Blogs & Ecology

photo: jhoc via flickr

Because the US encouraged increased planting of corn by 19% in 2006 and 2007 the number of insect pests that plague the soybean crop increased as well, causing lost yield to farmers or forcing them to apply more insecticide to deal with the problem. The pest in question is the soybean aphid and the cause of its increase is declines in ladybug populations. Here’s how this is happening:
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Amazing things happen when cultures collide. Wa (Japan) meets Africa and you get Wafrica. The silk kimono is as old as Japan, now, thanks to designer Serge Mouangue, you get to think out of the box. Cotton kimonos. Isn't it just beautiful beyond belief?

Academy of Sciences' Celebratory Butterfly Release Raises Controversy

When San Francisco's new Academy of Sciences opened at the end of last month, they celebrated their opening in a beautiful new green space with a ceremonial release of a flock of monarchs. What seemed like an innocent release of a few beautiful butterflies has sparked tensions between the academy and conservationists. More on the controversial move below the fold....

No, it’s not photoshopped - while out for a stroll in the UK’s Peak District, Mark Manders discovered this happy-looking dragonfly and quickly snapped some shots on his camera phone (good advert for the phone, eh – and no, we don’t know what make it was).

Sundance Channel Secures International Rights to Green Porno
We wrote about Isabella Rossellini's 8 highly surreal short-films about the sex life of insects, Green Porno, a while ago:

"If you've ever wondered how bees have sex (not as romantic as you might think), or wondered about the sadomasochistic habits of snails, these are for you (though, just as fair warning: the videos make mention of the organs and acts required to accomplish reproduction)."

Now that Sundance has acquired the rights, audiences outside of the USA will be able to enjoy these highly educational, if unorthodox, films....

A new series of stamps from the Royal Mail has been issued to commemorate ten endangered species in Britain. The almost-gone insects range from the stag beetle to the Adonis blue butterfly. They include the red-barbed ant and the hazel pot beetle. Then there is the noble chafer, the southern damselfly, the barberry carpet moth and the purbeck mason wasp. All of them vulnerable or endangered. They are part of the "Action for Species" series which highlights endangered species and were photographed from specimens in the collection of the Natural History Museum in London. It has a comprehensive collection of 28 million specimens.

It’s not often you have the chance to view insects up close, they usually fly, jump or scurry away – either that or get swatted, squashed or stamped on. So when we came across these unbelievable insect images we just had to share them with you.

These photographs by German photographer Martin Amm are taken in macro, highlighting the wonderful color and detail we very rarely see in our creepy crawly friends. We’re sure you’ll agree that, whether a blowfly or butterfly, Mother Nature certainly seems to know what she’s doing.

The first solar powered car to make its way around the world continues its trek.

Scientists discover a vegetarian spider.

Green Home Huddler interviews trash enthusiast Tom Szaky, the CEO of TerraCycle.

TriplePundit reviews Throwplace, calling it "A sort of Freecycle on steroids."

An Ohio-based company has plans to convert Saturn Sky cars to run on all-electric.

Images courtesy of author.

This article is continued from yesterday looking at how Bonterra winery is the leader in organic grape growing, and just how do they keep their plants healthy and the bugs away without the help of pesticides.

Image courtesy of author.

This is the first of a two-part article looking at how the largest maker of organic wine in the US was able to make so much wine using biodynamic and organic methods.

Nature is Beautiful
There are so many wonderful things all around us that we've never actually seen. Those who have seen the documentary series The Blue Planet and Planet Earth know what we're talking about. We could probably all make an effort to better appreciate these wonders, and a welcome side effect would probably be more eco-awareness....

Those of us dedicated to sustainable development and engaging new sources of food– especially those of us in America, where a Dollar won’t go as far as a Yen used to (yuk, yuk)– might want to get on the next plane to Dubai.

Image by Yerffej9 on Flickr

Yes, the world’s most luxurious little Emirate has come up with the solution to all of our problems: put bugs in the food.

What would you do if your home was filled with bees?

It’s like this, but in their friggin’ walls! Image by Chas Redmond

Would you freak out, call the exterminator, run screaming from the building?

If you’re Helen and Jerry Stathasos, you do none of these things. You just live in a house filled with bees.

The Stathatos family has been coexisting with the bees for several years now in their Virginia Road home in Sacramento, CA. There are so many bees that the walls literally drip with honey, but they don’t usually mind.