Pollinator Posts by May Chen

The Black-tailed Bumble Bees, Bombus melanopygus are usually the first species of bumble bees to appear in early spring in the Bay Area.  They seem to persist much longer this year, with the decline of

A Yellow-faced Bumble Bee, Bombus vosnesenskii drops in on a California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica. The bee immediately gets on her side to work on the numerous large anthers.  She shimmies her body, occasionally giving off

It is mid May – time to enjoy one of nature’s intriguing spectacles right in our local parks.  On this warm day at 11am I walk on West Ridge Trail starting from the Skyline Gate

A male Globetail Hoverfly, Sphaerophoria sp.(family Syrphidae) visits the flowers of Cow Parsnip, Heracleum maximum. Hoverflies in the genus Sphaerophoria are small and slender, 5.6-12 mm long.  The males are easily recognizable for their cylindrical

A White-bowed Smoothwing Hoverfly, Scaeva affinis (family Syrphidae) is visiting an inflorescence of California Phacelia, Phacelia californica.  The fly is a male, as evidenced by its holoptic eyes that meet along a central line on

A Mason Wasp, Stenodynerus sp. (family Vespidae) forages among the flowers of California Phacelia, Phacelia californica. “Mason wasps” refers to a group of closely related wasps belonging to the Eumeninae subfamily of the Vespidae family.  The subfamily

Soon after Karen and I greet each other at Siesta Gate, we spot this large black beetle running on the ground.  Having seen one just a week ago, I recognize it as the California Night-stalking

Several Cobweb Thistles, Cirsium occidentale have grown up along the paved road to the Water Tank.  This tall, spindly plant is already bearing some impressive young flowerheads. I check the plant for aphids, and am

Arriving at Siesta Gate, I am elated to find several Yellow-faced Bumble Bees, Bombus vosnesenskii buzzing around the freshly opened flowers of California Phacelia, Phacelia californica.  There have been so few of the bees this year, the

Taking a walk in a leafy neighborhood in Berkeley, I come across this male Foothill Carpenter Bee, Xylocopa tabaniformis ssp. orpifex (family Apidae) perched on a flower of Roseleaf Sage, Salvia involucrata.   There are

While the European Honey Bees, Apis mellifera (family Apidae) are commonly seen at the Skyline Gardens, they have yet to make a strong appearance this year.  This worker has collected a sizable load of pollen

Rain or shine, the Cow Parsnip, Heracleum maximum greets the sky with upraised floral umbels.   Many insects enjoy the generosity of Cow Parsnip.  Numerous flowers are crowded onto each umbel – collecting pollen or

As has been the norm for this spring, the morning is cloudy and cool.   I am relieved to see that the Black-tailed Bumble Bees, Bombus melanopygus are not deterred by the cool weather.  They are

It is a cool, cloudy afternoon.  Most of the Fringe Pods, Thysanocarpus curvipes (family Brassicaceae) have finished blooming.  Out of habit, my eyes scan the plants along the edges of the trail, hoping to spot a

A Cellophane Bee, Colletes sp. (family Colletidae) is foraging on the flowers of California Phacelia, Phacelia californica.  Its antennae are rather long, and no scopae on the hind legs, so it is likely a male.

Despite the scarcity of Bumble Bees pollinating the Silverleaf Lupine, Lupinus albifrons this year, I am relieved to see that the fruit set is quite normal.  Pea pods are appearing where the flowers have dropped

Raindrops have beaded up on the colorful elytra of a Convergent Ladybeetle, Hippodamia convergens (family Coccinellidae) resting on a leaf of California Phacelia, Phacelia californica.  It helps to be waterproof! Motionless, a small wasp with

On my first opportunity to visit the Skyline Gardens this morning after two days of rain, I find everything drenched in raindrops.  The Silverleaf Lupine, Lupinus albifrons has a knack for capturing water on its

Between rain showers, as the sun peeks through the clouds, I go for a short walk around the neighborhood. This Hot Lips Sage, Salvia microphylla ‘hot lips’ in my neighbor’s garden is aglow with red-and-white flowers.

No bigger than its prey, a very young Hoverfly larva (family Syrphidae) is feeding on baby Thistle Aphids, Brachycaudus cardui (family Aphididae) on an immature flowerhead of Cobweb Thistle, Cirsium occidentale.  Mama Hoverfly has done well

Near the Water Tank, the massive colony of Thistle Aphids, Brachycaudus cardui (family Aphididae)on the Cobweb Thistle, Cirsium occidentale continues to thrive without any sign of attending ants.  Note that the mature aphids have a large

Reminiscent of herbivores grazing on the plains of Serengeti, a large number of Skin Beetles, Anthrenus lepidus (family Dermestidae) are spread over the umbels of Cow Parsnip flowers, Heracleum maximum. Dermestidae are a family of Coleoptera (beetles)

Many more California Phacelia greet the morning with open flowers today.  The pale lavender flowers literally “unroll” from the tightly coiled cyme, from the base to the tip.   No flying insects visit the flowers

On this warm morning, several Click Beetles (family Elateridae) are feeding on the California Buttercup flowers, Ranunculus californicus.  Click Beetles are elongated, parallel-sided and usually bear backward projections on the side corners of the shield behind