The Key to Controlling Spotted Wing Drosophila

“Our No. 1 pest in brambles is spotted wing drosophila,” says Kelly Hamby, an entomologist with the University of Maryland. “Early detection is key to effective control.”

How you clear leaf litter can increase blacklegged tick numbers

Researchers found that when homeowners rake or blow leaves into the interface between yard edges and lawn during the fall, they actual increase blacklegged tick habitat and can see a three-fold increase in tick numbers in these areas in the spring. Study authors recommend homeowners take advantage of curbside leaf pick up if available, compost their leaves, or remove leaves into a location further into wooded areas or away from high-use areas of their property.

 

Pesticide seed coatings widespread, underreported

Pesticide-coated seeds — such as neonicotinoids, many of which are highly toxic to both pest and beneficial insects — are increasingly used in the major field crops, but are underreported, in part, because farmers often do not know what pesticides are on their seeds, according to an international team of researchers. The lack of data may complicate efforts to evaluate the value of different pest management strategies, while also protecting human health and the environment. Research here.

 

IPM for Schools during COVID-19

The worldwide pandemic of COVID-19 brings the important work of school custodians into sharper focus and reminds us of the critical role they play in disease prevention. Disinfectants and cleaning chemicals are important components of your antivirus arsenal, but you'll want to make sure all staff are properly trained to follow label instructions, school policies, and state requirements to ensure their safe and effective use. If you haven't already done it, now is the time to review and update your cleaning/disinfection protocols. Provide good training for custodial staff. Work with your administration and school nurse to provide guidance to classroom teachers, other staff and families.

 

11 Charts that explain the coronavirus pandemic

The situation on the ground is evolving incredibly quickly, and it’s impossible to synthesize everything we know into clean, intelligible charts. But we do know a fair bit about how bad the outbreak is, what the disease does, and what controlling and ultimately ending the outbreak will look like.

 

Essential Businesses for a Safe Food Supply – resources in Pennsylvania and Maine.

Essential services and sectors include but are not limited to food processing, agriculture, industrial manufacturing, feed mills, construction, trash collection, grocery and household goods (including convenience stores), home repair/hardware and auto repair, pharmacy and other medical facilities, biomedical and healthcare, post offices and shipping outlets, insurance, banks, gas stations, laundromats, veterinary clinics and pet stores, warehousing, storage, and distribution, public transportation, and hotel and commercial lodging.