IN THIS ISSUE
JULY 2021
• A transformative new shoreline initiative comes to our lakes
• LDD (Gypsy) moths: What can be done about them right now? What is the life cycle of the moth? How do pheromone traps work?
• Are you social media savvy and looking to make a difference? We've got the perfect job for you!
HOW TO NATURALIZE YOUR SHORELINE 

Is your waterfront in need of a little TLC?   

 

Here's your chance to rethink and restore your shore area to make it more attractive, healthier for the lake and a haven for wildlife – other than those pesky geese on your lawn!
 
Environment Council is teaming up with the Kawartha Lake Stewards Association (KLSA) to help deliver the Watersheds Canada Natural Edge program to our lakes this summer.
 
Five waterfront property owners on Clear, Ston(e)y and White Lakes will have the opportunity to participate. Each owner receives a shoreline assessment by a Watersheds Canada professional, and works with this specialist to develop a planting plan.
 
The cost to each owner is $250. This covers the site visit and a report illustrating the planting plan and native plants being used. Site assessments will be done in early fall, with planting next spring. 
 
Most of the funding for this program is being provided by Watersheds Canada, thanks to a grant from the RBC Tech for Nature Fund. This totals more than $400 per property in the form of native plants, planting materials, and care guides. The Stony Lake Heritage Foundation is also assisting. 
 
If you're on Clear, Ston(e)y or White Lake, you can sign up for this program now.  It's first come first served, so don't delay.  
Email Lois Wallace, c/o tina.warren@mac.com, or use the 'Contact Us' feature on our website. 
 
And don't forget to tell your friends and neighbours about this great program! 
 
Group and heron photos, Watersheds Canada.
THE YEAR OF THE GYPSY MOTH
What Can We Do Right Now?
It's been a devastating season for our oaks and pines as we've seen them under sustained attack by overwhelming masses of Gypsy moth or LDD ( Lymantria dispar dispar) caterpillars. By now, many trees are completely stripped of leaves and needles. As the caterpillars transform into pupae – their next life stage – we continue to field questions about how to deal with this destructive invasive species.
 
Below is a chart describing the life stages of the LDD moth and stage-appropriate treatments. (Click here to see a larger version of the chart.) During all life stages, you can spray with a mixture of oil and water (and a small amount of dish soap which acts as an emulsifier) and manually remove and destroy as many caterpillars, pupae and moths as you can reach. After scraping them off trees, buildings and other surfaces, immerse them in a bucket of soapy water.
 
Some people have reported some success in the past with pheromone traps, which, when employed during the adult moth stage, act to disrupt the mating process by attracting and capturing the smaller, brown male moth before mating can take place. (The male moth is the only one that flies.) Our current LDD moth population is so large these traps may not make much of a difference, but they might be worth a try. They are available here
The Good News
The population is showing signs of the presence of a virus and a fungus. Both can be present in an LLD moth population at the same time.
 
The effects of the virus (nucleopolyhedrosis virus or NPV) are evident in our local GM population. Dead larvae (caterpillars) hanging upside down in a "V" shape on trees or the sides of buildings is an indication that this fast-spreading virus is at work in the population. (Source, Province of Ontario) The photo below was taken on June 27th in the Burleigh Falls area.
 
The fungus ( Entomophaga maimaiga) is native to Japan and was first introduced in the northern US as a biological control for GM. This fungus flourishes in moist conditions. Unfortunately, our dry spring season may not have been conducive to its fast spread, though there are signs that it too is present. Cadavers of large GM caterpillars killed by the fungus are stiff, dry and hang head down on trees or the sides of buildings. The photo, below, was also taken in the Burleigh Falls area on June 27th.
 
It's hard to know just what course the GM infestation will take next year, though a good indication will be the number of egg masses found on trees and other surfaces by the end of August. Remember, one egg mass can contain between 600 and 1,000 eggs. Scraping the masses off surfaces and into buckets of soapy water or soaking them with an oil and water mixture (see our website for a detailed description of this process) will reduce the number of larvae next spring.
JOB OPENING
Are you looking for a way to make a difference and contribute to the health of the lake that you love? We have the perfect job for you! Environment Council is looking for a social media savvy person to support our work by getting the word out about our projects. This volunteer position:
 
• requires very little time
• is designed to increase community engagement and spread the word about pressing local environmental concerns and EC projects
• is a great opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to your lake environment, on your own time
 
Interested? Or know someone who might be? Contact us through our social media channels (below) or through our website: www.environmentcouncil.ca.
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