Marten Edwards
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On the Blog Post Cicadas, Commencement and Citizen Science
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On the Blog Post Cicadas, Commencement and Citizen Science
Marten Edwards
7:08 pm on Friday, May 17, 2013
ReplyUPDATE:
Soil temperature in my garden this evening was 59-61 degrees. Still too cool here for the cicadas. Have not seen any evidence of emerging cicadas in this region yet.
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On the Blog Post Luna Moths: As Lovely as a Moonlit Night
Marten Edwards
3:28 pm on Monday, April 29, 2013
ReplyWonderful news! Was this in the Lehigh Valley? I wonder if the warm weather over the last weekend encouraged it to emerge from its cocoon.
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On the Blog Post It's Mason Bee Season!
Marten Edwards
12:10 pm on Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Good question! I usually see a big parasitic wasp larva instead of a cocoon.
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On the Blog Post Luna Moths: As Lovely as a Moonlit Night
Marten Edwards
8:28 am on Monday, October 22, 2012
Hello Tracey,
It sounds like a case of the tachinid parasitoid fly that has been a major threat to Luna Moths. Compsilura concinnata was introduced from Europe in an attempt to control invasive gypsy moths. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compsilura
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On the Blog Post Emerald Ash Borer: Boring But Never Dull
Marten Edwards
8:08 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Females have been observed to lay an average about 70 eggs. Of course, not all of the eggs will hatch into larvae, escape predators (like woodpeckers) and eventually become adults that can reproduce. Except in very cold regions where it can take two years, they generally don't reproduce until they are one year old. Their reproduction rate is not especially fast as far as insects are concerned. Some aphids can has as many as 15 generations in a single year. A significant problem is that they do most of their damage before they are even noticed.
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On the Blog Post Luna Moths: As Lovely as a Moonlit Night
Marten Edwards
9:04 pm on Sunday, August 26, 2012
Hello Elizabeth,
It sounds like the caterpillar was the victim of a small parasitoid wasp. The "eggs" you see on the outside of the caterpillar are probably the cocoons of the wasps, the larvae have already finished with their development. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do for the caterpillar. I have seen this happen quite often with tomato hormworm caterpillars, but never a luna moth caterpillar. Since tomato hornworms are garden pests, we normally think of these wasps as beneficial insects.
Thanks for the comment and sorry to bring sad news.
-Marten
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On the article Bread Box Bakery & Cafe Closes
Marten Edwards
8:16 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
ReplySo sorry to see you go, you were a favorite place to have a tasty snack and my daughter will really miss the fun times she had there. We wish you the very best on your next project.
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On the Blog Post Bumble Bees: Cuddly Canaries
Marten Edwards
6:02 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
ReplyUPDATE: In paraphrasing the conversation I had with a staff member of ARBICO, I left out some important details. I would like to emphasize that I did not write a direct quote from her anyone else at ARBICO, but tried to capture its "essence", as it related to the blog. The main points in our conversation regarding bumblebees were as follows, according to a Milagra Weiss, Staff Entomologist ARBICO Organics.
"We ship queenless colonies that are not perennial—they are only for supplemental, single season, pollination support in greenhouse and field situations. Native bumblebee diversity is very high in the Northwest and therefore there are restrictions against shipping reared bumblebees to the west coast. Regarding the note on our website about shipping to select locations on the west coast, requests would be reviewed on a very specific case by case basis, handled by an ARBICO supervisor and Koppert. We at ARBICO are not interested in shipping products where they are not wanted or outlawed. We have safeguards built into our ordering system that prevent us from shipping products to locations where they are outlawed. I encouraged you to speak directly to Koppert for further information on the vending of bumblebees."
Points well taken. I hope that my mention of ARBICO will be taken as it was intended. They are an example of a company that is doing the right thing and doing their part to help prevent the spread of bumble bees into places that they do not belong.
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On the article Are you a Spider Killer or Keeper?
Marten Edwards
7:15 am on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
ReplyDefinitely a spider keeper! Thanks for giving our spider friends some positive press!
Marten Edwards
7:10 am on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
UPDATE
Nymphs have been spotted near Palmerton and Hamburg. No adults yet.
http://magicicada.org/databases/magicicada/map.html