Redding’s Sulphur Creek Brodiaea

Sulphur Creek Brodiaea (Brodiaea matsonii) is a very rare plant that only grows in one place in the world and that is in three sections of the upper reaches of Sulphur Creek in Redding. It was discovered by Redding botanist Gary Matson in about 2005 and officially named and published in 2010 by Robert Preston, a Brodiaea specialist who determined it was a new undiscovered and unnamed species.

David Ledger is working with SEA supporters Don and Laurie Burk, members of the Shasta Group of California Native Plant Society, on a petition for the California Fish and Game Commission to have Sulphur Creek Brodiaea listed as an endangered species. A part of that effort is to determine the pollinator of the plant. This beetle pictured, which is the most common bug on the plant was collected with a flower or two on the plant and given to local entomologist Don Owen to identify. With a little help from the Bug Guide it was determined to be in the family Melyridae, aka soft-winged flower beetles, subfamily is Dasytinae and the genus is Trichochrous. The description from the Bug Guide states: “This is one of the many species of Trichochrous. Many species are common in spring and early summer, often aggregating on flowers in large numbers.”

The beetle in the photo is eating pollen off the yellow anther, the male part of the flower. The yellow spots on the body of the beetle are pollen grains and if any should rub off on the stigma, the female flower part, as the beetle crawls over the flower, pollination would take place. The pollen grains are very high in protein and thus a desirable food for the beetle. As there are about 1.5 million identified beetles in the world, it is difficult to key them to a specific species.

All beetle photographs are by Don Owen who is also a member of the SEA Tree Committee. The picture of the flower is by David Ledger.