The Work of a Mesquite Girdler — Image by kenne
This image is almost identical to one on Ann Green’s blog, Sabino Canyon, taken by naturalist Bob Wenwick, which is not surprising since we were on the same nature walk yesterday. Ned Harris probably has an identical image. It was naturalist Fred Heath that spotted the work of the mesquite girdler on the Bluff Trail above Sabino Creek.
This small beetle plays a big role in shaping the landscape, and being new to the desert, this is what I have learned from my naturalist friends — the female beetle chew a deep groove around the diameter of a mesquite stem, and the resulting girdle kills the stem beyond the groove, where she will lay an egg. The larval offspring bore into the dead wood. Thus, this little beetle effectively prunes mesquite trees helping shape the desert landscape — probably more than you ever wanted to know. What else would you expect from a convert!
kenne
Very nice
Great shot; it’s amazing what you can find out there in the world around us. There are so many amazing things , on this planet, we just have to open up to it.Great post and I look forward to sharing more with you:))
Totally awesome, the little details of our wide wonderful world. Cool.
Reblogged this on Becoming is Superior to Being and commented:
The Work of a Mesquite Girdler Beetle, January 12, 2012.