markb1984's Favorites
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus CorythuchaObserver
markb1984Description
On the back of a sunflower head.
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Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)Observer
markb1984Description
Flower species
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Toxophora pellucidaObserver
abcdefgewingDescription
Batch location: Mississippi Bar, Fair Oaks.
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Elegant Grass-carrying Wasp (Isodontia elegans)Observer
hawkpartyDescription
predating on a katydid or grasshopper
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Suave Nomad Bee (Nomada suavis)Observer
rmyoshiharaDescription
Thought it might be asleep in the first two photos
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Marauders (Genus Proctacanthus)Observer
rmyoshiharaDescription
Photos span 14 minutes as this competent predator was working with great stealth and patience
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Tribe LeptogastriniObserver
abcdefgewingDescription
What a cool bug! I recognized it as a Dipterid, but was amazed to find out it is a Robber Fly.
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Illustrated Woolcarder Bee (Anthidium illustre)Observer
abcdefgewingDescription
Batch location: Carmichael Community Garden.
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Sierra Nevada Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii ssp. platensis)Observer
lobotany
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Taracticus paulusObserver
rmyoshiharaDescription
In between dates of two previous observations 6/15 and 6/26
Correction: Second photo replaced
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Mallophora fautrixObserver
rmyoshiharaDescription
Possibly 1-2 weeks earlier than years before
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Swift Feather-legged Fly (Trichopoda pennipes)Observer
abcdefgewingDescription
Mississippi Bar.
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Bee-mimic Robber Flies (Genus Laphria)Observer
ppickeringDescription
with Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee
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Wavy Mucksucker (Orthonevra nitida)Observer
bschwambDescription
The day is never done until you find something beguilingly novel and botch the shot. :[
Photos / Sounds
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Slender Robberflies (Genus Leptogaster)Observer
tristanmcknightDescription
A very odd Leptogaster I found last month. Doesn't seem to match any species in the Martin 1957 monograph, and there aren't any specimens with genitalia like this in the UAIC, either. I got this mating pair this day in September and then one other male three weeks later in October, all spotted flying through grass under the same tree by the side of the dry wash. Specimens in my collection, with legs in EtOH. Posting here in case anyone starts working on Leptogastrinae and gets curious.
Update: I heard back from Eric Fisher: "Your Leptogaster looks unusual and my guess is that it is new. I looked through my material on hand (I have 30 identified US species of the genus [...] Of course, it could be something unknown to us, from Mexico." Torsten Dikow also sent me a preliminary response saying he didn't know it offhand and would check specimens sometime.
So hunch confirmed that it's an odd one.
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Genus ParataracticusObserver
kuedaPlace
rocky area along Stage Rd btwn Barbecue Terrace Trail and Buckeye Trail, Mount Diablo State Park, Contra Costa County, CA, USA (Google, OSM)
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Stiletto Flies (Family Therevidae)Observer
rmyoshiharaDescription
Confident this isn't recognized
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Coral Pink Sand Dunes Tiger Beetle (Cicindela albissima)Observer
twillrichardson
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Golden Goggle Eye (Holcocephala abdominalis)Observer
mikereeseDescription
There were many of these very yellow gnat orgres in Green Prairie along the trail. I also saw H. calva but they were found in the more upland, wooded areas.
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Orange-legged Drone Fly (Eristalis flavipes)Observer
joerichDescription
On California Buckeye
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Orange-legged Drone Fly (Eristalis flavipes)Observer
joerichDescription
using iNat's suggestion. Beautiful fly! Looked amazing like a bumble bee.
