Holes

Asian long-horned beetles are a threat to maple trees everywhere in the northeastern United States.  The mature beetles emerge from maple trees starting in May into late October.  When they drill out of the trees, they leave holes that are about 2 centimeters thick.  This causes the tree's structure to weaken and results in the demise of the tree.  This has become a problem in this part of the United States because the Asian long-horned beetles do not have any natural enemies here.

These beetles originate from Asia, specifically from China, Korea, and Japan.  The beetles may have come into the U.S. in a shipment of plumbing supplies from China.  These supplies were shipped to a warehouse in new York City.  From there, the beetle spread across New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.

The first time the beetle came to New Jersey was in 2002.  The beetle was sighted in Jersey City.  Maple trees make up over 30% of all trees in New Jersey.  If the Asian long-horned beetle continues to repopulate, it can have catastrophic affect on the tree population.

These beetles only make up only a small portion of invasive species in the U.S.  Invasive species are a threat because they can wipe out native species.  Unfortunately, in is almost impossible for invasive species to be wiped out once it is an ecosystem.  The only thing that can be done is to prevent a growth in population.  Over time,  the Asian long-horned beetle population will decrease and things will return back to normal.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_long-horned_beetle

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/forest/community/alb.html

Moths On The Move- With A Tail Of Destruction

Gypsy moths are an invasive species of moth, introduced to the United States in 1868 by a French scientist named Leopold Trouvelot.  Trouvelot was trying to  make a hybrid of a native silk-spinning caterpillar species and the gypsy moth.  The reason he wanted to make a hybrid because the native species of silk-spinning caterpillars was susceptible to disease.  The gypsy moth was immune to disease so Trouvelot he thought that it would be a good idea to create a hybrid.

While attempting to create the hybrid, a few of the gypsy moths escaped his laboratory.  The moths found an acceptable habitat and started to reproduce.  The moths, now, one of the most infamous pests of the Eastern United States.  Once they deforest an area, they migrate towards a new feeding ground.

The gypsy moths have no natural enemys, so their population has been steadily increasing for as long as they have been in the U.S. 

The gypsy moth caterpillar has an malignant affect on the hardwood trees of the northeastern region of the U.S.  They eat the leaves of the trees, which prevent them from producing food.  In New Jersery, these pest have deforested about 339,240 acres of forest.

The New Jersey department of Agriculture has orchestrated an arial spray program to help decrease the population of gypsy moth caterpillars.  By doing this, less trees will suffer from the adverse affects of the gypsy moth caterpillars.
They had a similar problem in  New Zealand.  What they did to prevent what is now happening in the U.S., is that they eradicated the species before it started to thrive.  If they did that here, there woulldn't be this problem.

This situation allows people to see what can happen if you don't  take the necessary precautions to prevent something bad from happening.  If we were able to fix this problem early on, there wouldn't be anything to worry about.

   

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gypsy_moth

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/07/gypsy_moths_devour_new_jersey.html

Writing on Wasp Nests?

Have you ever wondered who invented paper?  Well, many people believe that the Chinese Emperor Ts'ai Lun invented paper.  In reality, the true inventors of paper are paper wasps, or sometimes called umbrella wasps.  These wasps use a paper like material to create their nests.  The shape of these nests resemble an upside down umbrella, hence the name.
To create this paper like material, the wasps collect the fibrous materials from dead wood and stems.  Then they mix these fiber with their saliva.  Then they mold the mixture around a central stalk and form the upside down umbrella shape.  These wasps are very social so they can create these nests very quickly.

Other wasps make similar materials ,but use chewed plant material instead of the dead wood and stem fiber.  Instead of binding the nest together with saliva, they use a silky material. 

Paper wasps are usually about 3/4 to 1 inch in length.  Most paper wasps are either brown, black, or reddish in color with yellow markings, similar to yellow jackets and hornets.  These wasps are not very aggressive unless their nest is disturbed.  Hornets and yellow jackets are usually aggressive by nature.

Paper wasps have created a substance that revolutionized our way of life today.  Without wasps making paper, we wouldn't be able to make paper airplanes, print reports, or even have money!  These insects provided us with the thing we need to thrive.  I find it interesting how we can learn so many things from nature.  When you get a chance, observe your backyard.  Who knows... you could get the idea for the next great invention.

http://www.everythingabout.net/articles/biology/animals/arthropods/insects/wasps/paper_wasp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_wasp

Mexican Redknee Tarantula

The Mexican Redknee tarantula is large in size.  They can grow to sizes of 5 to 5 1/2 inches in length.  That is about the size of a dollar bill.  The average weight of 15 grams.  There average lifespan is about 20 years.  They mature relatively slowly compared to other tarantulas.

These tarantulas are usually found in the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre de Sur mountain ranges in Mexico. 

They are mostly brownish-black in color but have reddish-orange patches at the knees- hence the name.  Their color is more vivid after they molt.  They usually molt annually until they mature.

The Redknee tarantula kick special hair, called urticating hairs when they feel disturbed.  They would rather do this than bite.  This tarantula i not venomous to humans, so they are easily handled in captivity.

Redknee tarantulas live in burrows.  These burrows allow them to hide from predators and to ambush prey.  Their burrows have a single entrance, only a little bigger than its body.  The tunnel is about three times the size of the tarantula.  The entrance of the tunnel could be sealed if the tarantula needed privacy, such as when they molted.

The Mexican Redknee tarantula is a threatened species.  They are threatened due to excess export.  People who live near the tarantulas' burrows are afraid of them and made a nasty habit of killing them.  I think that is is inhumane to kill something just because you are afraid of it.  If I were one of the people who lived near the burrows I would just leave them alone.  They don't harm them and are not a treat to anyone.  What would you do?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_redknee_tarantula
http://www.oaklandzoo.org/animals/arthropods/mexican-red-knee-tarantula/




  

Tragedy in Tuscon

               Last Saturday, there was a shooting in Tuscon, Arizona at a meeting outside of a grocery store.  multiple people were shot and 6 people were killed.  The killer would have continued his killing spree if it wasn't for two people that tackled the gunman, causing the shooting to stop.  It was because of these two brave people that more people were not injured.  That is an act of kindness that shows how people are supposed to protect each other- how people  are supposed to fight for each other.
              I was watching the movie "2012" over the weekend and heard one of the characters say the following quote:

“We have to stop this Madness.  I know we’ve all been forced to make difficult decisions to save our human civilization, but to be human means to care for each other and civilization means  to work together to create a better life.  If that’s true then there is nothing human and nothing civilized about what we’re doing here. Limited resources and limited time is no excuse for this inhumane treatment toward one another. Ask yourselves can we just stand by and watch these people die?  The moment we stop fighting for each other that’s the moment we lose our humanity. Everyone has died in vain if we continue to communicate with continuous acts of cruelty and violence. What will we tell our children? What will they tell theirs?”

When he said this, he was talking about, if you saw the movie, closing the gates to the arcs that were meant to the human race from the disasters occurring in2012.  Another character refuses to open the gates because it would be risking the lives of everyone on the arc.  Finally they decided to open the gates to let every one else in because he realized that it was the right thing to do.  

I feel that this quote relates to how people should act.  People should want to do what is right.  The people who stopped the gunman during the shooting in Tuscon did what was right.  I feel that everyone should follow in their footsteps and do what is right, even if times are tough.

I would like to remember the people who were injured, killed, or who knew anyone who was affected by this tragedy.  God bless them. 

My New Year's Resolutions

     Every year, many people make New Year's Resolutions to act on throughout the new year.  This year, I have made a list of my goals.  I have been wanting to do some of these for a long time, but never did.  This year, I will accomplish my goals.
                                                                  My Goals

Goal #1My first goal is to do a good deed every day.  I want to do a good deed every day because I take for granted the nice things that people do for me on a daily basis.  In return for people's kind effort, I plan on doing something nice for someone every day.  For example, if someone drops their books in the hall, I would help him/her pick them up.  I would be doing a kind thing that would help people in their everyday life. 
Goal #2 My next goal is to organize a community service project.  I want to do this because I want to help my community become a better place.  I think that people would appriciate a cleaner community.  I have seen the pollution in some areas of the community and it is not a pretty sight.  I was thinking that a good place to clean would be on a beach where there is always pollution in the sand.  To do this I will consult with my Boy Scout Troop for help.

Goal #3 My third resolution is to be more organized.  I want to be more organized because i am having trouble keeping track of where things are. To become more organized, I will do the simplest thing you can do to keep track of things- color code.  I have seen people do this and I know it works.  To color coordinate, I will make everything for a certain class on color andthe same for another.  For example, green for science, blue for math, red for English, etc.

                               
                                   

Goal #4 My fourth goal is to recycle.  I know that recycling is good for the planet ,but I am guilty of throwing plastic bottles in the trash.  To keep to this resolution, I will simply throw my bottles in the recycling bin.
 
Goal #6 My last goal is to make it to the rank of First Class in Scouting ( I am a Boy Scout).  Currently I am the rank of Tenderfoot.  To meet my goal, I have to make two ranks by the end of the year.  The only way I can do that is with determination.

     As you can see, I have made some goals for mysellf to accomplish during the new year.  I would love to hear what you plan on accomplishing this year.

Goal #5  My fifth goal is to read the Bible.  I have acually attempted to read it but I never seem to have the time.  I figure, there about 80 books in the Catholic Bible (about) so if I read one book a day, I'll be done in 80 days.  I think that I can do it.

The Legend of the Poinsettia

The Introduction       
    Every year my grandmother puts out a poinsettia plant in her window.  I have always wondered why she puts out that red, star-shaped flower out.  I did some research and it turns out there is a whole story behind it.  The story takes place in Mexico with a girl named Pepita.
The Legend
    Pepita and her cousin, Pedro, were walking to the chapel in their small village.  It was tradition that everyone in town had to bring a gift to offer to the baby Jesus.  She could not afford a gift so she felt sad.  Her cousin told her, trying to cheer her up, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, would be acceptable.  

    Pepita didn't know what to do, so she knelt down on the ground and picked some weeds.  She put them in a small bouquet and walked into the chapel.  She that she felt so embarrassed almost started to cry.  As she walked towards the alter she remembered her cousin's words.  She place the bouquet at the foot of the Nativity scene.  At that instant, the weeds miraculously bloomed vivid red flowers.  This was truly a Christmas miracle.
     This story teaches us that it does not matter how extravigent a gift is.  What matters is that it is gven with love.
The Description
     The poinsettia, when full grown, can reach anywhere from 2 to 16 feet.  It is mainly found and is native to Mexico.  Their leaves are usually a brilliant red but can be orange, pale green, cream, pink, or white.  In order for them to get their bright color they have to be in complete darkness for at least 12 hours and during the day, be in bright sunlight during the day.
Who plants poinsettias?
     One of the largest cultivaters of poinsettia plants is the Ecke Ranch.  Until the 1990's, the Ecke ranch basicly had control of the poinsettia market.  This was the result for grafting two kinds of poinsettia together to get a more full plant.  In the 1990's, the method of grafting the two breeds together was discovered and published.  Soon many companies started producing more of the plants.  The company moved into Latin America and started buisness there.  Today, Paul Ecke III is the owner of the ranch.  Despite the competion, the Ecke ranch still produces 70% of the poinsettias in the U.S. and 50% of them world wide.
The Conclusion
    conclusion, the poinsettia plant has a rich history.  The legend got me thinking.  Do you think more people appreciate the gifts they get, even if they are very humble, or do people onlt want- and expect- the priciest gifts.  I would love to hear your opinion on the matter.

Check this video out if you want to know how to decorate with poinsettias
Further reading-
http://www.ecke.com/new1/poinsettias.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poinsettia