Sunday, March 20, 2016

Trifoliate Orange New Tree and Aquatic Insects

Yesterday I encountered a new invasive tree in full profuse bloom west of the western wash. Beautiful 5-parted, white blossoms on a spreading crown 3 m tall; impressive sharp long green thorns. Poncirus Trifoliate orange. Never seen one in the Woods before.
I am sure flowers are feeding the native pollinators such as the Bombus bumble bee that was resting nearby. I will cut it later this spring, before it sets fruit. I also need to cut the dozen or more Lonicera maackii amur honeysuckles that are scattered through the Woods.
Interesting that invasive shrubs and vines like these and privet, autumn olive and Euonymus in the Woods all leaf out earlier than the natives, or keep some green all winter. Wonder about the ecology of this. Why natives don't compete for this early growing season. Other invasives in the Woods are similar: Liriope monkey grass, Rosa multiflora, Ailanthus tree-of-heaven, Nandina heavenly bamboo, to a lesser extent.
 Four days ago, I walked in the southern Woods with my water boots to check trails and replenish paint blazes on trees. Half the southern trails were underwater with lots of mosquito wrigglers. Saw a handful of predatory dytiscid diving beetles and there were young gerrid water striders everywhere. I think there may be quite a population of mosquitoes in a week or two. Need more gerrids, dytiscids and odonates on patrol.

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