In NJ pines, trouble on six legs.

[elleng]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/02/science/earth/in-new-jersey-pines-trouble-arrives-on-six-legs.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&hp

[2naSalit]

1. How unfortunate!

They've been decimating the western forests for over a decade now. And the dead trees are being replaced by lower elevation types meaning that the alpine forests are disappearing rapidly. If this is a major situation in the east now, we're all screwed.

[mike_c]

2. interesting-- that's a northern range extension for the SPB....

eom

[truebluegreen]

3. Yeah, I wonder what would cause that...

[mike_c]

4. the current range has long been limited by winter temperatures....

SPB routinely manages four or five generations annually in the warmest parts of its range, i.e. the southeastern coastal plain, but only a single generation at the northern limits, so not only do winter temperature extremes that kill developing brood limit its range, but also the slower development times it experiences in the northern portions of the current range. SPB is a good indicator organism in this case because its habitat limitations are well studied and understood. Occasional brood success north of the Mason-Dixon line is not unusual, but sustained brood success likely represents a northern range extension. I was shocked when I read the linked article-- I expected it to be about an invasive exotic beetle, not the SPB.

[truebluegreen]

5. Thank you, but I was being sarcastic.

These last years I've watched birds change their migrations, bugs extend their range, plants move north, USDA climate zones change, glaciers shrink etc etc etc.

You don't need to tell me, but I am nevertheless shocked and appalled every time.

[mike_c]

6. LOL, sorry....

My subtlety detector is offline today, LOL.