[NatureNS] re "tent caterpillars" and alder flea beetles -- was comment re Empty

To: NatureNS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
References: <1376670849.53976.YahooMailNeo@web140701.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2013 16:46:05 -0300
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As Jim Edsall already told us, Rob's "tent caterpillars" are very  
probably fall webworms -- tent caterpillars occur in spring and early  
summer, not now.  But from a drive to Scots' Bay two days ago, I  
agree with Rob about alder flea beetles, which defoliate alder bushes  
-- very brown and bare alders were abundant there along the main road  
to Scots' Bay.

Cheers from Jim the Other, in Wolfville.

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Rob Woods <rrtwoods@yahoo.com>
> Date: August 16, 2013 1:34:09 PM ADT
> To: "naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
> Subject: Re: [NatureNS] comment re Empty Forests-- weather
> Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
>
> While I agree that there is certainly a downward trend in insect  
> availability the double wammy of a dry spring summer last year and  
> a cold wet spring this year must play havoc with insect cycles.
>
> In an area where insecticides/pesticide use is  very limited the  
> amount of insects is also down for some species.
>
> Our black fly and musquitos were up, lightning bugs down despite  
> late cutting of hay, but last year being dry the cutting was early  
> as it was dry. This year my fruit trees blossomed but the cold wet  
> resulted in almost no pollintion. With limited fruit on the trees  
> there is almost no insects around (less apple blossom maggot flies  
> - from a human person this is pleasant as they bite and destroy  
> fruit). Also wild raspberry crops in the open woods are down which  
> also attracts huge numbers of insects. My swallow nests have gone  
> up 4 to 8 this year (barn & tree) so is this keeping the day time  
> insect down in the farm yard.
>
> Bird wise - the number of flycatches were noticably down this june  
> - july. With wet weather and lack of food I assume they went  
> looking for better locations. My usual nesting warblers were all  
> present and in their normal locations.
>
> Moths seem to be flurishing with the lack of bats this year. Also  
> the Alder beetle seems to be in over abundance again this year and  
> tent catipillers are starting to appear in numerous spots, just  
> wish they would leave fruit trees alone.
>
> Rob Woods
> Georgefield NS
>
> To free oneself of knowledge is to die, and thus one lives. -  
> Krishnamurti
>
> From: Jim Edsall <jim.edsall@bellaliant.net>
> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> Sent: Friday, August 16, 2013 9:19:07 AM
> Subject: Re: [NatureNS] comment re Empty Forests-butterfly atlas data
>
> The Butterfly Atlas is only in its fourth year. Any trends noticed  
> over that
> period of time can probably be explained by looking at the local  
> weather.
> This years paucity of (some) species can probably be attributed to  
> last
> years summer drought and heat and this years cold wet spring.
>
>
> Jim Edsall
> Dartmouth, N.S.
> check out my website at
> http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/jim.edsall/
>
>
>


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<html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">
As Jim Edsall already told us, Rob's "tent caterpillars" are very =
probably fall webworms -- tent caterpillars occur in spring and early =
summer, not now. &nbsp;But from a drive to Scots' Bay two days ago, I =
agree with Rob about alder flea beetles, which defoliate alder bushes -- =
very brown and bare alders were abundant there along the main road to =
Scots' Bay. &nbsp;<div><br></div><div>Cheers from Jim the Other, in =
Wolfville.<br><div><br><div>Begin forwarded message:</div><br =
class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>From: =
</b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px =
Helvetica">Rob Woods &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:rrtwoods@yahoo.com">rrtwoods@yahoo.com</a>&gt;</font></div>=
<div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>Date: =
</b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px =
Helvetica">August 16, 2013 1:34:09 PM ADT</font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>To: </b></font><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">"<a =
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a>" =
&lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a>&gt;</f=
ont></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" =
size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: =
#000000"><b>Subject: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>Re: [NatureNS] comment re Empty =
Forests-- weather</b></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px =
Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>Reply-To: </b></font><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a =
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a></font>=
</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: =
0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div> <div =
style=3D"color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:times new roman, =
new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><div><span>While I agree that =
there is certainly a downward trend in insect availability the double =
wammy of a dry spring summer last year and a cold wet spring this year =
must play havoc with insect =
cycles.</span></div><div><span></span>&nbsp;</div><div><span>In an area =
where insecticides/pesticide use is&nbsp; very limited the amount of =
insects is also down for some =
species.</span></div><div><span></span>&nbsp;</div><div><span>Our black =
fly and musquitos were up, lightning bugs down despite late cutting of =
hay, but last year being dry the cutting was early as it was dry. This =
year my fruit trees blossomed but the cold wet resulted in almost no =
pollintion. With limited fruit on the trees there is almost no insects =
around (less apple blossom maggot flies - from a human person this is =
pleasant as they bite and destroy fruit). Also wild raspberry crops in =
the open woods are down which also attracts huge numbers of insects. My =
swallow nests have gone up 4 to 8 this year (barn &amp; tree) so is this =
keeping the day time insect down in the farm =
yard.</span></div><div><span></span>&nbsp;</div><div><span>Bird wise - =
the number of flycatches were noticably down this june - july. With wet =
weather and lack of food I assume they went looking for better =
locations. My usual nesting warblers were all present and in their =
normal =
locations.</span></div><div><span></span>&nbsp;</div><div><span>Moths =
seem to be flurishing with the lack of bats this year. Also the Alder =
beetle seems to be in over abundance again this year and tent =
catipillers are starting to appear in numerous spots, just wish they =
would leave fruit trees =
alone.</span></div><div><span></span>&nbsp;</div><div><span>Rob =
Woods</span></div><div><span>Georgefield =
NS</span></div><div></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>To free oneself of =
knowledge is to die, and thus one lives. - =
Krishnamurti</div><div><br></div>  <div style=3D"font-family: times new =
roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <div =
style=3D"font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; =
font-size: 12pt;"> <div dir=3D"ltr"> <div style=3D"margin: 5px 0px; =
padding: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); height: 0px; =
line-height: 0; font-size: 0px;" class=3D"hr" contenteditable=3D"false" =
readonly=3D"true"></div>  <font size=3D"2" face=3D"Arial"> <b><span =
style=3D"font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> Jim Edsall &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:jim.edsall@bellaliant.net">jim.edsall@bellaliant.net</a>&gt=
;<br> <b><span style=3D"font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> <a =
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a> <br> =
<b><span style=3D"font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Friday, August =
16, 2013 9:19:07 AM<br> <b><span style=3D"font-weight: =
bold;">Subject:</span></b> Re: [NatureNS] comment re Empty =
Forests-butterfly atlas data<br> </font> </div> <div =
class=3D"y_msg_container"><br>The Butterfly Atlas is only in its fourth =
year. Any trends noticed over that <br>period of time can probably be =
explained by looking at the local weather. <br>This years paucity of =
(some) species can probably be attributed to last <br>years summer =
drought and heat and this years cold wet spring.<br><br><br>Jim =
Edsall<br>Dartmouth, N.S.<br>check out my website at<br><a =
href=3D"http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/jim.edsall/" =
target=3D"_blank">http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/jim.edsall/</a><br><br><br><=
br></div> </div> </div>  =
</div></blockquote></div><br></div></body></html>=

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