Studying Western Harvester Ants, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

I just published a research project I began in 1977. 

I had no idea what I was getting into. E. O. Wilson wrote in The Insect Societies (1971) that we only knew how long the colonies of four ant species lived. I looked at the conspicuous mounds of the western harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis, in western Nebraska and thought  "I can find out how long those live, just follow them for some years." So I walked along the ridge above the University of Nebraska's Cedar Point Biological Station, Ogallala, Nebraska, and put down a number scraped into a square cut out of a steel pop can and held down by a nail in the center, by every harvester ant colony I saw. Then the next year, I came back to see how many of the colonies were still alive.

harvester ant nest in the shortgrass prairie
(the pile of pebbles)

The Alnwick Poison Garden, Alnwick, UK

The Alnwick Poison Garden is a very famous collection of poisonous plants. On my recent trip to Edinburgh, Scotland, we made a day trip south to Alnwick, on the coast in northernmost England. 

The Poison Garden is part of Alnwick Castle's gardens, all of which had a recent make-over and are quite lovely. I was there in a drizzle with not much time, so I focused on the Poison Garden. 

bittersweet nightshade, Solanum dulcamara

Plant Story -- Orange Hawkweed, Hieracium aurantiacum

I grew up calling it Indian paintbrush, so when I went west and was shown Indian paintbrush, I was puzzled. Currently, the websites say hawkweed is Hieracium, and Indian paintbrush is Castilleja. No relation between them. So I've learned to call the plant hawkweed. Actually, orange hawkweed, Hieracium aurantiacum or Pilosella aurantiaca.

orange hawkweed, Hieracium aurantiacum

Boulder Open Space, September after the Marshall Fire

The city of Boulder Colorado preserved a lot of open space within its city limits. Boulder is at the edge of Great Plains, the foothills rising quite abruptly on the west side of the city. The grasslands of the city open space are a mix of plains plants and mountain meadow plants. 

looking west and a little north in southern Boulder, Colorado

September is near the end of the growing season in Boulder. Frosts and snowstorms are uncommon but not unknown. Most likely, though, it will be nice through November, so the plants can open a few more flowers and produce additional seeds. 

I walked a short distance from the Marshall Mesa Trailhead. This area burned in the Marshall Fire of December 30, 2021 and I looked for the effects. 

Travel Story - Glimpses of Edinburgh, Scotland

We planned a return to pre-pandemic travel, a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland. We would spend week in a nice hotel with day trips into the countryside. The plan was good, but didn't allow for catching a cold. I haven't had a cold in easily five years...I felt lousy and lacked interest in being a tourist. However, I have argued that you can enjoy new places without the need to rush around to see everything. Looking back, the very reduced vacation was still neat.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Snarky Septuaginarian-- Dangerous Plants

wisteria, not very toxic

I've been a biologist 53 years, counting from the date of my bachelor's degree. As a University of Nebraska professor, I did ecology research and taught for 31 years, since then I've written extensively about plants, carefully checking my facts. Biological errors get to me. Today I am allowing my inner curmudgeon out.

Plants can be poisonous. A very few are so deadly that a bite will kill a healthy adult. Other plants will upset your stomach. More plants just don't taste very good. Sloppy reporting of plant dangers offends me. 

Plant Confusions: the Bugleweeds, Ajuga and Lycopus

Growing in my back yard since I bought the house in 2006 is a plant I only just learned a name for. Its Ajuga reptans, a little mint native to Europe that is used as a ground cover. My friend called it ajuga, and ajuga is used as its common name. Reading about it, I discovered the common name in USDA plant list (link) is bugle. Googling it sends you to bugleweed. 

bugleweed, Ajuga repens

Knowing it as ground cover, I was surprised to find it mentioned as a medicinal plant. 

But searching for more information on its medicinal qualities, I found I was often reading about Lycopus. For example, when I followed "bugleweed for thyroidism" I arrived at an article for Lycopus virginicus.

Lycopus is another mint genus, taller than Ajuga, with some plants native to North America.