Bembecine Sand Wasp on Fort Tejon Milk-Aster flower
This is a striking Bembecine Sand Wasp (genus Steniolia, Bembicini, Apoidea, Hymenoptera) working one of the first flowers of native Fort Tejon Milk-Aster aka Chicory-leaved Stephanomeria (Stephanomeria cichoriacea, Asteraceae). The wasp looks "goggle eyed" - and indeed they are hard to photograph because they see you coming. I'm concerned about these fine summer flowers this year. This one plant has flowers, but most plants have small buds that don't look like they'll mature. I hope I'm wrong about that. These summer flowers are all important in our summer-dry climate. (San Marcos Pass, 23 July 2017)
It was not too hot today, but quite breezy in the morning from the south again. We're still down for a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms tomorrow. My grandkids are also coming down from Portland, Oregon tomorrow to stay with us for a week or more. That's cool - but it may change my photos for the week!
Bembecine Sand Wasp on Fort Tejon Milk-Aster flower
This is a striking Bembecine Sand Wasp (genus Steniolia, Bembicini, Apoidea, Hymenoptera) working one of the first flowers of native Fort Tejon Milk-Aster aka Chicory-leaved Stephanomeria (Stephanomeria cichoriacea, Asteraceae). The wasp looks "goggle eyed" - and indeed they are hard to photograph because they see you coming. I'm concerned about these fine summer flowers this year. This one plant has flowers, but most plants have small buds that don't look like they'll mature. I hope I'm wrong about that. These summer flowers are all important in our summer-dry climate. (San Marcos Pass, 23 July 2017)
It was not too hot today, but quite breezy in the morning from the south again. We're still down for a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms tomorrow. My grandkids are also coming down from Portland, Oregon tomorrow to stay with us for a week or more. That's cool - but it may change my photos for the week!