Insects
Pollinators and Pollutants Public Hearing
Massachusetts State House 24 Beacon St, Boston, MAOn May 10, 2023, proposed legislation for pesticide reform and pollinator protection is expected to receive a public hearing before the Joint Committee on Environmental and Natural Resources at the Massachusetts State House in Boston (and on-line). This public hearing is…
Gardening With Native Plants, Why and How: Providing habitat for pollinators, birds and other essential wildlife
Amy Meltzer's talk will focus on the current biodiversity crisis, the evolutionary history among native plants, insects, birds and fungi, and how these interdependent relationships among diverse species are necessary for their survival. She will show how growing native plants…
Wildlife in a Changing Climate: The Secret Lives of Wild Bees
OnlineYou’ve probably heard “Save The Bees!” but do you know which bees need saving? Over 4,000 species of bees inhabit North America, and most don’t live in hives or make honey. These wild bees come in every size, shape, and…
Fields & Forests: What do bees need?
Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MAKick-off Pollinator Week with Great Falls Discovery Center! Make your own native bee habitat by “painting” with yarn, fleece, pre-felt shapes, and soapy water. Will your bees live in a tree trunk or holes in the ground? Will they build…
Pondering Ponds
Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center 475 Dyken Pond Rd., Cropseyville, NYEver wonder what lives in ponds? Join Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center to find out just what is lurking at the bottom of these essential bodies of water and why they are so important. Catch and release frogs, salamanders, insects,…
Sheep Hill Firefly Hike
Sheep Hill 671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MAJoin Williamstown Rural Lands to experience the magic of the fireflies at Sheep Hill! Listen to storyteller and musician John Porcino weave whimsical tales and songs, search for fireflies on a guided walk in the meadow, and enjoy s'mores around a…
Firefly Watch at Thomas & Palmer Brook
Thomas and Palmer Brook Great Barrington, MassachusettsEnjoy the magical display of fireflies lighting up the evening sky on a summer night with Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC). They'll discuss the how and why of this phenomenon while taking a walk through the meadows of Thomas &…
Moth Mystique: Illuminating the Dark Side of Winged Wonders with Conservation Photographer Carla Rhodes
Online/In PersonIn anticipation of National Moth Week*, Carla Rhodes, a wildlife conservation photographer and moth enthusiast, will give a presentation all about moths: what mothing is, how to do it, why moths are important, and what moths you might see in…
Observing Moths at Night: A Lightsheet & Mothing Demonstration at Flat Brook Wildlife Management Area
Flat Brook Wildlife Management Area Baker Street, West Stockbridge, MA, United StatesEvery year, during the last week of July, National Moth Week celebrates the beauty, life cycles, habitats, and importance of moths and helps spread awareness of these essential insects whose global populations are rapidly declining. People of all ages and…
2023 Berkshire Biodiversity Day (BioBlitz)
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontUPDATE: BIOBLITZ IS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND! Some people have asked what will happen with Biodiversity Day this weekend if it's raining. We still plan to go ahead with the programs and the surveying, regardless of the weather forecast. We're keeping a close eye…
Wild Bee Walk with Aliza Fassler at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontJoin Aliza Fassler for a wild bee walk during the 14th Berkshire Biodiversity Day (aka Berkshire Bioblitz). Aliza will encourage participants to look for and observe bees doing their usual pollinating work and talk about who is found! This walk…
“What is a Spider and What is Not” with Joseph Warfel at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontJoseph Warfel will present on spiders and other arachnids at the 14th Annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day (or Bioblitz). He'll give an overview of spiders and their relatives, including brief life histories of arachnids and their place in nature and the global…
“Backyard Leafminers” with Charley Eiseman at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontCharley Eiseman will speak about leafminers — insect larvae that spend at least part of their lives feeding between the thin, outer (epidermal) layers of leaves — at the 14th Annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day, or Bioblitz. In North America, leafminers…
“Meet the Native Bees of New England” with Aliza Fassler at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontIn North America, there are approximately 4,000 species of wild bees that are critical for pollinating plants in our forests, gardens, and fields. At the 14th Annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day (or Bioblitz), Aliza Fassler will talk about the diversity of…
The Spongy Moth in Our Yards and Forests
Online/In PersonJoin Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies for a presentation on spongy moths, an invasive forest pest that has recently resurged. Outbreaks of very hungry caterpillars have defoliated trees in the Hudson Valley and beyond. Will this happen again in 2024?…
In the Life of Threatened Fireflies
OnlineThere is more to fireflies than just summer sparkles! Join endangered species conservation biologist Richard Joyce for a presentation about the fireflies of the USA, focusing on the natural history and conservation needs of our most threatened species. He will…
The Secret Lives of Native Bees
OnlinePart of Grow Native Massachusetts' Evenings With Experts series You’ve probably heard “Save The Bees!” but do you know which bees need saving? Over 4000 species of bees inhabit North America, and most don’t live in hives or make honey.…
In the Life of the Bumble Bee Queen (and the Cuckoo too!)
OnlineJoin Rich Hatfield, Xerces Senior Endangered Species Conservation Biologist, to take a deep dive into the reproductive females of bumble bees, including cuckoo bumble bees. We'll primarily look at the solitary phase of the lifecycle, including what is known about…
Berkshire Green Drinks: “The Invasive Spotted Lanternfly: What it does, what we can do, and hope for the future” with Elizabeth Barnes of Mass DAR
Hot Plate Brewing Co. 1 School St., Pittsfield, MA, United StatesInvasive insects can have devastating impacts on our ecosystem, economy, and quality of life. But how are they able to be so disruptive, and what can we do about it? Join BEAT and Elizabeth Barnes, the Forest Pest Outreach Coordinator…
Berkshire Green Drinks: “Northeastern Cliff Swallows: A Conservation Adventure – Part II” with Linda Merry
The Williams Inn 103 Spring St, Williamstown, MA, United StatesJoin us online or in person for our May 2024 Berkshire Green Drinks event, featuring conservation biologist Linda Merry, who will update us on her ongoing cliff swallows research. Some may remember Linda from the August 2022 Pittsfield Green Drinks,…