next message in archive
next message in thread
previous message in archive
previous message in thread
Index of Subjects
> The last rain has seemed to sparked butterflies. Since then I have Donna’ original comment was about possible ‘bycatch’ effects on other butterflies, of widespread spraying with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) anti-insect preparations against budworm. I had a look for this on Google under ‘bt spruce budworm’ for about 10 pages, and didn’t see any title that stood out as having examined this critically. Maybe it’s there somewhere but would take work to uncover it. Most of the articles seemed to be government- or forest industry-sourced and 'good-thing positive’. The Wikipedia entry under Bt is extensive but again is positive with little negative regarding side effects, as if written by forest industry apologists. According to that source, Bt preparations besides being toxic to Lepidoptera also go for Diptera, flies, Hymenoptera, bees etc, and Coleoptera, beetles: as these are the largest insect groups species- and biomass-wise, it therefore would account for a large fraction of all insects. Presumably any larva or adult in these groups in that habitat that ingests recently sprayed leaves or needles is likely to suffer a similar percentage mortality as the spruce budworm larvae. Beyond the approach of spraying Bt, there has been controversy over a study that found monarch butterflies could suffer Bt poisoning from nearby maize plants genetically engineered to express Bt genes. This seems to have been refuted by later work claiming that the level of Bt toxins from maize encountered by such monarchs would be too low to affect them adversely. I would have liked to have a read a more critical evaluation of insect-bycatch from a credible source but didn’t find anything so far. Maybe others here have found better information? Steve (Hfx) Aug 27, 2016, at 5:44 PM, Rick Whitman <dendroica.caerulescens@gmail.com> wrote: > Indeed ! I have been thinking this for several years now. Surely many of us can remember those windshields. It can't be all better air flow / design ? > > A phone message, may be brief! > Rick > > > On Aug 27, 2016, at 10:08 AM, Eleanor Lindsay <kelindsay135@gmail.com> wrote: > > For the past 30+ years I have made regular summer car trips from St Margarets Bay to Fredericton; in the early days I used to frequently have to stop to clear accumulations of dead insects from my front windshield. I am no longer sure about the exact time frame of this change, but yesterday on return home I was struck by the total lack - not one single insect on my windshield, which speaks such volumes about the enormity of change happening around us - and also how easy it can be not to be so quick to notice or object to the 'convenient' changes................... > > Eleanor Lindsay > > >> On 2016-08-26 9:17 PM, Donna Crossland wrote: >> It's very interesting to read of these various insect observations. >> Creating awareness is valuable to those of us who haven't yet ventured into >> this domain. >> >> >> I could use some help from folks who are much more in-the-know on what they >> might predict the potential effects of spraying bT for spruce budworm would >> do to our butterfly populations and other insects. It's all potential bird >> food in my mind, and that's a concern, but what of other non-target insect >> populations here? Timing is everything, as I understand it. I haven't had >> time to research this topic, but I would like some Nova Scotia-specific >> observations/predictions on what that might mean to our insect populations >> if spraying began next year, which may happen. Thoughts? >> >> >> Donna Crossland (naive insect person) >> >> >> From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] >> On Behalf Of Mary Macaulay >> Sent: August-26-16 9:09 AM >> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca >> Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Butterfly numbers >> >> >> Sadly this is a global phenomenon. We are now very sophisticated with our >> chemical strategies for indiscriminately killing all insects. >> http://butterfly-conservation.org/48-10581/neonicotinoid-pesticides-linked-t >> o-butterfly-declines.html >> >> >> Those of us who notice need to wake those up who'd care IF they noticed. >> Spread the word persistently. >> >> >> With kindest regards >> >> >> >> >> >> Mary (Macaulay), P.Eng. >> >> >> Owner, Remember Adventures & Caper Cafe >> >> Pedal Buggy & snowshoe rentals, great bird friendly coffee, breakfast & >> pasta, pollinator meadow, games & more!! >> >> (Open Wed to Sunday: 8:30 am-7pm) >> >> HWY 6 & Station Road >> >> Trans-Canada Trail >> >> Tatamagouche >> >> RememberAdventures.ca & InsectRecovery.org >> >> 1-902-657-0054 >> >> Twitter @RememberTata & @InsectRecovery >> >> >> On Aug 26, 2016, at 8:57 AM, Angus MacLean <cold_mac@hotmail.com> wrote: >> >> I spent 5 days in the field while visiting in northern Cape Breton, >> returning yesterday. I saw three fritillaries in total, likely Great >> Spangled, but I could not catch up to them. No other butterflies! >> >> In Kings County, virtually the same story but the lack of skippers is >> particularly noticeable & troubling. >> >> Large numbers of moths coming to the lights, especially in Cape Breton, so >> whatever is impacting the butterflies is not affecting the moth population. >> >> As for bumble bees, Bombus ternarius is always very common/numerous when >> goldenrod is at its height. Goldenrod does not attract other nectaring >> insects so its a mystery to me. This summer B. ternarius on the average >> appears quite small indicating a lack of food for them in their larval >> stage. >> Angus >> >> _____ >> >> From: srshaw@Dal.Ca >> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca >> Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Butterfly numbers >> Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2016 02:55:23 +0000 >> >> I was on the lower part of the drumlin in the Mt Uniacke Hou