Snow Pool Mosquitoes and Fairy Shrimp
(Note:click on an image to enlarge it)
T-Pool
Some snow melt pools, or vernal pools, can contain tens of thousands of mosquito larvae. These photos and videos were taken on 30 March 2015, Alpine County. “T-pool” is named for being the top of a “T’, coming up from ‘Fairy Shrimp Pool’ (see below).
“T-pool” Bear Valley Ca
March 30, 2015
“T-pool” Bear Valley Ca
March 30, 2015
“T-pool” Bear Valley Ca
March 30, 2015
“T-pool” Bear Valley Ca
March 30, 2015
Fairy Shrimp Pool
Views of Fairy Shrimp Pond, from both ends. This vernal pool is home to a species of fairy shrimp, as well as a lot of snow pool mosquitoes.
Fairy Shrimp pool. You can see a layer of ice covering the nearest portion of the pool. 2 April 2015
Fairy Shrimp pool. 2 April 2015
Fairy Shrimp 2 April 2015
Fairy Shrimp. 2 April 2015
The fairy shrimp species is probably Streptocephalus sealii, as it matches the description and distribution. This distribution map is from Fairy Shrimps Of California’s Puddles, Pools, And Playas by Clyde H. Eriksen and Denton Belk, 1999.
Distribution of Streptocephalus sealii
Esposito Pool
This vernal pool contains surprisingly few mosquito larvae, despite its large size, and this rarity of mosquitoes occurs year to year.
Looking down the length of Esposito Pool. 2 April 2015
A portion of Esposito Pool. 2 April 2015
Ice on part of Esposito Pool. 2 April 2015
Esposito Pool. 2 April 2015
Bloods Meadow Pool
Bloods Meadow is home to a very large vernal pool in early spring. We find mosquito larvae all around its fringes, and in various locations within the meadow itself.
Bloods Meadow vernal pond 2 April 2015
Sierran Treefrog – Pseudacris sierra is common near Bloods Meadow pool.
Sierran Treefrog lives near the vernal pool in Bloods Meadow. 2 April 2015
Foothill Sierra Pest Control Wins Best Place to Work, 2015
FSPC won the “Best Place to Work” category, 2015, Calaveras Enterprise:
Alligator Lizard Photo by Paul Cooper
This beautiful image of an alligator lizard was taken by Paul Cooper on 27 March 2015, Sonora California. Click on image to enlarge it.
Alligator lizard by Paul Cooper
Cluster of Oak Apple Galls
These pictures taken by Paul Cooper, 25 March 2015, show an unusually large cluster of oak apple galls on a valley oak. Murphys Ca. Paul reports there may have been a hundred oak galls in this one oak.
Cluster of oak apple galls on a valley oak. Image by Paul Cooper.
Cluster of oak apple galls on a valley oak. Image by Paul Cooper.
Giant Willow Aphids
Here are images of the giant willow aphid. There are truly large aphids! Specimens collected by Norma Ruiz, Sonora, Tuolumne county, California, 20 March 2015. Click on an image to enlarge it.
Giant willow aphid adult
Giant willow aphid
Giant willow aphid nymph
Giant Willow Aphid -head
Giant Willow Aphid
Brown centipede
Here are some videos of a brown centipede. Specimens collected by Paul Cooper, Murphys CA. March 2015.
These are NOT spider bites
Although we have had reports of necrotic spider bites, the photos shown here look like they may be spider bites, but are actually MRSA sores.
For additional information, see Skin Lesions in Barracks: Consider Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infection Instead of – Spider Bites by Richard S. Vetter, et. al.
Looks like a spider bite but is not. Diagnosed as a MRSA sore
Looks like a spider bite but is not. Diagnosed as a MRSA sore
Here is a side-by-side comparison from WebMD. http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/ss/slideshow-closer-look-at-mrsa
Click on image to enlarge.
Comparison of MRSA and spider bite from WebMD.com