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Invertebrate List
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Welcome to my list of MMB invertebrates!
The photos on this page are just a small sampling of the many thousands that I have taken here in the Mountain Meadows Basin (MMB), including the town of Westwood, in Lassen County Northeastern California. Touching a photo with the cursor should reveal its name.
The list on the left represents 2176 species that I have collected and/or photographed here in the Mountain Meadows Basin. Generally accepted common names, and some of my own invented common names, are listed first, and then followed by the nearest level scientific name of the species.
I have placed many of my invertebrate photos on the "Bug Guide" website. These photos may be viewed by clicking on those scientific names that are linked in blue. Links to thumbnail photos of all my MMB invertebrates can be accessed Here. My profile page at the Bug Guide website may be viewed Here.
One of the main problems in making a list of invertebrate animals is that most of them have no common name. Birds, mammals, reptiles, fish - they almost all have common names - which makes it simple to make an easy to understand "list" of their kinds in a particular area. Another problem is the vast diversity of different species, with 2176 species added to this list thus far from the MMB, of which makes for a rather complicated list without proper identification. My "guess" is that there are many more invertebrate species living in this
Basin; so this list will continue to grow year after year.
Although I have not done as much bug hunting within the Lake Almanor Basin, six miles west of Westwood, most of the these species will most likely be found there also.
As you may know, all creatures have a Latin scientific name - which is the "scientific" way of classifying life forms for precise naming. A butterfly that ranges over many states and countries may have several common names - and in different languages. But it will generally have only one universally
accepted scientific name. For those of you who are somewhat unfamiliar with the process of classifying and naming animals and plants I have included a sample classification of an insect farther down on this page.
Fortunately almost all butterflies and dragonflies and larger "pretty"
insects have common names along with their scientific names, and are usually easy to identify. Also with the help of a growing online image-identification database I have been able to identify and name quite a few others as well. I wish to express my thanks to all the scientists, experts, and fellow amateurs, who have help to put names on most of these small invertebrate wild animals.
Generally most people are more impressed with the bigger more visible animals such as birds and mammals, and game fish. Little animals such minnows, mice, frogs, and of course all those "bugs" simply do not get much attention.
However, the roll of the little guys to the big guys is critically important to the balance of life in the MMB and LAB. Many of the "vertebrate" animals in this area are 100% dependent upon invertebrates, as food, for their survival. Many plants, in our area, are dependent upon insects for survival through pollination. Local invertebrate "pests" affect our own health, our homes, even our industries. Each invertebrate species has it's own unique "life cycle" that
is lived out year-by-year right here in the Mountain Meadows Basin.
However, for most people, this vast diversity of life represented by wild invertebrate animals in our area is mostly unknown, not fully understood, and often unseen due to their small size and secretive ways.
However, with the age of the digital camera upon us that is changing! More and more people, men and women, kids, teachers, scientists, researchers, etc.., more and more of these folks are getting hooked into the wonderful world of macro photography. And they are posting their beautiful photos on a variety of websites on the internet. Some folks specialize on a certain kind of creature, like butterflies, or dragonflies. Some folks specialize just on their own backyard gardens. Others, like myself, specialize on a small region. The net effect is a growing awareness of the complex world around and about us. Hopefully, my efforts here with this list may help someone else in their efforts
to understand and protect the whole web of life that exists here in the Mountain
Meadows basin. I strongly urge other folks to do the same with your cameras!
For those who take up the chalenge,I have created a step by step guide on how to get fairly nice photos with a point and shoot camera, within a simple self made Bug Studio, with tips and tricks on how to photograph live insects and other invertebrates. Just ckick on the following link: with a Point and Shoot Camera
Please enjoy
Listed below are links to thumbnail photos of select groups of MMB invertebrates that I have placed on the Bug Guide website (a good way to identify that bug in your yard or by your front porch light) :
A Sample Classification Kingdom: Animalia (Animals)
Species Scientific Binomial Name: Teleorhinus cyaneus Species Common Name: No Common Name (but I call it the Red-legged Plant Bug)
On the list of names to the left:
Interesting Facts About
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Insects
The MMB invertebrate wild animal with the most legs is this 
Red 
Orange 
Yellow 
Green 
Blue 
Purple 
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