This observation is intended for the smaller, less colorful fish, with the lateral stripe on its side
This observation is intended for the larger, more colorful of the two fish
Found it eating a potato bug(at least that’s what I know them as.
Gall on Valley Oak. I see one with an exit hole (bottom right) and one with an emerging wasp (top left).
Very slender club. Corrected to show host is a blue oak
Host: valley oak
Collected: 01-27-2024
Dissected: 03-27-2024
1 larva preserved in EtOH
Field observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/197825095
one of two leucistic individuals in the same tree
On fallen branches of valley oak
1 female emerged from a hidden stem gall on a valley oak twig fallen under the trees
Collected: 01-14-2024
Emerged: 02-05-2024
1 female emerged from a hidden stem gall on a valley oak twig fallen under the trees
Collected: 01-14-2024
Emerged: 02-04-2024
1 inquiline (less than 2mm) emerged from one of these galls on interior live oak:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/196731204
Collected: 01-14-2024
Emerged: 02-02-2024
1 female emerged from one of these galls on tanoak:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195401835
Collected: 12-27-2023
Emerged: 01-23-2024
(Last 4 photos were taken on Dec 30 when the gall was still fresh)
Hahaha found a land Sea Hare for sure! :-)
Same observation as https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/192694867 by @seaslugin
On tanoak
Collected: 10-21-2023
Dissected: 10-24-2023
2 pupae preserved in 99.8% EtOH and stored in the freezer
on valley oak
I think this is a hybrid oak. Epling’s.
Collected: 09-23-2023
Dissected: 10-01-2023
Field observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/184627867
Preserved in EtOH for Cynipini Larval Sequencing Project
1 male emerged from an Andricus atrimentus sexgen gall on blue oak
Collection date: 04-16-2023
Emergence date: 04-21-2023
1 male emerged from these galls on canyon live oak:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/169671185
Collected: 06-25-2023
Emerged: 06-29-2023
1 female emerged from one of these galls on canyon live oak:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/169663938
Collected: 06-25-2023
Emerged: 07-16-2023
(Last 4 photos were taken on June 25 when the gall was still fresh)
Very cool plumage. First time photographing this species
At the lily pads
I have never seen one standing before!
This is a Bufflehead x Common Goldeneye. Here’s a link to a video of it. https://youtu.be/MukgASk4hGc
On an oak tree in moss
Not sure what’s going on here, but it was beautiful and strange!
@pleacoma was the only one successful at catching these. Super flighty!
We found it under a rock and we caught it and released for observational purposes.
After-hours permit graciously provided by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The second picture presents a direct side-by-side comparison of E. californicalis and E. ocellea (3 individuals each; all observed at the same place and night) as I currently understand it. The main difference is the location of the dark line (marked by a red arrow in the top photos) within the surrounding white field. (Please, note though that there is no guarantee for this to work, and there seem to be counterexamples on BOLD.)
Based on this ID method, I have found E. californicalis only in one small area (Yolo Bypass) where others also have seen it. In contrast, E. ocellea is much more broadly distributed.