When you visit the Lloyd Center this December you may have a tough time finding the creature featured. It is not because it is non-existent; it just happens to be that the winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus) is great at blending in to its natural surroundings; we know this practice as camouflaging. When we think of [...] Read more »

Spiders – Our eight legged friends?? There tend to be many misconceptions when it comes to spiders; they are considered to be evil, scary, and a nuisance. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of spiders we have in New England, or in North America for that matter, are harmless to humans. The species to watch [...] Read more »

Exotic species are organisms that live within an area that is not native to their original habitat and has been either accidentally or deliberately moved by humans. It may not seem like a big problem but over time the introduced species can change the whole structure of the ecosystem it lives in. Exotic species tend [...] Read more »

Hello boys and girls! I am an Ilia Underwing. Depending on when you are looking I may still be a caterpillar, or I could be in the midst of my life cycle (metamorphosis), where I can be in my chrysalis, or in my final stage – the moth. After my final transformation I travel very [...] Read more »

Spring has sprung!  Now that we’re enjoying warmer and longer days, it’s the perfect time to explore vernal pools.  What are they?  The name says it all; vernal (meaning spring) pools are a unique type of temporary wetland.  They can be found anywhere in the U.S., most commonly near river flood plains. First formed in [...] Read more »

As we are in the midst of the spring season, we have many things to look forward to: the warmer weather, birds chirping and of course the rejuvenation of the flowers and trees. And, who do we have to thank for the latter? Earthworms!! Earthworms are a key component to the ecosystem; they help break [...] Read more »

Come and explore the coastal trails here at the Lloyd Center; it’s a great time to do some (sea)birding!  Now is a good time to get outside and enjoy the brisk weather (while it is still here) by the coast.  Here, you have the opportunity to find many different species of aquatic birds, including the common loon [...] Read more »

When studying science, we quickly grow accustomed to putting everything into categories. By the time we are in junior high, we’ve probably heard something relating to this: “King Philip Came Over For Good Soup”; what does this truly mean? Literally, it looks as though Philip was a soup connoisseur, but figuratively it is referring to [...] Read more »

Winter is only days away (December 22), animals of all sorts are participating in the next step of the life cycle; the reproduction stage. A majority of animals have their young emerge during the warmer seasons, spring/summer, where food is more plentiful. Insects, arachnids, and gastropods lay eggs in the fall/winter months to allow the [...] Read more »

Who am I and where do I live? Hello there! I am a friendly Black and Yellow Garden Spider. You can find me near gardens, fields and along trails! I love sunny areas amongst shrubbery, flowers, and other tall plants. I may look dangerous to people but that is just because of my coloration and [...] Read more »