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Diggers, Bumbles, Longhorn, and Nomad Bees Black-tailed Bumble Bee Bombus melanopygus January - July (rarely as early as December) Read More California Bumble Bee Bombus californicus February - September Read More Yellow-faced Bumble Bee Bombus vosnesenskii January - September Read More Foothill Carpenter Bee Xylocopa tabaniformis orpifex Later March - June Read More Small Carpenter Bee Ceratina March - July Read More Valley Carpenter Bee Xylocopa sonorina March – September (Uncommon on Mount Diablo) Read More California Digger-cuckoo Bee Brachymelecta californica June - August Read More Edwards Melectum Melecta edwardsii March - early June Read More Lovely-tailed Mourning Bee Melecta separata callura March - May Read More Nomad Bees Nomada February - June Read More California Digger Bee Anthophora californicus February - May; there may be a Fall generation too Read More California Mountain Digger Bee Habropoda depressa February - early June Read More Edwards Digger Bee Anthophora edwardsii Earlier Spring (starting late-February/early March) Read More Pacific Digger Bee Anthophora pacifica February and March - not common. Read More Urbane Digger Bee Anthophora urbana Late Spring - Early Fall Read More Eucera Longhorn Bee Eucera March to June Read More Melissodes Longhorn Bee Melissodes Late Summer to Fall Read More Bindweed Turret Bee Diadasia bituberculata April to June Read More

articles about plants wildlife spiders mammals insects Articles Filter by Category Select Category Pepsis Tarantula Hawk Has Found Its Prey While most of us “Mount Diablo-philes” have a great love for our local tarantulas, I am also enamored with Tarantula Hawks – those large, magnetic blue-black wasps with the orange wings! July 5, 2025 More Hoverflies Hoverflies are Flies in Disguise June 24, 2025 More Jeweled Spider Flies One of my favorite insects is quite uncommon ... June 20, 2025 More Pollen Wasp It isn’t a pest or a predator - this Pollen Wasp behaves more like a bee... June 20, 2025 More Crab Spider Crab Spiders Use Flower Power May 28, 2025 More Acorn Woodpecker A bird that's nut for acorns! May 21, 2025 More Coyote The barking dog May 21, 2025 More Dragonfly Oh my! What big eyes you have! May 21, 2025 More 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ... 11

Bees A-Z Filter by Bee Type Select Bee Type Andrena Miner Bee Andrena January - Fall (but primarily January - April) Read More Ashmeadiella Ashmeadiella Summer Read More Bindweed Turret Bee Diadasia bituberculata April to June Read More Black-tailed Bumble Bee Bombus melanopygus January - July (rarely as early as December) Read More California Bumble Bee Bombus californicus February - September Read More California Digger Bee Anthophora californicus February - May; there may be a Fall generation too Read More California Digger-cuckoo Bee Brachymelecta californica June - August Read More California Fairy Bee Perdita californica April - June, timed to blooming of Mariposa Lily Read More California Mountain Digger Bee Habropoda depressa February - early June Read More California Poppy Fairy Bee Perdita interrupta April - June, timed to blooming of California Poppy Read More California Resin-Leafcutter Bee Trachusa perdita April - June Read More California Rotund-Resin Bee Anthidiellum notatum robertsonii May - August Read More Chelostoma californicum Scissor Bee Chelostoma californicum April - June Read More Colletes Cellophane Bees Colletes March - Fall Read More Dark Bees Stelis April - June Read More Dianthidium Dianthidium Late May - August Read More Edwards Digger Bee Anthophora edwardsii Earlier Spring (starting late-February/early March) Read More Edwards Melectum Melecta edwardsii March - early June Read More Eucera Longhorn Bee Eucera March to June Read More Foothill Carpenter Bee Xylocopa tabaniformis orpifex Later March - June Read More Hoplitis Mason Bee Hoplitis April - early June. Read More Hylaeus Masked Bees Hylaeus April - September Read More Lasioglossum Lasioglossum Early Spring – Fall Read More Lovely-tailed Mourning Bee Melecta separata callura March - May Read More Megachile Leafcutter Bee Megachile Summer Read More Melissodes Longhorn Bee Melissodes Late Summer to Fall Read More Nomad Bees Nomada February - June Read More Osmia Mason Bee Osmia Primarily April - June, but Osmia ribifloris biedermannii appears from January. Read More Pacific Digger Bee Anthophora pacifica February and March - not common. Read More Panurginus Miner Bee Panurginus Early Spring Read More Prong-faced Slender-Mason Bee Protosmia rubifloris April - August Read More Red-tailed Micro-Shortface Bee Micralictoides ruficaudus April and May Read More Small Carpenter Bee Ceratina March - July Read More Tripartite Sweat Bee Halictus tripartitus March - November Read More Urbane Digger Bee Anthophora urbana Late Spring - Early Fall Read More Valley Carpenter Bee Xylocopa sonorina March – September (Uncommon on Mount Diablo) Read More Yellow-faced Bumble Bee Bombus vosnesenskii January - September Read More

Sweat Bees Lasioglossum Lasioglossum Early Spring – Fall Read More Red-tailed Micro-Shortface Bee Micralictoides ruficaudus April and May Read More Tripartite Sweat Bee Halictus tripartitus March - November Read More

Fairy and Miner Bees California Fairy Bee Perdita californica April - June, timed to blooming of Mariposa Lily Read More California Poppy Fairy Bee Perdita interrupta April - June, timed to blooming of California Poppy Read More Andrena Miner Bee Andrena January - Fall (but primarily January - April) Read More Panurginus Miner Bee Panurginus Early Spring Read More

Birds A-Z 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 ... 5 Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus Allen's Hummingbird Selasphorus sasin American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos American Kestrel Falco sparverius American Pipit Anthus rubescens American Robin Turdus migratorius Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna Ash-throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata Barn Owl Tyto alba Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Bell's Sparrow Artemisiospiza belli Bewick's Wren Thryomanes bewickii Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus Black-throated Gray Warbler Setophaga nigrescens Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus Brown Creeper Certhia americana Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater Bullok's Oriole Icterus bullockii Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus California Quail Callipepla californica California Scrub Jay Aphelocoma californica 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 ... 5

Wildflower Mount Diablo Common Madia Scientific Name: Madia elegans Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family) Blooms: April Color: Yellow-Orange Annual herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald

Wildflower Mount Diablo Woolly Mule Ears, Gray Mule Ears, Whitehead Mule Ears, Whitehead wyethia Scientific Name: Wyethia helenioides Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family) Blooms: April Color: Yellow-Orange Perennial herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Stephen Smith Daniel Fitzgerald

Great Copper Lycaena xanthoides Lycaenidae Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Flies April to October Host Plant Dock Nectar Plant California buckeye, Gum plant Hank Fabian Underwing Hank Fabian Female Hank Fabian Male

Spotted Towee by Jenn Roe Marvelous Animal Adaptations May 21, 2025 by Dan Fitzgerald The Spotted Towhee is an eye-catching bird, but it takes some luck to see one. Bright white dots decorate black wings and back; rufous (reddish) sides stand out against a white belly; a jet black head holds intense red eyes. Believe it or not, this striking bird is designed to hide, which is what it does in a brushy habitat where its colorful patterns blend with the dappled shade. Chaparral and open woodlands provide the Spotted Towhee with the shrubs it needs for protective cover and a year-round food supply. An omnivore , eating from both plants and animals, the Towhee forages by hopping around and scratching the ground for insects, spiders, millipedes, and other nourishment. It also searches low limbs for food. In fall and winter, when insects disappear, Towhees dine on seeds and berries. The Spotted Towhee’s secretive life in the brush changes in spring when the male bird perches conspicuously atop shrubs to sing his raspy song either to attract a mate or declare his territory (keep out!). Why does the female have such drab feathers? The female Towhee spends most time on the ground. Her dull, ground-colored feathers help her go unnoticed by predators (such as hawks, owls, and snakes). Towhees nest on the ground or in low branches and the female is the nest builder. She also incubates (sits on) the eggs without any help from her mate. However, once eggs hatch, both parents work to feed the nestlings (baby birds). Download this article by Arnold Joe The Spotted Towhee’s black and white patterns help it blend in the shade of its habitat. The bird pictured above is male. by Arnold Joe In springtime, male Spotted Towhees can be seen singing from the tops of shrubs. by Arnold Joe The female’s dull colors help her blend with the ground, making her less visible to predators while nesting. BACK TO LIST

Wildflower Mount Diablo Horehound Invasive Scientific Name: Marrubium vulgare Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family) Blooms: April Color: White Perennial herb Introduced Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Steven Beatty

Wildflower Mount Diablo Slim Solomon, Slim Solomon's Seal Scientific Name: Maianthemum stellatum Family: Liliaceae (Lily Family) Blooms: May to Jun Color: White Perennial herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Kevin Hintsa