Bald-faced hornets are not really hornets at all – they’re yellow jackets in disguise! They are referred to as hornets because their black and white coloration does not match the rest of the yellow jacket family. While they can survive all over North America, their basketball-shaped nests (up to three feet long!) are found mostly […]
The Bugs of Bernheim: Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly
After returning from a Bernheim discovery field trip at the Kentucky Science Center one day, a Volunteer Naturalist directed me to a near Aristolochia tomentosa (scientific name), also known as Dutchman’s Pipevine, behind the Education Center. There were dozens of pipevine caterpillars crawling around the pipevine and munching on the big bright green leaves. As […]
Purple Martin Colonies at Bernheim: They're Just Like Us
About a month ago, I joined Bernheim’s Volunteer Naturalists for a training on the purple martin colonies at Bernheim. It was led by Larry Melcher, the president of the Purple Martin Conservation Association, and the man who brought these wonderful birds to Bernheim. The training included details on how to identify the birds by sight […]
All Good Things Come to an End
As I sit at my desk during the final hour of my final day here at Bernheim, I can’t help but to feel thankful for all the love and support I have received during my 12 weeks here from the staff, volunteers, and guests. Bernheim is such a welcoming community, and it has been a […]
Terrarium and Aquarium Updates
After many hours of research, collecting, and planting, I am very excited to announce that the terrarium has been completed! The education department has implemented the terrarium as a miniature ecosystem, with a collection of plants and insects that can be found within Bernheim. Plants that can be seen in the terrarium include Indian Cucumber […]