School IPM 2015 - November eNewsletter

 

School IPM 2015 Newsletter: November 2013
In This Issue What's New? Upcoming Events IPM Education Success at the Austin Insect Rodeo Another Reason IPM in Schools is a Good Thing eXtension Webinar Series Recordings Available Receiving a forwarded copy?  Know of others who should receive this newsletter? Join the Schoolbugs listserv to ask questions, learn from others and share successes and challenges.   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. 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.   Upcoming Events December 20, 2013 IPM Coordinator Training  Lubbock, TX More Information February 5th, 2013 Half Day Bed Bug Workshop  Rockford, IL  More Information   Quick Links School IPM 2015 Homepage Get Involved! About School IPM 2015 Make a Contribution!	*View this newsletter as a PDF. 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.  IPM Education Success at the Austin Insect Rodeo            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. To learn more about other outreach opportunities and events visit the Entomological Foundation.      Another Reason IPM in Schools is a Good Thing 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.    eXtension Webinar Series Recordings Available  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. The series is supported by eXtension and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and coordinated by the Imported Fire Ant eXtension Community of Practice. If you would like to host a webinar, email Dr. Flanders for more information.