IPM News and Events Roundup 4/15/2022
A weekly collection of IPM news, webinars, employment and funding opportunities and more from the NE IPM Center. If you have IPM-related research, events or other IPM news you would like to have included, please email me at nec2@cornell.edu. If you would like to subscribe to the weekly Roundup, please email northeastipm@cornell.edu. Past Roundups are archived here.
Northeastern IPM Center Upcoming Events:
Job Opportunity: Program Aide, Northeastern IPM Center, Cornell University
Join our team! The Northeastern IPM Center is hiring a program aide. This is an opportunity to have an important impact in many areas of what we do. The position entails a variety of responsibilities ranging from administrative and logistical to assistance with communications and support for our webinars and grant awardees. Applications accepted through April 17.
Northeastern IPM Center IPM Toolbox Webinar
Taking a Closer Look: How Strawberry Disease Risk Varies with Microclimates at Canopy Level, Mengjun Hu Presenter, May 4 11am ET
Weather stations in strawberry fields might seem like good sources of highly local environmental data, but this assumes sun, wind, and shade affect an area evenly. There can be microclimate variations at the canopy level, especially when row covers are used for plasticulture strawberry production. See the fact sheet: A Closer Look: Microclimates and Disease Risk at Canopy-Levelfor more info.
The IPM Toolbox webinar recording of Pesticides: Part of the IPM Toolbox Webinar with Dr. Mary Centrella and Dan Wixted, presented on March 30, is now available for your listening pleasure.
The Western Front, Western IPM Center Newsletter for April is available
Read about grower challenges in Hawaii, IPM Hour presentations, meeting and job opportunities and more.
PestTalks, blog by JC Chong at Clemson University has blurbs on aphids and control, box tree moth plan in New York, spread of Spotted Lanternfly and more. His posts are always worth reading.
Maine Cooperative Extension greenhouse plastic recycling program
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is anticipating that our drop-off sites will open for the 2022 season from April 19 through November 21, 2022. Additional details will be posted to this website as they become available. In the meantime, if you have greenhouse plastic you would like to recycle, please prepare your plastic bundles per the instructions on this website and store the bundles undercover to keep them dry until our drop-off sites are open this spring.
Tree-Topping…The Cost is Greater than you think!
Tree topping is the removal of large amounts of leaves and branches from a tree's crown. In some cases, all of the leaves and branches are removed, leaving large stubs where branches were cut. If you are topping a tree to make it smaller, Don't. It doesn't work! After a tree is topped, it grows back rapidly in an attempt to replace its missing leaves. Leaves are needed to manufacture food for the tree. Without new leaves, the tree will die.
“Forever Chemicals” upend a Maine Farm – and point to a larger problem
Songbird Farm tested positive for PFAS in its soil and spinach, but especially its water. The water tests revealed levels of PFAS that were 400 times higher than Maine’s state guideline. Nordell and Davis immediately informed customers that they were suspending production at the farm while they tried to learn more — or at least until the state could install a filtration system to mitigate the problem. Then they ordered two blood tests. They couple wanted to know the amount of PFAS in their own bodies, and the results made clear just how pervasive the chemicals were: They had PFAS levels 250 times greater than the average American, higher even than some industrial workers.
As Australia’s climate changes, a tropical disease advances
Public health professionals say the appearance of Japanese encephalitis here is just the latest example of how global warming is contributing to the spread of disease. Six years ago, melting permafrost in Siberia released frozen anthrax, which infected an Indigenous community. In 2007, the tropical chikungunya virus was detected in Europe for the first time in two Italian villages and has since appeared in France. In the United States, Lyme disease cases have doubled over 30 years as warmer conditions create longer tick seasons. And in Australia, experts warn Japanese encephalitis could be the first of several illnesses to spread south.
Circle traps are a great option for Spotted Lanternfly elimination
Those who find spotted lanternflies on their property can reduce the population and its impact by trapping and squishing them. Penn State Extension’s website includes instructions for making your own circle trap using easily obtainable items including plastic milk jugs, duct tape, screen wire, twine, hot glue and gallon-sized food-storage bags. Traps can also be purchased through agriculture and nursery supply stores. Instructional video and instructions here.
This final rule codifies product performance data requirements to support registration of products claiming efficacy against three categories of invertebrate pests: Those identified to be of significant public health importance (e.g., ticks, mosquitoes, cockroaches, etc.); Wood-destroying insects (e.g., termites), and Certain invasive invertebrate species (e.g., Asian long-horned beetle). This is a huge and detailed final rule.
USDA is searching for Pollinator Subcommittee and Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee nominees
Avian Influenza update:
Massachusetts suspends poultry shows and exhibitions
With more than 24M birds now killed: How to kill millions of poultry?
ARS Q&A: Protecting Chickens from Avian Influenza
Pirbright discovers more benefits from avian influenza vaccine: Pirbright scientists recently developed a potential avian influenza vaccine that offered better protection to chickens. The researchers say the vaccine was easier and less costly to produce than traditional flu vaccines.
NY adds fowl auctions to list of banned avian activities.
Invasive Species:
New Interactive Guide to Oak Wilt in the Northeast and Midwest, from US Forest Service
Oak wilt is complex, with a high degree of variability in distribution, severity, and associated management options. This publication provides a detailed overview of oak wilt and is intended to help natural resource managers in the Northeast and Midwest choose the most appropriate tools for a given situation. Using the Story Map format, information has been organized into selectable sections/tabs for easy navigation and exploration.
Research:
The researchers investigated the prevalence and patterns of pest infestations in low-income communities in four cities (Jersey City, Linden, Paterson, Trenton) in New Jersey, USA. Resident interviews, visual inspections, and the placement of monitors were used to identify pest infestations. A total of 1,753 apartments from 19 buildings or building complexes were accessed. The infestation rates of cockroaches, bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.), and house mice (Mus musculus domesticus Schwarz and Schwarz) were 37, 9, and 20%, respectively.
Emergence of Ixodes scapularis in a Small Mammal Population in Coastal Oak-Pine Forest, Mane, US
To track ticks over time in a Maine forest, researchers from the University of Maine and the Maine Medical Center Research Institute’s Lyme & Vector-Borne Disease Laboratory collected and tested ticks from small mammals in the Holt Research Forest, located in the town of Arrowsic in Sagadahoc County, over the course of three decades. Jack Witham, a recently retired associate scientist with UMaine’s Center for Research on Sustainable Forests, collected over 3,000 ticks from over 10,000 animals during this time. Article here.
Historical change in the outbreak dynamics of an invading forest insect
The reasons why the abundance of an invading species may change are varied but often reflect changes in the way in which populations interact with resident communities. Here we analyze changes in the outbreak dynamics of Lymantria dispar (formerly known to as the "gypsy moth"), a Eurasian foliage-feeding insect that has been established in N. America for ca. 150 years. We find that during the course of this species' presence in N. America, it has continually exhibited population dynamics in which populations reach outbreak levels, resulting in defoliation of large forested areas. However, there is evidence of some changes in both the periodicity and synchrony of these outbreaks.
A recent study exposing adult female Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes to sub-lethal doses of 5 pesticide compounds using a modified WHO tube bioassay showed that following a single exposure, they could associate the olfactory stimulus of pesticides with detrimental effects and subsequently avoid pesticide contact. This finding highlights the importance of cognition as a determinant of pesticide resistance in mosquito populations targeted by chemical control.
Webinars, Seminars, Meetings and more
An Interview with Dr. Bobby Corrigan, Urban Rodentologist, April 18 2pm CT
Dr. Corrigan is a renowned urban rodentologist and has been the leader in urban rodent management for more than 30 years. Join the webinar for an exclusive interview with a visionary that has revolutionized how we approach commensal rodent management. He will discuss the highlights of a career a spanning more than 40 years.
Forestry Best Management Practices for Extreme Weather, April 20, 12noon and 7pm
As we witness the impacts of climate change, weather emergencies are occurring more frequently as bigger and more intense storms become more common. Landowners, foresters, and managers cannot anticipate or prepare for every contingency, but they can rely on a set of best management practices (BMPs) to prevent soil erosion during extreme weather events. Increasing their knowledge of effective techniques and newer erosion control materials can prepare managers to mitigate problems and reduce their overall costs. With advanced planning, managers can keep these materials available to mitigate erosion during extreme weather events. Asking a few simple questions during a timber sale layout will help land managers anticipate potential problems and plan to prevent them. Join Steven Roberge for a discussion about building a system of BMPs to mitigate the impacts of severe weather during harvesting operations. If prompted for a password, use “Cornell”.
The Mighty Phragmites: Understanding the science of management for one of the worst wetland invaders in the US, April 20m1pm ET
The common reed, or phragmites, Phragmites australis, is one of the most abundant and problematic wetland invaders in the US. There are no silver bullets for eradication, but this presentation will dig into the science of phragmites responses to cultural, physical, biological, and chemical management. Integrated approaches and where they are most effective will be highlighted. Click here to join the meeting on your computer or mobile app or call in (audio only) at +1 410-874-6739, Phone Conference ID: 666 945 989#. I am not sure about this link but it is the only one I was able to find.
An Inside Look: Birds, Bees, and a Second Silent Spring? April 20, 4pm ET
This presentation will cover: The direct and indirect routes of bird exposure to neonicotinoid pesticides; How neonicotinoids impact bird physiology, movement, reproduction, and survival; and What we can do to reduce neonicotinoid impacts on birds
Destructive Tree Pests: Termites and Carpenter Ants, April 26, 2pm ET
Termites and carpenter ants can damage the structural integrity of trees and homes. During this webinar, experts will explain how to inspect trees and indoor spaces for wood destroying pests, how to identify the type of pest, and how to manage these pests using integrated pest management tactics. Treatment options such as traditional termiticides and newer bait systems will be discussed. This webinar will be of specific interest to arborists, pest management professionals, and homeowners.
New Technology for Weed Identification and Control, April 26th, from 2-3 p.m. ET
Next up in the USDA-ARS / WSSA Weed Science Webinar Series, Dr. Steven Mirsky, Research Ecologist at the Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory presenting.
9th Annual 3Rs Symposium: Collaboration to Improve Animal Welfare and Rigorous Results, June 22-24, virtual and in person
The symposium keeps you updated on 3Rs (replacement, reduction, and refinement of animal use) advances through web resources and events. Presentations will focus on refinements for better science and animal welfare as well as methods to achieve sound scientific results. The symposium is jointly hosted by AWIC, the Johns Hopkins University Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), and the Johns Hopkins Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology
Employment Opportunities:
Funding Opportunities:
American Mosquito Control Association request for pre-proposals
The American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) Research Fund invites new pre-proposals for research on mosquito control and related topics for funding for calendar year 2023.
AMCA® is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to providing leadership, information, and education leading to the enhancement of public health and quality of life through the suppression of mosquitoes. The AMCA Research Fund is devoted to funding research that will lead to new tools and strategies for mosquito surveillance and control and ultimately protecting the public from mosquito-borne disease and discomfort from mosquito bites. Pre-proposals dues June 24.
USDA-NIFA The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program - Produce Prescription Program
The program focuses on projects that improve dietary health through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables; reduce individual and household food insecurity; and reduce healthcare use and associated costs. Proposal deadline: June 30