diameter) recommended it might be the work of Purpuricenus axillaris, a phenomenal orange and black species that could be very uncommonly encountered. I pruned off the surplus twigs and picked up the department for rearing.
Caney Mountain Conservation Space
Lengthy Bald Glade Pure Space
Ozark Co., Missouri
After ending up at Bald Hill Glade, I blasted two hours west to Caney Mountain Conservation Space on the japanese fringe of the White River Hills area in southwestern Missouri. The White River Hills is maybe my favourite space in Missouri—I’ve collected bugs at many spots right here through the years, numerous which happen in Missouri solely on this a part of the state. Caney Mountain is simply one of many websites I’ve chosen for putting traps, however just like the earlier web site it incorporates a number of the highest high quality and most fantastically distant xeric dolomite prairie remnants (glades) within the state—particularly on the far west aspect of the realm in and round Lengthy Bald Glade Pure Space.
As earlier than, I hung the purple wine entice in a Sideroxylon lanuginosum (gum bumelia) tree on the west aspect of the primary glade and the ethanol-only entice in one other gum bumelia tree on the north aspect of the primary glade about 1/8 of a mile west of the primary entice. I additionally hung the second Lindgren funnel entice right here—after I arrived on the web site, I’d seen a big space of submit oak woodland on the opposite aspect of the street had lately been thinned (by way of chainsaw). With all of the lifeless wooden laying round (in a cool pure group), it nearly screamed for a entice, so I baited it with ethanol and hung it proper smack in the course of the renovated space.
By this time, the day was beginning to get away and I nonetheless had 4 places that I wished to hold traps. With six hours of daylight left, it might be a stretch to get to all 4, so I prevented the temptation to spend any extra time poking round on this unbelievable web site and headed to the subsequent location additional west.
Mark Twain Nationwide Forest
“Blackjack Knob”
Taney Co., Missouri
I’ve been to this knob a number of occasions and picked up good numbers of Missouri’s disjunction inhabitants of the spectacular Cicindelidia obsoleta vulturina (prairie tiger beetle) in addition to found the larva of Plinthocoelium suaveolens (bumelia borer) within the root of a residing Sideroxylon lanuginosum (gum bumelia) tree. There may be numerous gum bumelia at this spot, and since it’s proper alongside the freeway and I may dangle traps right here rapidly, I added the spot to my record of places. I hung the ethanol:purple wine entice in a gum bumelia tree on the south aspect of the knob and the ethanol-only entice park is within the park in one other gum bumelia tree on the north aspect of the knob about 300 ft north of the primary entice.
Mark Twain Nationwide Forest
Hercules Glades Wilderness
Taney Co., Missouri
Hercules Glades Wilderness incorporates a number of the largest intact remnants of xeric dolomite prairie in your complete White River Hills area. Not like these of different areas managed by state and federal conservation businesses, this designated wilderness has a “no administration” mandate. Because of this, there was no effort to take away woody vegetation, both by chainsaw or by prescribed burning. Whereas there’s nonetheless loads of intact glade habitat, the glade margins and surrounding dry submit oak woodlands are closely colonized by Juniperus virginiana (japanese red-cedar)—a local tree that was traditionally restricted to bluffs and ledges however since tailored to encroaching in glades and prairies because of fireplace suppression over the previous one and a half centuries. I hung the ethanol:purple wine entice in a red-cedar close to a Sideroxylon lanuginosum (gum bumelia) tree on the north finish of the primary glade and the ethanol-only entice in one other red-cedar close to gum bumelia about 450 ft to the southeast.
Alongside the path within the dry oak-juniper woodland earlier than reaching the glade, I discovered a Geotrupes splendidus (splendid earth-boring beetle) on its again waving its legs within the air. I flipped it over, took {a photograph}, and popped it in a vial.
Mincy Conservation Space
Taney Co., Missouri
Mincy Conservation Space is one other space in Taney Co. with top quality remnant xeric dolomite prairie (glades). I’ve been right here many occasions, and I couldn’t think about inserting traps within the White River Hills and never together with this place. I hung the purple wine entice in a Sideroxylon lanuginosum (gum bumelia) tree on the north finish of the glade throughout the street from the campground space and the ethanol-only entice in one other gum bumelia on the southwest finish about 1/8 mile from the primary entice.
Roaring River State Park
Chute Ridge Glade
Barry Co., Missouri
I obtained right here proper at sundown, so I knew I must work rapidly to get the 2 traps hung earlier than I fully ran out of daylight. This high-quality xeric dolomite prairie remnant (glade) has undergone intensive renovation over the previous 25 years since I first started coming right here, and it’s character is now a lot improved in comparison with these early days. I hung the purple wine entice in a Quercus stellata (submit oak) tree close to some Sideroxylon lanuginosum (gum bumelia) within the treeline about midway up the slope at mid-glade. It was at the moment that I seen the bait bottle was lacking from the second entice, so I needed to hustle again to the automotive within the ready mild to retrieve one other entice. It was too darkish by then to wander again up into the primary glade, so I walked the 2-track close to the street to the north finish of the glade after which east up the slope till I encountered an space the place gum bumelia was rising, hanging the ethanol-only entice in a close-by hickory tree about 1/6 mile north of the primary entice.
As I walked the 2-track, I heard the decision of nighthawks flying overhead—a well-known sound in the course of the day and early night when within the glades. As soon as I began hanging the entice, the oncoming cloak of darkness was introduced by the whip-poor-wills (a relative of the nighthawk, each species belonging to the “goatsucker” household). If that was not sufficient, a Chuck-wills-widow—yet one more nighthawk relative—joined the refrain! It was a magical second of pure pure historical past to have a good time the completion of my entice inserting effort, after which I pointed the automotive in the direction of west Texas (or at the least Fort Smith, Arkansas for the evening earlier than the lengthy drive tomorrow).
Day 3 – Journey to West Texas
Gold Mine Canyon
Val Verde Co., Texas
At this time was a protracted, lonely, 11-hour drive from Ft. Smith, Arkansas to Dave Barker’s cabin above Gold Mine Canyon. I first got here right here final 12 months a bit earlier in Might with Wealthy Thoma to fulfill up with Dam Heffern, Brian Raber, and Ed Riley. Dave is sort sufficient to make his cabin out there to naturalist serious about learning the natural world of the realm round d his cabin, and after getting a style of the realm final 12 months I wished to come back again once more and see it a bit later within the season. This time I met up with Jason Hansen, Joshua Basham, and Tyler Hedlund. The world obtained some rain in late April however has been dry since—and regarded it. Nonetheless, insect exercise on the lights (mercury-vapor and ultraviolet) was pretty excessive, though principally moths and blister beetles. I did decide up one elaphidiine, a collection of Hybosorus illigeri, and some photogenic robber flies.
Ultimately the wind picked as much as the purpose the place I used to be frightened about my mild setup being blown down, so I took down the setup and searched (unsuccessfully) for cactus beetles within the close by Opuntia sp. (pricklypear cactus).
Day 4 – Devils River Space
Gold Mine Canyon
Val Verde Co., Texas
We stayed within the neighborhood of the cabin to see what we may discover. I wasn’t optimistic due to how dry all the pieces regarded however headed up the 2-track main east of the cabin. Regardless that I used to be right here earlier in Might final 12 months, issues didn’t appear as far alongside—the Diospyros texanus (Texas persimmon) timber had been simply starting to leaf out, and I didn’t see any of the vegetation in bloom that I’d seen final 12 months comparable to Coreopsis or Opuntia. As I walked the 2-track, I famous a persimmon with emergence holes within the trunk that matched the scale and form anticipated for Spectralia robusta. The holes appeared contemporary, suggesting there may nonetheless be some beetles inside, so I flagged the department for later assortment and rearing. Having flagged the tree, I made a decision I ought to beat the branches simply in case, and a contemporary grownup landed on the sheet—candy! I’ve collected this species earlier than, however it was a few years in the past and I’d forgotten how pulverescent the adults are and the way (sadly) the pulverescence rubs off when touched or positioned within the kill vial, making it nearly not possible to protect. I centered on beating persimmons for the subsequent hour, ending up with seven specimens, all of which had been collected within the speedy neighborhood of the tree that I’d initially flagged.
I had crushed a number of different timber as properly however wasn’t seeing something, and by now temperatures had been beginning to soar, so I went again to the cabin to rehydrate and commerce my aerial web for my sweep web so I may do some basic sweeping. I labored my method again to the farthest level I’d gone earlier than and shortly afterwards encountered Echinocereus enneacanthus intermedius (strawberry cactus) in bloom. To my shock, I noticed a number of Acmaeodera adults on the blossom, so I collected them with my aspirator and instantly considered the bigger clump of strawberry cactus blooms I’d checked earlier and never seen something after which handed by this time. Once more, there have been fairly a number of Acmaeodera adults on the blossoms. As I collected the adults, others continued to fly in to the flowers, so I roamed forwards and backwards between the 2 clumps gathering the adults till no extra had been seen. There have been at the least 4 species—the generally encountered A. quadravittatoides and A. neoneglecta, the a lot rarer A. starrae (which I collected for the primary time final 12 months in Comstock), and a fourth species that I didn’t instantly acknowledge. In shuffling by the chances in my thoughts, A. riograndei got here up based mostly on my recollection of Nelson’s illustration of the species within the unique description. After exhausting the provision there, I walked additional east down the 2-track and encountered one other cluster of vegetation in bloom, permitting me to extend my collection of all 4 species. By then, temperatures had been approaching 100°F and I used to be additionally hungry, so I returned to the cabin to rehydrate, eat, and relaxation to keep away from pushing myself too laborious. When Jason returned to the cabin later, he had additionally discovered the identical 4 species on cactus flowers, and we each agreed the thriller species was A. riograndei—the primary time both of us had seen this very hardly ever collected species.
As soon as I felt energetic sufficient, I braved another journey even additional down the 2-track to the place it crosses the canyon, the latter through which Joshua had seen strawberry cactus flowers in bloom and picked up all 4 species himself. I hoped to search out a number of extra A. riograndei, as I had solely a handful of specimens of that species. Joshua got here alongside, and collectively had been positioned and labored as many vegetation in bloom as we may discover. It was laborious work—the vegetation had been very sparsely distributed and totally on the steep-sloped parts of the canyon partitions or up on high the place footing was precarious. Most vegetation had the 2 widespread species, and I managed to gather a number of extra A. starrae as properly, however I by no means noticed one other A. riograndei till after we’d been on the market for a few hours and I used to be nearly able to collapse from the warmth (temps had been by then ~105°F!). On the identical flower that I lastly discovered A. riograndei, I additionally discovered a fifth species—A. gillespiensis, a west Texas specialty. That was one of many final vegetation in bloom that I discovered earlier than working my method again down into the canyon and headed again to the canyon. I actually thought I used to be going to break down from the warmth earlier than I obtained there, and I wanted the remainder of the afternoon and all night to rehydrate and get well. It was too windy to blacklight, which was in all probability lucky as a result of I actually wanted to take it simple in the course of the night and let myself get well.
Day 5 – Devils River space (cont.)
Devils River close to Dry Devils River
Val Verde Co., Texas
We carpooled to a spot alongside the west aspect of Devils River that required fording the river after which traversing a number of the roughest, rockiest roads I’ve ever traveled (my new Bronco Sport Badlands) dealt with all the pieces completely. There’s a stand of mature Carya illinoiensis (pecan) alongside the river that Joshua and I headed straight for them suspecting they could harbor Anthaxia caryae. We spent a good bit of time beating the decrease reachable branches, and I spent much more time afterwards utilizing the extensible web to brush the higher branches. A single grownup—on one of many first few branches that I beat—was all we obtained for our efforts. I additionally collected a bit of chlamisine chrysomelid by sweeping Salvia sp., however in any other case I noticed little insect exercise. Joshua had been beating the close by oaks whereas I used to be working the pecans, and after I handed by he mentioned he hadn’t gotten something off the oaks both. I walked again as much as the bluffs overlooking the river to see if I may discover cacti in bloom however discovered no Opuntia (pricklypear cactus) and solely the rare Echinocereus enneacantha intermedius (strawberry cactus) in bloom. Regardless of the widely poor situation of a lot of the flowers, I nonetheless managed to gather the identical 4 Acmaeodera that we collected yesterday—together with a number of A. starrae and two A. riograndei. Whereas I regarded for cacti, I additionally beat any Diospyros texana (Texas persimmon) that I encountered hoping to search out extra Spectralia robusta or the small Agrilus sp. that Tyler collected yesterday of the identical at Gold Mine Canyon (I’m considering it should be A. lautuellus), however all I collected was a single weevil and a single tenebrionid. By this time it was getting hotter than blazes, and all of us returned to the automotive, drank some fluids and ate a bit, and determined one of the simplest ways to spend the subsequent two hours—the most well liked a part of the day—was by sitting within the river. We had no swim trunks, however underwear served the aim as a substitute!
Gold Mine Canyon
Val Verde Co., Texas
After cooling off within the river and returning to the cabin, Jason and Joshua wished to go take a look at the patches of Echinocereus enneacantha intermedius (strawberry cactus) from which we’d collected so many Acmaeodera to search for extra A. riograndei, and Tyler and I made a decision to hike all the way down to the canyon the place he had collected a number of Agrilus sp. on Diospyros texana (Texas persimmon). Alongside the way in which we beat a number of the persimmon timber the place Tyler had collected a number of Spectralia robusta however discovered solely a single epitragine tenebrionid. We additionally encountered a single strawberry cactus patch with a few closed blooms, and as I approached to see if any Acmaeodera had been on the flowers I noticed one approaching the flowers in flight. I instinctively swiped the web and caught it, and after I pulled it from the web I noticed it was one other A. riograndei. I should have round ten specimens of this species now—a pleasant collection of a uncommon species fully missing from my assortment prior to now. We needed to decide a tough and precarious path to achieve the canyon backside, however as soon as we did we began beating the persimmons on which he’d collected the Agrilus sp. (prob. A. lautuellus). Virtually instantly he discovered one other one and gave it to me (what a man!), and we continued working the timber down the canyon. We didn’t see any extra for awhile, however then abruptly I hit successful spot the place I collected one or a number of off of successive vegetation, ending up with a complete of 9 specimens. Tyler by no means did discover one other one after that first specimen (however he’d collected a small collection yesterday so he was effective). As soon as we labored all of the persimmon that we may discover, we labored our method up the canyon partitions on the south aspect to search for extra strawberry cactus flowers with Acmaeodera. We discovered a number of right here and there, however in all instances the flowers had been closed and no Acmaeodera had been seen—I believe the flowers shut routinely presently of day (now early night). As we labored our method east above the canyon to a degree the place we may cross again over to the cabin, we beat persimmon, however I collected solely a single anthribid. By this time we had been hungry and thirsty and hoofed it again to the canyon to eat and prepare for blacklighting.
Winds weren’t as unhealthy as they had been final evening (and I used to be feeling significantly better than I did final evening, having taken higher care to maintain myself fueled and hydrated), so we had been anxious to place up the lights and see if we may accumulate cerambycids. I put up my mercury-vapor/ultraviolet mild mixture simply east of the cabin, whereas Jason arrange his mercury-vapor mild on the west aspect. I picked up a number of miscellaneous bugs from every over the subsequent hour after it obtained darkish, however I hadn’t but seen a single cerambycid and began exploring the encompassing space with Tyler. Not removed from my lights I discovered an elaphidiine cerambycid on the 2-track—almost definitely it had been pulled to the realm by the mercury-vapor lamp however landed within the space reasonably than coming all the way in which to the sunshine. I attempted (and failed) to {photograph} a mutillid feminine, so I collected it as a substitute, and we discovered a cool Stenomorpha sp. (household Tenebrionidae) and a few very spectacular arachnids (two Hogna carolinensis wolf spiders—one juvenile and one grownup feminine, a Centruroides vittatus scorpion, and a solar spider—Eremobates sp.)—all of which I did handle to {photograph}! Coming again to the lights, my generator had run out of gasoline and the lights died, so we introduced the ultraviolet lights over to Jason’s setup and turned off his mercury-vapor lamp to encourage cerambycids that had been drawn to the realm to come back on in to the lights. A few Lagocheirus sp. turned up (Jason and Tyler obtained them), and I obtained a few Aneflomorpha sp. and one Elaphidionopsis fasciatipennis—a species I’ve not collected generally. This could be the final beetle I collected on the night, bringing to an in depth a second scorching however comparatively profitable day of gathering. Tomorrow we are going to go away the cabin and begin working our method west in the direction of the Davis Mountains.
Day 6 – To Comstock space
22 mi N Del Rio – Jct Hwys 277 & 377
Val Verde Co., Texas
We left Dave’s cabin within the morning, and on our method out to the Comstock space we stopped at this intersection the place final Might I collected Agrilus obtusus on Senna roemeriana (two-leaved senna). I obtained 4 extra this time as properly within the small patch of vegetation simply contained in the fence, however after I went up the north aspect the place there was many extra vegetation, I used to be disenchanted to search out that the freeway division had dumped a number of a great deal of gravel over the realm. Nonetheless, there have been vegetation in flower nearer to the roadside, and after I went to have a look at the I seen immediately Batyle suturalis, Acmaeodera ornatoides, A. neoneglecta, and A. mixta on flowers of Thelosperma simplicifolium (slender greenthread)—over the subsequent half hour or so I collected extra of the identical plus a number of further species (together with A. paradisjuncta) in smaller numbers. One other Batyle was taken of the flowers of Ratibida columnifera, however then I seen Acmaeodera starrae on the small, low-growing flowers of Pinaropappus roseus (white rock-lettuce) and centered on these flowers, ending up with a good collection collected nearly completely on the flowers of that plant save for single exceptions on the flowers of Sida abutifolia (spreading sida) and Stenaria nigricans (diamond-flowers). I discovered it fascinating that no Acmaeodera had been taken on the flowers of the far more ample Thelosperma flowers. On the contrary, I did discover a number of people of A. mixta and A. neoneglecta on the flowers of Pinaropappus.
11.5 mi SE Comstock on Hwy 90
Val Verde Co., Texas
Jason has collected Agrilus esperanzae and Acmaeodera opuntiae at this spot in earlier visits—two species I’ve not but collected myself, so we stopped right here to attempt our luck. Sweeping alongside the Prosopis/Acacia (sensu lato) fence line produced just one Agrilus—not A. esperanzae however in all probability A. addendus—and a smattering of different beetles; nevertheless, we had been profitable in our quest for A. opuntia, which we collected on the flowers of Tiquilia canescens (shrubby tiquilia). They weren’t widespread and required a whole lot of effort to see and seize—sweeping was ineffective due to their sparse incidence and the low-growing nature of the vegetation, and the beetles are among the many smallest Acmaeodera there are—so one needed to crouch over every flowering plant and examine fastidiously (underneath the overwhelming warmth). Fortuitously, I used to be in a position to efficiently aspirate them as soon as I did see them, and I ended up with a handful together with related numbers of A. neoneglecta and A. starrae off the plant. The adults of A. opuntiae are not like these I’ve in my assortment collected by Ed Riley additional south—the vittae are extra damaged, giving them a linearly-spotted reasonably than vittate look. One cool discover was the blister beetle Pleuropasta reticulata—one of many two I captured going to Tyler since he had really focused that species for the journey.
After rehydrating, I went to the opposite aspect of the freeway the place a pleasant stand of Thelosperma filifolium (stiff greenthread) was internet hosting Acmaeodera and off which I collected a number of A. miliaris and A. princeps amongst the numerous A. mixta. There have been additionally a number of flowering Tiquilia vegetation on that aspect, and whereas I did accumulate a number of extra A. starrae and A. neoneglecta I didn’t see A. opuntiae. By then the warmth had gotten to me and I labored my method again to the automotive—save for the efforts given to photographing a few robber flies and a few neonate coreids.
Devils River at Bakers Crossing
Val Verde Co., Texas
After getting a lodge on the town (I’m wanting ahead to a scorching bathe for as soon as as a substitute of a chilly river), we headed north on Hwy 163, alongside which Jason has had good gathering up to now. The primary cease simply north of Comstock was not productive regardless of the verdant plant development, so we continued north to Bakers Crossing on the Devils River. It was now early night, so the warmth had damaged, and instantly we began discovering beetles by beating the varied timber. I collected one Chrysobothris rossi, one Euderces reichei, and a weevil on Sapindus saponaria (soapberry), however it wasn’t till I began beating Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite) that the beetles began “raining” onto the sheet! Chrysobothris rossi was ample—generally two or three falling into the sheet without delay and scattering instantly regardless of the cooler temps. It took me a little bit of time to excellent my method to keep away from dropping as many as I used to be getting. Smaller numbers had been additionally collected from lifeless branches of Vachellia constricta (white-thorn acacia), and simply as nightfall was falling I discovered quite a few Stenosphenus dolosus bedded down on the thorny branches of Zizyphus obtusifolium. I additionally collected a pair extra C. rossi on lifeless branches of Celtis sp. earlier than calling it quits.
Because of the lateness of the hour, and because it appeared to be such a great place, we determined to remain out and put up the lights. Jason setup his mercury-vapor (MV) mild nearer to the river, whereas I put my MV/ultraviolet lights within the space the place I had been beating. I collected a good variety of cerambycids (not rather a lot) and a wide range of different beetles from the 2 lights whereas we waited for our coals to warmth up so we may prepare dinner some dinner (a fiasco to recount in future journeys).
Day 7 – Pecos River space
Pecos River at Hwy 90
Val Verde Co., Texas
We awoke to a lot cooler temperatures (hallelujah!) due to a chilly entrance that moved by the realm final evening, although with out the 40% forecasted likelihood of rain (additionally good). Our plan in the present day was to work the realm across the Pecos River after which search for oaks in close by Seminole Canyon State Park.
On high close to the place we pulled the autos off the street, I beat a Chrysobothris rossi off lifeless Vachellia rigidula (blackbrush acacia)—a lot of which had been killed within the nice Texas freeze two winters in the past. About that point, Jason and Tyler known as me over to have a look at a buprestid larvae they’d crushed from a lifeless department of the identical—it was not chrysobothrine or agriline, and based mostly on the scale of the numerous emergence holes noticed within the branches of this tree we suspected both Xenorhipis osborni (which I’ve reared from this plant at this location up to now) or a small species of Acmaeodera. Jason collected the larva, and we each collected branches to convey again for rearing. Close by I discovered one other lifeless tree of the identical species however famous an entire absence of emergence holes, but after I broke aside one of many branches I discovered a buprestid larvae similar to the earlier (in addition to a C. rossi grownup on the department) and picked up some branches for rearing from that plant as properly.
I famous a number of flowers of Ruellia parryi (Parry’s petunia)—in my expertise different species of this genus are good attractors of Acmaeodera—however didn’t see any adults. The day was nonetheless cool and cloudy, so I hoped I’d see some later after it warmed up and the solar got here out.
I crossed over the freeway about midway down for the reason that others had gone additional down on the aspect I used to be on and wished to keep away from working timber they’d already labored and located a fence crossover stand on the backside underneath the bridge. I’d by no means been down that far earlier than or seen the crossover, which gave me entry to the previous street going all the way in which all the way down to the river. I began beating Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite) alongside the way in which, finally accumulating round 8–10 C. rossi and a few Agrilus sp. together with a number of different bugs. There was additionally lifeless Celtis pallida (spiny hackberry) close to the bridge, however I solely beat a single miscellaneous beetle off one of many vegetation.
Close to the bridge I seen a small purple flower of Justicia pilosella (Gregg’s tube tongue) that regarded prefer it had been eaten by Acmaeodera. I didn’t see any adults, however as I began to stroll away I seen motion like an grownup Acmaeodera dropping from the flower onto the bottom. I used my aspirator to choose by the soil beneath and finally discovered the little man laying there taking part in lifeless—presumably A. neoneglecta, which I then aspirated right into a bottle. There have been just some different vegetation in flower round that one, none of which confirmed proof of feeding or had been internet hosting a beetle.
About that point Tyler had additionally discovered his method throughout the crossover and all the way down to the place I used to be, so collectively we explored the vegetation on all sides of the previous street main all the way down to the river. At one level whereas I used to be beating Senegalia greggii (catclaw acacia) (from which I collected a single C. rossi), Tyler known as on the market had been lycids (netwinged beetles) on Karwinskia humboldtiana (coyotillo). I came visiting and instructed him we should always search for Elytroleptus—cerambycid beetles that mimic lycids however a lot much less regularly encountered. I seen that the bush was abuzz with bees and Pepsis wasps, not like lots of the shrubs I’d seen additional up. Inside a couple of minutes he known as out that he’d discovered one, and inside a minute or two I discovered one as properly (I imagine they’re E. divisus). We searched the stand completely however discovered no extra and continued down the previous street—our focus now on inspecting the patches of coyotillo alongside the way in which as a substitute of beating the mesquites and acacias (by the way in which, I by no means obtained something extra off the lifeless acacias after beating the one C. rossi off the primary one!). A bit methods down the street, Tyler noticed one other Elytroleptus fly up from a coyotillo bush—additionally in flower and abuzz with bees and Pepsis wasps, and when he swung his web at it I noticed one other one fly up from the bush and netted it. This occurred twice once more on the way in which down, every of us seeing a netting an grownup flying up from a plant and the opposite one doing so proper afterwards. As we neared the underside of the street, we seen the vegetation—extra uncovered than these additional up—had been principally previous flower and as a substitute setting fruit, and no beetles (or bees or Pepsis wasps) had been seen.
After exploring the dry river mattress for awhile we headed again up the street and met Jason and Joshua taking a look at the exact same vegetation that we had collected the primary Elytroleptus from—though didn’t see that species. Joshua had simply taken a swing at a Pepsis wasp within the bush after I noticed one other Elytroleptus fly up and away. No person else noticed it, and I took off after it, efficiently netting it to “win” the “Elytroleptus competitors”! As all of us walked up the street previous the bridge, I seen a R. parryi flower that was now internet hosting a number of A. neoneglecta, and we additional seen the Tiquilia canescens (woody crinklemat, shrubby tiquilia) flowers had been now open and picked up a number of A. neoneglecta and one A. starrae—a brand new western vary extension.
I didn’t accumulate something extra the remainder of the way in which up the previous street, however as soon as I obtained again close to the car I seen Acmaeodera adults within the flowers of Sida abutifolia (spreading sida)—most of which regarded like A. neoneglecta however at the least one presumably being A. opuntiae, gathering round half a dozen complete. By then everyone was prepared to enter city and search for one thing to eat, so I reduce up and bundled the wooden I’d collected and we drove again into Comstock. (Satirically, as soon as again on the town, we pulled as much as the native eatery obtained out of our vehicles. As we approached the door, any person inside turned the aspect from “Open” to “Closed”! I joked that in all probability the motel proprietor had seen the #Libtardandproud sticker on my automotive window and known as the restaurant to warn them.
Seminole Canyon State Park
Rio Grande & Canyon Rim Trails
Val Verde Co., Texas
After being declined service on the restaurant in Comstock, we drove to the state park and ate lunch on the picnic space earlier than divvying up the “oak-hunting duties”. We had been hoping to see Spectralia roburella, an oak-associate that I’ve reared from Quercus fusiformis (plateau reside oak) wooden I collected at this web site a few years in the past however which I nonetheless have but to see within the discipline. Jason and Tyler took the Windmill Nature Path, which has a stand of oaks, whereas Joshua and I took the Canyon Rim Path (by way of the Rio Grande Path), which has a few oak stands inside a mile of the place to begin. None of us had any luck with S. roburella, which I beat completely in addition to broke aside a number of the lifeless branches, or something on the timber for that matter. I did, nevertheless, accumulate a single Chrysobothris analis on Senegalia greggii (catclaw acacia) and some clytrine chrysomelids on Vachellia vernicosa (viscid acacia) alongside the Rio Grande Path, and shortly after beginning down the Canyon Rim Path I beat two Spectralia robusta from Diospyros texana (Texas persimmon). This latter seize renewed my enthusiasm for beating persimmon, which I did completely each time I used to be not beating oak, however I by no means noticed one other particular person! At this level, my physique was giving out (regardless of the far more tolerable temperatures in the present day), and we regrouped to resolve our subsequent transfer for the journey (trace: we moved west!).
We drove west to Sanderson and ended up in an RV park with tent websites for $7 and some marvelous steel dinosaurs on the entrance (I used to be impressed with their choice of the hardly ever featured Allosaurus as a substitute of the grossly overused Tyrannosaurus). It was not till round 2 am, nevertheless (and once more at 5 am)—when the prepare rumbled by behind the campground, that we understood why the tent websites had been so low cost!
Day 8 – To Monahans Sandhills
Regardless of its small dimension, town of Sanderson gives a proper good cup of espresso to begin the day by means of this retooled vehicle dealership.
17 mi N Sanderson, Jct US-285 & FR-2400
Terrell Co., Texas
Our plan had been to journey west to Ft. Davis, however the climate forecast for the realm known as for rain and funky temperatures. We determined as a substitute to journey northwest to Monahans Sandhills State Park the place the forecast regarded significantly better. The spot has been on my radar ever for the reason that species Chrysobothris mescalero was described, and I’ve already regarded for the species there twice with out success. It was a superb determination (extra on that later). On the way in which, we noticed a roadside space with numerous flowers in bloom, so we made a fast cease to see what is perhaps visiting the flowers. I’m glad we did—I picked up a pleasant little collection of Acmaeodera paradisjuncta together with a number of A. mixta and a few giant bees (for Mike) on flowers of Wedelia hispida (Texas creeping-oxeye).
I discovered it fascinating that they weren’t on the far more ample Coreopsis flowers and talked about this to Tyler, who mentioned he did see one on “this different yellow flower”—which turned out to be Senna roemeriana (two-leaved senna). I instructed him this was the host plant for Agrilus obtusus and that he ought to be looking out for the adults, which will be seen sitting on the leaves. I walked to a different plant a brief distance away, and there they had been—two grownup A. obtusus sitting on a senna plant, which I gave Tyler the prospect to see earlier than inserting them within the bottle. Heading again in the direction of the vehicles, we encountered a patch of Croton pottsii (leatherweed). I discussed to him that this was the host of Agrilus lacustris, and nearly instantly afterwards I noticed two adults sitting on the foliage of one of many vegetation. It was a pleasant little cease that added one species to my journey record.
Monahans Sandhills State Park
Jack Pump Picnic Space
Winkler Co., Texas
We arrived on the park early afternoon and, after checking in with the workplace, headed to the Jack Pump Picnic Space. A number of Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite) had been lining the car parking zone, and with the primary whack of a department an Acmaeoderopsis sp. fell onto the sheet. I spent a while working the mesquites and picked up not solely a superb collection of Acmaeoderopsis however two totally different species of treehoppers and different miscellaneous sorts of beetles. I remembered gathering Acmaeoderopsis on mesquite a number of years in the past close to Kermit, Texas and recalled their behavior of dashing off the beating sheet when the day heated up and discovering it simpler at that time to web them as they flew to the information of branches. Temperatures had been nonetheless comparatively average, so that they weren’t but doing that, however I began to have a look at the upper branches to see if I may see them flying to them. I didn’t, however I did see small silhouettes of one thing buzzing across the flowers. I took a swipe with the web, and to my astonishment the web was stuffed with ghostly pale-yellow bees. I collected a number of for Mike Arduser, feeling assured that he would discover them of curiosity.
After working the mesquites across the car parking zone (and having a scorching canine with the very pleasant household having fun with their vacation on the dunes), I moved out onto the dunes to see what is perhaps happening. I had supposed to search for stands of Quercus havardii (shin oak) to search for Chrysobothris mescalero however obtained distracted after I noticed Acmaeoderopsis flying to the department suggestions of a line of mesquites. I spent a bit extra time thus distracted however ended up with a nicer collection of the species after which went again to the street to search for stands of oaks additional again. Alongside the way in which I collected an Acmaeodera immaculata and a Batyle suturalis on the flowers of Thelesperma megapotamicum (rayless greenthread) and a Lytta reticulata that was feeding on the flowers of Penstemon ambiguus (gilia bearstongue). At that time, Joshua got here again with a Chrysobothris sp. that he’d collected on shin oak—it was undoubtedly a member of the C. femorata species group however regarded too giant to be C. mescalero. Nonetheless, we had been inspired to focus our efforts at that time on looking the shin oak stands for the species. However first, we needed to oblige the very pleasant household, who supplied us extra scorching canines!
Monahans Sandhills State Park
Shinnery Oak Picnic Space
Winkler Co., Texas
I searched this space twice final 12 months searching for Chrysobothris mescalero, each occasions discovering branches that regarded “flagged” among the many ample stands of Quercus havardii (shin oak) within the space however failing to rear out the beetles. I had additionally swept the vegetation a bit every time however got here up empty. This time, with 4 of us attempting, we supposed to provide it a full effort—and it didn’t take lengthy! Jason discovered the primary one… and the second… and I joined him to see precisely the place and the way he was discovering them. He had been sweeping the stands of vegetation in one of many depressions within the dune, whereas I used to be working the vegetation on the higher slopes and ridge tops. I made a decision to attempt working the melancholy as a substitute and instantly got here up with one myself. I labored the melancholy absolutely and obtained 4 for my efforts, then began working close by vegetation that weren’t in depressions, however I reasoned that being close by they’d a greater likelihood of internet hosting beetles. Apparently this was poor reasoning, as a result of I didn’t encounter any extra beetles within the ensuing half-hour of beating.
Exhausted, I went again to the automotive to rehydrate and debate whether or not I wished to proceed, however the 4 of us motivated one another and again out we went. This time, I went west of the picnic space and located a melancholy just like the primary with principally thigh-high vegetation… and obtained one other 4. I noticed one other very nice-looking melancholy throughout the street and made my method over, once more specializing in the knee-high vegetation. From this melancholy I collected three extra adults. One remaining melancholy—and extra extra beetle, and I used to be in a position to return to the automotive glad. I used to be excited to have discovered the key to gathering these beetles and was anxious to share with the others. Because it turned out, every of the others had additionally realized this secret, and collectively we had a really good collection of the beetle. We sat on the picnic bench and recounted what a superb day of gathering it had been and, to have a good time, determined to go into city for pizza!
Day 9 – Davis Mountains
Monahans Sandhills State Park
Shinnery Oak Picnic Space
Winkler Co., Texas
We had hoped to setup lights for bugs at Monahans Sandhills State Park final evening after coming back from our celebratory pizza dinner, however excessive wind made not solely that but additionally tenting untenable. We tried to make it work, however the wind finally blew my tent fully from its moorings, and I had no alternative however to run into city a discover a motel room.
This morning we set out for the Davis Mountains—our unique plan yesterday, however on the way in which we stopped at this spot to see if we may discover Agrilus cochisei on Ambrosia occidentalis (western ragweed). Jason, Tyler, and I had all collected the species in numbers close to this spot over the previous couple of years, however Joshua had not and we wished to provide him the prospect. Sadly, the vegetation weren’t practically as ample or properly developed as in earlier years, and nary a beetle was to be present in them. Whereas Joshua regarded for the beetle, I swept the Xanthisma spinulosum (spiny goldenweed), which was in bloom abundantly alongside the opposite aspect of the street. Two Acmaeodera mixta had been swept from the flowers, and coming again I noticed two extra Acmaeodera—one A. neglecta/neoneglecta and certainly one of a brand new species that Jason is describing—on the identical flower. Again close to the automotive there was a patch of Sphaeralcea angustifolia (narrow-leaved globemallow), which I swept hoping to search out certainly one of any variety of buprestid/cerambycid species that might be on the vegetation however ended up solely with a number of weevils (Bob Anderson will probably be completely satisfied, nevertheless). There have been numerous different flowers in bloom, however we prevented the temptation to go searching additional, because the Davis Mountains beckoned!
Davis Mountains, 11 mi W Ft. Davis
Level of Rocks Picnic Space
Jeff Davis Co., Texas
We had been a bit disenchanted at how dry issues regarded as we climbed into the Davis Mountains and made our technique to Ft. Davis. We famous flowers in bloom alongside the roadsides, however the grass alongside the roadsides and protecting the hills was vivid, crispy brown and the oaks had been largely nonetheless with none new foliage. Nonetheless, we hoped gathering may nonetheless be good as there had been a bit of little bit of rain in current days. Level of Rocks Roadside Park is certainly one of my staple gathering localities within the Davis Mountains—it’s the place I first collected cerambycids of the genus Elytroleptus hiding amongst the far more quite a few Lycus beetles, the latter toxic and coloured orange and black to promote that truth and the previous fully innocent however equally coloured in an effort to idiot any would-be predators; and it’s additionally the place I first reared what would turn into the holotype of Mastogenius texanus and later not solely collected a superb collection of the adults but additionally found its larvae in branches of oak. This time, the oaks lining the picnic space confirmed no indicators of recent development, so I didn’t even attempt beating on them. As well as, the wind was so excessive that attempting to make use of the beating sheet would have completely futile. As a substitute, I walked the roadside inspecting the number of flowers in bloom for beetle exercise. Sadly, not a single beetle was seen regardless of the variety of blooms, however I did decide up a few Lithurgopsis apicalis (orange-tipped woodborer bee) within the flower of Opuntia engelmannii (Engelmann’s prickly pear) for Mike. Having run out of flowers to verify, and nonetheless not desirous to beat the oaks, I went over to the stand of Sapindus saponaria (soapberry), which had been simply starting to provide foliage and the place I’d collected Elytroleptus so a few years in the past (1994, I imagine), to see if there is perhaps any of the buprestid species related to soapberry. I swept a number of the decrease branches, taking care to maintain the still-extreme wind from catching my web like a sail, and noticed a few Agrilus ornatulus. I seen after I obtained low and in sure positions across the grove of timber I may get out of the wind, so I went again to the automotive and traded my sweep web for my beating sheet. Utilizing the beating sheet in that type of wind was an actual problem, however I nonetheless managed to gather seven adults complete of the species together with numerous clytrine chrysomelids. After having executed this, I used to be much less pessimistic about our prospects for gathering within the Davis Mountains—if solely we may get out of the wind! We huddled and determined to go to Madera Canyon—all the way in which on the opposite aspect of the loop across the mountains, however increased in elevation and presumably extra shielded from the winds blasting up from the south.
Davis Mountains
Madera Canyon Protect
Jeff Davis Co., Texas
Arriving on the trailhead car parking zone, we had been completely satisfied to see that the brutal winds that had harassed us for the previous couple of days didn’t observe us up the mountain, and with temperatures not anticipated to exceed the excessive 80s it appeared a phenomenal day was on faucet. If solely the gathering had been to observe. We tapped on this plant and that as we entered the protect, not seeing a lot (and never but anticipating to), and by the point the path reached the creek mattress crossing and started to ascend the mountain on the alternative aspect we started scattering in numerous instructions. I continued following the creek mattress and seen that, whereas a lot of the oaks nonetheless had been displaying no indicators of starting to leaf out, the occasional tree was main out properly. I beat the primary such one which I encountered—Quercus grisea (grey oak) however collected only some clytrine chrysomelids. Then I seen a shrub in bloom—Fallugia paradoxa (Apache plum)—and beat a number of miscellaneous beetles from it however nonetheless no buprestids.
A bit additional down the path I encountered a big Quercus vaseyana (Vasey oak) alongside the creek mattress that, not like a lot of the species, had damaged bud and was growing new foliage. I whacked a number of branches and picked up solely miscellaneous beetles, however then I whacked a department and noticed a big Agrilus sp. (I believe A. albocomus)! Eventually, not solely a buprestid, however one which I had by no means collected earlier than. I crossed again over the creek mattress and seen one other grey oak with contemporary foliage, and the primary whack produced a number of beetles, together with an odd, narrowly triangular-shaped beetle that I quickly realized was Brachys querci. This was much more thrilling, as I’ve solely collected a scarce handful of western Brachys, and the genus was an enormous goal of mine for this journey. Issues stood as such for awhile, save for a number of miscellaneous beetles that I beat from Senegalia greggii (catclaw acacia) and with solely the occasional giant, sparsely-leaved Vasey oak to beat as I went down the creek mattress. I seen one other creek mattress becoming a member of the one I used to be on and determined to discover up that valley, shortly encountering a small however well-leaved Vasey oak. I gave the tree a number of whacks, and there on the sheet had been three extra Agrilus and another Brachys! Okay, it appeared I used to be into one thing by focusing solely on the oaks with contemporary foliage. After relaying this data to the others, Tyler and I labored collectively up the valley, working every grey oak with contemporary leaves that we may discover (no extra Vasey oaks had been encountered). They had been principally the previous, and over the course of the subsequent hour we added sparingly to our Brachys totals (with numerous clytrine chrysomelids and different miscellaneous beetles) till I gave a department a whack and noticed what I first thought was a a lot smaller species of Agrilus however then realized it was an Agrilaxia. On this space, it may solely be A. texana, a species I hadn’t seen since 1984 (earlier than it was even described) till encountering them on my current journey to northwestern Oklahoma. Shortly afterwards, Tyler and I came across two groupings of huge, freshly-foliated grey oaks—one bordering the dam of the now dry Chico Tank and one other additional up within the western slope main all the way down to the previous water’s edge. Tyler started working the close to group, and I instructed him that I might go work the farther group as a result of it regarded like (and I hoped it might be) the “buprestid motherload”! That remark was prescient, as I nearly doubled my collection of the three species I’d already collected and added a few Chrysobothris axillaris! By the point we completed working the timber, we had been exhausted however absolutely glad and started working our method again down the valley and to the car parking zone. We encountered Jason and Joshua close to the path on the base of a giant grey oak—they’d additionally had nice gathering and even discovered one larva and one grownup of A. texana inside a lifeless department of the tree. A phenomenal mature male Aphonopelma hentzi (Texas brown tarantula) entertained us for a bit, and after spending 4 hours on the protect we determined that yet one more celebratory dinner on the Mexican restaurant on the town was so as.
After dinner, we determined to go west for lodging, however to our shock the lodge was closed—seemingly deserted, and we needed to double again to Alpine for an open motel. I used to be biting my fingernails as I pulled into the primary gasoline station on the town with my automotive’s miles-to-go indicator studying “1” mile! Our greeter on the motel appeared applicable for the state of affairs.
Day 10 – El Paso space
Rio Bosque Wetland Park
El Paso Co., Texas
We made the three-hour drive to El Paso for a few days of gathering on this space. I might have favored to have spent one other day within the Davis Mountains, however Joshua needed to fly out of El Paso this afternoon and we had no alternative however to maneuver on. It’s a superb factor we did! Our first spot to discover on this space was chosen based mostly on the seize of Knowltonia atrifasciata—a really uncommonly encountered buprestid that none of us have seen belonging to a small genus that none of us have collected—a number of years in the past at this wetland park proper on the Rio Grande River. GPS coordinates don’t get you to this park, and twice we had been directed to cross the border into Mexico! We had been too sensible for that, and with a bit of on-line sleuthing and handbook Google Map use we lastly discovered the spot. Regardless of the title, the place was bone dry, and in what’s turning into a day by day ritual we had little optimism for the way good the outcomes could be. Knowltonia is related to Atriplex, and we surmised that Ok. atrifasciata ought to be related on this space with A. canescens, which we discovered occurring abundantly in some areas and never a lot in others. I assumed beating could be one of the simplest ways to come across the species—assuming it was current, so all of us grabbed our beating sheets and began working by the realm main from the car parking zone. The vegetation, that are wind-pollinated, had been in full flower and launched clouds of pollen with every whack of the stick, so briefly order I used to be coated with pollen mud from head to toe. After beating for some time and never seeing something, I grew to become distracted by the Prosopis pubescens (screwbean mesquite) timber—a species I had by no means seen earlier than and all the time questioned if I might be capable of distinguish from the “regular” mesquite (P. glandulosa) with which they had been interspersed. I did get one Chrysobothris rossi and some miscellaneous beetle whereas beating P. pubescens.
I turned my consideration again to the Atriplex after I seen emergence holes (which I thought had been the work of Knowltonia) and started breaking/chopping branches displaying such holes to see if I may discover at the least a carcass in respectable situation or—higher but—an unemerged grownup. The frass was packed tightly within the galleries, which I took to be proof that the galleries had been the work of buprestid larvae and never cerambycids, the latter which I assumed all the time had open larval galleries stored freed from frass by the larvae. For some time, each stem I broke or reduce into the larval galleries appeared too previous and I didn’t encounter any adults (reside or lifeless) or larvae till I occurred upon a cerambycid carcass in its pupal chamber in one of many branches. The top was lacking, so I wasn’t positive at first if it was a cerambycid, however after I pulled it from the department and obtained a greater take a look at it I used to be satisfied it was and positioned it in a vial.
About that point, Joshua directed my consideration to a close-by Salix gooddingii (Goodding’s willow) tree off which he and a Jason had beat a good collection of an Agrilus sp. I assumed it was A. politus, however he mentioned it wasn’t… than I assumed it was A. quadriguttatus, however it had full and well-developed elytral vittae reasonably than spots. I couldn’t consider one other species it is perhaps and went to the tree to see if I may get some specimens as properly, partly pessimistic since two folks had already labored the tree however partly optimistic as a result of I had one factor they didn’t—an extensible deal with on my web! I prolonged the deal with to its full size and swept the foliage of the higher branches completely, getting 4 on that first spherical (and a Stenelytrana gigas in addition—my first time gathering that species)! I got here again to the tree twice extra, getting six extra Agrilus on the primary return and 9 extra on the second. At first look, the adults look nothing like something identified from Texas (or the U.S. for that matter), particularly amongst willow associates, and I’ll need to take a more in-depth look to find out if it represents a species identified from Mexico however not but recorded from the U.S. or presumably even a brand new species! [We later determined the species to be A. fisherianus, which has not yet been recorded from Texas, so not a new or Mexican species but still a new state record.] By this time, I had given up on seeing Knowltonia and spent a good bit of time beating each P. pubescens and P. glandulosa—essentially the most important seize being Acmaeodera delumbis on the previous.
Ultimately the time got here for Jason to take Joshua to the airport, so we mentioned our goodbyes and made plans to fulfill up with Jason once more at San Felipe Park close to Fabens. As Jason and Joshua drove away, Tyler and I contemplated our subsequent transfer, and at that second one thing out of the nook of my eye caught my consideration. I regarded on the Atriplex bush proper subsequent to me, and there close to the tip of one of many branches was the unmistakable silhouette of a vivid blue-green chrysobothrine beetle! I yelled out “That’s it!” and instinctively jumped into motion. My web was within the unsuitable place, however I twirled it rapidly and took an assertive, albeit one-handed, swipe simply because the cautious beetle rapidly took flight—lacking it by inches! There are occasions within the lifetime of a discipline entomologist when a missed seize causes true heartbreak, and this was certainly one of them. I used to be each thrilled we had seen the species in spite of everything however dejected past perception that I had missed it, maybe with out one other likelihood to sit up for. Okay, time to get to work! We knew with definitely that the beetles had been there and that they had been lively, and we additionally realized that an aerial web could be one of the simplest ways to go after them ought to we see them. I known as Jason to inform him to come back again right here after dropping off Joshua, after which Tyler and I started slowly approaching every bush to search for that flash of blue-green close to the department suggestions, working the identical vegetation we’d already tried beating from earlier within the afternoon. It solely took about quarter-hour earlier than I noticed motion on a plant and noticed the unmistakable silhouette of a chrysobothrine beetle on the again aspect of a department close to its tip. The beetle made one other slight motion, triggering an instantaneous slam of my web from the aspect. My coronary heart skipped a beat after I first regarded into the web and didn’t see it, however quickly it appeared because it tried to fly up the web—it’s fantastically biramous antennae simply seen and confirming it to be a male. What earlier had been heartbreak quickly turned to elation and vindication—we’d come right here to discover a very unusual species, and we’d be strolling away profitable as soon as once more. That mentioned, the subsequent hour and a half would additional emphasize simply how actually fortuitous a seize it was, as we by no means noticed one other grownup regardless of combing the realm completely.
Once I got here again to the automotive, Jason—being unsuccessful in his extra temporary effort to search for the beetle—was tearing aside an Atriplex bush searching for proof of larvae. This motivated me to provide it one other crack, however this time as a substitute of working branches with emergence holes I labored these with out. I had discover larval galleries in practically each department I checked out, and when I discovered fresh-looking frass in a gallery down the center of an in any other case wholesome, residing department I began fastidiously following the gallery, finally discovering a pupal cell with one thing in it and chopping away the wooden to show one other longhorned beetle (this one teneral). Jason did the identical and located a few pupae, which I’ll hold alive (together with the teneral grownup) in an effort to allow them to emerge and harden up. The grownup reminded of the genus Amannus, which I assumed contained two species additional west, however after consulting Larry Bezark’s photographic catalogue of Cerambyidae I spotted they had been Amannus atriplici—a Texas species that’s yet one more new one for me.
By this time, we had been within the park for 5½ hours—a file for this journey, so we went into El Paso to have yet one more celebratory dinner (Olive Backyard this time) and plan our subsequent transfer.
Day 11 – El Paso to Cloudcroft
Rio Bosque Wetland Park
El Paso Co., Texas
Final evening was one other lodging fiasco that had us driving from one closed campground to a different closed campground earlier than biting the bullet and securing a motel in Fabens. It was our intention to gather this morning at close by San Felipe Park, the place final 12 months I’d executed properly with Gyascutus planicosta and a number of other cerambycids. Nevertheless, as quickly as we arrived we heard a collection of gunshots (that is Texas, in spite of everything!). If that wasn’t sufficient to provide us pause, each Jason and I spotted once we regarded within the backs of our autos that we’d left our beating sheets on the path at yesterday’s final locality (we’d ditched them in favor of getting two palms on the aerial web whereas searching for Knowltonia atrifasciata). The gathering gods appeared fully towards us gathering at our supposed location, so we blasted again to Rio Bosque Wetland Park and had been relieved to search out our beating sheets on the path proper the place we’d left them. None of us had been eager on going again to the gunshots, so we determined to remain and take one other go searching for Ok. atrifasciata. It could additionally give me an opportunity to gather potentially-infested stems of Atriplex canescens and rear out a greater collection of Amannus atriplici. I inspected all of the vegetation fastidiously within the areas across the two spots the place I’d seen the beetles yesterday however didn’t see any adults. As I did this, I beat a number of Prosopis pubescens (screwbean mesquite) and picked up a number of miscellaneous beetles, then went again to the spot the place I’d collected Agrilus fisherianus on Salix gooddingii (Goodding’s willow) and used the prolonged dealt with web to brush 4 extra adults from the higher branches of the tree. Lastly, I went again to the plant from which Jason and I had reduce pupae and teneral adults of Amannus atriplici (the 2 pupae we collected yesterday had since emerged as adults inside their vials) and reduce a number of entire branches from the plant to convey again for rearing. A suspicious character obtained us a bit of on edge, and we determined we’d seen sufficient and headed up north into New Mexico.
Hwy 70 at Level of Sands
Otero Co., New Mexico
Our plan was to go to Cloudcroft and search for the recently-described Brachys rileyi. Earlier than doing that, nevertheless, I wished to cease at Level of Sands, a cool place the place White Sands Nationwide Monument spills throughout the park border and down onto Hwy 70. Final July after I stopped right here with Jeff Huether, I discovered a carcass of Sphaerobothris ulkei and figured they is perhaps out at this earlier level within the season. It ended up being a superb factor that we stopped right here, as a result of little did we all know that that plan had already been thwarted by closure of the Nationwide Forest as a result of excessive fireplace hazard (we might not discover this out till we had been prepared to depart).
I crossed the street to begin checking the plant host for the species—Ephedra torreyana (Torrey’s jointfir) on this case. Circumstances had been once more not scorching with a light-weight breeze—far more nice than the blazing scorching situations initially of the journey or the brutal winds that adopted. The bottom, nevertheless, regarded parched, and I used to be not optimistic about something being out. I had gotten practically to the top of the Ephedra stands on that aspect of the street with out seeing something (and was beginning to assume I by no means would) after I seen a bee-like insect hovering across the tip of one of many Ephedra vegetation. I spotted it was an Acmaeodera and rapidly netted it. Once I pulled it from the web, I used to be thrilled to see it was Acmeodera recticollis—an uncommonly encountered species that I’ve by no means collected earlier than. I instructed Jason and Tyler what I had discovered, and the three of us spent the subsequent hour working the ephedra vegetation within the space, gathering a fairly good collection of the species.
I diverted my consideration solely a few occasions—as soon as after I noticed a placing robber fly perched on yucca that I simply needed to {photograph}, after which once more when Tyler and I discovered the spectacular grownup women and men of Tragidion armatum on flowers of Yucca elata (soaptree yucca) [2022-44b]. By then, we’d realized that the Nationwide Forest was closed however had managed to order a tenting web site at a non-public campground simply exterior the nationwide forest boundary. Our plans to gather Brachys rileyi in the present day might need been thwarted, however we obtained an sudden species for the journey as a comfort, and I used to be actually completely satisfied we might not have to fret about lodging for this night.
Sacramento Mountains, Mayhill
Otero Co., New Mexico
All we may do as we drove by the Nationwide Forest round Cloudcroft was stare longingly on the Quercus gambelii (Gambel’s oak) whereas indicators posted at any potential pulloff flashed “Closed. No Entry.” Our non-public campground was, nevertheless, simply exterior the Nationwide Forest and regarded to comprise equal habitat, so we remained hopeful that we might be capable of discover Q. gambelii timber to beat for Brachys rileyi. Whereas establishing camp, we noticed a beautiful purple netwinged beetle (household Lycidae) that proved to be Lygistopterus rubripennis, and sweeping the luxurious vegetation alongside the close by spring-fed creek produced a number of extra together with a number of different miscellaneous beetles. There was a path main from the campsite into the oak-juniper-pine woodland, and strolling alongside it I discovered a number of small Q. gambelii—the tree we had been searching for. Sadly, beating all of the branches I may attain on all of the timber I may discover failed to provide a B. rileyi (or the rest), so in the intervening time our quest for the species stays unfinished.
Additional down the path underneath a powerline clearing I discovered stands of Q. havardii, which I swept in hopes of discovering Brachys barberi however discovered solely a few cryptocephaline chrysomelids and a clerid. I met up with Tyler and Jason on the opposite aspect of the creek and swept Cucurbita foetedissima (buffalo gourd) in hopes of discovering Adetus brousi (one other species I haven’t but collected myself) however no cigar (nonetheless haven’t collected it myself). There was a stand of Salix exigua (sandbar willow) close by, and sweeping off of it produced a collection of galerucine chrysomelids.
As nightfall approached, I setup the ultraviolet lights solely (no mercur vapor lamp since I couldn’t fireplace up the generator), however I may inform the temperatures had been cooling to the purpose that no beetles could be coming in. This proved to be the case, and with only some lonely moths sitting on the sheet I turned to roaming the roadsides searching for night-active bugs. Tyler and I discovered a number of Udeopsylla robusta (sturdy camel cricket), all barfing, defecating, and assuming hilariously defensive poses in response to our proddings.
Darkling beetles (household Tenebrionidae) had been the primary issues collected, however on the high of the drive I discovered three Zopherus concolor, with their cool leg “racing stripes,” crawling slowly on the bottom. By that point, I used to be exhausted from yet one more lengthy however profitable day of gathering and turned in for the evening.
Day 12 – Mescalero Sands
Mescalero Sands Recreation Space
North Dunes Picnic Space
Chaves Co., New Mexico
Within the morning after breaking camp, we went again to Cloudcroft to see if we may park someplace alongside the aspect of the street and entry Quercus gambelii (Gambel’s oak) to search for Brachys rileyi, however all of the locations we may pull off had been properly marked “Cease. No Entry” as a result of Lincoln Nationwide Forest closure. Our quest for B. rileyi must wait for one more day. With that, we headed for this spot the place we hoped to get one other shot at gathering one other Brachys species we had been concentrating on—B. barberi. We’d hoped to see it at Monahans Sandhills State Park initially of the week however discovered solely the opposite essential goal—Chrysobothris mescalero. I used to be additionally completely satisfied to have one other shot at gathering Agrilus hespenheide, a single specimen of which Jason collected at Monahans and nonetheless represented in my cupboard by solely a single specimen collected a few years in the past at this very web site. We even welcomed the chance to search out C. mescalero at its sort locality. Temperatures had been already topping 100°F by the point we arrived, however the robust situations would imply little to us since we instantly discovered B. barberi sweeping stands of Quercus havardii (shin oak) very close to the place we parked. As we had been starting our sweeping, we encountered a small white yogurt cup that had been discarded within the dunes and seen a number of Acmaeodera quadrivittatoides flying in and touchdown on the white rim of the cup. Jason collected them after which left, after which I emptied the sand and crammed the cup with water to let it sit whereas I swept the stand of oaks subsequent to it. Once I returned, there have been seven Acmaeodera trapped within the water—two clearly being A. quadrivittatoides however the different 5 not instantly recognizable (they appear to be very small A. starrae or A. riograndei—I will probably be anxious to have a look at them extra carefully). Over the subsequent 2½ hours we might sweep the stands of shrubby oaks searching for B. barberi, typically gathering none however generally as many as 5 people per sweeping cross. I labored every discrete stand systematically to keep away from duplicative sweeping, because it was laborious work in such warmth, and along with B. barberi I collected two specimens of A. hespenheidei, 4 specimens of C. mescalero (two obtained away, as they moved quick within the warmth!), two Acmaeodera neglecta, and one other small Acmaeodera that appears very very similar to the A. riograndei that we had been gathering a lot additional south at Gold Mine Canyon in Val Verde Co., Texas. This latter discover is important , because the species has not been recorded earlier than our journey from exterior of the Large Bend area—if the ID is right, the seize represents a brand new state file and a major extension of the identified vary. Along with the buprestids, treehoppers of the genus Cyrtolobus or close to (two species) had been ample on the oaks, together with a beautiful species of cassidine leaf beetle. I collected good collection of every and a smattering of many alternative species of beetles in different households. I used to be having a lot success sweeping that finally I needed to power myself to cease and take a break to relaxation and rehydrate (I’m not 26 anymore!). I assumed I wished to exit for extra A. hespenheidei after the break, however after the primary sweeping cross I spotted my physique was executed!
Mescalero Sands Recreation Space
Vic. North Dunes entrance
Chaves Co., New Mexico
After ending with the oaks within the recreation space, we headed out to the freeway close to the doorway to work the close by stands of Sapindus saponaria (soapberry). I had good success throughout my final go to right here in 2018 with Agrilus sapindi in these stands, a species I’ve discovered very sparingly in different places and which had been greatest collected right here by sweeping the small saplings reasonably than beating the branches of bigger timber. We encountered the species nearly instantly after we arrived, gathering them precisely as I’d executed earlier than. This additionally produced a number of Agrilus ornatulus, and beating the branches produced one or two of every species as properly. Jason additionally collected one particular person of Agrilus limpiae, a species I collected on soapberry throughout my current journey to western Oklahoma, however I didn’t encounter it right here. I’m wondering what it’s about this soapberry stand that A. sapindi likes a lot.
We had been all exhausted after working the sweep nets and beating sheets all day at Mescalero within the +100°F warmth, so we bumped into city to eat dinner (mine together with a big milkshake!) earlier than making the hour+ drive to our campsite close to Carlsbad. Earlier than leaving city, nevertheless, we needed to cease on the alien memorial for pictures and to depart our personal contributions on the pedestal.
Capitan Reef Rd at Pecos River
Chaves Co., New Mexico
Jason knew a spot not removed from the campground the place we may setup the lights, and regardless of my exhaustion I agreed to go alongside because it appeared prefer it might be a superb evening. It wasn’t a superb evening—although it wasn’t a nasty evening both. Solely two cerambycids had been collected on the mercury vapor-ultraviolet lights—one tiny elaphidiine, and a conversely giant Aneflus sp. (perhaps A. prolixus). Nevertheless, there was a smattering of different fascinating bugs that made the evening not a bust—a number of clerids of a number of totally different species,, the identical with bostrichids, numerous tiny bruchids (I don’t usually see these at lights—or perhaps I simply haven’t seen them), a few small melolonthine scarabs, and one darnine treehopper. I had hoped for a higher range of beetles, particularly longhorned beetles, however contemplating the success I’d had in the present day I couldn’t complain.
Day 13 – Going solo!
Capitan Reef Rd at Pecos River
Chaves Co., New Mexico
We got here again to the spot the place we blacklighted final evening to search for Gyascutus planicosta, which Jason had collected a number of years in the past on Atriplex (saltbush). Gyascutus planicosta adults are among the many largest within the household in North America and are highly effective fliers, so catching them generally is a problem even for the skilled entomologist. Sadly, we didn’t see any this time—I believe we’re a bit on the early aspect for the likes of such. The world was supremely uninteresting—choked with clumps of Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite) on raised mounds with ORV paths (apparently a very talked-about pastime on this space) winding amongst them and some giant Tamarix (tamarisk, salt cedar) timber. Nonetheless, I managed to beat a number of centrotine and one darnine treehoppers and a few miscellaneous beetles from the mesquite, and on the furthest level I walked earlier than I’d had sufficient I collected a small collection of Acmaeoderopsis hulli flying to the information of mesquite. At this level, it was time to bid Jason and Tyler adieu, as they began heading again to south Texas whereas I begin making my technique to Arizona. Jason and I every ended up with 43 species of Buprestidae for the journey (although he’ll doubtless get extra on his method again to south Texas and I nearly definitely will get many extra (hopefully a number of dozen!) over the subsequent week in Arizona.
Sacramento Mountains, Mayhill
Otero Co., New Mexico
My path to Arizona took me proper by the camp we stayed at two nights in the past, the place Jason had managed to gather a few Taphrocerus chevrolati (however I had not) by sweeping grasses alongside the aspect of the street. I didn’t see any sedges (usually the hosts of Taphrocerus species) blended within the grasses and thought it was odd that these two people could be discovered on reasonably dry grasses. Nonetheless, since I had one other alternative I made a decision to see if I may come up one or two this time. I got here up with 10 and don’t fairly know what to consider this many people in patches of grasses that absolutely can’t be a larval growth host. At any charge, these specimens will turn out to be useful (the primary I’ve collected in New Mexico) as I proceed with my revision of the North American (north of Mexico) fauna.
1.8 mi W Cloudcroft on Hwy 82
Otero Co., New Mexico
On the way in which out of Cloudcroft, I seen a whole lot of Quercus gambelii (Gambel’s oak)—host for Brachys rileyi—alongside the sting of the street and a big turnout with none “Cease. No entry.” indicators posted the place I may seemingly park the automotive. I hoped perhaps staying alongside the roadside wouldn’t be an issue with the Nationwide Forest closure and started beating the timber searching for the beetle. I’d labored the timber lower than quarter-hour, gathering a number of miscellaneous beetles and treehoppers when a Forest Service car pulled up alongside me and, in a pleasant voice that didn’t belie whether or not they thought I used to be doing one thing unsuitable, requested what I used to be doing. I replied that I used to be gathering beetles, to which they smiled and defined that the Nationwide Forest is closed and I used to be in violation of the order. Clear sufficient! I considered asking if I may simply transfer alongside or do I have to go to jail, however I made a decision to not tempt destiny and promised to depart without delay. I used to be type of stunned they left with out sticking round to ensure I really did go away without delay—I suppose I should have a reliable face.
Hwy 70 at Level of Sands
Otero Co., New Mexico
My path to (finally) Arizona additionally took me by this spot that Jason and Tyler and I had visited two days in the past, the place we ended up discovering Acmaeodera recticollis on Ephedra torreyana (Torreys’ jointfir). I’d gotten a modest collection and wished to see if I may get a number of extra, however what I actually wished was to search out Sphaerobothris ulkei, which makes use of the identical plant as a larval host. Tyler had seen two adults once we had been right here earlier than however had not handle to seize them, each flying past the fence when he noticed them. Winds had been as extreme as I’ve ever skilled, and at one level I had to make use of the prolonged deal with of my web to forestall my hat from escaping on the opposite aspect of the barbed-wire fence lining the roadside. The A. recticollis adults weren’t practically so ample in the present day as they had been two days in the past, however I managed one other modest collection with which I will be glad. I by no means did see a S. ulkei grownup, though thrice a equally formed/sized insect fooled me into considering that I had one. I additionally checked the Yucca elata (soaptree yucca) for extra Tragidion armatum however struck out.
One fascinating story—as I used to be checking the Ephedra, a Border Patrol car pulled up to take a look at my car, then circled again round to take a look at me (there’s a Border Patrol station simply up the freeway). The officer defined that they’d been notified about an individual “strolling alongside the fence” and got here to investigate cross-check it. It ended up being a really nice dialog as I defined what I used to be doing, every reply mentioning one other query out of seemingly real curiosity. you’ve exceeded expectations when a Border Patrol officer extends their hand to shake yours after they’re prepared to depart.
Organ Mountains—Desert Peaks Nationwide Monument
Pine Tree Nationwide Leisure Path
Doña Ana Co., New Mexico
For my remaining cease for the day, I’d deliberate to hike a path on the opposite aspect of the mountains the place Chrysobothris culbersoniana—a species I’ve not but collected—has been recorded. Nevertheless, as on the earlier web site the winds had been so extreme that utilizing a beating sheet would have been not possible. I made a decision to as a substitute take another shot at Brachys rileyi. BugGuide reveals a photograph of a specimen collected at “Aguirre Springs” (presumably Aguirre Spring Campground), and iNaturalist reveals one other specimen with geo-coordinates very near that spot alongside the Pine Tree Path.
Since each information state the beetles had been collected on Quercus gambelii (Gambel’s oak), I stored a watch out for such. I by no means noticed any on the components of the path that I hiked, however there have been Q. grisea (grey oak) and the occasional Q. arizonica (Arizona white oak), and off the previous I beat a number of miscellaneous beetles however no Brachys querci (which has additionally been recorded right here and which does make the most of grey oak). At a number of locations I encountered Celtis reticulata (netveined hackberry), off which I beat a number of extra miscellaneous beetles together with a single Agrilus lecontei. Within the meantime, I started to marvel if the geo-coordinates had been correct and left a touch upon the iNaturalist information asking about it, hoping I’d hear again earlier than I left the realm.
Ultimately I made it to the spot indicated by the geo-coordinates on iNaturalist, however nonetheless the one oaks current had been grey oaks. Sadly, by then I nonetheless had not heard again from the iNaturalist person who posted the file, so I surmised that they’d really collected the species on grey oak and misidentified the host (I might not be stunned if this species seems to make use of different oaks as hosts, as that is widespread amongst oak-associated Brachys). By then, I’d crushed sufficient oaks to conclude that neither Brachys species was lively in the mean time and headed again to the automotive.
Right here’s the place the story takes a irritating flip. After I obtained into city later that night, I noticed a response from the iNaturalist person, who acknowledged that the beetle was really collected on the higher a part of the Pine Tree Loop—not the place indicated by the geo-coordinates, which had been supposed simply to point the overall space. Gambel’s oak really does happen on that higher a part of the loop, and within the person’s opinion the host ought to have been enough to additional slender down a exact location. Whether or not that is true is debatable, and the entire episode illustrates the significance of accuracy in scientific reporting.
Day 14 – Journey Day (Las Cruces to Hereford)
Sunday was a time off from gathering whereas I drove west to the house of Norm Woodley and Steve Lingafelter in Hereford, Arizona. Norm and Steve are specialists in Buprestidae and Cerambycidae, respectively, and had been sort sufficient to supply to host me in the course of the third week of my journey for some pre-monsoon gathering in southeast Arizona. Insect numbers and variety presently of 12 months could not evaluate with the numbers and variety seen as soon as the monsoons begin (often in early to mid-July); nevertheless, there are a selection of species (significantly buprestids, particularly within the genera Agrilus and Brachys) which can be typically seen earlier within the season and disappear by the point the monsoons arrive. I’ve collected numerous occasions in southeast Arizona throughout and after the monsoons; nevertheless, this may be my first try at gathering within the space earlier than the monsoons. Thus, it was my hope that I might encounter many species that I haven’t seen earlier than, particularly a few of these which can be fully missing in my assortment. I didn’t arrive at Norm and Steve’s till late afternoon, so as a substitute of gathering we loved grilled burgers and effective spirits.
Day 15 – Dragoon & Huachuca Mountains
Earlier than leaving for the Dragoon Mountains, Steve and I set out two jug traps within the wash on the south aspect of their home—one on the south aspect of wash baited with 50:50 purple wine:ethanol and one other on the north aspect baited with pure ethanol.
W aspect Dragoon Mountains
3.0 mi NE Rd 687 on N Middlemarch Rd
Cochise Co., Arizona
Just a few years in the past, Norm found one of many rarest Acmaeodera species in North America—Acmaeodera horni—on flowers of Fallugia paradoxa (Apache plume) at a spot within the Dragoon Mountains. That was undoubtedly the most important of the a number of priorities I had this week as I spend the final a part of this three-week journey gathering in southeastern Arizona with Norm and Steve. The “horni spot” was first on our agenda for this primary day of gathering with them, since Norm has seen them as late as June 1st however principally in mid-Might. Once we arrived, we seen the vegetation had been a bit previous peak bloom, as only some sporadic flowers had been current on the vegetation in comparison with the far more quite a few fruiting buildings. The vegetation are primarily alongside Clifford Wash, so we walked down the wash, taking a look at any flower we may discover. At first I obtained distracted by the abundance of Acmaeodera quadrivitttatoides on the flowers however rapidly collected my share. When Norm and I met up once more about quarter-hour later, he had discovered two however I had but to see one. Understanding they had been nonetheless out, nevertheless, renewed my motivation to proceed looking. After some time, I encountered Steve, and he too had caught one, whereas I nonetheless had but to see one. I continued looking, and finally I heard Norm name out my title. I got here to the place he was, and there it was (sitting on a flower that I had checked out not 5 minutes earlier!). I simply netted the beetle, completely satisfied (and relieved) to have caught one however nonetheless wishing considerably I may have discovered one alone. I’ll simply have to do this someday sooner or later (with a mid-Might journey). Whereas I used to be searching for the beetle, I additionally collected a modest collection of what could also be Acmaeodera variegata to go together with the numerous A. quadravittatoides and three A. horni (Norm gave me his two). I additionally collected a few A. variegata and A. quadrivittatoides on flowers of Verbesina encelioides (cowpen daisy) in addition to a really small lycid (the smallest I’ve ever seen) and a few chrysomelids on the white flowers of Mimosa aculeaticarpa.
After scouring the patches of Fallugia another time to make sure we had not left any A. horni behind, we drove 0.4 miles again down the street to a different spot the place the wash crossed the street and the place Fallugia is once more pretty ample. We checked the vegetation completely, and whereas A. variegata and A. quadrivittatoides had been current, A. horni was not. With that, we mentioned goodbye to the “horni spot” and proceeded to a different spot the place we suspected Tragidion armatum might be discovered on Yucca elata (soaptree yucca).
W aspect Dragoon Mountains
0.4 mi N of N Middlemarch Rd on Rd 687
Cochise Co., Arizona
This location was very totally different from the earlier, with mesquites dotting a dry grass plain and the occasional Yucca elata (soaptree yucca)—many sending up flowering stalks. I checked a number of for Tragidion armatum however didn’t see any beetles on the stalks, after which I obtained the thought to make use of my prolonged web deal with to pry the rosette of stiff, sharp leaves away from the bottom of the stalk to see if any adults had been hiding there. Success! I discovered one feminine hiding within the rosette of the primary plant I checked, one other feminine within the third plant I checked, a male and a feminine within the fourth plant I checked, however then no extra in any of the numerous vegetation I checked after that.
3.0 mi NE Hwy 80 on N Middlemarch Rd
Cochise Co., Arizona
As a remaining cease for the day (not contemplating blacklighting for bugs at dusk), we stopped at a spot the place there’s a stand of Sapindus saponaria (soapberry), off which Norm has collected a brand new species of Agrilus that he’s describing. I let him sweep the vegetation to attempt to get extra for the species description, whereas I headed in the direction of an previous gnarled Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite) off which Norm mentioned he has routinely collected a wide range of buprestids. I didn’t have fairly the luck with it myself, gathering solely a single Chrysobothris rossi and some different miscellaneous beetles, however a neighboring mesquite with lusher foliage did produce a brand new species for the journey—Acmaeoderopsis junki and a second C. rossi. A big, partially fallen Vachellia constricta (whitethorn acacia) in full bloom regarded significantly inviting for buprestids, however I beat only some miscellaneous beetles from it. It turned out that Norm had already examined it and gotten a mating pair of Chrysobothris merkelii from it. I swept the soapberry after Norm had completed with it, however as he’d solely gotten a single specimen of the Agrilus after working it I didn’t have a lot expectation of discovering one other one (and I didn’t). By this time we had been scorching and drained, and a fast cease in close by Tombstone was singing her siren tune with the hope of ice cream and drinks.
E aspect Huachuca Mountains
Decrease Hunter Canyon
Cochise Co., Arizona
After dinner, Steven and I went to close by Hunter Canyon for some pre-monsoon blacklighting. Hunter Canyon shouldn’t be practically as properly referred to as Miller Canyon, its far more well-known neighbor to the north, however has related habitat and is correct within the coronary heart of one of many coolest pure historical past spectacles of the insect world—the mass emergence of the cerambycid species Megapurpuricenus magnificus (previously Crioprosopis magnificus)! This species develops as larvae within the trunks of residing oaks and emerge as soon as each three years in synchrony proper after the primary rains of the summer time monsoons. For a quick few days afterwards, one can simply see 100 adults flying excessive within the cover—a real spectacle given their huge dimension and unbelievable purple/black coloration. The final emergence right here was in 2021, so I’m planning to go to in 2024 in hopes of seeing this unbelievable phenomenon with my win eyes. For this night, nevertheless, I must content material myself with no matter pre-monsoon species may occur to be out and about. We arrange our sheets only a bit out of sight from one another (to keep away from competing for a similar bugs), every of us utilizing one 175-w mercury-vapor (MV) bulb and two (me) or 4 (Steve) 15-w ultraviolet (UV) mild bulbs. Since getting my MV bulb final 12 months I’ve began utilizing the setup/method advisable by Steve and different cerambycid specialists—a vertical sheet with floor fabric on either side, the MV on a tripod raised to a stage above the highest of the sheet and at the least one UV mild hanging in entrance of every aspect of the sheet. The MV mild will appeal to beetles from a distance, however as a result of its brightness the beetles could land within the neighborhood reasonably than on the sheet itself. For that reason, the MV mild is then turned off after about an hour and all of the close by vegetation shaken or crushed to disturb the beetles, that are then drawn to the sheet itself by the UV lights. After some time, the MV mild is turned again in and the cycle repeated. On this evening, nevertheless, such method wouldn’t be terribly vital, because the variety of beetles flying was reasonably small. The primary cerambycid—Anelaphus simile—got here to Steve’s sheet, and later an Anelaphus brevipes would additionally seem. A few the previous additionally got here to my sheet, and from each sheets I picked a smattering of miscellaneous beetles in different households. One of many extra thrilling finds of the evening was a really late occurring feminine of the spring species Knulliana sonorensis (I don’t settle for the present placement of this taxon as a subspecies of Ok. cincta), which was crawling on the bottom within the car parking zone and Might have been drawn to a pile of lately reduce oaks that had been close to Steve’s lights. This prompted a seek for different people that will have been so attracted, however the one factor we discovered was a headless carcass of Acmaeodera sp. (maybe A. decipiens). When the anticipated 9:30 p.m. flush of cerambycids didn’t materialize, we known as it an evening, took down the lights, and headed again the the home for some French Open motion.
Day 16 – Huachuca Mountains (cont.)
W aspect Huachuca Mountains
Decrease Copper Canyon
Cochise Co., Arizona
I knew it might be troublesome to high yesterday’s Acmaeodera horni expertise, however I nonetheless had hopes of gathering at the least a number of species that I’ve by no means seen within the discipline earlier than, particularly in the event that they represented species not current in my assortment. Copper Canyon is a well-known locality for gathering, and Steve and Norm like to go to this spot commonly as a result of number of fascinating species they’ve seen through the years right here. We walked the decrease mile or so of the path up the canyon, beating primarily the totally different oak species searching for principally Agrilus and Brachys. Lots of the Arizona species of Agrilus and most of Brachys happen previous to the monsoons, and since I’ve solely visited Arizona throughout or after the monsoons I’ve not collected lots of the Arizona species in these genera.
It took some time for the gathering to choose up, however finally we began specializing in the occasional timber with newly flushed foliage and had good success. Quercus arizonicus (Arizona white oak) was the best, yielding good collection of Agrilus quercus and A. chiricahuae in addition to a few Brachys cephalicus—all species of by no means collected earlier than. Quercus emoryi (Emory oak) was much less productive (owing to the truth that only some timber had been flush with contemporary leaves), yielding two extra B. cephalicus and an A. chiricahuae. Quercus hypoleucoides (silverleaf oak) was the least productive—no buprestids had been collected off these timber, defying Norm’s expectations. Aside from buprestids, a wide range of different bugs—principally leaf beetles, weevils, and a superb number of treehoppers—had been collected from all three oak species. A couple of mile up the path, it crossed a wash and obtained steeper and narrower, and I discovered it troublesome to beat off of something besides timber proper alongside the path, so I circled and joined Norm is slowly working our method again down the path, beating/sweeping the timber alongside the way in which and including barely to our collection. As soon as again on the backside, I hung a jug entice baited with ethanol close to the wash subsequent to a big silverleaf oak, which Steve will verify throughout the remainder of the season and hopefully will produce some good species of longhorned beetles.
Earlier than shifting to our subsequent spot, we made a fast go to to the close by U.S./Mexico border. The Nazi-esque barbed wire atop metal cross bars was a far cry from the promised “massive, stunning wall” because it slashed throughout the panorama and up over the mountains. I joked with Norm that we should always stick our nets over the fence and sweep for bugs so we may label them as having been collected in Mexico!
W aspect Huachuca Mountains
Decrease Ida Canyon
Cochise Co., Arizona
After a strong three hours at Copper Canyon we had been beat, however we wished to verify close by Ida Canyon, the decrease reaches of which has a stand of sedges from which Norm has collected a number of species of Taphrocerus. The sedge patch was fully dry and no Taphrocerus had been discovered, so we beat/swept a bit on the oaks—once more specializing in these occasional timber with a contemporary flush of foliage. I obtained one Agrilus quercus on Quercus arizonica (Arizona white oak) and two Brachys cephalicus off of a single Quercus emoryi (Emory oak) together with a smattering of miscellaneous beetles off every. As soon as once more, Quercus hypoleucoides (silverleaf oak) produced a smattering of miscellaneous bugs however no buprestids. Beetle exercise didn’t appear to be as excessive as at Copper Canyon, so we didn’t spend an excessive amount of time right here and headed residence for dinner earlier than an evening of blacklighting.
Huachuca Mountains
Montezuma Go
Cochise Co., Arizona
On the way in which again to Norm’s and Steve’s residence, we stopped on the ever-scenic Montezuma Go, which gives spectacular views of the U.S./Mexico border to each the east and the wrest. A big Cylindropuntia imbricata (tree cholla) in full bloom added a splash of coloration to the tawny view.
E aspect Huachuca Mountains
Higher Miller Canyon Rd
Cochise Co., Arizona
This spot close to the highest of Miller Canyon Rd is one other of Steve’s favourite blacklighting spots, so we arrange our lights right here in the identical method as final evening—simply out of sight of one another alongside the path and each setups utilizing each ultraviolet and mercury-vapor lamps. Each lights produced a smattering of miscellaneous bugs however few longhorned beetles, a number of Anelaphus (in all probability A. simile and A. brevipes) coming to my mild however none coming to Steve’s. Final evening it was the alternative, so who is aware of why this occurs?
Day 17 – Chiricahua Mountains
E aspect Chiricahua Mountains
Herb Martyr Campground
Cochise Co., Arizona
The Chiricahuae Mountains are a few two-hour drive from Norm’s and Steve’s place, so our plan for the day was for Norm and I to spend the day gathering in Cave Creek Canyon after which Steve meet up with me to blacklight. Our goal for this primary spot of the day was Agrilus howdeni, which Norm has collected on the contemporary leaves of Platanus wrightii (western sycamore) throughout June. This spot could be very close to the sort locality for the species (Southwestern Analysis Station), and although it was the primary day of June we hoped it might already be out. The cease had an inauspicious begin—as quickly as we obtained out of the automotive we noticed a big Chrysobothris land on the sheet steel wave of the campground bathroom constructing. It escaped Norm’s grasp however returned, solely to flee my web. Not a superb begin, however I did at the least beat a longhorned beetle (in all probability Sternidius decorus) from Quercus hypoleucoides (silverleaf oak) earlier than we headed all the way down to the creek mattress the place the sycamores might be discovered. As soon as within the creek mattress, I beat a number of miscellaneous beetles off of Quercus arizonica (Arizona white oak) earlier than turning my consideration to the sycamores. We rapidly realized that A. howdeni was not solely current, however occurred within the largest numbers Norm had ever seen—apparently the species is an earlier spring species than realized and the people seen later in June had been in all probability hangers on. Accumulating for me was sluggish at first, as I used to be restricted by my beating sheet and 6-ft extensible dealt with web to the decrease branches of the timber, whereas Norm was in a position to attain the upper branches together with his for much longer web deal with. Ultimately, nevertheless, after mountaineering up the creek mattress a good distance I encountered a number of timber with loads of low rising branches from which I used to be in a position to accumulate a superb collection of adults after which make my method again. Again on the automotive, Norm and I each checked the bathroom constructing once more hoping that the Chrysobothris had returned, however no such luck. I did discover, nevertheless, a number of small Robinia neomexicana (New Mexican locust), from which I swept a single Agrilus egenus, after which Norm noticed a big Buprestis (in all probability B. laeviventris) land on the car parking zone signal and nabbed it. Having gotten our fill of A. howdeni, we determined to maneuver as much as the next elevation spot the place Gayle Nelson as soon as collected the very uncommon Brachys apachei on Quercus hypoleucoides (silverleaf oak).
E aspect Chiricahua Mountains
Rd 42 at East Turkey Creek
Cochise Co., Arizona
The forest sort was a bit totally different at this higher-elevation spot, with pine and fir sharing the cover with oaks. I had supposed to give attention to the oaks in hopes of discovering the uncommon Brachys querci, however I used to be instantly distracted by giant flowering shrubs that turned out to be Ceanothus integerrimus (deerbrush ceanothus) and from which I beat a range of miscellaneous beetles and one treehopper however no buprestids.
I then turned my consideration to beating the ample stands of Quercus hypoleucoides (silverleaf oak), from which Norm obtained one Brachys floccosus—an excellent discover—however I collected solely a clerid, a number of treehoppers, and one very giant and really gravid Judolia instabilis. Occasional lycids turned up in sweeps and in flight, and a single clerid was collected off of one of many few Quercus arizonica (Arizona white oak) that I beat. We had hoped to go even increased to Rustler Park, however the time was getting away from us so we headed again down the canyon to eat one thing earlier than assembly up with Steve for blacklighting.
E aspect Chiricahua Mountains
1.2 mi NW Jct Rd 42 & 42A
Cochise Co., Arizona
We noticed this space alongside Cave Creek that had lush-looking areas close to the water’s edge which regarded promising for Taphrocerus. Norm swept the areas upstream from the place we parked and I swept the areas downstream—Norm discovering a single Taphrocerus (both T. chevrolati or T. sulcifrons) however me sweeping solely a single hispine leaf beetle.
On the way in which again dCave to Portal, we handed the property of the Cazier household—initially occupied by Mont Cazier, first director of the American Museum of Pure Historical past’s close by Southwestern Analysis Station.
E aspect Chiricahua Mountains
Herb Martyr Campground
Cochise Co., Arizona
We thought blacklighting at decrease elevations is perhaps extra productive and thus determined to attempt a campground that Steve has executed a number of occasions close to the Southwestern Analysis Station. Sadly, once we arrived it was already occupied (uncommon, in response to Steve), so we took the street the remainder of the way in which as much as Herb Martyr Campground the place Norm and I had collected earlier within the day. Fortuitously it was vacant, so I arrange my UV/MV lights within the spot nearest the car parking zone whereas Steve set his up about 220 ft down the path. Issues regarded promising when very early within the night a male Prionus heroicus got here to my lights, however that will be the one longhorned beetle we might see that evening! Nonetheless, I picked up a range of different bugs—particularly cryptocephaline leaf beetles (together with the smartly-dressed Griburius montezuma) and cyrtolobine treehoppers—to keep away from having to think about the night a waste. When the hoped for “9:30 cerambycid flush” didn’t materialize, we took down the lights and made the 2-hour drive again to Hereford.
Day 18 – Huachuca Mountains (once more!)
E aspect Huachuca Mountains
Decrease Carr Canyon
Cochise Co., Arizona
That is one other of Norm’s common spots, the place he has collected a wide range of Agrilus and Brachys from oaks through the years. After seeing the success that he has had in the course of the previous two days through the use of a long-handled, large-rim aerial web to brush the foliage within the increased cover of the timber, I made a decision to provide the strategy a attempt myself (luckily, I have already got and had introduced with me such a web) and see the way it in contrast with my customary strategy of beating (which reaches the decrease branches solely). It was not a superb day to make the comparability, as there have been only a few beetles to be discovered. I centered on sweeping Quercus arizonica (Arizona white oak) whereas Norm preferentially swept Quercus hypoleucoides (silverleaf oak), and each of us collected however a single buprestid—mine being the not unusual Agrilaxia arizonae however Norm’s turning out to be the very uncommon Mastogenius puncticollis! In any other case on the oak I collected solely a smattering of leaf beetles. I additionally swept Platanus wrightii (Arizona sycamore) and picked up one other A. arizonae and a small eumolpine leaf beetle. With our luck working dry within the decrease elevations of the canyon, we determined to go as much as the next elevation web site for hopefully higher luck.
E aspect Huachuca Mountains
Reef Townsite Campgeound
Cochise Co., Arizona
I first got here to this spot throughout final 12 months’s journey, and whereas I didn’t accumulate many bugs I did convey a whole lot of infested wooden again residence to place within the emergence packing containers. That wooden (each oak and pine) has been kicking out sawdust ever since, and I’m hopeful that I’ll find yourself rearing collection of some good species consequently. Once more, there’s a whole lot of pine at this increased elevation, however Norm and I centered on the oaks—Quercus hypoleucoides (silverleaf oak) and Q. arizonica (Arizona white oak), respectively, in an effort to search out Agrilus and Brachys. Pickings had been slim, however I managed to brush single specimens of Brachys floccosus and Brachys cephalicus from the latter tree, together with a smattering of different bugs (principally leaf beetles and weevils) whereas Norm collected a number of Agrilus from the previous tree. There was a big, lately wind-thrown silverleaf oak within the campground that we checked out beginning out hoping to see Chrysobothris working on the trunk, however none had been seen. Norm went again to verify periodically, nevertheless, and obtained a Chrysobothris costifrons on the trunk (which he gave to me). I used to be completely satisfied to obtain the specimen, though I might have favored to have seen the beetle come to the tree since I’ve but to gather the species myself. Regardless of the few bugs collected, I used to be fairly proud of the day, as Brachys floccosus is a really unusual species that I’ve not collected beforehand, and I little question wouldn’t have collected it had I not been utilizing the long-handled, large-rim aerial web to realize entry to the upper branches within the cover. The method definitely warrants much more use than I’ve been giving it.
E aspect Huachuca Mountains
Higher Miller Canyon Rd
Cochise Co., Arizona
On the way in which again to Hereford, we stopped off at Norm’s “Taphrocerus spot” in Miller Canyon. Norm has collected not solely T. chevrolati and T. sulcifrons by sweeping the small patch of sedges at this spot (species I’ve beforehand collected at a spot decrease down within the canyon throughout my first go to to Arizona method again in 1987), but additionally T. leoni—a Mexican species heretofore not formally recorded from the U.S. I’ve tried, with out success, to gather Taphrocerus from the decrease spot on a number of subsequent visits, so I used to be hopeful that being right here earlier within the season would lead to higher success. It occurred rapidly! We every obtained a number of specimens, together with T. leoni (distinctive within the discipline as a result of its shiny look, bigger dimension, and distinct pubescent maculations), by sweeping the remoted vegetation on the north aspect of the creek mattress and extra specimens by sweeping the patch of blended sedges, rushes, and grasses on the south aspect of the creek mattress. Later examination of the specimens underneath the microscope revealed that every one three species had been represented—success! Close by, there have been a number of Quercus arizonica (Arizona white oak) that had been trimmed a number of years in the past and had been producing vigorous resprouts, off which Norm swept a number of Agrilus abditus. That is one other species that I’ve not encountered beforehand, and Norm generously gave the specimens to me. As this was my final day staying with Norm and Steve and we’d deliberate to exit for a pleasant dinner, we known as it a day and headed again to the home. Nonetheless, regardless of the few variety of specimens collected on the day, I couldn’t be disenchanted contemplating they represented eight species of buprestids—4 of which I’d by no means collected earlier than!
We closed out my week’s go to with Norm and Steve with a a tasty dinner at Pizzeria Mimosa, a style of effective cognac, and the persistent affections of their canine Noxy!
Day 19 – Apache Junction space
Superstition Mountains
Needle Vista Viewpoint
Maricopa Co., Arizona
After bidding adieu to Norm and Steve, I drove north to the Superstition Mountains to fulfill up with Paul Kaufman for a day of gathering and reconnecting. I first met Paul a few years in the past when he lived in Missouri and contacted me after gathering Saperda fayi—a really unusual longhorned beetle that, on the time, had not but been collected in Missouri. Paul and I hung out within the discipline a few occasions after that—as soon as in southeast Missouri and one other time after he moved to Farmington, New Mexico, and for a few years afterwards Paul continued to ship me beetles that he’d collected for identification. It was good to see him once more after so a few years, and I loved chatting as we roamed the mountainous desert searching for beetles.
Paul had arrived first and, upon seeing how dry it was (and had been for a really very long time), was not optimistic about our probabilities of success on the day. Nonetheless, I obtained out the long-handled web to see what we would discover on the higher branches of the mesquites and acacias that dotted the panorama. We rapidly grew to become a bit of extra optimistic when a Chrysobothris octocola ended up in my web with the very first tree that I swept, and over the subsequent couple of hours I swept a wide range of buprestids from Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite) and Vachellia constricta (whitethorn acacia)—together with 5 species of Chrysobothris (together with C. knulli and C. merkelii, each new for the journey) and a pleasant collection of Acmaeoderopsis sp.
For his half, Paul was stunned on the variety of specimens that I managed to gather in comparison with what his expectations had been beginning out, and I’ve to provide the credit score to my use of the long-handled web, which I now firmly imagine is a superior gathering methodology for buprestids in comparison with the beating sheet (at the least in sure conditions). The online bag basically takes the place of the beating sheet, however since it’s deeper the beetles are a lot much less more likely to escape like they will after they land on the sheet. Moderately than hitting the department from the highest, the web bag is positioned over the entire department tip and gently shaken or positioned underneath the department and the rim tapped towards the department from beneath. There may be much less disturbance to neighboring branches if executed fastidiously, and consequently your complete tree will be sampled in the identical period of time that’s required to pattern solely the decrease branches utilizing a beating sheet, making it far more environment friendly. I estimate that on common I collected about twice as many specimens with this system in comparison with beating, plus the power to get into the higher cover allowed me to seize some species that I might not have encountered by beating solely. I’m wanting ahead to creating higher use of this system in different areas and habitats.
Superstition Mountains
1 mi NE Tortilla Flat
Maricopa Co., Arizona
Having labored the realm at Needle Vista Viewpoint sufficiently, we went to a different close by spot within the Superstition Mountains advisable by Norm and Steve.
The timber had been fairly a bit smaller at this location, and temps had been beginning to drop as we had been later within the day, so I opted for the beating sheet as a substitute of the long-handled web. Virtually instantly I beat a single Chrysobothris knulli off of Vachellia constricta (whitethorn acacia), however additional beating produced solely a collection of clytrine leaf beetles. As I used to be working the tree, I seen an herbaceous plant clump beneath that confirmed proof of feeding on the leaves, and unfurling the broken leaves revealed quite a few Microrhopala rubrolineata on what turned out to be Ambrosia ambrosioides (canyon ragweed). Apparently, on lots of the leaves with M. rubrolineata, there was additionally a small chlamasine leaf beetle (presumably Exema sp.) cohabiting the leaf (see photograph).
In a small space, we encountered a “scorching spot” of buprestids—first I beat Acmaeodera pubiventris lanata from a lifeless department of Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite). After I put the specimen within the vial, I seen an Acmaeoderopsis junki sitting on the sheet—it was so pulverescent that I nearly missed it! Over the subsequent half hour or so, I/we beat a number of buprestids from the mesquites in that small space, together with Chrysobothris merkelii, C. octocola, and C. rossi together with a number of different miscellaneous beetles. Paul additionally collected a few Agrilus (presumably A. felix) from Senegalia greggii (catclaw acacia), however my beatings from the vegetation produced only some miscellaneous beetles. Lastly, I discovered Quercus turbinella (turbinella oak, shrub reside oak, grey oak—generally thought-about a subspecies of Q. dumosa), one of many few oaks that happen in decrease elevation desert chaparral habitats, however beating its dense branches yielded solely a single leaf beetle.
By this time, it was getting late within the day and I wished to setup blacklights again at Needle Vista Viewpoint, so Paul and I mentioned our goodbyes earlier than he headed again residence and I headed for Needle Vista. On the way in which there, I ended at a few scenic turnouts and irritated spectacular night and sundown views to the west.
Superstition Mountains
Needle Vista Viewpoint
Maricopa Co., Arizona
I returned to Needle Vista Viewpoint with simply sufficient time to arrange the UV/MV lights and luxuriate in a pleasant brew whereas darkness settled. Excessive temps and low wind held the promise of a superb evening, and I used to be inspired by the quantity and variety of bugs that started to flock to the lights because the final vestiges of daylight silhouetted the mountains and a shocking crescent moon blazed over them. Cryptocephaline leaf beetles got here to the lights in numbers, and finally the longhorned beetles began coming—sporadically at first, after which commonly as soon as the “9:30 ‘bycid flight” started [2022-71a]. Many of the longhorned beetles had been elaphidiines, presumably species of Anelaphus, and round 10:00, simply as abruptly because it had begun, the ‘bycid flight ended. It was an appropriately profitable final evening of blacklighting for my final evening in Arizona and the start of the lengthy journey again residence beginning the subsequent morning—with a deliberate detour into western Oklahoma earlier than lastly heading residence.
Day 20 – Journey Day (Phoenix to Boise Metropolis)
At this time’s plan was drive from Phoenix, Arizona to the realm round Black Mesa, Oklahoma in hopes that I might arrive in time to setup blacklights within the space. That plan didn’t work out, as the gap was only a bit too far—and going from Arizona Customary Time to Central Daylight Time robbed me of a further two hours! My route took me by northeastern Arizona and northern New Mexico on roads that I’ve not beforehand traveled, so I at the least obtained a superb take a look at some components of the nation that I haven’t seen earlier than. It was properly after darkish by the point I reached the western panhandle of Oklahoma, so blacklighting was not an choice. As a substitute, I headed straight for the motel and hoped for achievement within the morning.
Day 21 – Oklahoma Panhandle
Black Mesa State Park
Cimarron Co., Oklahoma
I’ve been to this place twice earlier than, and each occasions my efforts to gather had been thwarted—first by dry situations throughout one other early June journey in 2013, after which once more simply 4 weeks in the past by chilly, wet situations. Nonetheless, I can’t assist however really feel that this space has a whole lot of potential—if I can simply get the timing proper. The rain out throughout my final journey made me assume now could be the time, because it was tremendous dry however receiving loads of moisture at simply the fitting time. My solely doubt was whether or not 4 weeks afterwards could be quickly sufficient or if all the pieces would occur and the place would dry out once more earlier than I obtained right here. Because it seems, I imagine that I’ll have nonetheless been too early (extra on my reasoning for that later). I wished to entry the small canyon on the north aspect of the park, the place soapberries and hackberries within the craggy rocks promised to yield a range of buprestids related to these vegetation, and parked on the Scenic Overlook to hike down into the canyon. Puzzlingly, I didn’t get something on both plant, save for a single clytrine leaf beetle on Celtis reticulata (net-veined hackberry), a lot of which had been nonetheless pushing out new foliage. Sweeping the soapberrys, all nonetheless pre-bloom, was additionally fruitless, and even the few flowers that I discovered failed to provide any buprestids. At the least different folks will probably be completely satisfied—I collected a number of dasytine beetles for Matt Gimmel and a few bees for Mike Arduser on flowers of Berlandiera lyrata (lyreleaf greeneyes). Climbing again up above of the canyon, I seen a lone Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite) in full leaf and flower—a final likelihood for buprestids—however collected only some extra clytrine leaf beetles. It was a uncommon “buprestid strike out” for the journey, and I used to be starting to assume as soon as once more I might fail in my effort to unlock the potential of this space within the excessive northwestern nook of utmost northwestern Oklahoma. The day was younger, nevertheless, and I made a decision to attempt my luck at one other spot exterior the park close to Black Mesa Protect the place rocky outcroppings characteristic stands of oak—uncommon on this space and all the time a doubtlessly good host for buprestids.
1.6 mi E Kenton on Hwy 325
Cimarron Co., Oklahoma
I’ve additionally been to this spot a few occasions earlier than—first in the course of the aforementioned dry-as-a-bone June go to, and once more the next 12 months throughout late June. On that latter go to, I caught numerous Prionus heroicus (then a brand new state file for Oklahoma) and located buprestid-infested oak branches that I introduced again for rearing (sadly, nothing emerged). In any other case, I didn’t discover a lot else happening, giving the go to a “too late” really feel. This time began out a lot the identical, as I began beating the oaks (ID’d on iNaturalist as Quercus × undulata, or wavyleaf oak). No bugs had been discovered at first, however I seen a small tree that regarded lately lifeless and encountered a Chrysobothris-like larva shortly after I started splitting branches. I went again to the automotive to get the hand noticed and reduce up the branches to convey again for rearing—hopefully I’ll have higher luck this time rearing adults from the wooden. I labored numerous oaks on the outcropping with out discovering something, noting that a lot of them had been simply starting to push new leaves, earlier than crossing the freeway and beating a single leaf beetle from a lone tree in full leaf.
By now I used to be dropping curiosity within the spot, however I’d seen a number of mesquites additional down the freeway and thought I ought to at the least give them a attempt. Once more, nothing however a number of leaf beetles and many leaffooted bugs (in all probability Mozena obtusa), so I lastly accepted defeat—it appeared that I used to be once more “too early”—and started working my method again to the automotive. At the least I had the promise of buprestids from the wooden I used to be bringing again for rearing. Moderately than retracing my steps, nevertheless, I made a decision to stroll the 2-track across the again aspect of the outcropping again to the automotive. About midway up the street I noticed a formidable Efferia sp. robber fly and, with not a lot left to do, occupied myself with attempting to {photograph} it regardless of its repeated loping flits away from me.
Resuming my trek again to the automotive, I seen Thelesperma megapotamicum (rayless greethread) flowers—with an Acmaeodera mixta grownup sitting on certainly one of them! Not that this species is in any respect unusual, but when this species was at flowers then maybe different species had been as properly. I’d seen treasured few flowers thus far, so I started wanting intently to ensure I wasn’t strolling by any (Thelesperma will be simple to miss as a result of its lack of ray flowers). I didn’t see any extra flowers till I obtained again to the automotive, and there, not 5 ft from the automotive, had been a number of small Xanthisma spinulosum (spiny goldenweed)—every with one or two Acmaeodera sp. prob. neglecta. Lastly, buprestids!
I put my plans to depart on maintain, set out some white bowl traps alongside the 2-track, and started looking for different flowers there and in areas adjoining to the freeway. I might find yourself spending a number of extra hours on the spot, discovering further Thelesperma and Xanthisma vegetation with the aforementioned buprestids on the flowers and likewise some small black people that might both be immaculate types of the A. neglecta-like species a distinct species altogether. Additionally in the identical space, I discovered a single flowering plant of Calylophus lavandulifolius (lavender leaf sundrops) that, after visiting a number of occasions, produced a number of Acmaeodera (together with one person that I don’t acknowledge—bigger and broader than A. neglecta and with uniform vittae reasonably than irregular spots)—and a single flowering particular person of Senecio flaccidus (threadleaf groundsel) with a number of A. mixta.
Within the flats above the outcroppings, I seen Echinocereus v. viridiflorus (green-flower hedgehog cactus) now in bloom (in distinction to earlier within the day at Black Mesa State Park). Many of the flowers on the vegetation had been swarming with dasytine beetles, however a lone plant with a single flower that lacked dasytines had a single A. neglecta-like buprestid within the flower. Sooner or later whereas making the rounds between the flowers, I seen an A. mixta in flight and efficiently netted it.
As soon as I’d monitored all of the flowers within the space to my coronary heart’s content material, I picked up the bowl traps—all of which contained quite a few Acmaeodera of a number of species (so completely satisfied that I noticed this methodology work, first from Mike throughout final month’s Oklahoma journey, then earlier on this journey by chance in Mescalero Sands).
My impression now, seeing how lots of the timber had been nonetheless pushing out leaves and that buprestid exercise was restricted to species of Acmaeodera, is that early June continues to be early season for this space (at the least this 12 months), and the timing of the season in all probability relies upon far more on the timing of rains—extra just like the western U.S.—than on the calendar and temperatures as within the japanese U.S. As a remaining effort to maximise my haul, I reduce up some recently-cut branches of Juniperus monosperma (one-seed juniper) that I’d seen earlier, discovering a small cerambycid larva (in all probability Callidium sp.) underneath the bark after I reduce into it. With each batches of wooden reduce up, bundled, and loaded into the automotive, it was lastly time to make the ultimate push residence—or so I assumed…
6 mi E Harmon
Ellis Co., Oklahoma
As I used to be leaving the Black Mesa space, I remembered a spot in Ellis Co. the place I’d regarded for Brachys barberi throughout final month’s western Oklahoma journey with Mike Arduser. Regardless that I used to be not profitable to find the species, I did accumulate a collection of Agrilaxia texana—represented in my cupboard on the time by simply two specimens collected a long time in the past—and one Elytroleptus floridanus—represented beforehand in my cupboard by only a single specimen and with this assortment representing a major northwestern vary extension and new host file for the species. The spot wouldn’t be too far out of the way in which, and since I would wish to spend one other evening on the street anyway one other try after permitting the season to progress a bit extra is perhaps worthwhile. Nonetheless, it might be a three-and-a-half-hour drive, which might get me there lower than an hour earlier than nightfall. Once I arrived (round 8:00 p.m.), I used to be completely satisfied to see the stands of Quercus havardii (shin oak) we’re placing out contemporary foliage—one thing they weren’t but doing on my earlier go to (contemporary oak foliage = Brachys!). I started sweeping the stands nearest the automotive and rapidly got here up with extra A. texana together with a wide range of miscellaneous beetles (principally leaf beetles and weevils), however it wasn’t till I began sweeping stands with bigger vegetation and the copse of tree-like vegetation that I lastly discovered a few B. barberi. There wasn’t a lot time left to brush different stands, as by then it was getting too darkish to see into the web. I used to be, nevertheless, in a position to see a number of longhorned beetles that had bedded down on flowers of Helianthus petiolaris (prairie sunflower) rising close to the automotive and alongside the street, together with Batyle ignicollis, B. suturalis, and Strangalia sexnotatal. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than nightfall had turned to darkness, and it actually was time to name it a day and formally convey to an finish the gathering actions for the journey after 21 days. With practically 600 miles nonetheless to go, tomorrow will probably be strictly journey with no detours… for a change.
Day 22 – Journey Day (Woodward to St. Louis)
There may be nothing sadder than the ultimate journey day residence after a protracted gathering journey—particularly one as profitable as this one. Nonetheless, I regarded ahead to beginning the day with espresso from my favourite “creationist” espresso store (which Mike and I found on our prior journey to western Oklahoma just some weeks earlier). I’m not usually one to patronize such overtly evangelical companies, however I needed to admit they served a superb cup of Joe. Sadly, an indication on the door learn “Completely Closed”—I suppose proselytizing and sipping Joe simply don’t combine.
Arriving residence later that night closed out my longest ever driving journey—5,181 miles! Had Norm not been sort sufficient to do the driving whereas I stayed with him and Steve in the course of the remaining week of my journey, the variety of miles would have been even increased.
Following is a preliminary guidelines of the Buprestidae collected in the course of the journey—64 species in all. This quantity absolutely will enhance as soon as I mount and look at all of the specimens, since solely the species that I acknowledge with some extent of confidence are listed, however it already exceeds the variety of species collected on another journey I’ve made, at the least within the U.S. (journeys to South Africa and Mexico in all probability properly exceed this quantity). Apparently, of the 64 species collected, 17 are species I’vve not collected beforehand (5 being fully new for my assortment), regardless of having already been to lots of the areas I visited on a number of events. This speaks to the significance of repeated visits to the sector, particularly at totally different occasions of the season and in numerous years, continuous refinement of gathering strategies and methods, and studying from others. I’m already planning subsequent 12 months’s journey out west, which is able to absolutely contain totally different timing and a number of discipline companions.
- Preliminary Listing of Buprestidae Collected 17 Might to six June 2022 (* = species not beforehand collected; ** = species new to my assortment).
- Acmaeodera
- A. bowditchi
- A. decipiens
- A. delumbis
- A. gibbula
- A. gillespiensis
- A. horni**
- A. immaculata
- A. miliaris
- A. mixta
- A. neglecta
- A. neoneglecta
- A. obtusa
- A. opuntiae*
- A. ornata
- A. ornatoides
- A. paradisjuncta
- A. princeps
- A. pubiventris lanata
- A. quadrivittatoides
- A. recticollis*
- A. riograndei*
- A. starrae
- A. tubulus
- A. variegata*
- A. n. sp.
- Acmaeoderopsis
- Actenodes
- Agrilus
- A. abditus*
- A. addendus*
- A. albocomus
- A. chiricahuae
- A. lautuellus
- A. fisherianus*
- A. howdeni*
- A. lacustris
- A. lecontei celticola
- A. obtusus
- A. ornatulus
- A. pectoralis
- A. quercus*
- A. sapindi
- A. (Engyaulus) hespenheidei
- Agrilaxia
- Anthaxia
- A. (Haplanthaxia) caryae*
- Aphanisticus
- A. cochinchinae seminulum
- Brachys
- B. barberi
- B. cephalicus**
- B. floccosus*
- B. querci
- Chrysobothris
- C. analis
- C. axillaris
- C. costifrons*
- C. knulli
- C. lateralis
- C. merkelii
- C. mescalero**
- C. octocola
- Knowltonia
- Spectralia
- Taphrocerus
- T. chevrolati
- T. leoni**
- T. sulcifrons
©️ Ted C. MacRae 2022
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