Convergent Lady Beetle--Hippodamia convergens

The ladybugs are converging at the UC Botanical Garden. According to what I have read, they are called convergent because the white lines converge on their head (/\). But they also converge with each other over the winter when there are no aphids to eat. Or maybe they aggregate. Or congregate. Whatever! They are gathering. See if you can find a group. Hint: in the California section. Near the bridge.

Read more about them here:

http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/fall99projects/ladybug.htm

Caterpillar Killer Papercraft-number 1

So, I am working on a new papercraft, about things that kill caterpillars, like wasps, dragonflies, birds, pesticides, snakes, disease, etc. Maybe I should call it enemies of caterpillars. I don't know; just because the caterpillars die doesn't mean that is wrong or bad. I think it is good that caterpillars provide food for birds and other insects. But calling them "killers" sounds so violent. Maybe I will have to come up with some different wording. Maybe something about being part of the food web. Or maybe something about population control. If all the caterpillars lived, we would be overrun with caterpillars!

The first iteration is very simple. Just a caterpillar on a leaf with drawings of things that kill caterpillars around the edge.

Termite Nuptial Flight--Again

I wrote about the termites in October of 2009.

http://berkeleybutterflyblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/it-is-termite-day-every-year-on-first.html

They were doing their thing again today. They kept the cat entertained. I suppose she even ate a few. I wonder if they are tasty.....?

West Coast Lady at Filoli

We went to Filoli today. The house was lovely, but I couldn't imagine living there. So dark! And heavy!

Many things blooming in the garden, including these orange and yellow flowers (Zinnias?). The butterflies seemed to like this area. There were skippers. And a Monarch that I was too lazy to chase down in the heat. But this West Coast Lady was more accommodating. She was very intent on getting the nectar out of each floret and didn't spook when I tried to take her picture.

Yesterday, on my butterfly walk at the UC Botanical Garden, an American Lady was nectaring on Ironweed near the Crop Garden. I hardly ever see American Ladies, but there is a big section of Pearly Everlasting, their host plant, in the California section, so it isn't surprising. We also saw skippers and Sulfurs. It was a successful fall walk. Next month I lead my last butterfly walk of the year.

Geometrid Moth

This moth camouflaged itself on the UC Bot Garden plant deck yesterday. It is almost the same color as the underside of that leaf it is on. I think it looks like a Geometrid, but I could be wrong.

Butterfly walk at the Garden today. I have been seeing sulfurs lately. I hope we find at least one of them.

Cleyera japonica

The Cleyera is blooming again at the UC Botanical Garden. The tree is in the Asian area near the New World Desert. During the hot days we have been having, the fragrance drifts down Strawberry Creek and perfumes the whole area. Such a heady fragrance!

Pipevine and Wasps

My pipevine flowered back in February. Now it has fruit. The fruit is much more symmetrical than the flower. It has ridges all the way around. When it gets ripe it opens and looks like a flower. As soon as it starts to open, the wasps find it and start taking the seeds. I don't know why the wasps like those seeds so much, they they seem to take every last one. Then the fruit shrivels up. I should follow the wasps and find out where they go. They are very active today because it is so hot. Too hot to go chasing wasps!