Newsletters | School Integrated Pest Management | Teaching, Research, Extension and Service

Rabies Awareness & Prevention Poster Contest for K-12th Grade

Posted on January 31, 2022 by janet.hurley

Mark your calendars! The Texas DSHS Zoonosis Control Branch annual Rabies Awareness & Prevention Poster Contest is accepting submissions until April 8, 2022. Parents and teachers of children in grades K-12, this is a fun way for them to learn about the risks of rabies and much more.

Students will learn:

🦇The importance of rabies vaccinations for pets

🦇Respecting wildlife from a distance

🦇Notifying adults of exposure to an infected animal

A sample of a past submission

The Zach Jones Memorial Fund provides generous prizes for winners in each age group (K, 1-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12). Deadline for poster submissions is April 8, 2022. Contest information and instructions for teachers, students and parents can be found on the DSHS Zoonosis Control website.

Rabies is a viral disease that kills over 59,000 people every year around the world. Fortunately, human deaths from rabies in the United States are very rare (approximately one to three deaths per year, almost exclusively due to rabies associated with bats). This is due to strict animal control laws, widespread pet vaccinations, and public health intervention in identified rabies-exposure cases. Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis is 100% effective when administered properly. However, the treatment is very expensive and requires multiple shots over a period of time.

Skunks and bats are the most commonly affected species in Texas. Private residences and school grounds are the most common locations in Texas for exposure to rabid bats. Bat bites are not always noticeable and many people are unaware that exposure to bats poses a risk. Most of these rabies exposures are preventable through education.

For the last twelve years, the TX Department of State Health Services Zoonosis Control Branch has facilitated an educational “Rabies Awareness & Prevention Poster Contest” for school kids. Students throughout Texas can participate by designing posters that promote rabies awareness and the respect of bats and other wildlife from a distance. Winners of the contest are awarded prizes provided by the Zach Jones Memorial Fund (ZJMF) www.zachjonesmemorial.org/. The fund was founded in remembrance of Zachary Ross Jones after he died of rabies at the age of sixteen. The ZJMF strives to raise funds in order to assist with educational awareness, early detection, and ultimately the cure for rabies.

Please help us spread the word about this fun, educational outreach project. Share this information with school administrators, teachers and nurses! The link to contest documents and winners can be found here

This poster was designed by a student almost a decade ago.

Rabies Awareness Full color poster 11 x 17 in PDF so you can print now.

Integrated pest management coordinator training 2022 dates set

Posted on January 17, 2022 by janet.hurley

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has announced the 2022 schedule for integrated pest management, IPM, coordinator training. Both one and two-day course options are offered.

The first one-day school IPM coordinator training is Jan. 27 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center in Lubbock. This course is for new and veteran school IPM coordinators who need the 6-hour class to qualify as their institution’s responsible IPM coordinator.

The cost in $135 per person with advance registration, the fee includes training materials and lunch. Register in advance at https://tx.ag/LubbockIPMJan. Credit cards, checks and purchase orders are accepted.

Part of what IPM training covers is what to look for when searching for pests.

The training is designed for integrated pest management coordinators, grounds managers, pest management professionals, and school administrators but is open to anyone. All class participants will receive a notebook with necessary forms and paperwork regarding school IPM program implementation.

“This training helps new and established IPM coordinators maintain their program but also ensure they are ready for a Texas Department of Agriculture inspection,” said Janet Hurley, AgriLife Extension integrated pest management program specialist, Dallas. “As per law and rule, each school district has to have an IPM coordinator that is trained. At the same time, TDA is required to inspect schools to ensure they are complying with the rules, our staff including the other urban IPM specialists are well versed in what schools need to do to stay in compliance.”

Hurley will be instructing the one-day trainings; she and Don Renchie, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension pesticide safety program coordinator, Bryan-College Station, will both teach at the two-day trainings. Hurley said regional experts will also be invited to speak.

Continuing education units available

Continuing education units are offered for individuals that hold a Texas Department of Agriculture structural pest control license. The one-day course offers five total units are available for these license holders, two general laws and regulations, one general IPM, one general safety and one pest.

Participants with TDA pesticide applicator license can receive three continuing education units, one in laws and regulations, one integrated pest management and one general for the one-day course. The type and quantity of CEUs for the two-day trainings are still pending.

One-day IPM coordinator training

In addition to the Lubbock event, another one-day training will be held March 10 for the East Texas area. Registration and additional information for this event can be found at Region 8 School Education Center website or by calling 903-572-8551.

“This class is also open to anyone wanting to learn more about integrated pest management, the laws and rules pertaining to pesticide licensing, a better understanding of pesticide classes and what you can use in and around school property, plus information on cockroaches,” Hurley said.

Two-day IPM coordinator training

The two-day classes run from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. each day with an hour lunch break. The prepaid cost is $210 for both days, $135 for a single day. The cost at the door is $240 or $155 respectively. The 2022 schedule, regions and locations for two-day workshops are as follows:

March 30-31, DFW Area, Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center, 17360 Coit Road, Water Education Building, Dallas.
May 11-12, San Antonio area, San Antonio ISD Central Office, 514 W. Quincy St., San Antonio.
Sept. 14-15, Houston area, Fort Bend County AgriLife Extension, 4332 Highway 36 S., Rosenberg.
Oct. 12-13, Central Texas area, Round Rock ISD: Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex, 10211 W. Parmer Lane, Austin

Day one of the two-day trainings is required new coordinator training. The all-day course meets the requirements that TDA requires for all new IPM coordinators. For IPM Coordinators who have been in their positions for more than three years, the course offers 6 hours of CEU credit to maintain IPM Coordinator certification. For pest management professionals and ground personnel, this course offers a good foundation about integrated pest management, the laws and rules associated with pesticide licensing, school IPM and pesticide safety.

“Once is never enough that is the most common statement made by veteran IPM coordinators,” Hurley said. “The first time they attend one of these classes it’s hard for them to process all the steps needed to have an organized sustainable program. I am told that it takes up to three times to attend the class to fully understand their role as the IPM coordinator, as it’s not just about eliminating pests, it has a lot to do with people management.

Day two offers advanced coordinator training for both experienced and new school IPM Coordinators. This second day is ideal for those school IPM coordinators and pest management professionals wanting to understand specifics about insect pests and rule interpretation.

For 2022, participants will learn more about pesticide safety as it pertains to labels and safety data sheets, as well as what is required when training unlicensed personnel, Hurley said.

“IPM inspections are the backbone of every pest management program, this class will have a hands-on section where participants will be taught how to inspect and where to inspect,” she said. “Ants and mosquitoes are some of that hardest insect pests to prevent around school campuses and our plans are to have the local entomologist in each area to cover these pests.

“Finally, weed management is becoming more challenging participants will learn about the most common products being used on the market, and what they need to know to use them on school property.”

Announcing the 2022 School IPM Coordinator Training

Posted on December 3, 2021 by janet.hurley

Howdy Everyone,

AgriLife Extension is pleased to announce the 2022 school IPM coordinator training schedule. Make your plans to attend one of these trainings so that you can stay in compliance with TDA. Remember new IPM Coordinators must attend a 6-hour school IPM Coordinator training class within 6 months of appointment. And ALL school IPM coordinators need 6 hours of refresher training every three years.

David Evans, IPM Coordinator at Humble ISD explains on the IPM tour how they monitor for pests in kitchen.

All public schools in TX are required under Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Title 4, Part 1, Chapter 7, Subchapter H, Division 7 School IPM to adopt, implement and maintain a school integrated pest management program. Part of these requirements is for all Independent School Districts to appoint an IPM Coordinator by the Superintendent, and then attend an approved school IPM Coordinator training. AgriLife Extension is here to help with those trainings and assisting schools to implement and maintain their IPM programs.

Our Two Day workshops will offer the 6 hour course on the first day, with the second day focusing on topics that are designed to help learn more about pesticide safety as it pertains to labels and safety data sheets, as well as what is required when training unlicensed personnel. IPM inspections are the backbone of every pest management program, this class will have a hands-on section where participants will be taught how to inspect and where to inspect. Ants and mosquitoes are some of that hardest insect pests to prevent around school campuses our plans are to have the local entomologist in the area cover these two insect pests. Finally, weed management is becoming more challenging participants will learn about the most common products being used on the market, and what they need to know to use them on school property.

To register for one of these courses visit our conference services website at https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ or call 979-845-2604 Keyword: School IPM

Class time is 8:30 am to 5:00 pm with lunch provided by one of our many supporters. Advanced Cost: $210 for both days, $135 for one day only. Note we have not changed our prices in over a decade because we do understand schools have limited budgets. This course also offers a workbook with all the forms you need to maintain your program.

Dr. Renchie and I look forward to seeing you at one of our events next year.

Location For Two Day School IPM Coordinator Trainings	Training Dates
DFW Area: Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center, 17360 Coit Road, Water Ed Bldg., Dallas, TX	March 30 & 31, 2022
San Antonio Area: San Antonio ISD Central Office, 514 W. Quincy Street, San Antonio, Texas	May 11 & 12, 2022
Houston West: Fort Bend County AgriLife Extension, 4332 Highway 36 S, Rosenberg, TX	September 14 & 15, 2022
Austin Area: still working on location	October 12 & 13, 2022

Check out the Agendas for 2022 2022_Day1Agenda and 2022AgendaSchoolIPMDay2 CEUs will be offered as well for SPCS and TDA Ag.

Can’t make one of the two day workshops I will be in Lubbock in January. Plus there is the the class I offer with Region 8 Education Service Center in Pittsburg, TX

Lubbock Area: Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center, 1102 East FM 1294, Lubbock, TX 79403 January 27, 2022

East TX Area March 10, 2022

Region 8 Educational Service Center, Pittsburg, TX – Registration is through Region 8 ESC please visit their workshop website to register https://txr8.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=275261 or call 903-572-8551

Can’t make an in-person course then check out our AgriLife Learn website where you can take the 6-hour school IPM course, 1 hour school IPM refresher course or search our CEU courses on ants, bed bugs, bats, and much more.

Finally, not sure if your school IPM program is up to a TDA inspection, then check out this audit checklist school IPM compliance audit or give our office a call so we can schedule an in person site audit or video conference call.

SPN: A Bird’s Eye View of Integrated Pest Management Compliance

Posted on September 28, 2021 by janet.hurley

This article was first published by TASB Risk Management Fund on February 23, 2021 by Campbell Gill. I am using this as a way for you to take time to review your IPM program and see what needs to be updated at your district.

Controlling the pest population at your school district or community college isn’t as simple as spraying pesticides. Fighting off annoying critters without negatively impacting the health of your community and the environment requires a delicate balancing act of responsible pesticide use, staff training, and an effective school integrated pest management (IPM) program.

IPM can be a complex subject rife with specific regulations to comply with and licenses to obtain. Taking time to look at some of the high points of IPM compliance will make your administrative duties that much easier.

What is school IPM?

Traditional pest management leans heavily, if not exclusively, on pesticides to keep pests in check. IPM combines pesticides with safer prevention and control strategies. For example, if you want to keep rodents out of your facilities, you could cut clutter, maintain dining and food storage areas, and remove trash and overgrown vegetation. If rodents manage to get inside, you could control their population by applying pesticides and/or trapping and removing them.

Under the Texas Administrative Code, your organization must designate a trained IPM coordinator to manage your program, which should have these core elements:

Board-approved policy: Your IPM actions should be outlined in a policy approved by your school board and applied across the organization.
Monitoring: Your IPM program should define unacceptable pest populations that justify corrective action. Monitor populations on your property, and prepare to manage the risk if they exceed thresholds. For example, your guidelines might call for stricter control measures after you discover four mounds of fire ants.
Safer strategies: When control measures are deemed necessary, you should choose non-chemical tactics or lower-risk pesticides whenever possible.
Recordkeeping: Document everything you do for your IPM program, including your work orders, pest control use records, application history, third-party service records, and any pesticide complaints you receive.
Education: Your staff needs to be consistently educated and informed about their roles in the IPM program.

Go deeper

IPM is a dynamic process with numerous rules and regulations you’ll need to keep in mind. Below are some of the important overarching elements.

Licensing

School staff, vendors, and anyone else applying pesticides, including pesticide devices, on school property must be properly licensed. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) requires different licenses depending on where and how you use pesticides. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension School IPM website breaks down licenses and their requirements.

Incidental use

IPM incidental use regulations allow your coordinator to train another employee to treat occasional pest issues considered emergencies. Examples include fire ants in a classroom or wasps next to an exit door. Your IPM coordinator will have to follow many steps to comply with incidental use regulation. Steps include, for example, training designated employees on the incidental use fact sheet and teaching them to safely apply pesticides according to their labels and safety data sheets. You also need to complete a post-application form to notify TDA see this document for an example Pesticide Application Record for Incidental Use

Documentation

TDA requires you to keep thorough records of all your pesticide uses. Everything needs to be documented, including location, time of chemical application, amount used, specific mixing rate, target pest, and the license numbers of anyone who used the chemicals. For outdoor pests, you will need to document environmental factors such as wind velocity and outdoor temperatures. You’ll also need to provide documented justification whenever you use certain powerful pesticides. Failing to maintain consistent documentation is a common issue in TDA school inspections, so make sure you keep up with your paperwork.

Integrated Pest Management guidance, education, and training

IPM is a comprehensive process that comes with a lot of paperwork to complete and regulations to follow. Information and resources are available through the Texas Department of Agriculture,
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Be on the lookout for armyworms

Posted on August 26, 2021 by janet.hurley

Pest management professionals who care for lawns should be on the alert for fall armyworms this fall. Higher-than-normal populations of this lawn-eating insect have been reported from many areas in Texas this past summer and we have started to see them in San Antonio and Austin areas.

Drab Gray Moth adult of fall armyworm

While fall armyworms are nothing new, according to Wizzie Brown, Extension Program Specialist for IPM in Austin, these worms started appearing in home lawns in late July to early August. Usually, infestations take place in late summer or early fall, but the weather can play a big part. The amount of rain we have had this year helped with egg survival and it can also delay predators from feeding on the eggs.

Fall armyworm (FAW) is the caterpillar stage of a drab gray moth, known scientifically as Spodoptera frugiperda. It feeds primarily on grasses, though it has been reported feeding on dozens of non-grass plants and weeds. It earns the name “armyworm” from its habit, during times of major outbreaks, of marching, army-like, across fields, roads, and yards, consuming everything in its path.

Fall armyworm on bermudagrass

The armyworm caterpillar is identified by three thin white or yellow stripes on the shield behind the head (pronotum), an inverted white Y on the face between the eyes, and by four dark hair-bearing bumps (tubercles) on the top of the 8th abdominal segment. It takes three to four weeks of feeding to reach its full length of about 1.25 inches (34 mm). For a video that will help you recognize this worm check out this episode of Backyard Bug Hunt.

The adult FAW moth has a wingspan of about 1.5 in. The hind wings are white; the front wings are dark gray, mottled with lighter and darker splotches. On male moths each forewing has a noticeable whitish spot near the extreme tip.

Damage and Control

Fall armyworm damage on sports field

Damage often appears to occur overnight, though armyworms need at least three to four weeks to complete their six larval stages (instars). The last week or two of the larval stage is when most of the feeding, and damage, occurs.

Fall armyworms feed on most common lawn grasses like bermudagrass and St. Augustinegrass. But because armyworms feed on the leaves, and not on the critical roots and stolons, a little irrigation or a rain should restore lawns to their original condition within a week or two.

If this is unacceptable to your customer or school district, FAW is relatively easy to control with any pyrethroid insecticide. Organic customer lawns can be treated with products containing spinosad, a naturally occurring microbial toxin. Be sure to avoid treating areas with flowering weeds or clovers that might attract bees, or else mow the lawn (and flowerheads) prior to treating. This will help protect pollinators that might otherwise be attracted to freshly sprayed lawns.

Fall armyworm adult are strong fliers, travelling hundreds of miles from overwintering sites in south Florida, south Texas, and Mexico each spring. In a strange, apparent case of migration suicide, offspring of these northern migrants cannot survive freezing winter weather. And unlike monarch butterflies which return to Mexico each winter, FAWs never return south. Therefore, they and all their offspring perish in the cold weather. The evolutionary advantage of this unusual behavior, if any, is not well understood.

For more information on our Aggie Turf website, click here.

Look for fall armyworm eggs or other caterpillar larvae on the underside of eaves, ledges, leaves, and hidden areas. Remove early before they hatch.
Fall armyworm damage on sports field
Drab Gray Moth adult of fall armyworm
These worms can be hard to see as they can blend in with your turf.
Athletic field that experienced Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) damage.
Fall armyworm on bermudagrass

SPN: Welcome Back to Campus: let’s not bring in unwanted guests

Posted on August 11, 2021 by janet.hurley

This food storage room has a lot of cardboard that can harbor insects and mice. Limit the amount of cardboard in all storage areas.
Plastic storage containers allow for you to keep things without adding an extra food or harborage site for most pests.
The way this overhang was designed allows birds and wasps to build nests. Think of ways to construct areas or remediate so that these areas aren't pest problems.
The small hole above the cardboard boxes allowed the rats to jump down explore for food and then go back up to their nest.
This open door can allow mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, and other unwanted pests to enter.
Trees touching any structure can allow a variety of pests to move in unseen. Make sure that limbs aren't touching the building.
The rafters above have allowed birds to nest with their droppings close to where students wait for the busses. This is an allergen trigger.
Doors are important because every crawling pest can access your building the same way you do only in smaller dimensions.
These openings not only allow for the conduit to come in, but ants, roaches, wasps, mice, rats and maybe even a snake. Seal it up to seal pests out.
These fire ants were seeking food and shelter - they found that and more inside this building.
Ornamental grasses are eco-friendly but they can also hide mice, rats, and other pests. This grass is also hiding the foundation to window area, this could become a problem with water damage in the future. What you can't see you can't report.

cardboard storage with mouse hole in ceiling

Where has the year gone? Our campuses are bracing for full student and staff occupation, but are you ready for the pest invasion as well?? Did you know that schools have four more times occupants than office buildings for the same amount of floor space? (Schools for Health.org) And yet we don’t always think about how to manage these areas to keep pests like ants, cockroaches, bed bugs, ticks, fleas, mice, rats, and a whole lot more out of our buildings. In this newsletter are some tips everyone at the school campus can do to help ensure that those indoor allergen triggers are managed to keep everyone healthy.

If you see something say something.

Too often we will notice a flaw or a problem and assume that the facilities person knows about it. While in a very small district this might be the truth, most often small problems go unreported until they become a big problem.

Here are some things everyone can do to protect the school interiors from pests:

All food storage areas should have products stored on industrial grade, stainless steel wire shelving, at least 6 inches from walls and 12 inches from floor. These same shelves should be at least 18 inches from the ceiling as well.
No foods should be stored in classrooms without being stored in re-sealable containers (i.e., plastic storage containers, metal tins, etc.). Teachers limit this to small amounts, don’t invite unwanted guests to your classroom.
If you see cracks and crevices around windows, doors, bathroom fixtures, moldings, water
How much extra stuff do you have stored around you that you don’t need?
fountains, utility lines, bulletin boards and blackboards attached to the walls, let your district IPM coordinator know about them. Doors, ceilings, soffits under the eaves of buildings are all areas where most pests enter, so help the district keep an eye on these areas.
Keep clutter in classrooms and custodial closets to a minimum. Cardboard is great harborage for cockroaches, silverfish, ants, and mice. Add a little water to the cardboard and it can also create a mold that can impact lung health. If you must store items use closed plastic containers.
Eating in classrooms should be kept to a minimum and classrooms should be cleaned thoroughly after food consumption to prevent insect and mice activity.
- Breakfast in classroom is understandable in the elementary campuses, but there needs to be a plan in place to help custodial understand if there has been a food spillage or special attention needs to be made to classroom after the students have left for the day. Cleaning up after small spills should be handled as soon as possible. If the room has carpet ensure that custodial is aware of liquid spills like milk, juice, and other non-water products to address the carpeting immediately.
Student’s backpacks, coats, hats, and other personal belongings. Be on the look out for items coming from home that could potentially bring insects to the classroom. Be discreet talk to the IPM Coordinator, school nurse and principal about what you are seeing. Certain insect pests can transmit allergens or can become a problem in the school environment, letting the district coordinator know just helps with future prevention.
All food prep areas should be cleaned and disinfected daily; this includes moping of floors and cleaning of floor drains on a regular basis. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) now requires all food preparation facilities to follow additional rules that require them to also repair any areas that could lead to a future pest problem.
- Doors should be correctly sealed, no gaps more than 1/8 inch {Mice ¼ inch and rats ½ inch, cockroaches and crickets a credit card thickness can allow them in}.
- Air curtains should be installed correctly – air blowing out away from inside building.
- Insect light traps (ILTs) if used should be installed away from doors and windows, placed on a wall around 6 feet from the floor.

School exteriors are another way for pests to enter the building, keeping an eye on these areas is important to everyone on the school campus. These tips will help everyone understand what they should be looking for.

Any openings larger than ¼ inch should be sealed. This means that door sweeps, kick plates, and doorsills should be maintained and regularly repaired to prevent rodent entry.
Holes around all pipes and soffits must be sealed using a durable sealant. If you see these areas, please make a note of them, and let facilities know about them.
Cracks in walls and foundations are a common occurrence in Texas. Since they can happen
What does the vegetation look like around your school?
frequently without much notice, if you notice a new opening, crack, exposure from the outside that could lead to a problem inside do let your Coordinator, building manager, or facilities department know about this. Similarly, if you see holes or burrows around the foundation let your coordinator know, rodents, rabbits, skunks, and other mammals can use that to establish a nest.
All exterior doors must be kept closed, and not used for added ventilation. An open door can invite mosquitoes, flies, mice, wasps, and few other pests to come in uninvited.
Garbage cans and exterior dumpsters should not be maintained too close to the school. It is recommended that dumpsters be at least 10 feet from the entryways and when possible 50 feet away.
- All trash receptacles should have a lid, door, or other top to ensure they are closed in between each use. Bees, wasps, hornets, birds, rats, ants, and other small mammals will use these devices for meals, if you don’t want them around you, use trash knowledge – close it up.
Shrubs and trees must be trimmed so they are not in contact to exterior walls or rooflines. Recommended distance from buildings is one (1) foot. Vegetation can be used for nesting, food source, travel highways for a variety of common pests to enter building structures. Having the ability to see roof lines, along the foundation, and walls can aid in making sure rodents, ants, termites, and other pests can’t move in.
Exterior lighting must be non-attractant. Replace halogen bulbs with low-pressure sodium vapor or LED lights over entry areas. Lighting plays a role is drawing night flying insects to your doors and windows that allows other insects to follow.
- At the same time seal those crack & crevices around doors, windows, and walls with an appropriate sealant.
All metal overhangs and roof edges must be tight and sealed to avoid nesting of wasps, hornets, other stinging insects, bats, and/or birds. Rats and squirrels will use those small openings to gnaw or pull open to store food or move in.

Everyone within the school district has a role in IPM.

Custodial staff, food service personnel, and maintenance personnel you are on the frontline of seeing several of the potential areas for pest problems. Get to know your district IPM coordinator, know how to report pest sightings either through a log book or work order system.
Teachers, principals, and coaches recognize too much clutter, don’t bring in unsanctioned furniture or other items without alerting district leadership. Nothing says happiness like a mouse or bed bug infestation in that couch that you got for ‘free’.
Everyone needs to understand that only the IPM Coordinator or the licensed pesticide applicator can apply insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, or any other pesticide
Don’t bring pesticides from home.
used to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate any pests on school campuses.
- This means that if the District IPM Coordinator finds a can of wasp killer in your classroom they will pull it as the Texas Department of Agriculture Structural Pest Control Service does not allow for the unsanctioned use of these products by unlicensed persons.
Everyone should follow the Districts IPM Policy and know who your District IPM Coordinator is.
- Want to find this for your TX district – use your internet search option, type in your district name and online policy, you should have a link that states “Index – Policy On Line – District” you can search the policy code by typing “CLB” in the box. From there you should be able to read your districts approved IPM Legal and Local policies. Or contact your district IPM Coordinator for a copy.
Posting prior to pesticide applications is a Texas school IPM rule as well. Indoor treatments are to be posted 48 hours in advance, whereas outdoors the applicator must post at the time of application and then adhere to the reentry guidelines based on the Green, Yellow and Red Category requirements.
- Green Category products can be applied if the students are not present and can renter after the application.
- Yellow Category products can be applied when students are not present at the time of application and must remain outside the posted area for 4 (four) hours after reentry.
- Red Category products can be applied when students are not present at the time of application and must remain outside the posted area for 8 (eight) hours after reentry.
Keep parents informed! Every year parents should be notified, via a student handbook, handout, and/or placed on the district’s website about the IPM program. Provide a number to the IPM Coordinator to call if they have questions, and post notices in the entryways and offices before any pest control service.

These tips are here to help everyone keep pests at a minimum, reduce pesticide use, and keep buildings healthy so that all the building occupants can teach and learn.

Youth gardening programs grow great kids

Posted on June 14, 2021 by janet.hurley

Elementary school students and their teacher prepare soil and plant vegetables in a school learning garden.

There are numerous benefits when youth participate in the Junior Master Gardener Program.

Research has shown that outdoor interests, physical activity, and good nutrition all yield positive benefits for youth. And research also shows gardening is an excellent way for young people to connect with nature and learn about personal responsibility, commitment, and teamwork.

“Through Junior Master Gardener youth programs we engage young people in novel, hands-on group and individual learning experiences that help them develop a love of gardening and an appreciation for the environment, while also cultivating their minds,” said Lisa Whittlesey, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service senior program specialist and director, International Junior Master Gardener Program, Bryan-College Station.

Junior Master Gardener Program

JMG is an international youth gardening program of the land-grant university Cooperative Extension Network. Both in the U.S, and internationally, the JMG program is administered by AgriLife Extension, an educational outreach agency of the Texas A&M University System.

“The JMG program also inspires youth to be of service to others through service learning and leadership development projects, and rewards them with certification and recognition”, Whittlesey said. “It lets children get involved in exploring their world through meaningful activities that encourage leadership development, personal pride and responsibility, and community involvement”.

Through the Junior Master Gardener Program, young people learn about gardening and develop a respect for nature while learning life skills such as teamwork and leadership.

She said most Junior Master Gardener group activities take place in schools around the country and are taught by teachers as a part of their classroom instruction. There are also JMG groups that learn in informal settings such as afterschool programs, 4-H clubs, scouting and summer camps.

“There are JMG-related youth gardening programs throughout the U.S. and internationally”, Whittlesey said. “There are currently JMG programs in every state and in partnership with 10 foreign countries”.

In Texas there are JMG programs in approximately 160 counties in both urban and rural areas.

“These programs give youth the opportunity to explore their world through meaningful activities that help develop useful life skills and also give a practical application to earth science and other classwork”, Whittlesey said.

The JMG program works in collaboration with teachers, school administrators, school districts, community groups, youth organizations and youth leaders to bring its programs to youth throughout the state, she said.

“We offer a variety of materials, curricula and resources for teachers and other leaders interested in using garden-related content with their students”, Whittlesey said. “There are core comprehensive JMG curricula for elementary and middle school programs and also thematic curricula such as Learn, Grow, Eat and Go!, Wildlife Gardening, and Literature in the Garden to provide engaging lessons and educational opportunities for kids.”

More information on the Junior Master Gardener program can be found at http://jmgkids.us or by contacting Whittlesey at l-whittlesey@tamu.edu.

Learn, Grow, Eat and Go!

A cornerstone of Junior Master Gardener programming is the Learn, Grow, Eat and Go!, LGEG, youth gardening curricula.

“Learn, Grow, Eat and Go! is an interdisciplinary program that integrates academics, gardening, nutrient-dense food experiences, physical activity, and school and family engagement”, Whittlesey said. “The target audience is kids in third to fifth grade, but the curriculum can be modified to suit various grade levels”.

The LGEG curriculum includes two lessons a week. Students learn about plant nutrient requirements, as well as nutrients required for the human body to function properly. They maintain and harvest vegetables from their own learning garden, plus take part in cooking activities in which they help prepare dishes using the vegetables they harvest.

“Through this linear set of academically rich, proven lessons, youth learn about plants and what they need, as well as how plants provide for our nutritional needs”, Whittlesey said. “They also engage in fun and educational activities along with the cooking activities and outdoor physical activity”.

Kids participating in the 12-week Learn, Grow, Eat and Go! program get instruction on how to make nutritious recipes using the vegetables they grow and harvest.

“The best part of collaborating with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Junior Master Gardener program has been the hands-on assistance, training, materials, and resources they make available to those wanting to implement a youth gardening program”, said Amalia Sollars, K-8 enrichment program coordinator for the Northside ISD in San Antonio.

Betti Wiggins, Houston ISD officer of nutrition services, said the LGEG program has been a natural fit for their youth education goals. Wiggins is responsible for managing and implementing all of Houston ISD’s school nutrition programs, which serve more than 280,000 meals to students each day at 287 schools.

“It’s about teaching our kids to be smart food consumers, along with getting them outdoors and being engaged as custodians of our food system”, Wiggins said. “We at HISD appreciate this opportunity to work with AgriLife Extension in the LGEG program and know we have found the right partners to make sure our kids understand the importance of good food and can become more food literate”.

The Learn Grow, Eat and Go! curriculum has recently been made available online as a distance learning opportunity for elementary school students. The course is $35 and is available at https://bit.ly/2RRHtdG.

“The content for the online ‘Learn, Grow, Eat and Go! for Youth’ course is very similar to the current LGEG in-person program curriculum, providing two lessons per week over a 10-week period”, said Randy Seagraves, AgriLife Extension program specialist leading the course’s online development.

There is interactive, video-based content for all 20 LGEG lessons.

“Whether it’s through school, independent learning or a virtual summer class at a distance, kids will love the hands-on lessons and activities teaching them to grow and maintain their own vegetable and herb garden and use the harvest to prepare delicious and nutritious recipes”, Seagraves said.

Teachers and youth educators can access professional development training to implement the LGEG program in their community and access the LGEG video library to support classroom instruction through https://agrilifelearn.tamu.edu/.

The complete Junior Master Gardener ‘Learn, Grow, Eat & Go!’ curriculum, designed for use by teachers in a classroom setting, is available through the Texas A&M AgriLife Bookstore at a cost of $56.

Wildlife Gardener program

“The Wildlife Gardener program combines the knowledge and resources of the National Wildlife Federation and the Junior Master Gardener program, with input from teachers and students across the country,” Whittlesey said. “These combined efforts have created an integrated, engaging, one-of-a-kind experience for kids”.

She said young people can become certified as Wildlife Gardeners by taking part in a curriculum that will also help them strengthen their skills in math, science, language, and social studies.

“The goal of wildlife gardening is to show young people the importance of the natural ecosystem and teach them how to build components of a wildlife habitat within their garden”, Whittlesey said. “We also want them to gain a greater understanding of and appreciation for the wildlife in their local community. This is through project-based learning focused on gardening for the benefit of wildlife”.

Literature in the Garden program

“JMG’s Literature in the Garden program engages youth through powerful garden- and ecology-themed books that inspire learning through outdoor activities, creative expression and open exploration”, Whittlesey said.

She said the curriculum includes dozens of hands-on math, science, and language-based activities to encourage leadership development, individual responsibility, community involvement and critical thinking.

“This curriculum utilizes six Growing Good Kids Book Award-winning titles”, Whittlesey said. “It uses quality children’s literature to connect kids to gardening and the natural world. Bringing gardens and great books together is another great way to grow good kids”.

Other youth gardening learning opportunities

“We are also beginning an early childhood version on the Learn, Grow, Eat and Go! program for even younger children”, Whittlesey said.

She said Early Childhood LGEG is an easy-to-implement, garden-based curriculum for teachers of youth from the Head Start level to kindergarten.

“This is a four-week curriculum that combines learning about plant and gardening basics, understanding food and where it comes from, and why good nutrition and physical activity are necessary to having a healthy life”, Whittlesey said. “This is all done in the context of novel and effective parental engagement”.

Whittlesey said the early childhood version of the LGEG program will help youth build a love of gardening and appreciation for nature from an even younger age.

Written By: Paul Schattenberg, Communication Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife

SPN: How to win the fight against stickers; management tips to ruin sandburs’ summer

Posted on June 10, 2021 by janet.hurley

Sandbur seed pods are a nasty little sticker that can ruin a walk through the yard. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Erfan Vafaie)

Whether you call them stickers or sandburs, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert can help you win the war against these prickly little pain dispensers.

Sandburs, also known as grassbur or sandspur, are an annual and/or perennial grass. The sharp, spiny burs are a seed pod that can latch on to passersby for distribution to other locations.

“Weed control is ultimately up to the end-user, but sandburs are one of those weeds that can be a painful reminder that our yards may need some attention,” said Chrissie Segars, AgriLife Extension statewide turfgrass specialist, Dallas. “If you’ve ever been stuck by them or removed them from a child or pet, then you likely want some advice on how to get rid of them.”

Segars said Texas’ wide range of climates makes any specific directions to address sandburs difficult. In some parts of the state sandburs are a summer annual that dies back and returns from seed, while in warmer regions they live as perennials that can overwinter as plants. Therefore, control methods and timing differ based on where the plants are in their life cycle.

“In some parts of the state, folks might use preemergence herbicides that will have no effect on the overwintering plant,” she said. “It might prevent the seeds from emerging, but it won’t get rid of the old plant. There are no herbicide treatments that will be 100% effective every time, but they will reduce the plants and subsequent seeds.”

Pre- and post-emergent applications for sandburs

Watch for clumps of what appears to be grass, or a delicate wildflower, they will give you a bite.

Segars said there are ways to fight sandburs with herbicides that kill plants after they emerge or prevent plants from emerging from seeds. Timing is critical when applying pre- or post-emergent products. Sandbur seed can begin early germination at a soil temperature of 52 degrees and peak at 72 degrees, she said.

She recommends a split application of preemergence products with active ingredients Dithiopyr, Indaziflam, Oryzalin or Pendimethalin for sandburs because of their long germination period. Apply the product to prevent sandburs from emerging and follow with another application depending on label instructions, soil type and weather.

Unfortunately, most postemergence herbicides available to homeowners at big box stores are not labelled for sandbur, Segars said. There are three selective, post-emergence products that are labeled to address sandburs in turfgrass. Katana, Celsius WG and Image 70 DG are more professional-geared products but can be purchased online. The most homeowner friendly – Image Kills Nutsedge – is available online and in home and garden departments.

“It may be too late for preemergence applications in some parts of the state, but this cooler weather means it may not be too late to affect peak germination,” she said. “The second application will catch those seeds that haven’t started germinating yet.”

Segars said it is important to always follow product labels.

Making turfgrass happy can eliminate stickers

Before these burs emerge is the time to treat.

Herbicides are a tricky time- and money-consuming way to fight sandburs. But Segars said one thing anyone can and should do to fight sandburs is implement cultural practices, including fertilization, mowing, proper irrigation and cultivation to help turfgrass choke out sandburs.

Sandburs prefer nutrient-deficient soils, so homeowners and turf managers should start the process by taking a soil sample and add recommended amendments to create proper pH levels for your soil and turfgrass types, then follow with nutrients like potassium, phosphorous and nitrogen.

“Sandburs thrive in poor soils, so you want to improve all nutrients in general with fertilizer,” she said. “Only add phosphorous and potassium according to the soil test and nitrogen according to recommendations for your turfgrass type, use of the area, and management capabilities, because St. Augustine grass and Bermuda grass have different needs. Promoting healthy, dense turfgrass is the best defense against most pest weeds, including sandburs.”

When it comes to irrigation, Segars said most homeowners overdo it. They begin watering too early and too often, which can lead to poor root development, weakens turfgrass, and makes it susceptible to diseases.

AgriLife Extension has an application for computers and smartphones – WaterMyYard – designed to help homeowners in North Texas irrigate their lawns properly based on localized weather data. There are a number of other AgriLife Extension publications and resources available to guide homeowners regarding lawn irrigation.

Another effective cultural practice is mowing your lawn with equipment that catches clippings when weeds are mature, Segars said. Catching and removing clippings reduces the seedbank that could potentially develop next year.

“Catching reproductive structures of mature weeds lowers the population of seed you’ll have to deal with in the future, and not catching the clippings and those seed pods can potentially help them spread to new areas of your lawn,” she said. “These practices should be performed consistently and properly to make your lawn a place where turfgrass thrives and makes it difficult for weeds like sandburs to emerge and multiply.”

You can also visit the AggieTurf website for more information on weed management in your yard, school or business.

Thank you to Adam Russell, Communication Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension for writing this article.

Watch out for Snakes

Posted on June 1, 2021 by janet.hurley

The copperhead is among four venomous snakes, including rattlesnakes, cottonmouths and coral snakes, that people should watch for while walking. Their pattern blends well with fallen leaves and debris on the ground. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension photo by Maureen Frank)

Rising temperatures mean the chances of coming across a snake are also rising.

Rapid urbanization and higher-than-normal amounts of rain are a combination that increase the likelihood of human-snake encounters, and more interactions can lead to more bites.

Maureen Frank, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service wildlife specialist, Uvalde, has some tips on how to avoid snake bites and deal with objects and places around homes and properties that may attract snakes.

Snakes, whether we like them or fear them, are becoming more active around the house and in their natural habitat this time of year. It’s still a little cool, but snake activity will increase as temperatures climb.

People can encounter snakes while walking trails, camping or just doing summer yardwork around the house, Frank said. There’s little to fear about snakes if a few basic precautions and principles are applied before and during an encounter.

Snakes are integral to Texas’ array of regional ecosystems. While many Texans view them as a dangerous pest, they are an important predator of insects and small mammals. There are around 75 snake species in the Lone Star State, but only about a dozen are venomous.

Even though most species are non-venomous, Frank said her best advice is to avoid contact with any snake. Snakes are typically not aggressive and will typically escape an area if they hear someone approaching.

She said the best ways to avoid snake bites is to watch where you step or reach and to keep your distance if you see one.

“When you encounter a snake, it’s best to just leave it alone,” Frank said. “Most bites occur when a person is trying to handle the snake or trying to kill it. It’s best to give them plenty of room and let them go on their way.”

Where and when you might encounter a snake

Most Texas snakes, like this Texas rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta), are not venomous and try to avoid people. (AgriLife Extension)

Frank said recent heavy rains and flooding could increase the potential for encounters with snakes. Flooding can push snakes from burrows and typical habitat to higher ground and create hiding places in those areas.

“Heavy rains can push snakes from low-lying areas, and flooding can wash debris onto properties that can become good places for displaced snakes to shelter,” she said. “So, people need to take special care during cleanup. The thing to remember is to never put your hands or feet somewhere you can’t see and to use tools like hoes or a shovel to move debris or turn it over so you can see that it’s safe to handle.”

Because snakes cannot generate their own body heat, they prefer sun and/or stretching out on warm surfaces like rocks, pavement and other heat-absorbing materials while temperatures are cooler. But in the heat of the summer, they prefer shade, especially from the midday sun.

“People need to take these environmental conditions into account,” she said. “On a cool morning, you may find a snake sunning a rock along a hiking trail or the stones in a walkway or a paved walking trail. When it’s hot, they may be in the shade under a bush or sheet of plywood or in a brush pile. These are things to consider when you go outside.”

Frank said venomous snakes typically do not want to use their venom as a defense. They usually give warnings – like rattlesnakes rattling – before they strike. The Texas Department of Health Services reported that half the reported bites by venomous snakes were “dry,” meaning no venom was injected into the victim.

“A snake strikes because it views you as a threat,” she said. “Producing venom is an energetically costly process, and they only have so much. If they use it, they must make more to hunt for food, and they have to work for every single meal, so striking to defend themselves is something they would rather avoid.”

For more tips on precautions to take related to snakes and flooding, you can find Frank’s publication on this subject at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Bookstore.

Reduce snake attractors around the house

There are no chemical repellants proven to deter snakes, Frank said, but there are two things homeowners can do to reduce the likelihood of snakes hanging around a location – remove potential shelter and food.

“It’s best to take the habitat approach and remove the things that attract snakes,” she said. “Cutting the grass, removing brush and debris, and trimming the lower branches on bushes and trees will go a long way in reducing the places a snake might want to hide.”

Research Frank conducted last summer in the Hill Country indicated that snakes use a variety of materials to hide throughout the year, including plywood, sheet metal and other debris. These materials also attract scorpions and spiders, so snakes are just one reason to take caution when cleaning up debris.

Reducing hiding spots for snakes will also reduce hiding spots for the prey they seek, like rats and mice, she said. Cleaning around the house and other structures to remove trash, which is shelter for small prey animals, also helps keep snakes away.

Teach children not to reach inside crevices and under bushes with low-hanging limbs, she said.

“They need to know they shouldn’t reach into a place if they can’t see what might be in there.”

Frank said homeowners should also take precautions to reduce the chance of their pet encountering a snake, such as having them on a leash during walks.

Snakes of Texas

A milk snake’s black, white and red pattern mimics the black, yellow and red pattern of the venomous coral snake. Even non-venomous snakes will bite if they feel threatened, so it’s best to avoid them. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension photo by Maureen Frank)

Common non-venomous species found throughout Texas include garter snakes, which people also refer to as garden snakes; rat snakes, also known as chicken snakes; and bull snakes. Common venomous snakes include western diamond-backed rattlesnakes, copperheads and the cottonmouth, also known as the water moccasin.

The range of species and likelihood of an encounter differ from region to region and specific locations. For instance, it’s much more likely to see a cottonmouth around bodies of water, like ponds, lakes or creeks, as well as bottomlands that maintain high levels of moisture throughout the seasons.

“Being able to identify a snake can help you avoid danger,” she said. “But the best advice is to keep your distance and avoid contact.”

Frank has published a useful guide to common snake species that can be purchased on the AgriLife Bookstore.

Snake bites

Most snake bites to humans occur to the feet/lower leg or the hands, Frank said.

Despite common misconceptions on how to deal with a venomous snake bite, she said it’s best to stay calm and get to a hospital as quickly as possible.

First, try to identify the snake species, Frank said. This is especially important for coral snakes because the treatments differ significantly from those to treat copperhead, cottonmouth or rattlesnake bites.

“Do not try to kill it,” she said. “The emergency room doctors don’t need it. They just need a decent description of the snake or take a photo of it with your cell phone if it’s safe to do so. If someone else tries to get the snake, you run the risk that the doctor may be dealing with two snake bite victims.”

Frank said the victim should remove clothing like socks if bitten on the foot and items like rings on fingers if bitten on the hand because of swelling.

Tourniquets and suction devices or using other mythologized methods to remove snake venom could do more harm than good, she said. Hospitals have anti-venom on hand to deal with bites.

“Just focus on getting to the hospital quickly but safely,” she said.

Written by Adam Russell, Communication Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife

SPN: News and Resources, you can use for your IPM program.

Posted on April 21, 2021 by janet.hurley

subterranean termite damage to wood floors

This month’s newsletter is aimed at helping you out with a few resources you can use, plus some news stories you might be interested in that you can share.

Understanding how to obtain a commercial or noncommercial pesticide license in Texas can be very confusing. Over the years I have devoted newsletter space to this topic. Last month for the joint TASB/AgriLife Coronavirus Confusion Abounds Webinar Series we covered Pesticide Licensing in TX. This session was recorded and can be found on YouTube. The video is an hour long and covers the steps you need to take to obtain study materials, how to apply to the Texas Department of Agriculture and how to set up your exams with PSI.

In February, the TASB Risk Management Fund wrote on article on IPM. In this article it reviews what it takes to sustain an IPM program for publics schools and colleges. As we all know fighting off annoying critters without negatively impacting the health of your community and the environment requires a delicate balancing act of responsible pesticide use, staff training, and an effective school integrated pest management program. Check out this article on the TASB Risk Management page.

Another resource is the Spring 2021 issue of freshAAIR™ Magazine from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America which has several articles that are worthy of reviewing. Air Ventilation and COVID-19, Helping Schools Manage COVID-19 and Asthma, Improve Your Indoor Air Quality to Improve Your Health, and Humidity’s Role in Asthma and Allergy Management are just a few of the topics covered in this magazine.

Spring Cankerworm image by Mike Merchant

Let’s talk insects that are showing up around the state.

Depending on where you live in the state you might have seen flying worms, floating worms, or just worms in trees. Molly Keck, our entomologist in San Antonio posted a blog article on Worms in Trees, and Wizzie Brown, our entomologist in Austin was interviewed on TV about this phenomenon. Most of the caterpillars you are seeing don’t need much treatment; however, there are a few that you should be aware of regarding student health. Check out this IPM Action plan for stinging caterpillars for what to know, look for and control measures.

Recognizing Termite Swarmers vs Swarming Ants

When spring comes to Texas often, we see swarming insects and it can be alarming to people. Termites are secretive in their habits and are rarely seen. However, at certain times of year termites belonging to the reproductive caste emerge from their underground nests and wooden feeding galleries to seek mates and form new nests (these “reproductive” stage termites are dark colored and do not resemble the whitish workers that many people associate with termites).

The swarming period, when reproductive termites emerge, provides the best chance for identifying structures with termite infestations. When swarming does occur indoors, it is a good indication that the building has become termite infested.

Termites can swarm at any time of year in Texas, but by far the busiest season occurs in April and May. Because swarms may occur in isolated locations, it’s important that all school staff be trained in how to identify these insects.

Termites are most likely to be confused with swarming ants, but can easily be distinguished by three characteristics: (1) ants have distinctly pinched waists–termites do not; (2) termites have antennae that are flexible throughout their length–ant antennae are straight for approximately half their length, and then “elbowed” (see diagram); (3) in ants, the front pair of wings slightly exceeds the length of the second pair of wings, but in termites all wings are approximately the same length. Note that both termite and ant swarmers may lose their wings completely after emerging from their swarming tube.

Use this diagram to train school maintenance staff in how to recognize and report termites.

For more information on controlling and recognizing termites or other wood destroying insects check out Dr. Merchant’s old website.

Finally, as the school season comes to close maybe this press release on spring cleaning will help you educate your school staff on how to prevent pests at school and at home.

Check out this slideshow of termite images

This image shows evidence of drywood termites Incisitermes minor
Drywood termite soldiers
Eastern Subterranean termites Reticulitermes flavipes
Subterranean termite mud tube coming up from soil along foundation and entering a structure.
Alates of eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes
Evidence of termite damage to wood floors, watch for buckling, moisture, and smell of musty odor.
Termite workers construct swarm castles that are designed to temporarily accommodate the numbers of termite swarmers leaving the colony during a swarm. These dirt looking tubes can be anywhere on a wall or ceiling.