It is not the time for a global outdoor gathering of thousands of people to see who can find the most wildlife. But spring goes on (in the Northern Hemisphere), and the wildlife abides, so the fifth annual City Nature Challenge, originally envisioned as a worldwide live community science event, will go on this week too, with all those tens of thousands of amateur nature observers looking for nature closer to home and looking for a nature community online.

https://baynature.org/2020/04/22/the-city-nature-challenge-modified-returns/

City Nature Challenge 2020

https://citynaturechallenge.org/city-list-2020/

Deadly interaction between insects, drought and fire damage have forced California’s park officials to trigger climate crisis plans intended for the 2050s.

https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/18/beetles-and-fire-kill-dozens-of-california-indestructible-giant-sequoia-trees-aoe

The reclassification of a 226-million-year-old beetle species could change our understanding of insect evolution

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/fossil-mix-could-rewrite-history-largest-family-animals-earth-180973068/

I'll be at Border Field State Park on Saturday morning at 8:30am! Anyone near is welcome to join up for iNatting! If you can't meet here, hopefully you can find a state park near you!

https://yubanet.com/california/california-celebrates-biodiversity-day-with-bioblitz-events-across-the-state/

Forest and fire officials ask for the public’s help to stop the spread of gold spotted oak borer.

https://www.vvng.com/officials-warn-of-invasive-tree-killing-pest-detected-in-big-bear-area/

This June, we’re celebrating the third-year anniversary of the launch of the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge, a national initiative to bring back the bees. June 19-26 is Pollinator Week, but we are celebrating pollinators all month long.

https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/National-Initiatives/Pollinator-Month

Like so many every-day creatures, the lady bug is a pretty amazing creature with remarkable attributes. Michael Ellis explains.

https://www.kqed.org/perspectives/201601138755/lady-bugs

For example, a tiny beetle smaller than a grain of rice is gradually killing the largest northern California black walnut tree in Davis.

https://patch.com/california/davis/those-dying-black-walnut-trees

More challenging than birdwatching and not nearly as popular, insect-watching — noting and sharing exactly what one sees and where — is nevertheless on the rise.

Concern about dwindling native insect populations is one reason why. And new technology has made it easier to log insect sightings and become part of wide-reaching "citizen-scientist" projects.

https://www.cdapress.com/article/20190115/AP/301159968