Sunday set: Got bugs?

Polli-nation! Nature’s diversity is astounding at any level, but when you get down to a bug’s-eye view, it can really blow your mind. When I took the lily photo (with the upside-down bee or wasp) I didn’t  notice the second bug until I looked at the image on a larger screen at home. Curious, I

Morning photo: Stop bugging me!

Insect of the world … OK, so I’m not a super tech geek when it comes to my iPhone, and even though I’ve thought about getting some of those fancy external lenses, I can’t reach that deep into my pocket. Maybe someday … but in the meantime, I do get lucky every now and then

UK study shows ecosystem impacts of light pollution

Yellow street lights stunt growth in some plant species Staff Report FRISCO — Light pollution is affecting natural ecosystems in far-reaching ways that are difficult to predict, according to University of Exeter scientists, who simulated the effects of street lighting on artificial grassland plots. The artificial light affects the growth and flowering of plants and

Biodiversity: Endangered species protection sought for dwindling monarch butterflies

Pesticides, habitat loss and GMO crops seen as main threats Staff Report FRISCO —As monarch butterfly populations dwindle to unprecedented low levels, activists say the colorful and far-ranging insects need protection of the Endangered Species Act to survive. In a formal listing petition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a coalition of advocacy groups

Is out-of-state firewood a threat to Colorado trees?

State Forest Service warns against transporting firewood Staff Report FRISCO — It may be a little like the Dutch boy putting his finger in the leaky dike, but Colorado Forest Service officials are warning that transporting firewood from place to place may increase the spread of invasive tree-killing bugs. Moving firewood even short distances increases

Morning photo: An iPhone set

The little camera that ROCKS FRISCO —I am still amazed at how much I can do with the iPhone camera during a casual stroll. Friday morning in Breckenridge, I spotted several hummingbird moths feeding on planter flowers at the Riverwalk Center. Not expecting too much, I positioned myself at a good angle to the sun,

Biodiversity: Even at ‘safe’ levels, pesticides are having catastrophic impacts on aquatic ecosystems

Study documents dramatic regional decline of insect species By Summit Voice SUMMIT COUNTY — After studying ecosystems contaminated with pesticides, scientists say they’ve been able to measure a dramatic loss of invertebrate biodiversity in polluted streams and rivers. The study is one of the first to document the toxic effects of pesticides at a regional

Study: Wild insects key to crop pollination

Honeybees augment, but don’t replace diverse insect populations By Summit Voice FRISCO — With a lot of recent concerns focused on the decline of honeybee populations, a new study shows that wild insects even even more important as pollinators for certain crops for crops stocked routinely with high densities of honey bees, including almonds, blueberries, mangos

Global warming: Extreme spring warmth affects popular firefly watching event in Great Smoky Mountains NP

Warming temps disrupt delicate cycles involving plants, insects and birds By Summit Voice SUMMIT COUNTY — If you miss this year’s synchronized firefly display in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you can blame it on freakishly warm spring weather, perhaps linked to predicted weather extremes caused by global warming. Because of the unseasonably warm spring,

Morning photo: Critter cam

Bugs, birds, bison … SUMMIT COUNTY — Today was #FriFotos on Twitter, a social media chat that involves posting photos about a different topic each week, and this week the topic was animals. Turns out I have quite a few critter pics, including domestic dogs, dolphins, sea birds and, yes, even a few insects.