Read Online Golden Malicious (Apple Orchard Mystery) by Sheila Connolly - Free Book Online
Authors: Sheila Connolly
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your corpse.”
“And is it . . . ?” Meg asked.
“I’m afraid so,” Christopher replied.
The three of them silently contemplated the dead insect lying on Christopher’s palm for several seconds.
“It may have been brushed off and swept under the log by the investigators.”
“I’m surprised they didn’t collect it as evidence,” Meg said.
“It seems unlikely. This beetle is not a flesh eater, but of course the investigators could not be expected to know that. Either they failed to see it or they dismissed it as unimportant,” Christopher said.
“What happens now?” Seth asked.
Christopher sighed. “There is a rather convoluted chain of events that must take place if we are to declare this an official problem. I’d like to take a few minutes to look for additional evidence—perhaps more insects, although the odds of finding another dead one are small, for the reasons I outlined. If they’re here, it’s more likely we’d see their exit holes in the trees themselves. As you noted, Meg, this is a large insect, so the holes where they emerge from the tree trunks are correspondingly large, perhaps a half-inch across, and perfectly circular. Let’s see if we can spot any of those. There are binoculars in my car, which may help.”
“I can get those for you, if the car’s unlocked,” Seth said.
“Thank you, I’d appreciate that.”
As Seth headed down the path to the parking area, Meg asked, “Bree filled me in a little, but I still feel ignorant. What more can you tell me about these beetles?”
“I assume Bree explained to you the ecological impact?” When Meg nodded, Christopher went on, “That doesn’t begin to take into account the potential economic impact. Thus far, people have become aware of the ALB when the insects turn up in heavily populated urban or suburban areas, where they’re more of a nuisance that anything else. People don’t like to lose their shade trees in such settings. But there may be far more in our forests, where no one has yet looked for them. If the forests are affected, which I regret to say is quite likely, then we face a much bigger problem.”
“Is there anything we can do about it?”
“Despite the best efforts of a range of scientists over the past decade and more, the short answer is, not much. To date we have not found any chemical or biological method for controlling them, although the research is ongoing, even at the university here.”
“Bree mentioned visiting a lab on campus.”
“Yes, there is one, and I’m responsible for it. Of course, the ALB is not our only area of research. In any case, unfortunately, the only solution available to us at the moment is complete eradication, which means sacrificing a massive number of trees, which must be reduced to chips.”
“They can’t be treated and used for something else?”
Christopher shook his head. “Not at this time. It is a tragic waste.”
“So hypothetically, say Jonas Nash came strolling along this path and noticed one of the beetles. He would have a reason to pick it up and take it away, without telling anyone?”
Christopher stared at her, his expression troubled. “Assuming he recognized it for what it was, and he had read our public information outreach materials, which as a responsible forester he should have done, then I suppose the answer is yes, it’s conceivable that he might do that, to protect his own interests.”
Seth returned and held out the cluster of binoculars he was carrying. “Here you go. Now what?”
“I want you to look at the upper portions of the trunks for the round holes I described. When we mount a full survey, we get either tree climbers in or use a bucket truck, to get closer. It’s difficult, especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for, so I won’t hold it against you if you fail to find anything.”
“But if we rank amateurs do find something, we’ve got a real problem?” Meg offered.
“I’m afraid you’re right, Meg.
“And is it . . . ?” Meg asked.
“I’m afraid so,” Christopher replied.
The three of them silently contemplated the dead insect lying on Christopher’s palm for several seconds.
“It may have been brushed off and swept under the log by the investigators.”
“I’m surprised they didn’t collect it as evidence,” Meg said.
“It seems unlikely. This beetle is not a flesh eater, but of course the investigators could not be expected to know that. Either they failed to see it or they dismissed it as unimportant,” Christopher said.
“What happens now?” Seth asked.
Christopher sighed. “There is a rather convoluted chain of events that must take place if we are to declare this an official problem. I’d like to take a few minutes to look for additional evidence—perhaps more insects, although the odds of finding another dead one are small, for the reasons I outlined. If they’re here, it’s more likely we’d see their exit holes in the trees themselves. As you noted, Meg, this is a large insect, so the holes where they emerge from the tree trunks are correspondingly large, perhaps a half-inch across, and perfectly circular. Let’s see if we can spot any of those. There are binoculars in my car, which may help.”
“I can get those for you, if the car’s unlocked,” Seth said.
“Thank you, I’d appreciate that.”
As Seth headed down the path to the parking area, Meg asked, “Bree filled me in a little, but I still feel ignorant. What more can you tell me about these beetles?”
“I assume Bree explained to you the ecological impact?” When Meg nodded, Christopher went on, “That doesn’t begin to take into account the potential economic impact. Thus far, people have become aware of the ALB when the insects turn up in heavily populated urban or suburban areas, where they’re more of a nuisance that anything else. People don’t like to lose their shade trees in such settings. But there may be far more in our forests, where no one has yet looked for them. If the forests are affected, which I regret to say is quite likely, then we face a much bigger problem.”
“Is there anything we can do about it?”
“Despite the best efforts of a range of scientists over the past decade and more, the short answer is, not much. To date we have not found any chemical or biological method for controlling them, although the research is ongoing, even at the university here.”
“Bree mentioned visiting a lab on campus.”
“Yes, there is one, and I’m responsible for it. Of course, the ALB is not our only area of research. In any case, unfortunately, the only solution available to us at the moment is complete eradication, which means sacrificing a massive number of trees, which must be reduced to chips.”
“They can’t be treated and used for something else?”
Christopher shook his head. “Not at this time. It is a tragic waste.”
“So hypothetically, say Jonas Nash came strolling along this path and noticed one of the beetles. He would have a reason to pick it up and take it away, without telling anyone?”
Christopher stared at her, his expression troubled. “Assuming he recognized it for what it was, and he had read our public information outreach materials, which as a responsible forester he should have done, then I suppose the answer is yes, it’s conceivable that he might do that, to protect his own interests.”
Seth returned and held out the cluster of binoculars he was carrying. “Here you go. Now what?”
“I want you to look at the upper portions of the trunks for the round holes I described. When we mount a full survey, we get either tree climbers in or use a bucket truck, to get closer. It’s difficult, especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for, so I won’t hold it against you if you fail to find anything.”
“But if we rank amateurs do find something, we’ve got a real problem?” Meg offered.
“I’m afraid you’re right, Meg.
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