Pheromone Treatment Puts Up the “No Vacancy” Sign for Douglas-Fir Beetles
A new review article looks at the research and development of a leading method for protecting Douglas-fir trees from bark-beetle infestations, using the pests' antiaggregation pheromone against them—essentially putting up a "no vacancy" sign that sends the beetles elsewhere.
Residential Pest Management: What Do Homeowners Know, and What Do They Do?
Massive quantities of pesticides are applied by homeowners on residential lawns and gardens each year. While some have an understanding of integrated pest management concepts and practice them on their property, many do not and indiscriminately apply pesticides. There is an opportunity for cooperative extension personnel to address this need by providing residential IPM and pesticide education programs.
Salt-Based Mosquito-Control Products Aren’t Worth Their Salt, Study Finds
Products claiming to reduce mosquito populations with salt-water solutions are ineffective, according to a new study. In a series of lab tests using nine mosquito species, a team of expert mosquito researchers found no evidence that adult mosquitoes are killed by salt ingested at concentrations used in several popular mosquito-control products. The findings are reported in the Journal of Medical Entomology.
To Control Lekking Fruit Flies, Male Size Matters (Except When it Doesn’t)
A study of two significant pest fruit fly species finds that the size of males influences female mating choice in one of the species, but not in the other—important knowledge for fine-tuning management efforts for both species via the sterile insect technique.