Using high levels of common fertilisers on grassland halves pollinator numbers and drastically reduces the number of flowers, research from the world’s longest-running ecological experiment has found. Increasing the amount of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus doused on agricultural grassland reduced flower numbers fivefold and halved the number of pollinating insects, according to the paper by […]
Tag: wasp
What to Do if You Find a Wasp Nest
Warm weather drives many people to step outside to soak up some sun. But as you enjoy your summer barbecue with friends and family, suddenly, a striped little visitor buzzes by. That buzzing intruder means one thing—you’ve got a wasp nest in your backyard. By late summer, wasp nests can house up to 10,000 busy […]
A Four-toothed Mason Wasp
This lovely wasp can be found drinking nectar at flowers throughout the eastern United States right now. It is a good wasp to have around the garden because the females round up leaf-rolling caterpillars — the kinds that eat your plants — to provision their nests. When it is time to reproduce, the female wasp […]
A Walk in Central Park
Last week I led a nature walk in Central Park for the American Museum of Natural History’s Membership Department. Even though I got rained on twice, there was a lot to see. Here are some of the wild creatures that were in the park on Wednesday. Turtles were basking in The Lake. Red-eared sliders are […]
Digger Wasp with Katydid
On Biolab Rd at Merritt Island yesterday, I saw a wasp carrying a large insect.It landed on a branch, I guess to rest for a little bit, and this allowed me to take a few photos. I’m no expert on insects, but I’m pretty sure this is a Digger Wasp, perhaps a Great Golden Digger […]
Goodness knows
Kindergarteners swarmed around the khaki-clad naturalist, squealing with excitement, shouting out questions and jockeying for a better view.The adult volunteers on this field trip were a tougher audience. “I’m glad they’re having fun but I don’t see why anyone should care about some bug,” one 30-something mom confided to another, adding, “What good is it, […]
Fio Fio (Elaenia albiceps) and Wasp
I was waiting for a hummingbird when this Fio Fio (Elaenia albiceps chilensis) perches on this flower. Suddenly the wasp appears attracting his attention. Result: unexpected meal. Note: Thanks very much to all who votes for my “Andean hummingbird” for best photo of the year 2012.
A Dragon’s Enemy
A freelance vandal in over his head, a dragon’s enemy drawn to frozen fire – Ichneumon wasp