Rain and Sun in Heritage Creek

The rains in Heritage Creek have stimulated many plants back to life .  Sun after the rain brings out many local creatures.  Come sit awhile and enjoy a bit of nature on campus.

Northern Mockingbird surveys his territory.

 

Native rabbits are busy eating the new grass and cheeseweed.

Hedgerow has plants in flower and fruit - lots of birds and bees.

 

Bee Flies – the family Bombyliidae

Bee Fly (Villa lateralis):  a species seen at CSU Dominguez Hills

While most people think of bees when they hear the word ‘pollinator’, in fact a wide range of animals function as pollinators.  To learn more about pollinators in general see: http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/06/life-friendly-gardening-planning-for.html).

Among the bee-like insects that serve as pollinators are the Bee Flies.  The Family Bombyliidae is a large family of flies with literally hundreds of genera and thousands of species worldwide. The exact number of species is currently unknown, due to a significant lack of research on this family.  For a good review of the main types of  flies seen in Southern California see: http://waynesword.palomar.edu/redmite6.htm

 

To learn more about Bee Flies and their role as beneficial insects, see: http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2015/06/bee-flies-family-bombyliidae.html


 

Celebrate National Pollinator Week (June 15-21, 2015)

National Pollinator Week (the 3^rd week in June each year) celebrates the importance of pollinators for all life on earth. Eighty percent of food crops, as well as many ornamental plants, require insect pollinators.    Life without living pollinators would be very different, indeed.

Here are some things you can do to celebrate National Pollinator Week:

 

Learn more about the key role of pollinators: http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/06/life-friendly-gardening-planning-for.html.

Learn more about specific S. California pollinators:

·        Metallic Green Bees: http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2012/09/metallic-green-bees-genus-agapostemon.html

·        Yellow-faced Bumble Bee: http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2014/06/yellow-faced-bumble-bee-bombus.html

·        Western Tiger Swallowtail: http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2014/07/western-tiger-swallowtail-papilio.html

·        Duskywing Butterflies: http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2015/05/duskywing-butterflies-genus-erynnis.html

 

Create pollinator habitat in your garden: http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/planning-for-pollinators-brochure-2013

 

Register your garden as part of the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge (MPGC):  http://pollinator.org/MPGC.htm

Participate in National Pollinator Week activities: http://www.pollinator.org/pollinator_week_2015.htm

 

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Yellow-faced Bumble Bee (Bombus vosnesenskii)

Yellow-faced Bumble Bee (Bombus vosnesenskii) foraging on Dune Lupine (Lupinus chamissonis)

The western United States is home to many unique and useful insects. Regional gardeners are starting to appreciate the importance of native pollinators, in part due to the activities of National Pollinator Week (the 3^rd week in June).  To learn more about pollinators in general see our June 2013 posting (http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/06/life-friendly-gardening-planning-for.html).

The larger insect pollinators are among the more interesting visitors to S. California gardens.  One of our favorites is the Yellow-faced Bumble Bee (Bombus vosnesenskii).   This large native bee can be seen from spring to fall in west coast gardens from British Columbia, Canada to Baja California, Mexico.   In our gardens and natural areas at CSUDH, we most commonly see them from June through August. 

To learn more about this fascinating pollinator see: http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2014/06/yellow-faced-bumble-bee-bombus.html

 

 

Celebrating National Pollinator Week

 

 

The 3rd week in June is National Pollinator Week.  Here are a few things you can do to celebrate:

• Do something to make your garden more pollinator-friendly this month – planning counts!
• Learn more about pollinator gardening
• http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/planning-for-pollinators-2013

§  http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/06/life-friendly-gardening-planning-for.html

• Celebrate  National Pollinator Week – check for local events
• Take a Garden Pollinator Survey – it’s fun and educational

§  http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/06/citizen-scientist-2013-mother-natures.html

• Take photos of pollinators in your garden – they’re fascinating!
• Learn more about a pollinator that interests you
• Talk to your family, friends and neighbors about the importance of pollinators

 

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questions?  e-mail us at nativeplantscsudh@gmail.com