Day: October 4, 2019

This is a picture of the canal that runs parallel to the Delaware River.  Construction for this canal began in 1829, and was used for many years. Mules would pull coal barges down the river. When we went on our float trip down the river, we were able to see the canal. I find it interesting that not that long ago, this was an effective form of transportation.

As though the introduction of the spotted lanternfly wasn’t enough, Pennsylvania may be facing another invasive species epidemic.  The northern snakehead, a fish more common in Asian countries, has recently been found in the Monongahela River.  Only one has been found so far, and the hope is that there aren’t any more.  The northern snakehead serves as a predator to many fish native to Pennsylvania.

I spotted this cool creature in my common room a few nights ago, and although I wasn’t sure exactly what it was, after a bit of research I concluded it was probably a Katydid. It’s hard to see the bug clearly in the picture I took , but I included a more clear picture of what these bugs look like. Katydids are mostly nocturnal, and in the daytime, they have a unique defense mechanism to protect them while they rest. In the 2nd picture you may have noticed that the bug kind of looks like a leaf. When Katydids rest in trees they unfold their wings to lay flat, and in doing so they look almost identical to a leaf, so they are left alone by most predators.