Caterpillars are like hot dogs for wasps, but with more protein and healthier! Photo credit: Brian Brown
Nature in L.A.

It's a bird? It's a plane? It's a White-Lined Sphinx Moth!

At the end of every work day, before I head home into that lovely L.A. rush hour traffic, I walk through the Nature Garden at one of my favorite times of the day, the magic hour as the sun sets, the diurnal animals hunker down, and the nocturnal ones get ready for action. 
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woman among trees for community science

Take a Moment to Listen to the Trees

Trees don't have heartbeats.
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Nonnative red fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Red Fox Sighted in San Pedro: From Fox Farms to Coyote Food

On a recent visit to San Pedro, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s Kimball Garrett crossed paths with a non-native red fox (Vulpes vulpes) near the 22nd Street Landing.
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Nature in L.A.

Bird's Nest Fungi, Exploding Eggs, and Mushroom Soup

Yay! Today I documented the first bird's nest fungus, Cyathus sp., in the North Campus
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bobcat backyard brick ledge
Nature in L.A.

Backyard Bobcats of L.A.

“Miguel, I found a dead bobcat!” It was 8:30 in the morning when I received a call from my friend Jessie Jennewein.
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Toyon on Los Vaqueros Watershed Miwok Trail
Nature in L.A.

California Holly: How Hollywood Didn't Get its Name
In Nancy Dale’s 1986 epic tome of Southern California native plants, Flowering Plants, she has this to say about Toyon — aka California Holly, Christmas Berry, or, if you’re a botanist, Heteromeles arbutifolia: 
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Cricket
Nature in L.A.

Niña de la Tierra: Children of the Earth
No it's not the title of a horror film, Children of the Earth bug is actually one of the many common names for Stenopelmatus fuscus.
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Brazilian Snail eating lettuce
Research and Collections

A Microscopic Look at Snail Jaws

Have you ever wondered what the inside of a snail's mouth looks like?
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lizard in palm of hand

'Tis the Season for Baby Lizards

Over the past few weeks, baby lizards have been hatching out of their eggs throughout Southern California.
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