Silver Lining Post-Polar Vortex

[Fusca]

No more graphiola leaf spot!  Hopefully 9° and extended freeze killed off that dreaded fungal disease!  Who am I kidding?  But one can hope.

 

[Xenon]

Maybe it killed the Texas Phoenix Palm Decline and Fusarium too 

[ahosey01]

7 minutes ago, Xenon said:

Maybe it killed the Texas Phoenix Palm Decline and Fusarium too 

I was actually wondering just today if it was possible that these ridiculous temps would kill off the insect vector for LB.

[NOT A TA]

13 minutes ago, ahosey01 said:

I was actually wondering just today if it was possible that these ridiculous temps would kill off the insect vector for LB.

This was the first thing I thought of a couple weeks ago when the cold was predicted.  Not only the reduction of the insect vector population but the reduction in vulnerable plants available if a large percentage of affected species die. Same thing may have occurred with the cold weather in FL this winter. While not record setting it may have been enough to reduce the transmission of lethal bronzing. Natural balance, so to speak.

[necturus]

Doubt it. Bet it doesn't even knock out the cycad scale completely.

[amh]

2 hours ago, necturus said:

Doubt it. Bet it doesn't even knock out the cycad scale completely.

The duration and ground freeze may just kill 'em off.

[ahosey01]

6 hours ago, necturus said:

Doubt it. Bet it doesn't even knock out the cycad scale completely.

Hey, you never know!!

But you’re probably right.  Lol

[Austinpalm]

7 hours ago, necturus said:

Doubt it. Bet it doesn't even knock out the cycad scale completely.

I agree.  Was in southern Hidalgo County doing fieldwork and was finding mosquitos and ticks already.  

[necturus]

5 hours ago, amh said:

The duration and ground freeze may just kill 'em off.

It probably depends on where you live. I bet if it got cold enough to completely eliminate cycad scale, it was cold enough to eliminate their host too.  

I have a big one in my front yard that's been infested on and off for years. I meant to treat for months but never got around to it. The only good thing about the storm is it forced me to defoliate it, which from my past experience is useful for scale control.

[climate change virginia]

Nothing lasts forever

-My Mama

[amh]

4 hours ago, necturus said:

It probably depends on where you live. I bet if it got cold enough to completely eliminate cycad scale, it was cold enough to eliminate their host too.  

I have a big one in my front yard that's been infested on and off for years. I meant to treat for months but never got around to it. The only good thing about the storm is it forced me to defoliate it, which from my past experience is useful for scale control.

I'm trying to be optimistic here.

Does anyone know the minimum temperature at which Aulacaspis yasumatsui can survive?

[PricklyPearSATC]

8 hours ago, amh said:

I'm trying to be optimistic here.

Does anyone know the minimum temperature at which Aulacaspis yasumatsui can survive?

Right now, they've all been evicted for several hundred miles!  Poor scales have no home!

[JohnAndSancho]

On 3/2/2021 at 9:24 PM, Fusca said:

No more graphiola leaf spot!  Hopefully 9° and extended freeze killed off that dreaded fungal disease!  Who am I kidding?  But one can hope.

 

The mosquitoes are definitely awake up here. 

[amh]

32 minutes ago, JohnAndSancho said:

The mosquitoes are definitely awake up here. 

Mosquitos aren't going anywhere, but hopefully the cold has lowered the population of the 2 Aedes species in the area.

[JohnAndSancho]

3 minutes ago, amh said:

Mosquitos aren't going anywhere, but hopefully the cold has lowered the population of the 2 Aedes species in the area.

All I know is I wanted to open my apartment up to defunk it and quickly changed my mind. 

[amh]

Just now, JohnAndSancho said:

All I know is I wanted to open my apartment up to defunk it and quickly changed my mind. 

If you really want to experience mosquitos, visit Minnesota, Michigan, Canada, or Alaska.

 

[JohnAndSancho]

Just now, amh said:

If you really want to experience mosquitos, visit Minnesota, Michigan, Canada, or Alaska.

 

I've been to MN. 

 

Texas is bad enough. 

[Silas_Sancona]

9 minutes ago, JohnAndSancho said:

 

 

Texas is bad enough. 

So is Florida..  Never killed so many in a house, let alone been attacked by  ..during the day. And they have Gallinippers ( Don't think they spread anything, but the bit hurts, a lot ) That's one positive here, don't battle skeeters much, except during Monsoon Season, if it is wet.

[JohnAndSancho]

17 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

So is Florida..  Never killed so many in a house, let alone been attacked by  ..during the day. And they have Gallinippers ( Don't think they spread anything, but the bit hurts, a lot ) That's one positive here, don't battle skeeters much, except during Monsoon Season, if it is wet.

I'm in TX now but spent a lot of time in FL. I know all about gallnippers and noseeums. I grew up in Pensacola and spent a lot of time in Lakeland. 

[Silas_Sancona]

9 minutes ago, JohnAndSancho said:

I'm in TX now but spent a lot of time in FL. I know all about gallnippers and noseeums. I grew up in Pensacola and spent a lot of time in Lakeland. 

Never experienced noseeums while living there, but heard enough to not want to lol..  Whats funny is i'd thought i'd leave the monster Cockroaches there behind when moving here.. Nope.. Think they're actually bigger here ( if that's possible ).

Love Bugs.. Remember those real' well in Florida.

[amh]

Lived in Florida for a few years and never thought the mosquitos were that bad, but I was inland a bit. I've had more gallnipper bites in Texas and I swear it hurts more when they bite through clothing. I see the love bugs here, but not in the large numbers as in Florida.

Chiggers are a lot of fun.

[Silas_Sancona]

2 minutes ago, amh said:

Lived in Florida for a few years and never thought the mosquitos were that bad, but I was inland a bit. I've had more gallnipper bites in Texas and I swear it hurts more when they bite through clothing. I see the love bugs here, but not in the large numbers as in Florida.

Chiggers are a lot of fun.

Had them in Kansas, but don't think i ever delt with them ..even though i roamed through prime habitat while looking for plants or frogs/toads, or when out storm chasing ( sitting in an open field photographing ). Do miss the Fireflies, Cicadas, and weird sounding Katydids that an ex girlfriend at the time referred to as " eh eh bugs " though.

[amh]

1 minute ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Had them in Kansas, but don't think i ever delt with them ..even though i roamed through prime habitat while looking for plants or frogs/toads, or when out storm chasing ( sitting in an open field photographing ). Do miss the Fireflies, Cicadas, and weird sounding Katydids that an ex girlfriend at the time referred to as " eh eh bugs " though.

They live the fields, and love biting along the waist and areas where the sun doesn't shine. My area has had a big resurgence of fireflies over the past 10 years, and we have plenty of green cicadas and those katydids. I'm hoping the current drought hasn't hurt the firefly population.

[Silas_Sancona]

Just now, amh said:

They live the fields, and love biting along the waist and areas where the sun doesn't shine. My area has had a big resurgence of fireflies over the past 10 years, and we have plenty of green cicadas and those katydids. I'm hoping the current drought hasn't hurt the firefly population.

They should be fine.. They survive months of frozen ground and snow up in KS.  Interestingly, you'll find the same type of " Flashing " Firefly ( different species, i think, though ) in far Southern AZ, down by Nogales. Some speculative reports from other parts of the state, up in the mountains as well.

I'm hoping the freeze there in Texas didn't kill all the Giant Cicadas ( Quesada gigas ) that had recently re-established themselves, up to about where you're located, in the state. 

[amh]

1 minute ago, Silas_Sancona said:

They should be fine.. They survive months of frozen ground and snow up in KS.  Interestingly, you'll find the same type of " Flashing " Firefly ( different species, i think, though ) in far Southern AZ, down by Nogales. Some speculative reports from other parts of the state, up in the mountains as well.

I'm hoping the freeze there in Texas didn't kill all the Giant Cicadas ( Quesada gigas ) that had recently re-established themselves, up to about where you're located, in the state. 

I've seen the Quesada gigas, but the Tibicen superba are the dominant species. On heavy years the local animals get almost obese eating them.

[Silas_Sancona]

Just now, amh said:

I've seen the Quesada gigas, but the Tibicen superba are the dominant species. On heavy years the local animals get almost obese eating them.

Funny you mention the " well- fed animals during heavy years " aspect, This is supposed to be a big year for Periodical Cicada in several states.. Was in Ohio for one of the cycles and is something to witness in person, let alone clean up after, lol.

[amh]

3 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Funny you mention the " well- fed animals during heavy years " aspect, This is supposed to be a big year for Periodical Cicada in several states.. Was in Ohio for one of the cycles and is something to witness in person, let alone clean up after, lol.

I've never experienced the periodical cicadas, but the cats, chickens, fox, raccoons, and others put on a lot of weight when the superb cicadas are heavy.

All the fat and protein is great for egg production.

[PricklyPearSATC]

It would be nice i the cold got rid of those Periplaneta americana and Periplaneta fuliginosa!  Neither are native to the US.  i have the fuliginosa.   They live outside, but get in the garage and also go in through lose siding and then through a plumbing leak.  They are the bane of my existence.  I'm even afraid when I see them outside!

[amh]

5 hours ago, PricklyPearSATC said:

It would be nice i the cold got rid of those Periplaneta americana and Periplaneta fuliginosa!  Neither are native to the US.  i have the fuliginosa.   They live outside, but get in the garage and also go in through lose siding and then through a plumbing leak.  They are the bane of my existence.  I'm even afraid when I see them outside!

They are already active as of yesterday, but the chickens love them.

[PricklyPearSATC]

12 minutes ago, amh said:

They are already active as of yesterday, but the chickens love them.

[amh]

26 minutes ago, PricklyPearSATC said:

Get a bunch of bantams and let them run around the yard, its much more effective than pesticide.

[Silas_Sancona]

1 hour ago, amh said:

They are already active as of yesterday, but the chickens love them.

Monster bugs never went to sleep this year here..  Same w/ both kinds of Crickets we have.  While the Med. Geckos and Tree Lizards get their fill,  likely have less of both if Desert Spiny Lizards were more comfortable living in smaller yards in more developed parts of town.  Very common in neighborhoods where there's more space/ connection to open desert.
 

American Roaches really doesn't wander into the house, but still kind of creepy when you walk out back on a few nights, usually in July/ August, and see dozens hanging out/scurrying across the yard/ up and down the block walls near the sheds/ under the Mesquite. Or when they hang out near the back door and scurry away when you open it.  Neighborhoods here having the trash cans out in the back Alley, and Grackles that drop bread, fruit, and chicken/beef scraps around the yard doesn't help w/ the roaches either.