An online resource based on the award-winning nature guide - maryholland505@gmail.com
Live Last read · last published · next check
Slime molds are an unusual form of life that were once thought to be a kind of plant, animal or fungi, but they are none of these. Rather, they are amoebozoans beginning life as simple single-celled amoeba-like organisms. Usually found on decaying wood, slime molds begin life in the form of plasmodia, masses of protoplasm […]
If you see a moose in the summer, it inevitably will have a swarm of flies near and on its rump. Smaller than house flies, these moose flies (Haematobosca alcis) are there for a reason. The females suck blood in summer for nutrition needed to lay eggs. When the moose gets up in the morning […]
Galls are abnormal plant growths caused by various organisms (insects, mites, nematodes, fungi,bacteria, and viruses). With insect galls, either mechanical damage or salivary secretions initiate increased production of normal plant growth hormones which result in the formation of galls. If you look closely at wild grape leaves this time of year, you will likely find […]
Beavers are strict vegetarians. Their ever-growing incisors equip them to cut down and debark very large trees in order for them to consume the cambium (the soft, nutrient-rich layer of growing plant tissue located beneath a tree’s outer bark). Most of this heavy chewing is done in the fall, with branches cut and stored in […]
There is an insect – a female potter wasp, to be exact – that carefully constructs tiny mud pots (1/4″-3/4″) that look as if they were built on a potter’s wheel. She collects soil, mixes it with saliva, and with her mandibles and legs and creates a jug-like pot on a plant, twig or structure. […]
Jumping spiders comprise the largest family of spiders – 13% of spider species. They are predaceous, but do not spin traditional webs to catch prey. Instead, they are active hunters that use exceptional vision and agility to stalk and pounce on their food (they do produce silk for other crucial purposes, such as safety draglines, […]
American Goldfinches breed much later than most North American songbirds, typically nesting in July and August. Ornithologists believe the timing has to do with the availability of suitable nesting materials and food for young at this time of year. The American Goldfinch nest has three basic layers. The first layer, or foundation, consists of fibers, […]
The Golden Tortoise Beetle (Charidotella sexpunctata) is a small (1/4”) beetle with a domed body that makes it look like a tiny turtle. As intriguing as this adult beetle is, it’s the immature larval stage which makes this beetle especially noteworthy, as it goes to amazing lengths to defend itself. Golden Tortoise beetle larvae have […]
At least 75% of a Great Blue Heron’s diet is fish, but they also frequently eat small mammals (voles, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, and an occasional eastern cottontail), amphibians (frogs, salamanders), reptiles (snakes, lizards), crustaceans (crayfish, crabs, shrimp), aquatic insects and occasionally other birds – basically they will eat almost any small animal they can overpower […]
Adult female monarchs lay between 300 and 500 eggs, each considerably smaller (height: 1.2mm; width: 0.9mm) than a grain of rice. The majority of eggs are laid singly, often on the underside of the youngest leaves at the top of a young milkweed plant. As females lay their eggs, they secrete a small amount of […]
There are certain species of ferns which thrive on limestone rock outcrops. They require alkaline, calcium-rich soils and are commonly found growing in rock crevices. Because these areas are quick-draining, these ferns commonly feature shallow creeping rhizomes for anchoring in rock crevices, drought-resistant waxy coatings, and smaller, divided fronds to prevent excess water loss. Among […]
