2017 19" rain (a few downpours)
This year's rain-drenched backyard Asclepias fascicularis sprouts have diminished or slowed as compared to recent past drought conditions, while Vicia sp. has flourished in its place for about one to two months(died off). 3/10/17 With monarch season fast approaching, warmer weather has sparked new milkweed sprouts. Seasonal weather shifts affect plant growth, and species appearance may follow this pattern as well. 4/14/17 Monarchs and milkweed bugs still haven't found the milkweed garden. The main patch grows plush may be due to the compost and mulch added to the clayish soil. 5/11/17 One monarch egg found on narrow-leaf milkweed! 5/15/17 One small milkweed bug found in the front yard and narrow-leaf milkweed first bloom of the season. 5/22/17 Male monarch found the milkweed garden. 6/7/17 One small milkweed bug found in backyard. 6/18/17 Female monarch flying around the garden. 7/15/17 Large Milkweed bugs appear and rush milkweed bloom is the most robust since being planted. 8./5/17 Oleander aphids appear in the front yard. 8/21/17 With the asclepias fascicularis flowers all gone nectar-feeding insects will have to find other sources, and aphis nerii still haven't found the backyard. First time no monarch caterpillars have appeared. 10/29/17 This is the first year the happy Halloween monarch hasn't appeared 12/29/17 1st monarch caterpillar observations of the year!🎉

2018 drought 4.79" rain
Narrowleaf milkweed never fully disappeared as it does every winter. Maybe the unusually warm winter weather 80F often is a threshold needed to sustain plant life. New milkweed and Vicia sp. sprouts appeared after the first rainstorm on 1/9/18. Rainfall total this season 2/11/18 1.96" are -5.84" below normal thus far. Only milky slugs have been observed, while ambigolimax have yet to make their first appearance. 3/9/18 Ambigolimax first appearance. 5/10/18 Narrowleaf milkweed first bloom this week. 5/20/18 Vicia sp. dried up. 10/25/18 First night no moths appeared at the black UV light, temperature 63 F. 12/8/18 This past year's severe drought produced only nine persimmons, a record low! The weather at this time has been about 10 degrees F cooler than last year. 12/21/18 Vicia sp. have been sprouting early this year.

2019 18.82" rain(light steady)
Larger than normal rainfall during January and the beginning of March. Milkweed started a growth spurt during mid-April this year, while Vicia sp. dittoed last year. 6/29/19 First time hearing a flock of California's wild parrots in the area. 7/21/19 No argentine ants found along the wall, some under a stepping stone, and a scant trail on the persimmon tree. 8/26/19 The narrow-leaf milkweed flowers have disappeared this past week, and first day since May 29 that no monarch butterflies appeared. The traditional halloween Monarch didn't appear this year.

2020 Nov,Dec19,Mar,Apr20 drought like in off months. 14.86" historical rainfall average
Narrowleaf milkweed started sprouting in early February, while Vicia sp. made its usual January appearance. March and April brought 7.37" of rain for an annual total of 14.72". January and February the highest average rainfall, this year they were drought months. 11/2/20 One monarch butterfly. 11/7/20 First solid rain of season.

2021 Nov,Dec20, Jan21 drought, 29 Jan21 ~1", Feb21 drought, 11 Mar 0.7" ->drought
2020-2021 season 5.82"
2021-2022 season
3/1/21 First monarch butterfly seen, maybe one of the Mcats seen on 2/5/21. 3/20/21 Monarch briefly seen. 3/21/21 Many eggs and a few baby mcats on narrow-leaf milkweed. Monarch ovipositing on narrow-leaf milkweed. This season has started with prime prospects!
10/18/21 Monarch briefly flew into the yard. 10/20/21 Monarchs beginning to arrive at coastal overwintering sites in California.
10/30/21 A 4-foot milkweed plant will feed only 5 Monarch caterpillars! 11/1/21 80+ Eupatorium greggii blooms. 11/21/21 Pruned remaining narrow-leaf milkweed to the ground. SR is still ok. 11/22/21 Monarch flying around the yard. Thanks to all that are helping preserve the flight of the Monarch(past, present, and future).
2022 drought through October. March 29 1.25" only major rain.
Narrow-leaf milkweed flowering was very sparse.
2023 Jan-Mar 22.61" Year of the Atmospheric Rivers" 28.4" 22/23 year total.
4/15/23 Very unusual. No monarch butterflies, larva, or eggs observed.
5/17/23 The first narrow-leaf flower bunch has bloomed. Maybe the relatively cool weather has delayed this year's flight of the Monarch butterfly.
6/2/23 First monarch to appear this year. 71 F high.
The month of August unusual rain 2.99". Normal is no rain.

As infinity is approached, existence is defined.

Testable hypotheses through a filter to find the one(s) that remains solid.
"In the most basic sense, a scientific fact is an objective and verifiable observation, in contrast with a hypothesis or theory, which is intended to explain or interpret facts." - Wikipedia

An observation might be one in a series of observations over time, which together tell a broader story.
Ambiguity may be found at a general to specific level. What appears to be true based on one observation, may not be true in another, and vice versa(NHM night of ideas). Correlation doesn't automatically imply causation, whereas with causation there is a correlation(TGC). Once the mechanics are in place, things basically run on their own. As knowledge and understanding grow, a varying appearance of past to present consensus may form until its ceiling(Tools = complexity + data/material) is reached.

Each observation can help support, remain neutral, or rule out possibilities, adding to nature's puzzle. Modifications.

How to decrease invasive species and reintroduce a sustainable native diversity. Determine the variables needed to establish this precedence within a given ecosystem.

1. Argentine ants invasive - Squash their trail, and they will disappear. Established trails will keep reappearing if an unreachable colony exists nearby. Consistent trail squashing will eventually reduce its population. If there is a reachable nesting place, preferably along the concrete, pour water and the many will start scrambling out. Squash and repeat until gone. Simply Green works well on non living material. After a week or two, another batch may form, repeat the process. Ideal situations are not always present. This is where dedication, consistency, and some creativity starts. Is it remotely possible to halt their invasiveness? Information: Linepithema humile
   <44to57 F daily untenable, water is key, eggs laid early spring to late fall(the 1st batch are queens and males). At least 33 days to adulthood, where 74 days is average. Queens don't start laying eggs until the following year. Workers kill 90% of queens before the reproductive season. 50 to 60 eggs per day maximum, and 20 to 30 per day average. Queens may live a couple of years, where as workers only up to 12 months. They are quick to find food.
   10,000 ants per colony
   hypothesis: Squashing 100 ants per day for 100 days would make a difference.
   Linepithema humile wikipedia

Probabilities:
Set A was a prologue to set B.

Observation(s) a day = greater variety of species observed along with possible pattern or relationship models.

Scientific Method - flexible
"a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses."

Journal entries are an on going process and subject to change.

iNaturalist - Identifying Observations

Caution...

Speciation is extraordinary, one species might have variations, or members within a genus might look similar to one another or another genus/family branch. A specific geographical region may designate subspecies. An untrained eye will often assume all these are basically the same, so why bother taking another photo, when looking closer reveals different species. The similar species tab and auto identifier suggestion list help, though many times may not have enough quality observation neurons in its database, likewise, as the number of observations grow identification expertise will probably follow along. Browse through iNaturalist specialized Projects or run locality/taxonomy searches while keeping in mind seasonality and range. https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/biodiversity-of-the-united-states-by-state If there is time available, reading comments, blogs, literature ...can be very enriching.

There are identification keys available on the web that use precise anatomy. Fluent in the language of anatomy http://bugguide.net/node/view/48816, though the exact meaning of acronyms and terms may not be readily available. Just as many disciplines are trying to find and work on the grand unified theory in a particular niche, existing keys may eventually find their way into a virtual reality like way of seeing things to view at all angles that may match a photo observation. A simple example of an Allograpta observation, with identifiable angular views and enough supporting characteristics, makes the key identifier known. We can test a reverse approach for a likely candidate(hypothesis) and if one strong point can dislodge it, then another candidate tested and so down the line until exhaustion and a general level designated. Observations with no organism, only evidence it was present at one time (a hole, crushed vegetation, scent, scat, trail ...) have much value.

Sign up https://bugguide.net/ for expert identifications.

http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/Arthropods.htm

Examples:
Ants
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5287544
AntWeb
AntWiki
Aphids- Jesse Rorabaugh

http://aphid.aphidnet.org/cauda.php http://aphid.aphidnet.org/index.php
http://www.inaturalist.org/journal/glmory/10242-scale-bars
http://www.inaturalist.org/journal/glmory/9214-aphid-slide-mounting-and-identification
http://www.inaturalist.org/journal/glmory/11320-aphid-identification-ii
https://books.google.com/books?id=UZqkLr9m4GUC&pg=PA134&lpg=PA134&dq=Uroleucon+paucosensoriatum&sou
http://www.aphidsonworldsplants.info/d_APHIDS_T.htm#Tinocallis
https://www.inaturalist.org/posts/13044-aphids-of-southern-california
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/9678206
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6677395 obs of day
http://aphidtrek.org/

Beetles Order Coleoptera - borisb

Bees and Allied Wasps Superfamily Apoidea - John Ascher

Flies - Even Dankowicz
Fly Guide
Robber Flies - Chris Cohen

General - Cedric Lee

Green blow flies
http://www.blowflies.net/images/Publications/Keys.pdf

Leafhoppers - Kyle Kittelberger
solomon hendrix

Mollusks - Saryu Mae
Susan J. Hewitt

Plant Bugs Family Miridae - WonGun Kim

Psyllids - Chris Mallory
PSYLLIDS

When classification that encompasses all possibilities becomes the roadblock on iNaturalist, for additional bug identification: net, aspirator, long tweezers, ruler, collection containers, microscope, an eye for patterns ... www.bioquip.com http://bugguide.net ideally size(mm), plant, clear detailed photos from major angles as well as a non-zoom of an organism with surroundings, environment scenario, and life stages. Dissection to view internal anatomy may be needed if external features are indistinguishable.
The last resort would be to match its DNA barcode if available, and may not be 100% accurate all the time.
Upgrade: A built-in guard to the lowest level of identification possible just by photos alone, unless a definitive known population exists by itself. Example: would be held at the Genus level until further identification procedures are carried out or an already known permanent species population exists. A list of possible species plus characteristic annotations. If your observation is not found on iNaturalist, [For cases like this it would be best to flag the taxon (in this case the genus) for curation. Click on "Curation" under the graphs on the taxon page and select "Flag for curation."] .
Some observations may look blurry and indistinguishable to a 3rd party identifier. however, to the 1st person that was unable to get a clear photo of a known organism, this becomes a disparity. Ideally, 3rd party generalized identifications should not count to a degree that affects the actual observer that knows the organism's identity. It's like taking a picture your pet cat, and someone downgrades it to Genus Felis. If on the other hand, the observer doesn't know the organism's identity, the 3rd party identification holds full weight(see Identification voting).

Bird sounds:
Learn each distinct bird sound to the point of instant recognition.
Bird ID Skills

Plants: photos of leaf shape from just sprouting to maturity with views of back and front, stem, trunk, flower petals, fruit, full view, different seasons, life found on or eating it. Most plants in the urban Los Angeles basin have all been planted or the offspring of planted.

Organism range may change over time, what was observed years ago - still around, all gone or new species.

Identifications based on observations only are made off of high probability for a particular set of supporting photos and currently known facts about the organism. A few identifications/comments can present a gradual modification, deletion, or reversal over time with new information that may be found or generated. Tracking comment changes or deletions is not currently supported. A change in identification may occur when enough support arrives, which prompts another taxonomic level or tree branch.

Identification voting: If your observation was identified in the past as a certain species, then later on it is discovered to be another species and identified appropriately, however, when the past identifiers are not aware of this change and the resulting identification is held at a general level. 1) contact the past identifiers 2) Community Taxon click on “Reject?” the generalized community id and represent it as the identification you have chosen. In the Observation field, search "possible" for possible id and label accordingly.

UV protective clothing UPF 50+.
03/27/15 Lumia 530
12/30/15 Core Prime touch AF
07/01/16 TG-4 4x optical easy to carry around at all times, and take quick photos. 22x super macro "microscope" mode allows close up photos at a distance, reducing the chance of scaring away the insect, however, grainer photos and manually adjusting distance away from object. Focus stacking clears up edge blurriness, and object must be stationary. 5/17/17 TG-5 5/22/19 TG-6 announced.
10/28/16 Coolpix P900 83x optical, 166x Dynamic Fine Zoom, and 332x Digital Zoom
Photos were taken in auto mode(manual zooming) with no special settings 7/10/18 Coolpix P1000 125x no gps optical announced.
2/19/20 Galaxy S7 edge

NOTE: Smudge free lens, filter kit(UV outdoors, CPL remove reflections, ND(2, 4, 8) prevent overexposure, FLD remove indoors fluorescent greenish)

Ideal: DSLR or mirrorless camera for highest quality photos, point & shoot compact for maneuverability with decent images, and bridge camera.
Ant photos examples:
dbowls panasonic DMC-ZS60
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10552598
psyllidhipster Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10254864

In 2004, two “silky gold” asclepias curassavica and parsley host plants sprouted. Anise swallowtail caterpillars emerged just afterward, and over four years later, on October 29, 2008, a monarch found the milkweed garden! After two monarch butterflies hatched in January 2009, I learned of Gibbs Butterfly Park in Huntington Beach, CA, and things progressed from there until maturation. Aboard the “Regal Eagle,” 2015 prompted expansion into a greater sphere of nature in which distinct life forms appeared along with an enhanced ecosystem. On November 1, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s yearlong Super Citizen Scientist urban biodiversity research program began. Consistent bimonthly observations, after rainfall data, monthly malaise trap collections, camera trap photos, and bioblitzes yielded new organisms that were beyond normal sight. Many thanks to identifiers, coordinators, developers, supporters, scientists, and observers for helping form a clearer map of our ever-changing constant world.

2015: Climbing the naturalist mountain.
2016: Every exploration has been a new adventure in citizen science.
2017: September to December 2017 UC California Naturalist program
NHMLA SuperProject April 2017 to March 2018 "largest urban biodiversity survey in the world..."
while gaining an in-depth broader view and contributing to community science. Study area: South Los Angeles and Valley areas.
2018: NHMLA SuperProject 3 September 2018 to August 2019. Study area: South Los Angeles
2019: A five-year local exploration completed.
2020: SuperProject 4 March 2020 to February 2021. Study area: Coastal Los Angeles
2021: Return from the naturalist walkway.
2022: Beyond the iNaturalist heliopause
2023 and beyond: Nature's database is a never ending story.