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Recently Asked
“We found this black beetle with pincer-looking horns on our second story balcony, hanging out in the afternoon sun on the stucco. It was probably about 0.75 inches in length. Can you tell what it is?”
Scott, Gutierrez and Calle Cesar Chavez - April 30, 2021
“I found this insect in our kitchen and it's body is around 1 cm long (maybe a bit more). Could you identify it and provide any information about e.g. if it is usually isolated or where it nests? Thank...”
Shreyas, Goleta - March 17, 2021
“I found this very strange large insect last night on my outdoor mat. It has the body of a bee black and yellow stripes. But it looks like the head of a grasshopper. I can send you a photo of it? My fi...”
Lynn, Santa Barbara - March 4, 2021
“My name is Rosey, I am the Park Naturalist at Cachuma Lake. One of the visitors sent me these pictures of a beetle she found, somewhere off Paradise Road in the rocks. It was dead. Is it a Rhinoceros...”
Rosey, Santa Ynez Valley - February 20, 2021
“Are you interested in gathering this for the butterfly exhibit?”
Bruce, Santa Barbara - January 5, 2021
“I found this huge hornet looking thing outside our home in Santa Ynez. It's about an inch and a half, almost 2 inches. It's still alive and under glass right now. Can you tell me what it is and what t...”
Diana, Santa Ynez - November 21, 2020
“I am hoping you can help me with a TON of very strange insects that have shown up in our 50 gallon horse trough. In cleaning the bottom I scooped up about 50 of them along with the sludge. We have had...”
Cynthia, Santa Barbara County - November 9, 2020
“Hi. I was wondering what kind of praying mantis this is and do you know if it’s a male or female? If it’s a female is she pregnant?
Thanks”
Candice, Yorba Linda Ca - October 29, 2020
“Can you identify the spider that makes these beautiful bubble/balloon webs? I have never seen such interesting webs in Santa Barbara/Goleta area, only back at a family cabin in the Los Padres NF.
I a...”
Gail, Santa Barbara, CA - September 29, 2020
“Hi! Would anyone there know what makes the tracks in this (attached) photo? They are all over Hollywood Beach in Oxnard, usually around vegetation but not always. They appear to be something that liv...”
Gene, Oxnard, CA - August 6, 2020
“Hi, upon doing some research, we discovered tachnid flies are killing our backyard Monarch Butterflies. We took a few Monarch caterpillars inside, in huge glass jars to watch them create chrysalises a...”
Erin Kelley, Santa Barbara - August 5, 2020
“Hi there,
I'm wondering if someone may be able to help me with an insect ID. Three days ago we noticed these guys all over our second story balcony, our front porch, sidewalk, and cars parked on the...”
Kelly Adams, Oxnard - June 1, 2020
“I live in Mumbai, India. I found this insect sitting on my house window. Is it a Mantis? If yes, then which species? There's currently lockdown in the country due to coronavirus. Are Mantes normally f...”
Preet Zatakia, Mumbai, India - May 30, 2020
“My son is REALLY into dinosaurs and found the below at the beach and would LOVE help with an ID. Any advice?”
Jack Ucciferri, Carpinteria - May 27, 2020
“I came across it in my bathroom. When I placed a glass over it—in order to capture it and relocate it outside—it spun around faster than anything I've ever seen in my life.”
Erik Torkells, Montecito - May 9, 2020
“My son is completing his science project on our local tidepools. We've identified all specimens during our field study, except for the attached. Can you help? ”
Andrea, Coal Oil Point - May 9, 2020
“I saw these blonde and pink anemone friends at Goleta Beach, in addition to the regular blue ones, and I was wondering what causes their various colors? And can anemones be phosphorescent?”
Julian, Goleta - April 29, 2020
“I found this insect in our bathroom yesterday it was less than a quarter of an inch. Can you tell me what it is. Thank you”
Terry Holgate, Goleta - April 22, 2020
“These bugs infested my pomegranate tree last year, leaving little drill holes (for eggs?).
What are they and why have I seen them only once in 20 years?”
Jana, Goleta - April 8, 2020
“Hello. Today I saw this on a rock at Ellwood Beach. Perhaps it is a common creature, but I have never seen one before. There were only two on the same rock. Sorry I didn't think to put a coin beside...”
Lisa, Santa Barbara, CA - February 25, 2020