Pollinator Posts by May Chen

It’s extreme high tide at Crab Cove at 10:45 am.  The boat ramp is flooded. This is the highest tide I have seen here.  It suddenly dawns on me that it’s full moon tomorrow, and

Seeking clean air, I head up the hills to Inspiration Point in Berkeley to walk the Nimitz Trail.   Most of the female Coyote Brush, Baccharis pilularis along the trail are already dispersing their plumed

 In the habitat garden of the Bay Farm Island Library the Bush Sunflower, Encelia californica is still in bloom. An American Sand Wasp, Bembix americana (family Crabronidae) is taking nectar on an Encelia flowerhead.   Sand wasps in the

I was thrilled to read about a pollinator garden installed on the grounds of the Bay Farm Island Library.  Since it is not far from Shoreline Park where Fred and I take our regular walks,

A Fiery Skipper, Hylephila phyleus (family Hesperiidae) is taking nectar on a Zinnia flowerhead. Skippers are a family, the Hesperiidae, of the order Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths).  They are named for their quick, darting flight habits.  Most

A bright, clear morning in Alameda.  I approach Craig and Jenny’s house with excitement.  Their well-irrigated garden is probably one of the last places I’ll find significant insect activity this year.   Sure enough, just

Anticipating a hot day, I take my walk on the shady Bridal Trail in the Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park this morning.  While nothing is in bloom now, there’s still plenty of insect activity on the

Another beautiful afternoon at Bay Farm Island.   The Oregon Gumweed, Grindelia stricta along the shoreline is fading, but I am hopeful that I’ll still find some interesting insects on these plants.   Wow, that’s a huge Thick-headed

A tiny glint of gold on a ray petal of an Oregon Gumweed, Grindelia stricta alerts me to the presence of a Buttonhook Leafbeetle Jumping Spider, Sassacus vitis (family Salticidae). Jumping spiders (family Salticidae) are free-roaming hunting

We had a good, soaking rain this morning and the air feels clean.  I find myself exploring the shoreline of Bay Farm Island again in the afternoon just as the sky clears.  Most of the

The morning shower has cleaned up the air beautifully.  Fred and I are happy to resume our walks at the Shoreline Park on Bay Farm Island in the afternoon.  Since it is quite windy, I

After being housebound for a few days by a combination of heat and poor air quality, I am happy to be visiting Shoreline Park at Bay Farm Island again. The Hooker’s Evening Primrose, Oenothera elata

A female Summer Longhorn Bee, Melissodes sp. (family Apidae) is foraging on a Grindelia flowerhead.  She is easily recognized in the field because of her prodigious pollen load. The Summer Longhorn Bees, Melissodes sp. (family Apidae) are

The clouds didn’t clear until 11 am today.  Fred and I are happy to take a late morning walk at Shoreline Park on Bay Farm Island.   When I start on the trail at the

In Craig and Jenny’s backyard, a seed pod of the Narrowleaf Milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis has just split open, releasing dozens of seeds to the wind on silk plumes. A Large Milkweed Bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus (family Lygaeidae) is

Craig and Jenny’s garden in Alameda is only a year old, but the well-irrigated garden was abuzz with insects when I visited a few days ago.  I decide to pay a repeat visit this clear,

There is another small patch of Narrowleaf Milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis in the very back of Jenny and Craig’s garden.  It is heavily infested with the yellow Oleander Aphids, Aphis nerii (family Aphididae). Aphis nerii is also

The clouds have cleared early this morning and there should be insects flying.  I decide to revisit Jenny and Craig’s predominantly native garden in Alameda.  Although it is a young garden installed in 2024, I

Merle, Mia and I walk over next door to explore Mia’s relatively new native garden.  Since it is still being irrigated, many of the young plants are still in bloom.    I stop to admire

I have been invited to visit a home garden in the outskirts of Richmond, in the May Valley neighborhood.  We’ve had some morning showers in the Bay Area – the temperatures have cooled down and

Fred and I arrive at Bay Farm for our walk at 10 am just when the clouds are clearing.   Who’s that black wasp-like insect on the flowers of a low-growing Fennel?  I zoom in

This is the first cool, cloudy day after a spell of heat, and the air is clean.  I am elated to be able to go outdoors again.  On the way to Bay Farm, I decide

When the air clears a little this morning, I eagerly make my way to Crab Cove for a much needed walk after being house-bound for the last couple of days.   I find myself playing

A small butterfly lands on a Grindelia flowerhead, and obligingly opens its wings.  It’s a very fresh Field Crescent! The Field Crescent, Phyciodes pulcella (family Nymphalidae) is found in western North America.  It is a