Common Periwinkle info sheet
Category Archives: Invasive Species Articles
Tent Caterpillar & Gypsy Moth Workshop: April 7
March 5, 2010 – 2:36 pm
When:Wednesday, April 7th, 6:30-7:30 pm
Who:Recommended for homeowners and township personnel
Description:
Last summer our area trees were being eaten alive! Can you distinguish a gypsy moth caterpillar from a tent caterpillar? What kinds of trees do they eat? What can you do at home to help with the nuisance problem? Join Dr. Duke Elsner, Grand Traverse County [...]
Garfield's Kids Creek Natural Area Invasive Work Bee a Success!
August 4, 2009 – 10:55 am
Garfield’s Kids Creek Natural Area got some much needed attention on Saturday, July 18. Volunteers pulled out Canada and bull thistle in about a 1 acre area at the second invasive work bee in a series of four. Volunteers worked through the rain to pull these noxious plants and slow the spread of [...]
Phragmites or Common Reed
February 22, 2008 – 3:37 pm
Phragmites or Common Reed, Phragmites australis
Common Reed grows on the edges of wetlands. It is a perennial grass that grows to heights of 13 feet. It has long narrow leaves and plumes of flower spikes that can be 6-12 inches long. Phragmites can spread by seed or through underground rhizomes, which have a growth rate [...]
Invasive Species: Purple Loosestrife
February 22, 2008 – 3:36 pm
Lythrum salicaria
Purple Loosestrife is a wetland plant that was introduced to the east coast of North America from Europe and Asia in the 1800's. It has spread into lakes, rivers and waterways and was distributed as an ornamental through nurseries. This exotic species chokes out native vegetation, such as cattails and other wetland plants.
An [...]
Invasive Species: Eurasian Watermilfoil
February 22, 2008 – 3:34 pm
Myriophyllum spicatum
Eurasian Watermilfoil is an aquatic plant that was accidentally introduced to the North American east coast from Europe in the 1940's. It has spread westward to inland lakes by boats and water birds. Besides crowding out native water plants, it forms thick mats of vegetation that can interfere with swimming, boating and fishing.
The Eurasian [...]
What are Exotic & Invasive Species?
February 22, 2008 – 3:33 pm
"Exotic" species are plants and animals that have been introduced into habitats where they are non-native. They are also known as "alien," "pest plants," "weeds," and "problem species." Most of the exotic species in our area have been introduced from Europe and Asia. Some, like the Zebra Mussel, have come in the water via the [...]
Invasive Species: Zebra Mussels
February 22, 2008 – 3:27 pm
Dreissena polymorpha
Zebra Mussels are fingernail-sized mussels that were introduced from Europe through the St. Lawrence Seaway and into the Great Lakes in 1988. They have subsequently spread to most inland lakes and waterways in our area. Zebra Mussel colonies clog water systems of power plants, water treatment facilities, and irrigation systems, and can reduce [...]
Invasive Species: Spotted Knapweed
February 22, 2008 – 3:24 pm
Centaurea maculosa
Spotted Knapweed is a weed that was introduced to North America in the 1890's from Asia Minor, probably in alfalfa seed. It is an aggressive species that rapidly invades pastures, rangeland and fallow land, and causes a serious decline in forage and crop production.
Spotted Knapweed is a short-lived perennial that reproduces only by [...]
Don't Move the Gypsy Moth!
January 2, 2008 – 2:57 pm
Michigan is a quarantine state for Gypsy Moths. This means that logs, pulpwood, wood chips, nursery stock, Christmas trees, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, lawn furniture, and other outside household articles, cannot be moved to a non-quarantine state without first being inspected. If you are moving from one state to another, the moving company must have [...]
Curriculum for Teachers: Gypsy Moth
November 28, 2006 – 3:08 pm
Curriculum: Scavenger Hunt
Grade Level:E,MS
By Cindy Retherford for Grand Traverse Conservation District
Scenario
An alien invader, the Gypsy Moth, has come to your back yard. The female has laid her eggs all over, in nickel and quarter size light brown patches. You can find them on trees, logs, woodpiles, the foundations of your house and garage, [...]
Methods for Controlling the Gypsy Moth
June 27, 2006 – 3:03 pm
Gypsy Moth control can be accomplished in several ways.
* Scraping egg masses from trees, woodpiles, and outdoor furniture is the most effective means of control for homeowners. The egg masses can be immersed in soapy water, burned or buried. (Remember: Eggs scraped directly onto the ground may survive the winter months and still hatch in [...]
Michigan Cooperative Gypsy Moth Suppression Program
October 27, 2005 – 3:16 pm
What is the Michigan Cooperative Gypsy Moth Suppression Program?
It is a voluntary program where federal dollars reimburse county cost for conducting the program at the local level.
Suppression Program Objectives:
Protection of tree foliage in wooded residential/recreational areas.
Reduce caterpillar numbers to tolerable levels, reducing annoyance to people.
Provide a control option that limits [...]
Gypsy Moth Host Species
July 28, 2005 – 3:05 pm
Gypsy Moth caterpillars eat the leaves of shade and ornamental trees. Older caterpillars eat more leaves and can cause defoliation. There are several trees preferred by the Gypsy Moth caterpillar. Oak is the main host species, followed by aspen, beech, birch, willow and white pine. There are also trees that the Gypsy Moth caterpillars do [...]
Natural Enemies of Gypsy Moth
July 28, 2005 – 3:02 pm
Even though the Gypsy Moth is a non-native species, it has many predators, including birds, small mammals, other insects, fungi and viruses. Researchers have found that there are 38 species of birds that feed on Gypsy Moth caterpillars. These include black-capped chickadees, blue jays, orioles, robins, catbirds, crows, red-winged blackbirds, chipping sparrows, starlings, cowbirds and [...]
History of the Gypsy Moth
August 2, 2004 – 3:13 pm
The Gypsy Moth is not native to North America. It was introduced by an amateur scientist named Trouvelot. Etienne Leopold Trouvelot was a French immigrant who lived in Bedford, Massachusetts in 1857. He developed techniques for mass-rearing native silkworms. In the late 1860's, with the idea of cross breeding silkworms and gypsy moths, Trouvelot returned [...]
Life Cycle of the Gypsy Moth
August 2, 2004 – 3:06 pm
The Gypsy Moth, Lymantria dispar, is an insect with four life stages.
* Gypsy Moth eggs are laid in the fall, with 50-1000 eggs per egg mass or cluster. The female covers the clusters with hairs from her abdomen. Egg masses can be found on tree trunks and limbs, on the sides and under the eaves [...]
Bt for Gypsy Moth Suppression
July 12, 2004 – 3:00 pm
The biological pesticide used in the Gypsy Moth Suppression Program is a naturally occurring bacterium that is found in the soil. Bt or Btk is Bacillus thuringiensis, variety kurstaki. It has been used for over 40 years and has been tested extensively by the EPA. Btk is narrow spectrum, that is, it is only toxic [...]
Caterpillar Comparisons
June 4, 2004 – 2:56 pm
Below is a link to a document comparing Eastern Tent, Forest Tent and Gypsy Moth caterpillars. The document is in PDF format and requires Adobe Acrobat Reader® which may be downloaded free of charge from the Adobe Web Site.
It is rather large (650 K) because of the color pictures and you can click here to [...]