Recently Asked
Learn what the community is asking about this season, with answers by Museum experts.
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- Recently Asked
“I have no idea what these rocks are. I need help in identifying.”
Linda Schmidt, Whitewater, Kansas - November 9, 2019
“My friend gave me a bunch of fossils before he died at the age of 99. I have 2 large shells which he found on his ranch in Camarillo years ago.
I would love to donate them to anyone...”
Johanna, Santa Barbara - October 22, 2019
“It's about the side of 9pt felt tip pen dot. It didn't seem to jump. It crawled onto an iPad in our house. It didn't quite look like a dust mite or bed bug. We thought maybe a plant mite?”
Tom, Oxnard, CA - September 2, 2019
“Is this a Polyphemus Moth? I discovered this amazing moth on my front door doormat at 8:00 AM on July 30, 2019. The light above this door was on the entire night. I determined it was alive while...”
Anne, Santa Barbara - August 26, 2019
“Is this a praying mantis? It has been on my screen door for over a week. Is this insect normally found here in Santa Barbara?
Thanks!”
Molly, Santa Barbara - Upper East - August 13, 2019
“We have had a severe problem with chiggers in our Cleveland School area yard for decades. Only recently have they been positively identified. For years we were told chiggers were not present in...”
Lauren, Upper Eastside - August 5, 2019
“Can you help me identify this caterpillar? We found it in Carpinteria.
Thanks!”
Ananda Mahto, Carpinteria - July 10, 2019
“We found this beetle in our yard tonight on our swing. We looked it up and could not find anything close to what it seems to be, that is in California. (Tile horned prionus?) Any ideas!? Our kid...”
Cari Thomas, Santa Barbara - July 3, 2019
“My daughter found this strange rock-like thing in our yard that seems to have snail-like shell shapes in it, all stuck together. It feels like some kind of calcium rocky thing. We've attached a...”
Jason Freidenfelds, Santa Barbara - June 29, 2019
“I found an egg that is about five inches around and looks very old. I would like to send you a picture of it so you can give me your thoughts.
Thank you.”
Dave, Camarillo, CA - June 23, 2019
