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October 29, 1981 - Barrens and Buck MothsSECOND SECTION Tbe 61iffolk Timm, OCTOBER 29, 198 Barrens and Buck Moths Friends of ours just recently went to Vermont to see the fall colors, which are spectacular at this time of the year. The colors were there, they told us, but the trip really just didn't come up to their expecta- tions; lines of traffic, crowded restaurants and no place to stay seemed to be the order of the day. This all added up to what I continually preach and that is that we have it all right here on Long Island. Just this week we had to go to Southamp- ton and were dazzled by the fall colors along the roadside. Perhaps we don't quite capture the brightness of our northern neighbors but the oaks, hickories, sassa- fras, dogwoods and others did just fine for us. Our colors are a bit more mature -- deeper reds, browns, oranges, and yellows -- but all seem to blend into a kaleidoscope of brilliant fall color. When we went through the open areas of Riverhead and along the freshwater ponds and swamps, we'd get glimpses of the maples with their upstate colors. Many of BUCK MOTH EGGS - -This newly - laid shiny cluster of eggs will winter over and from it will emerge caterpillars that will live off the scrub oak. Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh the leaves have started to fall and in the cooler places of Manorville and Calverton the woods have already taken on a touch of winter. Theirs is the area of first frost and the coldest temperatures. , On our way back I had wanted to investigate a special happening that takes place only in the Pine Barrens each fall. It's special because no where else is there an environment that suits the rare and beautiful buck moth as these vast ex- panses do. This moth ventures out each fall to mate, lay its eggs and then disappear. We wanted to witness it. Pine Barrens Vital to Our Area The Pine Barrens is an area often called a scrubby wasteland but to those who know it better it is a fascinating and interesting area. It lies generally in the center of our island running east and west. A good deal A R� of it was owned by RCA, both in Riverhead and at Rocky Point. Just within the last year or so it was transferred to the State of New York. It is the hope of many that this will be added to, for with our dependence on ground water the reservoir of pure water that lies beneath has great signif- icance to the future of Long Island. I'm sure we are all aware of how dependent we are on our precious ground- water and the grave problems it faces. In many areas the water has been fouled by man's presence. It is a difficult task and it may be impossible if not corrected to rectify this polluted water problem. Filters do help in some cases but in others all the filtering in the world will do no good. The problem of bad water is not unique to the East End. It's happening all over wherever man settles down or disrupts the land. You might say it's part of progress. Nevertheless the problem is acute, partic- ularly here on the North and South Forks. Water Situation Needs Help Much research and good planning are being undertaken to try to correct the situation of the water future here on Long Island. The one big ace in the hole is the Pine Barrens. These vast scrubby areas of pine and oak you see along the Express- way and Sunrise Highway might well be the saviors of Long Island's water supply. Because the land is poor and sandy it has been ignored by developers and farmers up to now. Yet, because of its scrubbiness, lack of houses and manipulation, it might well hold the future for the water supply of the North and South Forks and much of the populated areas of Long Island. Whether or not local, state and federal governments can hold off the pressures of "progress" and keep that area pristine is another thing. At any rate, out in the Pine Barrens the buck moth lives and so my wife and I went out to find it. We chose a special area, the dwarf pine plains, because of the small- ness of the pines and the scrub oak that grow there. The area is by the Westhamp- ton Air Base on Old Riverhead Road. Here we took a side road to the west and drove a half mile. It's a lovely area that spreads out before you like a great green sea. Most of the trees are no more than four or five feet tall, many less. Scattered among them is the low bush blueberry, clumps of Hudsonia, bearberry, reindeer moss and other plants associated with dry arrid areas. The scrub oak's tiny striped acorns were ripe and falling. These would provide winter food for wildlife of all kinds. We had arrived about 10 o'clock in the morning and the chill and dampness were still lingering on the land. As the hour Industrial >:t Farm Equipment H t. o �. 494 5-* Route 58 P. Box ROLLE BROS. Riverheeaa d, , N.Y. N Phone 727 -4383 Your Authorized SPERRY NEW HOLLAND dealer IN STOCK FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY 1982 Mazda C's As low as $5 LOU p.o.e. 135 IM G 46 E MPG WY BUCK MOTH - -This handsome orange -and -black moth is found only in the fall in the vast Pine Barrens that run through the center of our island. Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh moved on, and the warmth of the sun brought the area back to life, the buck moths started to move. First one, then two, then as many as five or six could be seen in the air at one time. They flew a crazy pattern often colliding with bush and tree. What was going on? Life and Death of the Buck Moth None would light so we could get a good look but finally we found one fluttering on the ground, its wings tattered and worn. Nearby Barbara's sharp eyes picked out the tight shiny clusters of a buck moth's eggs on one of the limbs of a scrub oak. The story was clear now. Nature had fulfilled its mission. The bright orange - and -black striped moth had mated and the female had laid her eggs thereby perpetu- ating the species. Now both male and female's jobs were done and they were left to die. Their last wild flight could be seen all around us. The one I photographed died right before me. Once again Barbara's eyes picked up the remains of yet another moth a little farther along the path already half- devoured by insects. Its body had served even another cause. Next spring there will be an awakening from the eggs -- a tiny inch worm will emerge that will feed only on the scrub oak. This then will eventually turn into the beautiful orange- and -black striped moth we saw and so it goes. Nature in her deliberate way has once again completed her marvelous cycle. Fall is part of that cycle. The buck moth is a mere grain of sand on the vast beach of the natural world. If man can learn to live within this beach of life without too much disturbance of Nature's cycles, we will all be the richer and forever rewarded. PAULSTOUTENBURGH FARM ECONOMIST. The Kubota M750ODT is proof you don't have to cut down on features to cut back your budget. Our largest Kubota comes with 16 forward and 4 reverse speeds. Four -wheel drive. 72.2 PTO hp. And a water - cooled diesel engine that never needs a tune -up. It's noted for its incredible fuel efficiency and won't shy away from heavy field work in soft sandy loam or mud. If you want a tractor that RKU80TR can work on a farm and stay on a budget, get a farm economist to help you. Get the M7500DT. We're looking 'for work. Island Ford & Municipal Machinery, Inc. Mbser IWI otor s Edwards Avenue, Calverton . _ . 727.9200