A DIFFERENT SORT OF EGG HUNT

A Plateau team member came up on this turkey egg nest on a client's property near Seward Junction. A turkey hen lays about 10 or 11 eggs (known as a clutch), and it takes her about two weeks to lay them. The incubation period is 28-days. Turkey breeding season is always a time to take particular care on tractors and in brush management. Future native Texas birds are not only waiting to be born up in the trees, they're also down on the ground.

THE GALL OF IT ALL

Following up on our March post about wasps and tree galls, Plateau biologist Shane Kiefer recently happened upon of the heaviest wasp gall infestations he has ever seen. The galls, seen in the photo below, were on a white shin oak stand in Kerr/Kimble County west of Harper.

According to Agrilife Extension most gall forming insects are not harmful to the host tree (with the exception of possibly reducing yield when a heavy infestation is present in some crop trees such as pecans). Most gall forming insects prefer a particular type or species of host plant, so the insects that formed these oak galls would not be likely to infect other tree species in the area.


Once the galls form, pesticides will not work so in order to prevent them, you would have to treat when the adults are laying eggs. Because they are not considered harmful to the tree, this is not recommended. In addition, use of pesticides might also kill insects that prey on the gall forming insects and their larvae, thus reducing natural biological controls on them.

For more on galls, visit the TPWD website.

Wasp gall infestation.

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION CAMP REGISTRATION DEADLINE MAY 1

The Wildlife Conservation Camp on Welder Wildlife Refuge near Sinton, Texas, will be held July 17-23, 2011. Registration deadline is May 1. The camp is sponsored by the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society and is open to high school students who have completed the 9th grade or higher. The camp focuses on exciting hands-on activities with presentations led by Texas Chapter members and wildlife professionals from across Texas. Campers study wildlife and plant identification, hunting as a management tool, species diversity, conservation ethics, wildlife capture and survey techniques, wildlife tracking, predator-prey dynamics, white-tailed deer management, fishing, hunter safety, shooting skills and much more. Campers especially enjoy the opportunity to interact with wildlife professionals and college students majoring in a variety of wildlife and conservation fields. Students considering careers in the natural sciences are strongly encouraged to attend!

To learn more about the Texas Chapter and the Wildlife Conservation Camp, or to download an application, visit the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society’s website by clicking here.