Scientists make turfgrass safer for animals but deadly for insects
The right combination of compounds produced by a beneficial fungus could lead to grasses that require fewer pesticides and are safer for wildlife and grazing animals, according to Purdue University scientists. Neotyphodium is a fungus called an endophyte. It lives symbiotically, feeding off many species of grasses while providing the grass with protection from insects […]
Best practices for crane flies in turf production
A new study recently published in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management (JIPM) explains the best management practices for consideration and adoption by turf (sod) producers in the northeastern U.S. Two species of crane flies (Diptera: Tipuloidea) introduced from Europe, Tipula oleracea L. and T. paludosa Meigen, have become established across portions of northeastern United […]
Timing fungicides and PGRs to control greenhouse pests
The management of pests and diseases during the production of greenhouse crops is not an isolated event. As such, interactions may occur that can have a significant impact on the success of any pest management strategy. For example, under conditions of high relative humidity (greater than 75 percent), naturally-occurring populations of beneficial or insect-killing fungi […]
Researchers use ‘banker plants’ to help battle whitefly pests
A United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientist is showing growers how to combat whiteflies and other crop pests by using plants as storehouses for predatory insects that can migrate to cash crops and feed on the pests attacking those crops. Cindy L. McKenzie, an entomologist in the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Subtropical Insects Research […]
Opening a window into vector-borne plant viruses
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Ithaca, N.Y., are collaborating on development of a technology that could lead to new ways of disrupting how insects transmit viruses to crops. Michelle Cilia and Stewart Gray at the ARS Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health in Ithaca, and colleagues James Bruce and Juan Chavez at […]
Alert over caterpillar pest in London and Berkshire
People in parts of London and South East England are being reminded this Spring by the Forestry Commission, Public Health England and local authorities not to touch caterpillars of the Oak Processionary Moth, which are beginning to emerge in oak trees in these locations. They are also advised to keep children, pets and livestock away […]
Excavation of building insulation by carpenter ants (Camponotus ligniperda, Hymenoptera; Formicidae)
A total of 2250 Camponotus ligniperda workers and 120 ant larvae were used in 3 experiments investigating the ability of the insulation materials expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS) and Foamglas to withstand excavation and nest construction. The three experiments investigated time until initiation of excavation, level of damage after 5 days of excavation and […]
Delivering a virus to control houseflies
Houseflies can transmit hundreds of animal and human pathogens like Salmonella, Escherichia coli and Shigella bacteria, which cause food borne illnesses. Insecticides are used to help control flies, but the pests can develop resistance to chemicals. Entomologists with the ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology in Gainesville, Fla., examined salivary gland hypertrophy virus […]
