I don’t cook so or bake from me as a friend you’re gonna get bugs ever since
friend you’re gonna get bugs ever since
friend you’re gonna get bugs ever since I was about six years old
I was about six years old
I was about six years old I’ve loved insects I loved watching inch
I’ve loved insects I loved watching inch
I’ve loved insects I loved watching inch worms inch their way across the leaf the
worms inch their way across the leaf the
worms inch their way across the leaf the colors and patterns in butterfly wings
colors and patterns in butterfly wings
colors and patterns in butterfly wings even the red and blue jewels on the
even the red and blue jewels on the
even the red and blue jewels on the backs of gipsy moth caterpillars to me
backs of gipsy moth caterpillars to me
backs of gipsy moth caterpillars to me they were all wonderful I understand
they were all wonderful I understand
they were all wonderful I understand some of you may not like bugs
some of you may not like bugs
some of you may not like bugs but the truth is if all insects were to
but the truth is if all insects were to
but the truth is if all insects were to disappear tomorrow we would no longer
disappear tomorrow we would no longer
disappear tomorrow we would no longer have the animals that eat them like
have the animals that eat them like
have the animals that eat them like birds or frogs flowers wouldn’t be
birds or frogs flowers wouldn’t be
birds or frogs flowers wouldn’t be pollinated so with mousse most of the
pollinated so with mousse most of the
pollinated so with mousse most of the fruits and vegetables we enjoy nature as
fruits and vegetables we enjoy nature as
fruits and vegetables we enjoy nature as we know it would be gone
we know it would be gone
we know it would be gone there are beneficial insects all around
there are beneficial insects all around
there are beneficial insects all around us doing battle for us keeping our
us doing battle for us keeping our
us doing battle for us keeping our gardens healthy we need to learn about
gardens healthy we need to learn about
gardens healthy we need to learn about these beneficial insects the good guys
these beneficial insects the good guys
these beneficial insects the good guys know who they are
know who they are
know who they are and go outside to find them because if
and go outside to find them because if
and go outside to find them because if we have a good diversity of those good
we have a good diversity of those good
we have a good diversity of those good guys then we can offset the populations
guys then we can offset the populations
guys then we can offset the populations of the destructive insects that are
of the destructive insects that are
of the destructive insects that are hurting even killing our plants these
hurting even killing our plants these
hurting even killing our plants these good guys can really help us keep our
good guys can really help us keep our
good guys can really help us keep our gardens healthy that’s why last April
gardens healthy that’s why last April
gardens healthy that’s why last April when I was walking my dog and I came
when I was walking my dog and I came
when I was walking my dog and I came across two praying mantis egg cases I
across two praying mantis egg cases I
across two praying mantis egg cases I felt like I’d won the lottery
felt like I’d won the lottery
felt like I’d won the lottery praying mantis of predators feeding on
praying mantis of predators feeding on
praying mantis of predators feeding on other insects you can use them in your
other insects you can use them in your
other insects you can use them in your garden to control pests
garden to control pests
garden to control pests instead of using chemical
instead of using chemical
instead of using chemical I started thinking of all the people I
I started thinking of all the people I
I started thinking of all the people I could share them with friends neighbors
could share them with friends neighbors
could share them with friends neighbors even some farmers who were just starting
even some farmers who were just starting
even some farmers who were just starting their Gardens thinking about their
their Gardens thinking about their
their Gardens thinking about their flowers and vegetables they would love
flowers and vegetables they would love
flowers and vegetables they would love these guys so I took the egg cases home
these guys so I took the egg cases home
these guys so I took the egg cases home and I put them in a container with good
and I put them in a container with good
and I put them in a container with good ventilation but I kept them in a safe
ventilation but I kept them in a safe
ventilation but I kept them in a safe place outside because I didn’t want them
place outside because I didn’t want them
place outside because I didn’t want them to hatch before food was available for
to hatch before food was available for
to hatch before food was available for them and I checked on them every day a
them and I checked on them every day a
them and I checked on them every day a few months later they hatched and I had
few months later they hatched and I had
few months later they hatched and I had hundreds of praying mantises now when
hundreds of praying mantises now when
hundreds of praying mantises now when praying mantis were young you can
praying mantis were young you can
praying mantis were young you can actually keep a lot of them together as
actually keep a lot of them together as
actually keep a lot of them together as long as they’re well said so sometimes I
long as they’re well said so sometimes I
long as they’re well said so sometimes I had tanks with up to 50 mantises living
had tanks with up to 50 mantises living
had tanks with up to 50 mantises living in them however this meant that cleaning
in them however this meant that cleaning
in them however this meant that cleaning the tanks became a three-person job and
the tanks became a three-person job and
the tanks became a three-person job and I enlisted the help of my husband and my
I enlisted the help of my husband and my
I enlisted the help of my husband and my son my son would stand ready with the
son my son would stand ready with the
son my son would stand ready with the new container at the side of the tank
new container at the side of the tank
new container at the side of the tank I had a small stick that I lowered into
I had a small stick that I lowered into
I had a small stick that I lowered into the tank to transfer the tiny mantises
the tank to transfer the tiny mantises
the tank to transfer the tiny mantises out now in the more than 20 years that
out now in the more than 20 years that
out now in the more than 20 years that I’ve been studying insects
I’ve been studying insects
I’ve been studying insects I found that praying mantis are very
I found that praying mantis are very
I found that praying mantis are very intelligent in fact I think they even
intelligent in fact I think they even
intelligent in fact I think they even have emotions you can watch their
have emotions you can watch their
have emotions you can watch their behavior and see that they’re processing
behavior and see that they’re processing
behavior and see that they’re processing information being fearful or cautious or
information being fearful or cautious or
information being fearful or cautious or defensive so to encourage the tiny
defensive so to encourage the tiny
defensive so to encourage the tiny mantises to be brave enough to climb
mantises to be brave enough to climb
mantises to be brave enough to climb that new stick in their tank I did what
that new stick in their tank I did what
that new stick in their tank I did what any good motivational speaker would do I
any good motivational speaker would do I
any good motivational speaker would do I cheered them on telling them you can do
cheered them on telling them you can do
cheered them on telling them you can do it you’ve got this and it worked
it you’ve got this and it worked
it you’ve got this and it worked my husband was to keep any potential
my husband was to keep any potential
my husband was to keep any potential escapees at bay by creating a slight
escapees at bay by creating a slight
escapees at bay by creating a slight breeze at the top of the tank so the
breeze at the top of the tank so the
breeze at the top of the tank so the entire time he was doing this when he
entire time he was doing this when he
entire time he was doing this when he got lightheaded we would stop and take a
got lightheaded we would stop and take a
got lightheaded we would stop and take a break but then we’d be right back at it
break but then we’d be right back at it
break but then we’d be right back at it we looked ridiculous and to answer
we looked ridiculous and to answer
we looked ridiculous and to answer everyone’s question no we don’t have any
everyone’s question no we don’t have any
everyone’s question no we don’t have any video of that precious time in our lives
video of that precious time in our lives
video of that precious time in our lives when the praying mantis were about two
when the praying mantis were about two
when the praying mantis were about two weeks old we started looking for people
weeks old we started looking for people
weeks old we started looking for people who might want them I sent out emails
who might want them I sent out emails
who might want them I sent out emails that again with free to a good home to
that again with free to a good home to
that again with free to a good home to the lucky responders I put the mantises
the lucky responders I put the mantises
the lucky responders I put the mantises and little snack cups with holes in the
and little snack cups with holes in the
and little snack cups with holes in the lid and plenty of fruit flies to eat and
lid and plenty of fruit flies to eat and
lid and plenty of fruit flies to eat and that I delivered them in gift bags with
that I delivered them in gift bags with
that I delivered them in gift bags with cards that read fragile live insects
cards that read fragile live insects
cards that read fragile live insects handle with care’ my husband even told
handle with care’ my husband even told
handle with care’ my husband even told his co-workers in Boston that I had an
his co-workers in Boston that I had an
his co-workers in Boston that I had an army of praying mantises did they want
army of praying mantises did they want
army of praying mantises did they want any and they did they wanted them for
any and they did they wanted them for
any and they did they wanted them for their kids to relief in the back yards
their kids to relief in the back yards
their kids to relief in the back yards they were gonna use them as their own
they were gonna use them as their own
they were gonna use them as their own teachable moments and explain to the
teachable moments and explain to the
teachable moments and explain to the kids that they were good useful bugs out
kids that they were good useful bugs out
kids that they were good useful bugs out there it was amazing how many people
there it was amazing how many people
there it was amazing how many people wanted them and seeing that positive
wanted them and seeing that positive
wanted them and seeing that positive response my husband asked the Boston
response my husband asked the Boston
response my husband asked the Boston parks department can we release some
parks department can we release some
parks department can we release some here on the trees and they said yes so
here on the trees and they said yes so
here on the trees and they said yes so the tree stuff we put them on we’re
the tree stuff we put them on we’re
the tree stuff we put them on we’re mostly Linden’s Linden’s are pollinated
mostly Linden’s Linden’s are pollinated
mostly Linden’s Linden’s are pollinated by bees which means we cannot do not
by bees which means we cannot do not
by bees which means we cannot do not treat them with insecticides but all
treat them with insecticides but all
treat them with insecticides but all summer long they’re attacked by athens
summer long they’re attacked by athens
summer long they’re attacked by athens and leaf hoppers any number of pests
and leaf hoppers any number of pests
and leaf hoppers any number of pests that literally drain the strength from
that literally drain the strength from
that literally drain the strength from these trees so putting my praying mantis
these trees so putting my praying mantis
these trees so putting my praying mantis son was a great idea
son was a great idea
son was a great idea but not everybody wants praying mantis
but not everybody wants praying mantis
but not everybody wants praying mantis in their gardens praying mantis our
in their gardens praying mantis our
in their gardens praying mantis our generalist feeders which means they’ll
generalist feeders which means they’ll
generalist feeders which means they’ll go after anything that lands or flies in
go after anything that lands or flies in
go after anything that lands or flies in front of them including butterflies
front of them including butterflies
front of them including butterflies nature is not always pretty in fact I
nature is not always pretty in fact I
nature is not always pretty in fact I don’t put any of the mantises in my own
don’t put any of the mantises in my own
don’t put any of the mantises in my own garden my garden is solely designed to
garden my garden is solely designed to
garden my garden is solely designed to attract and sustain the entire lifecycle
attract and sustain the entire lifecycle
attract and sustain the entire lifecycle of the monarch butterfly so prayer
of the monarch butterfly so prayer
of the monarch butterfly so prayer mantis worked well in some situations
mantis worked well in some situations
mantis worked well in some situations but not in all of them the good news is
but not in all of them the good news is
but not in all of them the good news is there are a lot of other beneficial
there are a lot of other beneficial
there are a lot of other beneficial insects out there I want to encourage
insects out there I want to encourage
insects out there I want to encourage all of you to get familiar with them you
all of you to get familiar with them you
all of you to get familiar with them you know some already like ladybugs in their
know some already like ladybugs in their
know some already like ladybugs in their lifetime billion over 5,000 Athens or
lifetime billion over 5,000 Athens or
lifetime billion over 5,000 Athens or dragonflies their favorite food
dragonflies their favorite food
dragonflies their favorite food mosquitoes but they’ll go after other
mosquitoes but they’ll go after other
mosquitoes but they’ll go after other smaller insects too the other one I love
smaller insects too the other one I love
smaller insects too the other one I love is the green lacewing they’re so
is the green lacewing they’re so
is the green lacewing they’re so beautiful and delicate I call them the
beautiful and delicate I call them the
beautiful and delicate I call them the fairies in the garden the adult eats
fairies in the garden the adult eats
fairies in the garden the adult eats nectar and pollen but the young stage
nectar and pollen but the young stage
nectar and pollen but the young stage the larval stage looks like a little
the larval stage looks like a little
the larval stage looks like a little alligator and it’s just as ferocious
alligator and it’s just as ferocious
alligator and it’s just as ferocious gobbling up hundreds of Athens every
gobbling up hundreds of Athens every
gobbling up hundreds of Athens every week the other one I know you’ll
week the other one I know you’ll
week the other one I know you’ll recognize is a stink bug not the stink
recognize is a stink bug not the stink
recognize is a stink bug not the stink bug that comes into your homes and
bug that comes into your homes and
bug that comes into your homes and hybrid eats in your curtains all winter
hybrid eats in your curtains all winter
hybrid eats in your curtains all winter this one still stinks but he’s good he’s
this one still stinks but he’s good he’s
this one still stinks but he’s good he’s called the spine soldier bug he has
called the spine soldier bug he has
called the spine soldier bug he has soldier in the name you know he’s out
soldier in the name you know he’s out
soldier in the name you know he’s out there fighting for you I had the young
there fighting for you I had the young
there fighting for you I had the young stage in my garden this summer no bigger
stage in my garden this summer no bigger
stage in my garden this summer no bigger than an mm didn’t even have his wings
than an mm didn’t even have his wings
than an mm didn’t even have his wings going after a full-grown hickory tussock
going after a full-grown hickory tussock
going after a full-grown hickory tussock moth caterpillar and let’s not forget
moth caterpillar and let’s not forget
moth caterpillar and let’s not forget about spiders they’re actually arachnids
about spiders they’re actually arachnids
about spiders they’re actually arachnids not insects
not insects
not insects but there’s over 3,400 species in North
but there’s over 3,400 species in North
but there’s over 3,400 species in North America
America
America all of them are predators going after
all of them are predators going after
all of them are predators going after the insects that are harming our plants
the insects that are harming our plants
the insects that are harming our plants so once you’ve gotten to know some of
so once you’ve gotten to know some of
so once you’ve gotten to know some of these good guys and you’re comfortable
these good guys and you’re comfortable
these good guys and you’re comfortable recognizing them that I want you to go
recognizing them that I want you to go
recognizing them that I want you to go out and look for them go in your yards
out and look for them go in your yards
out and look for them go in your yards look at the flowers look under the
look at the flowers look under the
look at the flowers look under the leaves look in the leaf litter you can
leaves look in the leaf litter you can
leaves look in the leaf litter you can even look in the trees they’re already
even look in the trees they’re already
even look in the trees they’re already out there in the trenches doing battle
out there in the trenches doing battle
out there in the trenches doing battle for us we will always have the
for us we will always have the
for us we will always have the destructive insects that’s okay
destructive insects that’s okay
destructive insects that’s okay they’re the food for the good guys and
they’re the food for the good guys and
they’re the food for the good guys and if we have enough diversity of those
if we have enough diversity of those
if we have enough diversity of those good guys then we’ve achieved a balance
good guys then we’ve achieved a balance
good guys then we’ve achieved a balance balance is the key to a healthy garden
balance is the key to a healthy garden
balance is the key to a healthy garden which will contribute to a healthy
which will contribute to a healthy
which will contribute to a healthy environment and the next time you find
environment and the next time you find
environment and the next time you find yourself on the Boston Common or in the
yourself on the Boston Common or in the
yourself on the Boston Common or in the public garden take a good look at the
public garden take a good look at the
public garden take a good look at the trees especially the Linden’s you might
trees especially the Linden’s you might
trees especially the Linden’s you might just see someone looking back at you
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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