Mono-lake
Guides
Cirrula hians
Alkali Fly
Cirrula hians, commonly known as the alkali fly, is a brine fly in the family Ephydridae. This species is notable for its association with alkaline and saline aquatic habitats. The species was originally described by Thomas Say in 1830 under the name Ephydra hians. It has been documented in 474 iNaturalist observations, indicating moderate public awareness and detectability. The species serves as an important food source for migratory birds and has been historically harvested by Indigenous peoples of the Mono Lake region.
Hebardacris
Mount Whitney grasshopper (for H. albida)
Hebardacris is a genus of spur-throated grasshoppers in the family Acrididae, established by Rehn in 1952. The genus contains at least three described species: H. albida (Mount Whitney grasshopper), H. excelsa, and H. mono. These species are native to western North America, with records concentrated in California. The genus belongs to the tribe Podismini within the subfamily Melanoplinae.
Lordotus pulchrissimus
desert bee fly
Lordotus pulchrissimus is a bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, commonly known as the desert bee fly. Males and females exhibit strong sexual dimorphism in size, fur density, and coloration—females are smaller (2–14 mm), more densely furred, and display brighter orange-yellow tones that fade rapidly with age, while males are larger (8–16 mm), less hairy, and possess black markings on the femora. The species is notable for the daily aerial swarming behavior of males, which form aggregations over stabilized dunes for reasons that remain unclear; this behavior is energetically costly and occurs independently of female presence or resource density. Adults feed primarily on nectar from desert brush, particularly rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus), and serve as pollinators. Larvae are parasitoids, though specific host insects remain unidentified.