A Mesquite Girdler Beetle's Been Here

Photos by Bob Wenrick, 1/11/2012

The Mesquite Girdler Beetle lays her eggs on the 'outside' of the cut (i.e., away from the trunk). That way, the eggs are not washed out, sterilized, or damaged by the sap, which, as you see in these photos, can't make it past the cut. Be sure to click on the link to Margarethe's blog for photos and great info. When you are in the  canyon, look for more evidence of these beetles in the mesquites.