Pollinator Posts by May Chen

Naomi, a friend and professional gardener told me of some interesting bee activities in the parking strip in front of her neighbor’s garden that she has helped plant with California natives.   I arrive early,

Something is glinting silver on a leaf of Arroyo Willow, Salix lasiolepis.  Here’s another leaf on the same plant with similar sinuous tunnels that reflect silver in the sunlight.  I wonder which leaf-miner made these

I am back at the Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in the Oakland hills for the third day in a row during this intense heat wave. The body of a tiny Metallic Sweat Bee, Lasioglossum (Dialictus)

Since most other parks in the East Bay hills are closed due to heat and fire danger, I decide to return for a morning walk at the Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park.  This gives me the

As temperatures are forecast to go beyond 90 F today, the coolness of a redwood forest beckons to me. I am grateful that although most of the east bay parks are closed due to fire

I visit a neighbor’s garden this morning.  Although I have been passing his house in the car for years, I haven’t realized what a gem of a garden it has.   About half of Tim’s

A large Hairy Gumweed, Grindelia hirsutula by the curb on the side of the house is in peak bloom.  A male Western Leafcutter Bee, Megachile perihirta visits one of the fresh flowerheads.   As the

I am excited to visit Anni and Carol’s home garden in Richmond again today!  Because they are home, I get to meet the gracious owners and explore their backyard as well.   A Common Checkered Skipper, Burnsius

As I walk Skyline Trail south of Siesta Gate this morning, I notice how dry and dusty the trail has become.  The grasses are a parched brown now.  My only hope of seeing insects are

I take a walk along Sanborn Drive in Joaquin Miller Park on this relatively cool morning.  I am glad that the brush clearing along the paved road has spared the nice stand of California Yampah,

Who’s this bee on the flowerhead of Hayfield Tarweed, Hemizonia congesta?  A male with long antennae and no scopae on the hind legs?  iNaturalist’s AI has suggested a Sweat Bee, Lasioglossum (family Halictidae).  I am

Perched on a cluster of flowerheads of California Everlasting, a Gray Hairstreak, Strymon melinus (family Lycaenidae) is rubbing its hind wings together continuously.   Why the name “hairstreak”?  These small butterflies have a slim, hair-like tail on

It’s a cloudy morning, a respite from the oppressive heat of yesterday.  The air is muggy with humidity, rather unusual for a California summer.   I find myself walking the paved road from Siesta Gate.

I recently heard about the volunteer-tended native garden in Mendocino Park in Richmond, and decide to visit the place this morning.  It is a 0.4 acre suburban park in the hills of Richmond, consisting of

There is a plant in Stefanie’s backyard that is an insect magnet.  The Plumas Purple Aster, Symphyotrichum x “Plumas Purple” is a low, dense form of the Pacific Aster, Symphyotrichum chilense.  It is propagated from

It’s always fun to explore Stefanie’s home garden in San Leandro.  The late blooming natives continue to support a diversity of insects through the summer.  The large flowers of the Hooker’s Evening Primrose, Oenothera elata are

There is a massive Prickly Pear Cactus, Opuntia sp. (family Cactaceae) growing right next to the Morning Glory I am observing.  It is past its peak bloom, with only a flower bud and a fully

The Tilden Regional Parks Botanic Garden warrants frequent visits while the flowers are cycling through the seasons.  You never know what is in store each time you visit.   The Bewildering Bushmallow, Malacothamnus arcuatus is

Kathy has kindly arranged for me and another friend, Ben to visit a beautiful home garden in Richmond with her.   The strip along the curb is lushly planted, and still floriferous.  Hey, isn’t that

On my walk in Joaquin Miller Park today, I come across some California Honeysuckle, Lonicera hispidula that are blooming beautifully at the tips of the drooping vines.  I pause to appreciate the flowers, but do

A Mason Bee, Osmia sp. (family Megachilidae) is taking nectar on a Hairy Gumweed flowerhead, Grindelia hirsutula. The little bee is simultaneously taking nectar and collecting pollen by gently and rapidly tapping her abdomen on

A Diamond Spottail, Fazia micrura (family Syrphidae) lands on a California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica.  The species is easily identified by the four diamond-shaped yellow markings near the tip of the abdomen.  Hover Flies, also called flower flies

I decide to go for an evening stroll along the northern section of Skyline Trail, entering through the Steam Train gate at about 6:30 pm.  The night-blooming Soap Plant, Chlorogalum pomeridianum has started to bloom,

I take a walk in Joaquin Miller Park this morning.  The Hayfield Tarweed, Hemizonia congesta is blooming nicely among the dried grass along Sanborn Drive. Several Yellow-faced Bumble Bees, Bombus vosnesenskii (family Apidae) are visiting