Okanagana arctostaphylae was first described in 1915 and has not been collected since. These are the first photos ever taken of it in its natural habitat, and the second photos ever of a live individual.

After a great trip with Darrell in Tennessee, I headed back down home...and made a few more stops... :)

This was at Stuart Springs Park in Arkansas -- it'd be a great park to visit if it wasn't so sketchy... :-/ There were some folks that looked like they were up to suspicious activity. :-/

I watched this ermine catch 5 pika on trips up and down the slopes of Cracked Crag. Chipmunk-sized with a short tail (there are no perspective tricks going on in this picture, but if needed, I can upload others with a more side-on perspective. Pika observation recorded separately here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/14002186

Dia 82, un individuo.

Day 82, one individual.

Relacionado con // Related to:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2667158
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2667199
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2667420

Experts - What is going on here? This male American Kestrel sure did seem to have the hots for this female Merlin. He kept trying to get close to her and even brought her a few treats (insects?) from the grass beneath the fence. She accepted the treats but didn't seem thrilled with the attention. However, when he flew off, she followed him...

This mariposa lily was near several C. leichtlinii, and there were others like this one nearby, too. Doesn't seem to match any species listed on Calflora. Located in Meiss Meadows at the Carson Pass. It may be a hybrid with another species and leichtlinii or just a leichtlinii that doesn't have purple spots.

Went to Rockport to see some of the damage from Hurricane Harvey... It was pretty devastating down here -- lots of damage and debris and garbage still everywhere.

Nonetheless, this was an AMAZING spot with really deep sand and spectacular plants.

Unexpectedly came across a small population in a dusty dry pull out (habitat shot included). At least 5-6 in small area. They ran quickly between shadows that weeds provided and I could not photograph them in the sun! This individual was blackish, the others were shiny metallic green. Quite a bit north from published range, but one last year in Inyo Co., CA suggested a more northern distribution and these back that up (I'm submitting green and black as separate observations).
Field guide says this genus has shorter legs than most others, but my impression of these was quite opposite. Their legs looked whispy long and gave the beetles a stilt-like appearance. Maybe to avoid the hot ground.

This submission is for green individuals, which apparently all but one or two individual were.
Unexpectedly came across a small population in a dusty dry pull out (habitat shot included). At least 5-6 in small area. They ran quickly between shadows that weeds provided and I could not photograph them in the sun! Quite a bit north from published range, but one last year in Inyo Co., CA suggested a more northern distribution and these back that up (I'm submitting green and black as separate observations).
Field guide says this genus has shorter legs than most others, but my impression of these was quite opposite. Their legs looked whispy long and gave the beetles a stilt-like appearance. Maybe to avoid the hot ground.

Cicindela floridana (Miami tiger beetle) was elevated to species status in 2007 when it was re-discovered in remnant Miami pine rockland habitats. Before then it had last been seen in the 1940s and was thought to be extinct.

Miami-Dade Co., FL

After patiently waiting for many minutes for this beetle to emerge from a shadow, it brazenly walked right up to my lens.

ID provided by Todd Lawton and Dennis Haines on BugGuide: http://bugguide.net/node/view/633013/bgimage

Stuck at the office in Incline until 11:30 last night, so I stopped by the KB beach bathroom on my way home to see if there were any Polyphylla around the lights. Male P. sobrina on the left, female P. decemlineata in middle, male, decemlineata on right.

Fuzzy headed! Relatively common on this cool day. Few other tiger beetles out, however - saw 3 tranqs and one single western tiger beetle. This location had impressive tiger beetle activity last September (5 species not including this one in good numbers on the mudflats). But maybe it's been too cold for those other species to be active - it's been a cold spring. Observed about 12 of these parowana within about 45 minutes of walking around this area. None in mate guard position. Final image is of the apparent larval holes