CPC update: Texas Pollinator BioBlitz

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Text by Paula Dittrick, TMNCPC blogmaster, based on iNaturalist BioBlitz results

Texas Master Naturalist Coastal Prairie Chapter members Ute Welk and Hoiman Low ranked among the top 10 in the number of observations reported during the annual statewide Pollinator BioBlitz Oct. 1-17.

For the bioblitz, participants reported their observations on iNaturalist. All pollinators and flowering plants posted Oct. 1-17 were included in iNat’s 2021 Texas Pollinator BioBlitz Project.

This bee-micmic fly (Mallophora fautrix) perches on grass and vegetation in open fields and wooded habitats. This was one of Hoiman Low’s iNat oberservations for the BioBlitz. Photo by Hoiman Low.

As of Oct. 21, the BioBlitz Project statistics showed Welk as seventh and Low as eighth in the most observations made. Welk reported 655 observations and Hoiman reported 654 observations.

Welk was listed as sixth for reporting the most species. She reported 321 species while Low reported 296.

A Gulf Fritillary photo taken by Ute Welk. The particiular photo was taken after the BioBlitz had concluded.

“It was a lot of fun and also very time-consuming,” Welk said, comparing her BioBlitz participation to “sort of a very intensive crash course.”

It’s unknown how many TMN CPC members participated in bioblitz. Behind the scenes, TMN CPC member Susie Doe helped confirm species identifications on iNat.