ipmnews News

IPM News halted

IPM News is no longer being updated. The old articles are being left in place for archival purposes. August 20, 2004.

Wine Institute and CAWG Receive IPM Innovator Award

Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) received the Department of Pesticide Regulation's "IPM Innovator of the Year Award" at a ceremony at the California Environmental Projection Agency headquarters in Sacramento today. The department gave two of its eight awards to these organizations this year to give rare public recognition to those who develop and promote methods for pest management that reduce the risks associated with using traditional chemical approaches. Complete PRNewswire article October 15

Pioneer Won't Be Fined for Biotech Mixup

The largest seed company in the country has been cleared of violations in an incident where corn, genetically designed to resist a pest, got mixed up with neighboring crops, the Agriculture Department said Friday. AP article Oct 17

Columbia Dispatch Series on Invasive Species

In a special four-day investigative series beginning Sunday, Oct. 26, The Columbus Dispatch takes an in-depth look at invasive animals and plants, an international menace that costs the United States more than $138 billion a year. A six-month Dispatch investigation details how the plants and animals arrive, the havoc they wreak and an inadequate government safety net to stop them. Complete article from Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/

Plant Quarantine Station Closures Could Wallop California

State workers represented by the California State Employees Association (CSEA) are extremely concerned that California's $27 billion agricultural economy and priceless native species could be in danger if the state proceeds with scheduled closures of 11 plant quarantine inspection stations. Complete article from October 22 PRNewswire --

Officials declare end to San Diego County fruit fly infestat

Agriculture officials lifted a quarantine on produce in northern San Diego County on Tuesday and declared they had beaten a 10-month-old infestation of Mexican fruit flies. The quarantine began in December 2002, two weeks after the fly larvae were discovered in a grapefruit orchard in Valley Center. At its height, the quarantine covered 130 square miles of prime citrus and avocado groves. SFGate.com article September 23

Edmonton committee: Cut, don't ban, pesticide use

Edmonton and its property owners are not ready for an all-out ban on pesticides, a council committee decided Friday. Instead, council's community services committee said the city should set an example by cutting or eliminating its chemical use. The strategy, if endorsed by council Tuesday, will officially commit the city to a direction its community services department already was heading in. Some parks have been pesticide-free since the mid-1990s. Edmonton Journal article September 20

Canadian officials try to stop spread of Asian beetle

Canadian officials said Tuesday they are taking precautions to prevent the spread of the Asian long-horned beetle and that they will begin within days to cut down and destroy hundreds of infested trees. In addition, curbside pickups of Toronto yard wastes, which are collected separately from regular trash, were suspended this week in the infested area until a site can be found for debris to be collected and chipped to kill the beetle. From a September 16 Detroit Free Press article

Temple to use borate on termites

A temple in Sarasot tries alternatives to tenting for a termite infestation. September 24 article in the Herald Tribune.

How to debug plants

With help from county extension offices in Palm Beach and Broward counties, we have assembled a list of the most common garden pests in South Florida and some low-toxicity or nontoxic methods of control. Sun-Sentinal.com article Posted 9/19

U.S. EPA is sued over children's exposure to pesticides

The Environmental Protection Agency was sued by four states and a coalition of conservation, public health, and farmworker groups Monday for failing to protect children from unsafe levels of pesticide residue found in food. ENN article

Boulder: Board advises study before spraying for west nile

BOULDER (CO): The city should find out whether spraying for mosquitoes prevents West Nile virus before insecticide is unleashed on neighborhoods, the environmental advisory board appointed by the City Council said Wednesday night...The board urged officials to spend the winter analyzing data and develop guidelines on when to use sprays. See the Rocky Mountain News article.

Australia mulls fox "morning after pills" to save penguins

Australian rangers are developing a version of the so-called morning-after abortion pill to wipe out foxes threatening the penguin population in one of the country's most popular nature reserves. See the article on Yahoo! News.

S2 Mosquito Coils, Illegal in US, Cancer Risk

Two studies published in Environmental Health Perspectives indicates that mosquito coils with octachlorodipropyl ether (S-2) are effective but release high levels of carcinogens. The coils, unregistered in the US, are used in southeast Asia. See the papers Mosquito Coil Emissions and Health Implications and Octachlorodipropyl Ether (S-2) Mosquito Coils Are Inadequately Studied for Residential Use in Asia and Illegal in the United States

Heat instead of fumigation for termites

Is there any way to rid your house of dry-wood termites other than fumigation? An Internet search quickly led Rodger Koopman of Alameda to an alternative that's well established in Southern California but less well known in the Bay Area: thermal pest control. From the San Francisco Chronicle article "Turning the heat up under infested homes - Popular alternative to fumigation attacks termites, mold and fungus ", Aug. 30

MOSQUITO EATERS: Tiny killers tested for pest-control role

Microscopic crablike creatures with a voracious appetite for swimming larvae may soon become the newest weapon in the war on mosquitoes.

A University of Florida researcher believes the tiny crustaceans have big potential for helping control buzzing hordes that have become a serious health threat with the spread of West Nile virus, malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases. From a Miami Herald article posted 9/02/03

Attractive Lure Beckons Anastrepha Fruit Flies

An Agricultural Research Service scientist and cooperators are developing a new lure that could increase the capture of Anastrepha (Mexican) fruit flies that attack a variety of citrus and other crops in North and South America. See entire article posted 8/22 on the ARS website.

U. of Neb. Researcher Develops Gel To Study Rootworms

A University of Nebraska researcher has developed a clear gel that simulates soil to study how rootworms attack corn. Full article posted 8/25 in Midwest News

West Nile, Mosquitoes and Spraying - 3 articles

It seems as though you can always find a West Nile Virus article somewhere in the US press. Recent articles include Few Counties Spray for Skeeters from Newsobserver.com (North Carolina) 8/28; City Plans to Spray Today from the Boulder News (Colorado) 8/27; and Mosquito Carriers Are Reported Closer from the SanDiego (CA) Union -Tribune 8/23

China: Eagles battle giant gerbils

China is deploying eagles to control giant gerbils that have damaged an area of grassland larger than Switzerland.

The China Daily said on Tuesday burrowing by great gerbils (Rhombomys opimus) and other rodents had damaged 4.76 million hectares (11.76 million acres) of grassland in the far west. About 33,000 hectares (81,540 acres) had been completely destroyed. ...

To combat the onslaught, the government was using poison and raising eagles to eat the burrowers now reaching the peak of their reproductive cycle, the paper said, adding as many as 790 burrow holes had been found per hectare in some areas. See the article on Yahoo! News, posted August 19.

Seattle: Goats and sheep replace herbicides

Officials from King Conservation District hired Healing Hooves, a "natural vegetation management" outfit from Edwall, Lincoln County, to eat back overgrowth at Marra Farm in South Park and clear a site in the 9200 block of Myers Way South for the planned construction of a firefighter-training center.

Conservation officials were eager to see whether the herd can be effective in eliminating noxious plants such as English ivy, blackberry bushes and Scotch broom � making the use of pesticides or heavy machinery unnecessary.

From the Seattle Times article Conservation firm hires four-legged lawnmowers posted August 18

(Australia) Residents asked to distribute OFM pheromone

Residents of the tiny farming town of Cobram in the state of Victoria are being asked by the Department of Primary Industries to put moth pheromone emitters in their backyards in a bid to reduce the damage inflicted by the oriental fruit moths on the area's peach and nectarine harvests. From the Reuters article Moths Drawn to Love's False Flame posted Aug 18 found on Yahoo! News

DuPont Wins Legal Appeal Against Grower

The DuPont Co. has won an appeal in a lawsuit by a grower who alleged the chemical company defrauded him when he settled claims for crop losses blamed on its fungicide Benlate. AP article posted August 18, found on Yahoo! News

Bedbugs back, with a bigger bite

A Kansas State University scientist is warning that those blood-sucking bugs are back. Infestations are on the rise in the United States, with 28 states, including Kansas and Missouri, now reporting the bugs in hotels, apartment complexes and even homes. From a Kansas City Star article posted on Sat, Aug. 16, 2003

Study Finds Decline in Atmospheric Methyl Bromide

The New York Times reports on findings by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of a "significant drop in atmospheric levels of methyl bromide, a versatile pesticide that is being phased out of use because it damages the planet's protective ozone layer." The Times article Study Finds Atmospheric Decline in Pesticide Harmful to Ozone was published August 16. (NY Times articles are usually available for free for a week or two, with charges for archived articles). The original research was published in Geophysical Research Letters

(San Diego) County Gives Away Free Mosquito Fish

In San Diego, local government is distributing mosquito fish - Gasmbusia affinis - hoping to control mosquito breeding in standing water sources. August 12 article on TheSanDiegoChannel.com

Fungus on Tap to Fight Whiteflies, Other Pests

Trouble is literally brewing for silverleaf whiteflies, thrips, spider mites and other insect plant pests.

The trouble in question is a new fermentation procedure that the Agricultural Research Service has patented for mass-producing spores of the fungus Paecilomyces fumosoroseus as a biological pesticide. From an article on the ARS website by Jan Suszkiw August 5, 2003

EU Bee-Keepers Warned Against Exotic New Parasite

Europe's bee-keepers received a stern warning on Tuesday to guard against the arrival of an exotic new pest which could wipe out entire bee colonies if it gains a foothold on the continent.

The small hive beetle has not yet been seen in Europe, according to the EU's executive Commission.

"It's a developing parasite and nobody knows exactly where it is in the world. We don't believe that it is yet in Europe," said a Commission spokeswoman. "It has a very destructive impact on bees and destroys the whole stock," she told reporters.

Also known by its Latin name aethina tumida, the beetle is native to sub-Saharan Africa but has spread to South Africa, the United States and Australia in the last few years. From a Tue Aug 5 Reuters article on Yahoo! News.

Rat Infestation Leads to NY Firehouse Abandonment

Hundreds of rats have invaded a Queens firehouse - forcing New York's Bravest to flee from New York's Slimiest.

Firefighters from Engine 298, Ladder Co. 127 and Battalion 50 abandoned their Jamaica quarters yesterday as officials said the firehouse will have to be gutted to flush out the vermin. From an August 6 NY Daily News article by AUSTIN FENNER, ALICE McQUILLAN and BILL HUTCHINSON on Yahoo! News

Vatican to Get Experts to Assess Crops

The Vatican (news - web sites) will convene a round-table discussion in the fall to study the ethical and scientific implications of biotech crops.

The Vatican "will draw the appropriate conclusions" on using genetically modified organisms after the meeting, Cardinal Renato Martino told Vatican Radio on Monday. A day earlier, an Italian newspaper that interviewed him on the divisive issue suggested the Vatican was coming out in favor of biotech crops as a way to combat world hunger. From an AP article on Yahoo! News by ALESSANDRA RIZZO, Aug. 4

Global Study on Food Security

Experts from business, politics, food, farming and development agreed the basis on Saturday for an ambitious review of how science can help some 800 million chronically undernourished people in the developing world. From a Reuters article on Yahoo! News by Ian Geoghegan, Aug. 2

Natural Compound May Curb Losses Caused by Snails

A compound found in a variant of the weed mugwort may help Asian rice growers and U.S. catfish farmers stem snail-related losses.

Agricultural Research Service studies have found that a natural compound, Vulgarone B, is a potent and relatively inexpensive control agent against golden apple and ram's horn snails.From an article on the Agricultural Research Service web site By Luis Pons July 25, 2003

Newly Approved Fungus May Help "Clean Up" Cotton

A fungus discovered by an Agricultural Research Service scientist crowds out its relatives, steals their food and space--and could prove to be an important ally to farmers across Arizona and Texas. Known simply as AF36, the naturally occurring fungus crowds out harmful fungi that can contaminate crops, a burden costing the U.S. cotton industry up to $10 million annually. From an article on the Agricultural Research Service web site by Erin Kendrick-Peabody July 28, 2003

Concerns grow with melaleuca tree program

An article by Milton D. Carrero Galarza in the Sun Sentinal posted July 26 2003 discusses a homeowner's concerns over loss of melaleuca trees. The species is invasive and the target of biocontrol efforts.

Losing the war : Nothing workin' to stop vermin

A NY Daily News article of July 26 by Carrie Melago discusses the increasing rat infestation problem in New York City, how it affects residents, and control efforts.

Gypsy moth infestation in Wisconsin

ON�WISCONSIN�: JS�ONLINE�: NEWS�: MILWAUKEE�: E-MAIL�| PRINT THIS�STORY� ...Record numbers of property owners throughout the Milwaukee metropolitan area are complaining for the first time this summer of gypsy moth caterpillars chewing up tree leaves...Local officials describe a population "explosion" of the pests this year in many previously untouched neighborhoods, and they predict more widespread spraying of a bacterium to kill caterpillars next spring than ever before. From an article by Don Behm, Milwaukee Journal Sentinal

Insects Endangering Hemlock Stands

"At first glance, the forest around Sand Spring Run looks just as it should, with a lush understory of grasses and ferns shaded by tall maple, oak and hemlock.

"But a closer look shows that the hemlock trees � a keystone species along streams like this � are under attack from at least two insects with the potential to devastate hemlock stands throughout the Northeast.

"Usually dark green, the hemlock's needles have faded to a pale, almost yellow color indicative of an infestation of elongate hemlock scale insects. The cottony, white spots indicate the tree also is infested with hemlock woolly adelgid. Together, these insects are teaming up on hemlocks from Virginia to southern New England and west to Ohio."

A Science-AP article on Yahoo! News discusses research in Connecticut and Pennsylvania on biological control for these pests.

Chile Eyes Export Market for Organic Wine

Forget the picture-postcard views of a vineyard with perfectly pruned rows of grape vines and no weeds. And, forget the alarming image of the latex-clad worker in a gas mask fumigating his crop.

Organic vineyards have begun to spring up in Chile, as winemakers in the fertile central valleys, famous for high-quality wines that rival those of France and California, turn an eye to growing export markets for environmentally friendly products. Reuters article on Yahoo! News Sat Jul 26, 2:57 PM ET

Tree-Eating Beetle Poses Threat in U.S. (Elm Bark Beetle)

Scientists suspect the insect arrived from Asia about a decade ago. No one is sure when it will attack or how fast it moves. The only certainty is that the pest called the emerald ash borer kills every tree it attacks.

It has infested or destroyed about 6 million ash trees in southeast Michigan, and was discovered in Ohio this spring. That discovery alarmed scientists because it was the first time the ash pest had been found outside of Michigan and a small part of Ontario in Canada. See entire AP article on Yahoo! News

British government panel says no reason to outlaw GM crops

A major British government inquiry into genetically modified (GM) crops announced it had found no evidence that they harm health, while also holding back from declaring the technology completely safe.

The GM Science Review Panel said in a statement Monday that it had found "no scientific case for ruling out all GM crops and their products, but nor does it give them blanket approval." See entire article on Yahoo! News

Egyptian premier has mangos confiscated

Egyptian premier has mangos confiscated upon return from Sudan Mon Jul 21, 9:14 AM ET Egyptian Prime Minister Atef Ebeid had a Sudanese government gift of mangos confiscated upon his return to Cairo because he had violated Egypt's fruit import rules. <p.

Agriculture ministry officials enforcing a ban on imports of fruit deemed to pose a pest risk to Egyptian farming on Sunday seized 300 boxes of mangos that Ebeid's delegation had received during an official visit to Sudan, officials said Monday. See entire article on Yahoo! News

Auburn Univ. Developing New Methyl Bromide Alternative

Auburn University researchers say they've developed a substitute pesticide for methyl bromide, a widely used pest, weed and plant disease killer that's being phased out because it damages the ozone. Full article by Garry Mitchell, Associated Press Writer , on Yahoo! News

New book on stored product protection published

CABI Publishing has published the proceedings of the 8th International Working Conference on Stored Product Protection, held in 2002 in York, UK. More information about the book can be viewed here.

New efforts to understand, curb invasive species

From snakehead fish in Maryland to zebra mussels in the Great Lakes, invasions by foreign species are a growing problem. To better understand and control the invaders, the government is opening a new center to study these species, and U.S. and foreign researchers are working together to share data. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said it is establishing a new National Center for Research on Aquatic Invasive Species in Ann Arbor, Mich. Read the entire ENN article by Randolph E. Schmid, Associated Press 7/17/03

U. of Iowa Experimenting With Non-Chemical Termite Treatment

The University of Iowa is experimenting with a non-chemical way to stop termite infestations on campus buildings The university has been researching a new method in which crushed limestone is used to prevent termite infestations. According to University of Iowa Entomologist Bob Setter, before a building is constructed, the university will be placing a six-inch layer of crushed limestone under concrete and up sidewalls, creating a physical barrier. Setter said termites can't tunnel through the limestone and the rocks are large enough that the pests can't move them. from a PCT Online News article 7/9/03

Releasing Decapitating Flies To Combat Red Fire Ants

Red fire ants' days are numbered in the United States, thanks to effective commercial pest control methods and a USDA program introducing natural enemies into the red fire ants' world. The government has already started deploying these natural enemies in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. "This program could wind up saving the United States about $4 billion a year," said Dr. Philip G. Koehler, a University of Florida entomologist who spearheaded portions of the USDA research. PCT Online News article, 7/9/2003

Blight Resistant Potato Gene Identified

Scientists have discovered a gene that protects potatoes against late blight, the devastating disease that caused the Irish potato famine.

The discovery of the gene, found in a wild Mexican potato, and its cloning by scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison was reported today in online editions of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). July 14, 2003 article from ENS

Maine Town In A Fight Over( Blueberry) Spraying Ban

Addison, Maine is the battleground of a controversy between residents opposed to the aerial application of pesticides to blueberries and chemical-intensive blueberry farmers. The town's residents will confront challenges to an ordinance banning the spraying of pesticides on blueberries in a July 29 special town meeting. (article on Beyond Pesticides website, July 15, 2003)

Ohio City Adopts Law to Stop Pesticide Spraying for WNV

The City of Lyndhurst, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, passed a landmark ordinance on July 7, 2003 prohibiting the spraying of pesticides "in an effort to help control the spread of the West Nile virus." The City's action follows a community forum in which a panel of experts on mosquito management and health effects of pesticides discussed the hazards and the lack of efficacy associated with the spraying of adulticides, or pesticides used to spray adult mosquitoes. (article on Beyond Pesticides website, July 14, 2003)

Pennsylvania: Crews Treat Water To Reduce West Nile Risk

As the director of the Mosquito Control Program at Penn State's Agriculture Extension, Jay Smoker makes getting rid of the pests his top priority. TheWGALChannel.com article, found on Yahoo!News