Gypsy
moths
should be
less plentiful
Good news from the insect front: The state entomologist does not foresee a horrendous gypsy moth outbreak this year.
Experts did document some moderate to heavy egg masses in some areas and advise that there may be some locally heavy pockets of gypsy moth activity this year.
The Northeast District Department of Health is again receiving multiple inquiries regarding the recent hatching of gypsy moth eggs. There is no public health threat associated with this natural, temporary phenomenon.
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) in New Haven and state Entomologist Dr. Kirby C. Stafford III, Ph.D. predict no extensive activity or widespread defoliation this year. “This is due to the extensive number of caterpillars that were killed by the fungus before they were able to pupate (morph) into moths,” officials said.
In 2017, the gypsy moth outbreak was extensive and severe throughout eastern Connecticut, affecting 1.1 million acres; the greatest extent of defoliation seen since the early 1980s.
High activity in 2017 was due to nearly three years of drought that prevented or limited the growth of a fungus (Entomophaga maimaiga) that typically kills the gypsy moth caterpillars. Rains received in June, 2017 began to advance fungus activity which successfully eliminated a large amount of caterpillars.
They added, remaining fungal spores left in the environment from last year can infect the caterpillars in 2018 if we get the necessary spring-early summer rains. There is no way to predict if rains will arrive at the right time to get the fungus going in 2018, but we have had a rainy spring season so far.
Gypsy moth eggs hatch late April to early May. These small larval “instars” (i.e., stages of the caterpillar) “balloon” off of the trees and the wind carries them to multiple locations. The ballooning stage does not last long. Within a couple of weeks, older caterpillars settle into the trees to feed, crawling up and down, and eventually deforest the tree. The natural fungus with long-lasting spores is toward the bottom of the tree and soil. The fungus requires rain to germinate, infect, and kill the caterpillars … so a wet spring is a good thing!
While the fungus infects the older caterpillars as they move up and down the tree, it can affect the younger instars as well, providing optimism that the fungus will provide natural control of the gypsy moth caterpillars again this year. This is a temporary phenomenon. It may take some time for nature to catch up but there are good odds that the issue will take care of itself.
The NDDH noted that Gypsy moth larvae (i.e., caterpillars) do not bite. They do have two types of hair (called setae) that they use to defend themselves which can create a stinging sensation. Reactions to these stinging hairs vary from mild to moderately severe itching with an accompanying rash, similar to contact dermatitis. The onset of discomfort is usually noticed within 8-12 hours after contact, often becoming more pronounced one to two days later. Most cases resolve in a few days or up to 2 weeks.
Delayed hypersensitivity reactions sometimes result in irritation to the eyes, inflammation of the nasal passages, and shortness of breath. This is especially common in the case of airborne hairs of adult gypsy moths, or contact with clothes hanging on outdoor lines when the moth is locally abundant.
Exposure to the larvae and hairs is more likely while the young larvae are “ballooning” or contact w/ the adults.
What You Can Do
Homeowners should check their property (e.g., trees, fence posts, brick walls, cars, outdoor furniture, etc.) for egg masses, which can be scraped, removed, and destroyed. There are no state programs for spraying. It is recommended that people with sensitivities limit their exposure.
Centaurs
head for
States
The Woodstock Academy baseball team finished up its regular season May 17, happy in the knowledge that the season isn’t over.
The Centaurs, with a final mark of 9-11, qualified for both the Eastern Connecticut Conference and Class L state tournaments, two of their goals for the season and something they were very satisfied to accomplish although not entirely content yet.
“You always want more,” coach Brian Murphy said of the final record. “The kids did a good job winning nine games. There are probably two or three games that we thought we should have won but we didn’t. We just have to get a little better on defense. We need a little more pitching. A couple of guys gave us some great innings this year in Luke (Mathewson), Eric (Preston) and Tommy (Li) when he was healthy. We’re a little thin in that department now but, they battled, won nine games, made the state tournament and that’s an accomplishment in itself.”
Mathewson was a key to the season.
The junior right-hander finished with a 3-3 record, pitching 53 innings for the Centaurs, giving up 55 hits, with an excellent strikeout-to-walk ratio – 66 strikeouts with only 10 bases on balls offered up.
“Luke is a grinder,” Murphy said. “The strikeout to walk ratio is amazing. I know he’s going to battle but he has exceeded my expectations on the mound. He’s done a great job. When he is strong and healthy and on the right rest, he’s just tough.”
Just ask Montville.
The Centaurs finished the regular season in what has been typical fashion for them. They scored a nice win over the Indians, 3-2, last Wednesday, only to fall to Fitch on Senior Day, 10-0, Thursday in a game that lasted only five innings.
Mathewson was spot on against Montville.
He went the distance on the hill against a good-hitting Indians’ team, giving up just five hits with five strikeouts, no walks and just two earned runs.
The Centaurs were able to scratch out three runs of their own, all in the fourth inning.
Mathewson, who is also hitting .450, helped himself.
Li led off the inning with a single and Preston followed by drawing his 17th walk of the season. That brought up Mathewson who ripped his ninth double of the year and drove in both runners, giving him 19 RBIs.
The game-winning single was delivered by senior third baseman Cam Lotter.
The win denied the Indians a chance to clinch a share of the ECC Division II regular-season title.
“I told the kids that Montville had a lot on the line (Thursday). It’s our day. It’s our field. Let’s play a solid game and take it to them and they did. They played their hearts out, played a great game. Montville is an excellent hitting team and finally, after struggling defensively all year, we made plays. Not only the ones we were supposed to, but probably some that we shouldn’t have made, those were great plays. That was sweet,” Murphy said.
But that sweetness turned a little sour when the Falcons came to the Bentley Complex May 18 and scored five runs in each of the second and third innings.
The Centaurs never responded.
The Academy mustered only four hits against the Falcons.
Peter Spada and Lotter singled in the third inning and both Preston and Mathewson singled in the fourth, but the Centaurs never plated a run.
“It was one of those games that you say, ‘We’re going to hit this (pitcher).’ We hit some hard balls, they did too, and they had the ones that found the holes, we didn’t. It wasn’t the best hitting performance we’ve had,” Murphy said.
But the nice part is that there will be a tomorrow for the Centaurs who can’t pack away the uniforms yet.
Murphy, however, is still not totally satisfied and doesn’t think his players should be either.
“It’s not just getting in, not just getting to the show, it’s winning. You take it game-by-game and, hopefully, we can get some wins and finish on a high note,” Murphy said.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
caption, page 7:
Honored
UMass Lowell honored alum James Dandeneau by naming an academic building after him. Courtesy photo.
LOWELL, Mass. — UMass Lowell recently dedicated one of the university’s academic buildings in honor of alumnus James Dandeneau, ’80, of Dayville, in recognition of his longstanding support of his alma mater.
A 1980 graduate of UMass Lowell’s renowned plastics engineering program, he is the founder, president and CEO of medical-device company Putnam Plastics, which makes catheter assemblies among other products, and owner of Connecticut National Golf Course. Through his generosity, the building now known as Dandeneau Hall is undergoing renovations and will soon be a vibrant new home to robotics and computer labs for UMass Lowell students, along with space for engineering and computer science faculty.
In addition he was awarded with an honorary doctorate of humane letters.
Dandeneau and his family – wife Deb, daughter Lauren and son Ryan, a 2010 UMass Lowell graduate – have long championed an array of UMass Lowell initiatives, from funding student scholarships and research professorships to state-of-the-art equipment for the university’s engineering labs.
“Through his work in the medical-device field and his philanthropy, Jim Dandeneau has made a lasting difference in thousands and thousands of lives,” said UMass Lowell Chancellor Jacquie Moloney. “Dandeneau Hall will be a testament to his legacy, a center of activity where UMass Lowell will educate new generations of scientists, researchers and engineers to advance frontiers in these fields and more.”
The fully renovated Dandeneau Hall will become an integral part of UMass Lowell’s North Campus Innovation District, dedicated to scientific research and development and business education in support of the region’s economy.
“I’m very happy to support the renovation of this classic building. It is special to me because I took several courses here when I was a student and it is a part of the school’s history,” said Dandeneau said. “The state-of-art labs and research facilities being added will give UMass Lowell students hands-on experience with equipment they will likely encounter in the workplace.”
Working with a team of more than 280 Putnam Plastics employees, Dandeneau has fostered a stream of major technological advances and produced an outstanding variety of high-end devices that improve the quality of health care. In 1999, he became one of the first UMass Lowell alumni to create an endowed scholarship at the institution when he funded a major scholarship to benefit engineering students. He has also given his time to UMass Lowell, serving as a member of the university’s Plastics Engineering Advisory Board and steering committee for the 50th anniversary celebration of the Plastics Engineering Department. He received UMass Lowell’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005 and is a 2001 inductee of the Francis Academy of Distinguished Engineers, the hall of fame for graduates of UMass Lowell’s Francis College of Engineering.
Lacrosse team
reaches
new heights
The Woodstock Academy girls’ lacrosse program finished up its best regular season in program history last week by reaching some newfound heights.
The Centaurs took home a share of the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division II championship and also clinched their first-ever ECC tournament berth with a 16-7 win in Montville May 16.
The girls also downed Wheeler 15-2 before falling to Fitch May 18, 16-6, to finish 13-3.
The Centaurs shared the regular season title with Bacon Academy and Stonington.
“It’s so special. We’re so excited. It’s the first time ever making the ECC tournament and we’re going to go out there and try to win it all,” said junior defensive standout Emma Ciquera.
Junior midfielder Ivy Gelhaus agreed the year has been pretty successful.
“It’s been crazy,” Gelhaus said. “Last year, we had an average record maybe. This year, we’re doing so well. We have (freshman) Bridget (Horst) who has really made a difference. We’re all working together. I think this year we’re more of a team.”
The Centaurs opened ECC tournament play with the semifinals May 15, with the championship game scheduled May 17.
It’s been a “pinch me, I’m dreaming” type of year coach Kathleen Johnson.
“I’m just speechless,” Johnson said. “I can’t sleep at night because my brain is going and going with things that I want to do with these girls. I don’t want the season to stop. I just want it to keep going. There are no words to describe it.”
Johnson added even she could not anticipate the season and how it developed.
“I thought we would have a good season, but I never thought we would be where we are at and that we’re still improving. The girls are on a high, they’re not at a low, they’re not tired, they want to keep going,” Johnson said prior to the matchup with Montville. “Each year is a different group and, sometimes, by the end of the season, you’re hurt, you’re down, but no, they’re working hard.”
The Centaurs came out in that match, knowing what was at stake, and immediately imposed their will.
The Academy scored nine of the first 10 goals with Arielle Johnson getting three of them and both Madison Brennan and Aislin Tracey adding a pair. Both Brennan and Johnson also added an assist.
There was also the play of Horst on the draw.
The freshman dominated in the middle in the beginning of the match, getting the ball often to Gelhaus to set up more scoring opportunities for the Centaurs.
“She is very good,” Ciquera said of the freshman. “I think with her height she can just serve it to herself.”
Or to someone nearby, often Gelhaus.
“It’s really nice knowing that she will win it every time and it will either come to me or go back to her and if I don’t get it, she will,” Gelhaus said.
About the only point of concern for the Centaurs in the match with the Indians came when Mackenzie Ulrich put three unanswered shots into the net to reduce the deficit from eight goals to five, 9-4, for the Indians with 21:15 left in the match.
“I think we got a little too relaxed, got a little too cocky maybe, and stepped back for a few minutes and that’s when they got their goals,” Gelhaus said.
The Centaurs rallied to score the next six including two by Brennan, and one each by Ciquera, Gelhaus, Tracey and Johnson to seal the victory and the trip to the ECC tournament.
“It was one of our goals at the beginning of the season. I think we knew we were really good this year and making it happen was just incredible,” Gelhaus said.
The Centaurs continued their fine play against the Lions Thursday with Emma Redfield getting the hat trick and Tracey adding two goals. To emphasize the offensive balance, 10 other players added goals.
“There are so many good players and every player you pass to, you know they’re going to do something good with the ball. Everyone is reliable. It’s a lot less pressure on you, as an individual, when you know someone else can do something great with the ball,” said Gelhaus.
The Centaurs did run out of gas at the end of the week when they traveled to Fitch for a third straight road game and suffered a one-sided loss. Brennan scored three goals in that contest to end as the regular season goal-scoring leader for the Centaurs with 46 while Horst added 37, Johnson 33 and Gelhaus 21.
Johnson led the team in assists with 16 while Horst contributed 14.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director