photos by Greg Hofmann

12/23/02: In the sandy soil of the hills of the Elkhorn Slough watershed lives an endemic insect that is rarely seen. At the first rains of winter, male Rain Beetles (Pleocoma sp.) emerge from their burrows and take flight. (At upper left we see one that has just landed and has not fully tucked away his wings.) Guided by smell, they search out the burrows of the flightless females, who are emitting pheromones to signal their location. Each male must hurry, for unless he is quick he will not be the only suitor to show up at the door. The fellow at lower left finds a warm welcome, but a scuffle breaks out at the door to apartment two.