The other morning I got a text from my good friend Laura McKinsey. That in itself was a great way to start the day, as…
Imperial Moths
Becoming a Moth-er
Some of you might be aware, I’ve been a naturalist my whole life. But it’s only been a career since the year 2000. Prior to…
Helping Pollinators Survive the Winter
The St. Charles Park District, in its efforts to support native pollinators, erected this bee house early this summer. It is located behind the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center. The structure was immediately adopted by a number of native bees. You can make a smaller version of this house by stuffing native plant stems into a
Moths
Polyphemus moths are locally common in our area but rarely seen due to their nocturnal nature. Good Natured reader Lorayne Hrejsa recently captured this pair (Yes! There are two, if you look closely) exchanging greetings in her yard. Moths August 4, 2017 In the world of lepidopterans – the “scaly wings,” or butterflies and moths
Black Witch Moth
The black witch moth is native to Central and South America but occasionally journeys northward. This individual, a female, was spotted a month ago at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles. Black Witch Moth July 14, 2017 “The wind began to switch – the house to pitch And suddenly the hinges started to unhitch.
Camo Looper
Do you remember when you first were allowed to dress yourself? Oh the freedom! The thrill! The independence to wear your favorite stripes, plaids and floral patterns, individually or all at once. It didn’t really matter whether the articles matched; the main thing was that you’d picked them out and put them on all by
Plume Moths
June 3, 2016 Plume Moths You’ve got to be careful this time of year. Springtime—that long-awaited, much-heralded season of color and warmth—can be positively overwhelming. The sights of brightly colored blooms and birds in breeding plumage; the sounds of mating calls and territory songs; the sweet smells of plants doing their darnedest to attract pollinators…
Gypsy Moths
When I think of the word gypsy, two images come to mind. One is ca. 1972 and features the stage at Wheaton’s Longfellow School—my alma mater. I was auditioning for the school play, of a title I can’t remember, and I had to read the line, “I can dance the tarantella.” My acting skills being
Polyphemus
April 3, 2015 Polyphemus The large, feathery antennae of this polyphemus moth identify it as a male. These delicate and sensitive structures can detect a single molecule of female moth pheromone from miles away. Let this be a lesson to you all: The next time someone brings you a cocoon and you promise to store
Underwings
June 6, 2014 Underwing moths are named for their brightly colored hindwings, which typically are kept hidden until the moth takes flight. Underwings Seeing as it’s June, the most popular month for weddings, it seems fitting that we talk about … moths. I’m sure you’re probably thinking, “Moths? Eww. Aren’t they the critters that eat