I have so many photographs to share from my fall trip that I’ve opted for simple galleries instead of my usual text-heavy descriptions. In related news, this page could take several minutes to load so if you have other things to do today, please come back later to check on the progress. If you haven’t been to Big Bend National Park, fix that. It’s an amazing place.
Arthropods
Acmaeodera opacula
Eleodes spinipes macrura
Chauliognathus limbicollis
Lewis’ soldier beetle
Listrini
Lampetis drummondi
Stenomorpha obliterata
Pelecyphorus regularis
Glowworm
Spotted Tylosis
Thread-waisted sand wasp
Novomessor cockerelli
Comanche paper wasp
Rough harvester ant
Exoprosopa
Large creosote gall midge
Poecilanthrax sp.
Banded bee fly
Empress Leilia
Reakirt’s blue
Syssphinx sp.
Cochineal scale bugs
Conchuela bug
Western leaf-footed bug
Modest grasshopper
Creosote bush grasshoppers
Plains lubber grasshopper
Pardosa sura
Orthonops lapanus
Desert millipede
Arthrorhabdus pygmaeus
Opuntia leaf miner
Long-jawed desert termites
Mesquite leaf tier moth
Vertebrates
Lichens and fungi
Plants
Sweet acacia
Mexican palo verde
Mexican buckeye
Texas virgin’s bower
Texas lignum-vitae
Leatherstem
Desert marigold
Lemonscent
Rough Nama
Lechuguilla
Date palm
Bird’s-claw beard-moss
Texas persimmon seeds
Texas persimmon fruit
Ocotillo stems
Ocotillo inflorescence
Ocotillo
Ocotillo
Thompson’s yucca
Torrey’s yucca
Strawberry cactus
Echinocereus russanthus russanthus
Echinocereus enneacanthus enneacanthus
New Mexico rainbow cactus
Opuntia seeds
Purple pricklypear
Spiny fruit prickly pear
Little nipple cactus
Horse crippler
Landscapes
Most web posts about national parks show the landscape. This post starts with the life forms, and what a fresh perspective it brings! I will show my child this page next time we go to another national park.
The few landscape shots at the bottom also happen to be professional grade.
Thank you so much. My father had talked up the flora and fauna for years, urging me to visit. He was not wrong. If your kid shows interest, I have to say that the nature section of the books for sale at most national parks are amazing. If I didn’t have full luggage already I would have hoarded.
You captured the diversity beautifully.
Albeit a super small fraction of the diversity. I would love to go back in the summer and spring sometime.
Isn’t it an amazing place?!? Great birding and interesting history, too. So glad you got to experience it! (You’ll have to get over to the Big Thicket sometime, too. It doesn’t have any of the arresting vistas, but for anyone that enjoys small things, you’ll be well occupied.
Yes, amazing place. Was there with a birder but my lens never had the reach to even see what he was talking about. As for Big Thicket, I’d never heard of it but just spent a few minutes searching on the web for it. Has carnivorous plants, among other draws. Thanks for the tip!