markb1984's Favorites
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus ParataracticusObserver
kuedaPlace
rocky area along Stage Rd btwn Barbecue Terrace Trail and Buckeye Trail, Mount Diablo State Park, Contra Costa County, CA, USA (Google, OSM)
Photos / Sounds
What
Stiletto Flies (Family Therevidae)Observer
rmyoshiharaDescription
Confident this isn't recognized
Photos / Sounds
What
Coral Pink Sand Dunes Tiger Beetle (Cicindela albissima)Observer
twillrichardson
Photos / Sounds
Observer
mikereeseDescription
There were many of these very yellow gnat orgres in Green Prairie along the trail. I also saw H. calva but they were found in the more upland, wooded areas.
Photos / Sounds
What
Orange-legged Drone Fly (Eristalis flavipes)Observer
joerichDescription
On California Buckeye
Photos / Sounds
What
Orange-legged Drone Fly (Eristalis flavipes)Observer
joerichDescription
using iNat's suggestion. Beautiful fly! Looked amazing like a bumble bee.
Photos / Sounds
What
California Striped Racer (Masticophis lateralis ssp. lateralis)Observer
georgewilliams1Description
For the rattlesnake see: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/208006637
Photos / Sounds
What
Mountain Lion (Puma concolor)Observer
vishalsDescription
Photographed with a DSLR camera trap
Photos / Sounds
What
Stratiomys maculosaObserver
kcelshoffDescription
Amazing wasp mimic! I was fooled myself for a split second. It was pollinating yarrow and let me get very close; maybe because of its mimicry it didn't seem too alarmed!
Photos / Sounds
What
Sunburst Lichens, Firedots, and Allies (Family Teloschistaceae)Observer
sus_scrofaDescription
on rock.
keyed out in Allen & Lendemer's Urban Lichens to Caloplaca feracissima = syn. Xanthocarpia feracissima.
if it is X. feracissima - and i do think it is - the thallus is rather more distinct than is typical. while this species has "thallus almost imperceptible, sometimes producing a dark gray to dull yellow stain", it is normally basically completely immersed.
an alternative interpretation here might be Gyalolechia flavovirescens = syn. Caloplaca flavovirescens. this species has a yellow areolate thallus and a similar apothecia. ultimately i don't think it's G. flavovirescens because that species has a thallus margin that has an abrupt edge (this specimen doesn't) and darker, more brownish-orange apothecia. so i do think it's an X. feracissima with a thallus that's a bit more visible than is typical, which it does sometimes seem to do (see: https://lichenportal.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxauthid=1&taxon=56255&clid=1048)
Photos / Sounds
What
Fluffy Dust Lichen (Lepraria finkii)Observer
sus_scrofaDescription
on bark. tentatively L. finkii because the thallus rather thick, with white medulla visible below granulose upper layer
Photos / Sounds
What
Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris)Observer
rmyoshiharaDescription
First of season here
Photos / Sounds
What
Dyar's Yellowjacket Fly (Sphecomyia dyari)Observer
markb1984Description
Uncooperative fly... I'm hopeful it can be identified from this angle..
Photos / Sounds
What
Comb-legged Sedgesitter (Platycheirus immarginatus)Observer
berkshirenaturalist
Photos / Sounds
What
Eurasian Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)Observer
jsaltDescription
Could not take enough photos of this beautiful Whimbrel!
Photos / Sounds
What
Brown-haltered Bee-mimic Fly (Mallota sackeni)Observer
rmyoshiharaDescription
Quick pass by a Camellia
Photos / Sounds
What
Brown-haltered Bee-mimic Fly (Mallota sackeni)Observer
rmyoshiharaDescription
Compares favorably to previous observations here but it isn't as if there's a lot of knowledge or experience behind this
Photos / Sounds
What
Subgenus CrioproraObserver
rmyoshiharaDescription
Postscript:
https://bugguide.net/node/view/1780831
Photos / Sounds
What
Menzies' Tree Moss (Leucolepis acanthoneura)Observer
sus_scrofaDescription
moss should not be allowed to look this badass
Photos / Sounds
What
Four-humped Stink Bug (Brochymena quadripustulata)Observer
sus_scrofaDescription
found under bark of a big fallen hardwood tree
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Sickleleg (Asemosyrphus polygrammus)Observer
abcdefgewingDescription
Batch location: Mississippi Bar, large patch of Baccharis and Eriogonum.
Photos / Sounds
What
Leptopeza disparilisObserver
alice_abelaDescription
Folsom, Sacramento County, California
Photos / Sounds
What
Swift Feather-legged Fly (Trichopoda pennipes)Observer
abcdefgewingDescription
Batch location: Mississippi Bar, large patch of Baccharis and Eriogonum.
Photos / Sounds
What
Subfamily AsilinaeObserver
abcdefgewingDescription
Batch location: Mississippi Bar.
Photos / Sounds
What
Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris)Observer
rmyoshiharaDescription
Black fly with posterior yellow on abdomen. Not like any Narcissus Bulb fly ever seen. But what? Will come back to this as a thunderstorm is forecast for the afternoon
Photos / Sounds
What
Red-breasted × Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber × nuchalis)Observer
abcdefgewingDescription
See comments below.
Maidu Park.
