Beetles and Butterflies in San Francisco Bay area

[poisonarrow]

Hi all,

I have just recently moved over from Europe to live in this beautiful state. I am now wondering if there are any good collection sites for beetles and butterflies - even though I guess it is already off-season.

Also, are there any fellow collectors and/or insect breeders around? Would really like to meet and catch up. This would also help me to get over the feeling of loss, after having left my collection back home, and my pets with a good friend. It is strange without insects :-) So any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers and looking forward to hear from you.

Benjamin
www.beetlebreeding.ch

[Chris Grinter]

I lived in the bay area for a few years and it's not the easiest place to collect in. Development has eliminated most of the good habitat, and what is left is now state or national park land and is off-limits. But, fortunately good national forest collecting is not far away. Driving 3 hours north to the Mendocino National Forest was always very productive. Any areas on that southern end made for a great weekend collecting.

Even closer is Lake Berryessa. You can stop for a wine tasting along the way, then go collecting around the lake. There are even Papilio indra shastensis that reach the higher hilltops here, but actually collecting them now seems impossible. Most of the good land is fenced and private. And the land right down along the lake shore is part of a park (and no collecting without permit). BUT, the Pope Valley road that you can reach through St. Helena is beautiful and has lots of areas to stop and hike/collect.

The northern end of the Los Padres National Forest also hits the areas south of Monterrey. But this park is cut up pretty heavily by State Parks, and again permits are required. Mountain roads in and around this area that are out of the parks are productive for day-collecting though!

Those are the few bay-area spots that I can think of that don't require permits.

[lucanidae25]

Hey Ben,

I didn't know you moved to San Francisco, you must be quite sad to leave all your collection and pets behind. Cheers and wish you good luck with your collecting in San Francisco.

[poisonarrow]

HI Ray and Chris,

sorry to never reply to your posts. Chris, do you happen do be still in California? Maybe we could meet some when Thank you for the detailed tips, haven't checked out any areas yet, but am looking forward to doing that this coming spring.

Ray, yes, it is hard to be separated from my collection, again, but before leaving this time, I photographed everything, so whenever I need to I can look at them.

Then again, I have two daughters now, so there is very limited time. Luckily the older one is already quite interested in insects. She managed to catch a Papilio zelicaon by hand. no clue how she did this, but there seems to be hope

Cheers
Ben

[joee30]

Hi Ben, My name is Joseph. I live across the sierras in Reno, NV. Usually hit the bay area to collect with another friend in april/may. If this el niño hits good this year, might be in California more frequently.

[poisonarrow]

Hi Joseph,

That sounds interesting. Would love to join you for a collection hunt in the area. Lots of good species here on the spring.

I will pm you for some more details.

Cheers
Ben

[joee30]

Sounds good, Ben.