Student Entomologist

This is a mole cricket! Without knowing where you are in the world I can’t get more specific than that. These crickets are totally harmless to humans, and use their weird-looking front legs to dig burrows, hence the name. 

Broccoli update, pulled a couple butterfly pupae off some of the leaves, so apparently they’ve been here for some time. Anyways, I was able to harvest my first head, looking great! 

Side note, check out that aphid in the bottom right pattern! I’m thinking Brevicoryne brassica, but can’t be sure without letting it produce apterous offspring (spoilers I won’t be). 

Strange and concerning server timeout warning on the SFU library website...

Pretty sure we have Family Libellulidae (Darners) on the left and Family Aeshnidae (Skimmers) on the right. 

It’s Pineappleweed (Matricariae discoidea) season here in Vancouver. It’s a very close relative to chamomile and I’ve been drying it for tea for a couple years now, it’s super tasty (especially with mint) and the flowers are very sweet and floral

These adults are only around for a week or so every year, it’s nice to see them out and about!

I’ve decided not to weed out clover for the first year, especially since I’m only using about half the space available this season. My hope is this helps to fortify the soil with nitrates and retain water, so far everything’s going well (I harvested my first peas yesterday), all my babies are playing nice with each other. 

Not helpful, google scholar. 

Went on a safari in my parents backyard last weekend, came across this baby slug crashing through the undergrowth. Look out, buttercups, she’s coming, and she’s hungry! 

Managed to squeeze in a quick audition from one of our teaching colony Australian Stick Insect (Extatosoma tiaratum) while TA-ing a lab. 

They’re very fragrant, btw! These ants have some interesting mandibular compounds.