Insects, Spiders, Centipedes, and Millipedes of Pinnacles

Deceptive patterning on the wings of a common buckeye butterfly.

NPS / Gavin Emmons

The Hidden World of Invertebrates at Pinnacles

Although often overlooked, invertebrates make up thousands of wildlife species at Pinnacles National Park. Despite their lack of bones, teeth, fur, or feathers, these creatures are far from primitive. Many have complex and fascinating life histories, often more bizarre than those of larger animals, and they are typically easier to find and observe.

Invertebrate Diversity

An inventory conducted in the late 1990s revealed roughly 400 bee species at Pinnacles, giving the park the highest known bee diversity per unit area worldwide. While the park’s butterfly diversity is lower, with around 70 species, it's still possible to witness hundreds of butterflies on a single day under the right conditions. Additionally, 500 species of moths have been recorded, with the total expected to exceed 1,000. About 250 species of aquatic invertebrates, including 41 species of dragonflies and damselflies, have also been documented. Many other invertebrate groups, however, remain largely unexplored.

Endemic Invertebrates

Pinnacles is home to several endemic invertebrates rarely or never found elsewhere:

• The Pinnacles shieldback katydid (Idiostatus kathleenae), a 2 cm wingless, dark gray insect, is active at night and feeds on California buckwheat flowers.
• The Pinnacles riffle beetle (Optioservus canus), a tiny brown beetle measuring 2 mm, inhabits the fast-moving waters of Chalone Creek.

Observing Invertebrates Responsibly

While the most common method of studying invertebrates involves capturing and killing them, this practice is prohibited at Pinnacles without a scientific collecting permit. Visitors are encouraged to use close-focus binoculars to observe these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat. With 8X binoculars, an eight-foot distance appears as if you are just one foot away—perfect for watching a bee gather pollen, a butterfly sip nectar, or a tarantula wasp hunt.