Recently Asked
Learn what the community is asking about this season, with answers by Museum experts.
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- Recently Asked
“What type of moth do you think this might be? It was the length of maybe a pinky finger.”
Kevin, Santa Barbara County - September 22, 2022
“When I was given this some thirty years ago, I was told that it was the vertebra of a wooly mammoth, and that it was found in Alaska..
in my little research, I am not so certain.. th...”
Mette, Santa Barbara - September 13, 2022
“We have had a bat visiting from time to time over the last month in a small space in our ceiling. I've found the opening in the wall through which it is making its way into the house and would l...”
David, Santa Barbara - August 24, 2022
“I wondered if you think this could belong to a Mud Dauber Wasp. It's about 3-4 inches at the widest point. It seemed to get constructed very quickly, but I did not see the insect that built it....”
Kevin, Santa Barbara - August 24, 2022
“Hello,
I was kayaking in a northern MN mine pit and it's very unusual and as big as my hand and it's cracked in half but I have the two pieces. The inside almost looked like a giant jawb...”
Laci, Saginaw, MN - July 25, 2022
“Hello,
I need a little direction as where to go to get some fossil shells identified and dated. The shells are from Platform Heritage (offshore from Gaviota) and 3-4 thousand feet deep in...”
Robert, Gaviota Coast - July 23, 2022
“Hello Dr. Gimmel, I found this bug on the kitchen counter this morning. It's about 3/16" long. I took this picture with a basic digital microscope.
I've been looki...”
Gary, Santa Barbara - July 23, 2022
“Found about a dozen eggs, (small about 1/2 inch or smaller) while cleaning out a clay pot that had a dead plant. Digging in the soil to remove roots, my hand tool came up with a few eggs, more s...”
Sandra, Santa Barbara - July 20, 2022
“Can you identify this organism found on Butterfly Beach?”
Julie, Montecito, CA - July 6, 2022
“I wonder if I might trouble you for an insect ID. Is this a Northern Walkingstick?
This individual was on the wall of my office building (here at UCSB). You never know what you'll see on...”
Kevin, UCSB - July 1, 2022
