January/February 2016 Environmental

Update

Weather past and future …

Diana MC Rashash, PhD Just in case you hadn’t noticed or needed confirmation, we’ve had a Area Specialized Agent, th warm, wet Fall. For the state overall, it was the 11 warmest and the Natural Resources rd 3 wettest (see graphic below). For those of us in the southeastern part [email protected] of the state, it was the 3rd-5th warmest.

NCCE -Brunswick Co. 25 Referendum Dr., Bldg. N PO Box 109 Bolivia, NC 28422 (910) 253-2610

http://brunswick.ces.ncsu.edu

NCCE -Onslow Co. 4024 Richlands Hwy. Jacksonville, NC 28540 (910) 455-5873 (910) 455-0977 Fax Source: http://climate.ncsu.edu/climateblog?id=167 http://onslow.ces.ncsu.edu What does this mean for our Winter? Well, Dr. Ryan Boyles – our State Climatologist – says that we will have a very wet Winter. He says we can thank (or blame) El Niño for the rainfall. As for the temperature, he is a And the rest of the bit less definite. As of our conversation on Nov. 19, he is leaning toward Southeast District: it getting cold enough in January and February at the same time that we are getting precipitation to give us some snow events. http://southeast.ces.ncsu.edu/ The tricky part is just how cold it gets and how – and where – it lines up with the moisture. Here in the southeastern section of the state, we get

NC State University promotes it all: rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow. The distances between them equal opportunity and prohibits are often very short. discrimination and harassment based upon one’s age, color, The official State Climate Office 2015-16 Winter Outlook is posted at: disability, gender identity, genetic information, national http://climate.ncsu.edu/climateblog?id=166 origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation and veteran status. If you want to go straight to the heart of the prediction, “the bottom line” on the prediction is located at – well, the bottom of the forecast page. Hmmm, now where did I put my snow shovel?

Environmental Update January/February 2016 2

What is that thing? … creted from the “mouth”, which is located mid- way along the body. Reproduction is In early December, the accomplished by laying eggs or by tail section Onslow Extension of- fragments. Shovel-like head fice received several emails and walk-in cli- Planaria eat earthworms, slugs, insect larvae, and ents with the same other planaria. Prey get stuck in their slimy mu- question: What is that cus, and the planarian extends its pharynx out of long worm-like thing? its mouth to eat. The slimy mucus may be toxic In each case, it was the or taste bad, because other predators don’t seem same creature - a land to like it. planarian (Bipalium kewense). This partic- For more information about land planaria, try ei- ular planarian grows to ther of these websites: more than 10 inches • University of Florida, Dept. of Entomology and long. The species is Nematology thought to be native to Indo-China, and has http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/land_ been found in the US planarians.htm since the early 1900s. • Texas A&M University, Galveston County Mas- It is likely that planaria ter Gardeners were transported to http://aggie- different locations via horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/ the soil of potted beneficial-57(partial)_land_planarian.htm plants. Land planaria like high humidity and Don’t forget … temperature. So, the humid southern US, Help save paper, postage, and your tax dollars! from Florida to Califor- This newsletter and the annual reader survey are nia (excluding deserts), available online at: are preferred habitats. https://onslow.ces.ncsu.edu/environmental- Land planarian, Photo: B. Taylor, Dec. 2015 update-newsletter/

Planaria are odd creatures. They have neither a Thank you to the folks who have completed the respiratory nor a circulatory system. They also online survey for 2015! For those who have not don’t have a skeleton or an anus. Wastes are ex- yet done so, please do.

North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service North Carolina State University Onslow County Center 4024 Richlands Hwy. Jacksonville, NC 28540