WEBWORMS—

This time of year many Ohio trees contain large webs of Hyphantria cunea; commonly known as fall webworms. In spite of their making it less likely you will hug that tree, they really cause very little damage overall.

If you look carefully at any nest right now they likely are well populated with adult caterpillars. Surrounding the heavily webbed area you may notice some defoliation. Except for being an eyesore it generally is not sufficient to damage the host tree. Lots of little dots of feces likely also are visible clinging to the web.

These pests will usually fall to the ground and over winter in the pupal stage (a non-feeding metamorphosis between the caterpillar and adult moth). The adults emerge from late May to July and lay their hundreds of eggs in a layer or layers on the underside of leaves. They will hatch in about a week and the small mass of caterpillars will web over a single leaf. Then as they grow they will enlarge the web until it becomes as visible as they are now.

The adult is a small, mostly white moth in the Family Arctiidae and very hairy. Its front legs have bright yellow or orange patches and its wingspan is 35 to 42 mm (35 mm = 1.38 inches). See small photo.

The nests can be pruned out of the trees, but, burning is not advised because that usually causes more damage to the tree than the caterpillars. Chemical controls include insecticide sprays and merely wetting the nest and surrounding foliage is sufficient.

For those nests out of reach in the tall trees, translocated systemics applied to the soil for root uptake is often used.

Or, better yet, ignore the eyesore, and enjoy watching yet another example of nature taking its course.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS—

Venezuela

It is an oil-rich tropical country on the north coast of South America and is among the top countries in the world for its ecological diversity.

It’s current president, Hugo Chavez Frias (2002) has raised some controversy by reforms to their Constitution and his assumption, approved by the National Assembly, of powers to rule by decree.

It has an estimated population of 27,700,000; about 2 ½ times the population of Ohio.

It was in the news last week when the Associated Press reported the Caracas Hilton hotel had been nationalized by the government. It will now be a “socialist” establishment, the state news agency reported.

Since 1998 relations between Venezuela and the US have progressively worsened, resulting in us imposing military sanctions.

Regarding the safety of travel to this country, here are some US State Department comments:

“SAFETY AND SECURITY: Violent crime in Venezuela is pervasive, both in the capital, Caracas, and in the interior. The country has one of the highest per-capita murder rates in the world. Armed robberies take place in broad daylight throughout the city, including areas generally presumed safe and frequented by tourists. A common technique is to choke the victim into unconsciousness and then rob them of all they are carrying. Well armed criminal gangs operate with impunity, often setting up fake police checkpoints. Kidnapping is a particularly serious problem, with more than 1,000 reported during the past year alone....”

I think I’ll pass on visiting this one.

Mansfield’s Labor Day Parade Monday was enjoyed under crystalline skies and led by a color guard of firemen dressed in formal uniforms. It featured over 50 units and followed the traditional route from the 5-way light at Park Ave. and Bowman into the downtown area.

LABOR's DAY--

Celebrated the first Monday of September, the holiday is a creation of the labor movement. It constitutes a yearly, national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of the country.

Yet today, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers. Some records show a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor was first to propose a special day to honor workers.

Recent research, however, seems to support the idea was first advanced by the secretary of NY City’s Central Labor Union in 1882. They adopted a Labor Day proposal and conducted the first celebration on September 5th that year.

In 1884 they changed their date to the first Monday of September and urged similar organizations in other cities to follow their example and celebrate a “workingmen’s holiday” on that date.

Many municipalities adopted local ordinances in 1885 and 1886 and from those a movement began to secure state legislation. The first state to pass a law was Oregon in 1887.

Many other states followed quickly and on June 28th, 1894 Congress passed an act making the first Monday of September a legal holiday in DC and “the territories”.

Today the US Department of Labor reminds us “The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known.”

THE 50th HS REUNION LOOMS--

I recently attended a meeting of the reunion committee for the 50th anniversary of my high school graduating class to be held in 2008.

That sent me home to a long look at the high school yearbook.

And, the memories came flooding back.

I met my yet-to-be-bride Carol back then. She was a couple of years behind me in school. While she finished her school years and because the military draft was then looming I scurried off to the US Coast Guard for a four year hitch.

Then came marriage and a move to New York State to establish our first nest then a transfer to Detroit and the arrival of our first son while I finished my service and moved to Bowling Green to start college which also brought the arrival of our second son. Money ran out before the degree arrived and we were off to Norwalk then Mansfield as I launched my career in journalism.

We bought our ranch style dream-home in the suburbs just in time to celebrate the birth of our daughter and soon learned three kids in an allotment was a tight squeeze and headed to an old farm house and some acreage out in the country below Lexington.

Then came a six year stint of self employment as a professional photographer wrapped around four years of flying professionally for a local steel company then political involvement with an appointment to a two year term as county director of elections which preceded election to two four year terms as a county commissioner then a quiet disappearance into the peaceful obscurity of a 4-year job as treasurer of the Clear Fork school system.

As I was once again pondering what to do when I grew up, I obtained a Class A commercial driving license and took a whack at truck driving; starting with hauling steel over the road, then delivering roof trusses and finally buzzing around Amish country in a little semi delivering corrugated boxes for a local company from which I formally retired about a year after I lost my bride to cancer following 41+ years of marriage.

I chuckled when I read my “ambition” posted in the annual which was “To own General Motors.”

Well—at least I did own a couple of Chevy’s.

BICYCLE BOTANY—

You folks who live in places like Harlingen, Yuma or Boca Raton can skip this one. But, if you live in a more temperate latitude where English remains the common language, read on!

I just completed another of those nifty programs by our Gorman Nature Center; this one involved identifying wildflowers commonly seen along our 18 mile bike trail. We did the event, naturally, on bicycles led by the center’s director and naturalist, Steve McKee.

He regaled us with identifications and stories of lots of plants like; Spearmint and Chickory and Rag Weed and Wingstem and Jewel Weeds. You remember that species as “Touch Me Nots”.

“We have over 1,000 species of wild plants in Richland County and many of them have interesting stories,” McKee smiled as he chomped on a bit of Yarrow while telling us how the Native Americans used the plant as a tissue deadening painkiller. Sure enough, moments later the side of his mouth was getting numb.

He went on to find and describe Wild Lettuce and White Snake Root and Tall Bell Flower and Bouncing Bet.

The snake root plant can be deadly. It creates a serious but delayed illness in cows which can be passed to humans in lethal doses before the animal shows any symptoms. “Pasteurization protects us from that kind of problem today,” he assured us.

“See this species”, he said. “It can make soap” and he went on to squish the leaves of a Bouncing Bet in some water in his hand and produced a green lather “...that served as soap” in days long before the neighborhood grocery store.

I wound up providing the entertainment for the outing when, during the program, I hopped on the bike and promptly got invisibly swatted flat onto the pavement. Naturally, the embarrassment far exceeded the injuries.

I was very tempted to ask Steve for another demonstration of the medicinal benefits of Yarrow.

BOOK REPORTS—

Simple Genius by David Baldacci

With 12 previous consecutive bestsellers Baldacci spins another quick moving tale; this one set in colonial Virginia. Lots of CIA intrigue, lots of action and the plot has more twists than a large bag of pretzels.

Dangerous Waters by John S. Burnett

A chilling look at piracy and terror on the high seas; a current and growing danger to life and the global economy. Remember how easily terrorists nearly destroyed the US warship Cole. Imagine such an attack on a 1,000 foot long super tanker full of highly explosive petroleum product in the harbor of a major city. This book clearly exposes that danger.

The Day the Earth Caved In by Joan Quigley

The small Pennsylvania borough (town) of Centralia fights an underground coal mine fire until nearly 20 years later the town is virtually abandoned. The book is a touching look at the people who lost the battle and an indictment of the corporate and political leaders who let the tragedy happen.

The World Without Us by Alan Weisman

Wow! Here’s a piercing look, neatly wrapped around multi-disciplinary sciences, that explores the impact of humans on Earth. One critic said, “This is a very important book for a species playing games with its own destiny.” Amen.

OSU FAN BEHAVIOR--

Columbus TV news is reporting former OSU President Karen Holbrook “‘...said the outcry she faced after lambasting Buckeyes’ game–day behavior during a Florida job interview is nothing new.’ ”

“Holbrook told officials at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers earlier this month that she confronted a ‘culture of rioting‘ when she arrived at Ohio State in 2002...When you win a game, you riot. When you lose a game, you riot. When spring comes, you riot...” Holbrook said in the interview.

Her comments have sparked a Buckeyes-boosting backlash according to news commentators.

An example: Former trustee Dan Slane said “...her depiction was somewhat exaggerated. Rowdy fans also aren’t unique to Ohio State.”

It is to the university’s credit this clueless wimp is a former trustee.

Holbrook is 1,000% correct in her arguably gentle comments, a natural characteristic of this classy lady.

You’ve seen the after game mayhem—often on national news: rioting in the streets with a background of overturned, burning cars and smashed store windows. To call these scumbags Neanderthals is to render them a compliment.

True, some of them may not be OSU students. Regardless, their behavior reflects horribly on the civilized fans of the university.

Holbrook tried to elevate this “culture of rioting” to something bordering on good sportsmanship.

She is no longer the president.

Let us hope the person they have re-hired as her successor has the moral strength and willingness to enforce civilized behavior.