Comments on: What are those purple panels in the trees?

By: Barb Simon

Barb Simon — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:08:38 +0000

When I was a girl our family cut down 16 Lombardy poplar trees along the edge of out property. They were all dead – and when the bark cracked off their trunks it was lined with channels that had been eaten by some kind of borer insect. I will never forget it. All those trees killed. Also, lets not forget the chestnut blight. Castanea Dentata – American chestnut – a favorite of cabinet makers and barn builders – gone completely. But in 2000 while on a nature walk I came across a seedling with super long – maybe 7 inches and one inch wide – toothy toothy leaves and my instructor told me it was Castanea dentata. Maybe there’s hope.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:56:04 +0000

They are all over Northern Virginia. I live in the north western part of the state, with lots of wooded areas. Those traps are all over. I thought they were a new design of bat house, but after reading the article, I learned something new!

Hopefully, we can do something about these pests.

By: Marjorie

Marjorie — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:59:10 +0000

They have raised a few questions from a few birders I have heard as to how many other insects do they trap that the birds like to eat? I photographed a pretty little green beetle called the 6 Spotted Green Tiger Beetle at Crooked Creek this summer that looks very much like the Ash Borer, but is not harmful. It was on mud at the outflow. I do hope that they can stop the Ash Borer from doing much more damage. A few friends and I have noticed more of those traps this year than last, so hopefully that will help…it’s “always something” in nature, as well as life in general.

By: John

John — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:57:26 +0000

I've seen those in New Jersey, too.