1 May
2021
1 May
'21
12:03 p.m.
From Doug's observations on the North Mountain, it sounds like the
Beech Leaf-mining Weevil (/Orchestes fagi/) a.k.a. "Evil Weevil", as
coined by folks in Eskasoni, is already out and ready to pounce on new
beech leaves as soon as they unfold. How sad.
The weevil is ramping up to attack the American beech trees again this
spring; what few remain and thrive after the much earlier introduction
of beech bark disease, an invasion from Europe nearly a century ago.
If it is gathering on the North Mountain, it is also out in the warmer
parts of the Annapolis Valley. I have yet to see this part of the life
cycle, so will head out to search for it this weekend. I am curious
about the reported clicking sounds they make. Do you hear them, Doug?
The beech trees are not ready to leaf out yet, so maybe the weevil will
find itself out of sync and starve. That would be nice.
If I stand out there with a large vacuum cleaner when they are
swarming...? I guess that sounds desperate and futile... So many of
these weevils are likely being moved about on firewood as little
stowaways. I hope our provincial parks will switch to providing
firewood to perhaps keep out infested firewood imports with campers and
keep out the weevil for as long as they can. Valley View Park will most
certainly be devastated, and likely soon. I hope they have a plan.
Donna
-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: [Naturens] Re: CBC: Emerald Ash Borer in Bedford
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2021 21:21:18 -0300
From: Doug Linzey <doug(a)fundymud.com>
To: naturens(a)chebucto.ns.ca
On Wednesday, a fine sunny, warm day, our south-facing windows were
covered with little black randomly moving spots, which proved to be
/Orchestes fagi/, Beech leaf-mining weevils. They're waiting impatiently
for the beech leaves to emerge and turn much of our property into what
you describe, Peter -- dead beech trees. They began the insult last
year, and this year I expect a pretty thin canopy by the end of June.
That, plus a change in the way water accumulates and sticks around more
than it used to, causing some tree dieoff, not to mention much higher
and regular winds (and a neighbour who would rather have a well-groomed
yard than those pesky natural trees) causing blowdown, all adds up to a
seriously challenged bit of forest here on the N. Mountain. Can't wait
for the Emerald Ash Borer!
Doug
Arlington, Kings Co.
On Fri, Apr 30, 2021 at 3:28 PM Peter Payzant <peter(a)payzant.net
<mailto:peter@payzant.net>> wrote:
CBC had a disheartening story yesterday about the presence of the
Emerald Ash Borer in Bedford. It seems that it's now just a matter
of time before ash trees in the province are history.
The forest behind our home opened up tremendously with the deaths of
all the Beech trees; Ash trees are one of the more common remaining
deciduous species.
You can read the story here
<https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/emerald-ash-borer-halifax-bedford-1.6005910>.
--- Peter Payzant
Waverley
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