A red milkweed beetle convention

The kids and I spotted this convention of red milkweed beetles on woollypod milkweed along the LATO trail during a May 20,2016 hike. Did you know that these beetles make sounds akin to a cat purring? Click on the link to find out what entomologists have learned about these colorful long-horned beetles. BG

A special treat ~ Kitchen window view of swallowtail butterflies

These four photographs of Western tiger swallowtail butterflies were taken in a period of a few seconds.  The butterfly was enjoying the flower, fluttered its wings, and flew away.  I especially like the third photo because it almost looks like there are two butterflies.

I looked out my kitchen window and saw the butterfly on the flower, ran and got my camera, took a quick few photos, and the butterfly was gone.  It was a special treat. MK

Add caption

Wooly bear spotted along the trail

We spotted this wooly bear caterpillar toward the end of our July 11,2016 hike at the Pismo Preserve. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History has published an interesting article about these "bears."