Violets are often bemoaned as “weeds” when found in lawns, and otherwise impugned for their tendency to easily reseed and spread. With their heart shaped leaves and cheery blue flowers, violets aren’t really bad guys – in fact they are the host plant … [Read more...]
Pesticides, Pollinators, and Pestilence: Protecting Public Health and Pollinators
Tick and mosquito control provides important public health protection, but can also affect pollinator populations. The effects are often dependent on specific local conditions, such as how close the pesticide application is to places pollinators … [Read more...]
From the Help Desk – Isn’t That Just Plum-Dandy!
QUESTION The client called about a 6-yr old plum tree that had fruit for 3 years but not for last 2 even though it bloomed well. DIAGNOSIS / RECOMMENDATION The problem was identified as a lack of a pollinator variety. Japanese plums … [Read more...]
Fall Garden Care for Pollinators
This article discusses the beneficial pollinators that overwinter in the garden and best practices for providing habitat for them. CONTINUE SOURCE: https://extension.psu.edu/fall-garden-care-for-pollinators … [Read more...]
Saving the monarch butterfly, one milkweed plant at a time
On a hot summer day at Claytor Nature Center, a handful of students are plucking fingernail-sized clippings among rows and rows of milkweed plants. What are they doing? Broadly speaking, they are researching how to save the declining monarch … [Read more...]
Common Monarch Ailments 101
This is a list of the MOST common problems that the Monarch Rearer may encounter and how you can either avoid your Monarch from being infected or avoid the infection from spreading to your other caterpillars. Continued: … [Read more...]
Thousands Of Monarch Butterflies Are Headed Straight For Virginia This Spring
Good news, nature enthusiasts! Along with the arrival of warmer days, wildflowers, and hummingbirds, you can now look forward to spotting some beautiful monarch butterflies in Virginia. Continued: … [Read more...]
I Found a Caterpillar. What Will it Turn Into?
Did you find a caterpillar outside, and you're wondering what kind of butterfly or moth it will turn into? Would you like to raise it to an adult? Find out the name of your caterpillar, what it eats, and what it turns into with the help of this quick … [Read more...]
Gardening for Butterflies
Learn about the butterfly life cycle, and how to manage your garden to attract butterflies. They are also extremely important ecologically. Butterflies pollinate flowering plants and serve as food for other organisms, thus forming an important link … [Read more...]
Pollinators need more than pollen and nectar to survive and help produce food for people
To survive, pollinators need more than just flowers as sources of pollen and nectar. They also need water, bare ground for nesting, shelter and nesting materials. In natural areas, these items are readily available. But in urban and residential … [Read more...]