The crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, the buzz of the cicadas, and the peep of the chorus frog… These are the sounds of summer in New England. Cicadas occupy a sub-group of Hemiptera called Homoptera. Hemiptera are the “true bug” group and consists of leafhoppers, aphids, cicadas, bed bugs, and shield
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It sounds like you are seeing a couple of different dermestid beetles. Dermestid beetles, also known as Skin Beetles, are a family of beetles who vary in their behavior, but are commonly considered to be scavengers. These beetles feed on dead vegetable and animal matter, often infesting hides of animals and beneficially removing the material.
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March is the month of the official start of spring. In new England, that means we keep one eye open looking for the next storm of the century, as many have occurred in the first part of March, and one eye on the Crocus and Daffodils peaking through the soil, signaling the upcoming new life
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Migration to warmer climates Famously, the Monarch Butterfly migration is investigated by researchers and amateur lepidopterists alike. The migration from Canada and the Northern United States occurs in the fall by a single generation of adult butterflies. An adult butterfly lives for only about four to five weeks. In this time, the generation of migrating
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Seasonal Disturbances Every spring and fall, woodpeckers cause disturbances on homes throughout New England. Their loud drumming wakes up families and can irritate at any time of day, though mornings are most common. Drilling into your trim and siding is unsightly and lead to more serious problems. Many of us are concerned about woodpeckers signaling
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Autumn is welcome, pests are not! New Englanders love the changing of the seasons, especially going into the fall. The leaves are beginning to change colors, the night air is getting crisp and refreshing, and fall sports are in focus. With school children finding their school year routines, what other changes can we expect? Autumn
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First of all, what you saw may or may not be yellowjackets. Some other wasps look very much like yellowjackets: European paper wasps make those open “umbrella” nests under the eaves (and elsewhere). They’re black and yellow but are distinguished by orange antennae and orangey wings. European hornets look somewhat like very large yellowjackets but
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We’re all pretty well resigned to a limited or stay-home vacation this summer. But we’re also determined to make the most of it – we’re going to take back our backyards! Because your family will be spending more time outside on the deck, in the pool, and working in the garden, you’re apt to notice
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If you’re unlucky enough to be one of those homeowners whose home is regularly invaded by outside insects in the fall, you know what I’m talking about. When the weather gets cooler and the days shorter, certain plant-feeding insects look for places to spend the winter. Whether or not your home is invaded depends on
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