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Insects

Monarch Butterflies – How Endangered Are They?

This iconic orange-and-black butterfly is widely assumed to be at risk of extinction. But Monarch biology is complex, with different populations exhibiting different ecology, and some research suggests that the situation is less dire than widely believe.

White Colic-root

This member of the lily family is a characteristic plant of the Vineyard sandplain and a popular place to stop for a wide range of pollinators.

Shed Some Light on Moths

Diverse, ecologically important, and often stunningly beautiful, moths have emerged as a popular subject of study among amateur naturalists.

Deer Bot Fly

An odd-looking fly with an even odder life history.

Sky Pirates!

Pyrgota undata, a boldly marked, largely nocturnal fly, is a parasite of May beetles, usually attacking its host in mid-air.

Colletes productus

A highly specialized bee, associated with the wetland shrub Lyonia ligustrina, is documented in iNaturalist.

Stiletto Flies

Perhaps because of their elongated shape, members of the fly family Therevidae have acquired the common name “stiletto flies.”

New Arrival

Deliberately or by accident, humans have transported many thousands of species from their native ranges to new regions or continents.

“Mystery Fly” on the Vineyard’s South Shore

A rarely reported, carrion-loving fly turns up on the southern shoreline of Martha’s Vineyard.

New Wasp Species for Vineyard Atlas of Life

An interesting species was added to the BWorks Martha’s Vineyard Atlas of Life project on iNaturalist last weekend: Vespula vidua, sometimes known as the widow yellowjacket.