Pollinator Posts by May Chen

I am relieved to find that the young Cobweb Thistles, Cirsium occidentale on the ridge have been spared the clear-cutting, as well as the Coast Tarweeds that surround it.  I stop by this particular plant

This photo was taken yesterday morning, when I came to the tarweed patch at Siesta Gate, hoping to collect one of the parasitoid wasp pupae to rear out at home.  As soon as I stepped

It’s great to catch the Elegant Tarweed, Madia elegans in bloom on a bright, cool morning.  The cheery flowerheads will close as the day heats up in late morning.   A Metallic Sweat Bee, Lasioglossum

A male Forked Globetail, Sphaerophoria sulphuripes (family Syrphidae) is foraging on an Elegant Tarweed, Madia elegans flowerhead. A Lygus Bug seems to be enjoying the morning sun.  It is not feeding, as its rostrum (piercing-sucking

A False Flower Beetle, Anaspis atrata (family Scraptiidae) is feeding on the exposed flowers of California Everlasting, Pseudognaphalium californicum. False Flower Beetles, Anaspis atrata (family Scraptiidae) are commonly found in western North America.  The adults are found on flowers,

Most of the more robust, older Cobweb Thistles, Cirsium occidentale have finished blooming, offering their plumed seeds to the wind. Fortunately, the younger thistles are still in bloom, providing an extended source of nectar and

On this calm, cool afternoon (6-7:15 pm) I take a leisurely walk along the paved road from Siesta Gate.  I don’t expect to be taking pictures as the light is too low.   This Woodlouse

What a delight!  A flower spike of Hillside Rein Orchid, Piperia elegans shows up on the brushy side of the trail.  The tiny green-white flowers emit a fragrance at night to attract pollinating moths.   Most orchids

A Green Lacewing larva is roaming the flowerheads of California Everlasting.  Note its sickle-shaped mandibles. Lacewings are insects in the large family Chrysopidae of the order Neuroptera.  Adults are crepuscular or nocturnal.  They feed on

Knowing it’s going to be hot, I decide to go to the garden anyway, per chance to see the Leaf-cutter bees around the flowers of Farewell-to- Spring, Clarkia ribicunda.  Although the temperatures do not register

A Sedgesitter, Platycheirus sp. (family Syrphidae) visits a flower of Farewell-to-Spring, Clarkia rubicunda.  The hover fly is easily distinguished from most other species by its dusky, metallic sheen.   Platycheirus is found in grass and herb

Some Bumble Bees are foraging on the Cobweb Thistle, Cirsium occidentale, their heads buried in the flowerheads.  I have to patiently wait for them to look up to ascertain their identity.  Most of them are

This is a fleeting moment in the morning, when the sun is already bright and the Elegant Tarweed flowerheads, Madia elegans are still open. The flowerheads are closed by mid-morning on most days.   A

Now that the flowerheads of the California Everlasting, Pseudognaphalium californicum have opened up to expose the tiny flowers within, they are visited by more insects.  This male Forked Globetail, Sphaerophoria sulphuripes (family Syrphidae) is inserting

A large caterpillar of the Darker-spotted Straw Moth, Heliothis phloxiphaga (family Noctuidae) is feeding on a Coast Tarweed, Madia sativa.  Species Heliothis phloxiphaga – Darker-spotted Straw Moth – Hodges#11072 – BugGuide.Net It is not often

I pause at the California Phacelia that Spidey, the Red-backed Jumping Spider used to hunt on.  Sadly she has been absent for a while now, but her hunting pad has taken on new life.  Few

The Elegant Tarweed, Madia elegans rejoices in the fog and adorns herself with sparkling droplets. The tarweeds are covered with short, glandular hairs topped with globules of dark, sticky, tar-like exudates.  Moisture in the air is

I arrive at Siesta Gate at 9 am to find the garden still socked in with fog.  Maybe I should’ve stayed in bed? It’s lovely to walk in the fog on a summer day –

Close to Diablo Bend, I find these round, colorful blisters on some of the leaves of Calfornia Goldenrod, Solidago velutina ssp. californica.  This is what is visible on the underside of the leaves.  This is

Ooh, there’s a tiny odd looking insect on a Bay Tree leaf.  From the way it holds up its narrow wings vertically, I recognize it as a Planthopper in the genus Danepteryx (family Tropiduchidae).  Photos

A Flea Beetle, Alticus sp.(family Chrysomelidae) is feeding on the flowers of Nude Buckwheat, Eriogonum nudum.   Flea Beetles are in the largest subfamily (Alticinae) of the family Chrysomelidae, or Leaf Beetles.  The name Altica is derived

I take advantage of the cool morning to spend time with the tarweeds at Siesta Gate before their flowerheads close up.   A Plant Bug, Macrotylus essigi (family Miridae) is roaming a flowerhead of Elegant

The gall flies have been busy on the Silverleaf Lupines by the Steam Train entrance.  Just about every other leaflet on the plants have been galled. These fleshy structures are galls induced by the Leaf-fold-gall

A few Yellow-faced Bumble Bees are flying around the newly open Soap Plant flowers, occasionally landing to take nectar. Check out that long tongue!  It is soaking up the nectar at the base of the