Spilogale gracilis

Spilogale gracilis is also known as the western spotted skunk or it sometimes is called a civet cat (the latter is locally common but also refers to a completely different animal).

These are valuable predators of rodents and yellow-jacket nests.

 

Spilogale gracilis

Spilogale gracilis

Spilogale gracilis

Spilogale gracilis

Spilogale gracilis

Spilogale gracilis

Spilogale gracilis

Spilogale gracilis

Spilogale gracilis

Spilogale gracilis

 

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

Oregon Gartersnake 

 

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

 

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

 

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

 

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

 

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

 

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

 

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

 

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

 

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

Dacne californica

Fungus beetles

A member of the “pleasing fungus beetles” or the Erotylidae.

The name is derived (Latinized) from the Greek word erotulos, ἐρωτύλος
Meaning Little Darlings or Sweethearts — in some sort of a reference to the beauty of some gem stones.

In the case of our ‘Little Darlings’ the color scheme is described as ferrugineous and piceous. (Rusty and pitch colored.)

Dacne-californica_IMGP5985

Dacne-californica_IMGP5984

Dacne-californica_IMGP6025

Dacne-californica_IMGP6022

Dacne-californica_IMGP5999

Dacne-californica_IMGP5988

Dacne-californica_IMGP5981

Dacne-californica_IMGP5094

As is common for a lot of beetles like this, these often play dead when disturbed.

 

 

Dacne-californica_IMGP5118

Dacne-californica_IMGP5156

The images showing a scale bar are slightly flattened due to the weight of the scale. A microscope reticle was used in which 20 units is 1 mm.

 

Camponotus

Carpenter ants

The genus is Camponotus but I don’t know the species.

The ants pictured are the remnants after the removal of their colony from an insulated ceiling. They were quite happy to excavate rigid foam.

carpenter-ants_2015june_IMGP5785

carpenter-ants_IMGP5824

carpenter-ants_IMGP5818

carpenter-ants_IMGP5826

carpenter-ants_2015june_IMGP5786

carpenter-ants_IMGP5817

carpenter-ants_2015june_IMGP5781

carpenter-ants_2015june_IMGP5780

 

Daldinia concentrica

Daldinia concentrica is also known as carbon balls.

This fungus exists as a long-lived endophyte inside of the tissues of Douglas-fir. Fruiting is triggered by drying following the death of the tree but the role that the fungus plays during those prior decades of life is not clear.

Daldinia concentrica

Daldinia concentrica

Daldinia concentrica

Daldinia concentrica

Daldinia concentrica

Daldinia concentrica

Daldinia concentrica

Daldinia concentrica

Daldinia concentrica

Aneides flavipunctatus flavipunctatus

Aneides flavipunctatus flavipunctatus is also known as the Speckled Black Salamander.

They can be solid black like this individual.

Speckled black salamander; Aneides flavipunctatus flavipunctatus

 

Speckled black salamander; Aneides flavipunctatus flavipunctatus

 

Speckled black salamander; Aneides flavipunctatus flavipunctatus

 

Speckled black salamander; Aneides flavipunctatus flavipunctatus

 

Aneides flavipunctatus flavipunctatus

Or speckled with yellowish or whitish.

Aneides flavipunctatus flavipunctatus on 3 March 2016

Aneides flavipunctatus flavipunctatus on 3 March 2016

 

Aneides-flavipunctatus-flavipunctatus-IMGP9733

Aneides flavipunctatus flavipunctatus

 

Aneides flavipunctatus flavipunctatus

Aneides flavipunctatus flavipunctatus

 

Aneides flavipunctatus flavipunctatus

Aneides flavipunctatus flavipunctatus

 

Aneides flavipunctatus flavipunctatus

Aneides flavipunctatus flavipunctatus