Photos / Sounds

What

Schott's Indigobush (Psorothamnus schottii)

Observer

tchester

Date

March 10, 2024 02:35 PM PDT

Description

A baby with cotyledons!

Photos / Sounds

What

Longroot Smartweed (Persicaria amphibia var. emersa)

Observer

peterschwartz

Date

August 16, 2023 08:42 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

sshigenaga

Date

February 2, 2024 11:01 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

eogren

Date

May 18, 2022 11:45 AM PDT

Description

(UR). Host plant: Acton Brittlebush (Encelia actoni)

Photos / Sounds

What

Mallows (Genus Malva)

Observer

cyoselene

Date

April 2020

Photos / Sounds

What

Pacific Cicada-killer Wasp (Sphecius convallis)

Observer

susanmf

Date

September 4, 2018 08:36 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Lined June Beetles (Genus Polyphylla)

Observer

susanmf

Date

June 21, 2023 05:54 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Spanish Needles Flower Moth (Schinia niveicosta)

Observer

aparrot1

Date

November 26, 2023 10:33 AM PST

Description

Link to Desert Needles blossom that Spanish Needles Flower Moth was resting on: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/192604157

The moth was so well camouflaged. I only saw it because I was taking a photo a few inches away. It appears to have a gold "metallic" or shiny fringe at wing margins and was about 1 inch long.

Spanish Needles Flower Moth (Schinia niveicosta)

BugGuide: https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Schinia+niveicosta

Moth Photographers Group (range map only) https://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=11167

Butterflies and Moths of North America https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species_search (only a range map, no species description yet, as of 11/29/23)

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Coachella Valley Preserve: For thousands of years, particles of sand from the San Bernardino Mountains and Indio Hills washed into the Coachella Valley forming a system of sand dunes. Today, these dunes are part of the Coachella Valley Preserve System, a 20,000-acre sanctuary.
The Coachella Valley Preserve also contains several palm oases that sit on top of San Andreas Fault lines. Underground water rises to the surface through these cracks. California Fan Palms (Washingtonia filifera) grow along the cracks where the water seeps up creating a desert oases. Many plant species thrive in the alkaline soil.
Coachella Valley sits at the convergence of four vast ecological systems - the Colorado (or Sonoran) Desert, the Mojave Desert, and the coastal and peninsular mountain ranges.
https://www.blm.gov/visit/coachella-valley-preserve

Photos / Sounds

What

California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera)

Observer

aparrot1

Date

November 26, 2023 08:14 AM PST

Description

Link to observation of rodent skull that was found at the base of the palms (where the owl was hanging out): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/192410813
Link to Great Horned Owl observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/192343404

California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera) A.k.a. Desert Palm. It is California’s only native palm tree. These palms often grow over seeps, springs, rivlets—wherever there is a regular source of water. They can be seen along (earthquake) fault lines on east side of the Coachella Valley. The cross-section of the trunk looks like vertical packed-together straws. Peak bloom time: February-June. Hard, pea-sized fruits are sweet and datelike in flavor. The fruits are an important food source for coyotes and many species of birds. Native people ate the berries, both fresh and dry, and ground the seeds into meal. The fallen fronds and still-hanging "skirts" provide excellent shelter and habitat for many species of birds, bats, owls, rodents, reptiles, insects and other animals.
The California Fan Palm was a very important plant with many uses for the local desert Cahuilla people. They added the small, sweet fruits fresh or dried to flavor foods. The most common use of the long fronds was in house construction to make the homes both waterproof and windproof. Palm frond stems were used to make cooking utensils, particularly spoons and stirring implements. Palm leaves were used to make sandals or foot pads. 17 traditional uses described here:

Native American Ethnobotany: A database of plants used as drugs, foods, dyes, fibers, and more by Native People of North America http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Washingtonia+filifera and http://naeb.brit.org/

Temalpakh: Cahuilla Indian Knowledge and Usage of Plants, Lowell John Bean and K. Saubel, Malki Museum Press, 1972, pp. 145-149.

Desert Palm Oasis, James W. Cornett, 2010, pp. 4-79.

Anza-Borrego Desert Wildflowers https://borregowildflowers.org/index.html?type=search&searchtype=S&family=&name=Washingtonia%20filifera

Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=48512

Shrubs and Trees of the Southern California Deserts. Jim W. Dole and Betty B. Rose, Foot-loose Press, 1996, pp. 21, 53

California Desert Wildflowers, Philip A Munz, 1962, p. 28

CalFlora's Southern California Plant Communities http://www.calflora.net/botanicalnames/plantcommunities.html

Plants of Southern California: Regional Floras http://tchester.org/plants/floras/#abdsp (comprehensive website)

Native and Introduced Plants of Southern California by Tom Chester http://tchester.org/plants/index.html

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Coachella Valley Preserve: For thousands of years, particles of sand from the San Bernardino Mountains and Indio Hills washed into the Coachella Valley forming a system of sand dunes. Today, these dunes are part of the Coachella Valley Preserve System, a 20,000-acre sanctuary, a desert oasis for many species of birds, reptiles, plants, and human visitors.
The Coachella Valley Preserve contains several palm oases that sit on top of San Andreas Fault lines. Underground water rises to the surface through these cracks. California Fan Palms (Washingtonia filifera) grow along the cracks where the water seeps up creating a desert oases. Many plant species thrive in the alkaline soil.
Coachella Valley sits at the convergence of four vast ecological systems - the Colorado (or Sonoran) Desert, the Mojave Desert, and the coastal and peninsular mountain ranges.

Birding Hotspot. Current access information: https://www.cnlm.org/portfolio_page/thousand-palms-oasis-preserve-coachella-valley-preserve/ (usually open Wed-Sun, street parking only)
and general information about the Preserve: https://www.blm.gov/visit/coachella-valley-preserve

Photos / Sounds

What

Desert Spikemoss (Selaginella eremophila)

Observer

jprado

Date

November 10, 2020 02:02 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Flanged Smartweed (Persicaria amphibia var. stipulacea)

Observer

susanmf

Date

August 15, 2023 09:32 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

susanmf

Date

January 16, 2022 09:24 AM HST

Description

Host = Encelia farinosa

Photos / Sounds

What

Muller's Oak (Quercus cornelius-mulleri)

Observer

wanderingmojave

Date

September 12, 2023 09:47 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Sierra Juniper (Juniperus grandis)

Observer

susanmf

Date

June 1, 2022 11:52 AM PDT

Description

Two trees had grown together- one had died and the other still lives

Photos / Sounds

What

California Croton (Croton californicus)

Observer

andreacala

Date

November 5, 2021 12:26 PM PDT

Description

I came across a couple of California Croton plants that were hosting many galls.
I searched @nancyasquith's collection and lists, https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/california-plants-with-mystery-galls, as well as the Russo guide, but couldn't find anything.
I'm posting this observation for the host plant, hoping we can find the gall inducing insect...

Photos / Sounds

What

Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)

Observer

chilipossum

Date

June 18, 2023 04:05 PM PDT

Description

On California Croton, Croton californicus

Photos / Sounds

What

Oak Gall Wasps (Tribe Cynipini)

Observer

susanmf

Date

May 31, 2023 09:11 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

susanmf

Date

December 20, 2021 08:45 AM HST

Description

I am only guessing!!
Host = Encelia farinosa

Photos / Sounds

What

Manzanita Leafgall Aphid (Tamalia coweni)

Observer

susanmf

Date

June 8, 2022 08:51 AM PDT

Description

Host = Arctostaphylos

Photos / Sounds

What

Red Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber)

Observer

smhynes

Date

April 26, 2023 10:15 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

eogren

Date

March 22, 2023 10:00 AM PDT

Description

Hypochromic

Photos / Sounds

What

Flies (Order Diptera)

Observer

david99

Date

March 31, 2023 01:57 PM PDT

Description

Gall on Encelia californica.

Photos / Sounds

What

Flies (Order Diptera)

Observer

susanmf

Date

April 3, 2023 10:41 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera)

Observer

tchester

Date

March 17, 2023 05:21 PM PDT

Description

This trunk was washed down in a flash flood on 10 September 2004, over 18 years ago, and it is just starting to decay at the end next to the trail. See:

http://tchester.org/sd/plants/guides/anza_borrego/borrego_palm_canyon.html

Photos / Sounds

What

Desert Bluebells (Phacelia campanularia)

Observer

loribrummer

Date

March 13, 2023 11:36 AM PDT

Description

One white morph in a sea of blue

Photos / Sounds

What

Star Gilia (Gilia stellata)

Observer

dgrimmphd

Date

March 11, 2023 12:10 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Desert Poppies (Genus Eschscholzia)

Observer

dgrimmphd

Date

March 11, 2023 12:07 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

susanmf

Date

September 6, 2022 07:04 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Yuma Sandmat (Euphorbia setiloba)

Observer

eogren

Date

March 29, 2020 04:19 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Baja Desert-Thorn (Lycium brevipes)

Observer

susanmf

Date

September 26, 2022 10:22 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Deep Canyon Snapdragon (Pseudorontium cyathiferum)

Observer

cwbarrows

Date

February 16, 2023 03:42 PM PST

Description

Thanks to Mark Fisher at the Philip L. Boyd Deep Canyon Research Center for finding and sharing this population in bloom this year! This species was last recorded in Deep Canyon in 1978: https://www.cch2.org/portal/collections/individual/index.php?occid=1490992

Photos / Sounds

What

Western Side-blotched Lizard (Uta stansburiana ssp. elegans)

Observer

souzel

Date

February 7, 2023 09:09 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

susanmf

Date

September 29, 2022 09:07 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Little Desert Trumpet (Eriogonum trichopes)

Observer

susanmf

Date

February 7, 2023 07:41 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Cryptic Desert Poppy (Eschscholzia papastillii)

Observer

susanmf

Date

February 7, 2023 11:10 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Gall Wasps and Allies (Superfamily Cynipoidea)

Observer

eogren

Date

February 3, 2023 10:36 AM PST

Description

Plant: Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata). @nancyasquith @cwbarrows @susanmf Please identify! The first time I’ve seen this, and I’m puzzled. I looked at every stem gall in Russo’s Plant Galls of … and Gallformers, without any match.

Photos / Sounds

What

Redstem Stork's-Bill (Erodium cicutarium)

Observer

dlbowls

Date

January 19, 2023 02:17 PM PST

Description

With a Pathogen?

Photos / Sounds

Observer

susanmf

Date

April 27, 2019 10:23 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa)

Observer

david99

Date

January 6, 2023 10:44 AM PST

Description

Odd growth on brittlebush

Photos / Sounds

What

Gall Midges (Subfamily Cecidomyiinae)

Observer

eogren

Date

December 21, 2022 10:57 AM PST

Description

Plant: Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa). @nancyasquith, @cwbarrows, @susanmf I know this gall is typically found on Saltbush (Atriplex). Have you seen A. floccosa on Encelia farinosa, or is this a different species?

Photos / Sounds

What

Robison's Monardella (Monardella robisonii)

Observer

keirmorse

Date

August 2022

Description

Best guess on ID

Photos / Sounds

What

Gall Midges (Subfamily Cecidomyiinae)

Observer

susanmf

Date

March 14, 2022 10:02 AM PDT

Description

Host = Sphaeralcea ambigua
www.gallformers.org Unknown s-ambigua-abrupt-stem-swelling

Photos / Sounds

What

Santa Cruz Island Fox (Urocyon littoralis ssp. santacruzae)

Observer

cwbarrows

Date

November 19, 2022 05:56 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Santa Cruz Island Fox (Urocyon littoralis ssp. santacruzae)

Observer

cwbarrows

Date

November 18, 2022 03:51 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Santa Cruz Island Fox (Urocyon littoralis ssp. santacruzae)

Observer

cwbarrows

Date

November 18, 2022 04:45 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Santa Cruz Island Fox (Urocyon littoralis ssp. santacruzae)

Observer

cwbarrows

Date

November 19, 2022 05:03 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Santa Cruz Island Fox (Urocyon littoralis ssp. santacruzae)

Observer

cwbarrows

Date

November 18, 2022 05:59 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Rustic Sphinx (Manduca rustica)

Observer

ladybug22

Date

November 7, 2022 01:05 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Smoke Tree (Psorothamnus spinosus)

Observer

efmer

Date

November 2, 2022 09:17 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Desert Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes ssp. rudkini)

Observer

biohexx1

Date

October 2, 2022 02:46 PM PDT

Tags

Photos / Sounds

Observer

susanmf

Date

July 4, 2022 09:19 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Gall and Rust Mites (Family Eriophyidae)

Observer

susanmf

Date

August 22, 2022 09:43 AM PDT

Description

Host = Bahiopsis parishii
There was no larvae in the gall
Never seen this before on B.parishii - maybe a mite

Photos / Sounds

Observer

susanmf

Date

September 1, 2021 07:40 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

susanmf

Date

August 15, 2022 10:36 AM PDT

Description

Host = Ribes cereum

Photos / Sounds

Observer

sea-kangaroo

Date

September 11, 2019 02:44 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Cryptic Desert Poppy (Eschscholzia papastillii)

Observer

cwbarrows

Date

March 15, 2019 08:10 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

Observer

susanmf

Date

June 5, 2021 06:14 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Observer

susanmf

Date

July 11, 2022 01:05 PM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Mariposa Lilies (Genus Calochortus)

Observer

susanmf

Date

May 2022

Photos / Sounds

What

Banana Yucca (Yucca baccata)

Observer

cwbarrows

Date

May 30, 2022 12:31 PM MST

Photos / Sounds

What

Lanceleaf Liveforever (Dudleya lanceolata)

Observer

ladybug22

Date

May 8, 2022 10:48 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Desert Hairy Scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis)

Observer

susanmf

Date

May 7, 2022 08:44 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Desert Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus bicinctores)

Observer

tmills

Date

April 30, 2022 05:29 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima)

Observer

wkent

Date

October 7, 2021 01:08 PM +04

Photos / Sounds

What

Tamarisks (Genus Tamarix)

Observer

jprado

Date

December 30, 2021 12:24 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Parry Pinyon (Pinus quadrifolia)

Observer

susanmf

Date

April 18, 2022 08:11 AM MST

Description

3” in height

Photos / Sounds

What

Desert Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus magister)

Observer

peterschwartz

Date

April 8, 2022 11:16 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Desert Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus bicinctores)

Observer

peterschwartz

Date

March 25, 2022 11:22 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos)

Observer

peterschwartz

Date

March 25, 2022 01:00 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Desert Lily (Hesperocallis undulata)

Observer

peterschwartz

Date

March 18, 2022 09:27 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia)

Observer

ladybug22

Date

March 2022

Photos / Sounds

What

Coastal Rosy Boa (Lichanura orcutti)

Observer

ladybug22

Date

March 16, 2022 10:47 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Creosote Resin Gall Midge (Asphondylia resinosa)

Observer

stevejones

Date

December 19, 2021 10:05 AM MST

Description

A. resinosa or maybe l-tridentata-fringed-cup-galls - found on the same plant as others of the latter.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

madily

Date

May 11, 2021 01:17 PM PDT

Description

Collected gall from Ceanothus verrucosus on 4/11/21.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/73583630

Gall cut open to find larvae inside on 4/21/21 and placed in container with a cup of soil.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/74768171

7 midges emerged today.

Photos / Sounds

What

Bubble-gall Tephritid (Aciurina trixa)

Date

February 23, 2022 05:12 PM MST

Description

Last photo is to document the host plant. 4th photo is a cropped version of the last photo which has the insect gall in question in the lower left while A. trixa is found in the top half of the photo.

Photos / Sounds

What

Arrowweed (Pluchea sericea)

Observer

cwbarrows

Date

February 19, 2022 04:10 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Desert Lily (Hesperocallis undulata)

Observer

cwbarrows

Date

February 20, 2022 02:42 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Baja California Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus vestigium)

Observer

sshigenaga

Date

February 13, 2022 09:40 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

susanmf

Date

January 17, 2022 09:59 AM HST

Description

Host = Atriplex hymenelytra

Photos / Sounds

What

Western Bobcat (Lynx rufus ssp. fasciatus)

Observer

vlmanning

Date

February 3, 2022 02:05 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Split Twig Gall Wasp (Dryocosmus asymmetricus)

Observer

susanmf

Date

September 29, 2021 10:00 AM PDT

Description

Host = Canyon Live Oak

Photos / Sounds

What

Rabbitbrush Stem Gall Moth (Gnorimoschema octomaculella)

Observer

susanmf

Date

December 22, 2021 09:04 AM HST

Description

Host = Ericameria

Photos / Sounds

What

Oak Gall Wasps (Tribe Cynipini)

Observer

susanmf

Date

October 6, 2021 11:35 AM PDT

Description

Host = Canyon Live Oak

Photos / Sounds

Observer

susanmf

Date

November 11, 2021 09:55 AM HST

Description

Host = Canyon Live Oak

Photos / Sounds

What

Borage Family (Family Boraginaceae)

Observer

susanmf

Date

January 23, 2022 11:03 AM HST

Photos / Sounds

What

Bullet-Gall Wasp (Heteroecus malus)

Observer

susanmf

Date

November 11, 2021 09:54 AM HST

Description

Host = Canyon Live Oak

Photos / Sounds

What

Oak Gall Wasps (Tribe Cynipini)

Observer

susanmf

Date

December 6, 2021 11:23 AM HST

Description

Host = Quercus cornelius-mulleri

Photos / Sounds

What

Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)

Observer

kingmchris

Date

January 7, 2022 03:14 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Redstem Stork's-Bill (Erodium cicutarium)

Observer

susanmf

Date

December 31, 2021 11:32 AM HST

Photos / Sounds

What

Gall Midges (Subfamily Cecidomyiinae)

Observer

eogren

Date

December 10, 2021 11:40 AM UTC

Description

Host plant: Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa)

Photos / Sounds

What

Munz's Cholla (Cylindropuntia munzii)

Observer

cwbarrows

Date

November 16, 2021 12:12 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

susanmf

Date

October 6, 2021 09:12 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Desert Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus magister)

Observer

susanmf

Date

September 1, 2021 12:13 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Ant-eating Spiders (Genus Euryopis)

Observer

dthomas

Date

August 14, 2021 09:41 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

Observer

tbartlett19

Date

August 11, 2021 03:07 PM HST