Favoritos de sfelton

In Malibu Creek State Park on California Buckwheat flowers in Coast Live Oak Woodland area not burned by Woolsey Fire. Sunny day in the 70’s F. Note brown in flight and brown topside can be seen through torn wing. If Satyrium Auretorum, should be the Santa Monica Mountains ssp. Fumosum.

Like the Peridot Sweat Bee of my previous obs (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/58638198), the Blood Bee was feeding via (possibly already made) slits in the tubular flowers of the California Fuchsia. (Pic 4: possibly an Assassin Bug, discovered in the photo.)

Nest site, about 20 x 7 meters, with several hundred bees buzzing about. The bees are a bit smaller and much hairier than the Diadasia bituberculata we saw about a month ago. It’s a disturbed chaparral area, part of a fire road. Flowering plants include a few Common Sunflowers, Telegraphweed that’s just budding, and Shortpod Mustard.

Going to need to get expert confirmation on this ID but the Type Locality and host plant are correct for this ID. Feeding at patch of Sulphur Buckwheat on East ridge of Tehachapi Mountain. Although there was a lot of Wright’s Buckwheat on the ridge too, it was not blooming which implies that this butterfly’s host is E. Umbellatum since Euphilotes only emerge when their host plant is in bloom. Elevation 7500ft +. Sunny day in the high 70’s F.