Spidey Sense

August 29, 2012

Weaving a wonderful web

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It’s that time of year again where it seems with each turn, we encounter one of our favorite animals to fear: the lovely spider.

The truth is I am actually very fond of these little guys; they play such an important role in the ecosystem and are often not given enough credit by us humans. In fact, just this morning, I was observing numerous spiders creating intricate insect catching systems in my backyard. In the short five minutes I was outside, I discovered a small triangulate orb weaver (Verrucosa arenata) in the grass, a small cluster of basilica spiders (Mecynogealemniscata) in the process of weaving and a beautiful black and yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia) dangling from her web. These spiders are known for creating a zigzag down their webs that is sometimes referred to as “writing”. Take a peek at the photo of this beautiful spider and her handiwork above.

Recently, Charlotte Nature Museum has received several questions regarding what appears to be an increase in the number of spiders in our area. The fact is there are no more spiders than usual; the ones you see are just all grown up and now more conspicuous. This happens annually in late summer through early fall as these once young spiders have done their part for the environment by consuming oodles of insects and are now at adult size. As they reach maturity, many males are out and about; scouting the area in search of the perfect mate instead of hiding in crevices. So you’re not seeing a sudden increase in spiders but witnessing the critter equivalent of a night out on the town.

Arie Manchen
Naturalist

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Indiscriminate killing by tree banding, the good, the bad, the beautiful
Sept 3, 2012
To the concerned citizens of Charlotte and their officials,
I read with concern of the well-intentioned efforts supported by city grants and neighborhood associations encouraging Charlotte residents to "band their trees" with a sticky substance to capture and deter female fall cankerworm moths from reproducing. This native moth species Alsophila pometaria is indeed considered an insect pest of trees, but seldom kills its host trees unless the ecosystem or the individual tree is weakened or severely out of balance already (overuse of pesticides for instance) .
Tree banding additionally harm/impacts many prey, beneficial and/or non-target species including the very insects (flightless assassin bug nymph immatures, for instance) and small birds and mammals who prey on the fall canker worm moths in all their life stages thereby keeping pest populations in check. These predators must crawl up the same trees also. So too must the caterpillars of the beautiful butterflies you hope will visit your garden each year.
My area of study for the past 20 years has been fireflies. As we all agree, many living creatures including fireflies are under pressure worldwide from habitat alteration, fragmentation, pesticides, soil, air and light pollution and urban sprawl which create ecological imbalance. I realize that tree banding needs to be added to the list of threats.
Two firefly species, Ellychnia corrusca and Pyractomena borealis who are still surviving in urban areas like Charlotte rely on large diameter colony trees to survive. After emerging from the ground in the winter, they (mating adults of Ellychnia and larvae of Pyractomena) make their annual crawl up the very trees the city of Charlotte wants to band. These mature trees are necessary for firefly pupation and mating. Widespread tree banding could effectively wipe out local firefly populations for these two species in just one to two seasons.

I urge the residents of Charlotte to reconsider this practice of tree banding for all the unintended consequences it will bring to non-target animal species especially its natural predators and the universally appreciated fireflies. Instead, I would suggest aiming toward a healthier, more balanced urban forest ecosystem where the natural predators will take care of any overpopulation problems.

I will be glad to share published papers, videos, PowerPoints to your organizations to further detail my concerns specific to fireflies (and a cankerworm video).
Thank you for your consideration.
Lynn Faust, firefly researcher
11828 Couch Mill Road
Knoxville TN 37932
865-690-2852 H, 865-765-1190 C
TNLFaust@gmail.com