Dragonfly

Dragonfly

Dragonflies are graceful, brightly colored predatory insects with four wings and a long body.  Large ancestors of dragonflies, those with a three-foot wingspan, were on this planet longer than we can imagine.  Fossil records show that dragonflies have been here since...
Praying Mantis

Praying Mantis

Similar to the common names of the gypsy moth and emperor scorpion, which have nothing to do with gypsies or emperors, the praying mantis (Stagmomantus sp.) has nothing to do with praying. The common name praying mantis refers to the typical “prayer-like” posture...
What Makes Honey Bees Unique Among Pollinators

What Makes Honey Bees Unique Among Pollinators

The honey bee (Apis mellifera) is responsible for approximately 80% of the pollination of fruits, nut, grains, and vegetables in the United States today. Honey bees are not native to North America; they were brought here by European settlers in the colonial days to...