Asian jumping worms are an invasive species destroying our forests, and already in our yards
If your garden mulch is disappearing, you might have Asian jumping worms, for they consume mulch and even wood chips rapidly. And bringing in even one jumping worm can lead to an infestation, because these worms do not need a mate to reproduce.
American lady butterfly spots aren’t camouflage, but what they are remains a scintillating mystery
American lady butterflies have two large eyespots on each hindwing. Animals often evolve patterns to help camouflage themselves from predators, but eyespots make butterflies stand out. Why would American ladies want to stand out?
Attend meetings on a longer pot shop head start, tree laws, a new race justice committee and more
Public meetings this week look at a cannabis head start extension, forming a racial justice committee, security deposit reform, tree infrastructure; using school district relief funds and hiring a School Committee executive secretary; and recreational pot near Fresh Pond.
Though great black digger wasps look fearsome, they’d rather hunt for insects than sting humans
This wasp paralyzes its prey and feeds it to her offspring. But don’t worry. Its sting will not immobilize you.
Four people – and now an alpaca – are infected with West Nile, raising local virus risk to ‘high’
State health officials raised the risk of West Nile virus in Cambridge and 26 other communities on Friday to high from moderate. The Department of Public Health acted after reporting the first infection in an animal this year, diagnosed in an alpaca in Middlesex County.
Painted turtles can survive intense watery cold, but climate change could make them all female
A fascinating fact about painted turtles: The temperature of their eggs determine the sex of a baby. Warmer egg temperatures produce females, which is why scientists fear that climate change bringing higher temperatures of just 2 degrees might lead to population collapse or even extinction
Great blue herons make a comeback
Cleanup efforts along the Charles River dating back to 1972 have helped bring back more great blue herons, but a debt is also due a couple of Boston socialites in 1896 and a Massachusetts Congressman in 1913.
Attend meetings on long-brewing proposals; school district vaccine mandates; a pet project
Public meetings this week look at a school district vaccine mandate; condominium conversion law; landmarkings; and a number of long-simmering projects that could add residences in Harvard Square, Wellington-Harrington and Central Square and hotels in Kendall and Central squares.
American goldfinch: A lemon-colored acrobat that’s the strictest of vegetarians
Goldfinches are seed eaters who wait until their food is plentiful in July and August before nesting and raising their young, which means you may be able to spot them right now in sunflowers and thistles.
Are the honeybees raised in urban environments beneficial or detrimental? Ask a native species.
Today there are about 2.8 million farmed bee colonies in the United States, and farmed honeybees compete with and put pressure on native bee species, many of which are already in decline.
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