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EcoQuest March Update
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Clockwise (from top left): Unequal Cellophane Bee (Colletes inaequalis); Mourning Cloak Butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa); American Winter Ant (Prenolepis imparis); Small Phigalia Moth (Phigalia strigataria)
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Continue your support for the EcoQuest Challenge! EcoQuests, part of the New York City EcoFlora project, challenge New Yorkers to become citizen scientists and observe, study, and help conserve the native plants, fungi, and animals of the City via iNaturalist, an easy-to-use mobile app.
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Wings in Spring
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Insects form the biological foundation on which Earth’s ecosystems rely. Many species that have overwintered emerge in early spring such as the widely observed and long-lived Mourning Cloak Butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa), as well as many moths, bees, wasps, flies, and winged winter ants. Many bee species’ queens emerge in March to find a suitable place for a new home, while others such as Unequal Cellophane Bee (Colletes inaequalis) get busy pollinating the early blooms of maple trees. See how many flying insects you can find this March!
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What is an EcoQuest?
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EcoQuests, part of the New York City EcoFlora project, challenge New Yorkers to become citizen scientists and observe, study, and conserve the native plants, fungi, and animals of the City via iNaturalist, an easy-to-use mobile app.
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How to Get Started
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- Visit nybg.org/EcoQuest for more information about this activity.
- Download the iNaturalist app or register at iNaturalist.org
- Photograph these insects anywhere in New York City.
- Upload your observations to iNaturalist.
- Respect wildlife (do not touch, feed, or disturb animals, and keep a safe distance).
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What Is the Goal?
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Help NYBG document as many of these insects in New York City as possible by March 31.
The New York City EcoFlora project seeks to enhance the ecological literacy of all New Yorkers and to compile new and original data on the City’s flora and ecological dynamics.
Learn More
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Dig Deeper with NYBG Science
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Not The Last of Us: The Truth About Zombi Fungi with Dr. João Araújo
Monday, March 6; 6:30–7:30 p.m. ET, Online
HBO’s new series The Last of Us has generated considerable buzz since its release. Based on a 2013 video game, the show is set 20 years after a global pandemic sparked by a mass fungal infection—referred to as “Cordyceps”—that transforms people into zombie-like creatures. This fictional fungus is based on real-life species that infect ants, but where is the line between fact and fancy? Join our Assistant Curator of Mycology, Dr. João Araújo, as he untangles a few common misconceptions about this fascinating (and frightening!) fungus.
Register Today
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2900 Southern Boulevard
Bronx, NY 10458
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