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News you can use
- Last Chance Virtual School IPM Coordinator training
- Statewide pest management trainings for school coordinators start in March
- From pests to pollutants, keeping schools healthy and clean is no simple task
- SPN: Warm-Season Turfgrass Fall/Winter Preparation
- Uninvited vultures draw community ire: AgriLife provides solutions to human-vulture conflict
Category Archives: Newsletter
Texas A&M AgriLife entomologists: Floating fire ants, insect pests among flood hazards
Fire ants, as their colonies begin to flood, can join feet or tarsi to form water rafts, and they are more aggressive once in the floating formation, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologists. But other insect pests can also pose human threats in flood conditions, they said. Check out this Facebook Post from WFAA Chief Meteorologist Pete Delkus Dr. Paul Nester, AgriLife Extension entomologist, Houston, and Dr. Mike Merchant, AgriLife Extension urban entomologist, Dallas, encourage those affected by flooding to stay prepared and aware of pests,… Read More →
SPN: IPM Training Materials, Hurricane Harvey Storm Information
It’s late August and this this is the newsletter that we (AgriLife Extension School IPM Team) welcomes everyone back to school. As I write this newsletter the weather advisory for Texas isn’t just hot, but hurricane preparedness. When I look at the map of Texas being covered I realized almost half of the schools in the state could be impacted by Hurricane Harvey. So, for this newsletter I will share some educational materials you can use with staff not just for IPM, but also for storm safety. As… Read More →
Fall 2017 School IPM Training
For Texas Public Schools, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has been around for over twenty years. And for 20 years Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has been the leader in offering educational programs to assist school IPM coordinators and their school districts have award winning school IPM and IAQ programs. While Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Title 4, Part 1, Chapter 7, Subchapter H, Division 7 School IPM Rules require that every ISD appoint and train a school IPM coordinator, we realize that more than 6 hours of training is what… Read More →
SPN: Updated Green List publication, Summer Bugs that make you Itch
Recognizing Green Category Products By Janet Hurley Introducing our “Recognizing Green Category Products” handout as a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension numbered publication. Forever known as the ‘green list’ this document has morphed over the past fifteen years to help us (Don Renchie, Mike Merchant and Janet Hurley) to train Texas School IPM coordinators about our three colored category pesticide ranking system. When the ranking was first developed in the mid-1990’s organophosphates were being phased out, pyrethroids were coming on, but also a variety of other insecticides were being… Read More →
SPN: Understanding the pest control contract
Do you find your IPM program lacking? Frustrated that you are getting the services you think you are paying for? Then it’s time to look at pest control bid specifications and make some adjustments. When it comes to pest control program there are three basic goals. First, the program needs to be as safe as possible. The program reduces the risk from both pesticides and pests. Second, the program should be effective in eliminating pests as a potential health threat. Finally, the program should be affordable. The program… Read More →
SPN: Bed bugs happen: Even in school
Written by: Dr. Mike Merchant, Professor and Urban Entomologist A message to all parents with kids in school: Bed bugs happen. Bed bugs happen even in your children’s school, and like it or not we’re all going to have to deal with it. That will mean fighting the inclination to go into hyper-protective parent mode. Instead we all need to relax. Deep breaths. Eyes closed. Find your center. Breeeathe… it will be all right. It doesn’t matter what kind of school our kids attend, there’s a good chance that sooner or later… Read More →
SPN: Fleas and Ticks
By: Dr. Mike Merchant, Professor and Urban Entomologist Fleas and ticks are not the kind of pests one normally expects to find in schools, but then what’s normal about school IPM? Several recent calls to our office have concerned flea and tick problems, some of which are apparently being brought from home, and some which may be originating on school grounds. So let’s learn some basics about these two pest types. Fleas are insect pests of warm blooded animals. About 95% of flea species specialize in feeding on… Read More →
SPN: Fire Ant Control: The Two-Step Method and Other Approaches
By: Dr. Paul Nester, Extension Program Specialist – IPM, Houston/Metro area When it comes to insect pests, fire ants would probably top everyone’s list! Red and black imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis richteri) are invasive species and their painful bites can injure or kill livestock, wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. Their large mounds (as many as 300 per acre) are unsightly and often damage mowers and other equipment. Fire ants also infest buildings and can damage electrical equipment by chewing on wire insulation. Fire ants cost… Read More →
KEEP YOUR SCHOOL GARDEN PROGRAMS GREEN!
Funding School Garden Programs for long term success. By Jeffery Raska, Program Assistant, 4-H Youth Development, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Dallas County Many times, I am asked by school groups at the initial planning meeting, “Can I do this or can we build that’’ and my answer is always the same, sure we can ‘’ it only takes money and knowhow!!” I am amazed that some of the best initially funded schools obtain funding to start a garden, but do not have an ongoing budget planned to… Read More →
SPN: Bat Management – What everyone should know.
Bats, which consume huge quantities of insects, including many that damage crops, are important to our local economies and Texans protect them as valuable allies. However, bats sometimes create a nuisance when they roost in buildings in large numbers. Why do bats roost in buildings anyway? Are they dangerous? Moreover, what is the best way to handle bat nuisance problems? There are approximately 1,100 bat species in the world. Texas is home to 33 species, with 10 species that most are familiar with. “Texas has one of the… Read More →
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