Pollinator Posts by May Chen

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

I find myself seeking clean air at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in the Berkeley hills this morning.   From a distance  these silvery-gray plants by the visitor center do not appear to be in

I take a walk at Crab Cove this sunny morning.   I make a quick stop at the butterfly garden at the end of McKay Ave.   A small dark Sweat Bee is foraging on

The sun hasn’t come out all day.  I decide to take an afternoon walk anyway – even if the insects are not out, the wide skies and open waters of Bay Farm Island will do

My friend and fellow bee enthusiast, Emil submitted some pictures of a female Red-footed Cuckoo Leafcutter to iNaturalist yesterday.  The bee was foraging on the flowers of Topped Lavender in a garden in Alameda.  

A windy afternoon at Bay Farm Island.  I walk the stretch of the trail along the shore that does not have any Grindelia, not expectIng to see any insects out in these conditions.   Surprise

Back at Shoreline Park on Bay Farm Island this calm morning, I am excited to explore the insect life of the Oregon Gumweed, Grindelia stricta again.  A large bumble bee is resting head down on

Air quality has improved significantly this morning, and I feel comfortable exploring the shoreline of Bay Farm Island again.   The Summer Longhorn Bees, Melissodes sp. (family Apidae) are swarming over the Oregon Gumweed, Grindelia stricta in glorious bloom.

I wander the restored upper dunes of Alameda Beach this fine morning.  The place is ablaze with blooming Buckwheats (Eriogonum) and Coastal Sagewort (Artemisia pycnocephala).  Despite the profusion of flowers, the diversity of insects visiting

It’s a bright sunny morning at Crab Cove.   The Sneezeweed, Helenium puberulum is blooming profusely near the visitor center, the odd globular flowerheads on naked stalks waving in the breeze.  It is amazing that

My walks along the shoreline of Bay Farm Island have become infinitely more interesting ever since the Oregon Gumweed, Grindelia stricta has come into bloom.  Grindelia’s flowers have triggered an explosion of insect activity around

I walk the path along the shore at Bay Farm Island this clear, warm morning. The Oregon Gumweed, Grindelia stricta is in bloom and abuzz with insect life.   A Cellophane Bee, Colletes sp. (family

I seek clean air and coolness at the Padre Picnic Area in Tilden Regional Parks this morning.   The place looks quite different from the last time I visited.  The vegetation has all turned brown.

A small, chunky fly lands momentarily on a leaf.  iNaturalist has helped identify it as a Tiger Fly, Coenosia tigrina (family Muscidae). The Tiger Fly, Coenosia tigrina (family Muscidae) is also known as Hunter Fly or Killer

The night-blooming flowers of Datura are fast fading in the morning heat.  There doesn’t seem to be any bee activity on these giant moth-pollinated flowers today.  But look, there’ a tiny insect near the tip