Category: Out in the Woods

Out In The Woods

Lady beetles have hardened forewings that protect their flying wings during walking and open up for flight. Inset: Lady beetle foraging for aphids, mites, small insect and other lady beetle larvae. Photos: Internet Lady Beetles By Kevin McKeon, Maine Master Naturalist The name "ladybug" was coined by European farmers who prayed to the Virgin Mary when pests began eating their crops. After ladybugs came and wiped out the invading insects, the farmers named them "Beetle of Our Lady”. This eventually…

Out in the Woods

The autumn meadowhawk dragonfly is seen everywhere in Sanford. Dragonflies Devour Mosquitoes in the Air and Water Photo: Kevin McKeon By Kevin McKeon, Maine Master Naturalist At least 158 species of dragonflies have been documented in Maine, comprising nearly 36% of the total number of species identified thus far in North America. So it’s no surprise that while walking the many trails in Sanford, you’ll see dragonflies chasing one of their favorite foods — mosquitoes. But they eat most of…

Out In the Woods

El Gordo galaxy cluster Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI Even in Urban Sanford, Dark Skies Can Be Appreciated By Kevin McKeon, Maine Master Naturalist On the first night of an Outward Bound team building wilderness camping trip in Maine, one of the teenaged group’s girls was found staring up to the skies with tearful eyes. My granddaughter asked what was wrong. Well, this gal had never before seen such a star-filled sky and was overcome with emotion from the…

Out in the Woods

Spittlebug deposits can damage the plants they inhabit. That ‘Snake Spit’ is Really Someone’s Home Photo: Kevin McKeon By Kevin McKeon, Maine Master Naturalist We’ve probably all noticed the spit-like white foam clinging on herbaceous growth and among evergreen needles during our woods and trails walks — that stuff some people call “snake spit.” This stuff is actually a microhabitat: It's the home of spittlebugs. Plants move water and nutrients from their roots up to the leaves during the photosynthetic…

Out in the Woods

Eastern whip-poor-wills nest directly on the ground. Photo: Dominick Fenech, eBird Twilight Bird Becoming Uncommon By Kevin McKeon, Maine Master Naturalist Legends of the whip-poor-will, or whip-o-will, begin with early Native American lore that the birds’ unique and unmistakable wailing song is an omen of death; the tale then morphed to the idea that the singing can capture departing souls of the dying. Whip-poor-wills live in thick, young, dry, deciduous or mixed woodlands, especially near fields and other open areas.…