backyardecology

Did you know there is a group of native plants which can be highly adaptable, can serve multiple functions in our gardens, and perhaps even be a backbone component to our home landscapes, but which has historically been overlooked for those purposes? This group of native plants is the sedges, or more specifically, members of the genus Carex.

In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, we talk with Sam Hoadley about sedges and their use in the home garden and landscape. Sam is the Manager of Horticultural Research at Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware.

Recently, Mt. Cuba Center released their Carex trial report. This report evaluated 70 species and cultivars of Carex over 4 years for garden and landscape use in the Mid-Atlantic Region. During our conversation, Sam and I talk about how Mt. Cuba Center’s trials are conducted, the importance of sedges / Carex species, how they can be used in the garden or home landscape, and many other topics.

Sedges may not produce the colorful, flashy flowers that we often think about and are drawn to when we are picking native plants to use in our home landscapes or pollinator and wildlife gardens, but they are definitely worth considering. Not only do they have their own innate beauty, but they can also serve so many different functions in the garden and landscape – including filling in so called “problem areas” or serving as a potential lawn alternative.

We have lots of exciting opportunities planned with Backyard Ecology over the next several months. If you want to keep up with everything going on in the Backyard Ecology world, then please subscribe to our emails. You can do so at www.backyardecology.net/subscribe.

And when you sign up for our emails, you’ll be sent a link to download a free, e-book that explains why our familiar garden zones, aren’t important when it comes to gardening with native plants. That’s just our way of saying thank you for your interest in Backyard Ecology.

Episode Resources:

Sam’s email: shoadley@mtcubacenter.org
Carex Trial Report: https://mtcubacenter.org/trials/carex-for-the-mid-atlantic-region/
Past Trial Reports: https://mtcubacenter.org/research/trial-garden/
Mt. Cuba Center webpage: https://mtcubacenter.org/
Mt. Cuba Center Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MtCubaCenter/

Backyard Ecology Links:

Website: https://backyardecology.net
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/
Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N
Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/

Episode image:

Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica)
Photo credit: Brian Hunt, cc-by

Do you want to start growing native plants in your yard, but don’t know where to find them? Or maybe you aren’t even sure what a native plant is for your area. Or maybe you are in a situation where you can’t plant anything right now, but you still want to learn about native plants and enjoy them in the wild. Your state’s native plant society may be able to help you in all of these situations.

In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, we’re joined by multiple guests representing native plant societies in different parts of the eastern U.S. Our guests are Randi Eckel from the Native Plant Society of New Jersey, Jeff Nelson from the Kentucky Native Plant Society, and Ellen Honeycutt from the Georgia Native Plant Society.

We start our conversation with what seems like a very basic question, “What is a native plant?” As you’ll hear, the answers were all similar in their broad sense, but some of the details were a little different. Which of course, led to a conversation about those slight variations in the definitions and why they are important to be aware of when you are talking about native plants.

We then dove into talking about native plant societies and what they do. Every native plant society is going to be different and do different things, but they all share a love of native plants, conservation, and education. They also tend to be very accessible and include members of all experience levels – from the person just getting started on their native plant journey all the way to professional botanists with decades of experience. Native plant societies also tend to have lots of educational resources available online for anyone interested in native plants.

I highly encourage you to check out your state’s native plant society. Links to the Georgia Native Plant Society, Kentucky Native Plant Society, and Native Plant Society of New Jersey are below. I also included a link from the American Horticultural Society’s website which lists information for each state’s native plant society.

On a side note, if you want to keep up with everything going on in the Backyard Ecology world, then please subscribe to our emails. You can do so at www.backyardecology.net/subscribe.

And when you sign up for our emails, you’ll receive a link to download a free e-book that explains why our familiar garden zones don’t mean anything when it comes to gardening with native plants. That’s just our way of saying thank you for your interest in Backyard Ecology.

Until next week, I encourage you to take some time to enjoy the nature in your own yard and community.

Georgia Native Plant Society:

Website: https://gnps.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Georgia-Native-Plant-Society

Kentucky Native Plant Society:

Website: https://www.knps.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knps.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kynativeplantsociety/

Native Plant Society of New Jersey:

Website: https://www.npsnj.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NPSNJ/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nativeplantsocietynj
Twitter: http://twitter.com/npsnj

American Horticultural Society’s list of native plant societies:

https://ahsgardening.org/gardening-resources/societies-clubs-organizations/native-plant-societies/

Backyard Ecology:

Growing Native Plants, Insect-Plant Interactions, Playing in the Pond, and Much More with Dr. Randi Eckel: https://www.backyardecology.net/growing-native-plants-insect-plant-interactions-playing-in-the-pond-and-much-more-with-dr-randi-eckel/
Website: https://backyardecology.net
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/
Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N
Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/

Episode image:

Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Photo credit: Shenandoah National Park, public domain

Do you enjoy having birds nest on your property? Would you like to learn more about what to look for in a nest box to make it the best it can be for your birds? Are you interested in finding out how you can safely monitor your nesting birds and help scientists study nesting birds?

In this episode, I am joined by Holly Grant. Holly is the Project Assistant for NestWatch which is a community science program based out of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We discuss a wide range of topics related to nesting birds including:

• how to attract them to your property,
• different types of nest boxes or nesting structures you can put out,
• what to do if you find a baby bird out of the nest,
• safely monitoring the bird nests on your property,
• contributing to the broader understanding of nesting birds by participating in NestWatch,
• and much more.

Oh! And if you like to put out hanging baskets, but the wrens or other birds always decide that’s where they want to nest, then you definitely want to listen to this episode. Towards the end of our conversation, Holly shares a great tip which will allow you to continue watering your plant without disturbing the nest!

Also, Anthony and I are working on a project that we’re very excited about. We’re hoping to make an announcement about it in the next couple of months. If you want to be among the first to hear about it, then be sure to subscribe to our Backyard Ecology emails. You can do so at www.backyardecology.net/subscribe. That’ll keep you up to date with everything going on in the Backyard Ecology world

And when you sign up for our emails, you’ll be able to download a free, e-book that explains why our familiar garden zones don’t mean anything when it comes to gardening with native plants. That’s just our way of saying thank you for your interest in Backyard Ecology.

Until next week, I encourage you to take some time to enjoy the nature in your own yard and community.

NestWatch links:

• Email: nestwatch@cornell.edu
• Website: https://nestwatch.org/
• Right Bird, Right House: https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/right-bird-right-house/
• Common Nesting Birds: https://nestwatch.org/learn/focal-species/
• Nest Monitoring Code of Conduct: https://nestwatch.org/learn/how-to-nestwatch/code-of-conduct/
• What Kind of Nest Materials are Best to Provide for Birds?: https://nestwatch.org/connect/blog/what-kind-of-nest-materials-are-best-to-provide-for-birds/

Other Resources Mentioned:

• All About Birds: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/

General Backyard Ecology Links:

• Website: https://backyardecology.net
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
• Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/
• Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
• Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N
• Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/

Episode image:

• Male eastern bluebird bringing an insect back to the nest box.
• Photo credit: USFWS, public domain

Do you struggle with invasive species on your property? Or, have you ever wondered, what’s the big deal with invasive species? Why are they so bad? Or maybe you just wondered how our invasive species got here. After all, if they are so awful, then why would anyone bring them here? If so, then you aren’t alone. Invasive species are something that most of us struggle with.

In this episode, I’m joined by my husband, Anthony Trimboli. Many of you may know Anthony from the Backyard Ecology videos he produces every week or from previous podcasts episodes which he has been on. In addition to creating Backyard Ecology content, he also does habitat consulting and works in our native plant nursery.

Anthony and I talked about a wide range of topics related to invasive species beginning with a discussion about what exactly is an invasive species and whether those species are inherently “bad.” We also talked about why it matters if a species is invasive, some of the negative impacts invasive species can have, and whether any of the short-term uses that pollinators and wildlife may gain from invasive species makes up for their negative impacts.

Much of our conversation focused on invasive plants, because we both agreed that invasive plants are probably the type of invasive organism which individual property owners have the greatest ability to do something about. This part of our conversation included topics such as how to know whether a species is invasive and how to control those species on your property, as well as a discussion about whether native plants can be invasive.

We wrapped up our discussion by talking about how invasive species got here. Spoiler alert: No one did the evil “bwahaha” laugh and thought to themselves, “Let me introduce this horribly invasive species so it can wreak havoc and destroy the ecosystem.” The story of invasive species is one of unintended consequences.

If you haven’t checked out the Backyard Ecology YouTube channel, then I encourage you to do so. Anthony adds new content every week. There’s a link to the channel in the show notes, as well as a separate link for the channel’s invasive species playlist.

Until next week, I encourage you to take some time to enjoy the nature in your own yard and community.

Links to Relevant Resources:

• Invasive species play list on Backyard Ecology YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21qul5bQMzo&list=PLYie5upT7CI2B2rcU5WzlU0xg4QW6ng8g
• Busy Bee Nursery and Consulting website: https://busybeenurseryandconsulting.com/

General Backyard Ecology Links:

• Website: https://backyardecology.net
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
• Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/
• Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
• Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N
• Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/

Episode image:

• Purple loosestrife may have pretty flowers but it is a major invasive species in many wetland ecosystems.
• Photo credit: USFWS, public domain

Lawn care probably isn’t the first thing you think of when you think about backyard ecology. Honestly, it isn’t for me either. But it is something that most of us have to deal with in one way or another whether we do it ourselves or hire someone to do it for us.

And I don’t know about you, but lawn equipment in general, much less battery powered lawn equipment, is not my area of expertise. That’s why when I heard about a landscaping company which specializes in low impact lawn care and has transitioned to all battery powered equipment, I became intrigued.

Anthony and I have some battery powered lawn care equipment, but we’ve always shied away from battery powered lawn mowers. We just didn’t think battery powered lawn mowers could handle our uneven, rough, hilly yard. But if this company was using all battery powered equipment on a commercial scale, then maybe we needed to rethink our assumptions for our own yard.

Maybe you’re in a similar boat and are trying to decide if battery powered is the way to go for your next piece of lawn equipment. Or maybe you’d like to be able to hire someone who approaches lawn care from a more ecological perspective but don’t know how to find that person or the questions to ask. If so, then this episode is for you.

In this episode, we are talking to Richard McCoy. Richard is the owner and operator of McCoy Horticultural Services. In the last couple of years, his business has transitioned from traditional gas powered lawn care equipment to battery powered equipment. His company also specializes in organic and low impact lawn care. Our conversation covered a number of topics related to battery powered lawn care equipment, vetting a land care contractor, and low impact lawn care. I appreciate Richard sharing his expertise and experiences with us.

[2:58] Richard’s story about how he got to where he is now
[6:05] Compost, manure and the need to ask “why” and never stop learning
[9:07] The transition from gas powered to battery powered lawn equipment
[13:42] Battery powered lawn tool certification organizations
[14:15] Are there instances when gas is a better option than battery powered equipment?
[16:18] Basic guidelines for creating an ecologically sound landscape
[18:22] Real world example of battery powered lawn equipment in use
[20:09] How ecological lawncare differs from traditional lawncare
[22:38] Battery powered lawn care equipment is on par with gasoline powered equipment, except for backpack leaf blowers
[27:18] How homeowners can transition to battery powered lawn equipment
[30:46] Challenges in ecological lawncare
[31:36] Vetting a lawncare service and how to educate yourself
[34:30] Beyond going electric – incorporating native plants
[36:00] Putting it all together and having not just a yard but an ecosystem
[37:43] Plant the species that are native to your area
[39:02] Discussing the complexity of plant communities
[41:39] How homeowners should plan their landscape
[42:11] What is native and why does it matter
[45:08] Ways landowners can find native plants for sale
[46:44] The importance of understanding soil

If you are looking for some simple, quick and easy ways to make your yard more attractive to pollinators and wildlife, you may want to check out my newest book, Attract Pollinators and Wildlife to Your Yard: 15 Free and Easy Ways. You can learn more about the book and place your order at https://shannontrimboli.com/product/attract-pollinators-and-wildlife-to-your-yard-15-free-and-easy-ways/ .

Until next week, I encourage you to take some time to enjoy the nature in your own yard and community.

Richard’s Information:

• Website: https://mccoyfinegardens.com/
• Blog: https://ecologymatters.net/
• What to Look for When Hiring an Organic Landscaper: https://ecologymatters.net/2020/02/06/what-to-look-for-when-hiring-an-organic-landscaper-a-homeowners-quick-guide-to-simplify-the-search/
• Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mccoyhorticultural/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mccoyhorticultural/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-a-mccoy-28a26b73/

Other Resources Richard Recommended:

• American Green Zone Alliance: https://agza.net/
• Northeast Organic Farming Association: https://nofa.org/
• National Wildlife Federation Native Plant Finder: https://www.nwf.org/nativeplantfinder/
• Rutgers’ Organic Lance Care Best Practices Manual: https://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.php?pid=e357
• Prairie Up: An Introduction to Natural Garden Design by Benjamin Vogt*: https://amzn.to/3xdLivn
• Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard by Doug Tallamy*: https://amzn.to/3lrao7r
• Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants by Doug Tallamy*: https://amzn.to/3JVv69J
• The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees by Doug Tallamy*: https://amzn.to/3JVyDVl

General Backyard Ecology Links:

• Website: https://backyardecology.net
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
• Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/
• Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
• Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N
• Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/

Episode image:

• Lawn mower
• Photo credit: Alexas_Fotos, cc-0 https://pixabay.com/photos/lawn-mower-mow-cut-the-lawn-green-2430725/

You know how sometimes you’ll meet someone and things just “click?” You quickly discover that you have lots of shared interests and experiences and your conversation just flows as it goes down one path and then the next.

Well, that’s exactly what happened in this episode as I talked with Dr. Randi Eckel. Randi is the owner of Toadshade Wildflower Farm which is a mail-order native plant nursery. She is a life-long naturalist, lover of nature, entomologist, and confirmed plant and ecology nerd. Randi is also the president of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey.

Growing native plants and interactions between plants and insects were two of the major themes of our conversation, but our conversation also went down many other twisty, curvy paths. This was one of those conversations that could so easily have occurred sitting on the front porch or around a campfire. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it.

[2:47] Randi’s story of how she got to where she is now and discussion of career paths
[7:01] Changes Randi has seen in the native plant industry over the years and importance of plants that are native to your region
[12:05] How even small properties, balconies, and rooftop gardens can make a huge difference for pollinators and songbirds
[15:26] Pond stories from our childhoods, college classes, and connections with native plants and animals
[19:05] Recommendations for getting started with native plants
[24:25] Tackling weeds and invasive species
[26:36] Combating invasive species with native species
[30:25] Importance of native plant diversity and examples of pollinator interactions
[33:39] Violets and the great spangled fritillary
[35:49] Why are flowers in the yard a bad thing?
[37:20] Using water features to attract wildlife and stories of observations we’ve made on our properties
[42:09] Mothing and watching moths visit light colored flowers in the evening
[43:01] Vernal pools, rain gardens, and sump pump gardens
[45:33] Great diversity of native plants that can be found in any given region and how embracing that can be freeing
[46:56] White turtlehead, Baltimore checkerspot butterfly, and importance of wildlife corridors and habitat stepping stones
[48:32] Importance of year-round habitat for butterflies and other insects and easy ways to provide that year-round habitat
[53:11] Discussion about the importance of thinking about things, drawing connections, and learning about the interactions between plants, insects, and wildlife
[55:13] What to look for if mail ordering native plants or seeds
[1:00:24] Native plant poaching and its impacts
[1:02:29] Check out a native plant society near you

If you find value in the Backyard Ecology content, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation. You can find out how at https://www.backyardecology.net/support /.

Until next week, I encourage you to take some time to explore the nature in your own yard and community.

Randi’s Information:

• Email: randi@toadshade.com
• Toadshade Wildflower Farm website: https://www.toadshade.com/
• Toadshade Wildflower Farm Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ToadshadeWildflowerFarm
• Randi’s blog: https://www.toadshade.com/blogarchive.html
• Randi’s article about brush piles: https://www.toadshade.com/randiblognov18.html

Other Resources Mentioned:

• The Native Plant Society of New Jersey: https://npsnj.org/

Related Backyard Ecology Resources:

• What? Barred Owls Catch and Eat Frogs?!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVll7OwIQKo
• More than a Mud Puddle: The Exciting World of Vernal Pools: https://www.backyardecology.net/more-than-a-mud-puddle-the-exciting-world-of-vernal-pools/
• Try Mothing – Attracting and observing moths: https://www.backyardecology.net/try-mothing-attracting-and-observing-moths/
• Create a Brush Pile: https://www.backyardecology.net/create-a-brush-pile/
• Great Spangled Fritillary: https://www.backyardecology.net/great-spangled-fritillary/
• Common Blue Violet: https://www.backyardecology.net/common-blue-violet/
• Springbeauty: https://www.backyardecology.net/springbeauty/

General Backyard Ecology Links:

• Website: https://backyardecology.net
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
• Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/
• Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
• Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N
• Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/

Episode image:

• Closed bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) in bloom
• Photo credit: Evan Barker, CC-0

Have you planted a meadow or pollinator planting on your property? Or, do you know someone or some place in your community that has one? If it’s on your property then part of the recommended management for it may have been to mow it periodically. Or if it’s not on your property then you may have driven by it only to see it being mowed or find that it had recently been mowed.

If you’re initial reaction was something along the lines of “Wh…What?!” “Wait!” “Stop!” “No” “Why?” or included feelings of confusion, sadness, anger, or frustration, then you aren’t alone. In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, we talk about why people mow meadows and larger pollinator plantings. We also talk about whether it is really necessary. The answers to both of those questions are rooted in the grassland and prairie ecosystems that meadows and larger pollinator plantings are often trying to replicate.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• Benefits of meadows and pollinator plantings: 2:15
• Factors that create and maintain prairie and grassland ecosystems: 3:34
• Ecological reasons why someone would mow or recommend mowing a meadow or pollinator planting and alternatives to mowing: 7:46
• Recommendations for where to get local advice on managing your meadow or pollinator planting: 12:17
• Philosophical discussion of natural succession and letting nature take its course: 13:52

I hope you’ve found this episode helpful and that it has encouraged you to think about things. If you’re listening to this in January 2023, please don’t forget to take our survey.

Until next time, I encourage you to take some time to enjoy the nature in your yard and community.

Related episodes:

• Grasslands and Grassland Birds of the Eastern U.S.: https://www.backyardecology.net/grasslands-and-grassland-birds-of-the-eastern-u-s/
• A Conversation with Kyle Lybarger from the Native Habitat Project: https://www.backyardecology.net/a-conversation-with-kyle-lybarger-from-the-native-habitat-project/
• Conserving our Southeastern Grasslands with Dwayne Estes: https://www.backyardecology.net/conserving-our-southeastern-grasslands-with-dwayne-estes/

Backyard Ecology Links:

• January 2023 Survey: https://forms.gle/ztJECiwWjPeU4Aes5
• Website: https://backyardecology.net
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
• Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/
• Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
• Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N
• Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/

Episode image:

• Native plants in a pollinator planting.
• Photo credit: USFWS Midwest Region, public domain

Do you want your yard to benefit nature, while also being a place that speaks to you and is somewhere you enjoy spending time? Would you love for your yard to also be a place your neighbors admire and that inspires them to create pollinator and wildlife friendly landscapes? In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, we talk with Larry Weaner about how to achieve both those goals.

Larry is a Landscape Designer and the founder of Larry Weaner Landscape Associates and its educational affiliate, New Directions in the American Landscape, or NDAL. He is also the author of the book, Garden Revolution.

According to Larry, ecology based landscaping or ecological landscaping takes into consideration where and how native plants naturally grow then adapts that knowledge to your property. The goal is to create a landscape that not only benefits nature, but is also a place that speaks to you and is somewhere you enjoy being.

One of the topics that came up several times, and in several different ways, was how we connect and engage with a place. The place-based parts of our conversation included not only personal connections, but also community connections. Community connection is important because if our ecology based landscaping connects with our neighbors, then they may replicate some of those principles on their own properties, thus increasing the ecological benefits.

Another topic that wove its way throughout our conversation was maintaining and managing our landscapes. This topic came up multiple times and in multiple ways. As Larry said, there probably isn’t any such thing as a “no maintenance” landscape. Larry also talks about the biggest challenge he sees people face, especially when getting started.

Larry is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to integrating ecological principles and landscape design. His approach is one that really resonates with me and has done so for several years. I encourage anyone who is interested in creating ecology based landscapes to read his book and look into his courses.

Until next week, I encourage you to take some time to explore the nature in your own yard and community.

Guest Links:

• New Directions in the American Landscape (NDAL): https://www.ndal.org/
• Larry Weaner Landscape Associates: https://lweanerassociates.com/
• Garden Revolution*: https://amzn.to/3Ckbp6F

Backyard Ecology Links:

• January 2023 Survey: https://forms.gle/ztJECiwWjPeU4Aes5
• Website: https://backyardecology.net
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
• Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/
• Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
• One-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N
• Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/

Episode image:

• Red spotted purple on purple coneflower.
• Photo credit: USFWS Midwest Region, public domain

Wasps are often portrayed as one of “the bad guys” in the insect world. But part of that common misconception comes from a lack of knowledge or understanding about wasps in general and stereotypes that don’t apply to most wasp species.

The truth is that wasps are extremely diverse and what most of us think of when we think of a “wasp” makes up only the tiniest percentage of all wasps out there. In fact, there are likely many different species of wasps that haven’t even been identified yet. And wasps play an extremely important role in the ecosystem – one that is often overlooked and not well-understood.

In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, we are joined by Louis Nastasi who is a self-proclaimed ambassador for wasps. Louis is a PhD candidate at Penn State’s Frost Entomological Museum which is Penn State’s research collection of insects and other arthropods. He also founded and is one of the instructors for the Wasp ID Course, which will have its second session in January 2023.

During our conversation, Louis and I dive into the fascinating diversity of wasps, especially parasitoid wasps, and their vital roles in the ecosystem. Louis believes that a lot of the misconceptions around wasps are due to a lack of recognition of just how diverse wasps are. Contrary to popular belief, most wasps aren’t capable of stinging people and many are the size of a speck of dust.

Like with the first episode that Louis was on, our conversation takes many twists and turns. We talk a lot about parasitoid wasps and just how amazing it is that many of these parasitoid relationships developed in the first place. (One of the wasps we talk about lays its eggs in diving beetle eggs which are found underwater!) We also discuss how much we don’t know about these species and how much there is still to learn. But through it all, Louis’s passion for wasps and wasp education shines through.

Links:

• Louis’s contact info:
  • Email: LFN5093@PSU.edu
  • Twitter: https://twitter.com/toomanywasps

• Wasp ID Course
  • Website: https://WaspIDCourse.WordPress.com/
  • Twitter: @WaspIDCourse
    • https://twitter.com/WaspIDCourse/

  • Email: waspIDcourse@gmail.com

• Other Resources:
  • Forbes, A.A., Bagley, R.K., Beer, M.A. et al. Quantifying the unquantifiable: why Hymenoptera, not Coleoptera, is the most speciose animal order. BMC Ecol 18, 21 (2018). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12898-018-0176-x
  • Wasps: Their Biology, Diversity, and Role as Beneficial Insects and Pollinators of Native Plants [hardcover] Heather N. Holm February, 2021 * : https://amzn.to/3fMZAho

• Wasp related video clips (including the fairy wasp one) from Life in the Undergrowth hosted by David Attenborough:
  • Underwater wasps: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p003lcxg
  • Oak Tree and Wasp Eggs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzXccvoJThI
  • Paper colony: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p003lcxv

• Life in the Undergrowth hosted by David Attenborough (Full Documentary)*: https://amzn.to/3zYkGQU
• Related Backyard Ecology Resources:
  • Galls: Amazingly Diverse and Fascinating Plant Growths: https://www.backyardecology.net/galls-amazingly-diverse-and-fascinating-plant-growths/
  • American Pelecinid Wasp: A Unique and Fascinating Critter: https://www.backyardecology.net/american-pelecinid-wasp-a-unique-and-fascinating-critter/
  • Wasps: Victims of an Often Undeserved Reputation: https://www.backyardecology.net/wasps-victims-of-an-often-undeserved-reputation/
  • Four-toothed Mason Wasp: https://www.backyardecology.net/four-toothed-mason-wasp/
  • Cicada Killers: Not as Menacing as They Appear: https://www.backyardecology.net/cicada-killers/
  • Eastern Red Velvet Ants: Doesn’t Kill Cows and Isn’t an Ant: https://www.backyardecology.net/eastern-red-velvet-ants-doesnt-kill-cows-and-isnt-an-ant/

• Backyard Ecology
  • Website: https://backyardecology.net
  • YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
  • Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/
  • Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology

• Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/

Episode image:

• A species of Ichneumon wasp, one of our many parasitoid species.
• Photo credit: USFWS Midwest Region, public domain