Mosquitoes Matter: Untangling Myths & Mastering Management
36 MinutesGuests: Aaron Anderson
It was Jimmie Durante who first came up with the rhyme, “spring is sprung, the grass is riz; I wonder where them boidies is?” Of course, spring also means the return of insects — bees, butterflies, dragonflies, and yes, mosquitoes — and here at the Xerces Society we start getting questions about what to do about these pesky critters. Does spraying help? Does spraying harm other insects? What are the alternatives and do they work?
Midnight Entomology: Unveiling the Secrets of Nocturnal Insects
37 MinutesGuests: Emily May
As humans, we often think of the world through the lens of daylight — when we are most active. But at night, an entire world of insects comes to life and we are missing out!
No Mow May: A Starting Point, Not the Finish Line
29 MinutesGuests: Matthew Shepherd
Tired of mowing your law? We have good news — you don’t have to, and the bees (and fritillary butterflies) will thank you for it! Mowing your lawn less frequently can provide habitat for pollinators, especially in early spring. But, is that enough? What can we do to turn No Mow May into meaningful conservation of pollinators and other wildlife?
Floater, Sheepnose, and Cat’s Paw: Exploring the Fascinating World of Freshwater Mussels
41 MinutesGuests: Emilie Blevins, Jack Fetters
We are going underwater to highlight an invertebrate that isn’t an insect — the freshwater mussel. These animals may not be well-known but are powerhouses in our freshwater ecosystems, playing a critical role in our lakes and rivers.
Buzzing Canopies: Forests' Vital Role in Supporting Pollinator Diversity
38 MinutesGuests: Kass Urban-Mead
For many of us, if we were asked to describe a place that is good for bees, we’d likely talk about somewhere that is open, sunny, and full of flowers — a garden, meadow, prairie, or hedgerow, maybe. The chances are that forests wouldn’t be high on that list. However, forests provide important resources for bees.
Bumbling Through Nature: Exploring the Fascinating Life History and Community Science of Bumble Bees
45 MinutesGuests: Rich Hatfield
Spend time in a garden and you’ll probably hear the buzzing of a bumble bee. These charismatic bees pollinate many of the foods and flowers that we love and, similar to other bees, their populations are in decline. Fortunately, there is a community science program to help us better understand the abundance and distribution of bumble bees across the US.
Life in the Dark: How Artificial Light is Impacting Insects
43 MinutesGuests: Dr. Avalon Owens
Light pollution. Go outside at night and you’ll notice it — lights on buildings, in gardens, along streets, glowing on the horizon. It might not seem like much, but this is changing the world for animals that rely on darkness. Imagine evolving for millions of years with only the stars and moon and now being faced with a landscape full of additional light. What happens to insects when the night is full of light? Can fireflies coexist in urban areas? Are there things we can do to reduce our impact?
The Magic of Fireflies: Flashing Lights, Glowing Worms, and Chemical Reactions
41 MinutesGuests: Richard Joyce
Fireflies. Just the word evokes for many people memories of summer evenings filled with magic and awe. From their flashy mating displays to their glowing larvae, these iconic insects have captured our hearts. Unfortunately, fireflies have started to disappear from the landscape. What is causing this decline and what can we do to help?
Surviving Winter: What Heat-Loving Butterflies Do During the Cold Months
40 MinutesGuests: Kevin Burls
We’ve previously talked about overwintering monarchs seeking refuge in warmer climates, but what do other butterflies do during the winter? Do they also migrate? Do all butterflies overwinter as adults? If so, where do they hide — in leaves or rock piles or up in the trees? If not, how do they survive — what do these warm-loving butterflies do during the winter?
Nature's Original Transformers: The Amazing Beetles
35 MinutesGuests: Jennifer Hopwood
We are all familiar with beetles. If we look around our homes or neighborhoods, we’ll find them, but how familiar are we? What makes a beetle a beetle? How many different species are there? What role do they play in our world?