In this edition of ID That Tree, we’re going to introduce you to a southern oak found in Indiana, cherrybark oak. This species can typically be found in bottomland areas in extreme southern Indiana. It’s a member of the broad red oak group. It has hairlike bristle tips, relatively large leaves, a waxy coating on the top, and lobes that have one or tow hair-like spines on the end.
If you have any questions regarding wildlife, trees, forest management, wood products, natural resource planning or other natural resource topics, feel free to contact us by using our Ask an Expert web page.
Resources:
Cherrybark Oak, Native Trees of Indiana River Walk, Purdue Fort Wayne
ID That Tree, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel (Invasive White Mulberry, Siberian Elm, Tree of Heaven)
Invasive Species Playlist, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel (Asian Bush Honeysuckle, Burning Bush, Callery Pear, Multiflora rose)
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel (Against Invasives, Garlic Mustard, Autumn Olive)
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel (Common Buckthorn, Japanese Barberry)
How long do seeds of the invasive tree, Ailanthus altissima remain viable? (Invasive Tree of Heaven), USDA Forest Service
Indiana Department of Natural Resources: Invasive Species
Indiana Invasive Species Council
Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)
Report Invasive, Purdue Extension
Aquatic Invasive Species, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG)
Episode 11 – Exploring the challenges of Invasive Species, Habitat University-Natural Resource University
What are invasive species and why should I care?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center
Native Trees of the Midwest, The Education Store
Investing in Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Professional Forester, Indiana Forestry Woodland Owners Association
District Forester 10+acres of woodlands, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Lenny Farlee, Extension Forester
Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center
Purdue Department of Forestry & Natural Resources
IN DNR-Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology Report: Jarred Spokowsky, Nursery Inspector & Compliance Officer, encourages professionals and enthusiast beekeepers to check out the new Honey Bee Nutrition-A Review and Guide to Supplemental Feeding which he shared in the February 2024 Report. The guide lists useful information and an interesting summary of research as it relates to current supplements. “You will also find real-world feedback from multiple migratory operations from around the country and what their nutritional supplement routines are,” states Jarred Spokowsky.
This guide is presented by the Honey Bee Health Coalition which brings together beekeepers, growers, researchers, government agencies, agribusinesses, conservation groups, manufacturers, and consumer brands to improve the health of honey bees.
Jarred also shared the upcoming seminar that many will want to attend March 6, 2024, presented by the Project Apis m. The seminar title is From Forage to Feeding, Honey Bee Health Seminar.
You will be able to listen to the following professionals:
If you would like to subscribe to the informal report by the Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology view the Entomology Weekly Review web page.
Resources:
Social Bees and Wasps, The Education Store
Indiana Beekeepers Swarm List, Indiana DNR
New Invasive Predator of Honeybees, Purdue Landscape Report
Protecting Pollinators: Why Should We Care About Pollinators?, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Ask The Expert: What’s Buzzing or Not Buzzing About Pollinators , Purdue Extension – Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Purdue Pollinator Protection publication series, Purdue Extension Entomology
Invasive Species, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Report Invasive Species, Purdue Invasive Species
What are invasive species and why should I care?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources
Pest Management, The Education Store
Subscribe Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel
Jarred Spokowsky, Nursery Inspector & Compliance Officer
Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology
Diana Evans, Extension and Web Communications Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Are you an Indiana teacher who is looking to incorporate natural resources, forest ecology and forest management into your curriculum?
Apply now for the Indiana Natural Resources Teacher Institute, an immersive multi-day professional development workshop that will bring 18 teachers from across the state to Morgan-Monroe State Forest to see firsthand how forestry works in Indiana. Sessions from June 24 to 28 will include tours of public and private forest lands, forest industry facilities, and information about forestry research in Indiana.
The goal of the institute, which is co-hosted by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources Extension, is to provide Indiana teachers with knowledge, skills and tools to effectively teach their students about forest ecology and forest management practices. The forest environment becomes the basis for integrating the learning of many subject areas, including environmental science, biology, natural resources, and social science. The NRTI incorporates STEM concepts and principles throughout the sessions and empowers educators to foster conceptual learning, critical thinking and decision-making skills in their classrooms.
The Natural Resources Teacher Institute emphasizes the importance of conservation of natural resources with special attention given to Indiana’s forests and forest products. The project-based approach integrates hands-on study of the natural and cultural resources of the local community, addresses concepts in ecology, sense of place, civics, economics and forest land management and stewardship.
Participants will develop a curriculum project about forests or forestry for their classrooms. Participants will earn 30+ Professional Growth Points and receive a stipend upon documentation of implementing curriculum project. Concepts are linked to the Indiana Learning Standards and participants are provided resources and training from Project Learning Tree as well as forestry equipment kits.
The 2024 edition of the NRTI will begin on Monday, June 24 at 1:00 pm and conclude on Friday, June 28 at noon. The base of operations will be the Forestry Training Center at Morgan-Monroe State Forest near Martinsville. Teachers will stay in the Training Center, sharing one of the 10 sleeping rooms. Meals will be provided.
Interested educators must complete an application and submit it by the deadline of March 22, 2024. Successful applicants will be notified by April 1, 2022. The institute is limited to 18 participants per session. There is no cost for participants. Those accepted will be required to pay a $50 deposit, which will be refunded at the end of the program. Participants will receive a stipend when documentation is provided that they have implemented their curriculum project with their students.
For more information and to request an application for the NRTI, contact Project Learning Tree Coordinator Lexi Eiler via email at leiler@dnr.in.gov or via phone at 463-253-8835.
To get a glimpse at the curriculum and also feedback from past participants, read NRTI Takes Forestry to the Classroom.
To register, please fill out the NRTI Application.
Resources:
Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources Facebook Page
Project Learning Tree
Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry
The Nature of Teaching, Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
The Nature of Teaching: Trees of the Midwest, The Education Store
The Nature of Teaching: Adaptations for Aquatic Amphibians, The Education Store
Trees of the Midwest Webinar, Nature of Teaching YouTube channel
Indiana Forestry Educational Foundation, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
Forest/Timber, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel
Natural Resources Teacher Institute Takes Forestry to the Classroom, Purdue FNR News
Purdue Extension
Lexi Eiler, Coordinator
Indiana Project Learning Tree
Lenny Farlee, Sustaining Hardwood Extension Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
During K-12 Educator workshops, participants learn how to implement TNT curriculum such as building scent stations (pictured above). Photo by Jarred Brooke.
Agricultural & Natural Resources: Richard Louv’s words, “Time in nature is not leisure time, it’s an essential investment in our children’s health (and also, by the way, in our own),” underscores the critical role of nature in children’s well-being. Inspired by Louv’s concept of “nature deficit disorder,” The Nature of Teaching (TNT) was established in 2009 to connect youth to nature. The Nature of Teaching became an ANR signature program in 2019.
The primary focus of TNT is to engage K-12 youth with nature to foster environmental awareness and reap the positive health benefits of outdoor experiences. The program achieves this by integrating nature-based education into the school environment through standards-based curriculum. Through this, TNT not only connects students with nature but also provides lessons that align with Common Core and Next Generation Science standards.
The curriculum of The Nature of Teaching is divided into three key areas: Wildlife, Health and Wellness, and Food Waste. The Wildlife curriculum enhances students’ understanding of the natural world, while the Health and Wellness curriculum emphasizes the health benefits of connecting with nature. The Food Waste curriculum explores the environmental impact of food waste. Educators have access to more than 60 free standards-based lesson plans suitable for K-12 classrooms. In addition, TNT includes five informal curriculum units that are not standards-based and are more activity-focused. These informal lessons are great for field days and after-school type programs.
Veronica Bullock teaching a TNT lesson, Adaptations for Aquatic Amphibians, in a Union County classroom. Photo by Jennifer Logue.
Extension educators around the state have delivered TNT lessons to K-12 students since TNT became a signature program in 2019. In 2022 alone, 2,424 K-12 students benefited from TNT instruction, highlighting an impressive average knowledge increase of 16-31% in natural resources topics. The Nature of Teaching further supports K-12 educators through teacher workshops, with 17 teachers attending a workshop at Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge in 2022. Attendees reported a significant boost in knowledge and confidence in connecting youth with nature.
As part of the signature program, Extension educators deliver three educational sessions using TNT formal curriculum to at least 15 students. Educators are also asked to provide students with pre- and post-tests to better understand student learning outcomes. Most educators deliver TNT in their local school system over several weeks. However, others deliver TNT through school clubs, after-school programs, or other avenues. The signature program requirements for Nature of Teaching are on the ANR Intranet. Educators are encouraged to work across program areas to deliver TNT.
Starting this year, The Nature of Teaching will be co-led by Jarred Brooke, Extension wildlife specialist, and Veronica Bullock, ANR educator, Franklin County. Jarred and Veronica have a long history with the TNT program and are excited to lead TNT into the future.
For educators who are interested in TNT, we will host a webinar on April 2 at 10 a.m. EDT to discuss future changes to the Nature of Teaching Signature program. You can register for the webinar here.
To see this article and others, please visit ANR Newsletter-February 2024.
Visit Nature of Teaching to learn more and explore the different lessons.
Resources:
Virtual Workshops, Nature of Teaching
Nature of Teaching, Website, Purdue College of Agriculture
The Nature of Teaching, YouTube channel
Transporting Food Waste, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Benefits of Connecting with Nature, The Education Store
Nature of Teaching: Common Mammals of Indiana, The Education Store
The Nature of Teaching: Food Waste Solutions, The Education Store
The Nature of Teaching: Food Waste and the Environment, The Education Store
The Nature of Teaching: Trees of the Midwest, The Education Store
The Nature of Teaching: Adaptations for Aquatic Amphibians, The Education Store
Trees of the Midwest Webinar, Nature of Teaching YouTube channel
Adaptations For Aquatic Amphibians Webinar, Nature of Teaching YouTube channel
Agriculture & Natural Resources (ANR)
Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
Veronica Bullock, ANR Extension Educator
Purdue Extension Franklin County
Purdue Extension: This Purdue Extension 2023 Impact Report features stories that highlight partnerships that have served our state’s producers, supported residents in becoming healthier, built more resilient communities and prepared Indiana’s youth to take that first step to their giant leap. We will continue to bring the science, technology and resources to all 92 counties as Indiana’s educational partner for life and as an extension of the world class institution we represent: Purdue University.
Check out the Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resource highlights on the following programs:
Resources:
Nature of Teaching, Purdue College of Agriculture
Community Development, Purdue Extension
Purdue Extension
Family Programs, Purdue Extension – Health and Human Sciences
Taking Action to Address Substance Use in Communities (TASC), Purdue Extension
Diversified Farming and Food Systems, Purdue Extension
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube channel
A Woodland Management Moment, FNR – Ext Playlist
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment – Wildlife Responses to Timber Harvesting, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Community Planning, FNR -Ext Playlist
Wild Bulletin, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fish and Wildlife: Looking to build habitat that benefits wildlife species near you? February is a great time to complete winter habitat improvement projects, such as frost seeding native forbs, edge feathering forest boundaries, prescribe-burning warm-season grass, and removing invasive species.
DNR’s wildlife habitat fact sheets can teach you the best techniques for your desired management practices. Need more information for your unique property? Contact your district’s Wildlife Biologist, who can meet with you to provide suggestions on wildlife habitat improvements based on your specific goals.
To learn more please visit DNR: Wildlife Habitat Fact Sheets.
Resources:
Frost Seeding to Establish Wildlife Food Plots and Native Grass and Forb Plantings – The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Tips for Evaluating a First Year Native Grass and Forb Planting, Got Nature? – Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR)
Wildlife Habitat Hint: Tips for Evaluating a First Year Native Grass and Forb Plantings, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Calibrating a No-Till Drill for Conservation Plantings and Wildlife Food Plots – The Education Store
Drone Seeding Native Grasses and Forbs: Project Overview & Drone Setup, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube channel
Drone Seeding Native Grasses and Forbs: Seed Mixing, Loading the Hopper, Programming the Route, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube channel
Drone Seeding Native Grasses and Forbs: Recapping the Project, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube channel
Renovating Native Warm-season Grass Stands for Wildlife, The Education Store
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Ordering Seedlings from the State Forest Nursery System, Got Nature? – Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR)
Designing Hardwood Tree Plantings for Wildlife – The Education Store
ID That Tree – YouTube Playlist
Forest Management for Reptiles and Amphibians: A Technical Guide for the Midwest, The Education Store
Ask the Expert: Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment – Birds and Salamander Research, Purdue Extension – FNR
A Template for Your Wildlife Habitat Management Plan, The Education Store
Managing Your Woods for White-Tailed Deer, The Education Store
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube channel
Winter Weather Tree Tips, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
In 2023, our FNR Extension website featured stories on topics ranging from wildlife identification, concerns in forestry, urban forestry issues and aquaculture how-to guides. Here are the top stories our FNR Extension readers were interested in last year from archival favorites to new publications on our Got Nature! blog.
1 – Tree Wounds and Healing — Trees are incredible survivors in spite of the challenges from pests of all kinds, including us! They are vulnerable to injuries such as mechanical wounds from lawn equipment, vehicles and ice. Pruning results in an intentional wound which is of importance to consider. Tree owners and managers need to prune trees to maintain aesthetic characteristics, remove infected limbs, reduce risk, or improve structural stability. Proper pruning practice and understanding tree wounds can minimize the impact of creating wounds on trees.
2 – Question: Can Tree Roots Cause Damage to a Home’s Foundation? — A reader asked this question regarding a pin oak tree that is within 10 feet of their house after receiving A certified arborist took a look at it and said that he would like to use an Air Knife to expose the roots near the foundation (a walkout basement) to determine if the roots are causing damage and/or need to be pruned, or whether the tree needs to be removed since it is situated too close to the house.
3 – Question: I Saw A Squirrel with No Fur on Its Neck, Both Backside and Underneath. What Is This? — People can be taken aback by the sight of squirrels missing hair. Sightings of partially furred squirrels is not unusual with warmer temperatures experienced through the winter. Like many wildlife issues, the cause of hair loss in squirrels is not easy to answer and often results in more questions than answers. In most situations, hair loss does not impact populations of squirrels.
4 – Be on the Watch for EHD in Deer — In August 2019, residents were warned to be on the watch for Epizootic Hemorrhagic Diseases (EHD) in deer after a white-tailed deer in Clarke County, Indiana tested positive for Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD), and potential EHD cases had been reported in 26 other Indiana counties. Here are a few things you should know about how EHD, how to spot it, and how to report it.
5 – Question: Are Carpenter Ants Harmful to My Tree? — Carpenter ants are very common inside trees, especially on larger, mature trees that are hollow with cavities. They nest in rotted, decayed wood, although some nests may extend into sound heartwood in the center of the tree. Carpenter ant presence is an indication of rotting wood, and infested trees should be checked to determine whether the rot has weakened the tree enough that it has become a risk of failure.
6 – Question: Why Are There So Many Acorns This Year? — If you have ever noticed acorns so numerous that you could not take a step without crushing several, you may be asking the question, “why are there so many acorns?” Some answers to this question can be found in the physiology and ecology of trees and their relationship to wildlife.
7 – It Is A Salamander. No, It Is a Lizard. Are They Different? — Salamanders are often mistaken for lizards, but the two groups are very different. Learn the differences between lizards and salamanders, how to identify each and more.
8 – Question: Blue Spruce is Dying, What Can I Do? — A reader sent in a question asking about a 40-year old spruce which is dying in the middle. There was a concern about Rhizosphaera needle cast as well as questions about fungus control sprays or alternative fungicide treatments.
9 – Slime Flux of Trees — Slime flux (also known as wet wood) is a dark, foul-smelling and unsightly seepage of sap from tree trunks. The disease is not usually a serious problem but the appearance can be alarming. Learn about the symptoms of slime flux, diagnosis and prevention measure.
10 – What Do Trees Do In the Winter? — Do they freeze up like unprotected water pipes? Or burst when it gets below freezing? Yes, the below-ground parts of a tree are kept insulated by mulch, soil and a layer of snow, and that is important to survival, but the exposed parts of a tree are not protected.
To see the full article, please visit FNR News & Stories.
Resources
Tree Pruning: What Do Trees Think?, The Education Store
Mechanical Damage to Trees: Mowing and Maintenance Equipment, The Education Store
Surface Root Syndrome, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
The Nature of Teaching: Trees of the Midwest, The Education Store
Diseases in Hardwood Tree Plantings , The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Iron Chlorosis of Trees and Shrubs, The Education Store
Purdue Landscape Report, Website
Winterize Your Trees, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Tree Defect Identification, The Education Store
Forest/Timber, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube channel
Urban Forestry, Purdue Extension – FNR playlist
Wendy Mayer, FNR Communications Coordinator
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
Videos on the Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources Extension YouTube channel received more than 213,000 views in 2023. The Top 50 videos included 47 editions of ID That Tree, an informational series by Purdue Extension forester Lenny Farlee, as well as a webinar by Farlee on How to Identify Trees in Indiana. The remaining two videos in the Top 50 were an instructional video about a common urban tree planting problem by former Purdue Extension urban forester Lindsey Purcell, and a video about the use of prescribed fire on the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment.
Below we will count down the 10 most viewed Purdue FNR Extension videos of 2023 with a few bonus videos sure to shoot up the list in future years.
Our most viewed video in 2023 was ID That Tree: Black Walnut with a whopping 18,156 views. This video has been seen more than 28,000 times since its debut in September of 2020.
1 – ID That Tree: Black Walnut — Learn the identifying characteristics of the black walnut tree, also known as the American black walnut or eastern black walnut, including pairs of leaflets running down each stem, long running ridges on the bark, and round nuts that have a very strong exterior. This sun-loving tree also needs high quality soil.
Our second most viewed video is ID That Tree: American Elm. This video, which debuted in June 2020, was watched 16,779 times in 2023, and has been viewed 33,456 times overall.
2 – ID That Tree: American Elm — In this tree identification series you will see how American elm leaves have jagged edges with a large tooth and then smaller teeth like edges on top of it. Find out why these trees are not as easy to find as they used to be.
Number three on our most viewed list is ID That Tree: Black Oak. This video, which debuted in March 2021, was seen 5,773 times in 2023.
3 – ID That Tree: Black Oak — In this episode of ID That Tree, we continue to get to know the oak groups, this time focusing on the black oak species. Deep sinuses on the leaves and shinier coat, a dark blocky bark and acorns with loose shingle-like plates on the cap are some key identifiers to separate it from the red oak and others.
Number four on the most viewed videos list was ID That Tree: Invasive White Mulberry. This video, which debuted in September 2021, was seen 5,197 times in 2023.
4 – ID That Tree: Invasive White Mulberry — On this episode of ID That Tree, Purdue Extension forester Lenny Farlee introduces you to a non-native invasive tree that is widespread across the state, white mulberry. Key identifying characteristics to separate it from its native cousin red mulberry are shiny variable leaves and where the species grows, near fence rows, hedgerows and other waste areas. The red mulberry has larger leaves that are duller in color with a sandpapery texture, and the species is often found in the forest understory.
Fifth on our countdown of top videos of 2023 is ID That Tree: Pignut Hickory. This video, which debuted in March 2022, was seen 4,569 times in 2023.
5 – ID That Tree: Pignut Hickory — In this edition of ID That Tree, meet another member of the hickory family that can found in upland areas, the pignut hickory. This species is identifiable by its five-leaflet compound leaves, its smooth round nut and partially open husk.
Number six on our list of top videos for the year is ID That Tree: Northern Catalpa. This video, which debuted in August 2021, was watched 4,489 times in 2023.
6 – ID That Tree: Northern Catalpa – On this episode of ID That Tree, meet the Northern Catalpa, native to southern Indiana along the Ohio River bottoms. This species, which provides rot resistant wood great for outdoor usage, features beautiful flower clusters in early summer, huge heart shaped leaves in whirled formation, and long bean-like fruit pods.
Number seven on our Purdue FNR Extension most viewed list is ID That Tree: Sassafras. This video, which debuted in July 2020, was seen 4,481 times in 2023. Graduate student Olivia Bingham is researching sassafras wilt in Indiana and needs your help with possible sightings across the state.
7 – ID That Tree: Sassafras — Join Purdue Extension forester Lenny Farlee as he introduces you to the Sassafras in this edition of ID That Tree. The Sassafras is well known for the tea made from its bark and also for having a variety of shaped leaves from zero to three lobes.
Eighth on our 2023 most watched videos list is ID That Tree: Red Pine. This video, which debuted in February 2022, was seen 4,470 times in 2023.
8 – ID That Tree: Red Pine — This week on ID That Tree, Purdue Extension forester Lenny Farlee introduces you to a non-native conifer that can be found throughout the state, the Red Pine. This species, which enjoys sandy soil, is identifiable by its small, egg-shaped cones, as well as tufts of needle pairs, which can be quite brittle, and orange/reddish bark.
Number nine on our most watched list is ID That Tree: Pin Oak. This video, which debuted in December 2021, was viewed 4,100 times in 2023.
9 – ID That Tree: Pin Oak — On this edition of ID That Tree, meet a species of native Indiana oak from the broad red/black oak family, which is found in bottomlands and areas with imperfectly drained soil, the Pin Oak. This species is recognizable by round acorns with flat scales, bristle-tipped leaves with deep 90-degree angled lobes, and lower branches that angle downward.
Number 10 on our most watched list is ID That Tree: Honey Locust. This video, which debuted in October 2021, was seen 3,510 times in 2023.
10 – ID That Tree: Honey Locust — This native tree comes with its own defense system in very large thorns on the stems and trunk. Meet the honey locust. Purdue Extension forester Lenny Farlee explains that large, long yellow seed pods that resemble bean pods, the option of single or doubly compound leaves on the same tree and smooth gray bark also help identify this species.
To see the full article, please visit FNR News & Stories.
Resources:
ID That Tree, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel (Invasive White Mulberry, Siberian Elm, Tree of Heaven)
Invasive Species Playlist, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel (Asian Bush Honeysuckle, Burning Bush, Callery Pear, Multiflora rose)
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel (Against Invasives, Garlic Mustard, Autumn Olive)
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel (Common Buckthorn, Japanese Barberry)
Indiana Department of Natural Resources: Invasive Species
Indiana Invasive Species Council
Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)
Report Invasive, Purdue Extension
Aquatic Invasive Species, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG)
Episode 11 – Exploring the challenges of Invasive Species, Habitat University-Natural Resource University
What are invasive species and why should I care?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center
Native Trees of the Midwest, The Education Store
Investing in Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Wendy Mayer, FNR Communications Coordinator
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
For first time in 221 years, two cicada broods to emerge in Indiana simultaneously, The Indianapolis Star: Cicadas are buzzing back to Indiana in 2024, and in a big way say bug experts.
For the first time in 221 years, two different broods of cicadas — the 17-year Brood XIII and the 13-year Brood XIX — will appear in parts of Indiana and other states. A dual emergence is rare, according to Dr. Gene Kritsky of Cincinnati’s Mount St. Joseph University.
The last time two broods of cicadas emerged at once in Indiana, the year was 1803 and Thomas Jefferson was President. Different broods of cicadas have popped up in other states, however, such as Missouri in 1998, or when rock album “Windows from Heaven” was released by Jefferson Starship.
Here’s what we know about this unique, natural event happening in Indiana and large swaths of the Midwest.
How often do cicadas appear in Indiana?
While annual cicadas appear every 2-5 years, broods of periodical cicadas will emerge once every 17 years across the Hoosier state. There are two broods, however, that emerge every 13 years, according to Purdue University.
These black-bodied, red-eyed, winged insects crawl out of the ground from around late May to June to reproduce and begin their life-cycle anew. Cicadas can be found on every continent except Antarctica. There are more than 3,000 different species of cicadas around the world, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Brood XIII (17-year brood) cicadas are coming to the Midwest in 2024
Brood XIII cicadas will emerge in parts of Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin and possibly Michigan, according to CicadaMania.org, but are expected to be concentrated in Illinois. These cicadas last emerged in 2007.
This year, cicadas in Illinois will create some unique challenges for entomologists, according to the University of Connecticut. The Prairie State is home to both the 17- and 13-year cicada broods.
Where will Brood XIII cicadas appear in Indiana in 2024?
In 2024, Brood XIII cicadas will appear in areas of Lake, LaPorte, and Porter counties in the upper northwestern side of Indiana, according to Purdue University.
Do cicadas bite?
Cicadas might look scary with their red eyes, huge wings and prickly feet, but they’re harmless to humans.
They don’t sting or carry diseases, and they don’t bite. In fact, cicadas don’t have mouth parts that can bite, said Elizabeth Barnes, an entomologist with Purdue University in a previous article by IndyStar.
No, they won’t bite: Debunking 8 common myths about cicadas
What about the other species of cicadas? Where will Brood XIX (13-year brood) cicadas appear?
This year the Brood XIX cicadas are set to emerge in 15 states across the country. They’ll appear in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Virginia.
Where will Brood XIX cicadas appear in Indiana in 2024?
In 2024, the 13-year Brood XIX cicadas will appear in 8 western counties across the Hoosier State, according to Purdue University, from Posey and Warrick counties near Evansville in the south, to Newton and Jasper counties on the north.
To see the full story and video please visit the IndyStar.
Resources:
Periodical Cicadas, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Entomology
Billions of Cicadas Are Coming This Spring; What Does That Mean for Wildlife?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR)
17 Ways to Make the Most of the 17-year Cicada Emergence, Purdue College of Agriculture
Ask an Expert: Cicada Emergence Video, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension-FNR
Periodical Cicada in Indiana, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Cicada Killers, The Education Store
Purdue Cicada Tracker, Purdue Extension-Master Gardener Program
Cicada, Youth and Entomology, Purdue Extension
Indiana Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology
Tim Gibb, Insect Diagnostician and Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Entomology
The Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE) just updated their newsletter for the fall/winter season. The Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE) was developed to study the effectiveness of different forest management methods in promoting successful oak and hickory regeneration and the effects of these management practices on plant and animal species. With nine partnering universities and agencies conducting research on the ecological and social impacts of long-term forest management, HEE has been an integral part of completed research for over 30 plus M.S. and Ph.D. level graduate students. The project has also employed more than 250 undergraduate and post-graduate students to conduct summer field work.
Newsletter topics include:
Squirrel & Small Mammal Crew
Cerulean Warbler Crew
Bat Crew
Additional Work
Introducing New HEE Staff
Rae Garrett – Field Coordinator
Rae began as the Field Coordinator in May 2023. Recently she graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Wildlife Biology with a minor in Insect Biology. Since then, she has worked in various temporary positions gaining experience in field work and outreach. She looks forward to assisting HEE Researchers with continuing data collection and working with Kat to reach new goals in outreach.
Kat Shay – Project Coordinator
Kat began as the Project Coordinator in September 2023. She has an MS in Environmental Science and an MPA from Indiana University, where she worked in Dr. Kim Novick’s lab on various phenology, carbon flux, oak leaf-miner, and cicada projects in Morgan Monroe and Yellowwood. She holds a BS in Environmental Science from the University of Alabama, where she worked in the Spatial Ecology Lab. She previously worked for NOAA at the Beaufort Lab in NC, conducting research on carbon flux and storage in salt marshes. Most recently she worked in the San Bernardino National Forest in southern California, managing conservation, recreation, and restoration projects. She has lived in Scotland, Germany, and all over the US and loves reading, traveling, and sports (especially soccer and rugby). She’s excited Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment Fall/Winter 2023 to join the HEE team and continue working in the forests she loves.
To view the full newsletter visit: HEE Newsletter.
If you would like to receive the HEE e-newsletter send your name, email, address and your interests to Kat Shay, forest project coordinator, at koshay@purdue.edu.
Resources:
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment – Wildlife Responses to Timber Harvesting, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
The Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment: Indiana Forestry and Wildlife, The Education Store
Breeding Birds and Forest Management: the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment and the Central Hardwoods Region, The Education Store
The Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment: 2006-2016, The Education Store
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, The Education Store
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment Playlist, Subscribe to Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment – Prescribed Fire, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Investing in Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Finding help from a professional forester, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
Kat Shay, Forest Project Coordinator
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE)
Purdue Forestry & Natural Resources