Moths

The lower leaves of my new Encore azalea are turning brownish. Is this variety partly deciduous, or do I have a disease problem? The plant was healthy all spring and summer and bloomed well. Healthy evergreen azaleas often exhibit color change in fall and winter. Depending on variety and site conditions, colors range from purple-reds to yellow-greens. They can be quite attractive in the winter landscape. Azaleas normally drop a few leaves in the fall, but the majority remain and green up in plenty of time for spring floral displays.

IS THE HEALTH of trees on Appalachian slopes connected to the health of oysters and fish in the Chesapeake Bay?In general, the answer is simple.It is well-documented that rain falling in the bay's watershed carries far less pollution from forestland (about 60 percent of the watershed) than from farms, cities, golf courses and other land uses.In restraining major pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus, our 25 million acres of forest are doing at least as much work as all our sewage-treatment plants and industrial discharge controls, and at considerably less cost.

Maryland's spraying program to control gypsy moths begins at dawn tomorrow despite concern about the long-range environmental impact of one insecticide used by the state to control the tree-killing insects.A three-year field study of the chemical Dimilin raises questions about wildlife safety in hardwood forests where that substance is sprayed, say West Virginia University scientists who participated in the $1 million federally funded project near Parsons, W.Va.Among their findings:* Though targeted for gypsy moths, Dimilin wipes out other creatures, including benign types of caterpillars, spiders and sawflies, some of which take years to recover.

HAGERSTOWN -- Get out your woollies. Those well-known hairy weather foretellers -- the woolly bears -- are predicting a colder and wetter than normal winter. At least through mid-January.That prognostication comes from analysis of 384 of the black-and-reddish brown caterpillars collected last month in the venerable Hagers-Town Town and Country Almanack's annual Woolly Bear Contest.The 199-year-old Almanack -- which accurately predicted the cold, snowy, icy winter of 1993-1994 -- forecasts a cold winter.

The weather warms. The eggs hatch. The creatures stir.They crawl up the trunks of oak trees to dine, and millions of dollars worth of Maryland hardwood starts to die.Bob Tichenor has the job of controlling the voracious leaf-eaters, which fatally weaken trees by defoliating them.It's man against gypsy moth.The annual struggle is set to begin. Thousands of state residents already have received letters alerting them to the coming bombing runs on bugs, by helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft flying 50 feet above the treetops.

HAGERSTOWN -- Bookkeeper Cathy Dixon, who readily admits disdain for creepy, crawly things, finds herself in the unusual role as caretaker of woolly bears each October. Sometimes small armies of them.These colorful caterpillars, often seen scurrying along roads and paths on warm autumn days, are making their seasonal appearances everywhere, including greater Hagerstown, where a local institution's 13th annual "Woolly Bear Contest" is under way."I try not to physically handle them," said Ms. Dixon, who works in the office where the critters -- which are about 1 1/2 inches long -- are collected for what, actually, is somewhat of a beauty contest.

Around the house* Prevent messy spills when children are painting. Cut a hole in center of a sponge and place over paint jar. This will keep the container from spilling over and it will also catch drips.* Apply lemon oil to wicker furniture to prevent it from drying out.When trying to remove paper from wood surfaces, apply a few drops of salad oil on the paper. Let set until paper can be rubbed away with a soft cloth.Store out-of-season clothes in plastic trash cans with lids. This will keep moths and humidity out.Remove musty odors from an old trunk.

The ground beneath quietly crumbled and sank,the soil rotted from too many high heels,cigarette butts jammed down the cracks.The Pride quickly veered left to avoidany collision while paddle-boaters sped uptheir legs and peddled back to the pier.Reptiles broke from glass cages,slithered smoothly to the bottom,their last chance for freedom.Families watching an IMAX presentation awedas the thick waves of the Atlantictrickled in from the walls.Harborplace waitresses tried to balanceice cream sundaes while watersplashed around their ankles.

Homeowners ask county to spray for gypsy mothsMembers of the Linthicum-Shipley Improvement Association authorized spending $1,220 on a county program to treat gypsy moths.County officials will spray 61 acres of Linthicum Heights with Bacillus thuringiensis during the first week of May.The state Department of Agriculture had found gypsy moth egg masses in the northwest area of Linthicum Heights, behind homes on Woodland Road, Maple Road and Kingwood Road, and recommended treating the area.

County plans to spray for gypsy moths in MayAnne Arundel County officials plan to spray in Linthicum for gypsy moths during the first week of May.The Linthicum-Shipley Improvement Association voted to bring in the county spraying program after county officials designated parts of the community as affected areas.The gypsy moth caterpillar goes through four life stages, turning from egg masses to caterpillars in April, transforming into cocoon-like shells by the middle of June and emerging as moths by late June or early July.

Maryland is doubling its effort to kill gypsy moths, an invasive Eurasian pest that defoliated tens of thousands of acres of trees across the state last year. Airplanes are spraying pesticides on about 100,000 acres of trees in Baltimore County, Western Maryland and elsewhere. It's a $4 million project that state officials hope will beat back an egg-laying spree last year by the leaf-munching menaces. "There are a lot of gypsy moths out there, and we are trying to suppress them so people don't have to deal with them in their parks or homes," said Steve Tilley, an entomologist at the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

The General Assembly passed Maryland's $31.2 billion budget yesterday, capping a hectic day of debates and votes as lawmakers sought to put the finishing touches on a crush of legislation before they adjourn tomorrow. Although much of the day was taken up with debate over the repeal of the computer services tax, both legislative chambers sent bills to Gov. Martin O'Malley for his signature, including high-profile measures that would protect rural shoreline from further development and strengthen penalties against manufacturers of toys and other products containing lead.

April showers not only bring May flowers, but they also can reduce the outbreak of gypsy moths. The winged invaders are on the upswing, and unless there's a wet spring to help spread a naturally occurring virus that attacks the moths at the caterpillar stage, state officials expect to spray about four times as much land with pesticide than they did just two years ago. Gov. Martin O'Malley has asked the legislature to approve $3.5 million so the Maryland...

Are gypsy moths coming back? I didn't see any on my oaks last year. Gypsy moths never leave entirely, but their numbers were knocked down for years by a beneficial fungal disease, plus aerial spray programs. The fungus is not effective in dry weather, and last year we had a dry spring. Many parts of Maryland were hit hard with gypsy moth defoliation. If we have a dry spring this year, expect a huge increase in gypsy moths. To prepare, scout your property this winter for their tan felt-like 1 1/2 -inch egg masses.

The lower leaves of my new Encore azalea are turning brownish. Is this variety partly deciduous, or do I have a disease problem? The plant was healthy all spring and summer and bloomed well. Healthy evergreen azaleas often exhibit color change in fall and winter. Depending on variety and site conditions, colors range from purple-reds to yellow-greens. They can be quite attractive in the winter landscape. Azaleas normally drop a few leaves in the fall, but the majority remain and green up in plenty of time for spring floral displays.

An emu mystery: Who dumped flightless birds in Baltimore? It was no place for poultry on the lam?and certainly not the large birds dumped from a van in the middle of downtown Baltimore: emus, of all things. The unlikely scenario Friday night at Baltimore and Charles streets was witnessed by a homeless man, who called police. It was no tall tale, just 5-foot-tall birds ? and the police want to know who dumped them there. In his report, Officer Richard Cimini said the birds had taken refuge in an alley near the intersection as he called for backup units and notified city animal control officers.

Moths are flying in my house, and I'm worried about my woolens and rugs. How do I get rid of them? They're probably not clothes moths, which are tiny and rarely glimpsed. Indian meal moths, however, are common year-round. This pantry pest has a faint dark band across its dusty wings. It originates in pasta, spices, cereals and -- take note this time of year -- bird seed, among other sources. Call us or read our online publication, Pantry Pests, for simple measures you can follow to eradicate the moths.

Right now, your wardrobe may still be a commingling of cashmere and cotton, khaki shorts and flannel trousers. With the weather seeming to flip-flop between fall and winter, a live-in meteorologist/wardrobe consultant might be in order. But the time has come to pack up the clothes for sunnier days and break out the winter wardrobe. Whether your closet is monstrous or minuscule, you should store and protect seasonal clothing properly. Are dry-cleaning bags OK to use? How about cardboard boxes or suitcases?

We have moths flying from the kitchen and little worms on the walls. We threw out all the dry goods, and cleaned and sprayed the cabinets with insecticide. Do these moths get into fabric? Your visitors are Indian meal moths and their larvae, common pantry pests. They eat grain products, dried fruit, nuts, spices, even dried flower arrangements, and love birdseed and dog food. They do not feed on clothing. Empty your food storage areas, vacuum all cracks and crevices, and wash with soapy water.

A sudden resurgence of gypsy moth egg clusters in Garrett County, combined with this year's drought, could mean trouble for the state's forests next spring. Bob Tichenor, the chief of forest pest management at the Maryland Department of Agriculture, said forest entomologists tell him the tan groupings are "some of the largest egg masses we've ever seen." Some areas of Garrett County are seeing more than 500 clusters per acre, with the masses measuring up to 1.5 inches and holding 1,200 eggs, Tichenor said.