Nyan’s crazy socal rock flipping adventures!

NYAN

Arachnoking
Joined
Dec 23, 2017
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2,511
Hi all, since I tend to go rock flipping once a week at least I figured I would make this thread to share some things I see. Before making this I would upload my finds to the media here. Hopefully you all can enjoy!

It seems everything was posted backwards. Hopefully next time I will fix it:



6-22-18

Scutigera coleoptrata- common house centipede not in a house. There were actually 2 of these right next to eachother, the other scurried away when I lifted the large rock. Under the same rock was another scorpion and some beetles. Also, it seems this posted backwards. Next time I will try to fix that.
AFB5CA37-B140-466A-9EC8-B021A052E91B.jpeg Another paruroctonus silvestrii, this one is a Gravid female who’s unhappy I disturbed her burrow. About 4 inches over was another under the same rock.
2C0FE583-2D87-47E4-B9D4-963051698A81.jpeg 108D245C-900A-4418-8C97-781E36E2158C.jpeg More darkling beetles and another beetle species at the bottom center.
F6905CF2-3AFE-4C6A-9CF1-B523E242988D.jpeg Some sort of darkling beetle. Maybe someone can give me the species name. These were also somewhat common. For some reason I came across about dozen dead ones also.
859C2A7D-A324-4F3A-985E-AF09D703806E.jpeg Paruroctonus silvestrii- California common scorpion. Another common species. I probably found 2-3 dozen today.
0C7E1BF0-647D-4254-982A-A99D54676D70.jpeg Scolopendra polymorpha- tiger centipede. I only saw this one today, but it was a bit dry. This particular one has a bit of an injury on it. C304AFE5-0324-494F-974F-12C25870A508.jpeg
Sceloporus occidentalis-western fence lizard. There were probably hundreds of these today.
33C22B4E-B96C-4A64-BAF5-93134D5A31C4.jpeg
 

NYAN

Arachnoking
Joined
Dec 23, 2017
Messages
2,511
6-26-18

Unknown species of cicada.

1D881906-9CB6-4586-8C9C-DFF8B61318B9.jpeg Freshly molted paruroctonus silvestrii With molt in photo.
598E1351-6638-451A-942C-5FF19D0CBAA0.jpeg I was pretty surprised to see one of these. Unknown solpugid species.
CB0A2A2E-1BEC-4B8C-B548-4B54B691D2EC.jpeg

E91A6927-C246-4DA7-A446-EE7E2F688867.jpeg
 

myrmecophile

Arachnolord
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
654
Sure hope those rocks went neatly back into place, unknown beetle looks like a wooly darkling beetle, Eleodes osculans although the image is not good enough to be sure.
 

NYAN

Arachnoking
Joined
Dec 23, 2017
Messages
2,511
Sure hope those rocks went neatly back into place, unknown beetle looks like a wooly darkling beetle, Eleodes osculans although the image is not good enough to be sure.
The rocks always go as neatly back in place as possible! Wouldn’t want to destroy habitat. Your ID is correct, I see them somewhat often but forgot the name.
 

NYAN

Arachnoking
Joined
Dec 23, 2017
Messages
2,511
7-2-18

I believe this to be thamnophis elegans terrestris, the coast garter snake.

31695E1B-BA80-48EE-99FC-F65D97B6A9F4.jpeg
Jumping spider with egg sac, Unsure of the ID
02C931B2-07EA-4397-9870-7273A44C9025.jpeg

Latrodectus sp. web with molt. Likely to be Hesperus.
5726A16A-8E66-42DC-9210-D527E8B984C1.jpeg

Agelenopsis aperta
27799C93-C344-4A10-8408-BD66E1065E1B.jpeg
 
Last edited:

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
Old Timer
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Aug 8, 2005
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11,047
Easy way to ID Elegans. Shortly after birth they develop 'wallpaper' decoration down their sides but the coloration usually fades away beyond the anal vent.
 

checkmate

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Jan 15, 2013
Messages
188
Where do you go rock flipping at? Not exact location but general area.
 

NYAN

Arachnoking
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Dec 23, 2017
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2,511
Two different crotalus oreganus helleri/southern Pacific rattlesnakes. Both of them were very calm and barely rattled if at all.

CE746770-877A-4CA9-A83E-C979C4F5BE53.jpeg
65563948-D5DA-49F6-AE19-4EA6ADD6706A.jpeg
 

NYAN

Arachnoking
Joined
Dec 23, 2017
Messages
2,511
9/13/18

A bad photo of a crotalus oreganus helleri. These are pretty easy going snakes.
DF8DCBC0-04C7-4A1E-B6B6-94CA7F288012.jpeg

Two nice adult female latrodectus herperus.
821816F1-BA10-4DE7-B548-9C8EFA676C00.jpeg 74C7166F-ACF9-4785-AFBD-076907719F7B.jpeg

A likely male anuroctonus pococki.
02382A25-1665-40E5-8B5E-9D2F329EBBB6.jpeg
 

Mninvert

Arachnopeon
Joined
Oct 21, 2017
Messages
2
Your Garter Snake is actually a California Whipsnake , Masticophis lateralis. Awesome Finds!
 

antinous

Pamphopharaoh
Old Timer
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Mar 28, 2013
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1,668
Really cool, is it a far drive from your place of residence? I've always wanted to live somewhere that's a quick bike ride/drive from a wide variety of animals.
 

NYAN

Arachnoking
Joined
Dec 23, 2017
Messages
2,511
Really cool, is it a far drive from your place of residence? I've always wanted to live somewhere that's a quick bike ride/drive from a wide variety of animals.
Nah, it’s my backyard/ work pretty much.
 
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