The Velvet “Ant” That’s Actually a Wasp — And How It Got Its Nickname
A bright red or orange insect covered in dense, velvety hair runs across a lawn. It has no visible wings, moves like an oversized ant, and looks almost inviting to …
Ecology
Why You Should Order Spring Bulbs in Late Summer (Not Fall)
Tulips, daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, and alliums may feel like fall gardening projects, but waiting until planting season to shop can limit your choices. If you’re wondering when to order spring …
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Why Firefly Season Is Already Fading (And What’s Happening Underground) On warm early-summer evenings, a backyard can seem filled with tiny blinking lights. A few weeks later, the display may …
Why Raccoons Get More Active and Persistent in Late Summer
The trash can that went untouched in June suddenly tips over twice in one week. Something empties the bird feeder after dark, grapes disappear from the garden, and the security …
Deadheading Flowers in Late Summer: How to Keep Blooms Going Into Fall
By August, many flower beds look noticeably different from the lush displays of early summer. Petunias may be stretched and uneven, marigolds are carrying brown flower heads, and zinnias are …
Why the Same Toad Keeps Showing Up at Your Porch Light Every Night
Walk outside after dark and you may notice a squat, brown toad sitting beneath your porch light. Come back tomorrow night, and it may be there again. After several evenings, …
Why Skunks and Raccoons Dig Up Lawns in Late Summer (It’s Not Random)
Table of Contents Why Skunks and Raccoons Dig Up Lawns in Late Summer (It’s Not Random) You wake up one August morning to find patches of your lawn peeled back …
The Superb Lyrebird: A Bird That Can Mimic Almost Any Sound
Walk through a damp forest in southeastern Australia and you might hear kookaburras, parrots, whipbirds, and other native birds calling from somewhere ahead. Then a completely different noise may appear: …
Why the Colossal Squid Has the Largest Eyes of Any Animal Alive
Far below the sunlit surface of the Southern Ocean lives an animal with eyes unlike anything else known in nature. The colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) possesses enormous, forward-facing eyes, and …
Tomato Hornworms: How to Spot, Remove, and Deal With Them Safely
Table of Contents Tomato Hornworms: How to Spot, Remove, and Deal With Them Safely One day your tomato plants look healthy and thriving. The next morning, entire branches seem stripped …