IMHO California's climate is overrated (Los Angeles, San Diego: eat, trees, cities)

[dalparadise]

Originally Posted by valsteele

California lacks insects? That's news to me. Growing up in the Bay Area I remember swarms of ants everywhere, as well as lots of cockroaches and wasps.

San Francisco has very few insects.

Almost none, as a matter of fact. I leave my windows open 24/7/365 without screens in the City. I have had 4-5 mosquitoes and 3-4 moths fly in in over three years.

Closer to the Delta and in areas not influenced as much by the breeze through the Golden Gate, I'm sure there are more bugs. In SF, though, there are practically none.

We picnic at Land's End, or Fort Mason a lot--no ants. I have never seen a cockroach or a wasp here. I do see some fruit flies (or some kind of small swarm of gnats) every now and then--about once every few months I'll run into one of those...

I suspect when you say "Bay Area" you mean somewhere over the hill, like Walnut Creek?

[dalparadise]

Originally Posted by i_love_autumn

Was wondering about that since Californians post so often like it's gospel truth that California is bug-free,no-bugs,and I forget how many variations of this claim,so it's a "lie",huh?

No, it isn't.

[Tulemutt]

Originally Posted by dalparadise

San Francisco has very few insects.

Almost none, as a matter of fact. I leave my windows open 24/7/365 without screens in the City. I have had 4-5 mosquitoes and 3-4 moths fly in in over three years.

Closer to the Delta and in areas not influenced as much by the breeze through the Golden Gate, I'm sure there are more bugs. In SF, though, there are practically none.

We picnic at Land's End, or Fort Mason a lot--no ants. I have never seen a cockroach or a wasp here. I do see some fruit flies (or some kind of small swarm of gnats) every now and then--about once every few months I'll run into one of those...

I suspect when you say "Bay Area" you mean somewhere over the hill, like Walnut Creek?

Fruit flies are a phenomenon unto themselves. I have often marveled at how they appear even when fruit has been sequestered under cover - with no flies present immediately after slicing. Come back later in the day for another slice, lift the cover and what do you find? A swarm of fruit flies. I think they are a perfect manifestation of the Taoist precept of "being arising out of nothingness". A very metaphysical insect. Nothing to trifle at in wonder.

[i_love_autumn]

Originally Posted by AnthonyJ34

That sounds lovely to me. Sweater-weather is awesome. And sun exposure prematurely ages the skin -- so why bother tanning?

I feel the same... 'sweater weather-is better weather'!

[Mini-apple-less]

Originally Posted by dalparadise

I suspect when you say "Bay Area" you mean somewhere over the hill, like Walnut Creek?

Close - Concord. Tons of bugs there. A disgusting amount actually. This was nearly 20 years ago though and I've heard bug populations everywhere have declined dramatically since then.

San Francisco's climate is extremely atypical of California as a whole. That zone is a very narrow ribbon that extends no more than 10 or 15 miles (at the most) from the coast. Somewhere like Walnut Creek is far more typical of most places in California in terms of the climate.

[Tulemutt]

Originally Posted by valsteele

Close - Concord. Tons of bugs there. A disgusting amount actually. This was nearly 20 years ago though and I've heard bug populations everywhere have declined dramatically since then..

Wish all the human population growth had gone as well.

Originally Posted by valsteele

San Francisco's climate is extremely atypical of California as a whole. That zone is a very narrow ribbon that extends no more than 10 or 15 miles (at the most) from the coast. Somewhere like Walnut Creek is far more typical of most places in California in terms of the climate.

The relatively sparse insect numbers exist all the length of the state. Coast and inland both. With only pockets of exceptions such as the delta.

[MichaelF1973]

Spoiled Californians! I will be happy if I never see snow or a week of rain again!

[Mini-apple-less]

Originally Posted by Tulemutt

Wish all the human population growth had gone as well.
[/b]
The relatively sparse insect numbers exist all the length of the state. Coast and inland both. With only pockets of exceptions such as the delta.

Do you think Concord might have more insects due to its proximity to the delta marshes?

[Mini-apple-less]

Originally Posted by MichaelF1973

Spoiled Californians! I will be happy if I never see snow or a week of rain again!

Personally I like not having to purchase bottled water.

[Tulemutt]

Originally Posted by valsteele

Do you think Concord might have more insects due to its proximity to the delta marshes?

Could be. I never hang in Concord, but do in nearby Delta. Bugs are noticeable out in the tules - and that certainly includes bordering towns like Oakley for instance. Big Break is Buggy