|
FALL OBSERVATIONS --- Victor Moss
If you are spending much time outdoors, you need to be aware of Yellow Jacket Wasps. They are out foraging for sugar and other sweets to store up and are increasingly aggressive. Like other wasps they can sting more than one time (unlike Honey Bees) and it is not uncommon for one wasp to sting 2-3 times. They are attracted to all sweets so an open soda can is inviting to them. Just be sure that when you pick up the can to get a drink that there is not a wasp on or in it. If you get the wasp into your mouth or throat and get stung it could have very serious consequences. This is even more important for someone who is allergic to bee and wasp stings.
The antlers of male White Tailed Deer are now covered by velvet which they will later rub off as the antlers harden. I have seen quite a few eight point and spike bucks in the area and at this time the bucks are hanging around together, especially in areas where hunting is not allowed. If you are quiet and do not make any sudden moves they will often let you watch them for quite a while as they watch you.
Since the Emerald Ash Borer was found at Wappapello recently, you need to be on the lookout for this pest that is not native to our area. It has the potential to devastate the ash trees in this area and elsewhere. The adult is about ½ “ long and emerald green as the name suggests. If you find a beetles that you think might be an Emerald Ash Borer please take it to your local county extension office and tell them exactly where and when you found it.
The fall and late summer wildflowers are in bloom and many are very pretty. The large white or pinkish flowers along roadside ditches and marshy areas are Marsh Mallows. Unfortunately, the fruit of these showy flowers are not the same marshmallows you like to toast over an open fire. Mistflower is a dark purple flower in clusters and the plant is 2-3 feet high. It is common at this time of year.
A small dark yellow flower that is about 6” high and is very common on roadsides is Lance Leaf Coreopsis. A variety of asters will be blooming now as well as other flowers. Be sure to not overlook the smallest flowers since some of them may only be a few inches high but may be as pretty as larger types. If you enjoy seeing and photographing flowers, now is a good time to be out when the weather is not too hot and the types of flowers are very different from those in the spring.
Fall migration is slowly starting and some shorebirds have started moving back south through the area. Otter Slough south of Dudley is a good place to see them. Duck Creek Wildlife Management Area and Mingo National Wildlife Refuge north of Puxico are also good areas to see shorebirds and waterfowl. We are not yet at the peak of migration but different birds will be moving through the area on their way south for probably another month or so depending on the weather. Our winter residents may start arriving in the next couple of weeks.
The hawks are very active now and it is easy to see them catching prey along the roads and in open areas. This may be because the small rodents and insects that the various species feed on are more actively foraging for their own food items now.
It is still too early to tell if the fall colors will be spectacular or more muted this year. However, a few trees are beginning to change color. The red, orange, and yellow colors we see in the fall are present in the spring and summer but are masked by the green color reflected by chlorophyll. When the chlorophyll breaks down the other colors can be seen. This color change will progress over the next month or two depending on the weather.
If you want to use leaves in fall colors for decorating, you should collect, press and dry them while they are still pliable. If they get brittle they are very hard to press out and preserve. They should be totally dry in about a week after you start to press them. You can then coat them with a layer of varnish or wax to preserve them and make them last longer. Now is a good time to start collecting open pine cones to use in fall or winter arrangements.
These are just a few of the things that you can do to enjoy the outdoors at this time of year. Let your imagination be your guide and see what other things you can find to see or do. |
