If you live in eastern North America there is probably a life-and-death struggle going on near you between the local spiders and a particular wasp. The wasp is famous for its remarkable mud nests, the beautiful Pipe Organ Mud-dauber Wasp … Continue reading
Some of you will know, and possibly be plagued by a newly introduced pest insect, the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys). This animal was accidentally introduced in to the United States from Asia in 1998. They are an agricultural … Continue reading
It is spring as I write this, so I’m a bit behind with this blog entry. You may have been wondering about where all those spiders that you saw in the autumn went during the winter. Many of them came … Continue reading
For the past few summers I’ve taught a Spider Biology course (EEOB 5210) at The Ohio State University’s F.T. Stone Laboratory on Gibraltar Island in Lake Erie. The course will be offered again this summer (2016), from July 31 through August … Continue reading
Some of our most common spiders are extremely variable in color. A few spiders can actually change color to match the background. The “flower spider” group of crab spiders are the most famous of these here in Ohio. They get … Continue reading