Pollinator Posts by May Chen

On the Shoreline trail at Bay Farm, a Potato Mirid, Closterotomus norwegicus (family Miridae) is resting on a cluster of Wild Mustard flowers.   The Potato Mirid originated in the Mediterranean region, but is now widespread worldwide.

Another wasp on the Fennel flowers? It has a big, boxy head.  A Square-headed Wasp (family Crabronidae)? The Crabronidae are a large family of solitary, predatory wasps comprising over 9,000 species worldwide.  Often called Square-headed

As I often do on my walks at Bay Farm, I linger at this short stretch of the shoreline trail to check on the two native plant species that are found here – the California

It’s almost noon when Fred and I make it to Bay Farm on this sunny, calm day. A glossy, black insect is perched on a petal of the Hooker’s Evening Primrose flower, Oenothera elata.  

A Metallic Sweat Bee, Lasioglossum (Dialictus) sp. (family Halictidae) is foraging on the small, clustered flowers of California Buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum.  These bees have short tongues and are unable to access nectar from deep, tubular

I am excited to be participating in a bee walk today at the Gardens at Lake Merritt guided by my friend and bee guru, Emil Petrinic.  About a dozen enthusiastic people have gathered for this

Yellow-flowered Wild Mustard and pink-flowered Wild Radish line this section of the trail along the shoreline of Bay Farm. I stop to observe the many green bugs (order Hemiptera) on the flowers of this particular

The Armenian or Himalayan Blackberry, Rubus armeniacus growing along the Shoreline trail at Bay Farm is blooming in profusion.  Since few other plants are in bloom and offering floral resources around here, the blackberry is

When I arrive at Bay Farm this morning, my first order of business is to check the Fennel growing out of the Holm Oak bush.  The last time I was here, I saw an Anise

It’s a nice, sunny morning at Bay Farm.  Along this stretch of Shoreline Park, the Tall or Hooker’s Evening Primrose, Oenothera elata (family Onagraceae) has started to display large, sunny yellow flowers.   While the flowers

It’s an overcast, windy afternoon at Bay Farm.  I zip up my jacket as I get out of the car, and don’t expect to see many insects today. A Yellow-faced Bumble Bee, subgenus Pyrobombus (genus

A female Johnson’s Jumping Spider, Phidippus johnsoni (family Salticidae) is resting on a leaf of Oregon Grape, Berberis aquifolium.  Also known as the Red-backed Jumping Spider, Phidippus johnsoni is one of the largest and most commonly encountered

Closed to car traffic for the migrating newts during winter, South Park Drive is once again open, giving me a short, direct route to the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in the Berkeley hills.  On the

Along the shoreline of Bay Farm Island, a Sedgesitter, Platycheirus sp. (family Syrphidae) is perched on the stigma of a Calandrinia flower.  I have often seen the hover fly forage among the stamens in these

While a few of last year’s fruits are still hanging on the branches, this California Coffeeberry, Frangula californica is starting to bloom again. Coffeeberry The flowers of California Coffeeberry, Frangula californica are small, about 4mm

After a weekend of cold, rainy weather, Fred and I are happy to be back walking at Bay Farm this afternoon.  It is clear and sunny, and rather windy.   Braving the brisk winds, several

I am excited to be visiting Jenny and Craig’s garden in Alameda again.  While the work to upgrade their backyard pond continues, I heard that dragonflies have been seen laying eggs and nymphs have been

This is one of the very few intact flowers on the lower branches of the Flannel Bush, Fremontodendron californicum in the Crab Cove native plant garden.  The quarterly journal of the California Native Plant Society

It’s almost noon when I amble into the large patch of Coastal Bush Lupine, Lupinus arboreus in the native plant garden at Crab Cove.  The rising temperature has brought on good bee action.  A Yellow-faced

The large-flowered Monkeyflower by the Crab Cove visitor center is in peak bloom.  I wonder if it’s Bush Monkeyflower, Diplacus aurantiacus or some hybrid – the flowers seem large and more deeply colored than the

Someone has invaded the foamy home of a Spittlebug on the shoot of an Oregon Gumweed, Grindelia stricta.  I often see Yellowjacket wasps patrol these foamy masses hoping to capture and feed on the nymphs inside.

Fred and I have come for our morning stroll at Bay Farm Island.  The path along the shoreline is lined with feral ornamentals and exotic weeds, but I am always hopeful that I’ll find interesting

The Wild Radish, Raphanus raphanistrum (family Brassicaceae) grows in abundance along the shoreline here.  While the plants are considered a common weed, I often find interesting insects on them. The Wild Radish, Raphanus raphanistrum is

Ah, first sunny afternoon after several days of cool and rainy weather!  It feels wonderful to be out walking again at Bay Farm.  It is windy, and I wonder if I’ll see much in terms