On cone of Juniperus (likely J. californica, see observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/94667149) along the Pacific Crest Trail in the Kiavah Wilderness
New BC record. Happened to take habitus shot of this female. First spider found on the trip. Also collected male to help confirm ID.
Nectaring (and picking up a lot of pollen!) on flowers of buttercup (Ranunculus californicus).
The last picture shows the tip of its proboscis tucked under a fold/flap of tissue at the base of the petal that seems to represent a nectary-structure of R. californicus that I wasn't previously aware of.
Lichenicolous fungus appearing as black dots on grey thallus of Caloplaca atroflava.
First occurance in southern California since 1885. J-Dar also found one in Santa Barbara area.
Demodex? Next to a globular springtail’s antenna
Found at about 3300 ft. in elevation in knee-high grass near a riparian area with cottonwood trees and Goodings willow.
On Quercus lobata trunk bark. Thallus white, spot tests negative. All parts POL-. Spores 3-septate to submuriform (6-9 cells), hyaline becoming dark brown. Average size 18.4x9.5 (n=9).
In coarse granite soil in area without noticeable slope, Yucca desert with eroded granite outcrops.
BC, Metchosin, South slope Buck Hill
On bark of Monterey Cypress. Thallus C+R. Spores halonate, becoming brown, 7-8 celled. ~23-28µm x 6.5µm.
Growing low on the trunk of a California Black Oak (Quercus kelloggii). Branched rhizines apparent below, especially beneath apothecia.
Spores photo courtesy of @kschnei .
Found growing high on the trunk of a recently fallen, moss covered oak. Key features used to identify this Sticta to species include the presence of numerous isidia with round-cylindrical tips on the dorsal surface and a densely matted ventral tomentum.
Shaded area beneath Calocedrus & Quercus, at base of eroding granite face. Ex decaying leaf litter.
https://bugguide.net/node/view/2313515
A different living, possibly conspecific, individual from the same location:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/190916550
Idyllwild Park, Riverside County, California
On granite. ID confirmation pending by sequencing at PRM.
A. brodoana is separated from Polysporina simplex and other similar species (e.g. A. leavittii) by the black hypothecium.
Parasitic mite attached to the abdomen of a Limonia cranefly: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/186508065. Collected for the Royal Alberta Museum.
Blalock Wildlife Sanctuary
Very interesting behavior gathering ants and hanging them in clusters on nearby grasses.
Collected March 2023 from a down conifer in McLaren Park, San Francisco
*the black-red growths on the thallus are not a part of a healthy specimen, as far as I've read, so I suspect they are a parasite or fungus of some kind, and not an identifying feature. I have many photos of them so I’ll create a separate observation. @joe_dimeglio & @ahuereca
sources
McCune pp356-7 & 359;
K. Kellman Usnea guide,
D. Stone Usnea guide,
https://fungi.myspecies.info/all-fungi/usnea-ceratina, and more.
Strange egg case or cocoon found on Bromus inermis leaf in pasture surrounded by sagebrush. Any ideas what insect is responsible?
I'm posting 4 observations of what I think are the same species of tiny fly (~3 mm from wingtips to tips of antennae). The others are iNat obs 166971508, 166975556, and 166975589. All were found lingering on flowers of Lithophragma affine along the same stretch of trail (< 1/2 mile long) on two days (4/18/23 and 4/22/23)..and I didn't notice any of these on other plants.
The photos are not as sharp & diagnostic as I'd like, but I think they're members of an under-represented genus Microphor...of which there is currently only one nearctic post on iNat (which also appears on BugGuide along with one additional post.)
When I first saw these in the field I presumed were "micro bee flies" in the family Mythicomyiidae (and that's what iNat's "computer vision" model suggested ;-)
But after carefully scrutinizing the photos and reviewing various ID resources (e.g. the 1981 Manual of Nearctic Diptera and the recent revision Brooks & Cumming(2022)), I concluded they're likely what was previously referred to as Microphorus in the MND (therein considered a genus in the family Empididae). However, per the revision Brooks & Cumming(2022), the genus name has reverted to an earlier spelling, Microphor...and the genus is treated as part of the subfamily Microphorinae, currently placed in family Dolichipodidae sensu lato.
My best guess for the species ID at this point is M. obscurus, based on the following criteria gleaned from Brooks & Cumming(2022):
However, note that the one passably-interpretable photo I got of the wing venation (i.e. the male in 166975589) seems to fit better with their diagrams for M. skevingtoni (Fig 26) or M. discalis (Fig 23), than with M. obscurus (Fig 26)...and all three of these species are recorded in the general area here. Also, the head of that male in 166975589 appears appreciably more elongate, and with post-pedicel more basally-swollen, than does the male in the BugGuide post here...which is currently (and I think correctly) placed under M. obscurus (perhaps differences are due to intraspecies variation?). Thus I'm not entirely confident in the species ID of M. obscurus...and am only placing the posts to genus for now. I'm hoping someone familiar with the group may eventually be able to confirm or correct my species hypothesis.
PS: Presuming these are indeed Microphor, the observed association w/ Lithophragma affine would constitute a new species for the list of plants visited by nearctic Microphorinae in Table 1, pg. 15 of Brooks & Cumming(2022).
Leaning on iNat Suggested ID. Haven't dipped my toes into myriapods yet.. haha
Found in leaf litter above the river at our campsite. Legs seem far too short, but maybe that isn't relevant and it is a normal house centipede?
On stone above stagnant pool of water. Riparian Populus Salix woodland at night.
https://bugguide.net/node/view/2247809
On a recently-dead Brandt's Cormorant.
Found growing on the trunk of a Coast Live Oak (Quercus argrifolia). The first photo is the individual as found (dried), while the second photo is after being splashed with water. The third photo is showing the underside of a small section of the lichen.
Under a dissecting scope, a torn piece appeared to have a distinct upper cortex layer which is how I differentiated it from the very similar genus Collema. (Piece was collected under NPS permit for the 2023 Pinnacles Bioblitz).
Beat from meadowside conifers - incense cedar and ponderosa pines.
Shape of the cerci and chaetotaxy do not correspond to P. isabellae as figured by Allen, so something else.
spotted crawling around on a dirt pile getting the last rays of sunlight
An undescribed species of Plagiotrypes (=Plagiotrypes AZ1 on ichsofna.org). Collected in malaise trap in dry wash from 4-11.viii.2022 by ME Irwin and GR Ballmer.
Catadelphops buccatus female. Collected 8-24.vii.2019 by ME Irwin and GR Ballmer. malaise on vegetated sandy slope.
I found this Crab Spider on a white bench. There was another Crab Spider elsewhere on the bench.
Multiple individuals captured in bathroom.
Genus ID provided on this photo by Tristan McKnight in Robber Flies (Asilidae) of North America Facebook group, when posted on Apr 3, 2020.
Collected in a beat sheet of Liquidambar styraciflua
On rock under old-growth manzanita, south-facing, lots of sun but dappled shade.
Ran onto stone on west exposed hillside above dry creek, in Baccharis-Artemisia scrub.
The last three images were taken by Dr. Marshal Hedin (@mhedin), and show the adult male that molted 20-23 February 2023. These photos have been used with permission.
https://bugguide.net/node/view/2224186
Enicospilus purgatus. Note the setiferous sulcus on the mandible which is important for recognizing E. purgatus.
Collected at MV/UV light trap by DJ Cavan.
The lighting is a bit dark in the habitus picture.
Pima Co.
very abundant
male palp clearly does not conform to icenoglei (lacking the "invaginated triangle" from any angle) despite proximity to nearby record, female genitalia yet to be dissected
This is one of the largest Orthonops I've seen, females equal to zebra and males larger than icenoglei. very vibrant
fresh eggsacs pink, seemingly fading to tan/brown
collected w MA Leimroth
On stone in leaf litter, under Quercus agrifolia trees in riparian area.
Abundant in suburban yard with decaying avocado fruits.
https://bugguide.net/node/view/2205547