naturesarchive's Favorites
Photos / Sounds
What
Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Host: California Bay
This California Bay tree looks like it might be infected with the Sudden Oak Death (SOD) pathogen. It must be examined in the lab before a positive ID can be made.
Reference:
https://nature.berkeley.edu/matteolab/?page_id=117
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Genus MesopolobusObserver
chloe_and_trevorDescription
Beat from conifers, Abies magnifica and Abies concolor, some Ponderosa pine.
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Genus AsphondyliaObserver
kdffDescription
There is a winged insect in the first and last photos. I'm not sure if it is associated with the gall or not.
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Observer
alice_abelaDescription
Burton Mesa Ecological Reserve, Santa Barbara County, California
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Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii)Observer
melbar2022Description
Oriole nest?
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Garden Snail (Cornu aspersum)Observer
danieldasDescription
Snails only one one side of the obelisk. Possibly it’s the shadiest side, or maybe someone clears them off the other sides.
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Icing Sugar Fungus (Beauveria bassiana)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Fungus covering a western yellowjacket. Found under a log.
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White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)Observer
meravDescription
thanks to @naturesarchive!
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California Horntail (Urocerus californicus)Observer
naturesarchiveDescription
Missing most of it's abdomen!!
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Mites and Ticks (Subclass Acari)Observer
leptoniaDescription
Eggs? of some presumed parasitoid on the wing cells and veins of a live Schistocerca nitens which was having some trouble flying (short, weak sallies).
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Dimorphic Sickleleg (Polydontomyia curvipes)Observer
chyropteraDescription
Very cool! Big!
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Common Green Lacewings (Genus Chrysoperla)Observer
tmillsDescription
I believe these are Common Green Lacewing larva hatching.
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Spined Turban Gall Wasp (Cynips douglasii)Observer
tealderrerDescription
sexgen - reared from gall seen 4/25/23 https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/156979950
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Predatory Fungus Gnats (Family Keroplatidae)Observer
imlichentodayDescription
On the entrance of a cave
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Life (Life)Observer
ceisemanDescription
Growth out of the midrib of a Comptonia peregrina leaf--not sure if it was caused by another organism or just some kind of mutation.
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Andricus occultatusObserver
norikonbuDescription
On fallen branches of valley oak
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California Laurel Aphid (Euthoracaphis umbellulariae)Observer
chyropteraDescription
On California Bay
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Observer
meravDescription
wasp galls? new acorn growth? on Coast Live Oak
The winter ants were highly attracted to this
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Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)Observer
ericalsfDescription
A first for me! Very excited.
This beautiful little guy or girl was just passing through on its way to warmer wintering grounds most likely. I have checked many times as have dozens of other interested birders but there have been no further sightings.
This is the same species of Owl which they recently saved from the Rockefeller Christmas tree:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/19/us/rockefeller-christmas-tree-owl-trnd/index.html
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Porphyrosela minutaObserver
chyropteraDescription
Leafblotch miners on white clover (Trifolium repens)
Many clover leaves with these mines on the edge of the lawn of this park (but not in the clover in the center of the lawn)
Last photos show two tiny larva-two were in one large blotch mine
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Genus MacrodiplosisObserver
garth_harwoodDescription
Unknown, tiny reddish leaf fold galls on Coast Live Oak.
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Callirhytis apicalisObserver
chyropteraDescription
On coast live oak. Galls at the base of the tree.
More galls seen on the same day in the same area but on different trees:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/120771001
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/120770928
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Mushroom Gall Wasp (Heteroecus sanctaeclarae)Observer
wildmacroDescription
Gall with exit hole on huckleberry oak (Quercus vacciniifolia).
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Geminaria canalisObserver
kuedaDescription
a) The jumping spider resemblance is insane. b) The range of sizes among adults is insane. What is up with this fly.
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Aitanga Pepeke (Insects) (Class Insecta)Observer
chyropteraDescription
Red gall on clarkia sp.
Additional galls seen same day on other Clarkia sp. individuals:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112625861
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112632810
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Aitanga Pepeke (Insects) (Class Insecta)Observer
chyropteraDescription
Red gall on stem of clarkia sp.
Additional galls seen same day on other Clarkia sp. individuals:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112625631
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112625861
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Aitanga Pepeke (Insects) (Class Insecta)Observer
chyropteraDescription
The red stem gall on clarkia sp.
Additional galls seen the same day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112632810
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112625631
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Buffalo Treehoppers and Allies (Tribe Ceresini)Observer
anudibranchmomDescription
@hopperdude215 Please tell me you know what this nymph is! On Wyethia, and I'm pretty sure I frightened away an ant that was feeding from its backside when I first saw it.
Looks (to me, the non-expert) like maybe a Three-cornered Alfalfa Treehopper, though none have been seen in this county on iNat... https://www2.ipm.ucanr.edu/highlights/2020/Can_a_pesky_treehopper_be_foiled_because_its_growth_is_regulated_by_temperature/
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Buffalo Treehoppers and Allies (Tribe Ceresini)Observer
anudibranchmomDescription
Second smaller one for @hopperdude215. Slightly larger one on the same plant: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111707286
Looks (to me, the non-expert) like maybe a Three-cornered Alfalfa Treehopper, though none have been seen in this county on iNat... https://www2.ipm.ucanr.edu/highlights/2020/Can_a_pesky_treehopper_be_foiled_because_its_growth_is_regulated_by_temperature/
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Fairy Wasps (Family Mymaridae)Observer
anudibranchmomDescription
On Poison Oak. Looks similar to: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/57419175
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Genus EremobatesObserver
tiwaneDescription
Big mahalo to @damontighe for shining his UV light on this beauty. The round things are likely diverticula of the digestive system, being pushed against its exoskeleton by a load of eggs.
Kudos to @nmcnear for finding this explanation on BugGuide.
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Common Snakeflies (Genus Agulla)Observer
chyropteraDescription
On my backpack!
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Asphondylia betheliObserver
stevejonesDescription
Engelmann's prickly pear, midge, gall
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Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)Observer
graysquirrelDescription
@nancyasquith Here's a new one! Galled twig ends on Coffeeberry on San Bruno Mountain - Not in Russo, and I can't find any other references for it yet.
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Leopard Shark (Triakis semifasciata)Observer
anna_adelmanDescription
@naturesarchive leopard sharks on our dive today
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Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)Observer
anudibranchmomDescription
This Observation is for the WHITE THING :-)
@merav check out this odd white thing next to the black maybe-lacewing-larvae-ish thing! :-)
On underside of Blue Oak leaf, Montebello Road, between Page Mill and Black Mountain summit.
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Genus CaloptiliaObserver
chilipossumDescription
Perfect little tents made by folding over the edge of a Salix leaf and sealing the edges together.
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Wetsalts Tiger Beetle (Cicindela haemorrhagica)Observer
chyropteraDescription
Dark, with only hints of spots
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Festive Tiger Beetle (Cicindela scutellaris)Observer
bug_ericDescription
With Heidi Eaton, Rose Ludwig, Amy Giffin, and Zach Vogel.
