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
Subject: | [Naturens] Re: CBC: Emerald Ash Borer in Bedford |
---|---|
Date: | Fri, 30 Apr 2021 21:21:18 -0300 |
From: | Doug Linzey <doug@fundymud.com> |
To: | naturens@chebucto.ns.ca |
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.
--- Peter Payzant
Waverley
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