Help Stop the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Beetle

Information taken from http://www.stopthebeetle.info/what-is-eab/

What Is EAB?
The adult Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) beetle:
This invasive insect is bright, metallic green, about 1/2″ long with a flattened back. It has purple abdominal segments under its wing covers. The EAB can fit on the head of a penny, and is hard to spot in the wild.

The EAB larva: It’s the larva that does all the harm to ash trees. Larvae tunnel under the bark and disrupt the tree’s systems that transport food and water, eventually starving and killing it.

Where is the EAB?

Since it was first detected in North America, the beetle has been found in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. More states are at risk.

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) beetle has killed tens of millions of trees, from forests to neighborhoods. Here’s how you can help protect our trees:

    Never Move Firewood
    Burn It Where You Buy It
    Report Beetle Sightings or Signs of Infestation

How did it get here?

The EAB probably arrived inside wood packing material from Asia. Since its discovery in southeastern Michigan in 2002, the EAB has killed tens of millions of ash trees.
How does it spread?

EAB adults are strong flyers, but most of them only fly short distances (about 1/2 mile). So they don’t spread far on their own. Most new infestations are caused by people unknowingly taking infested ash to an uninfested area.
Where can the beetle hide?

Infested ash materials can include nursery stock, mulch(?), logs — and especially firewood. When people move infested firewood, they spread the beetle to our forests and neighborhoods.
What is the cost?

EAB infestations have already cost municipalities, property owners, and industries millions of dollars. If we don’t stop the beetle, the economic costs will be unimaginable and our yards, woods and neighborhoods may never be the same again.

To report seeing the EAB in Iowa contact – Rob Meinders
Rob Meinders, State Plant Health Director
USDA, APHIS, PPQ
11213 Aurora Ave.
Urbandale, IA 50322
Phone: (515) 251-4083
Fax: (515) 251-4093
robert.d.meinders@aphis.usda.gov

Butterflies on Noxious Weeds

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Chris Helzer  The Prairie Ecologist

As I mentioned in my last post, regal fritillaries are out in high numbers in our Platte River Prairies.  We’re watching – among other things – what plant species they’re using for nectaring, and are interested to see if that use is similar to what we saw last year.  Right now, the most attractive plant to fritillaries is one that might surprise you – musk thistles.
On the other hand, if you’ve spent much time watching butterflies, you’ll not be too surprised at the attractiveness of this noxious weed to butterflies and other pollinators.  Native thistles are recognized as important nectar sources, but non-native thistles, especially those we’re legally obligated to eradicate, don’t always get the same positive attention.  This week our technicians were out looking for both musk thistles and regal fritillaries (for different reasons) and they were finding both simultaneously!  We ended up killing a lot of thistles out from under butterflies.
Here is a selection of photos from last Friday, showing fritillaries getting what they can out of these noxious weeds before we kill them off (the thistles, not the butterflies…)
To View pictures go to Ion Exchange Blog

Companion Planting - Plants to Help Control Potato Bugs

Potato bugs (Colorado Potato Beetle) are a well known garden pest that target potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants and even your prized petunias! They not only thrive on the leaves of a plant, but are also known to feast on the fruit. If left unchecked, they will affect your garden’s yield and can kill young, tender plants.

Discourage Colorado Beetles By Growing Plants That Naturally Repel Them
You can get a step ahead of them by growing certain plants between potatoes to help repel them away from your garden. I’ve listed a few recommended companion plants below along with a section of tips for getting rid of them (including recipes for “Potato Bug Spray” which can be used on plants to help keep these pesky fellows at bay).
Critters other than the Colorado Potato Beetle are also commonly referred to as potato bugs, I added those at the bottom with reference links for more information on them.
How To Spot An Infestation: If you have holes and damaged leaves on the plants, check underneath leaves and look for larvae or eggs, they can be a yellow cluster of eggs or larvae with orange and black. If you spot them simply remove the infested leaf part and destroy. A good resource for pictures of the eggs, larvae and adult beetle along with more detailed information about this pest can be found here: Vegetable Pests: Colorado Potato Beetle (pdf).
Suitable Companion Plants
These plants and herbs are recommended as being suitable for deterring a potato bug population, intercrop between potatoes or in the space between rows:
1. Horseradish
2. Bush Beans: These are mutually beneficial since potatoes return the favor by repelling insects that attack the beans.
3. Catnip: Plant these in pots because it can be invasive…downside is that once the neighborhood cats figure out you’ve got the good stuff growing, you’ll be herding cats (use this plant in more remote areas rather than city or towns).
4. Cilantro
5. Coriander
6. Tansy: Also repels squash bugs.
7. Marigolds
Getting Rid of Them
• Manual pest control: Spot check plants and shake off any beetles that you see (or hand pick them off but make sure to wear gloves), dispose of immediately by crushing them.
• Did you know: Ladybugs consider the larvae of potato beetles a tasty treat, consider growing a few plants in the garden that will attract them so you have a thriving ladybug population (some ideas: Marigolds, Tansy, Fennel and Dill).
• Diatomaceous Earth: This is a non-toxic method of pest control, simply dust the leaves and surrounding soil with the powder and repeat after each rainfall.
Keep In Mind: The larvae will go underground to pupate and then emerge as adults after 10 days or so, you’ll likely need to continue removal methods until all the adults and larvae have been dealt with.
Homemade Repellent Teas or Infusions:
Here are two different recipes you can try, once they’ve cooled pour into spray bottles and use on plants (for best results spray fresh applications after each rain).
• Tansy or Marigold Infusion: Fill a pot with freshly picked tansy (or marigolds), cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer and cook until liquid has been halved. Strain, cool and use as needed.
• Wild Mustard Tea: Steep 4 whole cloves, a handful of wild mustard leaves, a clove of garlic in 1 cup of boiling water for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool, then use as spray. Source: Jerry Baker’s Bug Off!: 2,193 Super Secrets for Battling Bad Bugs, Outfoxing Crafty Critters, Evicting Voracious Varmints and Much More!
Other Bugs
• Some consider potato bugs to be Pill Bugs (pillbugs), Roly Polys or Rolly Polly Bugs (because they roll up into a ball when aggravated), but these critters are more attracted to dead plant matter than they are live plants (though they will munch away on young plants too). You can try attracting them away from the garden by setting out corn cobs and then dispose of them once they gather on the cob. You can find more information about them here.
• Jerusalem Crickets: These are ugly! Known as potato bugs by some but they feed on dead plant matter and aren’t really attracted to potatoes. You can learn more about them here.

Elk in Allamakee County Could Be Gone Soon

Image via WikipediaFind attached link to today's TV story. Iowa Department of Natural Resources' (IDNR) knee jerk reaction to a sustaining herd of elk (wapiti) in Allamakee County. Its so typical for this government bureaucracy. This is the same government bureaucracy that witnesses massive wetland destruction,fish kills, can't protect our watersheds & assists the federal government's ethanol subsidized/ corporate GMO heavily chemical-treated corn growing "plow up every acre", heavily soil eroding madness in this state.This agency is falsely releasing to the media that elk are not native to Iowa (Beautiful Land). When in fact elk herds were seen & recorded by all the early explores of our state. re:A Country So Full of Game, The Story of Wildlife in Iowa by Dr James Dinsmore (1994 ISU) Many of us local folks have watched this wild herd for a couple years and have always held out some hope for preserving the wildness of NE Iowa similar to when a black bear is spotted in the wooded valleys or a bobcat track or it's scream in the night. But let the Iowa DNR help propagate factory farms & their polluting unhealthy ways, so the Farm Bureau membership can ship antibiotic loaded pork to Asia. Ya lets do away with a wild elk herd! What the hell are we teaching our young folks?
Tim Mason
http://www.kwwl.com/Global/story.asp?S=14009873

Patterns of Widespread Decline in North American Bumble Bees

by
Sydney A. Cameron, Jeffrey D. Lozier, James P. Strange, Jonathan B. Kochb , Nils Cordesa, Leellen F. Solter, and Terry L. Griswold

Bumble bees (Bombus) are vitally important pollinators of wild plants and agricultural crops worldwide. Fragmentary observations, however, have suggested population declines in several North American species. Despite rising concern over these observations in the United States, highlighted in a recent National Academy of Sciences report, a national assessment of the geographic scope and possible causal factors of bumble bee decline is lacking. Here, we report results of a 3-y interdisciplinary study of changing distributions, population genetic structure, and levels of pathogen infection
in bumble bee populations across the United States. We compare current and historical distributions of eight species, compiling a database of >73,000 museum records for comparison with data from intensive nationwide surveys of >16,000 specimens. We show that
the relative abundances of four species have declined by up to 96% and that their surveyed geographic ranges have contracted by 23– 87%, some within the last 20 y. We also show that declining populations have significantly higher infection levels of the microsporidian
pathogen Nosemabombi and lower genetic diversity compared with co-occurring populations of the stable (nondeclining) species. Higher pathogen prevalence and reduced genetic diversity are, thus, realistic predictors of these alarming patterns of decline in North America, although cause and effect remain uncertain.

The first author wishes me to point out that the bees have undergone reduction of genetic diversity (loss of genes because of shrinking populations), not inbreeding.

James C. Trager, Ph. D.

Biologist - Naturalist

Shaw Nature Reserve

P.O. Box 38

Gray Summit MO 63039

636-451-3512 ext. 6002

Winter and Your Garden

Article from the honeybeeconservatory.org

As the trees finally shed their leaves and our thoughts turn to wintery pleasures and indoor activities, it’s easy to forget about the honey bee. After all, our busy little friends are hibernating out of sight and mind at this time of year. But before the ground freezes, and even over winter, there are still some favors we can do for these important pollinators to support them in their environment when they emerge next year.

In the early part of the growing season, flowers and their nectar are relatively scarce – this is also true in very late summer and fall. Nature provides bees with food in their environment of course, but in many areas, native plants have been reduced or eliminated as humans have encroached upon and altered natural habitats. Some introduced and hybridized plants do provide food for bees, but unfortunately, many gardeners favor double-flowered, exotic plants that are more difficult for pollinators to access. Most wild, indigenous plants have open, easy-access flowers, making them more attractive and desirable to honey bees.

So how do you choose shrubs to support bees and integrate these plants into your landscape? Learning a little bit about the plants native to your region is a good place to start, and education can take place at any time of the year. There are a number of good books and field guides written on the subject of native, North American plants.
Many of these titles are available in local libraries and universities.
Some of the best guide books include both photos and detailed information about the required growing conditions of native plants, and their hardiness ranges. William Cullina’s beautiful book, Native Trees, Shrubs and Vines
, is an excellent resource for gardeners.

In addition, many states have helpful native plant societies.
Try Googling your state name followed by the phrase “Wildflower Society”
or “Native Plant Society”. These sites will often list plants, including shrubs, native to your area. When visiting nurseries and garden centers, ask about native plants. The more we ask retailers for native plants by name and buy them, the more likely they will be to continue ordering them and keeping them on hand. All of these actions will help support the honey bee, and the environment as a whole.

Summersweet, (Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice'), is a native shrub, providing easily accessed, late-season pollen for the honey bee.
ⓒ 2010 Michaela at TGE

Hawk Watchers Gather at Effigy Mounds

While we have many leaf lookers stay at The Natural Gait in October, many will also go to Effigy Mounds Monument for the annual Hawk Watch Weekend.

Fall visitors to northeast Iowa aren't just there for the turning leaves. Some also take the time to stop by Effigy Mounds National Monument the first weekend in October for the annual Hawk Watch Weekend.

Situated next to the Mississippi River, Effigy Mounds is an excellent location for observing migration. This year's Hawk Watch was held October 2-3. Both days were mostly sunny with a light wind and highs in the upper 50s. Despite this beautiful weather, not many raptors were seen moving through. The total counts for the weekend were: Turkey vulture - 82, Bald eagle - 24, Northern harrier - 1, Sharp-skinned hawk - 2, Cooper's hawk - 3, Northern goshawk - 1, Broad-winged hawk - 1, Red-tailed hawk - 10, American kestrel - 1, Peregrine falcon - 1, Unknown accipiter - 1, Unknown buteo - 3, Unknown raptor - 3.

The Duluth, MN, migration count site reported most raptors were flying at higher altitudes, which could explain the unexpectedly low number on such a beautiful weekend. Many more birds could have been flying over, too high for us to spot.

Over 1,100 people came out to the Visitor Center to see the educational programs and live bird releases and appreciates a little slice of the fall migration.

Hawk Watch is coordinated by the Upper Iowa Audubon Society with help and participation from the Iowa DNR, Effigy Mounds staff, Boone Y-Camp, Laurel High School (Viroqua, WI) students, Hoo's Woods Raptor Center (Milton, WI) and many individual volunteers.

Jenni Dyar Natural Resources Aide