8/27 Lady beetle, fire season, happy birthday SPEC, Hokkaido moth, pumice raft

Asian lady beetle [Wikipedia]

Asian lady beetle Harmonia axyridis Pallas
The multicolored Asian lady beetle was introduced from Asia both purposefully for classical biological control of arthropod pests and accidentally into the United States many times during the twentieth century. It finally became established and quickly spread over the entire United States sometime in the late 1980's and early 1990's. (Wikipedia)

Washington is usually ablaze with wildfires this time of year. What happened?
After choking down smoke and watching large swaths of forest burn the past two summers, much of Washington state braced for the 2019 wildfire season with N95 masks in hand and air purifiers waiting to kick in. But now it’s late August, when fire activity usually peaks, and we’re still waiting for the Big Fire.  Outside of a few large fires east of the Cascades, the blazes have been small and not as widespread compared with recent years.  Meanwhile, the Northwest so far has escaped the worst impacts of long-distance smoke from places like Alaska and Siberia. “Early in the season we were predicting pretty heavily above-average potential for large fires and above-average activity for most of the state,” says meteorologist Josh Clark of the Washington state Department of Natural Resources, “and we really haven't seen that manifest this year.” Hannah Weinberger reports. (Crosscut)

Vancouver environmental society hits 50-year mark trying to save planet through local action
For 50 years a Vancouver urban sustainability organization has been trying to save the planet with a tight budget, lots of volunteers, and a willingness to try anything to protect Earth. SPEC, or the Society for Promoting Environmental Conservation, has evolved from a protest outfit on the front lines of several anti-pollution campaigns to a humble, grassroots agency obsessed with teaching kids how to garden and showing people how to create less waste. It's among the oldest environmental organizations in Canada. In the last half century, it has scored several environmental wins, including persuading several municipalities in Metro Vancouver in the early 2000s to ban the cosmetic use of pesticides. Chad Pawson reports. (CBC)

This pest was an uninvited guest and a first in the U.S.
He’s reportedly the first Hokkaido gypsy moth ever found in the United States, but he’s not welcome. The invasive insect whose natural range includes Japan, Russia and the Kuril Islands turned up in Woodway July 25. He looks a lot like his relatives, the perennial pest European and Asian gypsy moths that can cause massive destruction to plants and trees if not kept in check. It took DNA tests at labs in Tumwater and Massachusetts to confirm that the moth found in Woodway was the Hokkaido variety... The Hokkaido moth has caused extensive damage to Japanese Larch, but feeds on many types of trees and shrubs that can be found in the Pacific Northwest, according to Sven-Erik Spichiger, managing entomologist for the state Department of Agriculture’s plant protection division. Eric Stevick reports. (Everett Herald)

Vast 'pumice raft' found drifting through Pacific Ocean
A vast "raft" of volcanic rocks stretching over 150 sq km (58 sq miles) is drifting through the Pacific Ocean, scientists say. The sea of pumice - the size of 20,000 football fields - was first reported by Australian sailors earlier this month. Experts say the mass likely came from an underwater volcano near Tonga which erupted around 7 August according to satellite images. Sailors have been warned to stay clear of the potential hazard. Pumice is a lightweight, bubble-rich rock that can float in water. It is produced when lava goes through rapid cooling and loss of gases. (BBC)


Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  238 AM PDT Tue Aug 27 2019   
TODAY  E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft  at 10 seconds. 
TONIGHT  SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell  3 ft at 10 seconds.



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