carrieseltzer's Favorites

My Second Featherlegged Orbweaver
There was a second web with a second spider nearby. This one is from above the spider so you can see the other side of it. Same unique web. Same strange shaped spider in the center. Very cool not only to find a new kind of spider, but to find 2 of them.

Small-Flower Pawpaw - FYI, I made a sweep in the general area where a first Asimina parviflora was found and stopped counting at 50 plants. These were scattered over a 2 - 3 acre area and I have since located a few more plants farther down the ridge. The tallest A. parviflora is about 10' - 12' tall and was the only plant with any fruit that I could find. Most plants are small in the 1' - 3' range.

found together with my colleague Dr Henry Ndangalasi of the Univ of Dar es Salaam. Found several on the same plant, but nowhere else nearby. All individuals were rather comparable in shape and the fly species was the same, but remains unidentified. Not sure of the species of fungus is correct, so please assist experts.

PLEASE READ FOR ID.
Just killed by Coyote. The coyote was joined by its juvenile pup and then the male. She chased the male away to have the meal to herself and let the juvenile watch.

Edit: Note I saw species in same area three years ago: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54302918

This is not a gopher snake, contrary to what I IDed it as to start. I thought it was a weird "morph" but due to range; it was the only species that made sense. Zoom in and look closely; it does not have the correct barred markings. ID credit goes to herpetologist Robert Hanson. He also IDs it as female. This is a Sierra Gartersnake - Thamnophis couchii https://californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.couchii.html. Though east of its range it is possible that it came here via humans either released after tiring of it or by accident via produce box from the orchards in Tehachapi area or camping gear from someone camping at Brite Lake. It was caught in habitat where it would thrive due to lakes filled with fish and toads and plenty of tall grass, cattails, and other plants for mice and the snake to hide in.