insects
The spotted lanternfly, an invasive pest
As I was riding my bike the other day, I spotted an insect on the pavement. Not wanting to harm it, I swerved around it, but as I did so, I realized that the insect looked a lot like a spotted lanternfly. I turned around, went back, confirmed that it was indeed a spotted lanternfly, […]
Armyworms besiege Cambridge
“Dreaded Army Worm Appears in Cambridge—Lawns Devastated in Wards One and Two—Ordinary Methods of Extermination Ineffectual.” Read more ‘We’re not just the war’: Ukraine beyond the battlefield That’s what a Cambridge Tribune headline from September 1896 says. The article, which describes Cambridge as “besieged,” says “The army worm, that most dreaded of all the pests […]
Dragonflies are older than dinosaurs and still thriving
Of the more than 300 in North America, none are more interesting than the black saddlebags dragonfly (Tramea lacerata), so named because of the black patches on its hind wings. When viewed from above, the patches look to be resting on each side of the abdomen, resembling saddlebags draped across the back of a horse. […]
The unusual moth that looks like a hummingbird
We all know that moths are common at night, but there are a few species of moths that fly during the day. One of these is the hummingbird clearwing moth (Hemaris thysbe). Read more Patrick John Filer The name is fitting: This large moth might be mistaken for a hummingbird because it hovers and beats […]
Alpha-gal is in the headlines. It’s no superhero
Ticks, at least here in New England, are synonymous with summer. And now that summer is in full swing, so is the need to be vigilant. The current tick forecast is of particular concern because of a tick-derived syndrome that’s making the rounds: alpha-gal. Read more Is Beacon Hill thinking about nixing single-family zoning? Alpha-gal, […]
A different kind of book-worm
Way back in 1665, Robert Hooker wrote of the “small, Silver-coloured Book-worm” that chews through books and papers. He was writing about silverfish, which despite its name is a silver-grey cockroach-like insect you may have seen scamper across a dark bathroom or basement floor when you switch on a light. Read more Copper Mill developer […]
Horrid Zale moths aren’t so horrible
One of my favorite Zale moths is the Horrid Zale moth, worthy of note for its name alone. If you have only ever read about Zale moths, including now, you are probably mispronouncing the name. You might think zale rhymes with tale, but it is actually a two-syllable word that rhymes with ballet, pronounced zah-lay. […]