habitat ~ 04/24/14 ~ Garrapata State Park

Garrapata State Park
April 24, 2014

This is only the second time I've ever stopped to visit Garrapata/Soberanes Point.  The first time back on June 2, 2012 was on a Monterey Bay Chapter CNPS trip.  I don't really know what happened to the threatened State Park closure business from 2 years ago.  How would CA State Parks keep people off the property?  I heard something about the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District stepping in to assist with the basics for this remote spot, like toilet paper in the porta-potty, the porta-potty itself, and trash pick-up.  The MPRPD is an awesome park organization, and I wish they could help manage some other local properties (eh-hem, Hatton Canyon, cough, Jacks Peak, cough).

Garrapata is a popular local tourist destination about 5 miles south of Point Lobos, which I also do not visit much.  I'm not fond of how crowded the trail feels, even in the middle of the week.  The path is narrow, and for anyone to pass, you often have to stand to the side in the poison-oak to let them go. We met a couple from Appalachia under the redwoods.  He was a herpetologist, and I enjoyed chatting with him and his wife about their trip and, of course, herps. However, I wondered if he would collect if he found something he liked.  I've been blind to that kind of activity, because I only collect photographs these days.

Honestly, I wouldn't have stopped here had I not been tagging along with Chris Tenney as he searches Monterey County for butterflies.  He had a couple places in mind down the coast, pending the weather.  So often it can be cool, breezy, and foggy.  We lucked out with the sun, and tucked inland there were a couple hot spots totally protected from the wind.  I was quite impressed with the butterfly diversity, because those same narrow, human-crowded paths in the creek canyon also funnel butterflies into a small area of space.  Within 5 feet of Dudleya, we spotted a couple late season Sonoran blues.  

Sigh.  It amazes me how much I've redirected my own life's path in the 2 months since my first Sonoran sighting.  I only recently realized the true reason why I gave up netting as an entomologist.  Basically, I'm too lazy to process specimens on pins and labels.  What a tedious job.  It's so hard for me to admit that.  I'm looking for alternatives and am still considering a Lytro Light Field Camera as my next camera, pending Andy's beta test with his yearbook kids next year (yes, I asked, and the company is agreeable).  Here's a sample of what it can do - click anywhere on the photo to change the focal point.  Eh, it needs some improvement.  Maybe in another year they'll have a better software patch for macro shots?  The potential is exciting.

habitat ~ 06/03/12 ~ Garrapata State Park

Garrapata State Park
June 3, 2012

Despite my group outing fatigue from all the Fort Ord excursions in May, I signed up for this CNPS trip led by Bob Hale. If you can believe, I had never stopped here along Hwy 1 towards Big Sur to hike. All the cars parked along the busy Hwy under the trees have scared me away, because I figured the trails would be more crowded than I prefer when I go out to enjoy wild beauty (which turned out to be quite correct). Since it's only about 5 miles south of the more famous Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, it's become a very popular place with the seemingly annual closing of various sections of Hwy 1 due to rock slides and road collapses from winter storms and construction along the harsh Pacific Ocean edge.

We started with the very windy Soberanes Point Trail around Whale Peak (shown in the second photo above). Then we traversed the Hwy to get to the inland side and did a short section of the warm Soberanes Canyon Trail where we lunched under the redwoods (sorry, no picture). I was amazed to see all the work Bob and his volunteer cohorts have done to remove invasive poison hemlock, mustards, and thistles. Plus, I was equally surprised to find out how much planting of native seeds they do.

With all that work, it's no wonder Garrapata is such a beautiful place botanically; the impressive ocean views kinda take care of themselves. Unfortunately, this State Park is listed for closure come June 30, 2012, along with 3 other State Parks in Monterey County (Limekiln State Park, Moss Landing State Beach, and Zmudowski State Beach). Many people are very upset by the pending closures, like Randy at Way Points. Unlike back in 2009 when Mr. Terminator was Governor and threatened to close 80% of CA's State Parks, this year's more conservative closure list under Mr. Brown is going to happen... unless local groups organize non-profits or survive by sheer volunteer forces. In addition to Bob's group, there's another group that does trail maintenance; they call themselves Friends of Garrapata (FOG). It will be a rough, uphill battle to keep this place in decent shape.

western tussock moth ~ 06/03/12 ~ Garrapata

western tussock moth caterpillar

Orgyia vetusta

Here's a change of pace from all the plants I've been posting lately. We found this strikingly beautiful caterpillar on a fence post near the barn on the inland side of the Hwy. Similarly to many CNPS members' complaints about not recognizing family and name changes in the new 2012 edition of the Jepson Manual (often considered the Bible for CA native plant folks), the taxonomy of insects has also changed considerably since I studied them almost 20 years ago (geez, I think I'm getting old).

The bunched tufts (hence the name tussock) on its back are often compared to the bristles of a toothbrush. These tufts are typical of many members of the Lymantriinae subfamily (formerly Lymantriidae family). I do not know if the hairs of the western tussock moth caterpillar are urticating, which is something to be careful about with any hairy caterpillar. Even if the hairs do not actually sting like a nettle plant, I've found I can get a rash after handling lots of hairy caterpillars.

Now, the name tussock moth is not limited to Lymantriinae. Most members of Arctiinae (formerly Arctiidae) are very hairy and some are also called tussock moths, such as some Euchaetes spp., Halysidota spp., Leucanopsis spp., and Lophocampa spp. (like this spotted tussock moth I found 06/09/10).

As last notes, the adult female is wingless and looks almost like a fat fuzzy caterpillar herself. She waits for a male to arrive before laying eggs on her used cocoon. Joyce Gross from University of California, Berkeley has done an excellent job posting pictures and information at various online sites for Orgyia vetusta, including the Moth Photographers Group.