Cabinet of Curiosities

Beautiful little scarab beetles dotted the stems of Bee Balm as I left our raptor enclosure. I monitor our stunning native garden beds regularly between surveying butterfly occurrences and, once in a while, borrowing a few leaves or blossoms to brighten my salad lunch. This morning, I counted three Japanese beetles—metallic beauties with a complicated status as highly destructive invasive insects. These beetles really are little beauties. Their heads and thoraxes gleam emerald green, while polished copper wing covers catch the light like tiny pieces of jewelry. I've always admired their appearance, which has become common across my ten years in the Northwoods. I found these two being friendly during my early days working at the Museum. What was once a novel experience has become a regular occurrence.  Beauty isn't always good news. Japanese beetles ( Popillia japonica ) arrived in the United States over a century ago, likely hidden in soil accompanying imported ornamental plant...