This plant,
Zexmenia or Wedelia, Wedelia acapulcensis var. hispida, is the restaurant of choice for wildlife in my gardens. Trendsetter insects like Ms. Honeybee,
…and Ms. Texas Mason Bee, Osmia subfasciata (?), experiment with Zexmenia’s specialty menu, the well-known nectar de jour.
Out for the evening, a member of the Muscidae clan partakes in the melt-in-the-proboscis Asteraceae ambrosia.
All three of those Zexmenia aficionados slurped delicious and nutritious nectar from this native Texas insect cuisine. Ms. Honeybee also took home a corbicula doggy bag full of pollen.
Butterflies also visit this popular spot for a quick nosh. The trendy Dun Skipper, Euphyes vestris,
…and the Matthew McConaughey handsome Texas Crescent, Anthanassa texana, just rave about Zexmenia’s menu. Alright, alright, alright.
But the Spotted Cucumber Beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata, isn’t a welcomed patron of most vegetarian restaurants.
Maybe he just popped on for a sip? As well, another rude patron is this caterpillar,
…which, instead of drinking or gathering pollen, is a destructive consumer of the flowers. Zexmenia is the host plant to three different butterfly species, so it would be natural to find some caterpillars on the leaves, but this fella is munching on the bloom, which shows poor manners. He’s so immature. I imagine once the caterpillar grows up, she/he will be a better mannered butterfly or moth guest and only nip daintily and spread pollen productively.
Zexmenia is a plant that all the groovy insects hang out on. This female Plateau Spreadwing, Lestes alacer, is definitely part of the cool crowd.
And some, like the Green Anole, Anolis carolinensis, come to Zexmenia to see other patrons.
This is a great place to wildlife watch–a place to see and be seen. Zexmenia provides a satisfying and elegant dining experience for many tastes and palates. Make your reservations and try it this weekend!
Love this post!
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It’s fun and silly!
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Such a fun post about a popular dining establishment 😉
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I hope the review was helpful. 🙂
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It really was.
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A wonderful plant for wildlife and pollinators! I so enjoyed learning about all your visitors. Loved the Matthew M. reference! He’s so cute. 🙂
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He is cute. I remember him from his naked (or ‘nekkid’ as we say here in Texas), bongo-playing days in Austin.
Back to the plant…it’s a great one–there’s always someone feeding on that thing.
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I love this post…and this plant! It grows almost like a weed here, but I don’t care because it’s so hospitable to many different creatures.
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Thanks, Jenn! I love zexmenia too. What’s that saying? A weed is an unloved plant. So, maybe it’s not such a weed after all. 🙂
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Great pictures !!! Beautiful 🙂
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Thank you!
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Sweet. I love how they flower forever too.
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Zexmenia do go on and on, until it’s too cold and the days are too short. What’s not to love about that?
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