This list of wildlife seen in our Sebastopol, CA pond was last updated March 2019
Our attempt to document all the wildlife, large and small, that uses our pond.
Shortcuts (# seen):
Mammals (13);
Birds (60!!);
Reptiles and Amphibians (6);
Dragonflies and Damselflies (28!);
Butterflies and Moths (28!);
Beetles, Bees and Wasps (13);
Misc. Water and Flying Insects (24);
Spiders (8);
Microscopic and Others (12)
MAMMALS
BUT, we've bought a trailcam that uses infrared now - 2011 and can get a few fuzzy images)
SPECIES (in order noted)
Click on text to see image(s) |
Thumbnail Photo | # 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 |
Hunt for and wash food in pond; (eat water hyacinth!),drink, rearrange plants | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 | |
3. House Cat
Felidae |
Drink from pond and frog spitter
(Our and our neighbor's pets, not feral...
...and those we 'cat sit') |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 | |
4. Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana |
Drink; dig for insects in bog; | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 | |
5. Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus |
A vixen and kits! Drink(?) | 1, 2, 3, _, _, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, __, __, 12 | |
6. Mole species
Talpidae |
sorry - no photo(s) | Grub for worms; mess up pond walkways! | 1, _, _, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12 |
7. Gopher species
Geomyidae |
sorry - no photo(s) | Eat bog plants from roots up! | _, _, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
8. California Vole
Microtus californicus |
sorry - no photo(s) | Cat brought it to pond to eat! | _, _, _, _, 5, 6, _, _, 9, __, __, __ |
9. Bat species
Chiroptera |
sorry - no photo(s) | Forages above pond | _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, __, __, __ |
10. Western Gray Squirrel
Sciurus griseus |
Drinks from pond! | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 | |
11. Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis |
Drinks from pond at night | 1, 2, _, _, _, _, _, 8, 9, 10, __, 12 | |
12. Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger |
Picks off floating acorns and plants them in the lawn! Also eats Maple tree seeds | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, __, __, 12 | |
13. Black-tailed Deer
Odocoileus hemionus |
Come to get a drink/eat pondside plants | _, _, 3, 4, _, _, _, _,_, __, __, __ | |
BIRDS
SPECIES (in order noted) | Thumbnail Photo | # 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 |
sorry - no photo(s) | Flycatches surface/over pond | _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, __, __, __ |
3. Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon |
Looks for fish to dive for (we USED to have fish in our pond
- we do not recommend mosquito fish in the west |
1, 2, 3, _, _, _, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 | |
4. Green-backed Heron
Butorides virescens |
sorry - no photo(s) | Would have stalked fish, I inadvertently scared him off! | _, _, _, _, _, _, 7, 8, _, __, __, __ |
5. Great-blue Heron
Ardea herodias |
Wades in, searching for fish, frogs, etc! | _, 2, 3, 4, _, _, _, 8, 9, 10, __, __ | |
6. California Towhee
(formerly Brown 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 on beach, in pond plantings 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 and waterfall | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8, 9, __, __, __ | |
10. Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Parus rufescens |
Drinks from/bathes in waterfall | _, _, _, _, 5, 6, _, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 | |
11. White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys |
Drinks from/bathes in pond/waterfall bowl | 1, 2, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, 11, 12 | |
12. Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis oregonus | Drinks from/bathes in pond | 1, 2, 3, _, _, _, _, 8, _, 10, 11, 12 | |
13. Lesser Goldfinch
Spinus psaltria |
Bathes in/drinks from pond/waterfall | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 | |
14. Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos |
Drinks from pond; bathes | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, _, _, _, _, 10, 11, 12 | |
15. Purple Finch
Carpodacus purpureus |
sorry - no photo(s) | Drinks from/bathes in pond | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, __, 11, 12 |
16. House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus |
Drinks from/bathes in pond; lands on boulders | 1, _, 3, _, _, _, 6, _, _, 10, 11, 12 | |
17.Yellow-rumped aka AudubonWarbler
Dendroica coronata auduboni |
Drinks from/bathes in pond | 1, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, 11, __ | |
18. Wilson's Warbler
Wilsonia pusilla |
Gleans insects from pond plants; bathes | _, _, 3, _, 5, _, _, 8, 9, __, __, __ | |
19. Golden-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia atricapilla |
Drinks from/bathes in pond/waterfall | 1, 2, 3, 4, _, _, _, _, _, __, 11, 12 | |
20. Swainson's Thrush
Catharus ustulata |
Drinks from/bathes in waterfall | _, _, _, _, 5, 6, _, 8, 9, __, __, __ | |
21. Cassin's Vireo
Vireo cassinii | sorry - no photo(s) | Drinks from waterfall | _, _, _, _, 5, _, _, _, 9, __, __, __ |
22. Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna |
Bathes in and drinks from waterfall bowl; visits pond flowers | _, _, _, 4, 5, 6, _, 8, 9, 10, 11, __ | |
23. Oak Titmouse
Baeolophus inornatus |
Bathes in, drinks from bowl above waterfall | _, _, 3, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, __, __ | |
24. Red-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta canadesis |
Bathes in bowl above waterfall | _, _, _, _, _, 6, _, 8, 9, __, __, __ | |
25. Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus |
Sits in Oak tree above pond and watches for amphibians,
but once it came in for a bath! |
_, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, __, __ | |
26. Mourning Dove
Zenaidura macroura |
Drinks from beach/waterfall area; bathes at beach | _, _, _, _, _, _, 7, 8, _, __, __, __ | |
27. Yellow Warbler
Dendroica petechia |
Bathes in pond | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 9, __, __, __ | |
28. Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia |
Gleans seeds floating on water surface/drinks | _, _, 3, 4, 5, 6, _, 8, _, 10 __, 12 | |
29. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Regulus calendula |
Gleans insects from plants around pond edges;
drinks/bathes at waterfall |
1-01, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _ , 10/31, 11, __ | |
30. Allen's Hummingbird
Selasphorus sasin |
Hawks insects over pond; tangles with Cardinal Meadowhawk | _, _, _, 4, 5, _, _, _, _, __, __, __ | |
31. Screech Owl
Otus asio |
sorry - no photo(s) | Eats beetles/crickets from pond beach at night! | _, _, _, _, _, _, 7, _, _, __, __, __ |
32. Bewick's Wren
Thryomanes bewickii |
sorry - no photo(s) | Gleans insects from pond plants! | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 9, __, __, 12 |
33. Hutton's Vireo
Vireo huttoni |
Gleans insects from pondside plants! | _, _, _, _, _, _, 7, _, 9, __, __, 12 | |
34. Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttata |
Bathes; drinks from front washing tub pond | 1, _, 3, _, _, _, _, 9, 10, 11, __ | |
35. American Robin
Turdus migratorius |
Bathes in beach area & in waterfall;
drinks; collects nesting material |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 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 8 years now! |
_, 2, 3, 4, 5, _, _, _, _ , __, __, __ | |
39. Spotted Towhee
aka Rufous-sided Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus |
Bathes in pond | _, _, _, _, 5, 6, _, _, _ , __, __, __ | |
40. Great Egret
Casmerodius albus |
sorry - no photo(s) | 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, _, _, _, _, _, _ , __, 11, __ | |
43. White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis |
Feeds in sunny bog; comes in for a drink | 1, 2, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, 11, 12 | |
44. Nuttal's Woodpecker
Picoides nuttallii |
sorry - no photo(s) | Drinks from/bathes in pond | _, _, _, _, _, 6-00, _, _, _, __, __, __ |
45. Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimus |
Drinks from/bathes in pond | _, _, _, _, 5, 6, _, _, 9, __, 11, __ | |
46. Black-crowned Night-Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax |
sorry - no photo(s) | 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. American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis |
Bathes in pond at beach area | 1, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, _, _, 10, 11, __ | |
49. Townsend's Warbler
Dendroica townendi |
Bathe | _, _, _, _, 5, _, _, _, _, 10, __, __ | |
49 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, _, __, __, __ | |
50. Pine Siskin
Carduekus pinus |
Drink, bathe, fight! | _, _, 3, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10 __, 12 | |
51. Black-throated Gray Warbler
Dendroica nigrescens |
Gleans tiny insects off pond plants; bathes | _, _, _, _, _, _, 7, _, _, 10, __, __ | |
52. Varied Thrush
Ixoreus naevius |
Bathes in pond, drinks! | 1, _, 3, _, _, _, _, _, _, __, __, 12 | |
53. Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus |
Bathes; eats ants | 1, 2, 3, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, 11, 12 | |
54. Common Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos |
Drink from pond/waterfall & bathe | _, _, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, _, _, __, __, __, | |
55. Sharp-shinned Hawk
Accipiter striatus |
Bathes & hunts | 1, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, __, 11, __, | |
56. Band-tailed Pigeon
Columba fasciata |
Bathe & drink | 1, 2, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, __, __, 12 | |
57. Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana |
Bathe | 1, _, 3, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, __, __ | |
58. Fox Sparrow
Passerella iliaca |
Bathe | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 9, __, __, __ | |
59. Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina |
Drink | _, _, 3-2014, _, _, _, _, _, _, __, __, __ | |
60. Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus |
Drink and bathe | _, 2-2015, _, _, _, _, _, _, __, 10-2014, __, __ | |
61. Stellar's Jay
Cyanocitta stelleri |
Drink | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, __,11-2014, __ | |
62. Nashville Warbler
Vermivora ruficapilla |
Bathe | _, _, 3-2015, _, _, _, _, _, _,__,__,__ | |
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
SPECIES | Thumbnail Photo | USAGE | # of the MONTH SEEN
|
1. Pacific Tree Frog (renamed Pacific Chorus Frog) Hyla regilla |
"Sing" and breed in pond; pollywogs/froglets live in pond | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, _, 10, __, __ | |
2. Western Toad
Bufo boreas |
sorry, no photo yet | Seen hunting near pathways | _, _, _, _, _, _, 7, 8, _, __, __, __ |
3. Bullfrog
Rana catesbeiana |
Non-native in west; we had to displace it as it ate all our Pacific Treefrogs
and starting eating our Goldfinches!! - Yes, they even eat BIRDS!! :-( We got rid of it!! Read an article about them |
_, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, __, __, __ | |
4. Aquatic Garter Snake
Thamnophis couchi aquaticus |
Mate/hunt in sunny bog and in pond | _, _, _, 4, 5, 6, _, _, _, __, __, __ | |
5. California Alligator Lizard
Gerrhonotus multicarinatus |
sorry, no photo yet | Hunts in the sunny bog | _, _, _, 4, _, _, _, _, _, __, __, __ |
6. California Slender Salamander
Batrachoseps attenuatus |
Live in bog areas | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, __, __, 12 | |
INSECTS
DRAGONFLIES (ODONATA) OF THE SOUTHWEST | CALIFORNIA DRAGONFLIES & DAMSELFLIES |
An article about dragonfly emergence
My 2009 WGI article about dragonflies Another sequence of photos of a dragonfly's emergence |
Dragonflies of the Greater Southwest - Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah Also available as an eBook by Kathy Biggs June 2015 |
A coloring book - Dragonflies of North America A Color and Learn Book with Activities May 2007 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 |
This revised edition updates and expands our very first California dragonfly guide (2000): by Kathy Biggs 2009 |
MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES
Lepidoptera
1. Underwing Moth
Catocala |
Sorry, no photo yet | This is a small moth, its red hind wings form a triangle | _, _, _, 4, _, _, _, _, _, __, __, __ |
2. Western Poplar Sphinx
Pachysphinx occidentalis |
Sorry, no photo yet | Unknown; DROWNS! | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, __, __ |
3. Mournful Duskywing
Erynnis tristis |
Check out pond plants | _, _, _, _, 5, _, _, 8, 9, __, __, __ | |
4. Common-checkered Skipper
Pyrgus communis |
Lay eggs on Checkerbloom at pond edges | _, _, _, _, _,7, _, _, 10, __, __ | |
5. Sandhill Skipper
Polites sabeti |
Check for nectar; get minerals | _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, __ | |
6. Common (Gray) Hairstreak butterfly
Strymon melinus |
Sorry, no photo yet | Get nectar from pondside plants | _, _, _, _, 5, 6, _, _, _, __, __, __ |
7. Monarch
Danaus plexippus |
Check out pond plants | _, _, _, _, _, _, 7, 8, _, __, __, __ | |
8. Satyr Comma
Polygonia satyrus sp. |
Uses beach area as a mineral lick | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, __, __ | |
9. Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui |
Check out pond plants | _, _, _, _, _, 6, _, 8, 9, __, 11, __ | |
10. West Coast Lady
Vanessa annabella |
Get minerals from beach/lays eggs on bog plant | 1, _, _, _, _, 6, _, _, 9, 10, __, 12 | |
11. Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta |
Use sand/rock at edge of pond as a 'mineral lick' | _, 2, _, _, 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 |
Use 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 |
Gets nectar from flowering pond plants | _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, __ | |
16. Anise Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon |
Feeds and breeds on wild fennelnear the pond
newly emerged adults |
_, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, __ | |
17. Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus |
Get nectar from pond-side plants | _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, _, _, __, __, __ | |
18. Pale Swallowtail
Papilio eurymedon |
Rest on pond plants; take nectar from pondside plants; drown | _, _, _, _, _, 6, 7, 8, _, __, __, __ | |
19. Acraea Moth
Estigmene acraea |
Lays eggs on pond plants; caterpillars mature in pond on 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 |
Sip minerals at pond's 'butterfly lick'! | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, __, __ | |
22. Umber Skipper
Poanes melane |
Seem to claim a territory on the pond! | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 9, 10, __, __ | |
23. Mourning Cloak
Nymphalis antiopa |
Visit pondside plants | _, _, _, 4, _, 6, _, _, _, __, __, __ | |
24. Yuba Skipper
Hesperia juba |
Nectars at pondside plants | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, __, __ | |
25. American Lady
Vanessa virginiensis |
Nectars at pondside plants | _, _, _, 4, 5, _, _, _, _, __, __, __ | |
26. White-lined Sphinx moth
Hyles lineata |
Caterpillar found feeding on Marestail IN the pond. | _, _, _, _, _, 6-2013, _, _, _, __, __, __ | |
27. Purplish Copper
Epidermia helloides |
Nectar on pondside plants. | _, _, _, _, 5-2014, _, _, _, _, __, __, __ | |
28. Gulf Fritillary
Agraulis vanillae |
Nectar on pondside plants. | _, _, _, _, __, _, _, _, _,10, __, __ | |
BEETLES, BEES and WASPS
1. Click Beetle | Sorry, no photo yet | Drown in pond | _, _, 3, _, 5, 6, _, 8, _, __, __, __, __ |
2. Brown Leatherwing Beetle | Sorry, no photo yet | Drown in pond | _, _, _, 4, 5, 6, _, _, _, __, __, __, __ |
3. Green Dock Beetle | Sorry, no photo yet | Found floating in pond | _, _, 3, _, _, _, _, _, _, __, __, __, __ |
4. Honey Bee | Drink from pond | _, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, __, __ | |
5. Bumble Bee | Sorry, no photo yet | Visit plants around pond | _, _, _, 4, 5, 6, 7, _, 9, __, __, __ |
6. Mud Bee sp. | Sorry, no photo yet | Build mud nests on rocks around pond | _, _, _, 4, 5, 6*_, _, _, __, __, __ |
7. Valley Carpenter Bee - looks like black bumble bee | Sorry, no photo yet | Visit plants around pond | _, _, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, __, __ |
8. Yellow and Black Mud Dabber Wasp | Visit plants around pond | _, _, _, _, _, 6, 7, 8, 9, __, __, __ | |
9. Western Orussus | Sorry, no photo yet | A black and red wasp; visits pond | _, _, _, _, _, 6, 7, _, _, __, __, __ |
10. Velvet Ant | Sorry, no photo yet | Check out pond path plants really a female wasp | _, _, _, _, _, 6, 7, _, _, __, __, __ |
11. Yellow Jacket | Sorry, no photo yet | Drink from pond | _, _, _, _, _, _, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, __ |
12. European Paper Wasp
Pollistes dominula |
Lands on pond's surface tension. Drinks from pond? | _, _, _, _, 5, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, | |
13. Bald-faced Hornet
Dolichovespula maculata |
Drink from pond | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 9, _, _, _, _, | |
MISC. WATER and FLYING INSECTS
1. Pacific Spotted Mayfly | Sorry, no photo yet | 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; may prey on LIVE insects | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 | |
3. Large Backswimmer
Notonecta |
Swims upside down; breeds; eats bugs, polywogs, etc. | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 | |
4. California Creeping Water Bug
Ambrysus californica |
Sorry, no photo yet | Breeds in pond | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
5. Water Boatman
Corixidae |
Sorry, no photo yet | 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; breed in pond; larva live in pond | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 | |
8. Common Whirligig Beetle
Gyrinus |
Sorry, no photo yet | Whirl about on surface; prey on other insects | _, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, _, __, __, __ |
9. Water Mite
Hydrachnellae |
Sorry, no photo yet | Found on just emerged damselfly! | _, _, _, 4, 5, _, _, _, _, __, __, __ |
10. Log Cabin Caddis Worm/Fly
Oecetis |
Sorry, no photo yet | Makes home of twigs in pond | _, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, _, _, __, __, __ |
11. California Alderfly
aka Hellgrammite (larva) Sialis californica |
Sorry, no photo yet | nymph/larva live in pond | _, 2* 3, 4, 5, 6, _, _, _, __, __, __ |
12. Common Crane Fly | Sorry, no photo yet | Breed in pond | _, _, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, _, __, __, __ |
13. Giant Crane Fly | Sorry, no photo yet | Breed in pond | _, _, 3, _, _, _, _, _, _, __, __, __ |
14. Aphid | Sorry, no photo yet | Sucks juices from plant leaves | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
15. Gnat | Sorry, no photo yet | Larva live in soil &/or water | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
16. Mosquito | Sorry, no photo yet | Breed in pond! | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
17. Midge | Sorry, no photo yet | Breed in pond | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
18. Big Black Horse Fly | Sorry, no photo yet | Breed in pond margins | _, _, _, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, __, __ |
19. various Fly species | Sorry, no photo yet | Some breed in pond | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
20. Pacific Dampwood Termite
Zootermopis angusticollis |
Sorry, no photo yet | Breed in damp wood at pond side; drown in pond | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, 11, 12 |
21. Potato Bug aka Jerusalem Cricket
Stenopelmatus |
Sorry, no photo yet | Live in rocks around pond, one drowned in pond | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8, _, __, 11 , __ |
22. Field Cricket
Gryllus |
Sorry, no photo yet | Live in rocks around pond | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
23. California Camel Cricket
Ceuthophilus californianus |
Sorry, no photo yet | Live in rocks around pond | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, __, __ |
24. European Earwig
Polyphyllia sp. |
Sorry, no photo yet | Live in rocks around pond | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
25. June Bug
Forficula auricularia |
Perched on plant stem for hours | _, _, _, _, _, 6, _, _, _,__, __, __ | |
SPIDERS
Click on the word Spiders above to read an article I wrote about spiders!
SPECIES (in ~ order seen) | Thumbnail photo | # of month seen | |
1. Wolf Spider | Hunt on pond plants/rocks bordering pond & walk aways on pond surface | 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 | Sorry, no photo yet | Lives amongst rocks and plants | _, _, _, 4, 5, 6, _, _, _, __, __, __ |
4. Tarantula | Real name is Carolina Wolf Spider - very large, body (not counting legs) 1 1/2" | _, _, _, 4, _, 6, _, _, _, __, __, __ | |
5. Nursery Web spider | Sorry, no photo yet | Carries eggs sac about | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8, _, __, __, __ |
6. Black Widow | Sorry, no photo yet | Makes web in between rocks bordering pond | _, _, 3, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, 11, __ |
7. Black and Yellow Argiope | Makes orb web, mates, & builds egg-sac near pond | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8, 9, 10, 11, __ | |
8. Areneus sp. | Makes orb web | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, __, __ | |
9. Crab Spider | Hunts on plant leaves and blossoms | _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, __, __ | |
OTHER CRITTERS
SPECIES | Thumbnail Photo | # OF THE MONTH SEEN | |
1. Great Pond Snail | Sorry, no photo yet | 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 | Sorry, no photo yet | Eat plant life | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
4. Fresh Water Shrimp | Sorry, no photo yet | Breed in pond | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
5. Sow bug | Sorry, no photo yet | Live in rocks around pond | _, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, _, _, __, __, __ |
6. Earthworm | Sorry, no photo yet | Live in soil in pond's bogs | _, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, __ |
7. Tubliflex worm | Sorry, no photo yet | Live in pond | _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, _, _, __, __, __ |
Microscopic or close to
it
| |||
1. Protozoa | Sorry no photo possible | Live in pond; tailed | _, _, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, _, __, __, __ |
2. Hydra | Sorry no photo possible | Live in pond | _, _, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, _, __, __, __ |
3. leech species | Sorry no photo possible | Live in pond this type not harmful to humans | _, _, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, _, __, __, __ |
4. Water Flea (Daphnia) | Sorry no photo possible | Live in pond | _, _, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 10, 11, __ |
5. Planaria | Sorry no photo possible | Lives in pond | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, _, __, __, __ |
FISH
Thumbnail Photo | # of MONTH SEEN | ||
1. Mosquito Fish
gambusia |
Control the mosquitoes; provide interest - but eat the frog eggs, polliwogs & 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 Ours got eaten by a heron, and we didn't replace them!! |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 | |
3. Catfish B> | More than three! To read their amazing but true story click here! | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 | |
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