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News you can use
- 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
- Statewide pest management trainings for school coordinators start in March New laws went in effect that school districts, coordinators need to be aware of
Category Archives: Uncategorized
SPN: Licensing Requirements, Posting, and CEUs
Winter is almost over, and spring is heading our way, and it’s a good time to remind everyone of what the licensing and training requirements are for all employees. Texas has two sets of laws pertaining to pesticide applicators there is the Occupations Code and Agriculture Code. The Occupations Code covers the structural pest control applicators; Agriculture Code covers private applicators (Ag) and others like landscape management, greenhouses, right of way, vector, forest, and a few others. Licensing If you are an employee of a governmental entity, apartment… Read More →
Bexar County efforts get urban kids ‘rooted’ in science, agriculture
“Okay, what’s the difference between a butterfly and a moth?” asked Natalie Cervantes, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service youth gardens coordinator for Bexar County, during her recent “Butterflies of the World” presentation to fourth-grade students at Wilshire Elementary School in San Antonio. “Today I’m telling the kids about butterflies and insects and their role in the environment as pollinators,” Cervantes said. “We’re concentrating on native Texas butterflies because those are the ones they’re most likely to see.” Cervantes was at Wilshire as part of AgriLife Extension’s Youth Gardens… Read More →
School Pest News Volume 12, Issue 2, April 2013 – Bees
Honey Bees: Swarm VS. Colony By: Wizzie Brown While honey bees are beneficial- producing honey, wax and pollinating crops- there are certain situations that may require extermination of bees (colony location, hypersensitvity, etc.). Aggressiveness may be related to the type of bee (European or Africanized), whether it’s a swarm or a colony, or conditions of the environment (i.e. vibrations) In any case, all bees are capable of stinging and care should be taken when they are around. Swarms: Bee swarms consist of a group of bees clustered together…. Read More →
Fast Facts about Mosquito Prevention and Control around Schools
Here are a few facts that you can use and share with those in your district about mosquitoes, mosquito control, and West Nile virus. The most important single thing a school district can do is make sure school grounds are not contributing to your local mosquito populations. Check water catchment basins, storm drains, low areas, and equipment storage yards, athletic and playground equipment, especially, for places where water might be caught and held. Drain or treat with Bt dunks, or Altosid granules–both Green category insecticides. Mosquitoes typically rest… Read More →
CDC Adopts New Repellent Guidance for Upcoming Mosquito Season
Americans have more options than ever to use in protecting themselves from mosquito bites. Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidance about effective mosquito repellents available in theUnited States. The updated guidance includes addition of two active ingredients – picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus – which have been shown to offer long-lasting protection against mosquito bites. Repellents containing DEET continue to be a highly effective repellent option and are also included in the CDC guidelines. Picaridin, also known as KBR 3023, is… Read More →
EPA Takes Next Step to Cancel 20 Mouse and Rat Control Products Used in Homes
Action will reduce accidental exposures to harmful chemicals WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today took another step in the process to cancel 20 mouse and rat control products that do not adequately protect people, particularly young people, from exposure to toxic chemicals. EPA has determined that safer rodent control products are now widely available, effective, and affordable. The products EPA plans to remove from the consumer market are those that contain the most toxic and persistent active ingredients, products sold as loose bait and pellets… Read More →
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