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s- <br /> ENTOMOLOGICAL CONSULTING SERVICES,LTD. <br /> Richard A.Arnold,Ph.D. 104 Mountain View Ct. (415)825-3784 <br /> President Pleasant Hill,CA 94523 FAX 827-1809 <br /> 7 October 1991 <br /> Mr. Paul Miller q <br /> Environmental Science Associates, Inc. <br /> 301 Brannan St. , Suite 200 <br /> San Francisco, CA 94107-1811 <br /> RE: Austin Road Landfill Expansion Project <br /> Dear Paul: <br /> This letter reports the findings of my one-day habitat assessment and <br /> status survey for the threatened Valley Elderberry Longhorn beetle, candidate <br /> Molestan Blister beetle, and candidate California Hibiscus at the proposed <br /> Austin Road Landfill expansion project site near Stockton, CA. My surveys <br /> were conducted on September 5th at two parcels that are under consideration <br /> for the landfill expansion, including the Brocchini property (55 acres) and <br /> the California Youth Authority's (CYA) surplus property (126 acres) . The re- <br /> mainder of this letter provides some background information on these sensitive <br /> species and describes my survey methods and findings. <br /> BACKGROUND INFORMATION <br /> Valley Elderberry Lon hg or Beetle. <br /> The Valley Elderberry Longhorn beetle (VELB) , Desmoscerus californicus <br /> dimorphus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) , ranges throughout the Central Valley and <br /> surrounding foothills from about Redding to Fresno. It is found in riparian, <br /> floodplain, and foothill areas wherever its foodplant, elderberry (Sambucus <br /> mexicana) grows. Adults are active between about mid-April to mid-June and <br /> larvae feed internally in the trunks of the elderberry. Pursuant to provi- <br /> sions of the Endangered Species Act, the VELB is recognized at the federal <br /> level as a threatened species. Near the project site, it has historically <br /> been observed along the Middle River, west of Stockton. <br /> Molestan Blist2r Beetle. <br /> The Molestan Blister beetle, Lytta molesta (Coleoptera: Meloidae) is <br /> recognized at the federal level as a category 2 candidate for endangered or <br /> threatened status. This species is associated with grassland and vernal pool <br /> habitats of the San Joaquin Valley and surrounding foothills. Specific bio- <br /> logical information about L. molesta is unknown, however, closely related <br /> species of Lytta are believed to be parasitic on wild, ground-nesting bees, in <br /> particular Digger bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae) . Adult beetles congregate <br /> on various foodplants that typically grow in valley grassland and vernal pool <br /> habitats. Known foodplants include native species of Leguminosae, Convolvu- <br /> laceae, Compositae, Papaveraceae, and Rosaceae. Adult beetles feed on both <br /> the petals and pollen. These same plants are also visited by Anthophora bees, <br /> Austin Road Landfill Report Page 1 <br />