Pollinator diversity and what to look for this month
With the arrival of the rich blooms of spring, we see peak pollinator diversity here on the TPF grounds. Some of our favorites have been showing up, such as Perdita interrupta—also known as the California poppy fairy bee. At a quick glance, they almost look like large ants, and don't mistake them for another tiny bee commonly sighted on the California poppies: the red-tailed micro-shortface (Micralictoides ruficaudus). You may want to bring out a hand lens to check out the identifying characteristics on some of these species! Another exciting find is the endangered, endemic Crotch's bumblebee (Bombus crotchii) as well as more fuzzy friends, like the California bumblebee (Bombus californicus) and Woolly darkling beetle (Eleodes osculans). It's a fantastic time to take close looks at the ground, on the flowers and leaves of plants, and under rocks to see what interesting life you might find.
