#lanternfly nj

[admiralgiggles]

I heard a chirp that wasn’t familiar and discovered a Red-bellied woodpecker!

*Supposedly, they like to dine on the Lanternfly, but I don’t know if that also applies to their eggs. If it does, this bird won’t go hungry anytime soon.

[catboynutsack]

listen nj drivers are a special kind of driver born out of our weird aggression and I think that's why everyone hates us (reasonably so when we're out of state). within our own ecosystem we thrive bc the aggression is cultural, it's just part of life. everyone does it. but when u take us out we become an invasive species. and when other species enter our home ecosystem we fuckin tailgate them and swear loudly for some reason (the reason being that they're going 25 in a 35 when everyone knows you're supposed to go 45 dhfhshdhah)

[reasoningdaily]

Childhood, goes the conventional wisdom, should be a time of innocence, discovery, and careful guidance. Unless—as generations of Black people can attest—the kids are Black. In this country, Black children do not get the luxury of having their innocence presumed and protected by the majority-White society in which they live. 

Known as "adultification," examples of this disturbing phenomenon are rife. In a recent viral video, a White NYPD officer can be seen repeatedly punching 14-year-old Kyonna Robinson in the head; in November, a 12-year-old boy in Richmond, VA was pinned to the ground and given a concussion by officers who had volunteered to run the tennis program he attended; in October, a White woman in Caldwell, NJ called police when she saw 9-year-old Bobbi Wilson spraying a homemade insecticide on lanternflies in their neighborhood. "There’s a little Black woman walking, spraying stuff on the sidewalks and trees," the woman told the dispatcher. "I don’t know what the hell she’s doing. Scares me, though.”

It has always been so for Black children in this country, since well before the nation's founding. Treated by White society as expendable, an enslaved workforce, a nuisance, or a menace, Black children are not just dehumanized along with the rest of their communities but routinely treated as if they were adults, their childhood dismissed, denied, and stolen, with those responsible only rarely held to account.

In their research for “The Essence of Innocence," CPE Co-founder and CEO Phillip Atiba Goff and his co-authors found that the period of time during which White youth are not expected to be fully responsible for their actions can extend well into their late 20s. By contrast, Black children are often treated as adults by age 13, if not well before, regularly perceived as older, less innocent, and more threatening than their White same-age peers. 

One alarmingly frequent outcome is that, in any interaction they may have with the country's criminal legal systems, Black children are routinely held to adult standards. Moreover, Goff and his co-authors found, a broadly-shared association in White-dominated culture between Black people and apes predicted racially disparate levels of police violence toward children who are Black. 

The domino-like effect this has on the functioning of our criminal legal systems can be seen in the findings of two separate courts at opposite ends of the country. In March 2022, a Washington state intermediate-level appellate court issued a published opinion acknowledging frankly that “adultification is real and can lead to harsher sentences for children of color if care is not taken to consciously avoid biased outcomes.” 

The Washington state court's determination came just three months after the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that the 1993 sentencing of then-14-year-old Keith Belcher to an effective 60 years' incarceration was imposed illegally—a direct result of the sentencing judge's reliance on the false and racist superpredator theory. 

The court found that the superpredator theory—which posits primarily Black children as potentially “radically impulsive [and] brutally remorseless"—amplified racist stereotypes and that, by relying on it, the trial court had violated Mr. Belcher’s right to due process.

There is some encouragement to be found in the fact that some in our criminal legal systems have begun to address this grievous reality, but as a growing body of deeply troubling evidence demonstrates, the simple truth remains that the vast majority of Black children who find themselves interacting with school resource officers, law enforcement, or the court system are met with rank dehumanization. The school-to-prison pipeline, itself a horrific expression of adultification, is frequently the reason these children find themselves in the country's criminal legal systems in the first place. 

Take, for example, a recent CBS report on arrests of elementary school children. Inexcusable no matter the racial identity of the child in handcuffs, CBS found that in 2015, the most recent year for which the federal government has figures, half of the fifth-grade or younger children arrested were Black—despite only making up some 15% of their schools' population. 

When Black children are held to adult standards, the harm goes far beyond their own lives and that of their families, the trauma affecting whole communities, not least because those responsible are so infrequently held accountable. Keith Belcher and his family had to wait nearly 30 years for the Connecticut courts to acknowledge its grotesque sentencing of a 14-year-old boy; the family of 14-year-old Emmett Till, tortured and murdered by a group of White men in 1955, is still waiting for someone to answer for his lynching. 

It is incumbent on the adults of this nation—within our criminal legal systems and across society—to take every step to end the systemic adultification of Black children, rectify its appalling injustices, and address the destruction it has wrought on entire generations of Black communities. The moment may pass, but the impact does not. Every child deserves to be treated, always, as exactly who they are: A child.

[sustainableehc]

Egg Harbor City awarded $1 million tree maintenance grant

EGG HARBOR CITY – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Sept. 14 that the USDA Agriculture Service has awarded more than $1 billion in grants from the Inflation Reduction Act to plant and maintain trees to combat extreme heat, climate change and to improve access to nature in cities, towns, and suburbs across the United States.

Egg Harbor City was awarded $1 million for its plan to hire a certified tree expert to provide maintenance for its aging street trees, monitor two city parks, plant trees on streets undergoing reconstruction, and develop a plan to remove invasive species from public and private lands. “We are beyond grateful for this grant award. The funding will provide a small city like ours the ability to properly maintain, restore, enhance and preserve our trees and forests for future generations to enjoy,” Mayor Lisa Jiampetti said. The U.S. Community Forestry Service awarded 385 grants from 842 applications requesting $6.4 billion in funding, an indication of the urgent need to plant and maintain urban trees across the nation. “The city’s urban tree canopy is in jeopardy because our trees are nearing the end of their lifespan, many have been removed during street reconstruction projects, and felled in major storm events,” said Councilwoman Nanette LoBiondo Galloway, who also chairs SustainableEHC, the city’s green team and who advocated to apply for the grant. “This grant will provide the city with the funding needed to hire a certified tree expert to properly trim our street trees for health, safety and beauty, extending the lifespan of still-healthy trees that were planted in the rights-of-way of our avenues more than 80 years ago.” The grant comes after the green team conducted two major tree planting projects funded by the NJ Community Forestry Service that replaced 102 trees lost in the freak derecho storm of July 2012, and a recent project that planted 67 new street trees. The grant will also fund a plan to tackle invasive tree species on public and private property, such as the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), the host tree for the dreaded spotted lanternfly. Community education and involvement is a key component of the city’s forestry management plan. The benefits of street trees are many, Galloway said, including providing wind breaks in winter, shade for pedestrians in summer and reduced home energy costs. They also provide shelter for wildlife, reduce crime, and increase property values. “Today’s landmark funding from the U.S. Forest Service will increase urban access to nature, improve air quality, keep city streets cool during sweltering summers, tackle the climate crisis, and create safer, healthier communities in every corner of America,” Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation John Podesta said. “That makes a big difference for the grandmother who doesn’t have air conditioning, or the kid who has asthma, or the parent who works outside for 10 hours a day.” The announcement is part of the Biden administration’s effort to advance environmental justice and job creation. Egg Harbor City’s allotment of funding came through the Biden administration’s Justice 40 Initiative, which reserves 40% of funding opportunities for overburdened communities. 

​​SustainableEHC is Egg Harbor City’s green team, working to preserve the environment, adopt sustainable practices in the home and support local business, industry and farming.

[southjerseyweb]

To stomp, or not to stomp? Has NJ's war on spotted lanternfly been a bit of overkill?

Many entomologists say the stomping campaign is more of a public relations pitch to draw attention to the lanternflies' presence in New Jersey rather …

[farsailing]

this is my second “im still on hiatus BUT-” post... BUT for all my followers in pennsylvania and surrounding states:

its spotted lanternfly late nymph season (and next month starts adult spotted lanternfly season)! don’t forget to kill them when you see them and report the sightings!

sightings in pa can be reported here [LINK]

instructions for reporting sightings in new jersey here [LINK]

instructions for reporting sightings in delaware here [LINK]

if you’re unsure if it’s a spotted lanternfly and/or dont feel comfortable killing it, take a picture and report the sighting anyway, especially if you’re outside of the quarantine zone to help track how far theyve spread!

if ur not in the pa/nj/de area, you can always look up invasive species in your area and see how you can help prevent their spread :)

[treesunlimitednj]

How to Identify a Spotted Lanternfly

The spotted lanternfly is a planthopper insect that can fly. It is native to China, India, and Vietnam but has made its way to other areas of the world, including the United States. You might confuse lanternflies with other small flying aphids in your New Jersey gardens or outdoor spaces, but a closer inspection reveals a few tell-tale visual clues:

Size: This pest is approximately 1-inch in length.

Color: The stomach of the spotted lanternfly is yellow with black stripes, and its head and legs are dark black.

Wings: True to its name, its wings have black spots on grey, and its back wings have patches of red and black.

Continue Reading more about spotted lanternfly: https://treesunlimitednj.com/how-to-identify-and-get-rid-of-the-spotted-lanternfly/

[onenicebugperday]

@wacktacular submitted: The spotted lanternfly has become quite a nuisance here in Jersey City, NJ as well as other parts of the state too. Here are some amazing friends doing their part to help combat the infestation.

I’m fairly positive the big one is an orb weaver but I’m not clear on the wee ones. Cobweb spiders perhaps? I know it’s not the best angle but they were located in a tight spot, so it was the best I could do.

Ahh yes eat the criminals!! RIP, lanternflies. Yes the larger ones are spotted orbweavers and looks like the smaller dudes are indeed cobweb spiders, specifically triangulate combfoots!

[hymntothenight]

new idea for baneful witches in NJ: using spotted lanternflies in baneful magic. since it’s invasive could have some interesting properties/correspondences. thoughts?

[heilenday]

The Spotted Lanternfly. Invasive species in PA/NJ/NY/VA area. Sexy fact: "Honeydew" is the polite term for the liquid waste excretions of sap sucking insects. With spotted lanternflies it's clear, sticky and sugar rich. Honeybees, yellow jackets, butterflies and other sugar gathering insects have been observed gathering honeydew directly from the anuses of spotted lanternflies. 🌈

[treesunlimitedllc]

Buying and Caring for a Live Christmas Tree to be Planted in the Spring

Living Christmas trees keep family memories alive. Children get attached to their tree and have fun watching it grow. Parents have the added pleasure of watching their kids and the tree flourish together.

Live Christmas trees are potted trees.

Once You Decide to Buy a Living Christmas Tree:

Plan a trip to your local nursery. Make it a family affair. Kids love to visit nurseries and help with tree selections. Some kids even name their new tree.

Decide exactly where to replant the tree in the spring. This way you will know the growing space. You will also know the lighting conditions.

Measure the ceiling height in the room it will visit.

Before the ground freezes, dig a hole for the tree to be planted in, in the spring. Insulate the area with leaves.

You can learn more about when to plant your tree outside by looking at the U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone map.

The Right Time to Visit the Nursery

Visit your nursery around Thanksgiving to avoid the Christmas rush. Many nurseries will hold your tree for you until you’re ready to take it home.

Be sure to take advantage of their expert advice. Let them know you are buying a living Christmas tree to be replanted in the spring.

Tell them:

The size of the area the tree will have to grow into once it’s replanted

Outside daily lighting conditions

The height of your indoor ceiling

Be sure find out:

Which planting zone are you in, and when to plan for the tree’s replanting

Which types of trees thrive in your area — including light, size, soil, and climate considerations

Instructions for transplanting your tree in the spring

When to fertilize

Projected growth of the tree you are buying

Now, find your new living Christmas tree!

Here’s how to find a healthy one:

Check the tree for bald spots, or an unattractive trunk.

Touch the needles. It’s okay if a few brown ones near the trunk fall off. But if needles near the ends of the branches fall off, find another tree. That tree is unhealthy, has insect damage, or is dried out.

Time to Bring the Tree Home

Plan to bring the tree home about two weeks before Christmas.

But once it’s home, don’t bring it into your house just yet.

Leave the tree in a sheltered area for about a week so it can start adjusting to a new environment. A covered porch is a great transition zone.

After about three days, hose the tree down. This removes unwanted pollen and mold.

Give the roots a good watering.

Let the tree dry thoroughly.

Then, just before the tree comes inside, shake it to remove any loose needles.

Don’t Transplant the Tree

Keep it in its original container. If you transplant the tree, it can go into shock. Surviving being transplanted and moved indoors, over a short time, is too much to ask of any tree.

Your Potted Tree Needs Sunlight

Place the tree where it will get lots of natural filtered light. Putting it next to a window with sheer curtains is fine.

Avoid placing the tree close to:

Heat vents

Working fireplaces

Stoves

Space heaters

Drafts

Your tree enjoys cooler temperatures. You can lower the heat and wear a sweater. This will keep your wallet and your tree happy!

What Do You Feed a Potted Christmas Tree?

Water the tree every day. A potted tree dries out quickly, so be generous, but don’t over water.

You can place ice cubes on the soil for watering. The ice will slowly dissolve; the tree absorbs the water before it runs out the bottom of the container.

If you see your potted tree has yellowing needles or brown needles, you may fear your tree is dying. It’s trying to tell you something.

Feel the needles. If they feel too soft, the tree is being over-watered. If the needles are brown and crisp, the tree is thirsty. These needles probably won’t recover, but the tree can be saved.

Is Your Tree Root Bound?

Yellowing needles also can mean a tree is root bound. Grasp the tree by the trunk and gently pull up. If the entire root ball easily leaves the pot, it is root bound.

Replant the tree in a larger container. Give the roots ample space to grow–but not too much space. An oversized container holds more water and can cause root rot.

Decorating Your Living Tree:

Remember, your tree is a living thing, and it needs some TLC. Don’t use Christmas lights that have large bulbs. The tree’s needles can get burnt. Your tree will do well with light strings or, even better, LED lights.

Return to the Great Outdoors!

Make sure that the tree stays inside for no longer than a week to ten days.

When the holidays are over, put the tree back in the original sheltered location it visited upon arrival. Water it well. Be sure to soak the root ball.

After one week, move the container to a spot where it will enjoy plenty of outdoor sunshine.

Spring Will Be Here Soon!

Next year, plant your tree outdoors in early spring, as directed by the nursery.

Also fertilize it, as directed.

Your transplanted tree will be happy where it can soak up the sunlight.

It will provide year-round Christmas memories for your family.

Source: https://treesunlimitednj.com/blog/buying-and-caring-for-a-live-christmas-tree-to-be-planted-in-the-spring/

[ledbet]

If you live in the US, PLEASE report your sightings of these bugs!

Here’s a reminder to kill this fucker with no hesitation if you see them!

[indulgeamsterdam]

Bobbi Wilson celebrated by local Black police orgs

Caldwell, N.J.’s budding scientist Bobbi Wilson––the 9-year-old who last Oct. 22 had a white neighbor, Gordon Lawshe, call the police on her as she tried to combat spotted lanternflies with a homemade insecticide––was recently honored by the Montclair Minority Officers Association Sentinels 16-87, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) NJ Chapter, Montclair Fraternal…

[dnaamericaapp]

Neighbor Calls Police On 9-Year-Old Black Girl Who Was Spraying Spotted Lanternflies

The mother of a 9-year-old Black girl alleges her daughter was racially profiled after their White neighbor called the police last month while her daughter was trying to kill spotted lanternflies, an invasive species that imperil trees.

On Oct. 22, Monique Joseph said at a city council meeting that her daughter was searching for the insects when Gordon Lawshe, her neighbor who lives across the street, called 911, reported NJ.com.

"There's a little Black woman, walking, spraying stuff on the sidewalks and trees on Elizabeth and Florence. I don't know what the hell she's doing, scares me though," the neighbor told police on a 911 call obtained by The Daily Beast. The caller added that she's a "real small woman."

The "small woman" was actually 9-year-old Bobbi Wilson, who regularly sprayed Spotted Lanternflies, an invasive species, in order to protect the trees in her Caldwell, N.J., neighborhood. In fact, her effort to slay the insects was featured in an article in her community newspaper, The Progress.

On Nov. 1, at the Caldwell Borough Council meeting, Joseph described the incident during the council's public comments portion of the meeting, NJ.com reported.

"Racism, intentional or not, is still racism," Joseph told borough leaders during the meeting.

"My neighbor's words put my daughter in harm's way. His words and actions were unconscionable, and the impact of the aftermath of this incident will not be kept secret. My 9-year-old daughter was afraid to go outside her front door the next day. She was afraid that her neighbor that she knows has a reason, unknown to her, to call the police on her," Joseph said, The Daily Beast reported.

NJ.com reported that Caldwell Mayor John Kelley apologized for the incident.

"I'm glad you shared this with us, with the public," he told her at the council meeting.

"After reflecting on the story and learning more from the police report, it is clear that a line was crossed. My heart goes out to Monique and her two girls." -(source: nj)

DNA America

“it’s what we know, not what you want us to believe.”

#dna #dnaamerica #news #politics

[awesomeforever]

Spotted lanternfly nymphs look like small beetles, but they will soon grow into destructive pests. Union County, NJ – July 26, 2022 — Union County residents can help fight back against the spotted lanternfly by destroying the destructive pest while it is still in the early stages of growth. The spotted lanternfly is an invasive species that can weaken trees, damage ornamental plants and destroy fruit trees, hops, grape vines and other crops. They also excrete a whitish “honeydew” that can grow moldy and foul outdoor spaces including patios and yard furniture. Each fall the adult spotted lanternfly lays eggs on outdoor surfaces including tree trunks, lawn furniture and vehicles. In early summer, the eggs hatch into nymphs that look like small black or bright red beetles speckled with white spots. Residents who spot the nymphs can use a variety of approved pesticides to kill them. Crushing or swatting them is another option, though they are quick to hop away. “Union County residents and property managers can take action against this destructive pest now, by inspecting yards, gardens and landscaping for the nymphs, and destroying them before they mature,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. The nymphs can be seen on many different kinds of plants and trees. They are especially likely to be found clustering on the stems of the common ailanthus tree, or “tree of heaven.” The nymphs mature into large, moth-like adults that can be easily identified by their papery white wings and brightly colored red, black and white underwings and body. Adults are already beginning to emerge. Union County residents who see a spotted lanternfly should kill it immediately, by stomping it under foot. If it hops away, follow it and try again when it settles. The spotted lanternfly belongs to a group of insects called “planthoppers.” They do not bite or sting, and they do not seem toxic to humans or pets.  Native to parts of Southeast Asia, they were first seen in Pennsylvania in six years ago. They are believed to have arrived in shipments of stone. They were first found in New Jersey in 2018 has also been found in other nearby states. For more information, including photos of the spotted lanternfly and its eggs at various stages, visit the New Jersey Division of Agriculture at nj.gov/agriculture. Additional information is available from Rutgers University at njaes.rutgers.edu/spotted-lanternfly. Sightings of the insect can also be reported to Rutgers University through the online reporting tool. Union County is one of three counties in New Jersey participating in a U.S. Department of Agriculture research project to assess various methods of mitigating the spotted lanternfly invasion. For more information from the USDA visit aphis.usda.gov/hungrypests/slf. For quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities visit The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection. For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing, emergency food distribution and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health. #  # For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form. Connect with Union County on social media. Call 908-527-4000 E-mail info@ucnj.org Contact Us Organizational Chart Privacy Statement OPRA Requests Employee Intranet source