In Los Angeles, we enjoyed our first (and early) rain of the season, and the weekend following is gloriously sunny and warm, but not too hot.  It seemed like a good day to visit the Baccharis in Elyria Canyon Park, camera in hand.  Soon after arriving, we photographed this large, nervous wasp that we thought might be a Scarab Hunter in the family Scoliidae, a hunch that eventually proved correct after returning home and checking BugGuide.

By the time we set the camera to macro feature and waited for the lengthy recording time, we managed to get two good photos and several less than ideal images.  A few minutes later, we noticed a more orange individual.  It should be noted that these are large wasps, at least 1 1/4 inches in length and easily twice as big as a Honey Bee.  As we moved closer to the more orange individual, it was buzzed by a more yellow individual that may or may not have been the individual we had just photographed.

The first thought that entered our mind was “could these be sexually dimorphic individuals of the same species?”  Well, that thought turned out to be accurate when we returned home and identified these Scarab Hunter Wasps as Campsomeris tolteca on BugGuide.  Alas, there is no species specific information on Campsomeris tolteca, but according to the data page, the species is reported from California to Texas along the border states.  The male images on BugGuide match our male and the female images on BugGuidematch our female.

Despite the lengthy record time, we managed to get two shots of both individuals together before the male flew off.  We then got several nice images of the female.

The best place we have discovered to read about the Scarab Hunter Wasps is on our contributor Eric Eaton’s blog, BugEric.  According to BugEric:  “Campsomeris wasps belong to the family Scoliidae, all of which are known parasitoids of scarab beetle grubs. A parasitoid is a parasite that invariably kills its host. Female scoliids, with their heavy, spiny legs, dig up a scarab grub, sting it into brief paralysis, and then lay a single egg on the beetle larva. Then the wasp leaves the scene. The grub eventually regains consciousness and control over its motor skills (such as they are), resuming its underground existence feeding on the roots of plants. Meanwhile, the wasp egg hatches and the wasp larva begins feeding as an external parasite of the beetle grub.”

Here is one final image of this impressive Scarab Hunter Wasp.

​There were at least four individual Painted Ladies, ​Vanessa cardui, ​ nectaring on the Baccharis this morning at about 9:30.  Though most of them were wary and kept their distance, this diminutive beauty, the smallest of them all, posed just a few feet from the camera.  This photo nicely illustrates the white bar on the forewing that is a distinguishing feature.

​ Though the closed wing shot is of a different individual, we are confident that all the Ladies we observed today were Painted Ladies and not the similar looking West Coast Ladies or American Ladies.  The spots on the underwings of this individual are identifying features of the Painted Lady.

​ A lone Gulf Fritillary was also observed on the Baccharis as was a large Mexican Cactus Fly, a member of the Flower Fly family Syrphidae, and countless Honey Bees which were furiously gathering nectar.

The hedge of native Baccharis near the Red Barn in Elyria Canyon Park is about ten feet tall and it is currently in bloom.  There is a noticeable buzzing one hears upon approach, and that is caused by thousands of Honey Bees eagerly gathering nectar.  It seems Baccharis is a magnet for pollinating insects of all types, and without a doubt, the Honey Bees are the most numerous, but other insects can be spotted taking advantage of the bounty.

Clare and Daniel made a trip on Saturday and though there was work to be done, Daniel used Clare’s camera to get a few photos.  The largest butterfly spotted on the Baccharis was a Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui, butDaniel was unable to get a photo with a spread wing view.

Though the photo is quite out of focus, Daniel also managed to get a photo of this Checkered Skipper in the genus Pyrgus that did not want to hold still long enough to be photographed.

A tiny creamy yellow butterfly was observed flying close to the ground, but it never landed, so no conclusive identification could be made.  Daniel returned today with a better camera and decided to document the visitors to the Baccharis.  A 50mm lens with a macro feature allowed for closeup photographs, however, since there was no zoom, the photographer often startled the insect subjects into flying away.  Luckily the tiny yellow butterfly made a return appearance and posed for two quick photos.  These photos substantiated a sighting local lepidopterist Julian Donahue made on August 23 of a Dainty Sulphur, Nathalis iole, though it is doubtful the individual Julian spotted over a month ago at his home is the same individual photographed in Elyria Canyon Park, which would indicate there may be a local population with noticeable numbers present in Mount Washington this summer.

There were at least three species of Gossamer Winged Butterflies present today, and the largest were the Gray Hairstreaks, Strymon melinus.  These little beauties have the habit of rubbing their hind wings together, perhaps to attract the attention of any predator into mistaking the tail and wing spots for the head of the butterfly and deflecting an attack from the vital organs to the expendable wings.

​Smaller than the Gray Hairstreak is another Gossamer Wing, the Marine Blue, ​Leptotes marina.  ​They were present in sufficient numbers to flutter about in small groups.

​The smallest of the Gossamer Winged Butterflies were another species of Blue, possibly the Achmon Blue, ​Plebejus acmon, ​though we are still awaiting Julian’s input on that identification.

​ The final butterfly species we were lucky enough to photograph today was an unidentified Grass Skipper in the family Hesperiinae, and they were also present in significant numbers.

​Other visitors to the Baccharis that were spotted but not photographed include a Cabbage White, a Figeater, several Cactus Flies, a large Syrphid Fly and other flies. Folks should take advantage of the current blooming season of the Baccharis in Elyria Canyon Park to see just What’s Buzzing the Baccharis.

Three Species of Swallowtails currently flying in Mount Washington
By Daniel Marlos
In honor of the new butterfly garden that the beautification committee is installing in Elyria Canyon Park, we want to feature a different butterfly in each of this year’s newsletters to draw attention to these superstars of the insect world.  Three species of Swallowtails, large and colorful butterflies, are in flight right now, attracting attention as they glide gracefully through yards that have conditions they find attractive.

Western Tiger Swallowtail (photo courtesy of Katherine and What's That Bug?)

The Western Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio rutulus, is a large black and yellow striped butterfly, nearly five inches across, that sails about conspicuously attracting attention even from people who fail to notice other members of the insect world.

Anise Swallowtail (photo courtesy of Lauren and What's That Bug?)

Another common swallowtail is the slightly smaller Anise Swallowtail, Papilio zelicaon, also a black and yellow species that has probably become more common due to the prevalence of wild fennel in vacant lots.  The feathery looking plant is an introduced species that serves as a food plant for the young caterpillars.  The female will also lay eggs on carrots, parsley and other related plants in the vegetable garden.

Giant Swallowtail (photo courtesy of Anna and What's That Bug?)

The newest addition to the swallowtail family in the Mount Washington area is the Giant Swallowtail, Papilio cresphontes, our largest local butterfly that was first reported in 1998 but is now rather well established.  Colored brown and yellow with a distinctive pattern of spots that forms an X on the wings, the Giant Swallowtail is an impressive butterfly.  Of the three species, the Giant Swallowtail appears latest in the season.  All three species are flying in August this year.  Giant Swallowtails are attracted to Lantana, Mexican Sunflower and Butterfly Bush as nectar sources.

Giant Swallowtail (photo courtesy of Richard and What's That Bug?)

Any gardener who wants to attract butterflies to the garden needs to provide a food source, and all three species of swallowtails eagerly take nectar from such cultivated plants as butterfly bush, milkweed, lantana, plumbago, zinnias, phlox, bouganvillea and other nectar producing flowers.  Even more important to attracting butterflies is ensuring that there is a larval food source nearby.  Tiger Swallowtails have caterpillars that feed upon the leaves of native sycamore and willow as well as some introduced ornamental plants like avocado.

Anise Swallowtail Caterpillar (Photo courtesy of Dani and What's That Bug?)

The Anise Swallowtail’s caterpillars will feed on a variety of garden herb like carrots and parsley as well as the introduced wild fennel.  The Giant Swallowtail increased its range from the eastern portion of the United States because its caterpillars have taken a liking to feeding on the leaves of cultivated citrus trees, especially orange trees, earning them the common name Orange Dogs.  Orange Dogs are also well camouflaged as they resemble a large bird dropping to a predatory bird more than they resemble a tasty caterpillar.  All three species of swallowtails have a unique defense mechanism.  If disturbed, they produce a forked, normally hidden scent organ known as an osmeterium that produces an odor that some predators find offensive.

Orange Dog (photo courtesy of What's That Bug?)

Keep an eye out for these large showy butterflies and encourage their caterpillars by cultivating plants that will sustain a healthy food supply for the larvae.

​Here is the second photo.

Just as Julian finished setting up the black light he was running off his vehicle battery, the first guest walked up.  Darlene from Torrance had arrived before us and while checking out the life in the park, she discovered the Caterpillar of an Anise Swallowtail as well as three eggs on the wild fennel.  Darlene, an avid fan of insects, continued to capture creatures in her viewing box and her most notable finds of the day and night included a Flower Fly larva, a female Bush Katydid, a mating pair of invasive exotic African Painted Bugs, a Checkered Beetle and a winged male Sand Cockroach.  Young Julian captured a specimen of Arboreal Click Beetle with unusual feathered antennae.

The earliest folks to arrive got a quick tour of the beginnings of the butterfly garden that the beautification committee is planting thanks to a generous grant from the North American Butterfly Association (NABA).  Gathering folks together for a group photo is kind of like trying to herd cats, but we did manage to get a few organized group shots of most of the people who arrived just before sunset.  Julian began by giving an overview of moths, their place in the ecosystem, how to attract them and then took questions from the eager crowd.  People continued to explore the park on their own while there was still light and the youngsters started catching insects in the bottles that were provided so that they could be identified.  Refreshments were provided by MWHA Hospitality VP Susanne Brody.

A skunk wandered from the nursery behind the red barn into the meadow just as darkness began to fall and this generated quite a bit of excitement.  Then the moths and other insects began to arrive to the various light sources that were designed to attract them.

Julian explained earlier that the best nights for mothing with lights are warm, humid, calm and moonless.  Alas, the only desirable condition we had was the fact that there was a new moon.  A slight breeze and cooler conditions prevailed, but we were still graced with a variety of geometrids, pyralids, noctuids, tortricids, acrolophids, and tineids as well as some interesting beetles, mayflies and lacewings.  Fun was had by all of the approximately 35 people who attended Moth Night in Elyria Canyon Park.

Two Monarch Caterpillars

Location:  Elyria Canyon Park, Mt Washington, Los Angeles, CA
July 11, 2012
I decided to hike in to see how the Monarch Caterpillars had grown and boy was I surprised.  It seems shocking that just 8 days ago, these little guys were munching on the blossoms.  One can only speculate that the blossoms contain the most carbohydrates in the plant and all that nectar might speed up the growth metabolism of the caterpillars.  Once they get their start, they eventually move to the leaves which are most likely too tough for the young caterpillars.

Monarch Caterpillar #1 in Elyria Canyon Park

I spotted the first Monarch Caterpillar.  It is over an inch long right now, and possibly as long as an inch and a half.  There didn’t seem to be any eaten leaves in the immediate vicinity of the Monarch Caterpillar.  It was not until I moved to the uphill side of the milkweed plant that I notices the second Monarch Caterpillar on the underside of a leaf and facing away from me at the position where I had discovered the first Monarch Caterpillar.

Monarch Caterpillar #2 in Elyria Canyon Park

It is so exciting that both of the early instar Monarch Caterpillars I discovered last week are still eating and hopefully developing toward adulthood.

Walnut Underwing sighted July 16, 2010

Underwings in the genus Catocala get their common name from the brightly colored, often red with black concentric rings, underwings that attract attention of predators when the moth flies.  When the moth lands on a tree or in chiaroscuro lighting, it vanishes and befuddles the predator, in this case, me with the camera.  I had already taken the time to set the ISO to 1600, the shutter to 250 and the aperture to 2.8 to capitalize on the fast shutter speed but shallow depth of field.  Here is a photo from last year of the mysterious and unknown  Mt Washington Underwing from July 16, 2010.

Walnut Underwing, July 16, 2009

Though I had hoped to capture a thrilling action photo of the Underwing flapping around the porchlight, alas, this was not possible.  The first time the elusive moth with excellent vision landed, it was behind the tool box in the shadows.  It took me a while to find it and I had to move the tool box to startle it back into flight since I couldn’t make it out in the shadows.  The second time it landed, it landed on the screen and again it eluded me.  This was the photo where I forgot to remove the lens cap.  By the time I did that, the moth flew again and I couldn’t locate it though I know for certain it did not leave the front porch.  Here is a photo from the same date, July 16, but a year earlier, in 2009.

Underwing from New Mexico

This photo (see What’s That Bug? archives) from elsewhere shows the underwings of another individual.  These moths are positively stunning in flight.  They are strong and decisive with a rapid flight.  If you want to learn more about moths, come to Mt Washington Moth Night on July 21, 2012 at the Red Barn in Elyria Canyon Park.  Lepidopterist and Tiger Moth expert Julian Donahue will attempt to attract moths with black light and other light sources.  This event is a preview to National Moth Week.

Julian Donahue provides an identification
The 2009 & 2010 photos are of the Walnut Underwing, Catocala piatrix. The New Mexico moth is different, but don’t have any Catocala books handy. You can always check the Moth Photographers Group, where you should be able to identify the New Mexico moth (http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/).
Julian

Update  July 10, 2012
Upon getting ready to leave for work this morning, we found the Walnut Underwing resting on the window ledge.

Walnut Underwing July 10, 2012

Last year, we also documented two Monarch Caterpillars that were discovered at a later, more mature instar stage.  Caterpillars undergo five instars or growth stages each ending in a molting.  The final or fifth instar end with molting to a chrysalis.  Many caterpillars leave the food plant to search for a better location for the metamorphosis to the chrysalis.  We didn’t observe any chrysalides last year, but we are hopeful that the two caterpillars we found eventually metamorphosed into adult Monarch Butterflies.

Their appearance seems to coincide with the bloom season of the onions we plant each year.  Though we grow onions because we love pulling out a few fresh green onions to add to the salad or to eat with a bit of salt, and we also enjoy the mature onions that we dig out after the bulbs get to a large size, but the added attraction of blooms that are frequented by bees, wasps, pollinating flies and even a few butterflies is a wonderful addition to a vegetable garden that is also decorative.  We watched as a larger Great Golden Digger Wasp was buzzed by a smaller one, and we can’t help but to wonder if this was some type of courtship behavior.

The female Great Golden Digger Wasp provisions her nest with paralyzed Crickets and Katydids.  We also have a healthy Katydid population, so there is ample food supply.  Parts of the garden are more wild in nature, and there is adequate habitat for a nest to remain undisturbed throughout the winter.  Great Golden Digger Wasps can be found in all 48 lower United States, and they are quite adaptable to a range of climate conditions.  Great Golden Digger Wasps are not aggressive and we hope that our readers will learn to tolerate them and not succumb to the impulse to eradicate all potentially stinging insects they happen to encounter.  See BugGuide for additional information on the Great Golden Digger Wasp.