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superabundances of walkingsticks have been noticed on both the east and west slopes of the Blue Ridge in Northern Virginia. These insects feed on foliage, and may completely strip the leaves from virtually all trees on areas ten acres or larger in size. (Probably only a very few trees are killed by this activity, as heavy defoliation is confined to late summer, when trees are normally approaching dormancy.)
The Virginia Division of Forestry reports a total of an estimated 5,638 acres of private and Shenandoah National Park woodlands defoliated this year. Aerial surveys covered the counties of Warren, Page, Madison, and Greene. I have noticed additional spots in Rappahannock, and some defoliation activity has undoubtedly occurred south of the survey area as well.
INFESTATION ON
OLD RAG
1 received several inquiries concerning a particularly conspicuous “brown patch" on the east slope of Old Rag Mountain (Madison County), and a hike to this area proved to be highly interesting.
The walkingstocks were so densely populated within this small area that food competition was extreme. Leaves of northern red oaks and chestnut oaks seemed to be the preferred foods. In addition, all of the following were defoliated to a lesser extent: hickory, yellow poplar, witch hazel, dogwood, black gum, sugar maple, red maple, striped maple, and sassafras.
Even the mountain laurels and Canada hemlocks harbored hundreds of insects. Although defoliation was not evident on these latteri
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