Cape May County Explorations

[bobpbx]

I was doing a report on the Chestnut Oak today, and remembered something I thought should be followed up on. At one point, I noted that more than 90% of the Chestnut oak trunks had dead caterpillars on them. All of them just dead, stopped in their tracks. Below is one example I photographed. Today I did a google search, and from what I'm seeing there is a fungus amongst us that kills the gypsy moth caterpillars (spongy moth to be politically correct).

entomophagus fungi (Entomophaga maimaiga Humber, Shimazu & R. S. Soper, 1988)

Image 5620009 is of entomophagus fungi (Entomophaga maimaiga Humber, Shimazu & R. S. Soper, 1988) biological control on spongy moth (formerly gypsy moth). It is by Steven Katovich. Group of dead desiccated caterpillars, most of these were killed by Entomophaga. There are two at the top that were...

www.insectimages.org

Entomophaga maimaiga

biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu

 

[bobpbx]

The season has begun. This tree is next to their rail trail on a private lot margin. I'd say the tree is very annoyed by this sign. The tree is either trying to eat it or eject it.

Name this tree.

One guy in a homeless camp was fond of both Carl Jung and Star Wars. He had over 100 books, deep in the woods. I see these camps a lot, but every one of them has been abandoned. I think we need to get these people into facilities for rehab and proper care.

 

[bobpbx]

Here's an interesting small tree, about 25 feet tall. Can also be a shrub.