More rain means more pollinators – in time for a fall bioblitz
- jjvanm
- Oct 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 18
Published October 18, 2025, in the McAllen Monitor, Story and photos by Anita Westervelt
Recent rains have done us a tremendous favor – just in time for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s 10th Annual Texas Pollinator Bioblitz – creating a burst of blooms throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The more flowers, the more butterflies and other pollinators.
The annual Texas fall bioblitz is open to anyone, any age. It is a community science opportunity held this year October 10 to 26. For more information, visit https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/bioblitz.
Bees are the first thing we usually think about when the word pollinator is mentioned, but they aren’t alone. Wasps, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, hummingbirds, nectar-feeding bats and other animals also serve as pollinators. The bioblitz includes observing pollinators and the plants upon which they depend. The above link has more information about pollinators, options for uploading photographs and how to register.
Why register? Who doesn’t like a scavenger hunt or a fun challenge? Registering to participate in the event carries no obligation but will get you on an e-mail list that will provide daily challenges during the event.
Spend time outdoors, study plants that are blooming now and photograph bugs and insects on the blooms. Many participants upload photos using the free iNaturalist.org phone app or online at www.iNaturalist.org.
You don’t need to be an expert; upload your photos and let the database identify your observations. Begin photographing in your yard and neighborhood and branch out to local city, county, state and federal parks. Check their websites for special events being offered during the bioblitz.
The other night on my moth sheet and black light set up, I photographed a gallinipper, marsh flea beetle, common eastern firefly, (top row below) deeply-punctate crytocephalus leaf beetle, and colorful moths, like orange-spotted flower moth and painted lichen moth (bottom row below). (Photos by Anita Westervelt)
Just for fun, I researched to see if gallinippers, a species of mosquito, are pollinators. One weblink said, yes, though not as efficient or specialized as bees. While they are visiting flowers to drink nectar, they inadvertently transfer pollen from one flower to another. Many adult fireflies are important pollinators. They also feed on nectar and pollen and can transfer pollen between flowers.
The marsh flea beetle and other flea beetles are not considered pollinators. While many beetles can act as pollinators, the feeding habits of flea beetles is destructive rather than beneficial. On the other hand, the deeply-punctate cryptocephalus, a leaf beetle, may plausibly aid in pollination, not a primary pollinator like bees or butterflies, but rather an incidental pollinator.
Night and day flying moths are certainly pollinators and daytime insect activity will yield butterflies, wasps, flies, bees, hummingbirds and other pollinators. Look for colorful blooms, approach with stealth and camera ready in case a pollinator is visiting the flower. Quick moves cause pollinators to flee.
Last year during the Texas Pollinator Bioblitz, 98,482 observations of 4,770 species observed by 7,720 participants were uploaded to the iNaturalist.org database.
For a gallery of interesting Texas pollinators and the plants they use, check out the observations from the 2024 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz at this link:
Sign up and sign in and join the 2025 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz at iNaturalist.org at https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/2025-texas-pollinator-bioblitz
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