gib88 (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} gib88) wrote,@ 2006-05-09 13:55:00 |
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CATERPILLAR UPDATE:
To the Williams Community,
People have asked about the sudden appearance of, shall we say, rather a few
caterpillars on campus and in other parts of town and what's being done
about it.
No, we're not living in a Hitchcock movie. They're called forest tent
caterpillars, because of the tent-shaped nests they build in trees. They
were here last year, too, and are capable of eating almost all the leaves on
a tree.
To prevent this, grounds staff is applying to affected trees a bacterium
called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
Bt is the only microbial insecticide on the market that is a naturally
occurring bacterium. It is commonly found in soils throughout the world. Bt
produces proteins that shut down the caterpillars' digestive systems in a
couple days. It's considered non-toxic to people and to all non-target
species. Its use is even recommended for food crops.
The current infestation is significantly worse than in prior years. The
populations are so high that the caterpillars are moving from tree to tree
via silken webs, looking for additional food sources and are feeding on
plant material not normally attacked. For this reason it's very difficult to
establish a precise spray schedule, so spray sites are determined almost
daily as the caterpillars arise and new foliage emerges.
We anticipate applying Bt for the next 2-3 weeks during the caterpillars'
most vulnerable stage. It's impractical to spray every tree on campus so
we're concentrating on the most significant ones. We're also sensitive to
people and property and so are making every effort to minimize the impact on
both. Trees that have been sprayed will be posted for 24 hours with a yellow
caution sign.
Please call me at x3304 with any questions. Or contact our Service Desk at
x2486 to notify us of an outbreak in your area of campus.
Meanwhile, we also recommend you keep your car windows closed since some
people have returned to their cars only to find a large furry wriggling
surprise.
Eventually they'll turn into moths, which will prove a boon to the local bat
population. But that's a story for another time.
Regards,
Dave Fitzgerald
Horticulturist and Grounds Supervisor
YEAH...it's that bad. they're all over the ground and people step on them (it's inevitable...trust me. i tried) and so they're squashed INTO the ground. it's only the most disgusting thing i've ever seen.
IN OTHER NEWS....
there's this modern chinese artist who's crazy. he did one art piece made entirely out of used pads and tampons. and another one entirely out of hair clippings from barber shops. he sent the museum curatorial staff out to collect the hair for him, and this one curator was so grossed out by the idea that he wore a full biohazard suit whenever he went to get hair. :) in another piece, he used placenta powder (which you can apparently get from chinese pharmacies) and apparently, it was difficult for the museum to keep kids from touching the exhibit.
the end.
To the Williams Community,
People have asked about the sudden appearance of, shall we say, rather a few
caterpillars on campus and in other parts of town and what's being done
about it.
No, we're not living in a Hitchcock movie. They're called forest tent
caterpillars, because of the tent-shaped nests they build in trees. They
were here last year, too, and are capable of eating almost all the leaves on
a tree.
To prevent this, grounds staff is applying to affected trees a bacterium
called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
Bt is the only microbial insecticide on the market that is a naturally
occurring bacterium. It is commonly found in soils throughout the world. Bt
produces proteins that shut down the caterpillars' digestive systems in a
couple days. It's considered non-toxic to people and to all non-target
species. Its use is even recommended for food crops.
The current infestation is significantly worse than in prior years. The
populations are so high that the caterpillars are moving from tree to tree
via silken webs, looking for additional food sources and are feeding on
plant material not normally attacked. For this reason it's very difficult to
establish a precise spray schedule, so spray sites are determined almost
daily as the caterpillars arise and new foliage emerges.
We anticipate applying Bt for the next 2-3 weeks during the caterpillars'
most vulnerable stage. It's impractical to spray every tree on campus so
we're concentrating on the most significant ones. We're also sensitive to
people and property and so are making every effort to minimize the impact on
both. Trees that have been sprayed will be posted for 24 hours with a yellow
caution sign.
Please call me at x3304 with any questions. Or contact our Service Desk at
x2486 to notify us of an outbreak in your area of campus.
Meanwhile, we also recommend you keep your car windows closed since some
people have returned to their cars only to find a large furry wriggling
surprise.
Eventually they'll turn into moths, which will prove a boon to the local bat
population. But that's a story for another time.
Regards,
Dave Fitzgerald
Horticulturist and Grounds Supervisor
YEAH...it's that bad. they're all over the ground and people step on them (it's inevitable...trust me. i tried) and so they're squashed INTO the ground. it's only the most disgusting thing i've ever seen.
IN OTHER NEWS....
there's this modern chinese artist who's crazy. he did one art piece made entirely out of used pads and tampons. and another one entirely out of hair clippings from barber shops. he sent the museum curatorial staff out to collect the hair for him, and this one curator was so grossed out by the idea that he wore a full biohazard suit whenever he went to get hair. :) in another piece, he used placenta powder (which you can apparently get from chinese pharmacies) and apparently, it was difficult for the museum to keep kids from touching the exhibit.
the end.
