By joenesgarden, 27 days ago

Emerald Ash Borer Is Too Close For Comfort

So what are those strange purple box-kite-like structures hanging in trees in wooded areas in some state parks and what do they have to do with transporting firewood  (particularly ash) outside of local regions? Both are connected to the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive beetle that is on Connecticut's doorstep. The destructive Emerald Ash Borer was recently reported about 20 miles from northwest Connecticut, on the Connecticut side of the Hudson River in New York.

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By joenesgarden, 1 month and 22 days ago

Now is the Time to Identify and Control Japanese Barberry

Connecticut's woodland undergrowth is beginning to green. Unfortunately, much of this color is due to invasive Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii de Candolle). This thorny shrub dominates unmanaged wooded areas. Deer don't eat it and birds spread it by eating and dispersing the prolific red berries it produces each autumn. Japanese barberry quickly grows into large thickets that provide cover for mice and an ideal environment for immature blacklegged ticks - the very ticks that carry Lyme disease. In their early life, ticks are susceptible to desiccation – they need high-humidity at the ground level to thrive. Japanese barberry accommodate the high-humidity needs of young ticks by leafing out earlier than most native shrubbery, thus maintaining ground-level moisture by blocking drying sunshine.Japanese Barberry 4

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By joenesgarden, 9 months and 3 days ago

Newsy Notes: Plant Pathogens, Butterflies, Invasive Plant Spread

Newsy Notes features quick explanations of research related to the  growing of plants. I come across this research during my daily sweep of plant-related information. I found the items noted below of particular interest. Follow the links for more in depth reading on each topic. The following were all published by ScienceDaily.

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By joenesgarden, 11 months and 2 days ago

More on the Japanese Barberry-Lyme Tick Connection

A post of mine from April 2011 describes research connecting the non-native, invasive shrub Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) and Lyme disease-carrying ticks.  Basically, scientists at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven found that stands of Japanese barberry create ideal growing conditions for Lyme ticks.

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By joenesgarden, 1 year and 1 month ago

Lyme-ticks thrive in Japanese barberry thickets

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA This time of year the undergrowth of Connecticut woodlands begins to show a tinge of green. This color is certainly welcome relief after a long winter. Too bad so much of this color is due to invasive Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii de Candolle). This thorny shrub dominates unmanaged wooded areas. Deer don't eat it and birds spread it by eating and dispersing the shrubs'  prolific fall berries. Japanese barberry quickly grows into large thickets that provide cover for mice and an ideal environment for immature blacklegged ticks -  the very ticks that carry Lyme disease. In their early life, ticks are susceptible to desiccation – they need high-humidity at the ground level to thrive. Japanese barberry accommodate young ticks by leafing out earlier than most native shrubbery. The early leaves help maintain moisture levels at ground level by blocking drying sunshine.

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