Tree Frogs

I've never seen a Canyon Tree Frog in a tree. They're usually seen on rocks (as below) or in the restrooms (ditto) in Sabino Canyon.

Photo by Marty Horowitz 9/23/2016

Photo by Marty Horowitz 9/21/2016

Watch out for those Lyre snakes!

Beetle Love

Photos by Marty Horowitz 9/21/2016

Cactus Longhorn Beetles and a bonus post on mimicry (that includes these beetles) from our favorite bug lady, Margarethe Brummermann.

Banner year for Tumamoc Globeberry

Photo by Mark Hengesbaugh 9/20/2016

Text by Mark Hengesbaugh

Biologist Frank Reichenbacher points to Tumamoc Globeberry (Tumamoca macdougalii), an uncommon vine in the melon and gourd family, growing on the east side of Sabino Creek. Reichenbacher, a volunteer, is the leading expert on this root perennial that in 1986 was only known to grow in a few refuges, including Sabino Canyon, the Painted Hills, and Tumamoc Hill, and so was listed as an Endangered Species. During decades of scouting, Reichenbacher discovered additional populations in southern Arizona and Sonora, Mexico; in 1993 Tumamoc Globeberry was delisted. Today, it is a species of conservation concern in the county’s Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan.

Tumamoc Globeberry reproduces very slowly, said Reichenbacher. Typically he'll find only a few seedlings in a decade - always in proximity to a mature plant. This leads him to wonder if the seed-bearing fruits are not dispersed by wildlife. Nevertheless, "In Sabino Canyon, they're undergoing a mini-boom. I found 20 new seedlings last year."


Anne says: Fred and Ned also took photos of this great plant.

Photo by Fred Heath 9/12/2016

Photo by Fred Heath 9/12/2016

Photo by Ned Harris 9/14/2016

Photo by Ned Harris, hand by Alexa von Bieberstein 9/14/2016

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this story! Especially to Frank Reichenbacher for clarifying the latest science.

Skimmers

Photo by Marty Horowitz 9/15/2016

Red Rock Skimmer dragonfly, conveniently perched on a reddish rock! 

Click on the link for more great photos. 

Photo by Marty Horowitz 9/21/2016

Filigree Skimmer dragonfly

More photos at the link!

Open and shut

Photo by Marty Horowitz 9/21/2016

Photo by Marty Horowitz 9/15/2016

Empress Leilia butterflies are quite common in Sabino. Like many butterflies, their wings have different patterns and colors above and below.

I'm a lyre!

Thanks to The Serpent Princess of Dancing Snake Nature Photography for verifying the true identity of the snake in Ned's photo below! (I corrected the post as well.)

Photo by Ned Harris 9/14/2016

This beauty is a Lyresnake, most likely a Sonoran Lyresnake. (I initially misidentified one 6 years ago!) These snakes aren't seen very often in Sabino, because they're nocturnal (except when they find a particularly warm spot, it would seem).

Photo by Marty Horowitz 9/23/2016

The snake above is actually a Gophersnake, though. Now you know!

Can't impede this centipede!

This Giant Desert Centipede was seen on the Sabino scene on the cloudy and rainy September 23, 2016. Bill Kaufman writes:

They do have venom and can bite if interfered with, but the toxin is generally harmless to humans. It could be painful like that of a bee sting, however, and allergies are always possible. Leave them alone. They are nocturnal, so we were lucky to see this one. It was likely out due to the cloudy skies and rain. I count 42 legs.

All Photos by Bill Kaufman 9/23/2016

Anne says: Don't try this move without supervision. Or better, super legs.