The Prickly Pear November 2013 Newsletter · eyes. Like all insects, they have six legs. Thickened, leathery wing-covers protect ... to autumn they are crepuscular and nocturnal (active

The Prickly Pear November 2013 Newsletter For Galster Park Nature Center, Glendora Nature Center and Santa Fe Dam Nature Center

(San Gabriel Valley NC Network)

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Pinacate Beetles aka Stink Bugs

Pinacate beetles live in dry, arid climates. The beetles’ wing covers are fused to

help prevent dehydration. When walking they lower their front ends and raised

rears. Bodies are ovate to oblong, ranging in size between 0.4 and 1.4 inches long,

and they are jet black or occasionally dark brown. They may be smooth or rough,

and elongate or robust. The head is prominent and slightly narrowed behind the

eyes. Like all insects, they have six legs. Thickened, leathery wing-covers protect

the delicate flight wings, which they do not use.

Pinacate beetles are

abundant both in species

and individuals west of

the Mississippi. Roughly

120 species are found in

the western United States.

They occur across

ecosystems from open

dunes to shrubs to

mountains. The greatest

diversity of the largest and smelliest occurs in the deserts. The greatest overall

diversity occurs in scrub and mountain regions. The beetles are often found under logs or in other detritus.

Most animals avoid contact with Eleodes due to the insect’s ability to produce a stinky secretion. Grasshopper

mice, however, get around this problem by grabbing the beetle, jamming its behind into the sand, and eating it

head first. Other predators include burrowing owls, loggerhead shrikes and another well-known stinker,

skunks.

One of the most commonly encountered desert insects, Pinacate beetles can be active year round. From spring

to autumn they are crepuscular and nocturnal (active at twilight, night and early sunrise), but come fall, they



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revert to a more diurnal lifestyle. Pinacate beetles are one of the great walkers of the

desert beetle world and are often encountered, seemingly wandering at random. Studies

have shown that they are probably in search of food, which they find by odor. Primarily, they consume detritus

of grasses and forbs. In the laboratory, they eat apples, lettuce and dog food.

They are well known for their comical, yet effective, defense tactics. When alarmed they stand on their heads

by bending their front legs down and extending their rear legs. Depending upon the species, they exude an oily,

musty secretion, which collects at the tip of the abdomen or spreads over posterior parts of the body, or they

eject the reddish brown to brown secretion as a spray. Larger desert species, like E. armata and E. longicollis,

can spray 10 to 20 inches. Most species can spray multiple times, if necessary. The spray is not painful unless

you get it in your eyes or mouth, where it is painful, burning and temporarily blinding.

Family Fun

A family of bikers from La Puente stopped by to rest at the Nature Center. They enjoyed the displays

especially the snakes.



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National Public Lands Day

There were about 50 volunteers that came out to help at the Nature Center. Litter pickup, benches removed

and replaced as well as painted,

cracked asphalt repaired, mulched

native garden, placed wood chips on

bare ground and planted some

seeds.

The seeds were gathered from the

plants around the nature center

earlier in the year. The main group

were the girls from Westminster

High School Field Hockey Team.

They pulverized the wood chip pile

and the mulch pile down to nothing.

Huge thanks for all that

volunteered.



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S.M.O.R.E.S. at the Nature

Center

The S.M.O.R.E.S. Program was

created by our P & R Dept. funded by

HFC State Grant to introduce inner

city/high risk youth 4 – 18 yrs to the

outdoor world of nature. It contains

various components, hiking, bird

watching, astronomy, entomology, animal habitats w/ live animal presentations, fishing, and camping, and outdoor

recreational activities such as kayaking and paddle boats. The participants take a pre survey to inquire the knowledge

before the program, and a post survey to check the retention and impression the program had on the students. Santa Fe

dam held the second of four

programs. The final two will be in

the spring of 2014 at Whittier

Narrows Regional Park, and

Kenneth Hahn State recreation Area.

During the night camping coyotes

could be heard that were close to the

lake, a safe distance away.



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SMORES participants

enjoying the lake.



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MORE UP COMING EVENTS

EVENTS at Santa Fe Dam Nature Center

November 2, 2013 10am Nature Walk. The walks are led by trained docents. The

paved walkway is wheelchair accessible.

November 9, 2013 10am Nature Walk. Stop by and see the Santa Fe Dam very few people

know. There have been some changes around the Nature Center. So come on down and see

what nature has to offer.

November 16, 2013 8am Bird Walk. Come and see the birds that make Santa Fe Dam their

home as well as the migratory birds of the Pacific Flyway.

Wreath Making 1100am Come by and make your holiday wreath with Norma Ayala

November 23, 2013 10am HABITAT RANGERS A youth environmental action and

educational program placed-based and storyline driven with Nancy Begg.

November 30, 2013 10am The Bugs are back! WINTER BUGS! Come by and see what bugs

are out for the winter.

The new look of the native garden in front of the Nature Center.

Be sure to stop by and see what has been done since your last

visit. Never been here? Then you’re in for a treat. An oasis for the

busy city life that surrounds The Santa Fe Dam Nature Center.



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Santa Fe Dam Nature Center Event

Create your own wreath for the holidays

Join us on November 16th

At: 15501 East Arrow Highway Irwindale, CA 91706

Cost: $15.00 per Wreath diameter 11 1/2

Time: 11am – 2pm

Please RVSP by: November 10, 2013

Email: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



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The much anticipated 2014 Flowers of the San Gabriel Valley Calendar is hot off the presses

and available for sale now. This high quality, educationally and artistically collectable calendar

makes a great gift for nature lovers.

The calendar is SGMRC's main fundraising activity for the Santa Fe Dam Nature Center, Galster Park Nature Center, and

Glendora Conservancy Nature Center. All proceeds from the sales of the Calendar will be used to fund Nature Center

programs and education, plus feed migratory and resident birds, and live animals part of the Nature Center displays.

Native plant, ethnobotany and demonstration gardens also receive funds for enhancement and improvements. All of our

Nature Centers are entirely operated by volunteers, donations, and fundraising projects. Your donations and support

mean a lot in continuing our important nature activities and projects in the region for all age groups.

Please support SGMRC's work and mission through your purchase of a Calendar today! The 2013 Wildlife Calendar is

priced at $10 and available from the following places:

SGMRC Office, Glendora (626) 335-1771

Santa Fe Dam Nature Center, Irwindale (626) 812-0935

Galster Nature Center, West Covina (626) 919-0715

Glendora Conservancy Nature Center

Powell Camera, Covina (626) 332-1253

OR send $10 plus $5 for shipping to:

SGMRC Calendar P.O. Box 963 Glendora, CA 91740

Please provide a shipping address and an Email. We will notify you when the calendar is shipped.

Taking a Break

Tea and Dillon stopped in for a well-deserved

break. Had some water and a snack.



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G L E N D O R A ’ S C H I L D R E N ’ S F O R E S T

On October 4th over 75

volunteers converged at the base of

Colby Trail. Walking or riding up

the trail to the Children’s Forest

location, where over 100 native

trees were planted.

Holes were dug and the

trees were placed in along with

mulch made from the local area.

Guards were then placed

around the plants to give them a

chance to grow.

Documents

The Prickly Pear November 2013 Newsletter · eyes. Like all insects, they have six legs. Thickened, leathery wing-covers protect ... to autumn they are crepuscular and nocturnal (active