Comments on: raise the alarm! http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/05/26/raise-the-alarm/ a place where nature, photography and writing meet Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:45:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: bev http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/05/26/raise-the-alarm/#comment-53071 Thu, 31 May 2007 22:45:17 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/05/26/raise-the-alarm/#comment-53071 Fred - That's a great idea and I'll definitely implement it and try to check back on the caterpillars to see what they're doing. Unfortunately, it looks like the peak of the caterpillar activity may have already occurred, but I may find a few nests yet. I've been checking on several nests and have found that there are a lot of dead caterpillars in them, or on nearby branches. Perhaps this was a good year for tachinids. Fred - That’s a great idea and I’ll definitely implement it and try to check back on the caterpillars to see what they’re doing. Unfortunately, it looks like the peak of the caterpillar activity may have already occurred, but I may find a few nests yet. I’ve been checking on several nests and have found that there are a lot of dead caterpillars in them, or on nearby branches. Perhaps this was a good year for tachinids.

]]> by: Frederick W. Schueler http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/05/26/raise-the-alarm/#comment-53046 Thu, 31 May 2007 22:05:53 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/05/26/raise-the-alarm/#comment-53046 It has occurred to me that the best thing to do with the small nests of <i> Malacosoma </i> is to clip the stem they're on, and place them in a nearby Buckthorn, to give only those caterpillars with a taste for the invader to mature. If many People did this, we might force an evolutionary saltation, and add one or both Buckthorns to the diet of the Tent Caterpillars, helping to level the playing field between the native and alien oldfield shrubs. It has occurred to me that the best thing to do with the small nests of Malacosoma is to clip the stem they’re on, and place them in a nearby Buckthorn, to give only those caterpillars with a taste for the invader to mature. If many People did this, we might force an evolutionary saltation, and add one or both Buckthorns to the diet of the Tent Caterpillars, helping to level the playing field between the native and alien oldfield shrubs.

]]> by: bev http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/05/26/raise-the-alarm/#comment-52161 Tue, 29 May 2007 13:40:56 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/05/26/raise-the-alarm/#comment-52161 Clare - Yes, I agree about the curious mind. That's really how many discoveries are made -- from someone investigating something that seems just a little odd or unusual. That's certainly been my own experience when exploring off the beaten track. I think you're onto something about the reason for the revulsion many people feel towards caterpillars. They stick out like a bit of a sore thumb, especially once they defoliate a few branches around the nest. The damage isn't usually serious enough to warrant doing much, if anything. - Marcia - I shall check into the Dethier book. I borrowed the Stoke's insect book from our library on the weekend and it's quite interesting. - Duncan - Aha! So that's how it's done! (-: Clare - Yes, I agree about the curious mind. That’s really how many discoveries are made — from someone investigating something that seems just a little odd or unusual. That’s certainly been my own experience when exploring off the beaten track. I think you’re onto something about the reason for the revulsion many people feel towards caterpillars. They stick out like a bit of a sore thumb, especially once they defoliate a few branches around the nest. The damage isn’t usually serious enough to warrant doing much, if anything.
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Marcia - I shall check into the Dethier book. I borrowed the Stoke’s insect book from our library on the weekend and it’s quite interesting.
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Duncan - Aha! So that’s how it’s done! (-:

]]> by: Duncan http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/05/26/raise-the-alarm/#comment-52010 Tue, 29 May 2007 07:37:03 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/05/26/raise-the-alarm/#comment-52010 Bev, the processional caterpillars can sometimes be found on the ground going in search of a new tree to defoliate, that's when you can play the dirty trick on them ;-) Bev, the processional caterpillars can sometimes be found on the ground going in search of a new tree to defoliate, that’s when you can play the dirty trick on them ;-)

]]> by: Marcia Bonta http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/05/26/raise-the-alarm/#comment-51810 Mon, 28 May 2007 20:00:27 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/05/26/raise-the-alarm/#comment-51810 I'm a little late with this (too many holiday visitors and visits), but the best book about tent caterpillars is THE WORLD OF THE TENT-MAKERS: A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE EASTERN TENT CATERPILLAR by the late Vincent G. Dethier (University of Massachusetts Press, 1980). All of Dethier's popularly-written books are excellent and this one is no exception. I’m a little late with this (too many holiday visitors and visits), but the best book about tent caterpillars is THE WORLD OF THE TENT-MAKERS: A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE EASTERN TENT CATERPILLAR by the late Vincent G. Dethier (University of Massachusetts Press, 1980). All of Dethier’s popularly-written books are excellent and this one is no exception.

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