Did you know humans aren’t the only species that have farmers? Ants farm too! Instead of keeping dairy cows or goats though, ants maintain aphid farms!

I used to think aphids were super cute with their tear-drop-like shape, tiny beady eyes, bright colors, and silly little butt antennae… Until they got into my indoor plants that is :( Now, despite their cuteness, they are on my squash list.

Have you ever walked by a bush, or series of bushes, and thought you heard them rustling? Or worse, sort of whispering?? You may not be crazy – it might be bugs!

By now you’ve probably all heard the ‘buzz’ about it being the year of the Brood X 17-year periodical cicada, Magicada. At least for folks in many parts of the US. I live in southern Michigan and according to the historical maps that means I should just barely be in the range to see them. Hooray! So all year, I have been anxiously awaiting and anticipating the emergence of Brood X. And waiting. And enviously looking at photos and videos posted by my fellow entomologists in more eastern parts of…

Do you have what looks like gobs of loogies all over your plants? Me too! Fortunately these are not giant gobs of spit from the neighborhood kids – at least not the neighborhood human children! These goopy globs are actually a bubbly mass produced by the aptly named ‘spittlebug’.