Black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), Palo Alto Baylands, Santa Clara County, California - 31 July 2011.
Melissodes sp. Long-horned Bee (Eucerini), male, Palo Alto Baylands, Santa Clara County, California - September 2009. Thanks to Dr. John Ascher for genus-level ID.
Agapostemon sp. Metallic Green Bee (Halictidae), female, Palo Alto Baylands, Santa Clara County, California - September 2009. Thanks to Dr. Ascher for genus-level identification.
Paper Wasp (Polistes aurifer), Coyote Hills Regional Park, Alameda County, California - August 2009.
Podalonia sp. Wasp (Sphecidae), New Chicago Marsh, Santa Clara County, California - August 1, 2009.
Thanks to E. Eaton for correcting my initial misguided ID and providing a genus for this wasp.
Melissodes so. female "long-horned bee", Palo Alto Baylands, Santa Clara County, California - September 2008. Thanks to John Ascher and Bug Guide for identification.
Lejops sp. hover fly (Syrphidae), Coyote Hills Regional Park, Alameda County, California - 17 August 2011. Generic ID confirmed by Martin Hauser.
Eristalinus aeneus (Syrphidae, Flower Fly, Hover Fly), Shoreline Lake Park, Mountain View, Santa Clara County, California - 17 July 2010. The amazing eyes on this fly make this one of my favorite syrphid species.
Paravilla sp. Bee Fly (Bombyliidae), Coyote Hills Regional Park, Alameda County, California - August 2009. Thanks to J. Kits and Bug Guide for genus-level identification.
Gymnosoma sp. (Tachinidae), Palo Alto Baylands, Santa Clara County, California - September 2008. These flies are apparently parasitoids of stink bugs (pentatomids).
Nephrotoma wulpiana, male, Mountain View, Santa Clara County, California - June 2008. Thanks to Chen Young and Bug Guide for species-level identification. This is a kind of crane fly.
Mylitta Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta), Stevens Creek trail near Crittenden Lane, Mountain View, Santa Clara County, California - 23 October 2011.
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Stevens Creek trail near Crittenden Lane, Mountain View, Santa Clara County, California - 23 October 2011.
Western Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exile), Palo Alto Baylands, Santa Clara County, California - 29 October 2011.
Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon) caterpillar, found on fennel flowers, Coyote Hills Regional Park, Alameda County, California - August 2009.
Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon), Palo Alto Baylands, Santa Clara County, California - September 2009.
Nemognatha sp. blister beetle (Meloidae), on Grindelia flower, Palo Alto Baylands, Santa Clara County, California - 6 August 2011. Genus confirmed, possibly N. lutea, per JD Pinto from images of this beetle on Bug Guide, in October 2012.
Eleodes cordatus (Darkling Beetle, Tenebrionidae), Coyote Hills Regional Park, Alameda County, California, May 2010. Thanks to B. Mathison and Bug Guide for species-level identification.
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata), Coyote Hills Regional Park, Alameda County, California - August 2009. This is another introduced lady beetle that may be a beneficial predator in some cases, but also may be displacing some of our native coccinellids.
Cycloneda sanguinea (Spotless Ladybird Beetle), Shoreline Lake, Santa Clara Co., CA - August 2009. Found on fennel plant.
Skin Beetle (Dermestidae, Dermestes sp., possibly D. frischi), one of many found under a bird carcass, New Chicago Marsh, Santa Clara County, California - August 1, 2009. I was able to ID this one to genus, but v belov from Bug Guide suggested the probable species ID.
Harlequin Bug (Murgantia histrionica), adult, Coyote Hills Regional Park, Alameda Co., CA - August 2009.
Chlorochroa sp. Stink Bug (Pentatomidae), Mountain View Baylands, Santa Clara Co., California - September 2008. Thanks to Bug Guide for generic ID.
Immature Western Black Widow (Latrodectus hesperus), Coyote Hills Regional Park, Alameda Co., CA - August 2009. ID confirmed by examination of the specimen by Rick Vetter in July 2010.
Araneus diadematus (cross orbweaver), Mountain View, Santa Clara County, California - August 2008.
