Among Likely Beneficiaries Of Global Warming In Tennessee - Kudzu, Ticks, Poison Ivy, Fire Ants

Sure, some species benefit from a warming planet, but they can be the annoying ones that sting, bite, or make you itch. Tennessee is among areas that are expected to see fire ants and other ills spread as the climate changes, according to the National Wildlife Federation.

Others on the list of critters that would boom around the nation are deer ticks, along with the striped Asian tiger mosquito, which has a powerful bite. And poison ivy will grow more virulent.

Some say it's all hype intended to scare people. But Doug Inkley, senior scientist with the wildlife federation, said residents should prepare for more itching and pests if action isn't taken to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels and to protect native natural resources.

"As the climate gets warmer, it becomes more hospitable to fire ants," he said. "The projections for Tennessee indicate that the fire ant will expand its territory, probably across much of the state. "Poison ivy is likely to become more vigorous in growth and having more toxic oil that causes the rash."

EDIT

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100402/GREEN02/4020341/Pests++poison+ivy++kudzu+will+thrive+in+TN+as+Earth+heats+up

:crazy:

:toast:

will finally realize that Global Warming is real, or will it be a sign of another one of God's plaques for America turning away from Christianity????

And explain it all away . . .

insects we have not seen previously - various types of garden spiders and other outdoor insects as well as several types of birds who seem to stay for a time rather than just migrate through.
I wonder if we will gradually see more "southern" insects and animals...we have just had a very warm winter, and are projected to see 80 degrees today, well above the average temp for this date, which is in the low 60's.

mark

with an increase in white flies, which are very destructive to plants. And it's going to get worse, uh yeah. :sarcasm:

edit: can't type today :blush:

:woohoo:

For the first time in my life I'm having to try to figure out how to keep buffalo gnats/black flies off my animals/person. I've never even seen one before this year. We've already got tiger mosquitoes and all that other fun stuff.
Kudzu is edible, so I'm not sure why we haven't ended world hunger with the f***ing stuff. God knows we've tried every way possible of getting rid of it and it's still taking over the world.

http://pelotes.jea.com/AnimalFact/Arthropod/NOSEEUM.htm

WHAT IS A NO-SEE-UM? No-see-ums are tiny biting flies that often live near water. You often see many of themswarming together in a cloud. Keep your mouth shut or you might breathe some in or swallow them! (It won’t hurt you, but it will probably make you cough.) Biting midges are called no-see-ums because they’re so tiny that it is hard to see ‘um. No-see-ums are less than ¼ of an inch long.

You can't see-um, but the horses can feel-um.

Global warming sounds really great, especially when you are knee deep in the middle of winter, but the spread of the territory of insect borne diseases alone will take all of fun out of it.

have to clean the fish, hook up the boat and feed the No-See-Ums.