Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Gypsy Moths...

  ... are a real danger to the Kingwood trees.  Yesterday I spent the morning with Shawn hunting Gypsy Moth Egg Sacks.  I had been looking for them around Kingwood by myself with no success, so Shawn took time out of his busy day to hunt along side me until I was skilled in locating the potentially devastating egg sacks.  
We were up at the Gate House to make sure the doors were open for Tai Chi and that is where I found my first Gypsy Moth egg sack underneath the window ledge.  Shawn made sure to scrape off every egg.                                                                  
This one was my first find.  It includes the pupae shell case w/egg mass.
Below is my readings on the Gypsy Moth and Caterpillars.  I was going to break this up into a series, but here it is in total so you can read it when you have opportunity.

Section 1

Biology & Life Cycle

Gypsy moth undergoes four developmental life stages; these are the egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa, and adult. Gypsy moth females lay between 500 to 1,000 eggs in sheltered areas such as underneath the bark of trees. The eggs are covered with a dense mass of tan or buff-colored hairs. The egg mass is approximately 1.5 inches long and 0.75 inches wide. The eggs are the overwintering stage of the insect. Eggs are attached to trees, houses, or any outdoor objects. The eggs hatch in spring (April) into caterpillars.



Caterpillar (Larval Stage)






Gypsy moth caterpillars are easy to identify, because they possess characteristics not found on other leaf-feeding caterpillars. They have five pairs of blue dots followed by six pairs of red dots lining the back. In addition, they are dark-colored and covered with hairs. Young caterpillars primarily feed during the day whereas the older caterpillars feed at night. When present in large numbers, the older caterpillars feed day and night. Young caterpillars spread to new locations by crawling to the tops of trees, where they spin a silken thread and are caught on wind currents. Older caterpillars are approximately 1.5 to 2.0 inches long. Gypsy moth caterpillars do not produce a web, which distinguishes it from web-making caterpillars such as the Eastern tent caterpillar, Malacosoma americanum and the fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea. The Gypsy moth larval stage lasts approximately seven weeks.



Male Moth

Female Moth




In early summer (June to early July), Gypsy moth caterpillars enter a pupal or transitional stage. The pupae are dark brown, shell-like cases approximately two inches long and covered with hairs. They are primarily located in sheltered areas such as tree bark crevices or leaf litter. Adult Gypsy moths emerge from the pupae in 10 to 14 days. They are present from July into August. Females have white to cream-colored wings, a tan body, and a two-inch wingspan. Female Gypsy moths cannot fly. Males, which are smaller than females, with a 1.5-inch wingspan, are dark-brown and have feathery antennae. Both the adult female and male can be identified by the inverted V-shape that points to a dot on the wings.
Gypsy moth has only one generation per year. Gypsy moth populations will go through cycles in which the populations will increase for several years then decline, and then increase again. Area-wide outbreaks can occur for up to ten years, but generally population densities in localized areas remain high for two to three years.


Adapted from Entomology Fact Sheet, NHE-153 written by Raymond A. Cloyd and Philip L. Nixon, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, in cooperation with the Illinois Natural History Survey

Section II

Damage

The larva or caterpillar is the damaging stage as it eats the leaves of trees in the spring. They can consume tremendous amounts of leaf material. For example, Gypsy moth larvae can consume as much as one square foot of leaves per day. As a result, they produce a large amount of fecal (frass) material. When populations reach outbreak proportions, the caterpillars can completely defoliate host trees over a wide geographic area. Consistent or repeated defoliation over several years can have devastating effects, often leading to tree stress and death.

Gypsy moth damage

Gypsy moths have a wide host-range, which includes oak (Quercus sp.), crabapple (Malus sp.), linden (Tilia sp.), poplar (Populus sp.), beech (Fagus sp.), willow (Salix sp.), birch (Betula sp.), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), serviceberry (Amelanchier sp.), and hawthorn (Crataegus sp.). Trees less susceptible to attack by Gypsy moth are ash (Fraxinus sp.), sycamore (Platanus sp.), Indian bean (Catalpa sp.), honeylocust (Gleditsia sp.), dogwood (Cornus sp.), junipers (Juniperus sp.), yew (Taxus sp.), lilac (Syringa sp.), arborvitae (Thuja sp.), arrowwood (Viburnum sp.), and tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera).
Conifers are more susceptible to death than evergreens because they don't produce another flush of growth once defoliated. Conifers, such as pine (Pinus sp.) and spruce (Picea sp.), are unable to produce new leaves (needles) after defoliation as compared to deciduous trees. As a result, conifers can die after one severe defoliation.
The ecological and economic impact of Gypsy moth is a serious concern. Gypsy moth defoliation can change the complexity of understory growth thus resulting in an increase or decrease of certain fauna or flora. Consecutive defoliation can result in plant stress and possible death. Gypsy moth defoliation may predispose trees to attack by opportunistic insects or diseases. For example, Gypsy moth feeding can increase a tree's susceptibility to the attack by the shoestring fungus, Armillariella mellea and the two-lined chestnut borer, Agrilus bilineatus. In forested neighborhoods and urban parks, dead trees are a safety hazard. Large numbers of caterpillars are a nuisance and the hairs may cause skin and/or respiratory allergies. In addition, the fecal droppings can cover large areas and make it difficult to enjoy outdoor activities such as barbecues, swimming, and picnics. In fact, reduced attendance in recreational areas and/or resorts may occur during outbreaks.

Section III

Gypsy Moth Photos - not taken by me.

In spring when weather warms and
leaves open, caterpillars hatch from
eggs laid the previous summer.


Caterpillars feed on newly
expanded leaves.
 

About 7 weeks after egg hatch,
mature caterpillars stop feeding,
find a sheltered resing spot and
pupate, forming a protective shell.



Don't confuse Gypsy moth caterpillar with other leaf feeding caterpillars present in spring. Here is Eastern Tent Caterpillar, a web-forming caterpillar.


Section IV
Gypsy Moth Links

DuPage County Government
http://www.dupageco.org/
USFS Gypsy Moth Information
http://www.fs.fed.us/cgi-bin/texis/searchallsites/search.allsites/
?db=allsites&query=gypsy+moth

USFA Pest Alert - Gypsy Moth
http://na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fidls/gypsymoth/gypsy.htm
USFA Pest Alerts
http://www.fs.fed.us/na/morgantown/fhp/palerts/palerts.htm
USFS Handbook on Gypsy Moth
http://www.fs.fed.us/na/morgantown/fhp/gm/gmhb.htm
The Illinois Virtual Forest
http://ilvirtualforest.nres.uiuc.edu/
USDA Gypsy Moth in North America
http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/morgantown/4557/gmoth/
USDA Gypsy Moth Information
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fidls/gypsymoth/gypsy.htm
IDA Gypsy Moth General Information
http://www.agr.state.il.us/Environment/Pest/gypsymoth.html
USDA Pheromone Control Information
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/dec97/moth1297.htm
Illinois Landscape Contractors Association
http://www.ilca.net/





Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Welcome Back to the Wood Ducks

Look who's back!

Very excited to see the wood ducks return.  Last year there was only one but this year they came back as a pair.    Pretty ducks and I am looking forward to getting more pictues.  It was raining today.  Dark and overcast, so this was as good as I could do without photo shop. 
The Indian Runners were giving me their rear ends this morning.  Not very interested in getting their pictures taken today. 







And to satisfy my dear friend Kathy M (who hates ducks) just in case she reads this post, (and hopefully stays off facebook with her bird opinions) here is a flower picture. 

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

In the Kingwood Attic

Kathy M and I have been working on a task of recording the Kingwood Magazines.  Carefully wrapped, labeled and stored in the attic dated as far back as 1923, time for the publications to be sold or removed.  Kathy and I took pictures and did a database spreadsheet.  Today was a meeting with Sandy, Chuck Gleaves and Bill Collins.  I think we are close to wrapping this project up!.





A rare treat to peak in the Kingwood Attic.  Most of the contents are Christmas.  Then comes old magazines and also the dried flowers to be used in workshops and flower arrangements.  So in a random order, some pictures of what we worked with.  Hopefully some of the older publication can be removed to get some of the weight off of the ceiling and provide extra dollars for Kingwood.


Saturday, March 19, 2011

Spring Spring Spring


64 degrees for two days in a row here in Mansfield, Ohio and everyone is taking advantage.  Flowers, Bees, Snakes  Spend quite a few house at Kingwood Center over the last two days.  Here are few highlights.





 







First bee of the season is worn out from the excitement.  Just look at that pollen mess.  Looking around in the back pond, yes, I see you Mr. Snake.  How's the water?

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Kingwood Demonstrations at the Home and Garden Show



Kingwood Center presented demonstrations at the Home and Garden Show this weekend.  Two demonstrations were offered.  Starting Seeds and Succulent Container Gardening.  Bill Collins presented on Saturday and John Makley on Sunday.  Fun and informative as I learned something new at each demo. 

Bill Collins

John Makley
Here they are demonstrating how to transplant seedlings..
.. and below they are creating their masterpieces.

John Makley encouraging the audience to pick out plants used in the arrangement. New term learned at this demonstration was Thriller - Filler - Spiller.  Audience could choose from an array of succulents shown on the table to represent these three descriptions.  

tall are thillers

the rest are fillers

hanging are spillers

Completed container garden



Friday, March 11, 2011

Could it be the last snow?

Today was a beautiful day to be at Kingwood.  Snow covered trees bring a special quiet magic. Also a busy day. Don Miller is back from a two month lay off.  Kathy M and I visited with him on the peony project that we had been working on over the winter.  After that we headed up to the house to work on the attic library project.  Had to stop many times along the way to take just a few pictures of snow covered Kingwood.  Kathy M took this picture of me taking pictures and now it is my favorite picture of me.  We saw Kay Hostetler on the way in to the house.  She was on her way out to take pictures.  Glenna Sheaffer is also back from lay off and we popped our heads in her office on the way up the stairs to the attic. She lent me a book on animal tracts.  I plan to use it in the snow!




Charles Applegate is also back from leave. He showed us the newly created dried flower arrangements.  Christmas removed, the rooms looked strangely barren so the arrangements gave the rooms a pick-me-up.  Charles recycled an  arrangement by removing peacock feathers, replacing with dried flowers.

Glenna Sheaffer created this beautiful arrangement.  I love the sweeping look.  Most of the other new arrangements were created to be place under a dome glass.  Which although beautiful, difficult to get a good picture.  Well, as I said it was a busy day.  So happy to see the staff back at work and to have been able to see just one more snow covered Kingwood before the busy spring begins. 

Monday, March 7, 2011

Hint of Spring

Today I had just about an hour for a relaxing walk around Kingwood Center.  There are two patches of Winter Aconites starting to bloom.  One in the Perennial Garden near the parking lot and one on the back path of the duck pond.  The tulips and daffodils are still just nubs making this just a hint of Spring.

Friday, March 4, 2011

A Year in the Life of The Kingwood Bunnies

At the Kingwood Herb Society meeting last night we found out about our part in the Kingwood Spring Flower Festival, which takes place on April 30th this year.  David Wood wrote a book on the Kingwood Bunnies inspired after finding a family of rabbits in a nest during a spring tour of the garden years ago with his granddaughter. Books can be found on Amazon.com or most Mansfield bookstores.  $1 from every sale goes to Kingwood Center.  This year he will be reading his book in the Gazebo area during the Spring Flower Festival.  We will be winding the kids through the Herb garden to the Gazebo and providing them with veggie shaped cookies for the story time.  Sounds like it will be great fun!



Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Kingwood Garden Club Meeting

Kingwood Center open one day and it was time for the first Garden Club Meeting of 2011.  Kingwood hosts a meeting, once a month, inviting area Garden Club representatives to keep them current on Kingwood activities and also provide an informative program.  I went today representing the Johnny Appleseed Garden Club.  John Makley gave a wonderful program on Mr. Charles Kelley King.  Today I will share with you how Mr. King made some of his fortune at Ohio Brass.  With a patent for developing a part in the trolley pole.  Trolley poles shown on the top of the trolley below.

Trackless Trolly from an Ohio Brass Advertisment


Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Kingwood Center - Gates Open Today

March 1st.  My guy and I headed over to Kingwood for a walk.  I took the picture to the left and put it on the Kingwood Center facebook page. 

The ducks and peacocks were happy to see that we remembered to bring a few quarters for corn.

About Me

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Volunteer, member, frequent visitor and photographer of Kingwood Center.