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Pest Management Rules Change for Food Processors
Food Processing Winter's coming, along with new pests, paperwork and an EPA rule that lets mice get closer to your doorstep. By Bob Sperber, Plant Operations Editor | 09/12/2011 To cast your vote, log in or become a member. This quick, one-time registration gives you … |
Pests in the NewsSeptember 13, 2011
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Mold, pests a concern after rain, flooding
Carroll County Times In light of recent floodwaters caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee, many Maryland residents may find their homes affected by storm-water damage. For those undertaking the cleanup of their homes and businesses, the Maryland Emergency Management … |
Pests in the NewsSeptember 13, 2011
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Season's not over yet for mosquitos | Philadelphia Inquirer | 2011-09-13
Philadelphia Inquirer Stink bug infestations will be especially bad in the mid-Atlantic region this autumn, warned a public-relations firm employed by one insect-trap retailer. But, as with all prognostications, whether it be insects or the weather at the Shore this weekend … |
Pests in the NewsSeptember 13, 2011
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'Battle of the Bugs' at Penn State's Great Insect Fair
Gant Daily UNIVERSITY PARK — Some people lump all insects together and consider them just plain creepy. Visitors at Penn State's 2011 Great Insect Fair can learn to recognize and value good bugs for the necessary roles they play in keeping bad bugs at bay. … |
Pests in the NewsSeptember 13, 2011
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Oldest viruses infected insects 300 million years ago
Tehran Times Viruses were already infecting organisms some 300 million years ago, suggests a new study on what may be the oldest date yet for the emergence of an insect-infecting virus. "This is the oldest date ever proposed for a virus," said study researcher … |
Pests in the NewsSeptember 13, 2011
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 Treehugger |
Invasive Insects Take Big Cash Bite
Scientific American Insects that hitch rides in shipping containers cost local governments and homeowners $2.5 billion each year. Sophie Bushwick reports Many wooden shipping crates that enter the US contain hungry stowaways: invasive species of insects. … Invasive Tree-Killing Insects Cost US Over $3.5 Billion a YearTreehugger Taxpayers pay billions to fight invasive pests7thSpace Interactive (press release) |
Pests in the NewsSeptember 13, 2011
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Taking Advantage of a Destructive Insect's Weakness for Purple
New York Times “Right now, the emerald ash borer is the most destructive insect we have in North America,” said Nathan Siegert, an entomologist with the United States Forest Service. Named for its wing covers, which look so much like emeralds that people in some … |
Pests in the NewsSeptember 13, 2011
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Here’s a book cover that reliably sends entomologists into hysterics: What’s so funny? Well, that’s not a bee. [More]
Pests in the NewsSeptember 13, 2011
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QUESTION:
I work on a military installation and one of our program requirements is to inspect our facilities for termites and wood decay infestations annually. My question is since this is an annual requirement what is the ideal time to perform our inspections? In my experience the best time of year to perform these inspections would be from April to around November. We have had a few active problems in the past but nothing major because this program allows us to pinpoint problems early. Your thoughts on this will be highly appreaciated, thanks.
ANSWER:
I would agree with the concept that the warmer months of the year would be the best time for termite activity, and thus the most likely time when you might find visible evidence of their presence. Since subterranean termites of various kinds would be the most common problems they would be more likely to curtail their activities during cold months, and once the weather warms again in the spring there should be renewed activity of foraging and mud-tube building. Certainly within warm structures their activity could continue throughout the year, and in Texas it could be warm enough for their exterior activity earlier or later than those months, but more likely once the ground gets cold they are not going to be as visible. In Texas you also may have drywood termites, and even with these I would suspect that the majority of their activity will be during warmer months, and thus the evidence of fecal pellets being ejected from their colonies more likely to occur. However, for drywood termites it would be useful to inspect attics and other interior areas at any time of the year, as these pellets do accumulate over time.
If your primary duties are in the area of termites and other WDO then an inspection at any time of the year would be useful. This would allow you to look for the contributing conditions (conditions “conducive to” infestation) that might exist in and around buildings. This could include earth to wood contact, excessive moisture problems inside or outside, improper drainage issues, etc. In fact, during wet weather you may be more likely to see where drainage issues exist around structures, and since wet soils encourage the presence of subterranean termites this would be a good time to note these problems and correct them in advance of the termites.
Since you mention wood decay, this could be a problem at any time of the year on the inside, so inspecting for this could be done at any time of the year. If you are only inspecting any structure on the base once a year then including this with your termite inspection would seem to be most logical, and here you look for moisture problems, improper ventilation, leaking plumbing, etc. But, sticking with your current timetable and perhaps emphasizing it on the earlier side rather than later in the year would seem to be appropriate.
Pest QuestionsSeptember 13, 2011
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Pest QuestionsSeptember 13, 2011
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