Pollinator Posts by May Chen

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

A small insect lands on the underside of a leaf of Coyote Brush, Baccharis pilularis.  Tilting the stem, I see that the insect has ornately patterned picture wings.  It is a Fruit Fly in the

A Seed Bug, Kleidocerys franciscanus (family Lygaeidae) is using its rostrum to feed on the developing seeds in the calyx of a Sticky Monkeyflower.  The defining feature of Hemipterans or “true bugs” is their “beak” or rostrum

The Anise Swallowtail caterpillar is still on its California Yampah, Perideridia californica.  It is draped on an umbel of flower buds, appearing more yellow than ever.  I wonder if it has molted? Nearby, a Yellowjacket

Many of the Poison Oak along Skyline Trail near the Steam Train entrance have leaves spotted with punctate feeding scars.  I wonder what bug is capable of feeding on poison oak?   Small black dots

It is a cold, foggy morning.  What a delight to be greeted with this at the Siesta Gate tarweed patch!  A tiny caterpillar of the Small Owlet Moth, Heliothodes diminutiva (family Noctuidae) is binding the ligules

A Lacewing larva is resting on an immature fruit of Soap Plant, Chlorogalum pomeridianum that is infested with aphids.   Lacewings are insects in the large family Chrysopidae of the order Neuroptera.  Adults are crepuscular or

Passing Bypass Trail, I arrive at the patch of Tarweeds under the Water Tank just before 11 am.  There is a mixture of Elegant and Coast Tarweeds here interspersed between dried grass and withered California

Fitting perfectly between the flanges of a Sticky Monkeyflower calyx, a Seed Bug, Kleidocerys franciscanus (family Lygaeidae) is feeding on the immature seeds within, using its needle-like piercing-sucking mouthparts.  Seeds are predigested with injected digestive enzymes, then

Passing the tall Soap Plant, Chlorogalum pomeridianum on Skyline Trail, I pause to check for the Two-tubercled Web-weaver Spider that I have found on the plant on 7/9/23.  It is on the exact same immature fruit

It is much easier to observe insects on the Coast Tarweed along the paved road, in contrast to the impossibly dense stand at Siesta Gate.  I don’t have to risk getting the sticky exudates on