IPM News and Events Roundup 9/3/2021
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.
With a long-term commitment from the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) to find a solution, Cornell University entomologist Elson Shields, Ph.D. and Research Support Specialist Antonio Testa pioneered the science behind the use of native biocontrol nematodes to first manage alfalfa snout beetle on northern New York dairy farms. Their subsequent research has shown biocontrol nematodes to also be effective in managing corn rootworm, wireworm, berry root pests, and some pests of organically-grown root crops. Direct link to NNYADP.
Anyone familiar with the Worms and Germs blog, by Drs. Scott Weese and Maureen Anderson of the Ontario Veterinary College’s Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses?
They are always interesting, and post plenty of items on this side of the border as well. Check out the latest post on SARS-CoV-2 in deer and the Aug 10 post on US Dog Import restrictions for African Swine Fever.
CBP inspectors found 1,563 shipments with non-compliant wood packaging. Three quarters, or1,148 shipments, lacked the required ISPM#15 stamp. A pest was found in 415 shipments (26%). Nearly three-quarters of the shipments (72% or 1,119 shipments) were carrying miscellaneous cargo.
A great European copper beech graces our front yard. Its crown is 80 feet wide and the trunk 10 feet around. Its dark purple leaves are remarkable in spring and summer, as is its copper color in late summer and fall. We think the tree was planted around 1800 by occupants of a nearby historical home. If so, it has lived through all the natural events of the 19th- and 20th centuries, including the infamous Hurricane of 1938. Now, we worry that the 21st century be its last because our tree shows the symptoms of beech leaf disease (BLD).
Massachusetts Dept of Agricultural Resources changes Neonicotinoid Registrations
The Subcommittee determined that current uses of neonicotinoid pesticides used in outdoor non-structural uses or outdoor non-agricultural uses may pose unreasonable adverse effects to the environment as well as pollinators when considering the economic, social, and environmental costs and benefits of their use in the Commonwealth. Therefore, the Subcommittee voted to modify the registration classification of pesticide products containing neonicotinoids that have outdoor non-structural uses or outdoor non-agricultural uses on the label from general use to state restricted use. These uses include, but are not limited to, uses on lawn and turf, trees and shrubs, ornamentals, and homeowner vegetable and flower gardens. The reclassification shall be effective on July 1, 2022.
Unprecedented' outbreak of armyworms are destroying lawns across the US, often overnight
Experts say a particularly widespread and intense outbreak of armyworms is overtaking lawns, leaving masses of Styrofoam ball-like eggs stuck to patio furniture and the sides of houses. But when they hatch, the pests can turn a lush green lawn into a brown, barren wasteland seemingly overnight.
Fall armyworms march across Ohio Pennsylvania has now joined the Fall Armyworm party
‘Forever Chemicals‘ from NAVY lab flowing into Chesapeake Bay
The Navy disclosed recently that it has found high levels of so-called “forever chemicals” in soil, groundwater and streams — not only on the base but beyond its fence line, including in the stream that flows through the Harris farm. Per– and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, also have been detected in a few off-base wells, including one that Harris and his family drank from for years.
Jumping worm fact sheet for Homeowners
Jumping worms are found throughout the Northeast and beyond. They are easily spread via mulch, compost, gardening tools and boot and tire treads. Be on the lookout for these and report them if discovered.
Overseas Biocontrol Laboratories Research Highlights
In this edition, topics range from overviews of the outstanding work being accomplished at each of the four overseas laboratories to summaries of specific research endeavors. These include specifics on attempts to develop environmental sound management strategies for the control of invasive insect species including the roseau cane scale, little fire ant, Bagrada bug, and cattle fever ticks as well as invasive plants including water hyacinth, hydrilla, Medusahead, and tree-of-heaven.
Check out the From the Director section with an update on the CAFÉ project; New Deputy Director for Youth, Family and Communities and new Stakeholder Affairs Officer.
Black US farmers await billions in promised debt relief
They were able to overcome the broken promise of “40 acres and a mule” to the newly freed slaves — a military order, later rescinded. But again and again over the last century, they faced one obstacle after another because of their race. Lenders — chief among them, the USDA — often refused to give them money, and often rushed to foreclose. Suppliers and customers undercut them. Laws of inheritance led to the breakup of homestead
Do you have a good suggestion for the new name of Lymantria dispar, formerly known as gypsy moth?
The Entomological Society of America is eager to see a new common name for Lymantria dispar be adopted, and already has announced the former common name of “gypsy moth” will no longer be used in ESA publications, meetings, or other communications and outlets due to the name's offensive origin. ESA has formed a working group of ~50 pest managers, outreach professionals, and researchers who are engaged with L. dispar to collect candidate names and work to select a new approved common name for this moth. If you want to increase the chance that your suggested name(s) will be viable candidates, the ESA advises you first read up on the existing ESA common names guidelines.
Watch “Living Soil”, from the Soil Health Institute
Living Soil tells the story of farmers, scientists, and policymakers working to incorporate regenerative agricultural practices to benefit soil health for years to come. Living Soil takes the viewer on a journey from the lush landscapes in Oregon, sunbaked fields of California, and vast green acres of the Midwest to the waterfront farming and fishing communities in and around the Chesapeake Bay. Each farmer shares a story as unique as the soil they manage with a universal theme that resonates throughout the film: Soil is a special resource everyone should cherish and strive to protect. Article here.
Invasive Species:
Spotted Lanternfly News is heating up as the adult season is upon us
Penn State recently released a new document, Spotted Lanternfly Management Guide
This is a 20-page Publication providing comprehensive details on the spotted lanternfly, including identification and life cycle; quarantine and distribution; host range, phenology, and damage; and management. Available for free download.
Spotted Lanternfly collective flights in late summer not dangerous to public
Scientists from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences have been researching the invasive planthopper’s behavior, including its late summer/early fall dispersal flights involving legions of spotted lanternflies, which some people have dubbed “swarming.” “Swarming occurs when certain insects move in aggregations when stimulated by chemical and environmental cues,” Korman said. “With spotted lanternflies, there may be some trigger that causes individual lanternflies to take to flight, but we have nothing to suggest these are deliberate formations of groups.”
The Spotted Lanternfly map has been updated. Frederick Co, Howard Co. and Baltimore City in MD have all been added. The map will be updated with the additions below soon.
NJ Dept of Ag expands SLF Quarantine zone, 5 counties added.
Spotted Lanternfly found in Out of State shipment to Rutland, VT.
Breeding populations of Lanternfly have been found in two locations in Cleveland, OH
Chicago River has become invasive species super highway
This was originally published in 2012, and has been recently updated and added to. Part I: To protect the Great Lakes, the government kills a river; Part II: The blind hunt for a reviled fish goes high-tech; Part III: As the use of DNA to find rare species spreads, so does controversy.
Nest filled with nearly 1,500 Asian Giant Hornets destroyed in Washington
The nest consisted of nine layers of comb and had almost 1500 hornets in various stages of development, WSDA said in a news release. Staff vacuumed 113 worker hornets from the nest in addition to catching 67 additional hornets with nets in the area.
New York DEC Investigating Prevalence of Invasive Northern Snakehead in Bashkill Marsh after angler report (Sullivan County, NY)
On Aug. 16, DEC's Region 3 Fisheries Unit received a report of an angler catching a northern snakehead in the Bashakill Marsh. The angler submitted a photo and DEC confirmed the fish was a northern snakehead. DEC immediately posted signs at access sites on the marsh asking anglers to report the sighting or capture of northern snakeheads. In addition, DEC Fisheries staff conducted an electrofishing survey to assess the extent of the invasion. DEC did not find additional northern snakehead, but the Bashakill is heavily vegetated this time of year, making sampling difficult.
Research:
The discovery of new insecticides improves integrated pest management (IPM), but is usually a long high-risk process with a low probability of success. For over two decades, insect neuropeptides (NPs) and their G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been considered as biological targets for insect pest control, because they are involved in almost all physiological processes associated with insect life stages. A key roadblock to success has been the question of how large volume chemical libraries can be efficiently screened for active compounds. Article here.
How will mosquitos adapt to climate warming?
Synthesizing current evidence, we find that short mosquito generation times, high population growth rates, and strong temperature-imposed selection favor thermal adaptation.
Invasive shrubs in Northeastern forests that sprout leaves earlier in the spring and keep them longer in the fall not only absorb more sunlight than native shrubs, but their foliage lowers air temperatures on the forest floor, likely giving them another competitive advantage. Article here.
Webinars, Conferences, Meetings and more:
NPS IPM virtual training, ongoing
Rodent Biology and Management, Sept 8, 1pm ET
This webinar will provide information on the basic biology of commensal rodents and proper management techniques to effectively deal with rodent issues in structures. All 4 September webinars focus on rodents.
Insect Pests of the Landscape, Sept 9, 12noon ET
Dr. Mike Raupp, Univ of MD, who will provide a wrap-up to the growing season regarding “Insect Pests of the Landscape”
Farm of the Future USDA-NIFA grant application webinar, Sept 9, 3pm CT
Farm of the Future is a competitive grant program that will be implemented by USDA NIFA to establish an agricultural test bed and demonstration site. It seeks to launch this rural test bed for precision agriculture, smart automation, data connectivity and transfer, and to demonstrate best practices in climate-smart agriculture, forestry, and animal production systems that enhance sustainability and farm profitability. The test bed will evaluate digital and smart technologies to provide accessible, data-driven solutions that support resilient agricultural and value-added practices.
Tick Academy/Tick IPM Working Group meeting Sept 13-15
Participants will learn from and be able to ask questions of world-class tick experts. This virtual event is for researchers, educators, students, public health professionals, pest control professionals, public-space managers and citizen scientists interested in learning more about what they can do to stop the spread of ticks and tickborne diseases in their communities.
Flowering Rush: Identification, Ecology and Management, Sept 15, 1pm CT
Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus L.) is becoming a widespread invasive weed in the waters of the West and Midwest. Flowering rush causes a number of nuisance problems including obstruction shorelines, reducing irrigation flow, and providing habitat for nonnative warmwater fish. This species is distinctive in appearance, though is often confused with other emergent and submersed species.
Blue Ridge PRISM Fall Workshop series, Sept 21 & 23, Charlottesville and Washington, VA
Blue Ridge PRISM’s 2021 Fall Workshop is a blend of two virtual sessions and an optional in-person field session. Register for the virtual sessions or a field session or both! The first virtual session on September 21 covers an introduction to invasive plants and their identification. Following up on September 23, the second virtual session covers invasive plant control methods. Recordings of both virtual sessions will be made available to those who register.
IPM Approaches for Healthcare Facilities, Sept 21, 2pm ET
Health care facilities must maintain a clean, pest-free environment while caring for sensitive populations. This webinar will discuss how facilities can support the wellbeing of their patients by implementing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that limits both pests and pesticides. Presenters will share science-based approaches to pest management that integrate cultural controls (i.e., practices that discourage pest invasion), biological controls (i.e., the use of beneficial organisms to manage pests) and chemical controls (i.e., the use of pesticides). Presenters will also highlight the importance of working collaboratively with contracted pest management professionals.
International weed Genomics Consortium, Sept 22-24, Kansas City, MO
The IWGC is hosting a weed genomics conference on September 22-24, 2021, in Kansas City, MO, with support from USDA-AFRI. The conference will be hybrid with in-person and virtual options, including hands-on training, keynote speakers, a poster session, and a workshop to prioritize weed genomics research objectives.
NAISMA Annual Conference reverts to virtual, Sept 27-230
In light of the rapidly escalating COVID-19 pandemic, the NAISMA Board of Directors and staff, in consultation with co-host Montana Invasive Species Council (MISC), have decided to cancel the in-person portion of the conference and to continue with the virtual conference instead.
Employment Opportunities:
Executive Director, Cayuga Lake Watershed Network, Wells College, Aurora, NY
The Cayuga Lake Watershed Network (CLWN), a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization with offices at Wells College in Aurora, NY, identifies key threats to Cayuga Lake and its watershed, and advocates for
solutions that support a healthy environment and vibrant, sustainable communities. Located in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of central New York, the watershed is comprised of parts of three counties with lake shoreline (Cayuga, Seneca and Tompkins) and four counties (Cortland, Ontario, Schuyler and Tioga) in the uplands of the watershed.
Post-Doctoral Associate, Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Center for Vector Biology, New Brunswick, NJ
Applications are invited for a Post-doctoral Associate specializing in the molecular biology and ecology of ticks to carry out USDA-NIFA funded research focusing on tick-borne disease, surveillance and molecular control mechanisms e.g., anti-tick vaccines.
Green Shield Certified® Evaluator, IPM Institute of North America, New York, NY
The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Institute of North America seeks an evaluator to audit Green Shield Certified® pest control companies. If you are familiar with regulations and policies impacting pest management and are able to identify common structural pest problems, we’d love to hear from you. Your role will allow you to visit Green Shield Certified® pest control companies in the New York metro area. Your on-boarding experience includes one-on-one training with Dr. Thomas Green, a world-renown entomologist, IPM expert and co-founder and president of the IPM Institute. Further, your audits and reporting will be supported by the dedicated staff of our community IPM team at our headquarters in Madison, WI. This is a contracted opportunity that will require approximately 8-16 hours per month.
Funding Opportunities:
New Funding source from USDA-NIFA – Farm of the Future
Farm of the Future is a competitive grant program that will be implemented by USDA NIFA to establish an agricultural test bed and demonstration site. It seeks to launch this rural test bed for precision agriculture, smart automation, data connectivity and transfer, and to demonstrate best practices in climate-smart agriculture, forestry, and animal production systems that enhance sustainability and farm profitability. The test bed will evaluate digital and smart technologies to provide accessible, data-driven solutions that support resilient agricultural and value-added practices. Proposals due October 15.
USDA-NRCS Conservation Outreach: Racial Equity and Justice Conservation Cooperative Agreements
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing up to $50 million in cooperative agreements to support historically underserved farmers and ranchers with climate-smart agriculture and forestry. The Racial Justice and Equity Conservation Cooperative Agreements are available to entities for two year projects that expand the delivery of conservation assistance to farmers who are beginning, limited resource, socially disadvantaged, and veteran farmers. Proposals due Oct 25.