Nature Moncton Nature News: August 24 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 24 August 2019 (Saturday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

Info Line #: 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

**Gordon Rattray got an interesting photo of an AMERICAN LADY BUTTERFLY [Vanesse de Virginie] and a COMMON WOOD NYMPH BUTTERFLY [Satyre des prés] on the same Coneflower [Rudbeckie] bloom. Gordon joined Roger LeBlanc on a pre-course visit to the Riverview Marsh on Friday, to see and get photos of two RED-NECKED PHALAROPES [Phalarope à bec étroit] at close range. Saturday’s Nature Moncton shorebird outing going on today is shaping up to be perfect timing.

**Louise Nichols visited White Birch Ducks Unlimited impoundment near Sackville on Friday, to have an awesome encounter with a young of the year NORTHERN HARRIER [Busard Saint-Martin] that was on prey, appearing to be a duck, on a mound very near her, to cooperate for an outstanding photo. There were a number of MALLARD DUCKS [Canard colvert], WOOD DUCKS [Canard branchu], and RING-NECKED DUCKS [Fuligule à collier] in the impoundments. An AMERICAN BITTERN [Butor d'Amérique] flushed as well. Louise also photographed a male and female EBONY JEWELWING DAMSELFLY [Caloptéryx bistré]. Note the white pseudostigma of the female. The Ebony Jewelwing, RIVER JEWELWING [Caloptéryx à taches apicales], and SUPERB JEWELWING [Caloptéryx élancé] Damselflies are our largest Damselflies [Demoiselle].

**Susan Atkinson came across an interesting aggregation of Barklice [Ordre Psocoptera] nymphs on a tree near her Moncton back yard on Friday. Some sleuthing on BugGuide confirmed the identity. Susan’s photo appears to be a group of nymphs only. I’m adding a photo of the adults and nymphs together taken from the BugGuide site. Am also adding a commentary from the net on this interesting small ¼ in. insect below:

“What is Bark Lice? Many people raise an eyebrow when they think of a lice infestation. Bark lice is not the same as parasitic lice found on humans and animals. Bark lice are minute brown insects that have a soft body and are similar in appearance to aphids. They are not really lice at all and have probably acquired that name only because they are so tiny and hard to see. Adults have two pairs of wings that are held over the top of the body like a hood when not in use. These tiny insects also have a long and thin antenna. Bark Lice in Trees Bark lice live together in groups and are master web spinners. Back lice webbing, although unsightly, causes no damage to trees. The webbing can be extensive, covering the entire trunk of the tree and extending to the branches. While you may find some of the bark lice on other areas of the tree, they normally live in large communities within the silky this bark lice webbing. Do Bark Lice Insects Damage Trees? The lice do not actually hurt trees and are often thought of as helpful because they clean trees by eating things that your tree does not need like fungi, algae, mold, dead plant tissue and other debris. Bark lice actually devour their silken webbing at the end of the season as well, completing their job as cleanup crew. Bark lice treatment is unnecessary, as these insects are not really considered pests. Some homeowners will spray a heavy stream of water on the webs to disturb the colony. However, since the insects are beneficial, it is suggested that they be left alone. Now that you know a little more about bark lice in trees, you can see that they are nothing to be alarmed about.”

**Yvette Richard took the attached photo of a leg-banded RUDDY TURNSTONE [Tournepierre à collier] at Cap Lumière on August 14th. Some sleuthing gave the origin of the tagging, and Yvette received a certificate of appreciation for recording the information and submitting it. A photo of the certificate on the computer screen is attached.

**Jack Perry sends a photo of a WHITE-MARKED TUSSOCK MOTH [Chenille à houppes blanches] caterpillar. Jack mentions his granddaughter saw several of them in the Irving Nature Park on Friday. It’s very much caterpillar time at the moment as summer winds down. This caterpillar forages on a wide range of plants.

**When Dan Hicks gave a presentation to Nature Moncton last year, he mentioned about the probability of the arrival of the EMERALD ASH BORER [Agrile du frêne] to Moncton. Dan advises that this has happened, and I’m attaching the Canadian Food Inspection Agency news release below. Dan points out the good news is that we have only 3% of our Moncton city street tree population as Ash [Frêne], and they know where they all are. I’m attaching several photos taken from the internet to show what the Emerald Ash Borer looks like and to give an idea of its size.

Emerald ash borer confirmed in Moncton, New Brunswick

From: Canadian Food Inspection Agency

News release

August 23, 2019 – Canadian Food Inspection Agency

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of emerald ash borer in Moncton, New Brunswick. This detection is outside of currently regulated areas for emerald ash borer in Canada, and is the third detection of EAB in the province.

CFIA and its partners are conducting additional surveys to determine whether the pest has become established in the area, and if so, the extent of the spread.

Effective immediately, the movement of all ash material (such as logs, branches, and woodchips) and all species of firewood from the affected site is restricted. The property owners in the affected area have been notified of these restrictions.

Although the emerald ash borer poses no threat to human health, it is highly destructive to ash trees. It has already killed millions of ash trees in Canada and the United States, and poses a major economic and environmental threat to urban and forested areas of North America.

CFIA continues to work with federal, provincial, municipal and First Nations partners and organizations to slow the spread of this pest.

Quick facts

· Moving untreated firewood is a common way for invasive insects and diseases to spread.

· The emerald ash borer is native to China and eastern Asia. Its presence in Canada was first confirmed in 2002. It has since been found in parts of five provinces.

· CFIA regulates this pest to protect Canada's forests, municipal trees and nurseries.

Associated links

· August dubbed "Tree Check Month" to detect invasive species in Canada

· Areas regulated for the emerald ash borer

· Additional information on the emerald ash borer

· Don't move firewood

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton