Page fc-The Perquimans Weekly, Hertford, N.C., Thursday, September 27, 1973
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Invasion By Gypsy Moth Inevitable
PROGRESS NOTED Doug Gardner, of Gardner Contractors and Associates (stand
ing) were in Hertford last week with plats and blueprints, making plans and progress
on the courthouse annex. The annex will be built where the old jail, which was torn down
recently once stood. (Sawyer Photo)
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CAT TAILS DELIGHT Out in Perquimans County, the cat tails thrive on the swampy
waters. Women in the county send their husbands out to the waters to pick the cat
tails for decorative fall scenes in the home. (Marren Photo)
New Pecan Trees Need
Good Soil, Deep Hole
, The family with the .
pecan trees will be the
envy of the neighborhood
as nuts begin to fall a
few weeks from now,
and the urge to plant
trees will hit many Tar
Heels ; who don't have
them. '
Don't get in too much
of a hurry. Pecan trees
can be planted any time
during the dormant
period. Late November
Into January is a good
time to plant in much of :
the state.
North Carolina State .
'University extension
horticulturists suggest
spending a little time in '
selecting the planting :
site. You'll need a site
that drains well and one ,
with fairly good soil.
Avoid badly eroded .
hillsides.
Also, if you' re plant
ing near a house, build-
lngs or power lines,
remember that peoan
VA. EEACII GUESTS
Mr. and Mrs. Bobby
Caliper 'and family of
Vlr" " i F " h. Va. were
trees grow
large size.
Therev are several
to very varieties commonly
grown In North Carolina.
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Invasion of North Carolina by
the gypsy moth is apparently
inevitable. However, when
faced with the inevitable, the
onlysolutionis to prepare for it
with all available resources.
This is precisely what the en
tomology division of the North
Carolina Department of
Agriculture, is attempting. '
According to State
Entomologist Al Elder, the 1973
efforts to thwart a premature
infestaion of the tree destroying
creature, and prepare for its
eventual intrusion into the
state, corrective procedures
have already gotten under way.
These activities were begun in
1971 with survey traps designed
to whow when and where in
dividual male moths were
located in the state. It was
determined by these trappings
that the insects were hitch
hiking in on vehicles,
primarily campers, from areas
known to have infestations in
the Northeast.
Possible Infestation
In 1971 six moths were cap
tured in five areas. In 1972
seven were found in seven
areas. But in 1973 the situation
changed, giving some in
dication of possible infestation
in the northeastern corner of the
state. Thirty-six males were
trapped as of September S in 13
counties. These were scattered
from the mountains to the coast
with the majority appearing to
be hitchhikers. But the situation
in Currituck, Dare and
Pasquotank counties is not so
easily explained. Two were
found in Pasquotank; five in
Currituck and fourteen in Dare.
Although this resort area is
frequented by tourists from
New England, Pennsylvania
and New Jersey, where the
heaviest infestations are,
enough of the pests were
caught to give probability of
infestation.
Infestation would mean that
both male and females are
breeding in North Carolina.
This is difficult to determine
without finding a female moth
or an egg mass. The female
does not fly after emerging
from the pupal stage.
Elder pointed out that the
gypsy moth is destructive to
most trees ' only during the
larval or caterpillar stage. The
egg mass, which is laid during
the later summer, winters over
and hatches caterpillars in
early spring. When the creature
reaches about finger-length it
has the capability of consuming
one square foot of leaves per
.day. ....
In heavily infested locales,
thousands of acres can be
stripped of all foliage in a very
short period. More ,thari two
successive years of this can be
fatal to the tree. In Penn
sylvania this year 860,000 acres
of forest have been completely
defoliated. This can happen in
North Carolina with a
possibility of things being even
worse due to a warmer climate,
longer season, and an abun
dance of hardwoods and pines,
both of which the gypsy moth
, feeds upon.
What's being done?
"Our biological control
program' has made great
progress this year," Elder said.
"Seven species of gypsy moth
parasites, all insects, have been
released in areas from the
mountains to the coat with
special attention to areas where
the moths have been trapped.
Before frost over 50,000
parasites will have been placed
in strategic areas." 1
These beneficial types of flies
and tiny wasps attack the gypsy
month in several ways. Some
parasitize the caterpillar, other
destroy the pupae while another
group strike directly at the egg
masses. No counter gypsy moth
insects are released until tests
prove them safe to the en
vironment. Neither are any of
them harmful to man.
Theory holds that these
enemies of the defoliating pest
may establish themselves in
North Carolina by living on
other nonbeneficial species.
They would then be ready
to counterattack the invad
ing gypsy moth when it arrives
in force.
It is interesting to note that
the moth is not native to North
America. It was accidentally
released here during the 1800's.
It has no known beneficial
qualities, few natural predators
and no natural parasites.
Elder said the gypsy moth has
several ways of entering the
state. "Not only can he hitch
hike, but' weather and wind
provide . natural means of
spread."
He requested that citizens
cooperate with state and federal
Inspectors by reporting
suspicious specimens.
?'Many," he said, "are already
doing so." The egg masses are
hairy and buff colored. The
caterpillar is black with red and
blue dots flanking the body. The
adult male moth has feathered
antenna, light brown in color
with irregular marking on the
wings, while the female moth is
slightly larger, and lighter in.
color with a heavier body and
does not fly.
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DOES THE SIGN COUNT If A would-be-fisherman
would decide to fish off this bridge leading into Hertford
would he be arrested? That depends on if the fisherman
would be standing on his head to read the sign which has
been placed upside down. (Marren Photo)
Should Report Changes
If you're a student 18-22
getting monthly social
security . checks, it's
important to report any
changes in your earnings,
school enrollment, or
marital status.
About 650,000 students 18
and over get monthly social
security payments because
a parent gets disability or
retirement benefits or has
died. They can continue to
get payments to age 22
slightly beyond for
undergraduates as long as
they remain full-time
students and unmarried.
Students getting social
security payments should
notify . social security
immediately if they marry,
leave school, ar start
attending on a part-time
basis. j
WE CLEAN AND REPAIR
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HERTFORD, N.C
426-7118
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Phones: 482-4957 or 835-0031
EDENTON, N.C. 27932
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