BIGGS WILDLIFE LISTS

This list of wildlife seen in our pond was last updated 3-14-02




(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 _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8, 9, 10, __, __









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 _, _, _, _, _, 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 in/ drinks from waterfall
catches insects on pond plants
1, 2, _, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12



8. Bullock's Oriole
Icterus galbula bullockii
Bathes in pond/waterfall _, _, _, _, _, 6, _, _, _, __, __, __



9. Western Tanager
Piranga ludoviciana
Bathes in pond/waterfall _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 9, __, __, __



10. Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Parus rufescens
Drinks from; forages above pond _, _, _, _, _, 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, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, __, 11, 12



14. Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
Drinks from pond; lands on boulders 1, 2, 3, _, _, _, _, _, _, __, 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, _, _, _, _, _, __, 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 _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8, 9, __, __, __



19. Golden-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia atricapilla
Drinks from pond 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 _, _, _, _, 5, 6, _, 8, 9, 10, 11, __



23. Plain Titmouse
Parus inornatus
Bathes in bowl above waterfall _, _, _, _, _, 6, _, _, 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 _, _, _, _, _, 6, 7, 8, 9, __, __, __



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, __, __, __



33. Hutton's Vireo
Vireo huttoni
Gleans insects from pond plants! _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 9, __, __, __



34. Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttata
Bathes in waterfall _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 9, 10, __, __



35. American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Bathes in beach area; drinks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, _, _, 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!
_, _, 3, 4, _, _, _, _, _ , __, __, __



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, _, _, _, _, _, _, _ , __, __, __



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 _, _, _, _, _, 6-00, _, _, _, __, __, __



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!
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 with Cedar Waxwings 1-01, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _ , __, __, __



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









REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS



SPECIES USAGE # of the MONTH SEEN
*=larval stage only seen



1. Pacific Tree 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, probably the result of a tadpole we introduced (97)
Had to displace it - it ate all our Pacific Treefrogs, `98!
_, 2, 3, _, _, _, _, _, __, __, __



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!
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! 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 what building a pond may lead to! Now I'm the author of --->
Click on the cover to learn more about my book!

Click here to go to
A CHECKLIST & PHOTOS of
CALIFORNIA DRAGONFLIES & DAMSELFLIES

or here to see
Kathy's IPS article about dragonflies

Now in its 2nd printing! (2001)!
Common DRAGONFLIES of California
A Beginner's Pocket Guide


by Kathy Biggs




SPECIES (in ~ order seen)
USAGE
# of the MONTH SEEN *=larval stage only seen



1. Green Darner
Anax junius
Nymphs have emerged; adults fly over/ oviposit 1* 2* 3* 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10* 11* 12*



2. Pacific Forktail Damselfly
Ischnura cervula
Breeds 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
Breeds 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
Breeds by laying eggs in pond; 'hawks' insects _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, __, __, __



5. Cardinal Meadowhawk
aka Streak-winged Red/Dusty Skimmer
Sympetrum illotum
Mate in the dragonfly's unique 'wheel' position near pond edge and then scatter eggs on pond surface;
'hawks' insects from perch
1* 2* 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12*



6. Blue-eyed Darner
Aeschna multicolor
Breeds by ovipositing eggs into stems of Creeping Primrose; 'hawks' 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
Breeds in Pond 1* 2* 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8* 9* 10* 11* 12*



9. Eight-spotted Skimmer
Libellula forensis
'Hawks' insects, visits pond _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, _, __, __ , __



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 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
L. luctuosa
'Hawks' insects, visits 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
Aeschna californica
Emerges from pond in March & April 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 _, _, _, _, _, 6, 7, 8, 9, __, __, __



19. Shadow Darner
Aeshna umbrosa
Breeds by depositing eggs on saturated wood _, _, _, _, _, _, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, __



20. Desert Firetail
Telebasis salva
Visits Pond _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8, _, __, __, __



21. Red-veined Meadowhawk
Sympetrum madidum
Visits pond-side plantings; 'hawks' insects _, _, _, _, _, 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 californicum
Waits for a mate to show up! _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 8, _, __,__, __






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, _, _, _, _, _, __, __, __



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 _, _, _, _, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, __



6. Common (Gray) Hairstreak butterfly
Strymon melinus
Rests on pond plants _, _, _, _, _, 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 _, _, _, _, _, 6, _, _, _, 10, __, __



11. Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
uses sand at edge of pond as a 'mineral lick' _, _, _, _, _, 6, 7, 8, _, 10, 11, __



12. California Sister
Apelpha bredowii
Checks out pond plants _, _, _, _, _, _, 7, _, 9, 10, 11, __



13. Lorquin's Admiral
Limenitis lorquini
uses sand at edge of pond as a 'mineral lick' _, _, _, _, _, 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! _, _, _, _,5, _, _, _, _, __, __, __



21. Acmon's Blue
Plebejus acmon acmon
Sips minerals at pond's 'butterfly lick'! _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 10, __, __



22. Umber's Skipper
Poanes melane
Seems to claim a territory on the pond! _, _, _, _, _, _, _, _, 9, 10, __, __






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.
Click here to visit "bigsnest", the Biggs' family home page

Back to the Pond's `Front' Page



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


This page has been assessed times since Aug 28, 1998. Thank-you for your interest.