Native Phragmites is thought to be the sole known host plant for the
Yuma Skipper Butterfly(Ochlodes Yuma).
This skipper is the largest most conspicuous of the tawny, grass-feeding Hesperiine skippers. Ochlodes Yuma is distributed in the Great Basin area ranging from Arizona to South-Central Washington. The occurrence of this obligate herbivore indicates the potential presence of a native Phragmites species. It is not known if the introduced genotype also serves as a host for the insect. No uses have been identified for the introduced non-native Phragmities. Large stands of Phragmites can be found at Klamath Lake, Summer Lake, Garrison Lake, John Day River, and in North Portland adjacent to the Smith and Bybee Lakes. Recently, morphological characteristics from populations on the lower Columbia River islands on the tidal flats and Willamette River suggest many dense stands are
NON-native. Many of these non-native Phragmites stands on the Columbia River may have initially come from propagules washed down from infestations on the Lower Snake River and near Moses Lake,WA. Phragmites also occurs along the Clatskanie River in Columbia County,WA.
This brings to mind a few thoughts on species conservation.
1. There are more eradication programs for Phragmites than there are programs investigating their raw-materials as a source for bio-fuel, pulp, and paper. This threatens more than just the plant in question. There are even eradication programs in counties that do not have a Phragmites invasion or potential threat of their invasion.
2. What insects inhabit Phalaris? Ground beetles (Coleoptera Carabidae) inhabit stands of P. Arundinacea. Species of insect by species of Phalarii host ;;; This is a long study of discipline and patience that I assume will be figured out shortly/eventually.
I have noticed when certain grasshoppers tend to a Phalaris patch some leaves turn purple where they were eaten.
This draws me to wonder why the tips of P. Arundinacea is purple at certain times of the season. There are obvious answers already provided in essence of my pondering but what part to frogs play in the orchestration of the auxin auxiliary.
3. With regards to Terence McKenna's theory on the harmine/tryp carrier signal projected from certain insects and entheogenic plants, this fits in very well, the butterfly as a signal receiver of some sort, leading everyone to the pot of gold only for us humans to slash, burn, and desolate the pulsing ecosystem.
ref:
http://www.invasiveplants.net/phragmites/morphologyhtm'Recognition of Phragmites Australis subsp. Americanus in North America: Evidence from Morphological and Genetic analyses'
K. Saltonstall , P.M. Peterson, R. Soreng.
also a website with specimen collections from Salt Lake City,UT.
http://www.butterfliesofamerica.com/L/ochlodes_yuma_scudderi.htmwith all my love
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AA
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Topic: Yuma Skipper Butterfly(Ochlodes Yuma) home address is Phragmites Australis (Read 12056 times)