Pollinator Posts by May Chen

When I arrive at Stefanie’s garden in San Leandro this morning, the place is aflutter with dozens of Acmon Blue butterflies.   Acmon Blue, Icaricia acmon (family Lycaenidae) is found along the west coast of North America, from

Many homes along Bayview Drive have gardens that spill onto the salt marsh beyond their property lines, much to the delight of folks who walk this trail.  I stop at a particular garden that is

I next make the short drive to Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary along Alameda Beach.   I walk the narrow trail that runs south-eastward from the Bird Sanctuary, winding its way through salt march vegetation on

Since it is cool and cloudy this morning, I decide to make a quick run to Naomi’s sidewalk garden in Alameda.  Maybe the male Summer Longhorn Bees, Melissodes sp. (family Apidae) are still sleeping in

It’s very low tide at 10:30 am at Crab Cove.  I sit on the beach to enjoy the breezes and to watch a child explore the exposed mud flat.   A large brown hover fly

It’s a clear, sunny morning at Crab Cove.  At the end of McKay Ave, the Sneezeweed, Heleniun puberulum near the curb has started to bloom.   A male Fine Striped Sweat Bee, Agapostemon subtilior (family

This must be a good year for the Hairy Gumweed, Grindelia hirsutula (family Asteraceae).  The plants are blooming in profusion along Sanborn Ave., especially where the road loops around near the  scenic lookout point.  

It is time to revisit Joaquin Miller Park in the Oakland hills.   It is still early and cool in the morning, and not many insects are flying.  The Soft-winged Flower Beetles, Listrus sp. (family

I arrive at Crab Cove late this morning, almost noon. A female Fine Striped Sweat Bee, Agapostemon subtilior (family Halictidae) is taking nectar from an inflorescence of St. Catherine’s Lace, Eriogonum giganteum.  Note that the

Seeking relief from the afternoon heat, I take my walk in the cool shade of Leona Canyon Regional Open Space Preserve in the Oakland hills.   A Metallic Sweat Bee, Lasioglossum (Dialictus) sp. (family Halictidae)

Hey, something’s happening on that Coffeeberry leaf!  A Western Lynx Spider, Oxyopes scalaris (family Oxyopidae) has captured a black winged insect.  From this side view, you can see the bizarre profile of the spider and two of

Taking a walk at Shoreline Park in Bay Farm this windy afternoon, I don’t expect to take any pictures.   The only insects out foraging seem to be a few hardy bumble bees who can

I stop by a large shrub of Coffeeberry, Frangula californica that is in bloom.  A Honey Bee, Apis mellifera (family Apidae) is foraging on a cluster of Coffeeberry flowers.   A couple of fruits are

On this fine, sunny morning I go for my walk on the West Ridge Trail in the Redwood Regional Park starting from the Waterloo Staging Area. A small, dark butterfly lands on the tangle of

Armed with a fully charged cell phone camera, I return to Alameda.  First, a quick stop at the Crab Cove visitor center to check on the mating bumble bees.  They are no longer there –

I travel the short distance from Naomi’s native sidewalk garden on Lincoln Ave. to Crab Cove.  First I check the plantings at the end of McKay Ave. The Coyote Mint, Monardella villosa is fading but

I arrive at Naomi’s native plantings on the Lincoln Ave. sidewalk strip in Alameda a little before 9 am, thinking that I would find some male Summer Longhorn Bees still sleeping.   No such luck!

When I look up from photographing insects I was amazed to see large numbers of insects swarming over the lawn area near the children’s playground.  They don’t show up in this photo at all.  The

Seeking shade and coolness on a day forecast to be hot, I take my morning walk at the Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in the Oakland hills today.   Most of the California Blackberry, Rubus ursinus

Very common on the Poison Hemlock flowers are these small, black, bristly flies.  They are Woodlouse Flies, Stevenia deceptoria (family Rhinophoridae). The Woodlouse Flies (family Rhinophoridae) are somewhat related to the Tachinidae.  The larvae are

As air quality is questionable in the lowlands today, I opt to take a late morning walk at Inspiration Point in the Berkeley hills. Near the gate to the Nimitz trail, a vibrant patch of

Afternoon walk at Crab Cove, Alameda. The blooming Pacific Aster, Symphyotrichum chilense  in front of the visitor center continues to attract many insects.  A Tripartite Sweat Bee, Halictus tripartitus (family Halictidae) is collecting pollen on

The Great Valley Gumweed, Grindelia camporum that Naomi has included in her native plantings at the sidewalk strip is in glorious bloom now. A member of the sunflower family Asteraceae, Grindelia camporum is native to California and