Monarch butterflies are the state insect of Idaho. They are a charismatic insect, and concern about their decline is often…
Episode 20: Thigmonasty in Prickly Pears and a Loveliness of Ladybugs
Plant movement in response to touch is called thigmonasty. The flowers of prickly pear cactus have stamens – the part…
Episode 19: Phenology Throwdown for July 2018
This week Casey gives us an update on some of the things that are blooming out at the farm. Since…
Episode 18: Mosquitoes as Pollinators and Haplodiploidy in Honeybees
Considering what a pest they can be, it makes sense to question what, if any, ecological benefits mosquitoes have. Would…
Episode 17: Ground Nesting Bees and Bumble Bees
This week we’re talking about native bees. Many of our native bees nest in the ground, and the majority…
Episode 16: Pollination 101
This week we discuss the basics of plant pollination, a.k.a. plant sex. Casey breaks it down, describing how pollen,…
