Conker tree moth project

[Africa]

A colleague in Hull University, Dr. Darren Evans, has forwarded me this info about a new moth invader and I thought I would post it here:
Now is the time to start looking for conker trees with alien moths:

Hull kids asked to help fight 'alien' threat to conker trees

There’s one outside my office window showing signs, but it may still be a little early outside of the city to see them. In the meantime, why not register for the project at What's happening to our conker trees? where you can find out more about the project.

The project was featured on BBC R4’s Material World. You can listen to it here: BBC iPlayer Console - Material World: 10/06/2010

Please forward this on to as many people as possible. The success of the project depends on getting national coverage.

Thanks!

[TeresaW]

Thank you Africa. Our Horse Chestnut trees are badly affected in Norwich, and have been for a few years, and it is such a shame to see them all shrivelled and brown by the summer. So far this year, I haven't seen any miners at all, but it's early days yet.

Let's hope the harsh winter has reduced the numbers to a level that can be coped with by our native insects. (Not that it seems to have reduced the numbers of Harlequin Ladybirds, looking at the number of larvae about at the moment).

[davecatt]

Thanks for that Africa, I'll make a point of checking any Horse cestnut trees I come across around Beverley,we've quite a lot on The Westwood. Will pass on any findings.
Dave

[Miss Caretaker]

Great link, the trees on our school site in Basingstoke are badly infected and are showing serious signs of damage already. It's great that the children can take part too!

[TeresaW]

Just been to the patch of woods next door and sure enough there are signs of damage again this year on our horse chestnuts. I will have to go and buy some plastic backs and take the sample to see what happens.