Wednesday, November 19th 2014, at 2 p.m. at the Whittier Narrows Nature Center (1000 Durfee Ave. South El Monte, Ca 91733 ~ Phone 626 575 5523)  the Nature Center's Docents docents will have a meeting with the representatives of the parties who manage the Natural Area, the water in the aquifer, the sanitation district,  the Regional Water Control Board, the Army Corps of Engineers,  the Greater Los Angeles Mosquito and Vector Control, and Mark Stanley of the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy over the plan to build a 100+ car parking lot and an artificial wetlands where the Aedes sp., has been found, which is a public health issue for the communities of the County especially near the Natural Area.  The Public is welcome to attend.

What if our future was as transparent as our present?

 What if we could predict problems before they happened and then, worked together to forestal

 disaster? 

diatom cover

diatom cover, a photo by tardigrade on Flickr.

Parasites on Chloropidae

I have seen mites on mostly beetles that have fairly long lives - between 6 to 12 months. But I have never seen so many mites on such a small fly!

Xylophagidae at the Whittier Narrows Natural Area

Phoridae at Whittier Narrows Natural Area

This collection of scuttle flies is from one Malaise trap on May 16, 2011 (3 days). It is only a quarter of the collection, too.

Therevidae in the Whittier Narrows Natural Area

I have been putting out Malaise and sticky traps and some of my special, "Bird Poop" traps to find out .... 'What brings the Least Bell's Vireo to the Narrows every year?"

This species is so big (2cm) I had to 'scab' together two microscope photos.... Here is more on the Family!


I will update. This is my second year out in the field!