Lovis Alden
@lovisalden.bsky.social
Educator and naturalist in NYC
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/lovisalden
https://substack.com/@lovisalden?r=6czbmg&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/lovisalden
https://substack.com/@lovisalden?r=6czbmg&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile
Snow buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis) at Rockaway Beach, Queens.
November 24, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Snow buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis) at Rockaway Beach, Queens.
Beadlet anemone (Actinia equina), a recent introduction from the other side of the Atlantic, found at Breezy Point Tip, Queens.
October 24, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Beadlet anemone (Actinia equina), a recent introduction from the other side of the Atlantic, found at Breezy Point Tip, Queens.
The harvester (Feniseca tarquinius), North America’s only carnivorous butterfly, at Hamlin Marsh in North Syracuse, NY.
September 5, 2025 at 8:53 PM
The harvester (Feniseca tarquinius), North America’s only carnivorous butterfly, at Hamlin Marsh in North Syracuse, NY.
Antlion (Myrmeleon immaculatus) fished out of a pit trap at Strack Pond in Forest Park, Queens
August 27, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Antlion (Myrmeleon immaculatus) fished out of a pit trap at Strack Pond in Forest Park, Queens
I made a substack account so I could write without a character limit! My first post is about spotted lanternflies.
open.substack.com/pub/lovisald...
open.substack.com/pub/lovisald...
Let’s Talk About The Lanternfly Squishing Thing
Since 2018, New Yorkers have been taught to react with hatred and disgust at this sight.
open.substack.com
August 24, 2025 at 10:32 AM
I made a substack account so I could write without a character limit! My first post is about spotted lanternflies.
open.substack.com/pub/lovisald...
open.substack.com/pub/lovisald...
A pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor) at the Salt Marsh Nature Center in Marine Park, Brooklyn.
This one’s back wings were all torn up, probably from something that took a bite and then regretted it!
This one’s back wings were all torn up, probably from something that took a bite and then regretted it!
July 28, 2025 at 6:22 PM
A pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor) at the Salt Marsh Nature Center in Marine Park, Brooklyn.
This one’s back wings were all torn up, probably from something that took a bite and then regretted it!
This one’s back wings were all torn up, probably from something that took a bite and then regretted it!
The eastern prickly pear (Opuntia humifusa) is in bloom at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge!
June 22, 2025 at 10:25 PM
The eastern prickly pear (Opuntia humifusa) is in bloom at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge!
Brood XIV Magicicada septendecim from Brookhaven State Park, out on Long Island.
June 17, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Brood XIV Magicicada septendecim from Brookhaven State Park, out on Long Island.
Orchard oriole (Icterus spurius) nesting in a cottonwood (Populus deltoides) at Strack Pond in Forest Park.
June 7, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Orchard oriole (Icterus spurius) nesting in a cottonwood (Populus deltoides) at Strack Pond in Forest Park.
Golden tortoise beetle (Charidotella sexpunctata) at Forest Park, Queens. These beetles can change color from gold to orange when disturbed. I still haven’t been able to catch one in the gold phase.
June 6, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Golden tortoise beetle (Charidotella sexpunctata) at Forest Park, Queens. These beetles can change color from gold to orange when disturbed. I still haven’t been able to catch one in the gold phase.
The “greengill” sunfish, a hybrid of two introduced Lepomis species - the bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and the green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus). Found in Forest Park’s Strack Pond, where those two and this hybrid seem to be the only fish species present.
June 6, 2025 at 10:45 AM
The “greengill” sunfish, a hybrid of two introduced Lepomis species - the bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and the green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus). Found in Forest Park’s Strack Pond, where those two and this hybrid seem to be the only fish species present.
Eyed click beetles (Alaus oculatus) mating at Forest Park, Queens.
May 24, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Eyed click beetles (Alaus oculatus) mating at Forest Park, Queens.
Oncopsis deluda, a treehopper that feeds on river birch (Betula nigra). Found crawling around on my menu in the garden area of a restaurant in Brooklyn Heights.
Another first NYC iNaturalist observation. And again, not because it’s rare, but just because people don’t often look closely.
Another first NYC iNaturalist observation. And again, not because it’s rare, but just because people don’t often look closely.
May 11, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Oncopsis deluda, a treehopper that feeds on river birch (Betula nigra). Found crawling around on my menu in the garden area of a restaurant in Brooklyn Heights.
Another first NYC iNaturalist observation. And again, not because it’s rare, but just because people don’t often look closely.
Another first NYC iNaturalist observation. And again, not because it’s rare, but just because people don’t often look closely.
A tiny juvenile American eel (Anguilla rostrata) found in a storm drain outflow at Francis Lewis Park, Queens.
May 2, 2025 at 10:36 PM
A tiny juvenile American eel (Anguilla rostrata) found in a storm drain outflow at Francis Lewis Park, Queens.
First New York state iNat record of this giant waterbug species, Belostoma testaceum! It’s probably more common, but a clear photo of the bottom is apparently necessary for ID in this genus. Most observations only include photos of the top side.
www.inaturalist.org/observations...
www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Belostoma testaceum
Belostoma testaceum from Long Island, New York, NY, US on April 1, 2025 at 01:11 PM by Louis Burns
www.inaturalist.org
April 3, 2025 at 8:42 PM
First New York state iNat record of this giant waterbug species, Belostoma testaceum! It’s probably more common, but a clear photo of the bottom is apparently necessary for ID in this genus. Most observations only include photos of the top side.
www.inaturalist.org/observations...
www.inaturalist.org/observations...
A mining bee in the genus Andrena from Alley Pond Park, Queens
April 2, 2025 at 11:23 PM
A mining bee in the genus Andrena from Alley Pond Park, Queens
Golden crowned kinglet at Forest Park, Queens.
March 29, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Golden crowned kinglet at Forest Park, Queens.
Fairy shrimp in the genus Eubranchipus from a forested vernal pool in Cunningham Park, Queens
March 13, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Fairy shrimp in the genus Eubranchipus from a forested vernal pool in Cunningham Park, Queens
American goldfinches eating evening primrose seeds at Idlewild Park, Queens
March 2, 2025 at 1:17 PM
American goldfinches eating evening primrose seeds at Idlewild Park, Queens
A standoff between a red tailed hawk and an eastern gray squirrel at Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn
February 25, 2025 at 12:38 PM
A standoff between a red tailed hawk and an eastern gray squirrel at Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn
Bald eagle eating an American black duck at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens
February 19, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Bald eagle eating an American black duck at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens
Northern harrier flying over Jamaica Bay, seen from Sunset Cove Park
February 18, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Northern harrier flying over Jamaica Bay, seen from Sunset Cove Park
Canada geese at Spring Creek marsh, at the border of Brooklyn and Queens
February 17, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Canada geese at Spring Creek marsh, at the border of Brooklyn and Queens