Alias: Maple bladder gall mite. This insect is very rarely seen, but its effects are common among maple trees. It is a small mite that feeds on the underside of maple leaves, and develops a bright red ...

Weather conditions haven’t been ideal for backyard maple syrup makers this season, but local sugar shacks are still boiling and selling across the state.

The sweet, slightly smoky scent of boiling maple sap fills sugar shacks this time of year. Gallons of sap bubble and pop as they’re refined into a deep amber syrup with a rich, earthy sweetness.