Community-Wide Integrated Tick Management: Not Cheap, New Study Shows
Effective and affordable tick management at the community level has long been sought after, but a new study shows the necessary costs remain steep. An analysis of integrated tick management models in a sample 1,000-acre, 320-home community find even a two-part program could cost about $400 per household, with more robust programs raising the price even more.
What’s Eating Your Pine Needles? Sawflies, Probably
Conifer sawflies are common herbivores throughout North America. Typically little more than a nuisance to individual trees, large outbreaks are capable of defoliating thousands of forested acres in a very short time. A new review in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management summarizes what we know about conifer sawflies in eastern North America, provides an identification key for larvae and outlines management options for both managed and natural landscapes.
Much Ado About Nothing? End-of-Summer Defoliation Heats Up
While their damage may be unsightly, many common caterpillar species that emerge in late summer to munch on tree leaves are generally not a significant threat to tree health. A new guide in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management takes a closer look at these late-season defoliators and offers tips for management.
How an Entomologist Raised in the City Found Her Path in Agricultural Pest Management
Meet Pin-Chu Lai, Ph.D., postdoctoral associate at Cornell University, applied insect ecologist focusing on pest management in crops and vector-borne plant diseases, and subject of the next installment of our "Standout Early Career Professionals" series.