San Diego Natural History Museum

Calling all nature lovers. We’re recruiting volunteers for a variety of roles both inside and outside the Museum: Docents, on-the-floor NATuralists, Canyoneer trail guides, and Whalers. Training for accepted applicants will begin September/October 2021. Volunteers play a critical role in connecting people to the natural world. Learn more, and apply online today. https://www.sdnhm.org/join-and-give/volunteer/

Trail of the Month: Scripps Coastal Reserve This short, easy loop along the bluffs and through coastal sage scrub habitat will give you a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. You'll also have a first-hand look at the ongoing struggle between invasive and native species. Fill up your reusable water bottle and take it all in. The Canyoneers Program is made possible with support from dedicated volunteers and proud partner Subaru of America, Inc.

Algunos efectos que el cambio climático tiene en los árboles son obvios, otros no tanto. Por ejemplo ¿Sabes cómo el cambio climático afecta la reproducción sexual de los árboles? Más de lo que imaginas. The Nat y el Climate Science Alliance te invitan a un curso intensivo sobre los efectos del cambio climático en nuestra región el 7 de julio. This is a Spanish-language version of our previous Climate Series Nat Talk: Trees Are Hot. Too Hot.

BUCKLE UP, this #MothMonday is different. It’s a story about moths, bees, wasps, and a tiny world we’re often not privy to. It starts with our Entomology team examining debris at the bottom of our Living Lab beehive which experienced a collapse in late 2020 (a new colony has since been installed). In inspecting the debris and frass, Entomology Collection Manager Pam Horsley expected to find some Varroa mites and wax moths, but she found something extra intriguing, starting w...ith some cocoons. The cocoons mostly belonged to lesser wax moth larvae, which feed on the honey, pollen, and wax produced by honey bees. But one cocoon was smaller than the rest. When Pam and LepNet Technician Josh Allen dissected it, inside was a small, black wasp! Most likely Habrobracon hebetor, a type of parasitic wasp of the family Braconidae. Female wasps sting and paralyze the larvae of wax moths, then lay eggs on their larvae. The wasp larvae feed, in the end leaving only a shell of a wax moth larva. The wasp larva emerges from this shell of a larva and forms a silk cocoon around itself in which it pupates to emerge as an adult to keep the cycle going. Wild.

The fermentation of mastodons, the stinkiest cheese in the world and a question on all our minds: do insects taste things? Dr. Rob Dunn returns to #NatTalks to discuss how flavor shaped our evolutionary story. Participants will also receive a discount code for the book Rob co-authored with Monica SanchezDelicious: The Evolution of Flavor and How It Made Us Human. RSVP soon. https://fb.me/e/RCieRsm1

Celebrating today with nature's little fireworks. The Nat is open Friday to Tuesday from 10 AM to 4 PM, closed Wednesday and Thursday. Have a great, safe holiday and we hope to see you soon! sdnat.org/visit : Perideridia parishii subsp. latifolia (Apiaceae) Southern Yampah, observed by local botanists and plant enthusiasts in the Cuyamaca Mountains. More at San Diego Natural History Museum Botany Department.

Fifteen years ago this week, Fossil Mysteries opened! Today we're going to look at one of the smaller specimens on view: the large scallops in the Pliocene portion of the exhibition. Lyropecten cerrosensis is an extinct species of lion’s paw scallop originally discovered on Cedros Island, Baja California, Mexico. Specimens have also been found in coastal San Diego County at Pacific Beach, Mission Hills, and Chula Vista. Our very own paleontologists found a treasure trove of shells of this species in a coarse-grained pebbly sandstone at a site in eastern Chula Vista in 1983. Because this site contained juvenile and adult individuals, it provided a rare opportunity for paleontologists to study the maturation and development of an extinct species.

Celebrating diversity for 75 million years. sdnat.org

Who else loves that little cat-like sway of its tail? Behold the Western Banded Gecko (Coleonyx variegatus) in Living Lab. Visit at sdnat.org/livinglab

Celebrating diversity for 75 million years! While we'll miss marching with our fellow Balboa Park organizations at San Diego Pride this year, we're excited to see events taking place throughout July. Be sure to check it out. Cheers to our vibrant community and Happy Pride!

Presented by Dr. Bree Putman, Assistant Professor, CSU San Bernardino

Join the Nat’s own Paleontology Postdoctoral Researcher Dr. Poust for a roaring good time. Ashley shares what it’s like to be a Paleontologist, the latest T.rex news and exciting San Diego fossil finds

CONSERVATION NEWS A recent court ruling blocked the proposed listing of four species of extremely rare bumblebees from being protected under the California Endangered Species Act. We have a few things to say about that... Read on for a message by V.P. of Science and Conservation Dr. Michael Wall. : Crotch's Bumble Bee, by Mary Duffy.

A massive study of kelp forests reveals the effects of warming waters and showcases the strength of international cooperation. Join us as we hear from Rodrigo Beas, Associate Professor, Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California.

In 1925 Laurence Huey, our early curator of birds and mammals here at The Nat, climbed up a giant cactus in Baja California. That huge ladder beneath him? He lugged it everywhere on his field trips. Our field biologists today are no less adventurous in the name of science. Here is an image from a few years back of researchers rappelling up a slot canyon on Isla Angel de la Guarda off Baja California. We've never been afraid to climb high or get our hands dirty as we strive to... preserve our home and bring nature closer to our community. And we continue to do just that, but as the calendar year draws to a close, we could use your support: sdnat.org/donate Whether you donate, love, or share, we thank you!

Does Southern California have seasons? Yes, it does. The first official day of winter is December 21, so be on the look out these signs that winter has arrived in San Diego. More about winter phenomena in Southern California: http://bit.ly/WinterInSoCal

Biodiversity hotspots are areas that are home to many species found nowhere else of the planet, yet threatened by habitat loss. But how does one find a new hotspot under water? Find out this Wednesday, December 9 at 6 PM during Nat Talk: Exploring Deep-sea Canyons with Dr. Nerida Wilson, marine molecular biologist at the Western Australian Museum. Register for this free talk soon.

SCIENCE NEWS Specimens collected in Antarctica have allowed a team of scientists, including our very own Dr. Ashley Poust, to update the fossil record. The 50 million-year-old fossils belong to an extinct group of ocean-going birds with large tooth-like spikes in their beaks. This discovery may be the oldest example of truly giant flying birds and adds to our understanding of the evolution of coastal ecosystems worldwide.

Bloodsucking relatives? Moths have varied diets, but some species have blood on the menu. How did this come to be? Consider the pictured moths: the deep brown and tan and the tan . These two species use a specialized proboscis to pierce through tough fruit skin and drink the juice. This adaptation was likely the precursor to the blood-sucking behavior of several species in the Calyptra genus. Only the males of the vampiric species have been known to bite humans (likely using the blood to supplement their sodium intake, which aids them in successful breeding - we’re salty). But don’t worry about it this spooky season. Thankfully, the only Calyptra species in the United States, , is not known to be a bloodsucker. Happy #MothMonday!

Thinking about a hike this weekend? Here's a Canyoneer favorite: the Batiquitos Lagoon Ecological Reserve. Why we love it: The reserve is a birding paradise, home to more than 180 species, from Redwing blackbirds singing in the cattails to egrets and great blue herons on the shore. It's also cooler this time of year than most inland hikes. We've picked out 10 of our favorite hikes for fall. Learn about them all and get some hiking tips at sdnat.org/canyoneers. ... Planning on a visit? Tag us in your photos!

The Nat's staff likes to nerd-out over lunch. Join us for a talk from one of our paleontologists, Ashley Poust.

#TBT A Place to Call Home It's still our birthday month, so we're sharing this photo from 1932, which shows the walls going up on the new construction for the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park. A large part of the cost was donated by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps. Only the first portion of the building as designed was constructed since not enough funds had been raised for the entire building. In January 1933 the new building was formally dedicated and opened to the public. After almost 60 years of moving from one location to another, The Nat finally had a place to call home!

#WhatIsItWednesday: Know this juvenile bird? It was picked up at Del Mar for rehabilitation. ANSWER UPDATED. Dan King . . . .... . . . . . . . Answer: This juvenile Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra), was picked up for rehabilitation due to being underweight and showing no fear of people. Honestly, that’s just boobies. says our Curator of Birds and Mammals Philip Unitt, referring to the lack of fear. The bird’s English name booby likely comes from the Spanish slang bobo meaning dummy or stupid. Sailors started using the term after realizing these birds were easily captured (and generally eaten) after landing aboard sailing ships since they were utterly unimpressed by humans. We’ve since heard that this juvenile was released after gaining 500 g in captivity.

What a creeper... You’ve probably seen Creeping Spurge or . Serpens means snake-like and refers to the way this species lies flat against the soil and kind-of slithers along the ground as it grows. It’s native to South America, but has naturalized as a weed in disturbed habitats like gardens, roadsides, and sidewalks throughout much of the world. In the close-up, you can see the stem with leaves and tiny flowers called cyathia, which are actually highly... reduced flowering stalks with many flowers in each. As we near Halloween, it only seemed right that we start the spooky season of #SidewalkBotany with a creeper. _____________ Weeds. They grow out of cracks in the sidewalk, between the rows of our preferred plants, and seemingly straight out of rock. But they have names and curious stories behind them. Stay tuned for a new biweekly series where we get to know our weedy neighbors. Courtesy San Diego Natural History Museum Botany Department.

Bats, birds, holly, and webs! This is fall in Southern California. Learn more about what it is you're seeing outside and revel in our autumn: bit.ly/FallInSoCal

It's that time of year! Today's story is about a little bat, flying out into the world using only his good sense.

#WhatIsItWednesday returns with an extra fuzzy cutie observed by Director of BioServices Kevin Clark. Do you know this species? . . . .... . . . . . Answer: You're looking at a Gray Fox kit (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). This little one was observed in its den back in April. Spring is generally pupping season for foxes and coyotes. This image was uploaded to @iNaturalist, helping scientists understand the distribution of these charismatic mammals. So don’t forget to add your own observations! See more

We have two fascinating Nat Talks coming up. First up, the power of pure chance in our evolution with Dr. Sean B. Carroll in Nat Talk: A Series of Fortunate Events. The following week, join Dr. Megan Jennings for Nat Talk: Wildfire A Tale of Two Backcountries. RSVP soon!

This month, we turn 146 years young! Founded in October 1874, the San Diego Society of Natural History was made up of nature-loving nerds, community scientists, and folks well-known to climb up into cactus, stick their heads in trees, and trek everywhere to learn about the natural world. We miss having you in the museum, but in truth, we wouldn't be here without the love and passion of people like you: amazing nature nerds. So blow out a candle, eat that cupcake, and step outside to observe some nature. We're right there with you. Happy birthday to us.