BIGGS WILDLIFE LISTS

This list of wildlife seen in our pond was last updated 6-08


(Most mammals that use the pond are nocturnal and therefore not often seen except for the footprints they leave behind)
MAMMALS
SPECIES (in order noted)
USAGE
 # of the MONTH SEEN
1. Humans
Homo sapiens 		Cool off; care for pond; learn about pond 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
2. Raccoon
Procyon lotor 		Wash food in pond; drink (eat water hyacinth!) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
3. House Cat
Felidae 		Drink from pond (Our pets, not feral) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
4. Opossum
Didelphis marsupialis 		Dig for insects; drink at nite 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
5. Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus 		A vixen and 2 kits! Drink(?) 1, 2, 3, _, _, _, 7, 8, 9, 10, __, __, 12 '96
6. Mole species
Talpidae 		Grub for worms; mess up pond walkways! 1, _, _, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12
7. Gopher species
Geomyidae 		Eat bog plants from roots up! _, _, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
8. California Vole
Microtus californicus		 Cat brought it to pond to eat! _, _, _, _, 5, 6, _, _, 9, __, __, __
9. Bat species
Chiroptera		 Forages above pond _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, __, __, __
10. Western Gray Squirrel
Sciurus griseus		 Investigates pond from tree above 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
11. Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis 		Drinks from pond _, 2, _, _, _, _, _, 8, 9, 10, __, __
12. Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger		 Picks off floating acorns! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, __, __, __
13. Black-tailed Deer
Odocoileus hemionus		 Come at night to drink _, _, 3, _, _, _, _, _,_, __, __, __
BIRDS
SPECIES (in order seen)
USAGE
 # of the MONTH SEEN
1. Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans		 Flycatches surface/over pond; Perches 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
2. Pacific-slope Flycatcher
aka Western Flycatcher
Empidonax difficilis		 Flycatches surface/over pond _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, __, __, __
3. Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon		 Looks for fish to dive for 1, 2, 3, _, _, _, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
4. Green-backed Heron
Butorides virescens		 Would have stalked fish, I inadvertently scared him off! _, _, _, _, _, _, 7, 8, _, __, __, __
5. Great-blue Heron
Ardea herodias		 Wades in, searching for fish! _, 2, 3, 4, _, _, _, 8, 9, 10, __, __
6. California Towhee
Pipilo fuscus		 Bathes in/drinks from pond 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
7. Western Scrub Jay
Aphelocoma californica
aka A. coerulescens		 Bathes and drinks;
catches insects on pond plants		 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
8. Bullock's Oriole
Icterus galbula bullockii		 Bathes in pond/waterfall _, _, _, _, 5, 6, _, _, _, __, __, __
9. Western Tanager
Piranga ludoviciana		 Bathes in pond/waterfall _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8, 9, __, __, __
10. Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Parus rufescens		 Drinks from; forages above pond _, _, _, _, 5, 6, _, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
11. White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys 		Drinks from/bathes in pond 1, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, 11, 12
12. Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis oregonus 		Drinks from/bathes in pond 1, _, 3, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, 11, 12
13. Lesser Goldfinch
Spinus psaltria		 Bathes in/drinks from pond 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
14. Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos		 Drinks from pond; lands on boulders 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, _, _, _, _, __, 11, 12
15. Purple Finch
Carpodacus purpureus		 Drinks from/bathes in pond _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, __, 11, 12
16. House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus		 Drinks from/bathes in pond; lands on boulders 1, _, _, 3, _, _, _, _, _, 10, 11, 12
17. Yellow-rumped aka AudubonWarbler
Dendroica coronata auduboni		 Drinks from/bathes in pond; lands on boulders 1, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, __, 11, __
18. Wilson's Warbler
Wilsonia pusilla		 Gleans insects from pond plants; bathes _, _, _, _, 5, _, _, 8, 9, __, __, __
19. Golden-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia atricapilla		 Drinks from pond/waterfall 1, 2, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, __, 11, 12
20. Swainson's Thrush
Catharus ustulata		 Drinks from/bathes in waterfall _, _, _, _, 5, 6, _, 8, _, __, __, __
21. Solitary Vireo
Vireo solitarius 		Drinks from waterfall _, _, _, _, 5, _, _, _, 9, __, __, __
22. Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna		 Bathes in waterfall bowl; visits flowers _, _, _, 4, 5, 6, _, 8, 9, 10, 11, __
23. Plain Titmouse
Parus inornatus		 Bathes in/drinks from bowl above waterfall _, _, 3, _, _, 6, 7, _, 9, __, __, __
24. Red-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta canadesis		 Bathes in bowl above waterfall _, _, _, _, _, 6, _, _, 9, __, __, __
25. Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus		 Sits in Oak tree above pond and watches for amphibians,
but once he came in for a bath!		 _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, __, __
26. Mourning Dove
Zenaidura macroura		 Drinks from beach/waterfall area _, _, _, _, _, _, 7, 8, _, __, __, __
27. Yellow Warbler
Dendroica petechia		 Bathes in pond _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 9, __, __, __
28. Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia 		Gleans seeds floating on water surface _, _, 3, 4, 5, 6, _, _, _, 10 __, 12
29. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Regulus calendula 		Desires a bath _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, __, __
30. Allen's Hummingbird
Selasphorus sasin		 Hawks insects over pond; tangles with Cardinal Meadowhawk _, _, _, _, 5, _, _, _, _, __, __, __
31. Screech Owl
Otus asio		 Eats beetles/crickets from pond beach at night! _, _, _, _, _, _, 7, _, _, __, __, __
32. Bewick's Wren
Thryomanes bewickii		 Gleans insects from pond plants! _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 9, __, __, 12
33. Hutton's Vireo
Vireo huttoni		 Gleans insects from pond plants! _, _, _, _, _, _, 7, _, 9, __, __, __
34. Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttata		 Bathes in waterfall _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 9, 10, __, __
35. American Robin
Turdus migratorius		 Bathes in beach area; drinks; collects nesting material 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, _, 9, __, __, 12
36. European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris		 Bathes in beach area _, _, 3,4, 5, _, _, _, _ , __, __, 12
37. California Quail
Callipepla californica		 Scratches in bog areas _, 2, 3,_, _, _, _, _, _ , __, __, __
38. Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos		 Feed on aquatic plants
What a surprise their visits are!
They have appeared every year for 7 years now!		 _, 2, 3, 4, 5, _, _, _, _ , __, __, __
39. Rufous-sided Towhee
aka Spotted Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus		 bathes in pond _, _, _, _, 5, _, _, _, _ , __, __, __
40. Great Egret
Casmerodius albus		 goes fishing in the pond _, _, _, _, 5, 6, _, _, _ , __, __, __
41. Ash-throated Flycatcher
Myiarchus cinerascens/		 bathes in pond _, _, _, _, _, 6, _, _, _ , __, __, __
42. Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum		 bathes in pond at beach area; drinks 1, 2, 3, _, _, _, _, _, _ , __, __, __
43. White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis 		Feeds in sunny bog; rare in our area _, 2, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, 11, 12
44. Nuttal's Woodpecker
Picoides nuttallii 		Drinks from/bathes in pond _, _, _, _, _, 6-00, _, _, _, __, __, __
45. Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimus 		Drinks from/bathes in pond _, _, _, _, 5, 6, _, _, _, __, __, __
46. Black-crowned Night-Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax 		Probably ate the goldfish: they are missing! _, _, _, _, _, 6&7-00, _, _, __, __, __
47. White-tailed Kite
aka Black-shouldered Kite
Elanus caeruleus 		Young one found on beach, starving!
Starving - took it to bird rescue 		_, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8-00, _, __, __, __
48. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Regulus calendula		 Gleans insects from plants around pond edges 1-01, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _ , __, __, __
49. American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis		 bathes in pond at beach area 1, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, _, _ , __, __, __
50. Townsend's Warbler
Dendroica townendi		 a female came in to bathe 5-01 _, _, _, _, 5, _, _, _, _ , __, __, __
50 1/2. White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos		 well, not IN the pond, but they did seem to look down at it as they flew over! _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8, _ , __, __, __
51. Pine Siskin
Carduekus pinus		 drinks from and finds floating seeds on the pond _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _ , __, __, 12
52. Black-throated Gray Warbler
Dendroica nigrescens		 gleans tiny insects off pond plants _, _, _, _, _, _, 7, _, _ , __, __, __
53. Varied Thrush
Ixoreus naevius		 bathes in pond
except when it is frozen over!		 1, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _ , __, __, __
54. Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus		 wants to bathe 1, 2, 3, _, _, _, _, _, _ , __, __, 12
55. Common Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos		 drink from waterfall _, _, 3, 4, 5, _, _, _, _ , __, __, __,
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
SPECIES USAGE # of the MONTH SEEN
*=larval stage only seen
1. Pacific Tree Frog
(renamed Pacific Chorus Frog)
Hyla regilla 		'97 First 2 called 1-25; eggs 2-22; polywogs 3-7
none bred '98; only one called; 2 returned in '00 to breed		 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7* 8* _, 10, __, __
2. Western Toad
Bufo boreas 		Seen hunting near pathways _, _, _, _, _, _, 7, 8, _, __, __, __
3. Bullfrog
Rana catesbeiana 		Non-native in west, probably the result of a tadpole we introduced (97)
Had to displace it - it ate all our Pacific Treefrogs in `98!
but another appeared in 2002 and starting eating our Goldfinches!! -
yes, they even eat BIRDS!! :-(
We got rid of it by draining the pond!
Read an article about them		 _, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, __, __, __
4. Aquatic Garter Snake
Thamnophis couchi aquaticus 		mate/hunt sunny bog/pond _, _, _, 4, 5, 6, _, _, _, __, __, __
5. California Alligator Lizard
Gerrhonotus multicarinatus 		Hunts in the sunny bog _, _, _, 4, _, _, _, _, _, __, __, __
6. Santa Cruz Garter Snake
Thamnophis couchi atratus 		tries to catch mosquito fish! _, _, _, 4, _, _, _, _, _, __, __, __
FISH
SPECIES
USAGE
 # of MONTH SEEN
1. Mosquito Fish
gambusia		 Control the mosquitoes; provide interest -
but eat the frog eggs & dragonfly nymph!
I NO LONGER RECOMMEND THEM - CLICK HERE!		 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
2. Pond Comet (goldfish) There were 2! Perhaps the 1st came in as egg on a plant
WE DO NOT RECOMMEND GOLDFISH OR KOI IN A WILDLIFE POND:
THEY ARE NOT NATIVE TO USA		 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
3. Catfish More than three! To read their amazing but true story click here! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
INSECTS
DRAGONFLIES
You never know where building a pond may lead, now I'm the author of several dragonfly related websites and books. See below! Click on any name/cover to learn more about my websites/book(s)!

CALIFORNIA DRAGONFLIES & DAMSELFLIES		 DRAGONFLIES (ODONATA) OF THE SOUTHWEST My IPS article about dragonflies
A sequence of photos of a dragonfly's emergence


Common Dragonflies of the Southwest
A Beginner's Pocket Guide

Click here for more information


by Kathy Biggs
MAY 2004
A coloring book -
Dragonflies of North America
A Color and Learn Book
with Activities
May 2007 Click here for more information


by Kathy Biggs and Tim Manolis
For children, grandchildren & your inner child!
Also available as an interactive CD-ROM which contains the coloring book in PDF format, plus a bonus page -
2006: Dragonflies of California and Common Dragonflies of the Southwest!
This dust-jacketed book updates and expands our very first dragonfly guide (2000): Common dragonflies of California
A Beginner's Pocket Guide


by Kathy Biggs
2006

SPECIES (in ~ order seen)
USAGE
# of the MONTH SEEN
* = only nymph stage seen
1. Green Darner
Anax junius		 Breed in pond: males patrol; females ovipositNymphs emerge; 1* 2* 3* 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10* 11* 12*
2. Pacific Forktail Damselfly
Ischnura cervula		 Breed in pond; adults 1st emerged 2-18 1* 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11* 12*
3. Western Forktail Damselfly
Ischnura perparva		 Breed in pond; adults 1st emerged 3-14 1* 2* 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11* 12*
4. Flame Skimmer
aka Red Skimmer
Libellula saturata		 Breed in pond; 'hawks' insects 1* 2* 4* 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10*11* 12*
5. Cardinal Meadowhawk
aka Streak-winged Red/Dusty Skimmer
Sympetrum illotum		 Mate in the dragonfly's unique 'wheel' position near pond edge, then fly to pond in tandem. Then the female scatters eggs on pond surface;
'hawks' insects from perch
emergence sequence		 1* 2* 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12*
6. Blue-eyed Darner
Rionaeschna (AKA Aeshna) multicolor		 mates & breed by ovipositing eggs into stems of Creeping Primrose; eats flying insects 1* 2* 3* 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12*
7.Vivid Dancer Damselfly
Argia vivida		 Visit pond & yard; breed 1* 2* 3* 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
8. Exclamation Damsel
aka Sierra Damsel!
Zoniagrion exclamationis		 Breed in Pond 1* 2* 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8* 9* 10* 11* 12*
9. 9. Eight-spotted Skimmer
Libellula forensis		 'Hawks' insects, visits pond, breeds in pond! 1*2*3*4*, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9*10*11*12*
10. Blue Dasher
aka Swift Long-winged Skimmer
Pachydiplax longipennis		 Breeds in pond; 'hawks' insects 1* 2* 3* 4* 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12*
11. Northern Bluet Damselfly
Enallagma annexum (aka cyathigerum)		 Breeds by inserting eggs into Creeping Primrose 1* 2* 3* 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11* 12*
12. Common Whitetail
Libellula lydia 		'Hawks' insects, breeds in pond _, _, _, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, _, 10-31 __ , __
13. Widow Skimmer
Libellula luctuosa		 'Hawks' insects, claims a territory on pond _, _, _, _, _, 6, _, _, _, __, __, __
14. Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Libellula pulchella		 Claims a territory on the pond _, _, _, _, _, _, 7, 8, _, __, __, __
15. Variegated Meadowhawk
aka Pastel Skimmer
Sympetrum corruptum		 Breeds in pond; 'hawks' insects _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8, 9, 10, 11, __
16. California Darner
Rionaeschna (aka Aeshna) californica		 breeds; emerges from pond in March & April, leaving exuvia behind 1*2*3,4,5,6,7*8*9*10*11*12*
17. Black Spreadwing
Lestes stultus 		Visits pond; oviposits into plants above waterline _, _, _, _, 5, 6, _, _, _, __, __, __
18. Striped Meadowhawk
Sympetrum pallipes		 Visits pond-side plantings; 'hawks' insects _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, __, __, __
19. Shadow Darner
Aeshna umbrosa		 Breeds by depositing eggs in saturated wood 1* 2* 3* 4* 5* 6 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12*
20. Desert Firetail
Telebasis salva		 Claims a territory on pond _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8, _, __, __, __
21. Red-veined Meadowhawk
Sympetrum madidum		 Visits pond-side plantings; 'hawks' insects _, _, _, _, 5, 6, _, 8, _, __, __, __
22. Tule Bluet Damselfly
Enallagma carunculatum		 Breeds by inserting eggs into Creeping Primrose _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8, 9, __,__, __
23. Western Pondhawk
Erythemis collocata 		Breed in pond. Perch low, even on beach
females & young males are a beautiful emerald green 		_, _, _, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, _, __, __, __
24. California Spreadwing
Archilestes californicus 		male waits for a mate to show up; female lays eggs in plantain stem _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8, 9, __,__, __
25. Pacific Dancer Damselfly Spiketail
Cordulegaster dorsalis 		Catches yellowjackets and stays to eat them _, _, _, _, _, 6, 7, 8, 9, __,__, __
26. San Francisco Forktail
Ischnura gemina 		Blown in by the wind? VERY RARE! Looks for mate _, _, _, _, _, 6-07, __,__, __ __,__, __
TERMITES
1. Pacific Dampwood Termite
Zootermopis angusticollis 		Breed in damp wood at pond side; drown in pond _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, 11, 12
CRICKETS and EARWIGS
1. Potato Bug
aka Jerusalem Cricket
Stenopelmatus 		Lives in rocks around pond, one drowned in pond _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8, _, __, 11 , __
2. Field Cricket
Gryllus 		Lives in rocks around pond 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12
3. California Camel Cricket
Ceuthophilus californianus 		Lives in rocks around pond _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, __, __
4. European Earwig
Forficula auricularia 		Lives in rocks around pond 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
MISC. WATER INSECTS
1. Pacific Spotted Mayfly Naiad first found in February; adult in March _, 2* 3, 4, _, _, _, _, _, __, __, __
2. Common Water Strider
Gerris remigis 		Breeds in pond; 'skates' on water surface film catching insects that fall in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
3. Large Backswimmer
Notonecta 		Swims upside down; breeds; eats bugs, etc. 1, 2, 3, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
4. California Creeping Water Bug
Ambrysus californica 		Breeds in pond 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
5. Water Boatman
Corixidae 		Breeds in pond; EATS ALGAE! _, _, _, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
6. Large Diving Beetle
Lethocerus americanus		 Large sized (40 mm); breeds, larva in pond; perch on submerged objects to wait for prey _, 2, 3, 4, 5, _, 7, 8, _, __, 11, 12
7. River Beetle
Agabus 		Swim about pond looking for prey; breeds in pond 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
8. Common Whirligig Beetle
Gyrinus 		Whirl about on surface; prey on other insects _, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, _, __, __, __
9. Water Mite
Hydrachnellae 		Found on just emerged damselfly! _, _, _, 4, 5, _, _, _, _, __, __, __
10. Log Cabin Caddis Worm/Fly
Oecetis 		Makes home of twigs in pond _, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, _, _, __, __, __
11. California Alderfly
aka Hellgrammite (larva)
Sialis californica 		nymph/larva live in pond _, 2* 3, 4, 5, 6, _, _, _, __, __, __
MISC. FLYING INSECTS
1. Common Crane Fly Use pond _, _, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, _, __, __, __
2. Giant Crane Fly Breeds in pond _, _, 3, _, _, _, _, _, _, __, __, __
3. Aphid Sucks juices from plant leaves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
4. Gnat Larva live in soil &/or water 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
5. Mosquito Breeds in pond; feeds fishes! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
6. Midge Breeds in pond; feeds fishes! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
7. Big Black Horse Fly Breeds in pond margins _, _, _, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, __, __
8. various Fly species Drown in pond, etc. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES
Lepidoptera
1. Underwing Moth
Catocala		 small moth, red hind wings form a triangle _, _, _, 4, _, _, _, _, _, __, __, __
2. Western Poplar Sphinx
Pachysphinx occidentalis		 Unknown; DROWNS! _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, __, __
3. Mournful Duskywing
Erynnis tristis		 Checks out pond plants _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8, 9, __, __, __
4. Common-checkered Skipper
Pyrgus communis		 Lands on my knee while cleaning pond _, _, _, _, _,_, _, _, 10, __, __
5. Sandhill Skipper
Polites sabeti 		Checks for nectar; gets minerals _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, __
6. Common (Gray) Hairstreak butterfly
Strymon melinus		 Rests on pond plants _, _, _, _, 5, 6, _, _, _, __, __, __
7. Monarch
Danaus plexippus		 Checks out pond plants _, _, _, _, _, _, 7, 8, _, __, __, __
8. Satryr Comma
Polygonia satyrus sp.		 Checks out pond beach _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, __, __
9. Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui		 Checks out pond plants _, _, _, _, _, 6, _, 8, 9, __, __, __
10. West Coast Lady
Vanessa annabella		 Gets minerals from beach/lays eggs on bog plant _, _, _, _, _, 6, _, _, 9, 10, __, __
11. Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta		 uses sand at edge of pond as a 'mineral lick' _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, _, 10, 11, __
12. California Sister
Apelpha bredowii		 Checks out pond plants _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, __
13. Lorquin's Admiral
Limenitis lorquini		 uses sand/rocks at edge of pond as a 'mineral lick' _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, _, _, __, __, __
14. Buckeye
Junonia coenia		 Larva feed on Mare's Tail; adults `puddle lick' _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8, 9, 10, 11, __
15. Cabbage White
Pieris rapae		 visits pond plants _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, __
16. Anise Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon		 Feeds, and breeds on wild fennel
newly emerged adults		 _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, __
17. Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus		 Visits pond-side plants _, _, _, _, _, 6, 7, _, _, __, __, __
18. Pale Swallowtail
Papilio eurymedon		 Rests on pond plants _, _, _, _, _, 6, 7, 8, _, __, __, __
19. Acraea Moth
Estigmene acraea		 Eggs laid on pond plants _, _, _, _, _, 6, 7, 8, _, __, __, __
20. Tomato Hornworm
Manduca sexta 		Caterpillar found feeding on Male's Tail in middle of pond!
And another time on the sunny bog plants!		 _, _, _, _,5, _, _, _, _, __, __, __
21. Acmon Blue
Plebejus acmon acmon 		Sips minerals at pond's 'butterfly lick'! _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, __, __
22. Umber Skipper
Poanes melane 		Seems to claim a territory on the pond! _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 9, 10, __, __
23. Mourning Cloak
Nymphalis antiopa		 Visits pondside plants _, _, _, _, _, 6, _, _, _, __, __, __
BEETLES
1. Click Beetle Drown in pond _, _, 3, _, 5, 6, _, 8, _, __, __, __, __
2. Brown Leatherwing Beetle Drown in pond _, _, _, 4, 5, 6, _, _, _, __, __, __, __
3. Green Dock Beetle Found in pond _, _, 3, _, _, _, _, _, _, __, __, __, __
BEES AND WASPS
1. Honey Bee Drink from pond, perfer just one sq. ft. spot! _, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, __, __
2. Bumble Bee Visit plants around pond _, _, _, 4, 5, 6, 7, _, 9, __, __, __
3. Mud Bee sp. Build mud nests on rocks around pond _, _, _, 4, 5, 6*_, _, _, __, __, __
4. Valley Carpenter Bee looks like black bumble bee Visit plants around pond _, _, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, __, __
5. Yellow and Black Mud Dabber wasp Visit plants around pond _, _, _, _, _, 6, 7, 8, 9, __, __, __
6. Western Orussus a black and red wasp _, _, _, _, _, 6, 7, _, _, __, __, __
7. Velvet Ant Checks out pond path plantsreally a female wasp _, _, _, _, _, 6, 7, _, _, __, __, __
8. Yellow Jacket Drinks from pond _, _, _, _, _, _, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, __
SPIDERS
SPECIES (in ~ order seen)
USAGE
# of month seen
1. Wolf Spider Hunt on pond plants/rocks bordering pond 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
2. Long-jawed orb Weaver Makes web on pond plants; catches damselflies _, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, __, __
3. Cellar Spider Lives amongst rocks and plants _, _, _, 4, 5, 6, _, _, _, __, __, __
4. Tarantula Real name is Carolina Wolf Spider: body 1 1/2" _, _, _, 4, _, 6, _, _, _, __, __, __
5. Nursery Web spider Carries eggs sac about _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8, _, __, __, __
6. Black Widow Makes web in between rocks bordering pond _, _, 3, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, 11, __
7. Black and Yellow Argiope Makes orb web & egg-sac _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8, 9, 10, 11, __
8. Areneus sp. Makes orb web _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, __, __
9. Crab Spider Hunts on plant leaves and blossoms _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, __, __
OTHERS
SPECIES
USAGE
 		# OF THE MONTH SEEN
1. Great Pond Snail Breed in pond, eat plant life 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
2. Wandering Pond Snail Breed in pond, eat plant life 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
3. Common Garden Snail Eat plant life 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
4. Fresh Water Shrimp Breed in pond 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
5. Sow bug Live in rocks around pond _, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, _, _, __, __, __
6. Earthworm Live in soil around pond _, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, __
7. Tubliflex worm Live in pond _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, _, _, __, __, __
Microscopic or close to it
1. Protozoa Live in pond; tailed _, _, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, _, __, __, __
2. Hydra Live in pond _, _, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, _, __, __, __
3. leech species Live in pond this type not harmful to humans _, _, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, _, __, __, __
4. Water Flea (Daphnia) Live in pond _, _, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 10, 11, __
5. Planaria Lives in pond 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, _, __, __, __

Read about the pleasures of having a wildlife pond here.
Or read one of Kathy's 'Critters in Your Pond' IPS Magazine articles.

If you have a pond, would like to make one, &/or are interested in California native wildlife/plants, please send us a note: bigsnest@sonic.net
Kathy is considering writing a book Build a Pond for Wildlife and would like as much input as possible. Thanks!
We'd love to hear from you and find out what you are seeing in your pond!
Click Pond Pictures to see a few pictures of our pond.

Back to the Pond's `Front' Page



Thanks for paying us a virtual visit----the Biggs family

This site was visited ~36,300 times between when the counter was put on it at its first web-host site (August 29, 1998) and when it was moved to PowWeb on March 26, 2002. Since it's move, this site has had Site Meter visits by folks interested in ponds.
We thank you for your interest - Kathy Biggs

This site was moved to PowWeb because of their very attractive web packages. They have a nice referral plan. If you move to PowWeb, please refer to this site! Thanks!!