Creatures

The Black Widow Spider (Latrodectus mactans) is one of the most recognized and studied arachnids in North America, known for its infamous venom and glossy black appearance. Its natural history is tied to a broad range of temperate and subtropical habitats, where it plays a valuable ecological role as a predator of pest insects. Despite … Read more

The field cricket is a familiar and widespread insect known for its characteristic chirping sound, which has fascinated and irritated humans in equal measure for centuries. References to its song can be found in folklore, poetry, and literature across many cultures, often symbolizing peace, good luck, or the arrival of summer. Historically, people have even … Read more

The Paper wasp, belonging to the genus Polistes, is part of the family Vespidae in the order Hymenoptera, which also includes ants, bees, and other wasps. These wasps are classified as eusocial insects, meaning they live in colonies with a division of labor, cooperative brood care, and overlapping generations. Polistes is one of the most … Read more

The Yellowjacket wasp, belonging to the genus Vespula, is a member of the family Vespidae, under the order Hymenoptera, which also includes ants, bees, and other types of wasps. These insects are classified as social wasps, meaning they live in colonies with a caste system including a queen, workers, and drones. There are numerous species … Read more

The Luna Moth (Actias luna) is a striking member of the order Lepidoptera, which includes both butterflies and moths. It belongs to the family Saturniidae, commonly known as giant silk moths, and is one of the most recognizable moths in North America. Like other members of its family, it is known for its large size, … Read more

The Cabbage White Butterfly (Pieris rapae) belongs to the order Lepidoptera, the same group that includes all butterflies and moths, and is a member of the family Pieridae, known for its white and yellow butterflies. This species is native to Europe and parts of Asia but has spread widely and become one of the most … Read more

The Gypsy Moth, now officially known as the Spongy Moth (Lymantria dispar), belongs to the order Lepidoptera, which includes all moths and butterflies. It is a member of the family Erebidae, subfamily Lymantriinae. Originally native to Europe and parts of Asia, this species has gained widespread attention as an invasive pest in North America, where … Read more

Bumblebees belong to the genus Bombus within the family Apidae, under the order Hymenoptera, which also includes honeybees, wasps, and ants. This classification places them among some of the most efficient and complex pollinators in the insect world. They are easily recognized by their stout, hairy bodies and deep buzzing flight, traits that set them … Read more

Orb weaver spiders belong to the order Araneae, which includes all spiders, and the family Araneidae, one of the largest and most diverse spider families in the world. This family is defined by the spiders’ ability to build characteristic wheel-shaped webs, which are among the most intricate and visually striking web structures found in nature. … Read more

The Common Green Bottle Fly (Lucilia sericata) is a member of the order Diptera, which includes all true flies. Within this order, it belongs to the family Calliphoridae, commonly known as blow flies. These flies are closely related to other carrion- and decomposer-associated species, and are well-known for their ecological role in decomposition. Though not … Read more