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What's New This Month
The latest PNW Pest Press newsletter is available, Food in the Classroom.
Jennifer Snyder of Oregon State University's School IPM Program gives
suggestions for teachers, students, and staff on ways to help prevent
pest problems associated with food and food debris in classrooms. We
encourage you to make copies available in break rooms and staff areas
throughout your district.
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| Highlights |
The
North Central Integrated Pest Management Center (NCIPMC) announces the
availability of funds and requests proposals for Working Groups that
support the NCIPMC and regional IPM priorities.
Sign up for the webinar that will provide information about this funding opportunity. Thursday, December 5, 2014 at 2 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. CT Individuals can register for the webinar at https://www.ncipmc.org/training/
The
webinar will provide an overview of the new proposal focusing on an
outcome-based funding approach and evaluation plans. Individuals
participating in the webinar will have an opportunity to ask questions
about the RFA and its new approaches.
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| Upcoming Events |
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December 20, 2013
IPM Coordinator Training
Lubbock, TX
More Information
February 5th, 2013
Half Day Bed Bug Workshop
Rockford, IL
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| *View this newsletter as a PDF. |
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Greetings from School IPM 2015!
Every day, 49 million children attend school in the United States,
served by nearly seven million teachers and staff. But they're not
alone. Schools are also frequented by a number of pests including
cockroaches, mice, dust mites and more. Asthma is epidemic among
children, impacting nearly 6% of school children nationally with rates
as high as 25% in urban centers. Cockroaches are potent asthma
triggers.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a
prevention-based, highly effective approach proven to reduce pest
complaints and pesticide use by up to 90% in schools and other public
buildings. IPM practices such as sanitation and exclusion also improve
food safety, fire safety and energy conservation. Our newsletter
highlights real-life examples of IPM in practice and can help you start
an IPM program in your school district. For more information, visit www.schoolipm2015.com. |
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IPM Education Success at the Austin Insect Rodeo
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The Entomological
Foundation and the Entomological Society of America Education and
Outreach Committee hosted the Austin Insect Rodeo on Saturday, November
9th at the Bullock Texas State History Museum. The Rodeo included a
teacher workshop and insect expo, where teachers, families and kids
engaged in hands on insect activities that were both fun and
educational!
The teacher workshop
provided educators the opportunity to learn about insect curriculum. The
workshop included two breakout sessions: "Bringing Insects into the Classroom: Interactive Lessons in Entomology," led by Christina Silliman and Catherine Dana, University of Champaign, IL and "Bed Bugs and Book Bags: Identification and Prevention," led by Rebecca Baldwin, University of Florida. Both sessions exposed teachers to ways of engaging their students in the exciting world of insects.
Melissa Scherr, a volunteer and Executive Director for the Northwest
Entomological Research Center said, "There's a fundamental fascination
and an innate curiosity about these little creatures we share the world
with, and that curiosity is a fantastic opportunity to connect and
engage with all levels of scientific learning. The neat thing about
using insects in the classroom is that you can use insects to teach just
about any kind of science you want -- ecology, chemistry, even physics
-- and not just broad concepts but applied science that students can see
for themselves every day in their own backyard."
Workshop attendees
earned two continuing education units (CEU), a pass to visit the
museum, an IMAX ticket to "Flight of the Butterflies in 3D and
participated in a raffle drawing. All teachers received valuable
handouts and lesson plans to be utilized in their classrooms. In a
satisfaction survey, attendees said, "Keep up the awesome work and thank you for being here today!" and "Very nice!! Nice balance of material and content."
Warren Sconiers, a
volunteer and student at Texas A&M University said, "I am excited
for the elementary and middle school students because the teachers
looked like they were enjoying the workshops and really thinking about
how insects could be integrated into their classrooms. The insect expo
was a huge success! I feel as though the children and their parents
really had their worlds opened up; it was great to see families really
experiencing and learning about insects for the first time."
The insect expo
included ten different interactive exhibits: antennae name-tags, maggot
art, insect petting zoo, ant detective, termite NASCAR, pollination
station, water world, bug suckers, whirling wings and insects make
scents. Participants made crafts, tasted honey, played games, danced on
the bee boogie dance floor and some were brave enough to pet new and
interesting insects. With over 1,300 attendees the insect expo was a whirlwind of activity and fun!
Joshua Villarrea, a volunteer at the insect petting zoo holds a millipede for children to pet (left).
Vanessa Kraft,
mother of three who attended the expo with her husband and children
said, "Our daughters had a blast. It was a well put together and
creative event. You and your team should be proud." To see photos from
the insect expo and workshop, visit us on Facebook!
The Austin Insect
Rodeo could not have been possible without our great group of 60
volunteers (above). Their unlimited energy and enthusiasm made this an
unforgettable event.
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| Another Reason IPM in Schools is a Good Thing |
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A recent report
compiling results of water quality monitoring for pyrethroid and
fipronil insecticides in urban areas documents disturbing trends. These
insecticides are widely used for structural pest control, often applied
to impervious surfaces such as foundations to kill ants or other insects
which otherwise might make their way into schools, homes or other
structures. Applications to impervious surfaces are prone to runoff
into surface water bodies.
The author
reviewed monitoring results including toxicity data from sampling and
analyses of surface water and sediment in urban areas in California
between 2003 and 2012. Bifenthrin was the most frequently detected
insecticide, found in 69% of sediment samples and 64% of water samples.
Cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin and permethrin were among the
other pyrethroids detected. Average concentrations were substantially
greater than those required to kill 50% of sensitive aquatic organisms.
Fipronil, another
commonly used insecticide for perimeter barrier treatments, was found in
39% of water and 19% of sediment samples. Data reviewed included
samples from urban regions throughout the state, including Lake Tahoe,
San Francisco, Central Valley, Central Coast, suggesting widespread
toxic effects on aquatics in urban environments.
IPM, with its
focus on exclusion including installing door sweeps and sealing cracks
and crevices, rather than regularly scheduled treatments with broad
spectrum insecticides, has potential to reduce the use and loss of these
persistent insecticides into surface water bodies.
The report was prepared for the California Stormwater Quality Association by Armand Ruby.
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eXtension Webinar Series Recordings Available
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 The 2013 Don't Bug Me webinar series from eXtension has come to a close. Recordings can be viewed by visiting the Don't Bug Me 2013 Webinar Series.
The
2013 series highlighted fire ants, bed bugs and other insects that
affect homes and landscapes. Experts in the field discussed
research-based management practices and provided real-life examples.
Dr. Kathy Flanders, Extension specialist with Auburn University initiated the series in 2012.
Episodes
from the 2013 series include: Fire Ant Homes Remedies - What Works,
What doesn't; Ants! Ants! Ants!; You Have Fire Ants Where?; Protect Your
Loved Ones from Fire Ants; Get Rid of Those Bed Bugs; Fall - A Good
Time to Control Fire Ants with Bait; Home Invaders; and Keep Ants Off
the Thanksgiving Table.
Be
sure to add All Bugs Good and Bad to your calendar for February 2014.
Webinars will be held at 1 PM Eastern Time the first Friday of each
month except January and July. Each webinar typically lasts 30-45
minutes.
"The All
Bugs Good and Bad Series webinars are specifically for people who need
answers they can use. This series gives people sound, research-based
solutions for pests from experts," reports Flanders.
Topics
in the 2014 series will include native pollinators, pollinator decline,
termites, spiders, ticks, mosquitoes, invasive insects, fire ant
management and decapitating flies that attack fire ants. To learn more
about the upcoming series visit: http://www.extension.org/pages/66439.
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