Eastern Time: Canada's Most Populous Zone! 🏙️

Eastern Standard Time (EST) at UTC-5 is Canada's most populous time zone, home to major cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa. It covers most of Ontario and Quebec, plus eastern Nunavut. When Daylight Saving Time is observed, it shifts to Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), keeping busy urban centres in sync. #Canada #TimeZones #EasternCanada #EST

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_in_Canada#Eastern_Time_Zone

Note - #AsianLadyBeetles, another #InvasiveSpecies, actually feeds on Hemlock Woolly Adelgid! A reason to shoo the beetles outside if they are in your house!

#Maine [and #NewEngland] - Help Track a #Hemlock Pest

February 26, 2026

"#HemlockWoollyAdelgid (#HWA) is an #aphid-like invasive insect that feeds on and can kill hemlock trees in Maine. To find HWA, look:

- On hemlock trees. In North America, HWA is found only on hemlock trees.
- On the undersides of hemlock twigs. At this time of year, HWA is covered in white tufts of wax and is easy to see. Look for discrete 'woolly' masses.
At fallen twigs on top of the snow, as this will give you a picture of what is happening high in the crown. Unless you are in an area where HWA is commonly found (such as southern coastal towns), please let us know if you find it.

Unless you are in an area where HWA is commonly found (such as southern coastal towns), please let us know if you find it. "

Wikipedia: "Accidentally introduced to North America from Japan, HWA was first found in the eastern United States near Richmond, #Virginia, in 1951. The pest is now found from northern #Georgia to coastal# Maine and southwestern Nova Scotia as well as areas of western #Michigan near the eastern #LakeMichigan shoreline. As of 2015, HWA has affected 90% of the geographic range of #EasternHemlock in North America."

Read more [includes photos for identification]:
https://www.maine.gov/dacf/about/news/news.shtml?id=13343953

#SolarPunkSunday #HemlockTrees #SaveTheTrees #Forestry
#Stewardship #InvasiveSpecies
#InvasiveSpeciesWeek #NaturalPestControl
#NewEngland #EasternCanada
#Massachusetts #EasternSeaboard #MaineDepartmentOfAgricultureConservationAndForestry

#MDACF - #BrowntailMoth in #Maine - Spotlight

February 27, 2026

"BrowntailMoth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea L.) populations decreased in some areas in 2025, but are still elevated in others. Check trees this winter to see whether your community may be impacted by browntail moth this spring. If you find winter webs, take action to make a difference!

Browntail Moth (#BTM) is an invasive insect of forest and human health concern that feeds on #oak, #apple, #cherry, #crabapple, #elm, #birch, #poplar, #shadbush, and #rugosa rose bushes in Maine. BTM caterpillars have irritating hairs that break off their bodies and settle in the environment, causing an #ItchyRash for humans that come in contact with the hairs.

In the winter, look for palm-sized BTM winter webs at the tips of trees to see if you may be dealing with BTM caterpillars in the spring and summer. Actions to take in the winter and spring:

- Scout for and remove winter webs with hand snips or an extendable pole pruner in areas you can safely reach. Destroy webs in a contained fire or soak the webs in a bucket of soapy water for a few days before disposing.
- Find professional help if you can't reach and remove winter webs. Licensed arborists, pesticide applicators, and FAA-certified drone operators may be able to help you remove webs or treat your infested trees to reduce BTM populations.
- Insecticide treatments in mid-April to mid-May may also be effective at reducing populations.

In mid-April, BTM caterpillars will emerge from their winter webs and begin feeding on the buds and leaves of their host trees until late June. Actions to take in late spring and summer:

- Learn how to identify the browntail caterpillar and avoid areas where these caterpillars have been.
- Change clothes and shower after working in infested areas to wash away irritating hairs and prevent the rash.
- Keep outdoor lights off in July to dissuade BTM adult moths from flying near your dooryard and laying eggs in nearby trees."

Source:
https://www.maine.gov/dacf/about/news/news.shtml?id=13343956

#SolarPunkSunday #SaveTheTrees #NaturalPestSolutions #Forestry #Stewardship #InvasiveSpecies #InvasiveSpeciesWeek #Maine #NewEngland #EasternCanada #Massachusetts #MaineDepartmentOfAgricultureConservationAndForestry