Lots of fungus, these identifications are by iNaturalist Seek. I know AI apps aren’t always exactly perfect, so please treat fungus identifications below with a certain amount of skepticism.
Araneus, notice the shoulder tubercles.
Bottle fly, Lucilia in Calliphoridae.
I don’t know what this is. iNaturalist says Calostoma, but I don’t know.
A glass-like mushroom. Maybe Cortinarius cf iodes.
Wikipedia:
Cortinarius iodes, commonly known as the spotted cort or the viscid violet cort, is a species of agaric fungus in the family Cortinariaceae. The fruit bodies have small, slimy, purple caps up to 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter that develop yellowish spots and streaks in maturity. The gill color changes from violet to rusty or grayish brown as the mushroom matures. The species range includes eastern North America, Central America, northern South America, and northern Asia, where it grows on the ground in a mycorrhizal association with deciduous trees. The mushroom is not recommended for consumption. Cortinarius iodeoides, one of several potential lookalike species, can be distinguished from C. iodes by its bitter-tasting cap cuticle.
Maybe it’s just me, but the last two sentences seem to contradict each other.
This is Amanita
The genusAmanita contains about 600 species of agarics, including some of the most toxic known mushrooms found worldwide, as well as some well-regarded edible species (and many species of unknown edibility). The genus is responsible for approximately 95% of fatalities resulting from mushroom poisoning, with the death cap accounting for about 50% on its own. The most potent toxin present in these mushrooms is α-Amanitin.
Helicogloea?
Helicogloea is a genus of fungi in the familyPhleogenaceae. Basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are gelatinous, effused or pustular, and (microscopically) have unclampedhyphae and basidia that are auricularioid (tubular and laterally septate). Some species form asexual anamorphs producing conidia. The widespread genus contains more than 20 species.[1]
These were found near a dead mouse’s head, Monomorium.
This one was described as the bottle can opener ant — notice the projection at the end of the mesoma (hope I’m right with the terminology). Dolichoderus pustulatus or D. plagiatis.
A wonderful outreach event! A rather stunning number of visitors, maybe 100 or so? Lots of kids, and enthusiasm everywhere. The one thing relatively lacking were moths, but a good time was had for all.
Here is the first set of photos, with identifications to come at leisure later.
First, though, a Platycryptus undatus at home. These are very common in this particular spot: outside the kitchen window. The lights at the window attract prey; the flat environs give the jumping spiders’ superior eyesight the space to find prey; and there are places for the spiders to hide while stalking.
Okay, time for the moth ball
Spiders
I think in Erigoninae (dwarf spiders)
Orb weaver spiders, all in Eustala I believe.
Tetragnathid, long-jawed orb weaver
A leaf beetle
Leafhopper nymph
Leafhopper
Caddisflies
Weevil
And another weevil
Carabidae, ground beetle
Chironomid midge
Micro-moth, very well spotted by one of the youngsters!
Goleta, California (north of Santa Barbara). The actual monarchs are usually found there overwintering from October onwards, but we did in fact see some during our July visit. The flowers and the ocean were spectacular.
