This Open House will break our tradition of 1st Thursdays to avoid conflict with 4th of July activities. It will take place on WEDNESDAY, July 3rd, 6-8pm (1075 Harlemville Road, Ghent NY 12075) and will include a presentation.
Please join us at 6pm for a tour of the native plant garden and the building, and some food.
At 7pm, Rachel Stone, a visiting scientist from Kansas, who is currently conducting a survey of dung beetles on farms throughout Columbia County, will give a presentation on "Dung Beetle Ecology and An Introduction to the Dung Beetles of Columbia County".
Poop is not a dirty word! In insect ecology it’s a tremendously important habitat with many different players—most notably the dung beetle. These small creatures lead lives are centered around dung. They eat it, they’re born in it, they breed next to it, they compete over it, and they live in for at least one life stage. And these behaviors lead to many environmental benefits including nutrient recycling, efficient dung breakdown, and increased soil fertility. Come learn about the exciting world of dung beetle ecology and meet the dung beetles found in your community!
“If we and the rest of the backboned animals were to disappear overnight, the rest of the world would get on pretty well. But if they were to disappear, the land's ecosystems would collapse. The soil would lose its fertility. Many of the plants would no longer be pollinated. Lots of animals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals would have nothing to eat. And our fields and pastures would be covered with dung and carrion. These small creatures are within a few inches of our feet, wherever we go on land – but often, they're disregarded. We would do very well to remember them.”—David Attenborough