by Rich Couse | Aug 31, 2023 | Yard Biodiversity, Insects, Martha's Vineyard Atlas of Life, Plants
As life gets busy in the summer, it’s hard to fit all one’s activities in, especially during the confines of a weekend. I always try my best not to be too rigid about things. Imagine watching reeds in a high wind: they bend but they do not break. Now imagine trees... 
by Rich Couse | Jul 26, 2023 | Plants, Insects, Wildflowers, Yard Biodiversity
About a month ago, I was on a Natural Neighbors visit walking a property with a landowner and talking about things that can be done to increase the diversity of native species. The property owner said she was having trouble bonding with her land and this started the... 
by Matt Pelikan | Jul 25, 2022 | Insects, Martha's Vineyard Atlas of Life
A vastly diverse and ecologically vital group of insects, the moths (most of the members in the order Lepidoptera) have also emerged as one of the most popular subjects for amateur nature study. There are good reasons for this: moths can be incredibly beautiful, and... 
by Angela Luckey | Jul 22, 2022 | Insects, Wildflowers, Yard Biodiversity
Natural Neighbors participants are making great strides in increasing native plant diversity on their property and providing essential sources of water and cover in year two of the program. We have 180 individuals and neighbors enrolled in the program! They all have... 
by Matt Pelikan | Jun 21, 2022 | Insects, Martha's Vineyard Atlas of Life
There is virtually no end to the list of strange life histories insects have evolved. I came across a good example as I tended a moth sheet (a white sheet illuminated by black-light bulbs, used to attract nocturnal insects) during our Long Point Wildlife Refuge... 
by Matt Pelikan | Jun 15, 2022 | Insects, Martha's Vineyard Atlas of Life
To be successful at hunting or fishing, the saying goes, you need to learn to think like your prey. The same is true of insect study: by learning to imagine the world from an insect’s perspective, you greatly increase your chances of finding something...