Butterfly House visitors are a bit intimidated by the large wasps buzzing about until we assure them that they are male cicada killer wasps. Males don’t lay eggs, so they don’t have ovipositors. No ovipositor…continue reading
What looked like tiny pieces of a black and white shag rug covered the Butterfly House door. The caterpillars of a milkweed tussock moth had just finished another molt and were in search of more…continue reading
BUTTERFLY HOUSE UPDATE. You still have time to visit Sarett’s Butterfly House. We plan to keep the butterflies flying until the end of September (weather permitting). Please come and enjoy. Please call ahead before visiting…continue reading
A coneflower plant was the place to be for arthropods. Different species of butterflies took turns probing for nectar. Aphids were also feasting on the plant (BOO!). One aphid made the mistake of venturing off…continue reading
The first week of July allowed for many animal sightings. Among the usual deer, groundhog, raccoon and frog views, I caught a glimpse into the life of a family of red foxes. Red foxes are…continue reading
Many times, our pond study specimens are rather shy as they sit in our collecting trays. The fingernail clam pictured below, however, was quite the showoff. Fingernail clams are mollusks with two shells; they are…continue reading
QUESTION: Which of the butterflies below migrate in the fall? ANSWER: All of them. Monarch butterflies are the most well-known butterfly migrators, but they are not alone. The speckled painted lady butterfly executes an equally…continue reading
On a walk through the Nature Center trails, a large moth on the ground caught my eye. With a furry abdomen, long bristled antennae and small bluish eyespots on the hindwings, the small-eyed sphinx moth…continue reading
Gardeners that notice ants on their plants may worry the ants are damaging the plants. In some cases that may be true. Many of the ants, however, may actually be protecting the plants from ravaging…continue reading
It was bound to happen. When you allow a male and a female frog coexist in the Butterfly House pond, you will eventually see eggs. Our froggy inhabitants are both on the young side. We…continue reading
