False honey ants, Prenolepis imparis
Collected by Ryles Richards, Pine Mountain Lake, Groveland California. 13 April 2021. On an oak tree
This house is like a black hole to weed bugs and house flies
This beautiful country home, located in the lower foothills, stands almost alone on an oak woodland, cattle country mega-ranchland estate.
Weed bugs (Arhyssus crassus) and house flies have been drawn to the attic of this house, apparently since it was built. The bugs would fly up into upper areas of the house, and enter the attic, in autumn, in order to over-winter. And it worked well, as attics are warm, and the house had good sun exposure, even in winter.
Come spring, the previously dormant insects would become active and attempt to leave. I am sure many managed it, but not all, as you can see. The large windows in the attic appear to have caused confusion for the weed bugs and house flies when it became time to leave. The windows allowed a lot of light into the attic, and the bugs, would fly and crawl to the predominate light sources. only to find glass there. Like bugs at a window, wanting to fly out, they could not, and they perished there, year after year.
Thousands of their dead and dried up bodies accumulated in piles at the base of the windows. Others simply perished and fell to the attic floor boards, scattered about. The piles were the largest, by far, at the bases of the windows.
Below are photos showing the attic windows, microscopic images of the weed bugs and house flies, and photos from within the attic.
Western Subterranean Termites in Sonora Hills
Western subterranean termites, in Sonora Hills, damaged the siding and framing, up approximately 12 feet.
Photo by Alexander Stewart 12 April 2021
Extensive acorn woodpecker mast (acorn) storage damage to stucco siding
Alexander Stewart took these photos of an extensive mast storage on the stucco siding of a house on Dyer Court in Groveland at Pine Mountain Lake. The picture shows the foam foundation forms with a layer of stucco that has thousands of holes drilled into it from the acorn woodpeckers.
Heavy aphid infestation on rose bush
Photo by Ryder Richards, 12 April 2021, shows a rose bush that is heavily infested with aphids.
Pavement Ants in Valley Springs CA
Technician Andrew Springer turned over a rock and found an unusual ant colony. He collected specimens for us. They were pavement ants, Tetramorium immigrans. Not at all common in the foothills, we have found these ants, sporadically, over the last couple of decades. Thanks to Dr. Philip Ward for ID confirmation!
Powderpost beetles attacking bamboo flooring
ant
Roof Rat Nest in Chicken Coop
This roof rat nest was found in an abandoned chicken coop, located near a dense growth of blackberries, along Highway 49, north of Sonora. The rat used materials from all round the chicken coop to build the nest.
5 April 2021
Photinia fungus
Photinia. Valley Springs, Ca.
Is it leaf spot?
