Pollinator Posts by May Chen

Many female Miner Bees, Andrena sp. (family Andrenidae) are out and about foraging on the California Buttercup flowers, Ranunculus californicus.  Their modus operandi is by now very familiar to me.  Pivoting in one direction atop

At Sibley today, I decide to explore a path less traveled that leads from the main trail.  A couple of years ago, I have tried this narrow path, and came upon a lone Native American

Frustrated by traffic jam on Hwy 17 on my way to the Berkeley hills, I decide to detour to the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve in Oakland instead. I am greeted near the parking lot by

California Buttercup, Ranunculus californicus is in bloom, and I know the perfect place to see them – the undulating meadow flanked by large oak trees by the Padre picnic area in Tilden Regional Parks in

View from the bench at Siesta Nose, showing Siesta Valley to the east in a myriad shades of green.  Across the trail, clusters of Blue Dicks, Dipterostemon capitatus have reared their cheery heads on the

Andy, Jim and I make our way slowly along Skyline Trail from the Steam Train entrance, stopping to look at insects at every turn.  Cow Parsnip, Heracleum maximum has leafed out in a big way,

This morning, my friends Andy and Jim join me for a ramble at Skyline Gardens.  We walk Skyline Trail between the Steam Train entrance and Siesta Nose at snail pace, looking at everything.   Walking

Most of the California Pipevine, Aristolochia californica flowers have faded, with only a few fresh flowers left hanging on the vines.   A Dance Fly (superfamily Empidoidea) is perched on the “bowl” of the pipevine

Among the weeds by the parking lot of the Tilden Regional Parks Botanic Garden, I spot a male Snake Fly (order Raphidioptera) perched on a grass.   Snakeflies are a group of predatory insects comprising

It’s low tide at Crab Cove in Alameda this morning.  A group of young children is on a tide-pooling adventure with their naturalist guide.   “I found Sponge Bob!”, a joyful voice rings from the

The Common or Coast Fiddleneck, Amsinckia intermedia (family Boraginaceae) has started to bloom along the upper stretch of the road.   The annual is native to western North America, and is common and widespread throughout California.  Inflorescences

It’s been a while since I last walked the paved road at Skyline Gardens.  After the series of rain, surely there must be new plant growths and insect activities? Clear skies and green hills, looking

More Coastal Bush Lupine, Lupinus arboreus in the native garden have come into bloom.  From a distance, I watch with amusement as a small worker Yellow-faced Bumble Bee, subgenus Pyrobombus (genus Bombus, family Apidae) forages on

Another fine morning at Crab Cove, Alameda.   When I took this picture of an inflorescence of a Sage, Salvia sp. at the entrance to the parking lot on 3/22/25, I didn’t notice the dark aphids

Hey, there’s a much bigger beetle on the withered Sea Fig flower.  From its size, shiny pitted elytra and its inactive posture with retracted head, I recognize it right away as a Bronze Beetle, Chrysolina

Fred and I are glad to resume our walks at the Shoreline Park at Bay Farm Island this morning.  It is chilly out, but thankfully sunny.  The park has taken on a different appearance since

I hesitate to post these pictures, and apologize for their poor quality.  It’s almost noon when I approach the Western Redbud in the garden.  Temperature has reached an unseasonable 80 F, and my overheated camera

Expecting an unusually hot day ahead, I decide to botanize at the Tilden Regional Parks Botanic Garden up in the hills, with plenty of shade and cover if necessary. Ah, budburst is still occurring on

Ooh, I think that’s another Common Lagoon Fly, Eristalis aeneus (family Syrphidae)!  In this light the hover fly appears black and shiny.   The Common Lagoon Fly, Eristalis aeneus (family Syrphidae) is native to Europe, and widespread throughout Europe

I take a walk at Crab Cove, Alameda this late morning.   At the back of the visitor center, next to the parking lot is a small stand of Oregon Grape, Berberis aquifolium.  It is

Bumped from a Woodland Strawberry flower by a similar fly, an Empidid Dance Fly perches on a dry seed capsule to steady itself.  Note that its body is covered with stray pollen.  Even predators seek

I head to the Regional Parks Botanic Gardens in the Berkeley hills to check for new developments.   In front of the parking lot next to the footbridge over the stream, the large Big-leaf Maple,

A large queen Yellow-faced Bumble Bee, subgenus Pyrobombus (genus Bombus, family Apidae) lands on a whorl of sage flowers, Salvia sp. to take nectar.  She has obviously been busy foraging – there’s some yellow pollen

While my aching right knee still complains, I am thrilled to be able to take a walk in the sun again after a week of cold and wet weather.  The obvious choice of location is