wildlife

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park BioBlitz this year! Unfortunately, Saturday, whihc would normally be our biggest day, was rained out, but nonetheless during the BioBlitz…

• 92 observations were made
• 73 different species were observed
• 12 observers participated (2 were new iNaturalist users)
• 5 new species (3 plants and 2 insects) and one new insect family were added to the Biota of the CHWP project (this number might grow or shrink with new IDs)

Here are just a few of the special “first finds” made in the park during the 2025 CNC BioBlitz:

Graceful Bedstraw (Galium porrigens)

Photo by @carolblaney

One of these was Graceful Bedstraw (Galium porrigens), which was most recently documented in 1971. Galium species are called “Bedstraw” because their fine hook-like hairs that cling to each other so the plants don’t mat down easily when used as a mattress.

Menzies’ Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii)

Photo by @nvhamlett

This charming plant is frequently included native wildflower mixes. It was last documented in the CHWP in 1963.

Pacific Sanicle (Sanicula crassicaulis)

Photo by @nvhamlett

Pacific Sanicle had never previously been documented in the CHWP. The species name, Sanicula, is the dimnutive of the Latin sanare, “to heal”, and native peoples did use this plant for medicinal purposes, including using a poultice of the leaves to treat rattlesnake bites and other wounds. The alternative common name “Snakeroot” probably refers to this use.

Alfalfa Looper (Autographa californica)

Photo by @nvhamlett

Loopers are so called for the way the caterpillars arch their backs as they crawl along in a looping manor. The caterpillars can cause damage not only to alfalfa, but also peas, sugar beets, beans, mint, and spinach. In most cases, control is needed only where insecticides applied for other pests have reduced natural enemy populations.

If you’re curious, you can see all of the BioBlitz observations here.

These observations are a big help to park managers at the city of Claremont, who use such data to make decisions about endangered species and invasive ones. For those of us fascinated by diversity, seeing these new species is also great fun and great learning.

Many, many thanks to @nvhamlett, @carolblaney, @keirmorse, @kwnaturalist, @alexiam068, @jeremyflores, @mskeschner, @moonlightrunner, @stephnjamie, @csuen, @scottmarnoy, @tonyjeremy4140 for contributing observations and making the BioBlitz a big success!