NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/725550
NEBRASKAland Visitor and Last issue's winner of the Visitor drawing was Janelle Downing of Norfolk, Nebraska, who found the gypsy moth on page 2. Readers are encouraged to contact NEBRASKAland within 10 days after this issue's publication with the correct page number and name of this issue's "Visitor" – a critter found in Nebraska. We will then gather the correct entries and draw one to win a NEBRASKAland mug. To enter each month, write: NEBRASKAland Visitor 2200 North 33rd Street, Lincoln, NE 68503. Or e-mail: Tim.Reigert@Nebraska.gov with "Visitor" in the subject line of the message. HINT: This issue's visitor is not on pages 4, 19, 23, 45, or 84. The Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) is an exotic, invasive species that was first introduced to the U.S. in 1869. A man intentionally brought egg masses to Massachusetts from France and attempted to raise the caterpillars in his backyard. But some escaped and became established in the neighborhood. Although they are not known to occur in Nebraska, they now infest 20 states in the northeast and Midwest. Male moths are brown with feathery antennae, while females are white and unable to fly. Caterpillars have five pairs of blue dots and six pairs of red dots down their back. Caterpillars feed on the foliage of more than 300 species of plants, but especially love oaks. This feeding defoliates the trees, and multiple years of infestations can result in tree death. Special thanks to Julie Van Meter, State Entomologist, Nebraska Department of Agriculture. October 21 Nebraska Game and Parks Board of Commissioners meeting, Ponca SP, Ponca October 22 Pumpkin Carvers Calamus Reservoir SRA, Burwell October 22-23 Youth Waterfowl Hunting season in Zone 3 October 22-23 DeSoto October Muzzleloader Deer Hunting season October 22-23 Youth Pheasant, Quail and Partridge Hunting season statewide October 23 Archery and Firearm Bull Elk Hunting seasons close October 23 Antlerless Elk Hunting private land and public land seasons close October 25 Deer Hunting Workshop Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln October 26 Deer Hunting Workshop Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, Gretna October 27 Duck and Coot Hunting seasons open in Zone 3 October 27 Deer Hunting Workshop Chadron State College, Chadron October 27 Dutch Oven Cooking Workshop Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln October 28-31 Camp & Treat Red Willow Reservoir SRA, McCook October 29 Haunted Halloween Hike Night Windmill SRA, Gibbon October 29 Pheasant, Quail and Partridge Hunting seasons open statewide October 29 Haunted Halloween at the Hollow Ash Hollow SHP, Lewellen October 30 Dove (all species) Hunting season closes October 31 Eurasian Collared-dove Only Hunting season opens October 31 Raccoon and Virginia Opossum Hunting seasons close October 31 Dark Goose Hunting season opens in East, Platte River, Panhandle and Niobrara Units October 31 Bullfrog season closes infe a fly. C blue d down oaks t Special t Meter, S caterpillar female male Ponca State Park's Hallowfest is a popular event in northeastern Nebraska. Pheasant hunting in Holt and Antelope counties. OCTOBER 2016 • NEBRASKAland 23