Anurag Agrawal
@anurag-asclepias.bsky.social
Evolutionary ecologist studying species interactions, plant chemistry, community ecology, and comparative biology. Author of Monarchs & Milkweed and Professor at Cornell University. Proud parent and friend.
A mentor, Spencer Barrett, and mentee, Marc Johnson - 20 years apart
November 9, 2025 at 1:18 AM
A mentor, Spencer Barrett, and mentee, Marc Johnson - 20 years apart
The wooly bear, or #Isabella tiger #moth #caterpillar, Pyrrharctia isabella, still looking for overwintering spots on warm days. I'm still collecting them for research. Many years ago I became allergic to the hairs, a painful reminder of my love gone sour: agrawal.eeb.cornell.edu/2018/11/24/c...
November 4, 2025 at 10:51 AM
The wooly bear, or #Isabella tiger #moth #caterpillar, Pyrrharctia isabella, still looking for overwintering spots on warm days. I'm still collecting them for research. Many years ago I became allergic to the hairs, a painful reminder of my love gone sour: agrawal.eeb.cornell.edu/2018/11/24/c...
By popular demand, I'm offering "More #MONARCHS - No #Monarchy!" shirts and mugs at cost (no profit, just joy). Spread the word, decent quality for <$20
monarchs.printful.me
#NoKings #butterfly #peace #naturalhistory #plantinsect
monarchs.printful.me
#NoKings #butterfly #peace #naturalhistory #plantinsect
November 1, 2025 at 12:34 PM
By popular demand, I'm offering "More #MONARCHS - No #Monarchy!" shirts and mugs at cost (no profit, just joy). Spread the word, decent quality for <$20
monarchs.printful.me
#NoKings #butterfly #peace #naturalhistory #plantinsect
monarchs.printful.me
#NoKings #butterfly #peace #naturalhistory #plantinsect
Red oak fall colors
October 26, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Red oak fall colors
October 26, 2025 at 8:35 PM
My monkey slug getting ready to transform to hag moth, Phobetron pithecium Limacodidae
October 22, 2025 at 12:28 AM
My monkey slug getting ready to transform to hag moth, Phobetron pithecium Limacodidae
Monkey slug caterpillar, or "hag #moth" Phobetron pithecium. A late season Limacodidae of eastern forests, A generalized feeder of mostly blue plants
Courtesy of Sam Jaffe and the amazing #caterpillar lab in New Hampshire!
www.thecaterpillarlab.org
Courtesy of Sam Jaffe and the amazing #caterpillar lab in New Hampshire!
www.thecaterpillarlab.org
October 14, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Monkey slug caterpillar, or "hag #moth" Phobetron pithecium. A late season Limacodidae of eastern forests, A generalized feeder of mostly blue plants
Courtesy of Sam Jaffe and the amazing #caterpillar lab in New Hampshire!
www.thecaterpillarlab.org
Courtesy of Sam Jaffe and the amazing #caterpillar lab in New Hampshire!
www.thecaterpillarlab.org
Hoodia and Huernia, two Ascleps flowering in my house
October 11, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Hoodia and Huernia, two Ascleps flowering in my house
Two pairs of wild turkeys in Cambridge, Mass
October 11, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Two pairs of wild turkeys in Cambridge, Mass
Echinopsis tubiflora an Argentinian endemic Cactaceae, night blooming, open <18 hours (120x = 2 hours) #timelapse #cactus #flower #sweetsmell
October 6, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Echinopsis tubiflora an Argentinian endemic Cactaceae, night blooming, open <18 hours (120x = 2 hours) #timelapse #cactus #flower #sweetsmell
Scaldweed, Cuscuta gronovii, a native annual non-photosynthetic #parasitic #plant - haustoria instead of roots; shares #herbivores with its host plants (you are what you eat) - but a #flowering plant nonetheless. Most plant communities have several distantly related species of parasitic angiosperms
October 2, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Scaldweed, Cuscuta gronovii, a native annual non-photosynthetic #parasitic #plant - haustoria instead of roots; shares #herbivores with its host plants (you are what you eat) - but a #flowering plant nonetheless. Most plant communities have several distantly related species of parasitic angiosperms
October 2, 2025 at 1:55 AM
I've been seeing more of the Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus around the great lakes region. This is from the sandy east shores of Lake Ontario. Said to be native, I wonder if it's being planted more and spreading?
September 30, 2025 at 12:36 AM
I've been seeing more of the Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus around the great lakes region. This is from the sandy east shores of Lake Ontario. Said to be native, I wonder if it's being planted more and spreading?
The American searocket,
Cakile edentula, a sand loving semi-succulent #Brassicaceae. I knew this plant from the west coast; here on the shores of lake Ontario. Fruits have two-parts, one that breaks off and floats for water dispersal. immature silliques are edible, like radish pods
Cakile edentula, a sand loving semi-succulent #Brassicaceae. I knew this plant from the west coast; here on the shores of lake Ontario. Fruits have two-parts, one that breaks off and floats for water dispersal. immature silliques are edible, like radish pods
September 30, 2025 at 12:28 AM
The American searocket,
Cakile edentula, a sand loving semi-succulent #Brassicaceae. I knew this plant from the west coast; here on the shores of lake Ontario. Fruits have two-parts, one that breaks off and floats for water dispersal. immature silliques are edible, like radish pods
Cakile edentula, a sand loving semi-succulent #Brassicaceae. I knew this plant from the west coast; here on the shores of lake Ontario. Fruits have two-parts, one that breaks off and floats for water dispersal. immature silliques are edible, like radish pods
A leaf mining #moth on a quaking Aspen, caterpillar apparently secretes cytokinins which suppress senescence in leaf sectors. Adaptive for the moth? #fallcolors
September 30, 2025 at 12:19 AM
A leaf mining #moth on a quaking Aspen, caterpillar apparently secretes cytokinins which suppress senescence in leaf sectors. Adaptive for the moth? #fallcolors
And next to the #orchid, pondside, abundant greater fringed gentians, Gentianopsis crinita, a spectacular biennial; reproductive parts heavily attacked by a plume moth. After 3 years of trial & error, we finally have a means to germinate seeds and study them in natural populations and common gardens
September 20, 2025 at 11:13 PM
And next to the #orchid, pondside, abundant greater fringed gentians, Gentianopsis crinita, a spectacular biennial; reproductive parts heavily attacked by a plume moth. After 3 years of trial & error, we finally have a means to germinate seeds and study them in natural populations and common gardens
Kleinia pendula (formerly in #Senecio) - the inchworm plant from NE Africa. A rayless creeping #succulent #aster (w/ red flowers)... here with the aphid, #Aphis nerrii, in Ithaca; I usually think of A. nerrii as a specialist on #Apocynaceae (but there are several reports on asters) #herbivory
September 18, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Kleinia pendula (formerly in #Senecio) - the inchworm plant from NE Africa. A rayless creeping #succulent #aster (w/ red flowers)... here with the aphid, #Aphis nerrii, in Ithaca; I usually think of A. nerrii as a specialist on #Apocynaceae (but there are several reports on asters) #herbivory
September 18, 2025 at 9:40 PM
A male large tolype #moth (or velleda lappet moth), Tolype velleda, an eastern north american tree leaf feeder (as caterpillar). Adults do not have mouth parts - no feeding, just flying and mating. Note one feathery antenna: high surface area to pick up on female-produced pheromones
September 18, 2025 at 10:14 AM
A male large tolype #moth (or velleda lappet moth), Tolype velleda, an eastern north american tree leaf feeder (as caterpillar). Adults do not have mouth parts - no feeding, just flying and mating. Note one feathery antenna: high surface area to pick up on female-produced pheromones