For some people, the sight of a spider egg sac is incredibly unsettling. They may be tempted to immediately destroy or remove it from the home, assuming that the progeny… Read More
By Fern Damron 4 months ago
Fern Damron is a writer at A-Z Animals who covers a variety of topics including plant life, gardening, and geology. They live off-grid in the Southeast U.S. and have been working to restore local Appalachian ginseng stands since 2020.
For some people, the sight of a spider egg sac is incredibly unsettling. They may be tempted to immediately destroy or remove it from the home, assuming that the progeny… Read More
By Fern Damron 4 months ago
The axis deer, Axis axis, is a regal-looking animal. It has shiny, golden-brown or golden-red fur across its body and legs as well as a broad white patch that runs… Read More
By Fern Damron 6 months ago
Most everyone is familiar with mosses. These low-growing plants tend to coat any surface that remains moist for long periods — tree trunks, rocks, hillsides, you name it. Most people… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
Swamps are often overlooked and undervalued by humans, who frequently view them as stagnant and unproductive. That couldn't be further from the truth. Swamps are among the most diverse and… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
Plants are among the world's most important producers. Using nothing but water, air, and sunlight, they secure their energy and provide countless organisms with food and shelter. But not all… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
Flowering plants represent most of the plants living on Earth today. They are crucial members of virtually every ecosystem on the planet, providing habitat and food for countless animal species.… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
It's almost impossible to build a mental image of the Hawai'ian islands without picturing a single palm tree. After all, palms go hand-in-hand with the tropics like sand and beaches.… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
If you spend a lot of time in the woods, odds are you've seen a patch of stinging nettle. You may have even experienced the painful sting for which it… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
Mosses and algae show up across a surprisingly vast portion of our world and, in some instances, they are easy to mistake for one another. In this article, we'll highlight… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
The world is filled with an incredible diversity of flowering plant life that, from season to season, fills nearly every available habitat with color. From baby blues to alluring reds… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
Florida is a second home to a myriad of winter visitors. More than just humans and songbirds, however, the state is a winter haven for several species of falcons. In… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
While they are critical to the health of the ecosystems they belong to, termites are any homeowner's worst nightmare. These tiny, colonial insects can cause serious damage that can be… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
The freshwater drum is a common fish in most waterways throughout the central and eastern United States. Though most anglers don't head out in the morning targeting these fish, many… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
If you've spent much time working with plants, you've probably encountered spider mites at some point, whether you knew it or not. These tiny arachnids can be easy to miss… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
Lake Mead is hands down one of the most important reservoirs in the United States. Not only does it provide water for drinking, agriculture, and industrial use for more than… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
On May 14th, 2023, a new record-breaking flathead catfish weighed 66 pounds, 6 ounces, surpassing the previous 56-pound record from the Schuylkill River. By far the largest freshwater fish ever… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
The largest channel catfish ever caught in Pennsylvania was quite an impressive specimen! While most channel cats never exceed 18–20 pounds, this one blew that limit out of the water. In… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
North America is home to at least 635 distinct species of snakes, with ranges dispersed throughout the continent. Over 180 of those species live in the United States specifically, and… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
A chelicera (plural, chelicerae) is a component of the fang- or pincer-like mouthparts of arthropods belonging to the subphylum Chelicerata. Of the many pairs of appendages these animals possess, the chelicerae… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
Dividing the Canadian territories of Quebec and Ontario, the Ottawa River flows southward for hundreds of miles. It starts quite slow, eventually developing into a deep, fast-moving river. People have… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
Chordates are animals that belong to the phylum Chordata. These animals are unified by the presence in their bodies of a flexible rod that supports their backsides at some point… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
Cheekily named for its not-so-cuddly spines, the teddy bear cactus is a popular and beloved houseplant. It hails from southwestern North America and, like many other desert cacti, is generally… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
Lake Whitney is an important feature of North Central Texas, serving as a habitat for local wildlife and providing water and recreation to its lakeside residents and the surrounding towns… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
Like heavenly bamboo, the Mexican sunflower is the subject of contention among gardeners. While many love it for its vibrant blooms and general ease of care, others regret ever introducing… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
Suspension feeding is a strategy that many animal species have adapted for capturing their food whereby they collect suspended prey, edible matter, or both from the water around them. These… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
Passing both San Antonio and Austin, the Guadalupe River runs nearly 250 miles southward from its origin in the Texas Hill Country. From near Kerrville, it stretches through Central and… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
Much of the plant life on Earth fits into one of two groups — the gymnosperms and the angiosperms. Gymnosperms, whose name translates to "naked seed", arrived first. They were… Read More
By Fern Damron 1 year ago
Turf grass lawns are very popular, especially in the United States. But did you know that lawns are terrible for the environment and your pocketbook? In this article, we'll explore some of… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
A skeletal system is the framework of bone, cartilage, chitin, or other material that supports the structure and movement of an animal's body. There are three primary types of skeletal… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
When you picture roses, what do you see? Probably a lush, densely-petaled cut rose bouquet or a highly manicured rose garden. These gorgeous but delicate roses are the result of… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
While you may have heard at one point or another that all honeybees are female, that couldn't be further from the truth. While it's true that most of the bees in the… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
Heavenly bamboo is one of those plants with a mixed reputation among gardeners. Some love it for its beautiful berries, ease of care, and fiery fall color while others regret… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
The Thanksgiving cactus is a popular succulent houseplant, known in the northern hemisphere for its gorgeous, but notoriously finicky, winter blooms. Despite its particular flowering conditions, however, it is a… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
From the tiniest southern flannel moth to the beautiful two-tailed swallowtail, many majestic moths and butterflies call Arizona home for at least part of the year. But before these beauties… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
Milk snakes are a relatively common sight across an incredibly wide range. They inhabit every U.S. state along the east coast, from Maine to Florida, as well as many in the… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
The state bird of Pennsylvania is the ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), which received its title in 1931 owing to its importance as a food source to early colonizers. It is… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
Since its designation in 1931, the beloved American robin has been the state bird of Michigan. Also known as the robin redbreast, it is easily identifiable by its brown plumage,… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
Key Points: The average depth of Puget Sound is about 230 feet (70 m). The lowest point near Point Jefferson reaches about 938 feet (286 m). The depth range varies… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
Firebrats and silverfish are fairly common sights in the average household. They show up frequently in kitchens, bathrooms, and basements, and seem to love new construction. Their secretive nature and… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
Idaho's Salmon River runs a 425-mile stretch through the central portion of the state before eventually emptying into the Snake River. The Salmon is a fast and free-flowing river, notorious… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
The Shetland sheepdog, affectionately known as the sheltie, originated in Scotland's Shetland Islands sometime around the 1700s. They are herding dogs by breed but make wonderful family dogs for their… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
While some caterpillars are harmless and can be handled freely, others are dangerous to touch altogether. Because they produce and inject their toxins into their victims, they are considered venomous… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
Beetles are an incredibly diverse group of animals. Belonging to the order of Coleoptera, there are over 350,000 distinct species of beetles the world over. There are nearly 30,000 unique beetle… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
Thousands of people live in the Tahoe Basin, and each year, millions more visit the area to experience the beautiful and ancient landscape and the wildlife that lives within it.… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
Foxes belong to the dog family, Canidae, taking their place alongside domesticated dogs, jackals, coyotes, and wolves. They are often set apart from their relatives by their small size, long, bushy… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
These colorful woodpeckers live in forests of the Pacific Northwest. Washington is home to several species of woodpeckers that take up residence all across the state. They are a colorful… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
Dog tail cacti are popular house plants among succulent and cacti enthusiasts. They are very easy to care for when grown in the right conditions and, like most succulents, their… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
The fishbone cactus is a popular houseplant for a good reason. This unique plant is attractive year-round, is easy to take care of, and requires very little maintenance. When it… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
You might be surprised to learn that, technically speaking, every cactus is a flowering cactus. Despite their sometimes plain and thorny appearance, these plants often produce exquisite and fragrant flowers.… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago
If you're considering working with a new species of tree in your craft, a holly bonsai is worth considering. Their ease of care, naturally compact size, and dense, attractive foliage… Read More
By Fern Damron 2 years ago