DEATH TO THE INVADERS!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canaan Wildlife Refuge

Our environment is in the process of becoming degraded-- indeed destroyed by invasive pests from foreign lands.  Here is a chronicle of some of the worst invasive species threatening our natural habitats
THE METALLIC GREEN BEETLE LEAVES KEY-HOLE SHAPED HOLES IN BARK

THE EMERALD ASH BORER:  This destructive insect came to America some time in the 1990's from wooden crates shipped from Asia.  It is hard to imagine the destructive potential of this pest-- but it could destroy more timber than the American Chestnut blight and the Dutch Elm disease combined!   The Borer attacks most species of Ash trees, which are an extremely valuable source of timber especially in Appalachia.  Treatment is difficult, and the trees usually die within 2-3 years.

The most effective method of control is quarantine of the pest.  Since the beetles can move from one area to another in firewood, the most important aspect of control in the Shenandoah Valley is not to move firewood in from other areas.  The Shenandoah Valley is under quarantine from outside firewood; Natural Resource officers monitor the roads into the Shenandoah Valley and violators may face a $1500 fine! The Valley is currently nearly free of the Emerald Ash Borer, with only 3 traps yielding borers, but infestations have been discovered in Fairfax and in West Virginia just north of the state line. 

DO NOT IMPORT FIREWOOD INTO THE VALLEY FROM WEST VIRGINIA!!
BORER SURVEY TRAPS ARE A COMMON SIGHT

Brown marmorated stink bug:  This obnoxious bug came from China or Japan about 1998;  we had an especially bad summer of them this year.  The bug is an agricultural pest; the larvae bore into fruits and produce and suck the juices.  The apple crop in our area was particularly hard hit.  The adults don't bite but congregate in huge numbers! They can be killed with Windex or just soapy water. The 'stink' is caused by the release of volatile oils --trans-2-decenal and trans-2-octenal --that are released when the bug is squashed or attacked.  Rumor has it that the wild turkeys brought home for game this autumn have an aftertaste attributed to the birds gorging on stinkbugs!!
The white bands on the antennae are diagnostic
These bugs can live 3 to 5 years and spend the winters in dormancy in cracks or creavases.  Our camper had hundreds of them inside when I went to winterize it -- they had crawled in thru the refrigerator vent!  They don't seem to respond much to insecticides, although pyrethrins are said to kill them, but they don't like mint--Judy has had some luck in repelling them with a dilute spay of peppermint oil.
A (GREEN) JAPANESE BARBERRY IN AUTUMN COLORS
JAPANESE BARBERRY:  These ornamental "stickerbushes" are taking over throughout Appalachia as birds spread the seeds thru the small red berries.  The plant resists browsing by deer and clumps of barberry are practically impassable.  It's a very tough plant, but it can be eradicated by repeat applications of 2,4,D (Weed-B-Gone) or glyphosate ("Roundup").  Don't plant barberries on your property!!  Any that invade should be erradicated if possible!
NASTY LITTLE THORNS REPEL DEER AND AMBUSH HIKERS
from www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/mivi1.htm

JAPANESE STILTGRASS:  If you haven't noticed, this oriental invasive is taking over everywhere! It spreads by creeping, and is especially well suited for low light environments.  Keep an eye out and you'll find it throughout Appalachia and the Shenandoah valley.  Pluck a handful and put it to your lips-- the fibrous leaves are inedible to virtually all our native residents!  Deer and rodents can't touch the stuff-- even insects are affected and one moth may be endangered as the caterpillars can't eat the stiltgrass.  Control could be achieved with Roundup before the annual grass goes to seed; however, it has already spread throughout our land. It's here to stay, but it makes an easy example during any trip afield for what alien invasives can do to our environment!