Author Image: Mary K. Hanson

Mary K. Hanson

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Native to Mexico and the western United States, the Jerusalem Cricket looks something like a giant mutant ant, with a vaguely human head and dark multi-faceted eyes. Although they appear like something out of a horror movie, these insects – which are not crickets and don’t hail from Jerusalem – are actually fairly benign. - Wikimedia Commons

Seemingly the stuff of nightmares

Imagine a humpbacked insect with opposable “thumbs” on its front legs, “meat hooks” on its hind legs, limbs that can regrow after being removed, and crushing mouth parts that can...
Taking off from the water is particularly cumbersome for Coots. They have to flap their wings vigorously while they run across the top of the water for several feet before they can manage any kind of lift. - Greg Hume via Wikimedia Commons

Coots: The original ‘Angry Birds’

If you’ve been anywhere that has some kind of water habitat associated with it, you’ve no doubt seen the black American Coot (Fulica Americana) — and usually in large numbers.A...
This female Snake Fly is typical of her species. Note the long stinger-looking protrusion at the end of her body. That’s her ovipositor, and it’s specially made to bore into and under tree bark where she’ll lay her eggs. Don’t worry, though; Snake Flies don’t sting. - Photos by Mary K. Hanson

Weird looking flies common to the region

We all know what a housefly (Musca domestica) looks like, but lots of creatures we call “flies” don’t actually look like the typical housefly at all. Two of most interesting...
The California Scrub Jay’s diet is comprised mainly of insects, berries, vegetables and small frogs and lizards, but they’ll also eat eggs and the hatchlings of other birds. This jay was feeding on ripe Blue Elderberry berries. - Photos by Mary K. Hanson

Shreep! The rambunctious, assertive Scrub Jay

It’s hard to ignore them when they’re shouting their loud, rasping “shreeep!” calls at one another. The California Scrub Jays are also colorful and pretty much ubiquitous in our region....
Cobweb thistle_Hanson.jpg: Not all thistles are “bad.” This Cobweb Thistle (Cirsium occidentale) is a native that usually blooms between May and July. Thistles like this one can act as a home and feeding station for butterflies, moths, bees and other insects as well as birds. - Photos by Mary K. Hanson

Not all prickly things are bad

There’s a saying that goes something like, “You can’t keep all the pretty stuff and kill all of the ugly stuff and still have a working ecosystem.” And that’s very...
This queen Paper Wasp built the first section of her nest completely by herself. It’s only after the larvae (show inside the chambers) grow to adults that she has help increasing the side of her nest and tending to more offspring. Paper Wasps are generally not as aggressive as Yellow Jackets. This queen let me get to within inches of her nest (as long as I didn’t touch it.) - Photos by Mary K. Hanson

Is that wasp a friend or foe?

Although they’re both “wasps”, there are some significant differences between Yellow Jackets (Vespula sp.) and Paper Wasps (Polistes sp.) — even though we non-entomologist folks may often confuse the two....
Tuleyome is hosting a two-day hiking and camping trip into the Snow Mountain Wilderness on May 20 to 21. - Nate Lillge

Hikes, other events coming in May

Although their two-day Wilderness First Aid course at Ecocamp Berryessa in Napa County is sold out, there are still a lot of opportunities for members of the public to get...
Ground squirrels typically eat seeds and acorns, berries and other fruits, roots, mushrooms and even some insects. - Photos by Mary K. Hanson

Ground squirrels act like tiny ninjas

An adult California Ground Squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi) versus an adult Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus). Odds are, you would probably bet the snake would win in that confrontation. But you may...
Some of the students who visited Tuleyome on last weekend’s outing pose for a photo with Tuleyome’s spokesbear, Berry. Berry and her cub Essa go on many outings and often appear at tabling events. - Nate Lillge

Tuleyome hosts young students on outing

On December 1, Tuleyome’s home Place Adventures Activities Coordinator, Bill Grabert, led a group of over 100 fourth- and fifth-graders from Lower Lake Elementary School students on a trek into...