Of the trees, plants and insects...

 

Seems that this sequel on our serie from the insect (and plant) enlarged for such many paragraphs,  it's sensible devote this post completely for it. Other topics on separate stories, with more available space, etc. In combined, we have this time three species;  Tree, plant and the insect. Them go nicely together. (But the aim is not represent so many at each chapter.)

Pinus Sylvestris
(Example from a typical
young-growth tree)

 [Scot's Pine]
...Appears difficult (but not completely impossible), to think any other tree that would make such characteristic part of Fennoscandian landscapes than Pine, Pinus sylvestris (or; the Scot's Pine, a reader can notice the English naming manner also of this example...). It is not just from reason this (sole) species of the pines making almost half from all the Fennoscandian woodlands, currently. As well culturally the ('Scot's') Pine from many ways has always been tied in the history of people at N.Europes.


The P.Sylvestris can typically live for 250 years at the most (But in certain cases even double that time. And typically grows even slower and longer in the colder climate at Lapplands). Due that Pine is a species that tolerates largest variety from different environment, it is the commonest tree on Fennoscandia. Grows as well on places with relative much moisture and, more typically on forest heathlands. Equally common on higher elevations/hillsides. The only main prerequisitive to Pine is the adequate amount from sunlight.

 It can persist on such various environments so well because it's roots reach for wide-ranging area in the ground. Pine also forms symbiotic relations - called mycorrhiza - with the large number from fungi. Generally their species you can find to see from forest floor-level. Although, there's also variety other forms of; All fungi have larger rootgrowths below the surface (More precisely view of the preceding link, fx). Association of the Pine's roots with fungus permits the tree better having inevitable nutrients and water of the soil.

Pine always has been favored on human uses and on the modern forestry because it grows to a direct upward trunk. Makes it also practical on most tasks that require wood material. Pine grows almost as long as the Spruce (Picea abies), and little faster, so it is often considered more usable and flexible saw-wood material. However, in the different places Pines can as well grow for quite different kind; Beside the clifftops or on otherways rocky hillsides(fx), the trees are often smaller and appear from more various shapes, trunk turning to more varying forms. Also at different conditions from soil, fx on wet marshland, full-grown Pines sometimes seem surprisingly small, can be just little over meter in lenght.

People also often like walking on Pine forests because it's easy to see for longer distance there. Typically drier heaths where the ground mainly grows fx berries (blueberry, lingonberry), with similar smaller plants/shrubs. The air on the pinewoods is also said very healthy, which is from that the tree secrecates chemial particles that have the effect from killing  bacteria. Due the same reason it's needles, resin and various other parts from Pine have been manufactured at medicinal uses since the early prehistorical time. (Are still in similar uses today, by some part).

Doesn't, necessary, make me too impressed from modern cultivated Pine woods. The (modern) Fennoscandian forests often shows itself as a maintained landscape - At worst planted woods of the stricktly ordered form. ...So it's also easy imagine how much of the natural variety of the landscape actually has disappeared. As the trees nowadays are often maintained to economic purposes, and often the harvesting interval is about 60-80 years (at most), the resulted ecology (on a large part from) Pine forests is far from the natural. Typically continuous harvesting leaves it's traces on forest ground which are just boring to watch. Leftover twigs and cut remainders of the trees drying out in the piles can make walking at places unpleasant (...Albeit shallow plants relative soon grow even from under those). Those marks, of course, are temporary; In some places the faster growing trees coppices can cover those in a matter of some years, at the best circumstances - And, until the area is again cleaned/reshaped with machinery and man).

Already on the past centuries of a more 'traditional forest uses', Pine was very favored tree in the human purposes. In during the 19th century, trade from it's tar made the most important product at N.European market. The tar could be extracted by burning resinuous trunks and stomps of the Pine on large pit. Practice, clearing woods for it's manufacture, is said often been even more destructive to the forest ecology than the modern uses - As there also was at the time more of the actual natural forests left. Tar was so much in demand as the undersides from Ocean-going vessels (and regular boats) were frequently needed layered with tar to keep them on sailing condition. (Among it's other uses, various wooden tools were covered with tar to make them resistent for moisture. Most went for the export, of course.) Seems said that effects on forests used from that (making of tar) are still seen on regions. Closer some coastal areas the older Pine forests largerly disappeared prior the 20th century and then became replaced by the younger growths of Spruce.

More overally, nowadays it's not the scarcity or disappearance that probably would at first sight catch the view of any casual observer of the Pinewoods. Even today quite much of the natural (Fennoscandian) woodland ecology exists, although it is been converted and changed on most places, sometimes more severely (think about the drainaged marshland, and/or those planted and heavily harvested forestries. Both are mentioned on this instance since any human brought influences have the capability affect to environments on a longer momentum - And any conversion of environments/natural recovery seems appear a process from the decades scale, at least. Often  centuries.) 

On a walk you can also fx wonder and look around on a seemingly very natural looking woodland, growing some (quite) large trees. Then you glance for a place to rest a while and notice the old stomps, almost decayed and covered by the moss now. If you look closer as well other old marks from the human efforts may show, and a more trained eye soon, probably would recover lots more, older 'tracks' from similar kind. (Newer marks and tracks of course appear more apparent and visible.)

Forest cultivation (history) on Fennoscandias often deserves it's best mention from that the nonendemic (*) tree species were never planted - justifiedly so, as on many places that's said brought the most harms, seen causing fx  the impoverishment on  soils, increases of erosion,  ao similar ecological harms.
Yet, something very clearly is missing. Not necessarily the animals (fx, insects on a suitable season sometimes appear as plentiful as latitudes can permit, and  larger species aren't that expectable to so often show themselves - except from the birds).  It is not even of the plants (certainly diminished, some appearing more limited ranges, but still showing quite various kinds). Perhaps not solely even from those forest roads been built almost everywhere on S.Fennoscandias. - More likely it's from the all above discussed aspects; Smthg having to do with the declines of  randomness and of ecological diversity.

(Perhaps apparent also that),  I've never even much preferred the tree in question. That actually originates not from any logical reason for and in spite of all those respectable characteristics of it: Pine certainly has  lot of ecological importance, it has been of great importance culturally, economically was earlier as much a source of richness as it is today (once also made an important source for foods at times of scarcity). Yet, personally, and as long as I can remember, I've always disliked it. Too much of anything has the effect from bringing alongside a scarcity of something else, more or less so also on this case...

[Heather] ...As this sequel represents even two plant species, here's also few words from Heather (Calluna vulgaris). It's a common subshrub plant, recognized by most people of it's colourful Autumn blooming. Seems it said from relative early having benefited from human impacts on Natures (the West European heaths actually are said mostly formed as followings to the clear cutting of former woodlands). On Autumn the cultivated species from Heathers are commonly at sales on garden shops. From this forest plant the 'Natural Apotheket' even mentions it's flowerings being usable for making some relaxing Tea (Not all species from heathers proper to use for, and only the petals from flowers, not the other parts).

Heather makes important source of nectar to many insects. Bumble-bees (and alike) frequently visit, although interestingly it's said the smaller insects actually taking care of the plants pollination. Typically pioneering species, it commonly grows on European pinewoods/open heath. Similarly like the Pine, is also quite demanding from light. A colourful ground-mats of the heather, on Autumn, can best be seen either on the older forests, or at very recently cleared areas. ...Seems said it is mainly tolerant of forests younger than 20 or older to 70 years – because of the need from much sunlight). Maybe that also is reason for that - little surprisingly - Heather is mentioned to have generally lost of the total area of growth on Fennoscandia during past 50 years. That's because, at least partially, from the forests are more densely growing the trees, nowadays.

Still amongst some from commonest plants at forests, Heather also has the capability of growing on quite various lands (usually on drier grounds, but also fx on more moisturic places like marshes). It also relative effectively can gain new places of growth. Seems it even mentioned capable - for a limited period of time - from slowing down the growth of smaller trees. Heather can therefore persist somewhat longer on places where growth of the trees otherways would soon deprive it from it's needed light. But in time fx typical berries and other more shadowy tolerant plant then start replace it.
 [No pics from, because the plant appears quite difficult photograph, acc. my experiments...]



[Cerceris arenaria] ...Quite several paragraphs were devoted to those most representative forests plants, so this now leaves us just little space for the insect example. Like was promised before, it's a hymenopteran this time (Quite a justified selection, as those all in all make the largest group from the Fennoscandian insects.) In addition to the commonest (better known) social bees, there's multitudes from solitary species, although most are not so often seen. Predative species make a respectable amount from them, containing fx  the Spider Wasps (the name derives from their habit for catching and paralyzing spiders) . The prey is  drag for the nesting hole, and  the emerging offspring later  feeds on that. Also, there's fx the Field digger wasp (Mellinus arvensis), that catches flies. And the European Beewolf, which - like  the related genera on it's genus - specializes on various bees (...To name a few). Most predative  hymenopteran belong to the Vespoidea, ie they are related genera for social wasps.





The species discussed on beside paragraphs... 



If my guess is correct – although, like said there's lots quite similar looking species – this exemplary species (in the pic) would be Cerceris arenaria (Although, I wasn't finding any English name for it). In that case, would represent example of a species specialized on catching Snout beetles (Curculionidae). Adult is mentioned to prey an amount of those, the larvae then later emerging feeds on them. Adults however - like the other solitary hymenopteran usually - are said feed on the pollen from flowering plants. (I guess) it's not quite unlike encountering the species at the open Pine forest, although at a place I noticed it was bushes beside small road, mostly a sunnier area growing forest flowers and various larger vegetation. Perhaps it's more expectable area to seek these species, often (on such places) there's also places where solitary hymenopteran typically can make their nesting.



Like most from Vespoidea, it seems quite slenderly built. Also has little similar looking yellow stripings. Lot smaller species than the common social wasps, though. (....Whatever this species exactly, like said, could quite as well represent some other predative hymenopteran. If you know from it's precise identification, can offer me that...).

(W-G.)

 * ...However, because endemic, strictly speaking, is mentioned a term referring for species which appear just on (certain) eco-region (/or, particular environments) and nowhere else, it is noted that a more proper word to use at this would be the introduced tree species that not appear on forests/natural environments by origin, prior the human impacts...
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