Pollinator Posts by May Chen

To avoid today’s forecast heat, I walk the northern section of Skyline Trail from the Steam Train entrance through the woodlands.   Look, that’s an old California Bay leaf that has been previously folded by

A Cluster Fly (family Polleniidae) lands on a leaf of Coyote Brush, its exoskeleton shining like a medieval armor. The large fly is still recognizable by its size and rounded abdomen, even though it has

I have wanted to visit Blue, the Pale Swallowtail caterpillar, but couldn’t do so for the past few days because of poor air quality.  (I am asthmatic and can’t risk being outdoors when PM2.5 is

A small, chunky insect is struggling mightily coming down the stem of a Coast Tarweed, Madia sativa.  With every step the insect takes, its legs get mired in the sticky exudates of the glandular hairs.

The few young Coast Tarweed, Madia sativa growing along the short path linking Siesta Gate to Skyline Trail have gathered quite a menagerie of insects, similar to the ones in the more mature stands at

Hey, that looks like the profile of a Common Tree Cricket, Oecanthus sp. (family Gryllidae) partially hidden behind a fading inflorescence of California Everlasting, Pseudognaphalium californicum.  The insects are often given away by their long,

I visit the garden in the late afternoon today after the worst of the heat has dissipated.   Near Siesta Gate, two adjacent leaves on the same California Mugwort, Artemisia douglasiana have been artfully webbed

Some of those three-sided folded leaves of California Bay are showing signs of senescence or feeding damage.   I decide to open one up.  All the edges have been seamlessly sealed with silk.   As

The Two-tubercled Orb-weaver Spider, greets the morning sun from her usual perch on an opened seed pod of a Soap Plant.  Her abdomen is getting big and round.  Life is good here! The Two-tubercled Orb-weaver

I reach the patch of Farewell-to-spring, Clarkia rubicunda early this morning, before the sun peeks through the clouds.  Most of the Clarkia flowers are still partially closed.  Apparently the ones that have had pieces of

A male Forked Globetail, Sphaerophoria sulphuripes (family Syrphidae) lands on a ray petal of a flowerhead of Elegant Tarweed, Madia elegans.  The hover fly is easily recognizable from its long, cylindrical abdomen with a red tip. It proceeds

There seems to be a new burst of Leafcutter Bee activities on the flowers of Farewell-to-spring, Clarkia rubicunda near Siesta Gate.  Most of the flowers in this patch of Clarkia have had their petals cut

I scan the Bay Trees, Umbellularia californica along Skyline Trail for the 3-sided folded leaves.  Here’s an older one, part of it already turning black.  I wonder if the caterpillar is still in there?  Carefully

It’s a hot day.  By the time I reach the tarweed patch below the Water Tank at 10:30 am, most of the Elegant Tarweed, Madia elegans already look wilted and tired.  There are some of the

Hey, more of these mysterious folded leaves on California Bay Tree, Umbellularia californica along Skyline Trail!  I find four today, all are young, tender leaves near the tip of the branches, and in shady areas.

I have sad news.  Alan reported that Cinch, the Pale Swallowtail caterpillar did not make it past its next molt, despite our best efforts to save its life.  I am heart broken.  I feel an

Young Coast Tarweed, Madia sativa have popped up along the short path linking Siesta Gate to Skyline Trail.  I am rather surprised to find that a host of insects have gathered on these.  Here’s a

The small patch of Kellogg’s Yampah, Perideridia kellogii at Yampah Bowl is frequently visited by Yellowjackets (family Vespidae).  The wasps are taking nectar from the small flowers, while also hunting for caterpillars.  There Are Wasps

I arrive at Siesta Gate at 9 am when it is still shrouded in fog.  Another blessedly cool morning in the Berkeley hills while the rest of the world sizzles in heat! About 12 feet

The same limited suite of insects are found on the tarweeds at the Water Tank patch today.  Here a tiny Metallic Sweat Bee, Lasioglossum (Dialictus) sp. (family Halictidae) is making its way through the flowers

On the way to the Radio Tower, the weedy patch on the little hill on the west side of the road beckons to me.  While everything seems to have dried up, these Bull Thistles, Cirsium

I arrive at the small patch along the road that has not been mowed down.  Two young Cobweb Thistles, Cirsium occidentale are still blooming side-by-side.  Covered with pollen, a worn Bumble Bee, with balding thorax

When I arrive at the Coffeeberry bush near Bypass Trail I find to my delight that both the Pale Swallowtail caterpillars are safe on their respective home leaf.  Both are now blue and much harder

A big round hole has appeared on one end of the wasp cocoon I have kept in a ventilated glass vial since 7/28/23.  Apparently the parasitoid wasp, Hyposoter sp. (family Ichneumonidae) has emerged, but it’s