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Field Crescent (Phyciodes pulchella)
Interesting how some butterflies are so localized. Took a trip slightly further afield to coastal Mori Point in Pacifica and found these Field crescents (Phyciodes pulchella) which I do not usually find further inland. Host plant for this butterfly is the Aster usually A. chilensis.
Interesting how some butterflies are so localized. Took a trip slightly further afield to coastal Mori Point in Pacifica and found these Field crescents (Phyciodes pulchella) which I do not usually find further inland. Host plant for this butterfly is the Aster usually A. chilensis.
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California Buckeye (Aesculus californica)
California buckeyes (Aesculus californica) in bloom now decorate many parts of the Bay Area. This is a small tree endemic to California that is well adapted to our Mediterranean climate. The bark leaves and fruits contain the neurotoxic glycoside aesculin which like lyse red blood cells. The nectar is also toxic to European honey bees but it is popular with native butterflies. This picture was taken on the scenic Hamm's Gulch trail at Windy Hill preserve near Portola Valley.
California buckeyes (Aesculus californica) in bloom now decorate many parts of the Bay Area. This is a small tree endemic to California that is well adapted to our Mediterranean climate. The bark leaves and fruits contain the neurotoxic glycoside aesculin which like lyse red blood cells. The nectar is also toxic to European honey bees but it is popular with native butterflies. This picture was taken on the scenic Hamm's Gulch trail at Windy Hill preserve near Portola Valley.
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Northern Checkerspot (Chlosyne palla)
Spring is almost over in the Bay Area and with many of the wildflowers past their peak, the butterflies have been conspicuously absent. California ringlets (Coenonympha tullia california) are common but the lack of diversity and abundance of butterflies compared with my spring time visit to South Africa seems to be significant.
Nevertheless, was able to find this Northern Checkerspot (Chlosyne palla) at Rancho San Antonio. Art Shapiro, our local butterfly expert based at UC Davis, notes that in places where the Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona) is mostly black, female Northern Checkerspots are trimorphic , male-like and orange, black with yellow spots (mimicing E. chalcedona) and intermediate.
Spring is almost over in the Bay Area and with many of the wildflowers past their peak, the butterflies have been conspicuously absent. California ringlets (Coenonympha tullia california) are common but the lack of diversity and abundance of butterflies compared with my spring time visit to South Africa seems to be significant.
Nevertheless, was able to find this Northern Checkerspot (Chlosyne palla) at Rancho San Antonio. Art Shapiro, our local butterfly expert based at UC Davis, notes that in places where the Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona) is mostly black, female Northern Checkerspots are trimorphic , male-like and orange, black with yellow spots (mimicing E. chalcedona) and intermediate.
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*Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona) chrysalis
Am apparently not observant enough to see the mountain lion spotted by two trail runners ahead of me at Rancho San Antonio park. Seems the mountain lion lives in the area and has become somewhat used to the presence of people. I was able though to find several Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona) chrysalises, something I have not seen before. Not surprising, seeing that their number have been peaking lately.
Am apparently not observant enough to see the mountain lion spotted by two trail runners ahead of me at Rancho San Antonio park. Seems the mountain lion lives in the area and has become somewhat used to the presence of people. I was able though to find several Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona) chrysalises, something I have not seen before. Not surprising, seeing that their number have been peaking lately.
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Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona)
The photography friendly Variable Checkerspots (Euphydryas chalcedona) have now been appearing at Rancho San Antonio preserve in increasing number the last couple of weeks. It is curious how localized they are - one of the reasons they are so photography friendly. In my regular 6 mile loop around the park, I can now predict where I will consistently find them. They do not stray too far from their larval food source.
The photography friendly Variable Checkerspots (Euphydryas chalcedona) have now been appearing at Rancho San Antonio preserve in increasing number the last couple of weeks. It is curious how localized they are - one of the reasons they are so photography friendly. In my regular 6 mile loop around the park, I can now predict where I will consistently find them. They do not stray too far from their larval food source.
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California Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica)
Pleasantly surprised to find a California tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica), one of the great migratory butterflies at Ranch San Antonio park near Cupertino recently. This butterfly is not often seen in the Bay Area. The citizen science projects, iNaturalist and BAMONA list only a handful of records for the Bay Area. The population is more often encountered in the high Sierras where population explosions in some years can lead to migration of millions of butterflies. Larval food for this butterfly is the California lilac (Ceanothus).
Pleasantly surprised to find a California tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica), one of the great migratory butterflies at Ranch San Antonio park near Cupertino recently. This butterfly is not often seen in the Bay Area. The citizen science projects, iNaturalist and BAMONA list only a handful of records for the Bay Area. The population is more often encountered in the high Sierras where population explosions in some years can lead to migration of millions of butterflies. Larval food for this butterfly is the California lilac (Ceanothus).
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Jumping Spider (Habronattus formosus)
This is now at least the fourth species of Habronattus jumping spider I have identified in a small patch of Lamb's Ears (Stachys byzantina) at the Sunnyvale Baylands park. This diversity surprises me given how small an area it is. Habronattus are recognized by their fancy ornamentation and bright decorative coloration often on a longer third leg. The third leg ornamentation and colors is one of the key identifying features for this male Habronattus formosus which distinguishes it from other members of the Habronattus clypeus complex.
This is now at least the fourth species of Habronattus jumping spider I have identified in a small patch of Lamb's Ears (Stachys byzantina) at the Sunnyvale Baylands park. This diversity surprises me given how small an area it is. Habronattus are recognized by their fancy ornamentation and bright decorative coloration often on a longer third leg. The third leg ornamentation and colors is one of the key identifying features for this male Habronattus formosus which distinguishes it from other members of the Habronattus clypeus complex.
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Botta's Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae)
Wildflowers are not the only life form emerging during the spring. This Botta's pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae) seen at Edgewood County park near Redwood City is native to western North America. It spends 90% of its time underground in an elaborate network of tunnels with chambers for nesting, food storage and defecation but does occasionally emerge for a photo op like this!
Wildflowers are not the only life form emerging during the spring. This Botta's pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae) seen at Edgewood County park near Redwood City is native to western North America. It spends 90% of its time underground in an elaborate network of tunnels with chambers for nesting, food storage and defecation but does occasionally emerge for a photo op like this!
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Black-Tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus)
Strange behaviour from these two Black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) spotted at Arastradero preserve near Palo Alto. Not sure whether the rattlesnakes from my previous post had them spooked, but they do not normally loiter exposed for images like this.
Jackrabbits are really hares since their young (leverets) are born with fur and have sight whereas baby rabbits are born hairless and blind. They were named jackass rabbits for their long ears which are used for regulating body.
Strange behaviour from these two Black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) spotted at Arastradero preserve near Palo Alto. Not sure whether the rattlesnakes from my previous post had them spooked, but they do not normally loiter exposed for images like this.
Jackrabbits are really hares since their young (leverets) are born with fur and have sight whereas baby rabbits are born hairless and blind. They were named jackass rabbits for their long ears which are used for regulating body.
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Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus oreganus)
Finally a better view of the only rattlesnake we find in the Bay Area, the Northern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus oreganus) photographed here at the Arastradero preserve near Palo Alto. It is breeding season right now and if you take a closer look, you can see that this is one of a pair I found intertwined near the very same spot I found one several weeks ago. I suspect its den is in a nearby culvert on this trail which is where I saw it previously.
Experienced herpetologists can sometimes tell males from females by the size and shape of the tail. Rattlesnakes are ovoviviparous (give birth to live young) and have a gestational period of around 90 days. Will keep an eye out here for the baby rattlesnakes in mid-summer.
Finally a better view of the only rattlesnake we find in the Bay Area, the Northern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus oreganus) photographed here at the Arastradero preserve near Palo Alto. It is breeding season right now and if you take a closer look, you can see that this is one of a pair I found intertwined near the very same spot I found one several weeks ago. I suspect its den is in a nearby culvert on this trail which is where I saw it previously.
Experienced herpetologists can sometimes tell males from females by the size and shape of the tail. Rattlesnakes are ovoviviparous (give birth to live young) and have a gestational period of around 90 days. Will keep an eye out here for the baby rattlesnakes in mid-summer.
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