The website that Washington lives by.
Photograph of magnifying glass by highdog/Getty Images. Photograph of spotted lantern fly by Cwieders/Getty Images. Graphic design by Omari Foote.
Has it seemed lately like creepy-critter news just keeps on coming? Arachnophobes from Arlington to Annapolis got a recent fright due toof four-inch Joro spiders flying up the Atlantic coast. The freaky creatures—which don’t actually fly but rather ride wind currents—have already been spotted in Maryland and are expected to soon become more common around our area.
Meanwhile, invasive spotted lantern flies, which have been a growing problem since they were discovered in Pennsylvania a decade ago, continue to expand around our region, posing a threat to trees and being just generally gross. Raupp says you’re likely to see more and more of them. If you encounter one, stomp on it.
But the biggest buzz around the area this summer is coming courtesy of a familiar dreaded enemy: the old-fashioned mosquito.due to climate change are benefiting the pests, and this summer’s unusually high thermostat readings have created a skeeter bonanza. “During this heat, they’re going crazy,” says Raupp. Fortunately, we don’t yet have to worry about mosquito-borne dengue fever, which has been traveling north from its traditional locations but hasn’t reached us.
If all this talk is making you feel a little itchy, Raupp is eager to point out some happier news: It’s been a good year for fireflies, which seem to be having a renaissance, possibly due to the mild winter and wet spring. And in general, try not to wig out too much over insects and arachnids, which are, after all, fascinating creatures, even when they’re invasive and/or yucky.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Giant prehistoric flying reptile took off using similar method to bats, study findsFindings of a study, published in PeerJ, provide new insights into how pterosaurs managed to take flight despite reaching sizes far larger than modern animals. The research sheds new light on the flight initiating jumping ability of these animals, some of which had wingspans of over ten meters.
Read more »
Giant prehistoric flying reptile took off using similar method to bats, study findsThe pterosaur likely used all four limbs to propel itself in the air, as seen in bats today, researchers have found.
Read more »
Book review: The lives and work of Yup’ik Elders animate and inform ‘The Flying Parka’The book is drawn from the history, creation and uses of parkas, and who provided personal memories and legends that enhance our understanding of their roles in an ancient culture.
Read more »
Giant 'flying' Joro spiders love big cities. A new study found their ability to chill out in stressful situations may be whyJoro spiders have hearts that are able to withstand the loud and bustling noises of big cities, according to a study published on Monday.
Read more »
The Alamo may get a new roof, installed under a giant canopyTexas officials are backing a proposal to put the famed mission church beneath a giant hangar-like shelter and close it to the public until 2027.
Read more »
Giant pink man causes stir in small Welsh townA large, pink, inflatable man, created by the Chinese contemporary artist Yue Minjun, has divided opinion in a small town in Wales.
Read more »