Garden Visitors

[RyManUtah]

The smoke seems to be flushing some of these guys to the surface more frequently. Skinny fella. 
 

[tropicbreeze]

On 8/1/2021 at 4:03 AM, Silas_Sancona said:

When you're experiencing one of the best Monsoon seasons in  ~ at least ~  3 years, everyone come out to enjoy it..

Figeater Beetle, Cotinis mutabilis.. Often confused with another Cotinis sp. which is common across the eastern U.S., but very rarely seen anywhere in the Southwest or Pacific coastal region  just starting their season.  While usually not much of a " pest " issue in gardens,  these guys can be a bit of a pain for those growing Grapes, Figs, and some other crops. Usually, they're more attracted to ..and by..  fruit that is already beginning to ferment/ over-ripen before turning their attention to fruit that is ripe.. but not spoiling.  Like all other Scarab - type Beetles, Grubs are devoted recyclers and provide a valuable service in composting decaying organic material in the landscape.   

Attracting these beetles to my yard is the only reason i'd plant a Fig, lol.





 

Here's a similar coloured one of ours:

Same family but different subfamily (Rutelinae) to yours, Calloodes grayianus
Munching down on what looks like an Acacia holosericea leaf.

 

[Butch]

19 hours ago, RyManUtah said:

The smoke seems to be flushing some of these guys to the surface more frequently. Skinny fella. 
 

I always wanted to see one of those in habitat, but never have... It does look like he's been to "Weight-Watchers"...

Butch

[Silas_Sancona]

43 minutes ago, Butch said:

I always wanted to see one of those in habitat, but never have... It does look like he's been to "Weight-Watchers"...

Butch

Love it!..  Wonder if this might be a Female which had recently laid eggs.  Lady Tree Lizards we have were looking the same way a few weeks ago.

While unlikely, crossing my fingers i might  cross paths with one these while out in the desert tomorrow or Thursday  ..One that is alive anyway.

[GeneAZ]

On 8/13/2021 at 12:54 PM, GeneAZ said:

I don't know if this is a Pygmy or Screech owl.  It was only about 8 inches from beak to tail so I'm going with Pygmy.  Sitting in Dioon mejiae 55-gallon pot.

 

 

 

[Silas_Sancona]

26 minutes ago, GeneAZ said:

 

Thinking Screech... Western Screech Owl specifically.. https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/19743-Megascops-kennicottii


Here are the range maps for both Pygmy Owls that occur here in AZ:

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/19812-Glaucidium-gnoma

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/19822-Glaucidium-brasilianum

[amh]

On 7/31/2021 at 1:33 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

When you're experiencing one of the best Monsoon seasons in  ~ at least ~  3 years, everyone come out to enjoy it..

Figeater Beetle, Cotinis mutabilis.. Often confused with another Cotinis sp. which is common across the eastern U.S., but very rarely seen anywhere in the Southwest or Pacific coastal region  just starting their season.  While usually not much of a " pest " issue in gardens,  these guys can be a bit of a pain for those growing Grapes, Figs, and some other crops. Usually, they're more attracted to ..and by..  fruit that is already beginning to ferment/ over-ripen before turning their attention to fruit that is ripe.. but not spoiling.  Like all other Scarab - type Beetles, Grubs are devoted recyclers and provide a valuable service in composting decaying organic material in the landscape.   

Attracting these beetles to my yard is the only reason i'd plant a Fig, lol.

I was watching one of these today. In spring they have crazy, whorling orgies; in which they bang into everything. It's very loud, but also very colorful.

[Daryl]

Good to see this thread still kicking along...thanks to all of you for contributing your photos and knowledge!

 

Here is a juvenile Australian Magpie in my backyard this morning...has not properly coloured up yet. Whilst these are generally a common and non aggressive bird, at times some of them can be quite aggressive and they are renowned for swooping people. A baby died the other day when it's mother fell on it whilst trying to evade a swooping magpie...very tragic but quite strange...

 

 

Edited August 22, 2021 by Daryl

[Silas_Sancona]

More flutter-bys:

NoID Yellow / Sulphur sp.  Species #4 so far this season in the yard.


Female Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis. Males can easily be mistaken for Western Pondhawks but exhibit different coloring to the face, and have a smoky, Amber - colored patch close to the base of each wing ( closest to the body ) Females are quite different ( Western Pondhawk = Green , Blue Dasher = brownish w/ the yellow mottling along the body )


Tiny Checkerspot, Dymasia dymas. Monotypic Genus whose range extends from S. Central AZ, and the east side of San Diego County,  to Central America.. Coloring mimics true Checkerspot and Crescent Butterflies, but wing shape, and flight behavior mimic the more tropical Heliconians ( Zebra Longwing, Julia,  Red Postman / Crimson Patched Longwing, etc ) True to the name, these are  ..tiny,   ..and a little tough to photograph, esp. when it decides to settle on something in a shadier spot in the yard,  after sunset.

[Daryl]

Not a fan of Queen palms but there is one in the back yard of my rental. Fortunately the inflorescences seem to attract a fair number of birds. The downside is that the fruits attract Flying Foxes which squawk and squabble all night long.

Here's a couple of Rainbow Lorikeets having a nice flower breakfast 

[Silas_Sancona]

Tis' the time of year when 6 legged, Earth -Aliens start looking for a spot to drop off the future generation..

Not sure where she was hiding but caught her scuttling across the yard last night.. After putting her in one tree, decided to move here to a safer spot, after she decided to use me as a Jungle Gym, lol.






As fat as she is, can tell it's been a good summer for dining on decapitated bugs..

[Reyes Vargas]

[Silas_Sancona]

75% sure this is a Variegated Fritillary, Euptoieta claudia, but we also have at least one other that can venture north from S. AZ. that looks very similar. If the darn thing would have sat still  a little more and opened it's wings, i'd be able to narrow down which species it is better.




Dainty Sulphur, Nathalis iole, ..and yes, this is one small fludder-by, barely bigger than a penny when the wings are folded.

[Silas_Sancona]

A few more from a morning walk while looking for seeds in the hills east of town. As mentioned awhile back, all the rain this summer has brought about quite a population boom among pretty much everything, esp. butterflies / Moths, particularly among certain species.. Don't think i have ever seen " clouds " of butterflies over such a wide area here until now. Next to impossible not to hit dozens ( and dozens ) while driving.

Plant in the several pictures is a desert tough, Sunflower relative called Sweet Bush, or Bebbia juncea.. a rather not so impressive looking sub shrub that looks rather dull most of the year. When flowering, pretty much every butterfly, nectar sipping bee, fly, and wasp will be attracted.  Counted 14 butterfly species that were nectaring on these plants while walking around today.  While this may be one of those plants best placed in a more obscure corner of the yard, this is definitely something that should have a place in a garden as an attractor for native pollinators.

Queen, Danaus gilippus  The Desert's Monarch.. Just as dependent on Milkweed species as Monarchs.


Finally a decent, up close picture of a Cloudless Sulphur, Phoebis sennae..


As plentiful out here as they are in the yard this year, Orange Sulphur, Colias eurytheme,  and Sleepy Orange, Abaeis nicippe




American Snout, Libytheana carinenta  one of the 4 most commonly seen " Hackberry " Butterflies ( specific species whose Caterpillars are solely dependent on various trees/ shrubs in the Genus Celtis ) 






In good years like this year, American Snouts, Hackberry and Tawny Emperor, and / or Empress Leilia can become extremely numerous, capitalizing on abundant food sources. In some cases, perfectly healthy Desert Hackberry, Celtis pallida / ehrenbergia  out here were nearly stripped of foliage. Nearby leafy plants, and some Palo Verde near any Hackberry trees out here were would burst into clouds of roosting Snouts and Empress Leila when approached.

This same population boom cycle is duplicated anywhere in the Southwest / Texas where both the host plants / butterfly species and ideal conditions occur. While i haven't seen near as many of the same butterflies in town or in the yard, anticipate that will change shortly. 

Caterpillar of Pipevine Swallowtail, Battus philenor munching on our native Pipevine, Aristolochia watsonii.  Tried to get pictures of adults flying around but none would stay still long enough to approach close enough for good pictures.


Sphinx / Hawk Moth sp. on Datura discolor, an annual relative of Sacred Datura. One of a couple " Horn Worms " encountered today..


* Not pictured * Another, the White -Lined Sphinx, Hyles lineata  is also experiencing quite a population boom this year with caterpillars showing up almost everywhere -in droves.  While plants in the Four -O'- Clock family are preferred, observed these guys chowing down on everything from the pods of Devil's Claws, to Jojoba, etc when plants like Trailing Windmills and various Boerhavia sp. have been stripped clean. Impossible not to step on some walking trails / exploring washes, let alone all the ones crossing roads both out in the deserts and in town.



 

[waykoolplantz]

does the 4 wheel visitor count ?  which you prefer 

[Cindy Adair]

Well I am not a car aficionado and LOVE the nature photos on this topic.

However, that IS a really sharp car!

[Reyes Vargas]

First is a Vine Sphinx - Eumorpha vitis.  Kinda looks like a jet.

Next, I have no idea what it is just thought of putting here.  Even the tiny ones deserve attention.

[amh]

23 hours ago, waykoolplantz said:

does the 4 wheel visitor count ?  which you prefer 

I don't know about these two visitors, as they may be considered invasive. Please contact your local Florida Fish and Wildlife office for proper removal. 

[Silas_Sancona]

A far more welcome visitor who decided to cooperate a bit today while sampling the last of the seasons Kallstroemia grandiflora.. Variegated Fritillary, Euptoieta claudia. 

Unlike the last one to pass through, this one stayed settled just enough when approached to get better pictures w/ the wings opened and at one point, climbed on the back of my hand/ would flit between where ever i was standing and various other things nearby.. Interesting because the Genus name equates to "  Easily scared " in Greek.










* Not pictured * As mentioned last time, the mega-population boom of American Snouts in the hills/ desert is starting to work its way into the valley..  Since yesterday, several dozen have decided the ugly duckling Mesquite is a great roosting spot out front..

[NOT A TA]

@waykoolplantzForget the fish & wildlife folks, I'll be down tomorrow! I'll use the Enzo as a daily driver and keep the old one for weekend blasts around town. Who am I kidding, I'd probably never want to get out of the 275 GTB and the Enzo would become garage art collecting dust. Those are some seriously expensive toys!

[waykoolplantz]

more red visitors

[NOT A TA]

LaFerrari !!!   @waykoolplantz     Got a friend at a dealership or are they bringing these cars over hoping you'll toss a few million their way and put one in your garage?

[NOT A TA]

Been rebuilding my house. Big bird regularly stops by to inspect.

[Laaz]

This girl hangs out with me every day after work for a beer or two.

 

 

[Laaz]

On 9/6/2021 at 11:26 AM, NOT A TA said:

Been rebuilding my house. Big bird regularly stops by to inspect.

Blue heron? I have a few that stalk me when I'm surf fishing. Almost impossible to release a fish without them grabbing it.

[Daryl]

Another Rainbow Lorikeet attacking the Syagrus...

[sandgroper]

21 minutes ago, Daryl said:

Another Rainbow Lorikeet attacking the Syagrus...

Don't they just love these flowers! Every time mine flower I get heaps of rainbow lorikeets getting into them.

[Silas_Sancona]

22 hours ago, Laaz said:

Blue heron? I have a few that stalk me when I'm surf fishing. Almost impossible to release a fish without them grabbing it.

Great Egret, Ardea alba https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/144455-Ardea-alba  Used to have a pair that would inspect the my yard/ yards in the neighborhood weekly ( along w/ White Ibis flocks ) when i lived in Florida.  Woke up to the shadow ( in the window blinds ) of one standing atop the Air conditioner unit near my bedroom checking for Anoles hiding on that wall a couple times ( when the air wasn't running ).

[Silas_Sancona]

From Butterflies to Sweat Bees.. Yard is full of them atm.

Honey Tailed Striped Sweat Bee,  Agapostemon melliventus  aggregation, one of 3 similar- looking species here.  These guys have decided the bigger of the Golden Eye ( Genus Bahiopsis, Sunflower Family ) is the perfect spot to set up a loose colony this summer.  While i've caught individuals, this is the first time i have encountered a larger group of these bees. Did not realize they congregate in communal groups like this.



Particular plant is positioned right outside the front door so these bees are frequently stirred up whenever someone walks by. Never once have they attempted to sting or bite when disturbed. When taking the pictures, stuck my arm into the main spot they seem to prefer gathering.. While a couple dozen buzzed around, not one attempted to settle on my hand/arm and sting or bite. Were more curious about the strange looking thing reaching into their space than anything. After a short time, most would settle back onto the leaves of the plant.







Speaking of Bees ...in general for a bit,

Some info regarding another group of Bees that may become a Honey bee alternative in the near future..  https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/200106-Meliponini

Unlike Honey bees, these are stingless ( though some of the bigger species might nip when their nest is disturbed enough ). All are better at pollinating a wide variety of plants, especially things Honey Bees avoid or simply aren't good at pollinating both in the wild and what harvest from the garden.

While the species that can produce the most may not produce quite as much Honey as traditional Honey Bees, they can produce more than enough for the home owner and are kept both for commercial applications, and in the home in different parts of the world ( except the U.S.  ..For now anyway ). In places like Japan, various species of Stingless Bees are kept in greenhouses for better pollination of various crops. In Brazil, many people will put up miniature bird house- like structures in their apartment windows to encourage these bees onto their patios to help pollinate plants, and for the Honey, if produced.

At various times Mexico thru South America, they were considered sacred my some indigenous societies, especially the Mayan culture. While introduction of Honey Bees shifted bee keeping in that direction, there has been a major effort to re- introduce the tradition of keeping these bees to younger generations in several areas in this part of the new world. 

Honey itself is considered superior to ( and is worth more $$ than ) traditional honey, and may possess even better beneficial components. 

One species appears to have evaded  detection by seasoned Entomologists for quite some time until an young, amateur naturalist discovered new colonies of the species in the San Francisco Bay Area, far from where the species is native.  https://www.modbee.com/news/nation-world/national/article253865958.html

Most species are sub /tropical in temperature/ habitat preference, but a few species from South America apparently can tolerate short periods of temperatures down to -5 or -6C.  Very interested working w/ some of these species in the future, if ( or when ) the USDA allows. 

As far as introducing new species, the U.S. has introduced far more Bees than most people realize.. https://www.honeybeesuite.com/immigrant-bees-that-colonized-north-america/

Most have had minimal or limited impact on native species.. Chemical fertilizers / Herbicides / Insecticides have had far more negative effects on all Bees.. if anything, the beloved Honey Bee might have more negative impact ( though still minimal ) on natives..  Others, including a few of the Stingless species present in northern Mexico, have crossed the border on their own from time to time, likely undetected. No doubt more species will pioneer new territory north of Mexico in a warmer world.

 

[Silas_Sancona]

..From today's visit to Picketpost:

Couch's Spadefoot, Scaphiopus couchii " toadlet "  Not sure where this critter and a couple Red Spotted Toadlets i saw hopping around came from since there is no standing water anywhere out here atm.  Cat eye pupils and lack of obvious Parotoid Glands behind the eyes are a dead give away theses aren't true Toads, ..those that occur in the U.S. anyway ( Genus Anaxyrus ** formally Bufo ** ( Bufo was shuffled to include Old World Toads only apparently ) To add to the confusion, Marine / Cane Toads,  are now lumped into the Genus Rhinella, " Beaked " Toads..  Spadefoots in the U.S. were also broken apart into 2 separate Genera as well.




Unknown Grasshopper hanging out in Abutilon sp..


Pipevine Swallowtail, Battus phinenor  one of the few " Tropical " Swallowtails in the Genus Battus that reaches the U.S. While the Genus is exclusive to the new world, the Tribe Battus belongs to ( Troidini ) includes the other, more exotic looking " Swallowtails " from the tropics including  Cattlehearts ( Mexico, Central America ) and Birdwings ( Indo-malaysia and Australia ).   Most of the common Swallowtails seen in the U.S. belong to the Genus Papillo,  though that section of Swallowtail- type Butterflies occurs worldwide, inc. in the tropics.








Pipevine Swallowtail w/ New World Checkered- Skipper ( Genus Burnsius ) to the right.


Funeral Duskywing, Erynnis funeralis


Empress Leilia, Asterocampa leilia w/ its wings closed.


Congregating American Snouts and Empress Leilia sipping salt / other minerals from this Limestone outcrop in the wash.

[amh]

I was out up-potting and separating some Chamaedorea radicalis seedlings today when I noticed this little tree frog. It really blended in to the bark on this escarpment live oak.

[amh]

Once again the same story, but a different tree frog. I think they are Cope's tree frogs.

[Silas_Sancona]

28 minutes ago, amh said:

Once again the same story, but a different tree frog. I think they are Cope's tree frogs.

Looks like it.  Very common  " Yard Frog " in KS during the summer also.

[Silas_Sancona]

A perfect late September afternoon for tiny flutter-bys.. Summer/ fall flower cycle on the Parish's Goldeneye, Bahiopsis parishii  the main attraction atm.

Western Pygmy Blue, Brephidium exilis  Smallest Butterfly in North America, . Has recently made it's way to both Hawaii, and parts of the Middle East ( apparently introduced there )















Dainty Sulphur, Nathalis iole  The dominant " Yellow " flutterby in the yard atm.  Bigger Yellows / Sulphurs are around, but not quite as plentiful now.



Gray Hairstreak, Strymon melinus ..Not the easiest to photograph, unless preoccupied. Almost caught two on the same flower..


.....

[NOT A TA]

Can anyone identify this guy? They plant their egg in certain palm seeds which is a pain for me.  I've had them in show up in Thrinax radiata and Sabal palmetto seed.

[amh]

9 minutes ago, NOT A TA said:

Can anyone identify this guy? They plant their egg in certain palm seeds which is a pain for me.  I've had them in show up in Thrinax radiata and Sabal palmetto seed.

IDK, there is no long proboscis, so its not a palm weevil, and it doesn't look like a palm seed borer either.

[Silas_Sancona]

10 minutes ago, amh said:

IDK, there is no long proboscis, so its not a palm weevil, and it doesn't look like a palm seed borer either.

Don't think any seed beetles have a Proboscis, like True Bugs in the suborder Heteroptera do.  Those that always get into my Mesquite / other Legume- type seed for example : https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/336037-Bruchinae       

Or those in this Genus, like this sp. : https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/268215-Caryobruchus-gleditsiae

[NOT A TA]

9 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Or those in this Genus, like this sp. : https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/268215-Caryobruchus-gleditsiae

This ^^^ looks like our guy. Palm seed weevil. Now to figure out how to keep them away.

[Silas_Sancona]

7 hours ago, NOT A TA said:

This ^^^ looks like our guy. Palm seed weevil. Now to figure out how to keep them away.

While Wikipedia info, from what i'd gathered from reading the article there re: these things, they supposedly only attack damaged seed ( where the seed cover / outer shell is damaged, allowing access to the virgin seeds. Article cites rodents as an example of something that could damage the covering, but pretty much anything else that likes the fruit / can break an outer shell could do so also. Surprised we don't deal w/them out here on Washingtonia ( would probably help reduce the #'s of seedlings that pop up everywhere ).

[NOT A TA]

2 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

they supposedly only attack damaged seed

This ^^^ I found out the hard way years ago. I had spent the time to remove the Exocarp and mesocarp from oh, probably 5000 Sabal palmetto seeds. Since they have a hard endocarp I stored them dry in plastic sealed containers in an AC area only to find adults in the containers weeks later. Of course I immediately resealed the containers and threw out all the cleaned seed. Meanwhile I had other palmetto seed that had not been cleaned and found no insects, seemed very weird to me because I'd thought the insect probably laid the egg in immature seeds before the endocarp turned into a hard shell.

My schooling  and Ag work was up North where there was no mention of palms in any arboriculture classes at that time because "they're not trees" we were told.    And , of course no mention of palm seed weevils in entomology or plant pathology ahaha. So I had no background in a lot of palmy things before buying a home in FL 15+ years ago. I keep learning!

I'd examined cleaned Sabal palmetto seed and didn't see any evidence of an egg or hole where an egg was inserted however once the adults start emerging the seeds that had been used by the insect had hole which I had thought was only used an exit but apparently was also an entrance by the larva. The insect egg must be incredibly small as a palmetto seed is only about the size of a BB and Ive not been able to see an egg with a magnifying glass, might need to bust out the microscope!

I started using an insecticide on some smaller quantities of cleaned palmetto seed and then storing them this past year as an experiment and no insects. I'd like to find a way to ensure there's no insects in seed I sell (without using insecticide) because I currently send a note with the palmetto seed as well as Thrinax radiata and I'd prefer not to have to do that, PLUS I don't want to be potentially spreading the weevils about the country to places they might survive. Perhaps a mild bleach solution or something would work, need to investigate & experiment.