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School Pest News,Volume 12, Issue 3, May 2013

Posted on May 8, 2013 by janet.hurley

When is a pesticide not part of the school IPM program? Janet Hurley and Don Renchie

According to the U.S. EPA, a pesticide is a chemical used to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate pests. Often misunderstood to refer only to insecticides, the term pesticide also applies to herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, and various other substances to control pests. Many household cleaners are considered pesticides as well, by the EPA, but are typically exempt from school IPM programs. Recently there has been confusion over some public health products that are labeled as pesticides by the EPA, but are also exempt from the school IPM program.

Image of head louse

Every school in the nation has faced a head lice outbreak at one time or another. When the outbreak occurs, the school nurse is typically involved and many school district policy’s require that students are either nit free (no presence of lice eggs) while others may have a no head lice policy, meaning the student must be totally free of nits and live lice. It is up to each school district in each state to determine what their policy will be. For information about TX schools and TX Department of State Health Services recommendations follow this link for more information. http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/lice.shtm#3

Pediculicides are substances used to treat head lice and typically have an insecticide component as the active ingredient compound. In some cases, nurses will keep a small stock of pediculicides on hand to distribute to parents and students. In this case, this stock is exempt from the school IPM rules in most states, including TX. A head lice infestation is considered a social issue, not a health or pest control issue and as such, needs to be dealt with the school nurse.

With summer coming and the advent of mosquitoes, many districts aren’t sure about the use of mosquito repellents for students or staff. Repellents are considered a pesticide by EPA, but are also exempt from the school IPM program in most states. Effective insect repellents can protect the user from serious mosquito and tick-borne diseases. As with head lice, diseases like West Nile virus, Lyme disease and other insect borne diseases are considered a public health problem. Each school district will need to develop a policy for when and how repellents are used by staff and students. For more information about choosing an insect repellent, follow this link for more information http://cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect/

Antimicrobial pesticides are substances or mixtures of substances used to destroy or suppress the growth of harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi on inanimate objects and surfaces. Antimicrobial pesticides have two major uses 1) disinfect, sanitize, reduce or mitigate growth or development of microbiological organisms; and 2) protect inanimate objects (desks, floors, walls, etc.) from contamination or deterioration caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, algae, or slime. These products are typically used in the school setting by custodial staff, but can also be used by food service personnel or nurses in an effort to keep an area disease free. As with the other products mentioned in this article, if antimicrobials are used as defined above, they would be considered exempt from the school IPM program and records do not need to be kept by the IPM Coordinator.

Training on Safety Data Sheets By: Marjorie Lewis, New Mexico Department of Agriculture

Rumors have been flying that OSHA is requiring new pesticide training in their revised Hazard Communication Standard. The fact is, OSHA has ALWAYS required that employers train their staff about hazardous chemicals in the workplace. Pesticides are considered hazardous chemicals, and any employer who is subject to OSHA has a number of requirements, including training.

So why the rumors now? OSHA has revised the federal Hazard Communication Standard to bring it in line with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (“GHS”). One of the things OSHA changed involves Material Safety Data Sheets, or MSDS’s. They are now just Safety Data Sheets, or SDS’s. All employers are required to train their employees regarding the new Safety Data Sheet format by December 1, 2013.

Some of the revisions to the GHS have resulted in differences between EPA’s pesticide labeling requirements and OSHA’s requirements. The changes are related to hazard statements and signal words, among other things. These issues primarily affect pesticide manufacturers and registrants, and EPA has provided guidance to them on how to address this issue. Pesticide applicators should continue to follow the EPA label directions, and if they are employers, train their employees about the new format and content of Safety Data Sheets.

For more information see EPA: http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/international/globalharmon.htm, or OSHA: http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/

NEW TESTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STRUCTURAL PESTICIDE APPLICATORS

The Texas Department of Agriculture is starting a new computer-based testing program for structural pesticide applicators and has contracted with PSI Services to conduct examinations. The program will allow those who qualify for a license to use online and phone registration beginning April 8, 2013 for exams beginning April 15, 2013.

Twenty-three examination sites are located in Texas with each facility being staffed by employees who will monitor the exams and provide final, on-site scores upon completion. Exam fees are now reduced from $75 to $64 each. The increase in available exam locations is in response to growing interest and demand.

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE STRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL LICENSES APPLICATION PROCESS

Significant procedural changes have been made for obtaining a structural pest control license. Applicants must now be pre-qualified by TDA prior to registering to take examinations with PSI.

Applicants for Technician License must complete an Application for Apprentice Registration & Technician License and pay license fees.

ELIGIBILITY AND EXAMINATION FOR TECHNICIAN LICENSE:

An applicant may only sit for a Technician examination category in which they have completed the approved twenty hours of course-work outlined in Rule 7.133(h)(1) and the forty hours of on-the-job-training and eight hours classroom training outlined in Rule 7.133(h)(2).

Include a copy of your Technician Training Certificate. You will not be eligible to take the licensing exams until proof of completion is submitted to TDA

Applicants for Certified Applicator License must complete an Application for Certified Applicator License and pay license fees.

ELIGIBILITY AND EXAMINATION FOR CERTIFIED APPLICATOR LICENSE: http://tinyurl.com/ScheduleExam

Applicants for Commercial Certified Applicator must meet one of the following requirements to be eligible to take Certified Applicator Exams:

Have at least 12 months of verifiable pest control experience out of the past 24 months and have possessed a SPCS technician license for at least 6 months; or
Have a degree in the biological sciences from an accredited college or university (acceptable degrees include Agronomy; Entomology; Animal Science; Landscape Architecture; Forestry; Agricultural Science; Biology; Chemistry; Environmental Science; Earth Science; Horticulture); or
Have proof of previous employment or experience in the industry or technical field experience of at least 12 months out of the past 24 months from a previous occupation; or
Have previously held a Certified Applicator license; or Have held a Noncommercial Certified Applicator license with TDA for at least 24 months.

For Noncommercial and Noncommercial Political Certified Applicator licenses only:

Must have taken a department approved, minimum six (6) hour noncommercial/technician training course.

All applicable license fees and documents such as official transcripts, training certificates and signed/notarized statements or letters from the appropriate licensing entity must be submitted to TDA’s licensing department in Austin.

After all documents are received by TDA, applicants will receive an Examination Eligibility Letter and may then contact PSI to register, make payment and schedule examinations. PSI will provide additional information upon successful registration.

Examination Site Locations in Texas:

Abilene, Amarillo, Arlington, Austin (2), Corpus Christi, Dallas (2), El Paso (2), Fort Worth, Harlingen, Houston (4), Lubbock, McAllen, Midland, San Antonio (2), Tyler, Waco.

PSI also has examination centers in many other regions across the United States. Upon special request to PSI, applicants may qualify to take examinations at these locations.

For updated information and to obtain a Structural Pest Control Examination Candidate Information Bulletin containing important information about computer-based examinations, visit www.psiexams.com

AgriLife Extension launches Water Education Network online By: Kathleen Phillips

A Water Education Network to help people in Texas learn the best ways to manage the precious resource has been launched by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

The site, http://water.tamu.edu provides a “front door” for all of AgriLife Extension’s information on water conservation, water management, irrigation, and water quality, which makes it easier to navigate, according to the developers.

“With water being our agency’s No. 1 topic, it was crucial that we develop easy access to water materials,” said Dr. Pete Gibbs, AgriLife Extension associate director. “AgriLife can be the go-to source for objective and reliable water information.”

A Water Education Network to help people in Texas learn the best ways to manage the precious resource has been launched by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service at
http://water.tamu.edu. (Texas A&M AgriLife Communications photo by Kay Ledbetter)

The Water Education Network contains information useful for homes, residential and city landscapes, and agricultural and wildlife management.

Water-related programs are organized in three main categories: conservation, management and irrigation, and quality, according to Treye Rice, AgriLife Extension website designer.

“Water conservation, management and irrigation, and quality are the areas that people most want to know more about,” Rice said. “We’ve organized it so that those topics are easy to reach either directly on the site or with search engines. The key is to get important facts and how-to information to the people as easily as possible.”

Rice said people also can find links to water-related events, classes and trainings offered by AgriLife Extension throughout the state, and can subscribe to receive email updates.

Water conservation topics and publications on the site include: Water Conservation at Home, Youth Water Resources, Conserving Residential Water Through the 40-Gallon Challenge, Landscape Water Conservation using Earth-Kind Landscaping, Water Conservation and Technology Center, and Biological Control of Aquatic Weeds and Saltcedar.

In the water management and irrigation section, viewers will find: Stormwater Management Program, Rainwater Harvesting, The School of Irrigation, Irrigation and Agriculture, Rebuilding the Beef Herd (after Drought), and Managing Ponds and Lakes on Private Lands.

Water quality is addressed with: Protecting Texas Watersheds, Attoyac Bayou and Bacterial Source Tracking, Onsite Waste Water Treatment Systems, Texas Well Owner Network, and Animal Manure and Process Waste Water Management.

“Water-related resources, such as fact sheets and publications, are being added and cataloged into this website regularly,” Rice said.

Already available are: Home Water Conservation Tips and Checklist, Energy Star Appliances Overview, Home Water Quality Problems – Causes and Treatments, Rainwater Harvesting System Overview and Making a Rain Barrel.

School Pest News Volume 12, Issue 2, April 2013 – Bees

Posted on April 30, 2013 by janet.hurley

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.

Bees naturally resting in a tree as they move the new queen

Swarms: Bee swarms consist of a group of bees clustered together. The cluster often rests on items such as tree limbs, fences, mailboxes, or bushes. A swarm may stay in the same location for a few hours to several weeks. Swarms are produced as a part of the colony’s reproductive process. An established colony produces a new queen, causing the old queen and about half the worker bees to leave the colony and search for a new nest location. Scout bees are sent out from the swarm to search the area for a nesting site. Swarming honey bees are usually gentle and unlikely to sting.

Colonies: Bee colonies are established by swarming bees. After selecting an appropriate site, the bees begin to build comb out of wax to store food (honey and pollen) and rear young. After about four weeks, the bees become defensive of the nest and are more likely to sting when disturbed. Colonies may be found in wall voids, chimneys, attics, sheds, treeholes and other areas. When bees are nesting in a wall void, DO NOT block their entrance; they will search for another way to exit and may move into the structure. To keep bees from entering a home, seal any holes found in walls where pipes enter the home- cracks in window framing, knotholes, weep holes, or cracks between wood and brick junctures.

If a person has a bee SWARM, tell them the bees should move on within a few hours to a few weeks. Also explain that if left alone, swarms are typically docile and unlikely to sting. If a COLONY is in a sensitive location or if a person is allergic to bee venom, tell them to contact a pest control professional or beekeeper to get rid of the bees. Once bees are removed, it is best to remove wax and honey to avoid secondary invaders such as rodents and wax moths.

Africanized bees: Africanized bees have been found in over 50% of the counties in Texas. These bees are slightly smaller than European honeybees, but they look very similar and require lab analysis to tell them apart. Africanized honey bees tend to be more defensive if provoked.

I do NOT recommend that anyone takes on a bee job themselves. Pest control companies have equipment, such as bee suits to protect against being stung, to carry out these jobs in a safe manner.

It must bee spring
By Mike Merchant (From his Insects in the City Blog)

A honey bee swarm on a park bench demonstrates that bees will make use of any available resting spot.

Despite a winter that just won’t seem to let go, spring is definitely here. I know this because the honey bees are swarming, and local callers are reaching out to Extension offices for help coping with the sudden bee invasion.

According to Shelly Spearman of the Rockwall County Extension office, her office is getting one to two calls a day about bees. “We’re getting a lot of calls about bees hanging out in trees,” she said.

So why are bee mobs suddenly invading our trees and landscapes? And what do we need to do to protect ourselves and our loved ones?

The first thing to know is that this is prime bee swarming season. Bee “mobs” (actually swarms) are the bees’ way of coping with rapid colony growth in the spring following the return of flowers and their abundant supply of pollen and nectar. As the colony begins to grow and crowd the nest, worker bees begin producing a new queen and drones (male bees). Just before the new queen emerges, the old queen takes a portion of the colony and leaves her hive in search of a new home.

In flight, a bee swarm resembles a tornado of bees. The departure of the queen from the old colony is the trigger for the swarm, and the worker bees generally follow the queen wherever she goes. In the course of this bee exodus, the queen and her colony occasionally stop to rest. Resting sites may include just about anything from a tree branch to a car, a park bench to backyard play equipment.

So what’s the risk should a bee swarm land in your yard or place of work? In most cases, it’s very low. Most bee swarms are not aggressive and will tolerate lots of human activity nearby. But there are exceptions, so it’s best to keep children and anyone with a known allergies to bee venom a safe distance away. Swarms generally don’t stay very long either. If the swarm has just emerged from a nearby hive, it usually takes off within a matter of hours. In most cases, a bee swarm will move on within a day or two and you’ll never see it again. On the other hand, if one of the colony’s scout bees discovers a good nest site nearby, the swarm could become a long-term neighbor or take up more or less permanent residence in your home. For this reason, many people choose to call a pest control company or beekeeper to kill or collect bee swarms that settle near their house.

While bee swarms are generally harmless, bee colonies that get into the home can become an expensive problem. Now is an excellent time to check your home for holes and gaps that need filling, BEFORE the bees move in.

Most of us would prefer to move rather than kill a bee swarm. The majority of folks who call my office want to “give” the colony to a local beekeeper. But many beekeepers are increasingly wary of the genetics and potential diseases or mites associated with feral bee colonies. And it’s increasingly rare to find beekeepers, especially in urban areas, who will remove bees at no charge.

In Texas, registered beekeepers who do not use pesticides can legally remove honey bee swarms and charge you for the service. However, if pesticides are used, the beekeeper must have a pest control license and work for a licensed and insured pest control business to charge you for bee control. If you live in a different state, check with your state Apiary Inspection Service or your county Extension office to find out what your local rules say.

It may seem ironic to talk about killing a bee colony, given our society’s appreciation for bees, and all the recent press concern about the decline of honey bees. But wild bees are in no way endangered and, despite the stories you might hear, it is legal to kill a bee colony or swarm that is in an undesirable location.

In general, it’s rarely necessary to kill a bee swarm that is outdoors, in the open. Swarms, depending where they land, are relatively easy to collect alive. But once they get into a structure or home, they become much more difficult (and expensive) to extract peacefully.

Of course the best solution to bees is prevention. Now is the time to check your home for holes and gaps, especially under the edges of wood siding, and around windows, roof lines and soffits. These are the kinds of places that bees love. Expanding foam, silicone sealant or other methods should be used to seal all voids and holes. If you discover bees already in your home, look for a pest control company or beekeeper business that performs bee removals.

We’ve waited this long for spring, we should be enjoying it and not worrying about bees. For more information about bee control in homes, see our Honey Bees in Homes factsheet. To look for a local beekeeper who might be willing to collect a bee swarm, search for your closest beekeeping chapter at the Texas Beekeepers Association website .

News in Brief on Turf Pests and Fire Ants

Posted on April 3, 2013 by janet.hurley

Turfgrass knowledge online (Dr. Mike Merchant)

Maintaining a healthy lawn does not have to be difficult, but does require know-how. There are a number of excellent online resources at Texas A&M AgriLife to help you get the lawn you want.

Integrated pest management starts from the ground up…literally. Nowhere is this more evident than your lawn. The foundation for good turf pest management is good lawn care. And if you want advice on the best varieties, proper soil preparation, correct fertility, and watering, you should head out right now for the AggieTurf website. The sections on selecting the right grass and how to care for your lawn are especially useful.

Proper fertility can help or hinder pest control. Over fertilizing is known to attract chinch bugs and can make your grass susceptible to disease. Under-fertility makes your grass weak and more susceptible to a variety of pests. Knowing what fertilizer to apply, therefore, is a critical first step to a healthy lawn. To get your soil tested, follow the directions and send a sample either to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory, or (for a private test lab) the Texas Plant and Soil Testing Lab.

Not all turfgrass pests are insects. In fact, disease-causing pathogens and nematodes are probably as important, or more important, than insects in causing problems for your lawn. To learn more about turfgrass diseases, or to find out how to send in a turf sample for diagnosis, check out the Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab website. Getting a sample evaluated costs at least $35.

To read about some of the insect pests that affect turf in Texas, be sure to check out the turfgrass pests section of this website. The two most common pests of home lawns are white grubs and chinch bugs; but several other pests show up occasionally, including stunt mites, armyworms, and mole crickets.

Fire ants may not feed on turfgrass, but they do disfigure lawns with their mounds, and make the lawn less usable due to their presence and painful stings. For everything (and more) that you want to know about fire ants and their control, check out the eXtension fire ant web pages.

Great Time to Treat for Fire Ants (Molly Keck)

You may have noticed that since the rainstorm this weekend, fire ant mounds have popped up. When it rains, or you water well, the fire ants move their colony to higher ground to keep from drowning, making their mounds very noticeable.

It also makes them easier to step on and sting us. The weather we are having right now, is the perfect weather to treat for fire ants. If you treat now, you can give yourself some good control through the summer (unless mounds relocate from your neighbor’s into your yard).

After the dew has dried, broadcast spread a fire ant bait of your choice around the yard. Be sure to follow the recommended label rate – more bait does not mean better control. In fact, it only takes one little granule of bait to be brought into the colony to eliminate the colony. The workers feed the bait to the larvae, who then regurgitate the partially digested food and it is fed to the queen. When the queen dies, the colony dies.

If applied correctly, baits can be an environmentally friendly option, saving other ant species and not harming wildlife, other insect, pets, or us.

Be sure to find a bait that is labeled for fire ants. Other ant baits aren’t as attractive to fire ants. I find that application is almost more important than what bait you choose. Apply fresh bait, not old bait, apply to dry grass, and apply when rain is not in the forecast for at least 24 hours (do not water the lawn either). When fire ants are actively foraging for food is the best time to apply. This is generally when it’s over 65 degrees. You can test this by placing a piece of hot dog or a potato chip outdoors for about 45-60 minutes. Fire ants love hot dogs and potato chips and if they are looking for food, they’ll come to it. Then you know if it’s a good time to spread your bait.

For more information on fire ants, visit these websites:

Welcome

http://www.extension.org/fire_ants

Southern Universities Combine to Produce an Online Fire Ant Course

The drought conditions in parts of the south have likely resulted in fire ant management taking the back burner for some. However, fire ants are still around and have simply been simmering during these dry periods. In Arkansas, for example, January and February rains and a few warms days have shown that fire ants are still present and in high densities. Be prepared by enrolling in the Imported Fire Ant IPM course to enhance your fire ant expertise.

A team of fire ant experts and researchers with over 50 combined years of fire ant experience from fire ant infested southern states have created the comprehensive, distance-delivered course on Imported Fire Ant IPM. This course, taught by Dr. Kelly Loftin, Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas, provides the most up-to-date, detailed information about fire ant identification, biology and management. Use of text, videos, and still photos engage students in an active and fun learning environment that places emphasis on integrating management tactics which include biological, cultural and chemical controls. This course is available without prerequisite, and will benefit anyone involved in fire ant control.

To make it more broadly accessible, course developers from the University of Arkansas and Auburn University chose the proven IPM3 Training Consortium platform to deliver the Imported Fire Ant IPM module. This web-based, self-study course is available online 24/7 and will take approximately 10 hours to complete. IPM3 is a consortium of federal agencies and land-grant institutions dedicated to the efficient and timely delivery of practical integrated pest information to people responsible for developing, implementing and promoting Integrated Pest Management. In addition to the Fire Ant module, IPM3 delivers 7 other courses to students in the US and internationally.

IPM3 is offering a 33% discount on tuition for the Fire Ant Module. The course, which results in the 1.0 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) plus a Certificate of Completion, is $168 through 30 June 2013, 33% off the regular tuition of $250.

A course outline and registration details can be found at www.umn.edu/ipm3.

School Pest News, Volume 12, Issue 1, February 2013

Posted on February 25, 2013 by janet.hurley

Kitchen Shelving and Pests: What’s the Connection?

School kitchens have all of the essentials for pests including food, water, and harborage. Pest proofing for kitchens includes reducing clutter to reduce harborage, cleaning thoroughly to eliminate food sources, repairing leaks and conducting regular inspections for signs of pests. Storage shelving in kitchens and food storage also plays a role.

The ideal shelving includes wire racks. Solid wood, metal or plastic shelves allow crumbs and other food debris to collect; wire racks allow spills to fall through to the floor where they can be swept up during regular cleaning. Any shelving should be on lockable wheels to ease moving for cleaning and inspection. Place shelving perpendicular to the wall, not parallel, to facilitate cleaning and minimize obstructed view of the seams where walls meet floors, which are the most common travel corridor for pests.

The lowest rack should be at least 12 inches off the floor. “At the very minimum the IPM person will need to be able to inspect under the racks and behind the items at least 16 to 18 inches—this way you can see if mice are nibbling on items or if there are droppings,” suggests Janet Hurley, school IPM extension specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

Food items should be removed from corrugated cardboard shipping boxes before shelving. Cardboard should be immediately removed to recycling containers outside the building. Leaving items in cardboard containers can create a primary means of transport for pests into the building, limit ability to inspect, and provide a favored hiding place for many pests, including mice and cockroaches. “Watch out for cardboard,” says Hurley. “The more you have, the harder it is to inspect.”

Specially designed canned food racks are also available which can be loaded from the back, so older cans move to the front and get used first. These racks also help reduce potential for worker injury from lifting heavy boxes of cans onto shelves.

The American Institute of Baking (AIB) Consolidated Standards for Retail Establishments includes food storage design and food safety measures to help kitchens pass inspections. Many tips that are useful for food safety are also a part of IPM, such as cleaning up spills promptly, emptying trash containers regularly, cleaning drains and fixing leaks.

The San Francisco Department of the Environment published Pest Prevention by Design, which details building design tips to facilitate easier pest prevention and management. Included in the document is a section on institutional kitchen design beginning on page 67. (Written by Jodi Schmitz, IPM Institute of North America)

Tawny crazy ant name proposal hits streets

The crazy ant first discovered in Texas by PMP Tom Rasberry, may be getting a new common name. As Dr. Merchant reported in an earlier blog post, the way for a new name was opened with the recent publication of research firmly identifying the ant variously known as the Rasberry crazy ant, hairy crazy ant or Caribbean crazy ant (depending on what state you are from). As it turned out, the ant was decidedly NOT the Caribbean crazy ant, Nylanderia pubens, but another species originally described from Brazil, Nylanderia fulva.

Entomological Society of America’s (ESA) committee on common names approved a new common on February 15, 2013, name that has received lukewarm support. The last step before formal acceptance of the official common name (which Dr. Merchant and most entomologists will likely start using) is for the proposal to go before ESA membership for comment. The proposal is located at http://www.entsoc.org/PDF/2013/names/tawny-crazy-ant.pdf, and does a pretty good job of detailing the background of the controversy and listing authorities who both support and oppose the new name.

If you are an ESA member, this is your last chance to let your voice be known. Please submit any comments by March 13, 2013 to Greg Dahlem, the committee chair, at dahlem@nku.edu.

Rasberry Crazy Ant aka Tawney Crazy Ant

Interestingly, there are colleagues of ours from Texas A&M who both support and oppose the new name. Dr. Bart Drees (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension) supports the name change, and Dr. Roger Gold (Texas A&M University) opposes it, along with (not surprisingly) the Rasberry family. Dr. Gold thinks “tawny” a little dull, and argues that a more descriptive name is needed. He suggests “Brazilian crazy ant,” to commemorate where the ant was first discovered. I think I like Brazilian crazy ant better than tawny crazy ant; but Dr. Merchant and I have another name to propose. We suggest we call it the “troublesome crazy ant.” I’m sure that’s one name most of the people who encounter this tiny invader could agree on. (Written by Mike Merchant, Urban Entomologist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – adapted by Janet Hurley)

Pyrethroid label requirements tweaked again

Last year Dr. Merchant posted a story about the new pyrethroid insecticide label requirements being sent to pesticide manufacturers by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (We also had a story in the Dec. School Pest News). The requirements were designed in 2009 to reduce the risk of drift (wind carried contamination) and runoff (stormwater-carried contamination) of these commonly used insecticides. Since last spring, when pesticide manufacturers were officially informed of the new standards, the EPA has continued to dialog with both regulators and the pest control industry. The results of this dialog are now out, and the final product is a big improvement, in my opinion.

At issue were applications needed to control certain overwintering insects like brown marmorated stink bug and kudzu bug, both of which aggregate on the sides and eaves of structures prior to entering the home or other building. Under the 2009 rules, outdoor applications to the sides of structures were limited to crack and crevice applications or building foundations up to a height of three feet only. In addition, all outdoor applications to impervious surfaces such as sidewalks, driveways, patios, porches and structural surfaces (such as windows, doors, and eaves) were to be limited to spot and crack-and-crevice applications, only.

After consultation with the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), the Association of Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials (ASPCRO) and the State FIFRA Issues Research and Evaluation Group (an EPA advisory group also comprised of regulatory officials), the EPA agreed to make further changes to the original label requirements to allow for better control of overwintering insects.

While restrictions on insecticide applications to impervious surfaces and prior to expected rainfall have not changed, there are some big changes on applications to structures, as published in a January 10 letter to pesticide manufacturers. The three changes are summarized as follows:

Now applications of pyrethroids may be made to the exterior of buildings where the treated surfaces are underneath eaves, soffits, windows or doors that are protected by coverings, overhangs, awnings or other structures that protect the residues from rainfall;
application bands up to one inch-wide may be applied to cracks or other potential pest entry points;
and applications may be made using a coarse, low-pressure spray to portions of surfaces that are directly above bare soil, lawn, mulch or other vegetation.

The purpose of these requirements is to prevent pyrethroid pesticides from entering storm water and getting into streams, something that is most likely when pyrethroid sprays land on impervious surfaces like asphalt or concrete.

In addition to giving back to PMPs, the ability to use pyrethroids against overwintering pests these new regulations should help applicators control nuisance and public health mosquitoes that frequently rest on the sides of buildings and around doorways. This was, in my view, a potentially serious public health issue with the 2009 rules.

So what will be the big change to the way your company applies pyrethroids after the dust is all settled? The new labels will prohibit power spraying driveways and over sidewalks, garage doors and any vertical building surfaces over pavement. Assuming the manufacturers follow these guidelines closely, labels should allow low-pressure sprays to the sides of structures over vegetation or soil and in sites protected from the rain, in addition to cracks and crevices.

Congratulations to the EPA and to those regulators and NPMA experts who took the time to look for ways to keep the pyrethroid label requirements reasonable while continuing to protect the environment. This is one of those examples of how the system sometimes works in everyone’s favor. (Written by Mike Merchant, Urban Entomologist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension)

School Pest News, Volume 11, Issue 7, December 2012

Posted on December 16, 2012 by janet.hurley

School IPM in Texas: How to Stay in Compliance with TDA.

With 4.8 million students, Texas has the second largest student base among US states according to the Texas Education Agency. And with 1,237 school districts and charters and 8,435 campuses Texas has more school systems than California. Over 83% of Texas school districts, are public school districts, which are required by Texas law to adhere to the school IPM rules.

School IPM in Texas began in 1991 with the passage of a law requiring that pests in and around school buildings be managed using integrated pest management. This was one of the first laws in the U.S. requiring schools to implement integrated pest management (IPM) as part of their maintenance programs. In 2007, the Legislature updated the law and provided more specific regulatory guidelines. Texas is one of the few states that requires IPM Coordinators in all public schools and mandates that they attend a six-hour training course on the basics of IPM principles and specific state regulations. The Texas Department of Agriculture, the regulatory agency for school IPM, has required an additional six hours of school IPM training since 2009. In 2005, the legislature revised the school IPM rules, standardizing inspections to ensure fairness and that schools would know what they must do to comply with the law. In 2010, the Texas Department of Agriculture implemented a new inspection process for schools. School inspections are now computer-based, utilizing 60 yes or no questions to determine the degree of implementation of IPM requirements in the school. The IPM coordinator for the school district should be able to answer yes to all of them. Schools that answer no to one or more questions are considered in non-compliance. The rules and the inspections parallel one another. Anyone who can follow the rules and understands the principles of IPM can pass a TDA inspection. Unfortunately, many of the school IPM coordinators have little experience with school IPM rules and they are not always prepared for an inspection.

AgriLife Extension school IPM classes, teach the defining principles of IPM, proper inspection methods, pest identification, use of non-chemical control tactics, and basic pesticide science. In addition, coordinators must become familiar with Texas school IPM regulations and a large portion of the training covers materials needed to pass a TDA inspection.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension faculty tasked with providing school IPM training found, by experience, that equipping IPM coordinators to properly comply with school IPM regulations within a one-day training was not always effective. In 2002, Extension incorporated a two-day school IPM training class to see if additional training would improve school IPM coordinator success in meeting state requirements. As of 2010, the second day of training typically has the same amount of attendees as the first day, additionally the second day allows Extension faculty to instruct class participants on recordkeeping, developing thresholds and other finer points about IPM in a school system.

The non-chemical, preventative components of the school IPM program (sanitation, exclusion, monitoring etc.) reduce pest infestations and allow for early pest detection – so schools can use less pesticide and still do a good job of managing pests. The benefits are improved indoor air quality; greatly reduced potential for students, teachers and staff to be exposed to pesticides; and improved pest control. Many schools report lower costs of pest control. The Extension school IPM program team provides schools with individual assistance with developing and improving their school IPM programs when requested. Many school districts that attend Extension training request individual site visits afterwards to help them prepare for TDA inspections and assistance in IPM adoption. This service is no cost to the school district.

Many school districts struggle with the implementation and adoption process. Often, the IPM program is viewed as “just the pest control program” – with practitioners and administrators failing to grasp the holistic nature of effective school IPM programs. Schools that recognize that what goes on in and around the schools impacts pest survival and population growth inside school buildings. It is important for pest control technicians to understand that there is more to a school pest control contract than making a pesticide application.

Whether you currently have a pest management service provider or have in-house employees who conduct pest control, here are some tips you can use to stay in compliance with the Texas school IPM rules.

Monitor and Inspect:The school IPM rules require that all school districts have a monitoring

Monitoring to asses pest presence is essential, proper pest identification can help with determine the best way to eliminate a pest

program. This program should consist of placing sticky card monitors in areas known for frequent pest problems; such as kitchens, teacher lounges, wet areas, special needs classrooms and other areas identified by either the IPM Coordinator or facility inspections. The school IPM rules clearly state that the IPM coordinator must be able to perform a facility inspection. However, this inspection does not have to be conducted solely by the IPM coordinator. Prior to taking on a new account, every pest management professional should walk the facility. Licensed applicators should inspect both indoors and on the exterior building perimeters looking for pest entryways and noting other conditions conducive to the development of pest problems.

Thresholds and Written Guidelines: In 2009, the school IPM rules were updated requiring the district to have an IPM policy adopted by the School Board, and a written IPM plan, including thresholds specifying when pesticides are needed. Under TDA’s definition of integrated pest management (IPM) {TAC, Title 4, Part 1, Chapter 7, Subchapter H Rule § 7.114}, school IPM Coordinators and contractors must understand target pests and their biology. Schools are responsible for writing a school IPM plan which sets forth the recommended treatment protocol and provides direction as to when and where pesticides are to be used. With the aid of Extension professionals and Urban Entomologists from around the country, AgriLife Extension has developed several pest management plans and a sample written IPM program with thresholds, which can be found on the school IPM website, (under the resources heading). Routine application of a pesticides in a wet area, bus or other area, not specified in the school IPM plan, leaves the district and pest management professional open to TDA interpretation of whether the district is, or is not following school IPM regulations.

Documentation and recordkeeping: According to TDA, the number one violation for technicians, commercial and non-commercial applicators is failure of the applicator to write their name and license number on the service ticket. The service ticket is the pesticide application record and it is the binding document that tells your customer what was done, when it was done, and who did it. For schools this is very important. The school IPM coordinator must furnish copies of these records to the TDA inspector as a part of the school IPM inspection process. The second most common violation is not receiving an adequate copy of either the Yellow or the Red Category justification form. The best strategy is, every time your applicator uses a Yellow or Red Category product, call the IPM coordinator, fill out the form, and submit it to the coordinator. This allows them to include it in their IPM records.

The rule does not require this, but this small step makes a big difference in how well school districts are able to maintain recordkeeping compliance with TDA regulations and stay out of trouble.

Posting and Notification: No matter the account, posting 48 hours in advance of an indoor treatment is the law in Texas. Be sure that you and your staff are getting pesticide application notices to the school IPM coordinator, the business manager of chief administrator of your accounts in time for the required posting to be accomplished. Letting building occupants know when pest management staff will be serving an account is good business practice, not just a rule that you are required to follow. For outdoor pesticide application, the 2009 rule requires that you post a sign at the time of treatment. If you are using Green Category products, the sign must be put up at the time of application but it can be removed once the application is completed. For Yellow Category products (typically herbicides with a Caution signal word, and pyrethroids) the sign must be put up at the beginning of the application and it must remain in place for 4 (four) hours after you have finished the application. Finally, when Red Category products are used – those that have a Warning or Danger signal word, State limited use, restricted use or regulated herbicide – posting notifications must be in place at the time of application and must remain in place for 8 (eight) hours after the application has been completed.

In the months to come, Dr. Mike Merchant and I will be sharing additional information about the school IPM rules in TX. Over the past ten years we have learned a lot about school IPM not just in Texas, but nationally. There is still much to do, to keep our schools safe from pests and pesticides. Everyone involved must work together to have effective school IPM programs, and safe, healthy schools. (Written by Janet A. Hurley)

New Pyrethroid Label Requirements (for Non-Agricultural Outdoor Pyrethroid Products)

Patty Alder, NCSU, Training Coordinator, Structural Pest Management

In an effort to reduce the potential for runoff and drift that can result from applications of pyrethroids, the EPA has revised the “Environmental Hazard Statements” and general “Directions for Use” sections for pyrethroid non-agricultural outdoor products. Pyrethroids include pesticide products such as “Talstar” (bifrenthin), “Tempo” (cyfluthrin), “Suspend” (deltamethrin), and others. The EPA revisions also apply to “combination products” such as: “Temprid SC,” and “Transport WDG and “Transport ME.” The new requirements also apply to consumer end pyrethroid-containing pesticides, such as “Ortho Home Defense Max” (bifenthrin), Bayer Advance Home Pest Control (cyfluthrin), and others.

With changes to pyrethroid labels it’s important to read the label before you buy the product, use the product or dispose of the product. Remember the Label is the Law

The new environmental hazard statements are specific for different formulations (i.e., liquid, dust, granular, and ready-to-use products). The general “Directions for Use” included in this labeling initiative are considered to be best management and good stewardship practices.

Let’s take a look at some of the new changes:
Requirements for Granular Formulations labeled or intended for outdoor residential uses:

“Apply this product directly to the lawn or garden area. Water treated area as directed on this label. Do not water to the point of run-off.”
“Do not make applications during rain.”

Requirements for Liquid, Dust, and Ready-to-Use Formulations products labeled or intended for outdoor residential uses:

“Do not water the treated area to the point of run-off.”
“Do not make applications during rain.”

Additional Application Restrictions For General Outdoor Surface and Space Sprays, except for outdoor fogging devices:

“All outdoor applications must be limited to spot or crack-and-crevice treatments only, except for the following permitted uses:

Treatment to soil or vegetation around structures;
Applications to lawns, turf, and other vegetation;
Applications to building foundations, up to a maximum height of 3 ft.

Other than applications to building foundations, all outdoor applications to impervious surfaces such as sidewalks, driveways, patios, porches and structural surfaces (such as windows, doors, and eaves) are limited to spot and crack-and-crevice applications only.”

Although the label changes do not apply to turf (such as athletic fields and golf courses), these new label changes will affect the way you conduct pest management using pyrethroids. The one restriction that will probably impact your usual pest management techniques the most is the limitation of structural sprays to impervious surfaces. If you need to do a perimeter treatment, you are still allowed to apply the product up the foundation wall (to a maximum height of 3 feet) and on the soil and vegetation around the building. The major change applies to outdoor applications to impervious surfaces like sidewalks, driveways, windows, doors, and eaves. For example, in an area where a driveway meets a garage door, you are limited to either a spot treatment (an area no larger than 2 square feet) or a crack-and-crevice treatment in that area because both areas (the garage door and the driveway) are considered impervious surfaces.

Most likely, if you’re applying an exterior perimeter spray, you’re dealing with a pest like ants, millipedes, ladybird beetles, or another equally persistent pest. In those cases, a crack-and-crevice application to those impervious structural surfaces like garage doors, windows, eaves, etc., will provide the most benefit anyway, as those areas are often points of entry for these pests. So, here’s the good news: if you follow the new label requirements, you’ll be using the product in a more efficient manner and the potential for runoff will be reduced. A win-win situation!

(Patty Alder assists school in North Carolina with their IPM programs, along with Dr. Mike Waldvogel)

School Pest News, Volume 11, Issue 6, October 2012

Posted on October 31, 2012 by janet.hurley

Calculate Your School District’s IPM Budget and Pest Risk

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension school IPM extension specialists Mike Merchant and Janet Hurley have created an online IPM risk calculator to help schools estimate pest risk and IPM costs. The calculator includes an online questionnaire that leads the user through an IPM inspection, much like the inspection Hurley conducts when she visits a school.

After data from the inspection are entered, the calculator generates a “pest risk report card” with a letter grade from A to F. A graph indicates the top five possible sources of pest entry, food, water or harborage that need to be addressed, such as exterior garbage areas, external doors or windows.

“The calculator teaches you why each problem contributes to the pest problem,” says Merchant. “For instance, the distance of the dumpsters from the building can affect the proximity that rodents have to the doors. So it’s a teaching as well as a data collection tool.” A score is also given for each predominant pest in the area, such as rats, mice, cockroaches and mold, along with a comparison of the school’s score to the probability of each pest in that zip code.

The budget tool allows IPM coordinators to enter items needing repair or replacement, and cost per item. Because IPM costs can be higher initially and decrease over time, it is vital for school officials to get an accurate picture of long-term costs and benefits. The risk assessment tool can also be useful in identifying a pest problem area, what it will take to repair or fix the problem. The cost calculator can help determine what are physical repairs and costs, as well as identifying what are behavioral problems that will also need to be addressed.

AgriLife Extension expert: Proactive lawn weed control best bet

Proactive herbicide weed control for lawns is the key to remaining weed-free when the turf turns green in the spring, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist said.

The most important thing for homeowners when it comes to weed management is to have some predictability on what they may have problems with,” said Dr. Paul Baumann, AgriLife Extension state weed specialist.

Dandelions are a curse many lawn owners must deal with annually. The key to broadleaf weed control is being proactive, according to Dr. Paul Baumann, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service state weed specialist.

“That’s pretty easy because you can just think about what problems you have had in the past: grassy weeds such as grass burrs or crabgrass or broadleaf weeds such as dandelion or the purslanes or something like that,” he said. “And once we know that information, we can oftentimes take a preventative approach in terms of management.”

Baumann addressed a variety of weeds and control methods at the recent turf and landscape field day at Texas A&M University. Also presenting a new possible method of control was Jon Smith, a Texas A&M graduate student currently working for Scotts Miracle-Gro, who discussed a new Canadian bioherbicide for the organic-minded homeowner.

A primary part of any weed-management program is starting with a good healthy lawn, Baumann said.

“Do the things you need to help the grass grow,” he said, which includes proper fertility based on a soil test, insect control and disease control.

“Anything that weakens the turf makes it less vigorous and less competitive with whatever weeds that are going to come up or the survivability of weeds that have already come up,” Baumann said

“I always use the adage that you can’t fertilize your way out of a weed problem,” he said. “You have to do something remedial once you have the problem. But a good fertility program will minimize the need for a weed-control program, because our warm-season perennial grasses are very competitive and usually out-compete most of the weeds that might become an issue.”

Dollar weed is another broadleaf, but it is one of the tougher ones to kill, according to Dr. Paul Baumann, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service state weed specialist.

However, if weed control is needed, Baumann said there are many products available for the control of crabgrass, grass burrs, junglerice or goosegrass that can be applied in late winter or early spring, in time to activate before germination of those weeds in late spring or early summer.

“The key is a proactive plan to get those products on before the weeds become an issue in turfgrass – especially the grassy weeds,” Baumann said. “Grassy weeds are extremely hard to remove chemically from a grass crop once they are up. Your options are very limited, because you are trying to selectively kill a grass weed in a grass crop. Therefore, the use of a pre-emergence herbicide is the best choice for these weeds.”

However, he said, if broadleaf weeds are the problem, whether they are annual broadleaf weeds like slender aster or henbit, chickweed and burr clover in the winter time, that’s a whole lot easier fix.

There are a number of broadleaf herbicides that can be applied foliar in a remedial approach, Baumann said. A foliar application can take the weeds out of a turfgrass situation without hurting the grass, whether it is in a dormant period and the winter broadleaf weeds have shown up or during the summer growing season.

“Broadleaf weeds are really not an issue for us, with a couple of exceptions like the tougher ones to kill such as dollar weed, dichondra and Virginia buttonweed,” he said. “Then you are going to have to use some specific products and probably more than once.”

Chickweed is a winter time weed that is easy to control with a broadleaf herbicide, according to Dr. Paul Baumann, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service state weed specialist.

During the field day, Smith talked about a new product that is expected to be available for the natural or organic lawn owner.

The Canadian bioherbicide, he said, has been studied throughout the Midwest and North, and now in the South, to see if it is safe to use on warm-season grasses in Texas. The product is being developed by Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.

The herbicide is based on a naturally occurring fungus, commonly found in the environment, Smith said. It was discovered in Canada on thistles that were bleached white.

To develop the herbicide, the fungus is fermented on barley grain and then the granular product can be spread either on wet foliage or onto the soil for weed control, he said.

“Right now we are experimenting to see what weeds it works on,” Smith said. “We know it works on dandelions, clover, English daisy, and we are testing others.”

The herbicidal activity of this product leads to chlorosis of the leaves. After seven days, the leaves will begin turning white and by 14 days, they dry up and begin to disappear, with complete kill occurring at about 21 days.

“This is an experimental product that Scott’s has been working with for the past several years and has recently received registration with the Environmental Protection Agency,” Smith said. “It will appeal to those who like to use natural and organic products to control weeds.”

School Pest News Volume 11, Issue 5, Septemember 2012

Posted on September 26, 2012 by janet.hurley

Don’t Invite Pests to Breakfast

Students learn better when they eat breakfast, and for many schools, that means a breakfast-in-the-classroom program. Studies have shown that students who eat breakfast at school have better attendance, are less likely to be tardy and exhibit fewer behavior problems than those who don’t. Can you serve breakfast in the classrooms and keep pests out? Evidence suggests the answer is yes.

Lake Worth Independent School District (ISD) in Lake Worth, Texas has run a successful breakfast program for more than 15 years. Every morning, kitchen staff prepares bagged breakfasts for students, including juice, milk, crackers, and yogurt or donuts. The bags are then put inside large plastic totes and placed on carts outside each classroom five to ten minutes before school starts. After calling roll, the teacher collects the cart from the hallway and distributes the bags.

When children have finished eating, all trash is placed back in the tote and left on a trash cart outside the classroom door. Custodians collect trash from the hallways, usually no more than an hour or two after breakfast, and take it outside to the dumpster. According to Jeff Thomas, director of operations and IPM coordinator for Lake Worth ISD, “If the food was left in the classroom trash, it would be an open invitation to any roaches and rodents in the area.” Ideally, no food or food scraps will be left in the classroom after breakfast. Any teachers who keep leftover food are required to use airtight containers. Any beverages are kept in a small refrigerator in each classroom.

Handy IPM tips include:

Keep paper towels or wipes in each classroom so students and teachers can clean desks after breakfast.
Classrooms where food is eaten may need to be vacuumed or mopped more frequently.
Consider shampooing carpeted classrooms in the winter and summer. Depending on the children’s age and the menu, carpets may need to be shampooed more often.
Custodial and food service staff should work together to ensure that food is both nutritious and easy to serve, eat and clean up. For example, consider serving bagels or tortilla wraps instead of muffins to reduce crumbs.
If a cockroach or rodent problem occurs in a classroom, a full-court press needs to be applied to inspect, monitor, seal entry points and harborages, trap rodents, and thoroughly HEPA-vacuum up droppings, cockroach cast skins and other pest debris. Cockroach baits can be used in areas inaccessible to children if needed to resolve the problem. As a last resort, breakfast may need to be moved to another location temporarily.

Training staff is critical. According to Thomas, “Nearly every time a teacher put in a work order for a pest problem, we discovered food stashed in a cupboard or drawer. From time to time a teacher will forget and throw breakfast leftovers in the classroom trash can. I try to remind all the teachers regularly that they have a vital role in preventing pests.” He recommends occasionally attending faculty meetings and handing out IPM fliers to staff.

Lake Worth ISD also details the measures taken to discourage pests in their breakfast and lunch programs in their IPM plan, which is updated regularly. “With consistent and repeated communication and reminders to staff, it’s feasible to have breakfast in the classroom while still practicing IPM,” says Thomas.

US School IPM “Report Cards” Show Progress

In 2006, a national school IPM working group was formed to coordinate and accelerate school IPM adoption in US public schools. Since then, over $4.4 million has been leveraged from the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture, USDA IPM Centers, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state lead agencies and others to support school IPM. School IPM demonstrations and regional school district coalitions have impacted over 4.5 million students and 400,000 staff. The national working group, composed of four regional working groups and coordinated by a steering committee, has grown to more than 240 members.

In 2008, the Working Group distributed surveys to develop a baseline understanding of pest management practices in order to track progress over time. Surveys were sent to knowledgeable leaders in each state who could best report on the status of school IPM programs in their state. This year, with support from a 2010 US EPA Pesticide Registration Improvement Renewal Act (PRIA 2) grant, a follow-up online survey was distributed to state leaders. Thanks to the efforts of the many state leaders, results were obtained from 37 states in 2008 and 49 states in 2012. Results show progress for school IPM implementation in the last four years, including:

States reporting a statewide, coordinated IPM effort with multiple agencies and institutions engaged jumped from five in 2008 (10% of respondents) to 21 in 2012 (42% of respondents).
The number of school staff who attended IPM trainings was more than three times higher in 2012 than 2008. Additionally, the number of school districts that provided internal IPM training programs increased from 44 in 2008 to 906 in 2012.
Schools reported an average of eight different types of IPM communications (e.g. newsletters, listservs, webinars) that were distributed to school districts in 2008, and an average of 21 in 2012. This amounted to a total of 165 communications in 2008 and 737 in 2012. The total number of school districts receiving these communications also saw a significant increase, from 1,793 in 2008 to 3,530 in 2012.
Nationally, public funding budgeted for school IPM increased from $14,500 per state in 2008 to over $33,000 per state in 2012.

The Working Group is also collecting responses on two additional surveys—a coalition survey and a school district survey. Coalition school districts will complete the survey as a training exercise, and update it periodically to gauge progress. The school district survey is intended to measure progress towards the goal of implementing IPM in all US public schools by 2015; it is being emailed to public school districts in partnership with leaders in each state. Results will be used to update the action plan in School IPM 2015, the pest management strategic plan for US schools. More information on the School IPM 2015 initiative can be found here.

Fast Facts about Mosquito Prevention and Control around Schools

Posted on August 23, 2012 by janet.hurley

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 in vegetation or other shaded sites during the day. If you have areas of vegetation or doorways where mosquitoes are a noticeable problem, consider treating such sites with a residual pyrethroid spray. This would be a Yellow category treatment and should be limited to known problem areas. Insecticides like deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin can provide up to six weeks control on vegetation or building surfaces. They can be applied via hand-held pump sprayer, backpack mist blower, or power sprayer to doorways and trees, shrubs and ornamental grass around buildings and entryways. Do not allow students or staff into treated areas until sprays have thoroughly dried. Remember students cannot enter an area that has been treated with a Yellow Category product for 4 hours.

If the city or your district wants to apply ULV insecticides for pretreating sporting venues, posting and notification requirements must be followed and Yellow category justifications filed, as with any use of Yellow category product. ULV treatments usually use synergized pyrethrins (Green for products with less than 5% piperonyl butoxide), resmethrin or permethrin (Yellow). Mosquito control with such sprays is short-lived (few hours to a day) and should be conducted only when wind is less than 5-10 mph.

When it comes to IPM for mosquitoes, don’t forget educating students, parents and staff. The district should consider notifying parents and students advising them to wear repellent to school or evening sporting events. Use of repellents on school grounds is something each school district must decide on. Personal use of repellents is not prohibited or really addressed by state school IPM regulations; however, they are addressed through the Department of State Health Services who considers repellents as part of an over the counter medication. If you have done so, visit with your district’s head nurse make sure she/he is aware of your IPM program and the efforts you, your staff and your pest control contractor are doing everything they can do to help prevent mosquitoes. The Texas Department of State Health Services and many local mosquito control authorities have useful educational fliers and websites (see below) that parents should be aware of. School districts have a useful role to play in getting mosquito awareness information out to our communities. Consider linking this information in your school district’s website. Check out McKinney ISD for theirs http://www.mckinneyisd.net/

Some quick facts about mosquito life cycle, breeding, and water sources:

Once mosquitoes find a suitably polluted puddle of water, they lay eggs. Eggs take about a day to hatch and the larvae 5-8 days at 30 degrees C (86 deg F). Once they pupate it’s another 36 hours before the adult emerges. So its 10-14 days typically for development. Standing water must remain for about that length of time before it is likely to breed mosquitoes.
Clean water is not so much an issue, but if rain water is mixed with leaves and/or soil and sits in the sun for a week or so, it gets pretty attractive for mosquitoes. In addition, water where fish are present, such as a pond or permanent stream is not usually a big source of mosquitoes.

Remember the 4 D’s

DUSK/DAWN- Stay indoors at Dusk/Dawn. This is the time of day that mosquitoes are most active.
DEET-Use insect repellents that contain Deet when going outside, especially at times closer to dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
DRAIN – Remove all areas of standing water. Examples are pet dishes, birdbaths, and water dishes under potted plants. Repair faulty French drains. Remove debris from rain gutters. Mosquitoes will breed in this debris since it is normally damp under the debris. Remove all piles of dead leaf material from under trees and shrubs. This also is a breeding site.
DRESS– Avoid being bitten by mosquitoes by wearing light colored long sleeved shirts and long pants when going outside.

RESOURCES

The Dept. of State Health services has been sending out emails to school nurses and administrators. However, at AgriLife Extension we are also providing you this information to ensure everyone knows what you can do.

Need a mosquito management plan – check out this link http://www.extension.org/pages/20999/school-ipm-action-plan-for-mosquitoes

Need a poster, flyer, or other information to hand out to teachers, parents or students, including a sample letter you can send home to parents – check out our link https://schoolipm.tamu.edu/forms/public-health-pests-information-resources/

Need additional information about West Nile Virus or other infectious diseases – check out the Dept. of State Health Services website at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/arboviral/westnile/information/special/schools/default.asp

Dr. Mike Merchant has a couple of very good YouTube videos on mosquito prevention and control – talk to your IT department about allowing you to view these very short informative videos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEqv3h03cSY&feature=bf_prev&list=PL601F08778CC0167C

For Frequently Asked Questions about aerial spraying for mosquitoes, see http://citybugs.tamu.edu/2012/08/14/faqs-about-aerial-spraying/

Mosquito Safari is an Extension website with general information about mosquito identification, biology and control, including an interactive tour of common mosquito breeding sites, great site to share with teachers, parents and students. http://mosquitosafari.tamu.edu/index.swf

West Nile virus fears prompt diligence in schools. Common question: Can students use mosquito repellents at school?

Posted on August 20, 2012 by janet.hurley

With Dallas officials having declared a state of emergency in regards to West Nile virus, Texas AgriLife Extension Service personnel are being flooded with calls from area school integrated pest management coordinators seeking information to allay parents’ and teachers’ mosquito concerns once school starts.

Areas like this corner of a building can have stagnant water build up. Watch areas like this, trash cans, and sports equipment around your campus.

“It’s a valid concern, but one that’s manageable,” said Janet Hurley, AgriLife Extension state school integrated pest management specialist headquartered in Dallas County. “State law mandates that public school districts in Texas, all 1,030 of them, must have a trained integrated pest management coordinator on staff. They are trained to deal with situations such as the mosquito problems we are seeing in many parts of the state now.”
Hurley explained that integrated pest management uses a number of practices to control pests in the safest, most effective way possible that has the least amount of impact on the environment.

“AgriLife Extension is the lead agency among several agencies that can provide the training for IPM coordinators,” she said. “And the Texas Department of Agriculture is the regulatory agency that is responsible for doing on-site inspections to ensure the mandate is being met and the school or school district is in compliance.”

“A big question has been whether mosquito repellents can be used by students in school,” she said.

According to Michael Kelly, Texas Department of Agriculture structural pest control service coordinator at Austin, “Given the need for parents of school children to have the option of protecting their student from the possibility of a vector-borne disease, parents may apply mosquito repellents to their children and mosquito repellents may be kept in the nurses office in the event that reapplication is necessary.

“It would be up to each school district to determine whether or not they want to allow the practice of keeping mosquito repellents, sent by parents for their children, in the nurse’s office,” he concluded.

Hurley said the announcement from the Texas Department of Agriculture is important, because the repellent issue had some school districts worrying about breaking school pesticide rules. She said Kelly’s comments should allay concerns in favor of protecting students when school starts.

Cecil Fueston is McKinney Independent School District’s Integrated Pest Management Coordinator and one of a number of area coordinators working with Hurley. He said good communication both within the district and within the community is the key component to a successful pest control program.

“It’s very important to develop a working relationship with city and county health officials especially now with the mosquito concerns,” he said. “In my case, I know when and where the city traps mosquitoes, when they test the mosquitoes, where they fog, and what product they are using,” he said.

“It’s equally important to keep campus staff informed. I do this by feeding them information like fact sheets, FAQ sheets and by informing them on conditions to look for and report immediately so they can be corrected.

“As part of our IPM program, we inspect regularly for conditions that allow mosquitoes to breed. We visit each school every third day and emphasize eliminating standing water, water leaks, plumbing leaks and excessive shrubbery against and around buildings.

“We trim bushes back off of the buildings to reduce mosquito hiding places. We focus ‘up and under.’ That means getting the bushes trimmed from the ground up and removing the dead stuff underneath. Multiple-inch layers of dead leaf material provide excellent harborage sites for mosquitoes and must be eliminated.”

Fueston also removes debris from rain gutters, so water will not collect, and adjusts downspouts for proper drainage.

He said one often overlooked area outdoors, especially now as football two-a-day practices are underway in many areas, are the contraptions and training equipment the teams use.

“Here for example, all football teams use old tractor or truck tires for strength training,” he said. “The tires lay out on the practice field the entire season. Water collects in these tires and must be removed. I drill four to six half to 3/4 inch holes in each tire, so they can’t hold water; problem solved.”

In keeping with proper integrated pest management practices, Fueston is cautious where pesticide use is concerned.

Under normal circumstances, pesticides are among the last resorts used to control a pest outbreak after more preventative measures have proven ineffective, according to Hurley.
For more school-related integrated pest management information or to download the CDC Fight the Bite flyers go to: https://schoolipm.tamu.edu/forms/public-health-pests-information-resource/

Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu

CDC Adopts New Repellent Guidance for Upcoming Mosquito Season

Posted on August 16, 2012 by janet.hurley

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 an ingredient found in many mosquito repellents used in Europe,Australia, Latin America andAsiafor some time. Evidence indicates that it works very well, often comparable with DEET products of similar concentration. One product, containing 7 percent picaridin, is being distributed in theUnited Statesfor the first time this year. The other repellent is oil of lemon eucalyptus (also known as p-menthane 3,8-diol or PMD), a plant-based mosquito repellent that provided protection time similar to low concentration DEET products in two recent studies. It is available in a variety of formulations throughout theUnited States.

“We’re very excited that the number of options people have to protect themselves from mosquitoes and therefore West Nile Virus has increased,” said CDC Director Julie L. Gerberding. “Products containing DEET, picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus are all excellent choices. The important thing is that they remember to protect themselves from mosquito bites when they’re going to be outside. We want people to enjoy their spring and summer free of West Nile Virus.”

Mosquito season has already begun in some parts of the country. With mosquitoes comes the risk of West Nile Virus infection and other infections spread by mosquitoes. Just one bite can lead to an infection that could cause serious illness or even death. While people over 50 are more likely to become seriously ill if infected with WNV, people of any age can become mildly to seriously ill. Most people who contract West Nile Virus do not show any symptoms. However, about 20 percent of people experience symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea and vomiting and an estimated 1 in 150 people infected with WNV will develop severe illness. The severe symptoms can include high fever, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss and paralysis.

DEET, picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus are all registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates these products. Repellents registered with EPA have been evaluated for both safety and efficacy when used according to label instructions. DEET Answers a fact sheet developed by the EPA and CDC

CDC recommends that people use repellent anytime they go outside, especially during prime mosquito biting hours, between dusk and dawn. People should follow the label instructions, and if they start getting bitten re-apply repellent. CDC Fight the Bite prevention posters helps you make your staff, students and others aware of what they can do.

CDC works with state and local health departments, federal and other government agencies, as well as private industry, to prepare for and prevent new cases of West Nilevirus infection. CDC coordinates ArboNet, a nation-wide electronic database that gathers information about West Nilevirus in humans and animals, in order to guide prevention and response activities. To learn more about how to protect yourself and your family from West Nile Virus, please visit www.cdc.gov/westnile. More information on the guidance is available at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/RepellentUpdates.htm.

Adopted from CDC Press Release

School Integrated Pest Management

Teaching, Research, Extension and Service

Fast Facts about Mosquito Prevention and Control around Schools

CDC Adopts New Repellent Guidance for Upcoming Mosquito Season

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