by Falcon
September 07, 2010
Published: September 5, 2010
Michigan State University, via Associated Press
The emerald ash borer has spread to New York State.
You have perhaps heard about the bugs. In fact, it’s hard to turn on the television or read a newspaper without hearing more about bedbugs. In your mattress, at the office, the theater, the Brooklyn district attorney’s office, the Empire State Building — from New York to Portland, it’s the summer’s It bug.
But at the Cornell University Agroforestry Resource Center in the Catskills, they are more concerned with a less celebrated bug, the emerald ash borer. Native to China, it was first detected in the United States in Michigan in 2002 — perhaps arriving in packing material with shipments to auto plants. Since then it has spread across the upper Midwest and into Canada, killing tens of millions of ash trees. It was first reported in New York in June 2009 in Cattaraugus County in southwestern New York.
This June it was discovered in Ulster and Greene Counties in the Catskills, including in the Catskill Forest Preserve. The larvae of the ash borer, a beetle with metallic green wing covers, burrow into tree bark, killing the tree in one to three years. There is no known systemic way to stop its spread or to save infested trees.
Read entire story here
by Falcon
August 09, 2010
by Falcon
July 20, 2010
By Laurie J Schmidt from Popular Science
The new bug is the first with complete resistance to the parasite -- and it passes that gene on to its children
Scientists at the University of Arizona have successfully bred genetically modified mosquitoes that are 100 percent resistant to the malaria parasite, rendering the mosquito incapable of infecting humans with malaria.
For years, researchers have tried to engineer mosquitoes so that they're immune to the parasite that carries malaria -- a single-celled organism called Plasmodium. But previous attempts only succeeded in destroying about 97 percent of malaria parasites in mosquitoes' bodies. The difference between 97 and 100 percent might seem negligible, but Michael Riehle, who led the new study, says that 3 percent means the difference between success and failure. "If you want to effectively stop the spreading of the malaria parasite, you need mosquitoes that are no less than 100 percent resistant to it," he said.
Read entire story here
by Falcon
July 02, 2010
DADE CITY — Health officials have confirmed a case of Eastern equine encephalitis in a local horse, prompting reminders to east Pasco residents to protect themselves against mosquito-borne diseases.
The disease was found in a Dade City horse that had been euthanized, said Deanna Krautner, spokeswoman for the Pasco County Health Department.
"Although cases of (Eastern equine encephalitis) are rare in humans, if a person gets sick with the disease it is often serious and can even be fatal," said county health officer Dr. David Johnson.
Read the whole story at St. Peteresburg Times
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In the News
by Falcon
May 25, 2010
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Termidor termiticide/insecticide has a new label with updated use directions for general pest control.
“Termidor is a more inclusive pest control product than ever before,” said Dr. Bob Davis, market development specialist for BASF. “The new label directions provide pest management professionals with more specific guidance on using Termidor SC termiticide/insecticide and Termidor WG termiticide/insecticide for general pest control.”
The new Termidor label separates “outside surfaces” from “foundation perimeter,” with a listing of structures that includes residential, institutional, commercial and industrial buildings and utility enclosures.
“The improvement to the label directions adds clarity to treatment of structures beyond the one-foot up and one-foot out from the foundation treatments,” Davis said.
Read Entire Story Here
by Falcon
April 07, 2010
Great Story on Bedbugs in Apartment complexes in the New York Times from March 22nd, 2010.
by Falcon
March 31, 2010
The Daytona Beach News Journal wrote a very entertaining piece about bugs coming back to Florida homes once Spring hits. We included a little of the story below, check out the full write-up here.
By AARON LONDON, TAKING UP SPACE
March 31, 2010 12:05 AM
Now Atlantic hurricane season doesn't start for a couple more months, and it will be a while before we get into that afternoon thunderstorm weather pattern, but Mother Nature's bounty is becoming increasingly evident with every passing day. That's right, the bugs are back.
Buzzing, flying, biting and certainly annoying, Florida's insect population is reemerging from its winter slumber to make its presence known once again.
It's estimated that there are 12,500 different species of insects roaming about the Sunshine State, and I think each and every one of them has taken up residence in my backyard.
Not a day passes that I don't see evidence of more and more insect activity in my tiny corner or our little corner of paradise.
For those who bemoan the decline of commercial development, I have several contractors from the ant world building elaborate insect condos all around my property.
These elaborate -- and sometimes mind-boggling -- efforts seem to pop up literally overnight and there doesn't appear to be any "No Vacancy" sign anywhere.
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