Creating a butterfly garden is about more than just picking pretty flowers; it is about providing a complete life-support system. To successfully support local populations like the Baltimore Checkerspot or the Monarch, your garden must offer food, shelter, and water throughout the entire growing season.
Continue reading Beyond Nectar: How to Create a True Butterfly Sanctuary in Your Backyard
The Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton) is a striking, medium-sized butterfly recognized for its dramatic black, white, and orange-red coloration. Named for the colors of the coat of arms of Lord Baltimore (the founder of the Maryland colony), this butterfly serves as an iconic—though increasingly rare—resident of North American wetlands.
Continue reading The Baltimore Checkerspot: A Wetland Jewel
Manduca quinquemaculata, commonly known as the five-spotted hawk moth in its adult form and the tomato hornworm as a caterpillar, is one of the most recognizable insects across North American agriculture and home gardens. Belonging to the family Sphingidae (sphingid or hawk moths), this species is notorious for its voracious appetite during its larval stage, capable of defoliating Nightshade family (Solanaceae) plants in a matter of days.
Despite its reputation as a crop pest, M. quinquemaculata is a fascinating organism from an ecological, evolutionary, and anatomical perspective.
Continue reading The Biology and Impact of Manduca quinquemaculata: The Tomato Hornworm
The Madagascar Hissing Cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa) is one of the largest and most distinctive cockroach species in the world. Native exclusively to the island of Madagascar, this wingless detritivore has earned global fame for its unusual vocalizations, robust heavy-armored body, and gentle temperament—making it a staple in scientific research, classroom education, and exotic pet keeping.
Continue reading Gromphadorhina portentosa: The Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
The Giant Vinegaroon (or Giant Whip Scorpion) is one of the most fascinating invertebrate pets you can keep. Prehistoric in appearance, these heavily armored arachnids earn their common name from their unique defense mechanism: the ability to spray a vinegar-like acetic acid compound from the base of their whip-like tail when threatened.
Continue reading Giant Vinegaroon Care Guide (Mastigoproctus giganteus)
The brown prionid (Orthosoma brunneum), also known as the brownish-root borer, is a prominent member of the longhorn beetle family (Cerambycidae) native to eastern and central North America. Recognized by its elongated, mahogany-colored body and impressive size, it plays an important—and sometimes misidentified—role in forest ecosystems as a primary decomposer of wood.
Continue reading Orthosoma brunneum: The Brown Prionid Beetle
The Phormictopus cancerides, commonly known as the Hispaniolan Giant Tarantula or Dominican Purple, is a legendary species in the arachnoculture hobby. Native to the Caribbean, this New World tarantula defies the stereotype of the docile, slow-moving American species. It is a massive, incredibly fast, and fiercely defensive titan that commands respect from even the most seasoned keepers.
Continue reading Phormictopus cancerides: The Hispaniolan Giant Tarantula
If you have ever stumbled across a massive, bristly black caterpillar with bright red bands or a stunning white moth dotted with iridescent blue-black rings, you have encountered Hypercompe scribonia. Commonly known as the Giant Leopard Moth (or Eyed Tiger Moth), this species is one of the largest and most visually striking tiger moths in North America.
Continue reading Nature’s Eye-Catching Generalist: An In-Depth Look at the Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia)
Since I store overwintering cocoons outside, I feel that when the moths start to hatch, it is a good indication of what is going on in nature. This is proven further when the moths I hatch out turn out to be female, and they can attract in wild males for mating.
Continue reading Moth Season Has Begun In Rhode Island
The Harpactira pulchripes, commonly known as the Golden Blue Leg Baboon, is widely considered one of the most beautiful tarantulas in the world. Hailing from South Africa, this species revolutionized the hobby by offering the striking aesthetics of an “Old World” tarantula with a temperament that is surprisingly manageable compared to its more aggressive relatives.
Continue reading Harpactira pulchripes: The Golden Blue Leg Baboon
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