The Spotted Lanternfly is a relative newcomer to North America. It is native to Southeast Asia and when there it is an unassuming and stable part of the local ecosystem. However, in North America, it has the potential for being a significant pest species. It mostly prefers to host on Tree-of-Heaven which is itself a significant invasive species problem. However, the Spotted Lanternfly will happily expand to other species.
Continue reading “Spotted Lanternfly”
Vultures play a critical role in our ecosystem. They are the garbage men of nature and fill an important niche in the decomposition process by helping break apart and eating large chunks of dead animals. It is said that you can tell an ecosystem is relatively healthy if there is a thriving vulture population because that means a large population of other animals who are dying at a steady rate and giving a reliable food source to the birds. However, most people including many nature enthusiasts don’t pay very much attention to these birds.
Continue reading “The Vultures of Eastern North America”
Crayshack 