School IPM Workshops Scheduled!

The deadline for implementing an IPM Plan for all NC Public Schools is October 1, 2011.

In an effort to help school systems that have not yet (or are still in the process) of putting together and implementing an IPM Plan, NCSU is offering several regional workshops for IPM Coordinators and maintenance personnel. We will have 2 CCU’s of P-phase recertification available.

During the workshop, we will distribute IPM kits for school systems to use to conduct their own in-house training and information sessions about School IPM for staff, teachers, parents, and other interested parties. Each IPM kit contains:

• A collection of common insect pests
• A CD of Powerpoint presentations and scripts for use in IPM training
• A DVD on School IPM (produced by Dr. Godfrey Nalyanya before he left NCSU)
• A set of identification guides and CD’s donated by Syngenta.

The topics for the workshops will include:

• How to use the training materials for promoting IPM in your school
• Handling bed bugs found in schools
• School IPM, from start to implementation – problems and solutions

The following workshops have been scheduled. These are the last workshops that will be offered before the October 1, 2011 deadline. There is no cost to attend the workshops, however, you must pre-register to attend so we will have enough material to distribute. Please contact Patty Alder at 919.513.3805 or patricia_alder@ncsu.edu to register. 

August 23, 2011

1:00pm – 4:00pm

Durham County Extension Center

721 Foster St

Durham, NC 27701

August 29, 2011

1:00pm – 4:00pm

Cumberland County Maintenance Operations Center

810 Gillespie Street

Fayetteville, NC

August 30, 2011

1:00pm – 4:00pm

Transylvania County Extension Center

98 East Morgan St

Brevard, NC 28712

September 1, 2011

9:00am – 12:00pm

Caldwell County Extension Center

120 Hospital Avenue NE

Lenoir, NC 28645

September 1, 2011

9:00am – 12:00pm

Perquimans County Board of Education Building

411 S. Edenton Road Street

Hertford, NC

New Hanover County

Location/Date TBD

RAIN IS A WELCOME TO MANY PESTS, TOO!

Termites

The recent rains have triggered termite swarms. We have recently seen three distinct swarms in Umstead State Park in Raleigh, NC. Most of the swarming activity that is occurring now takes place outdoors, which is simply a reminder that termites are around us outdoors. It's a good reminder to all of us that if any of your school buildings haven't been inspected for termites in a number of years, this might be a good time to get it done. 

For those school systems that conduct their pest control in-house, we recommend that you look carefully for termite shelter ("mud") tubes on exterior foundation walls. For buildings with crawlspaces, check the wood along the top of the foundation (in the interior crawlspace), looking carefully for tubes and/or damage. This often means pulling back insulation in some areas to inspect. Be sure to inspect any “critical areas” for termite evidence. These areas include places where plumbing and other utility conduits penetrate slabs/foundations, cracks in foundations, areas around door and window frames, and areas prone to moisture problems.

If your school system contracts with a pest control company, your other option is to have them inspect the school buildings. There is a lot of confusion about what pest control companies can/cannot tell their customers. If there is no evidence of termite activity, a pest control inspector cannot tell someone that they "need" to have a structure treated. On the other hand, if it's been 10+ years since the structure was last treated, then the company might "suggest" a treatment as a way of protecting a major investment. But ultimately, the decision about whether or not to have a building treated for termites is up to your school system.

In instances where people have termite contracts with pest control companies, some companies have a clause in their contract that allows them to require retreatment of a structure after some interval (usually 5 years). This clause applies whether or not there are signs of termite activity. So, the advice is simple and the same as any other contract you sign - READ IT CAREFULLY. 

Click HERE for more information about termites.

Mosquitoes

The rains will also leave behind water sources that can produce mosquitoes. While puddles of water will dry up, the major concern will be for items that may be present on school property: buckets, flower pots with dishes underneath, tarps covering items, and even tree holes. Remember to "Tip and Toss" - tip the item to drain the water and toss the items that aren't needed.

Click HERE for more information about mosquitoes.

Fire Ants

Also, if you live in an area where fire ants are a problem, don't be surprised if you see mounds popping up. We've seen this same situation where dry summer conditions reduce surface activity but significant rainfall often affords the ants the opportunity to form mounds from what was previously very hard-packed soils.

Click HERE  for information about fire ants.

IPM DOES Work

Figure 1. Chris Mills, IPM Coordinator for Union County Schools,
speaking to 1st graders about cockroaches

If you still have doubts that IPM really works, just talk to Chris Mills, IPM Coordinator for Union County Schools (Figure 1). He’s got some pretty solid evidence that IPM does work. Chris was hired by Union County Schools in 2002 and began serving as the school system’s IPM Coordinator in 2006. Since that time, with a lot of support from school administration, Chris has developed a top-notch school IPM program in NC.


Recently, Chris received a call about cockroaches around the dishwasher area at one of his schools. After an initial inspection, he found German cockroaches coming out from the heat booster, from behind nearby wall panels, and packed tight in corners behind the dishwasher tray slide area. In an effort to quickly knock down the roach population, Chris simply vacuumed out the heat booster. Then, he placed multiple glue traps in areas cockroaches were found. He also used cockroach bait in a gel formulation.


One day after the initial trap placement, Chris counted approximately 500 German cockroaches on the glue traps (Figure 2). The following day, the number of roaches trapped decreased substantially to approximately 160 cockroaches (Figure 3). On the third day, Chris followed up with more round of vacuuming and an application of Mother Earth Dust in the heat booster. Two days later, only 2-3 cockroaches were seen.

Figure 2. One day after initial placement of sticky traps. 

Figure 3. Day two of trapping.

Using the principles of IPM, Chris was able to successfully control the roaches in about one week’s time. He used physical and mechanical control options (vacuuming and glue traps). Chris chose pesticides (bait gel and Mother Earth dust) that are least toxic and pose the least hazard to individuals. With a little effort, IPM can and really does work! As Chris said, “Maybe this will open up people’s eyes about IPM.” Thank you Chris for sharing this story and for all your hard work in promoting school IPM.

Tips for Effective Ant Baiting

Baiting for ants has some advantages over other types of insecticides. First, baits can work when the nest cannot be found or it is inaccessible for treating with other chemicals. Second, baits pose less of a risk to children and staff by reducing the risk of possible contact with any toxic chemical. Third, baits can kill the entire colony whereas most insecticides sprayed on a surface kill only the workers that contact it. 


Remember, baits are effective only if they are eaten and not all baits are equally attractive to different ant species. Make sure the bait you use is acceptable to the ants. Place a small amount of bait where you see ants foraging and then watch their reaction for a few minutes. If the ants show no interest in the bait, try another bait until you find one that they readily feed on. Once you find a bait that is acceptable to the ants, several other factors determine its effectiveness:

• Sanitation - Baits work best when there are no other food sources available to ants. Keep areas clean so ants are not "distracted" from locating and feeding on the bait.
• Proper placement - Bait should be placed in known or suspected areas of ant activity. Be sure that bait is placed out of the reach of children and staff. Never place bait directly on countertops where food is prepared or in an area where it will get wet and/or contaminated.
• Quantity - Make sure you put out enough bait and that it remains fresh. If the ants carry away all of the bait, then they may leave the area and go elsewhere before enough bait is spread within the colony. Ant species that are capable of producing large colonies, such as the Argentine ant, will most likely require more than one application of bait.
• Durability - Baits will eventually become unacceptable if they are exposed to high temperatures, rain, and sunlight. Check baited areas for signs of ant feeding and replace baits that are no longer acceptable to the ants.
• Patience is important to successful baiting. Most ant baits are slow-acting. Explain to students and staff that they may continue to see ants for a week or more after baiting. It is important that the ants are able to return to the nest with the bait so it can be fed to other members of the colony. Ask people not to disturb or kill the ants.
• Remember, if you determine that chemical control is needed to successfully control the ants, never spray in areas baits have been applied. If the baits are contaminated, the ants will avoid the bait.

Below is an "Ant Baiting Decision Tree" developed by Jules Silverman, NCSU Charles G. Wright Professor of Structural Pest Management. You may use the Baiting Tree as a tool in determining what actions to take in order to successfully bait for ants.

Periodical Cicadas Emerging

Figure 1. Adult periodical cicada 
(Photo: David McKeithan)

We’ve had several calls lately about the emergence of periodical cicadas. These insects, which spend the first 13 or 17 years of their life underground, often emerge suddenly and in large numbers. As a matter of fact, the cicadas are emerging right now at my parents’ house in Waxhaw, NC in such large numbers that, as my mom put it, “it sounds like a UFO is hovering above our house!”

Figure 2. Newly molted periodical cicada
(Photo: David McKeithan)

Cicadas are relatively large insects with transparent wings held roof-like over the body (Fig. 1). Some species of cicadas show up every year, but the periodical cicadas show up in certain areas every 13 or 17 years. After spending all those years living in the soil, from depths of two to twenty-four inches, mature nymphs emerge from about a one-half inch diameter hole in the ground. Nymphs crawl a foot or more up tree trunks or other vertical surfaces where adults emerge leaving their nymphal skins behind. The newly emerged adult is soft and white for some time (Fig. 2) before the exoskeleton hardens and becomes darker (Fig. 3).

Figure 3. Adult periodical cicadas
(Photo: David McKeithan)

Mated females cause damage to the twigs of deciduous trees on which they lay their eggs (Fig. 4). Twigs slit by the female's ovipositor will frequently have leaves that wilt and die. This damage to the twigs may cause some of them to die, but the injury is usually inconsequential. Eggs hatch 6 to 8 weeks, at which time the young larvae burrow into the soil where they will spend the next 13 or 17 years, depending on the species.

Periodical cicada damage to twig
(Photo: Tim Tigner, VA Dept of Forestry) 

The use of insecticides in school settings for cicadas is usually not necessary or practical. The damage done to healthy trees is minimal. Trees and shrubs that are vulnerable (i.e, young or newly planted) may be covered with a covered with a mesh cloth to prevent the females from laying eggs. 

IPM Coordinator Receives Important Award

At a recent School IPM Workshop, Chris Mills, IPM Coordinator for Union County Schools, received an award from the National Steering Committee and the Southern Region School IPM workgroup for his participation in the school IPM coalition project, supported by the US EPA’s Pesticide Registration Improvement Renewal Act grant. The award was given to Chris for all the hard work he has done to promote IPM in NC and for implementing a top-notch school IPM program in NC.

Patty Alder from NCSU presents Chris Mills his award.

Thanks Chris for all your hard work! 

School IPM Workshops Underway!

With the October 2011 deadline for implementing IPM in Schools coming up so quickly, we have been traveling across NC to offer 3-hour workshops for IPM Coordinators and maintenance personnel. The primary purpose of the workshops is to distribute IPM kits for the school systems to use to conduct their own in-house training and information sessions about school IPM for staff, teachers, parents, and other interested parties.

Each IPM kit contains:

A collection of common insect pests:

·     

·     

A CD of Powerpoint presentations and scripts for use in training and a DVD on School IPM (produced by Dr. Godfrey Nalyanya before he left NCSU):

·    

     A set of identification guides and CDs donated by Syngenta:

The topics for the workshops include instructions on how to use the training materials for promoting IPM in schools, as well as discussion of suggested protocol for bed bugs found in schools. In addition, Chris Mills, IPM Coordinator for Union County Schools, has been sharing his experiences with school IPM, from start to implementation, including problems and solutions he has encountered along the way.

Currently, we've scheduled the workshops listed below. We are working on scheduling workshops for the eastern part of NC and will let you know as soon as those are scheduled.

   

Wednesday, May 4th, 1:00pm - 4:15pm

Cumberland County Cooperative Extension

301 E Mountain Drive

Fayetteville, NC 28306

http://cumberland.ces.ncsu.edu/

Wednesday, May 11th, 1:00pm - 4:15pm

Caldwell County Cooperative Extension

120 Hospital Avenue NE, Suite 1

Lenoir, NC 28645

http://caldwell.ces.ncsu.edu/

Thursday, May 12th, 1:00pm - 4:15pm

Macon County Cooperative Extension

193 Thomas Heights Road

Franklin, NC 28734

http://macon.ces.ncsu.edu/

Please contact Patty Alder at patricia_alder@ncsu.edu if you plan on attending a workshop so that we will have enough materials to distribute.