Month: April 2026

In this edition of P&P we’ll explore the travels and adventures of Ynés Mexía, a late-blooming botanist.
Ynés Enriquetta Julietta Mexía was born May 24, 1870, in Washington, D.C., to Enrique Mexia, a Mexican diplomat, and Sarah Wilmer Mexía. Between birth and when she began her botanizing at the age of 50 she moved around a lot living in Texas, Pennsylvania, Canada, Maryland, and Mexico. She finally settled in San Francisco, California about 1909 where she became involved with several nature conservation organizations and was a strong advocate for saving redwood trees which were being heavily harvested for timber in the early 1900s.… Continue reading this article “People and Plants”

The New World screwworm is an insect that feeds on living flesh and it is making headlines this year as federal agencies race to battle it.

What exactly is a screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax)? Despite the name, screwworm is not a worm at all. This insect is a blue-green blow fly native to the Americas. Adult flies themselves are not the problem. The danger begins when females lay eggs in open wounds, cuts, or even mucous membranes of warm-blooded animals.… Continue reading this article “The worm that is screwing over livestock (New World Screwworm)”