of Publication30th Year

Volume XXX, Number 1/2, January/February 2008 Oil for Drywood : Magic or Marketing Madness?

By Bill Mashek and Photo courtesy USDA William Quarles

here is a thriving market for reduced-risk . Many T pesticides containing conven- tional active ingredients such as chlorpyrifos and diazinon have been phased out of urban markets. Their widespread use in both agriculture and urban areas had led to increased exposures and unacceptable risks (FQPA 1996; NRC 1993; Wright et al. 1994). They were also a threat to water quality in many areas (Johnson 2004). A rich source of new pesticides is plant essential oils. Some of these occur in food and are even exempt- ed from registration by the EPA. Active ingredients in the new products include oils of clove, rose- mary, mint, and oranges. Large cor- Termites like these are vulnerable to desiccation. Contact with orange oil porations such as EcoSmart, Woodstream, and Whitmire have kills termites by damaging their exoskeleton, causing loss of water and made these pesticides readily avail- protein. able (Quarles 1999a; Isman 2006) to present what is currently known Orange oil is an oily mixture (see Resources). about orange oil for control extracted from orange peels, and Orange oil has attracted a lot of so that possible customers will have the major components are chemi- media interest because it is a natu- better information to evaluate the cals called or terpenoids. It ral product and has low toxicity to treatment. For comparison, we will is a volatile liquid and has a strong mammals. It is a by-product of summarize some of the other meth- odor of oranges. A chemical relative processing, and is ods used in California for drywood of orange oil is turpentine. Both extracted from orange peels. Orange termite control. food grade and technical grade oil is currently available as an (Orange Guard™; orange oil are available. According ProCitra®) and as an herbicide What is Orange Oil? to Jeff Chang of Florida Chemical, a (Green Match™) (see Resources). It Orange oil should not be confused major supplier of orange oil, there has been registered in California with orange juice. Orange juice is In This Issue under the brandname XT-2000™ basically a water extract; orange oil for control of drywood termites. If is insoluble in water. Though all the claims are true, it is the holy orange oil has low toxicity, it is irri- Orange Oil 1 grail of pest control—an effective tating to eyes and skin, and drink- ESA 10 natural product with low toxicity ing it would cause vomiting. Calendar 15 and no toxic residuals; a green Repeated exposure could cause Books 16 product obtained by utilization of allergic sensitivity in some individu- Ask the Expert 17 waste. The purpose of this article is als (MSDS 2006). Update Schematic courtesy Florida Chemical Company The IPM Practitioner is published six times per year by the Bio-Integral Resource Center (BIRC), a non-profit corporation undertaking research and education in inte- grated pest management. Managing Editor William Quarles Contributing Editors Sheila Daar Tanya Drlik Laurie Swiadon

Editor-at-Large Joel Grossman Business Manager Jennifer Bates Artist Diane Kuhn

For media kits or other advertising informa- tion, contact Bill Quarles at 510/524-2567, [email protected].

Advisory Board George Bird, Michigan State Univ.; Sterling Bunnell, M.D., Berkeley, CA ; Momei Chen, Jepson Herbarium, Univ. Calif., Berkeley; Sharon Collman, Coop Extn., Wash. State Univ.; Sheila Daar, Daar & Associates, Berkeley, CA; Walter Ebeling, UCLA, Emer.; Steve Frantz, Global Environmental Options, Longmeadow, MA; Linda Gilkeson, Canadian Ministry of Envir., Victoria, BC; Joseph Hancock, Univ. Calif, Berkeley; Helga Olkowski, William Olkowski, Birc Founders; Orange oil is extracted from orange peels. It contains terpenes and George Poinar, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; Ramesh Chandra Saxena, terpenoids, and the major component is d-. ICIPE, Nairobi, Kenya; Ruth Troetschler, PTF Press, Los Altos, CA; J.C. van Lenteren, Agricultural University Wageningen, The is very little chemical difference Hollingsworth 2005; Quarles 2006a). Netherlands. between the two. Food grade is Chang believes that d-limonene Manuscripts obtained by cold pressing the peels kills termites through its solvent The IPMP welcomes accounts of IPM for any to remove the oil, technical grade is activity. It actually “melts” or dis- pest situation. Write for details on format for manuscripts or email us, [email protected]. mostly obtained by steam distilla- solves their chitinaceous exoskele- tion. ton. This is consistent with the Citations There is a lot of misinformation known exoskeleton damage pro- The material here is protected by copyright, and may not be reproduced in any form, on the internet about termites and duced in the Formosan subter- either written, electronic or otherwise without orange oil. Some companies say ranean termite by a related chemi- written permission from BIRC. Contact cal, cis-nerol. Damage to the William Quarles at 510/524-2567 for proper that termites are killed by the citric publication credits and acknowledgement. acid in the oil. According to Chang, exoskeleton and cell membranes this is unlikely, because the orange causes lethal loss of proteins and Subscriptions/Memberships A subscription to the IPMP is one of the bene- oil they supply has less than 0.1% water (Zhu et al. 2003). fits of membership in BIRC. We also answer . Although their orange oil Orange oil is sold as a cleaning pest management questions for our members agent, and it is a good solvent. and help them search for information. contains 5% of other terpenes, alco- Memberships are $60/yr (institutions/ hols, ketones, and aldehydes that Because it is a good solvent, it can libraries/businesses); $35/yr (individuals). may have some activity, the major cause paint damage if used on Canadian subscribers add $15 postage. All painted surfaces. It is flammable, other foreign subscribers add $25 airmail active ingredient is about 95% d- postage. A Dual membership, which includes limonene. D-limonene (92%) is the but relatively small amounts of a combined subscription to both the IPMP registered active ingredient of the orange oil are used in a termite and the Common Sense Pest Control treatment (MSDS 2006). Quarterly, costs $85/yr (institutions); $55/yr termiticide XT-2000, and d- (individuals). Government purchase orders limonene termiticidal activity is accepted. Donations to BIRC are tax- Drywood Termite deductible. consistent with its known insectici- FEI# 94-2554036. dal properties against a variety of Treatments Change of Address flies, mosquitoes, , weevils, Drywood termites are found along When writing to request a change of address, fleas, wasps, crickets, mealybugs, the southern border of the U.S., please send a copy of a recent address label. scales, ticks, mites, and wood bee- and they are major pests in © 2008 BIRC, PO Box 7414, Berkeley, CA tles (Taylor and Vickery 1974; Styer 94707; (510) 524-2567; FAX (510) 524-1758. California and Florida.With global All rights reserved. ISSN #0738-968X and Greany 1983; Sheppard 1984; warming,their range is likely to Hink and Fee 1986; Coyne and Lott extend northward (Quarles 2007). 1976; Karr and Coats 1988; Karr et Treatment costs may exceed $500 al. 1990; Vogt et al. 2002; million each year (Su and Scheff-

IPM Practitioner, XXX(1/2) January/February 2008 2 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Update rahn 1990; Su and Scheffrahn be either a heat treatment or a tural fumigant is used (Lewis 2003; 2000). Drywood termites are either chemical fumigation, usually with Potter 1997). built into new structures, or they sulfuryl fluoride (Vikane®). Local Key to success with local treat- invade by flying in from outside. treatments are done with minimal ments is detection. Termite inspec- Unlike subterranean termites that disruption. Whole house treatments tion involves a trained and experi- live in the ground, drywood termites require that occupants move out of enced inspector. Inspectors are lim- spend most of their life cycle inside the house for about 3 days in the ited to accessible areas and rely a piece of wood. They live in hol- case of a fumigant, or leave for 4-8 mostly on their eyes to find termite lowed out spaces called galleries hours during a heat treatment signs such as damaged wood, flying (see Box A). (Quarles 2006b). termites (swarmers), discarded In California, drywood termite If there are a limited number of wings, and fecal pellets. Tools of treatments are either whole house accessible colonies of known loca- the trade include a flashlight and treatments or local treatments. tion, a local treatment is often used. wood probe such as an icepick, Local treatments include non-chem- In California, about 70% of the knife, or screwdriver (see Box A). ical methods such as heat, electro- time, customers choose chemical Over the years additional tools gun or microwaves or injections of injections, about 10% of the time, have been developed. Since termites chemicals directly into termite gal- they choose non-chemical methods, are encouraged by moisture, finding leries. Whole house treatments may and about 20% of the time a struc- moist areas can help with the ter-

Box A. Biology of Drywood Termites Pest termites can be roughly divided into two kinds, four years to mature, and a colony of 1000 might take 7 subterranean and drywood. Subterranean termites live years to develop. To eradicate, colonies might have to be in the ground and forage in wood beneath and above the reduced to less than 20 termites (Lewis 2003; Lewis ground. The most economically important species are 2002; Ebeling 1975; Smith 1995; Kofoid et al. 1946). the eastern and western subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes and R. hesperus, and the Signs of Drywood Termites Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes for- Current IPM programs for termites are based on regu- mosanus. Subterranean colonies usually maintain lar inspections and early detection. If they can be ground contact and commute back and forth between detected early enough, infested wood can be physically soil and structure through mud tubes. When there is a removed, repaired, or treated without great cost. Wings, source of water such as a leaking pipe inside a building, flying termites, kick-out holes in wood, and especially a complete colony may reside piles of hexagonal shaped, small BB inside a structure. Subterranean sized fecal pellets sometimes colonies are large, ranging in size resembling piles of sawdust are from 50,000 to a few million, and signs of drywood termites. Blisters a Formosan colony can do signifi- on paint could hide a colony just cant damage within 6 months (Su underneath. Inspection is a labori- and Schefferahn 1990; Potter ous process because all exposed 1997). wood on the inside and the out- Colonies of drywood termites, side of the building should be such as Incisitermes spp. or inspected. Frames of doors and Cryptotermes spp., tend to be windows, eaves, soffits, fascia small, often containing fewer than boards and dormers should 1,000 individuals. They live their receive attention. An infested entire life cycle inside of wood, board has a hollow sound when except for time spent in reproduc- tapped with a screwdriver or probe tive swarming. Swarming drywood (Potter 1997). termites generally leave the colony Inside, horizontal surfaces between August and November. should be checked for pellets, win- Reproductive swarms mate, fly dow and door frames, doors, base- around structures looking for cracks or holes, then lose boards, moldings, paneling, flooring, shelves, bookcases, their wings. King and queen crawl into cracks and small ceiling beams and even wooden furniture should be holes, excavate further, and start laying eggs that even- inspected. Drywood colonies have even been found in tually turn into workers, soldiers or reproductives. woody plants. In attics, “infestations are commonly Termites continue eating, producing hollow spaces found around vents, in rafters, ridgepoles, plates, ceiling called galleries. After 2-3 years annual swarming begins, joists, roof sheathing, and in general, around the and the termites infest other wood throughout the struc- perimeter” (Potter 1997). ture. A typical colony of drywood termites takes about

IPM Practitioner, XXX(1/2) January/February 2008 3 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Update

Photo courtesy TADD Dogs injected. According to one compa- Efficacy of Orange Oil ny’s website, “drill in a staggered Despite widespread publicity and pattern from the point of the infes- promotion, very little has been pub- tation out 30 inches (76 cm) in all lished in peer reviewed journals on directions.” The schematic on the the efficacy of orange oil for termite website shows drill holes about control. Orange oil will kill termites every 5 inches (12.7 cm). If the by contact in laboratory situations. holes and injections coincide with Dr. Rudolph Scheffrahn was hired an active gallery, laboratory efficacy by XT-2000 to test the efficacy of studies suggest (see below) termites orange oil injections into infested in the gallery will be killed by con- trunks and branches of Brazilian tact. The problem with this method pepper trees with active galleries of is finding the galleries, one cannot the drywood termite, Incisitermes drill and inject into solid wood. synderi. Infested pieces were 82- Orange oil must be pumped into 144 cm long (32.8-57.6 in) and the hollow spaces where termites ranged from about 1-5 liters are feeding. (approx. 1-5 quarts) in volume. Dogs can be used to locate There are anecdotal claims that Injections were made about every 5 drywood termites. orange oil “wicks through wood,” inches (12.7 cm). Termite mortality and it may do so. However, there ranged from about 48 to 100%. mite search. Moisture can be are no published studies that show Lowest percent mortalities were in sensed by moisture meters, and termites can be killed in this way. larger pieces that had lower termite these are readily available (see Orange oil vapor moves by diffusion densities. Injection volumes of XT- Resources). Another useful tool is out of the injected gallery, through 2000 were about 3% of the total the borescope. By drilling holes and the wood and off-gasses into the wood volume. Termites in pieces inserting a flexible, lighted probe, air. This movement accounts for the injected with water showed no mor- inspectors can see signs of termites odor of oranges in the air that tality (XT-2000). in wall voids without removing the lingers after a treatment. But there Though published experiments drywall (see Resources). is no published evidence that shows with drywood termites are sparse, Other tools include termite-sniff- this movement produces concentra- USDA researchers have recently ing dogs, and “sniffers”—devices tions large enough to kill termites published experiments with orange that detect characteristic gases by fumigant action in a gallery at oil and the Formosan subterranean emitted by a termite colony (Brooks an appreciable distance from an termite, Coptotermes formosanus. et al. 2003; Quarles 2004; Lewis et injection site. From laboratory stud- They found that 96% of termites

al. 1997). Acoustic detectors have ies with the Formosan subter- Drawing from Kofoid 1946 been developed that can “hear” ter- ranean termite, Coptotermes for- mites feeding (Quarles 2004; mosanus, orange oil fumigant con- Lemaster et al. 1997; Scheffrahn et centrations of about 5 ppm would al. 1993; Thoms 2000; Dunegan have to be maintained for about 5 2001; Lewis et al. 2004). In the last days (Raina et al. 2007). Professor few years, there has been a surge in Rudolf Scheffrahn, who did some of new detection methods. Detectors the laboratory efficacy studies using microwave, infrared, lasers, believes, “any fumigant action is and even X-rays have been com- over a short distance” (Scheffrahn mercially developed. Most termite 2008). Further research may be companies do not invest in this needed to clarify this point. Orange technology because of excessive oil research is currently being con- costs and lack of proven efficacy. ducted by Prof. Michael Rust at the Most use conventional visual University of California (UC) inspection, sometimes augmented Riverside. with a borescope, an acoustic Like a structural fumigation, detector, or a dog (Quarles 2004). orange oil does not leave a residual, so once the material has diffused Orange Oil Treatment and evaporated, it is no longer Orange oil must be injected Method effective. One study showed that it into active termite galleries. If dissipates within a week, the Orange oil is a local treatment the injection misses a gallery, method. When a drywood colony is orange oil companies say the smell termites will not be killed. found, holes are drilled into the of oranges lingers from three days infested wood, and orange oil is to two weeks (Raina et al. 2007).

IPM Practitioner, XXX(1/2) January/February 2008 4 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Update

sealed in a 1.9 liter (0.5 gal) plastic (Lewis 2003). Even with structural Drawing from Kofoid 1946 container containing 5 parts-per- fumigation, some termites may be million (ppm) of orange oil died left alive (Lewis and Haverty 1996), within 5 days. Lower concentrations especially if termites are in areas tested showed reduced mortality, where the wood has high moisture but caused termites to reduce feed- content, because water acts as a ing. Orange oil vapors came from a barrier to sulfuryl fluoride (Vikane) filter paper saturated with orange penetration (Su and Scheffrahn oil suspended from the top of the 1986). It may not be necessary to container. Termites were not in con- kill all the termites to destroy a dry- tact with the source, and thus they wood colony. If the queen and most were killed by fumigant action of them are killed that may be (Raina et al. 2007). enough. However, supplementary However, when a wooden mockup reproductives can be produced from of a wall void was used as a test a queenless colony as small as 20 platform, twice as much, or 10 ppm termites (Smith 1995). of orange oil, caused only 15% mor- But how can we rate the field effi- tality. The researchers believe that cacy of any particular treatment? the wet wood used in this test There are four possible methods: absorbed orange oil, making it less the termite company can visually Local treatments require that effective as a fumigant. Thus, abili- reinspect some time after treat- galleries be accessible. Each ty of wood to soak up orange oil, ment, some kind of instrument can active gallery must be injected may actually work against its action be used to measure termite activity with orange oil to kill termites. as a fumigant. For fumigant action, before and after treatment; the enough orange oil must be used to treated wood can be removed and (BIRC) found callbacks on structur- overcome wood absorption and dis- destructively sampled; or the cus- al fumigations to be 5-15% (Quarles sipation into ambient air. tomer can act as a quality control and Bucks 1995). Consistent with Finally, termites were added to agent by calling the termite compa- this callback estimate of efficacy, glass tubes filled with treated sand ny back when fresh signs of ter- Ebeling and Wagner (1964) found containing 0.2% and 0.4% orange mites are seen. that 26 to 37% of all structures oil by weight. All termites were The first method is rarely used. fumigated for drywood termites in killed by contact with the orange oil Companies usually treat on a one- Los Angeles showed evidence of within 72 hours. The orange oil was time basis and do not return unless active infestations within 3 to 5 not persistent, and about half of the called back. Acoustic detectors have years. Some of these were reinfesta- oil from the 0.4% treatment was been used to evaluate field efficacy. tions, but some of this activity gone within a week, and most of it Termites make sounds when they feed, and the number of feeding undoubtedly reflected a fumigation had volatilized within 3 weeks failure (Ebeling 1975). (Raina et al. 2007). sounds per minute is a measure of Callback rates for treatments So laboratory experiments show activity. Activity is measured before other than fumigation are more that orange oil is a fumigant, kills and after treatment to get a meas- heavily dependent on the skill of by contact, and acts as an ure of field efficacy (Thoms 2000). the operator. John Lemm of Cal antifeedant. Other essential oils Because of cost and the technical Western Pest Control in Los Angeles have similar properties. Clove oil expertise needed to operate the treated over 1200 structures with can kill termites by fumigant action detector, this method is rarely used heat in the 1990s, and had a call- (Park and Shen 2005). Basil and (see below). back rate of less than 1%. Other citronella oils kill by contact, act as Destructive sampling is also heat treatment operators have high- antifeedants, and are repellent to rarely used. Although infested wood er callback rates. According to Phil termites (Sbeghan et al. 2002). is sometimes removed and replaced, Holt, former president of Etex, Ltd., Though no tests are available, seldom is the wood treated before the manufacturer of the Electrogun, orange oil may also be repellent. replacement. So most of the time, field efficacy assessments rely on “the callback rate for Electrogun Field Efficacy of Drywood the customer. Customers see fresh treatments done properly is proba- bly about 5%. However, companies Termite Treatments evidence of termite excretions or swarming, and the company is that do not adhere to treatment It is not easy to completely rid a called back for further work. These guidelines may have a failure rate structure of drywood termites. Most “callbacks” can be a practical meas- of up to 25% (Quarles 1999b). This treatments properly applied lead to ure of treatment effectiveness, and estimation is consistent with a a significant reduction of colony are often the only measure. A sur- study by Ebeling (1983), who found numbers, but complete eradication vey of pest control operators (PCOs) an Electrogun callback rate of 3 out in all cases just does not happen by the Bio-Integral Resource Center of 35 or 9%.

IPM Practitioner, XXX(1/2) January/February 2008 5 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Update

Efficacy of Local Drawing from Kofoid 1946 Injections The local treatment method of injecting chemicals to kill drywood termites was developed by University of California researchers in the 1930s (Light et al. 1930; Ebeling 1975). Dusts containing arsenic salts or other chemicals were injected into active galleries. Any termites that did not encounter the material initially were exposed to toxic residues as they blundered through the treatment area. There was also transfer of active residues between termites (Randall and Doody 1946; Kofoid and Williams 1946). Many current researchers believe that local treatments work better if termites are presented with lingering toxic residuals. In case an Local treatment with chemicals involves drilling holes into wood and active gallery is missed, surviving injecting either dusts or liquid termiticides. Those that leave a resid- termites may encounter lethal ual provide ongoing protection. residues later (Ferster et al. 2001; Scheffrhan et al. 1997; 1998). completely eliminated at 61% of the signs of infestation with injection As mentioned earlier, 70% of the treated sites, and 90% or better holes every 5 inches (12.7 cm). time customers choose chemical reduction of activity was seen at Sometimes laboratory efficacy injections for treatment of drywood 89% of the sites. At 11% of the studies show good results, but field termites. Colonies must be accessi- sites, mortality was less than 90%, efficacy is poor. Scheffrahn et al. ble, and field efficacy of local chem- and these sites required further (1997) found that injections of DOT ical treatments depend on the skill treatment. These results are proba- dust in the laboratory killed more of the operator, skill of the termite bly as good as it gets with local than 80% of termites. Injections in inspector, and to some degree on injections. the field killed very few, because the specific treatment chemical Woodrow et al. (2006) did a field “dust applications, which are diffi- (Lewis 2003; Thoms 2000; efficacy simulation by injecting vari- cult to inject into wood, yielded Scheffrahn et al. 1997, 1998). A ous products into infested loading sparse coverage in natural gallery number of materials have been test- pallets. Some of the active galleries systems.” Conversely, surface appli- ed in the past (Lewis 2003), some of were part of several interlocking cations of DOT liquid did not kill these were very toxic and only a few boards. Each board received only any termites in the laboratory, are currently registered. There are one injection of either spinosad, because galleries were deeper in the very few published studies covering chlorpyrifos, disodium octaborate wood than the penetration distance the field efficacy of chemical injec- tetrahydrate (DOT), or resmethrin. of the borate. Termites were killed tion for drywood termite control Spinosad showed the largest mor- in the field with surface applica- that directly compares currently tality with rates of 53-59%. Because tions because colonies were near registered materials. of the limited number of injection the surface. The great value of DOT Scheffrahn et al. (1997) found sites, some galleries were missed. comes as a treatment to prevent field efficacy measured with an Thoms (2000) probably obtained termite infestations (Scheffrahn et acoustic detector at 1 month after better results with spinosad al. 2001). treatment ranged from 22-90% for a because a larger number of injec- number of materials they tested. tion sites were used near signs of Field Efficacy of Orange Thoms (2000) and cooperating infestation. Oil PCOs used an acoustic detector to Another experiment by Woodrow monitor efficacy of spinosad injec- and Grace (2005) with imidacloprid, Since there are no published tions for drywood termite control. DOT, and spinosad, showed best studies of orange oil field efficacy, All colonies tested were totally results with DOT, about 63% mor- we have to rely on callback esti- accessible. Infestations were moni- tality. Again, only one injection site mates given by the practitioners. tored, then treated. Then effects per board was used, and some gal- One of the major orange oil compa- were checked 1-2 months later with leries missed treatment. Orange oil nies is X-Termite, which is owned the acoustic detector. Colonies were practitioners saturate galleries near by Mike Folkins. According to Mike,

IPM Practitioner, XXX(1/2) January/February 2008 6 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Update

X-Termite has treated 15,000 struc- are not killed immediately will likely Conclusion tures with orange oil in the last 9 persist. Orange oil is not magic, but it years. He believes that a fair esti- According to Joseph Grande of may represent a reasonable local mate of the callback rate on orange Pacific Coast Termite, his company oil treatments is 5-15%. He believes has about a 15% callback rate from treatment method that can compete that success with orange oil orange oil treatments. Inspections with other chemical injection tech- depends on intensive structural rely on standard visual techniques. niques. However, there is some inspections and extensive treatment When a colony is found, orange oil uncertainty, because field, or even of areas adjacent to active infesta- is injected into the active gallery. laboratory studies directly compar- tions. He agrees that there is a lot Since orange oil is not persistent, ing orange oil efficacy with other of misinformation about orange oil, Pacific Coast uses Boracare® foam products for drywood termite con- including the claims that termites as a supplemental treatment in trol have not been published. The are killed by citric acid. The regis- areas near the active infestation. only field efficacy estimations avail- tered active ingredient in XT-2000, After treatment, any infestations able are the callback rates given by which is technical grade orange oil, found by the customer anywhere in the termite companies. Based on is d-limonene. the structure within a two-year our limited sampling, orange oil According to Nathan Vogel of period are treated without charge. callbacks compare favorably with Orange-X Termite, his company has other options. about a 5% callback rate from Marketing Claims Advantages of orange oil are that orange oil treatments. Most impor- Controversies surrounding orange it has low toxicity and is perceived tant on keeping callbacks low is oil treatments are centered on pos- as a green product. Disadvantages treatment of a large enough area so sibly misleading marketing claims. of orange oil are that, like structur- that all active galleries are saturat- Termite treatments in California are al fumigation, electrogun, micro- ed with orange oil. Vogel believes either local treatments such as wave, or heat treatments, it does chemical injections into active ter- not leave a residue, and provides no Drawing from Kofoid 1946 mite galleries, or whole structure ongoing protection. Other disadvan- treatments such as heat or chemi- tages are that some people may cal fumigation where all elements of react to the strong smell of oranges; the structure are actually in contact it is flammable; and care must be with the lethal agent. According to used not to damage paint jobs. one company’s website, orange oil The good news is that Califor- is a “full structure treatment.” nians now have a number of Actually, an entire structure is options for treating drywood ter- not treated with orange oil. Stan- mites. None of them are magic, dard inspection techniques and an none of them are perfect. Non- optical instrument called the chemical options, botanicals, and borescope are used in an intensive conventional methods are all avail- visual inspection of all areas that able. The larger number of choices are accessible by these techniques. make it more likely customers can Any accessible colonies detected find one that fits their special needs receive a local treatment with and personal preferences. orange oil. The borescope can Damage caused by drywood increase the efficacy of an inspec- tion by viewing some inaccessible termites has a different Bill Mashek is a licensed areas, such as wall voids, but whole appearance than that caused California Pest Control Operator house termite-free guarantees with by subterraneans. (PCO), and is a graduate of the a borescope seem optimistic. Advanced Urban IPM Program at Accessing some areas, such as termites are killed by contact, by behind tile walls or stucco may Purdue University. He is the owner fumigation action from orange oil involve substantial renovation and of Northwest Termite and Pest vapors, and by eating the treated might be expensive. Control in Santa Rosa, CA. wood. Typically, about a gallon of In fact, companies usually do not orange oil is used in a local treat- warranty a whole house to be free William Quarles, Ph.D., is an IPM ment. Orange oil does not leave a of termites from a local orange oil Specialist, Managing Editor of the residue, and according to Vogel, the treatment. Instead, they offer to IPM Practitioner and Executive smell lingers from 3 to 10 days, come back and locally treat any Director of the Bio-Integral Resource depending on temperature. When accessible infestation found upon Center (BIRC). He can be reached by the smell has disappeared, it is inspection anywhere in the struc- email at [email protected]. likely that any insecticidal action ture within a one or two year guar- also disappears. So termites that antee period (Vogel 2008).

IPM Practitioner, XXX(1/2) January/February 2008 7 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Update

References Lewis, V. and M. Haverty. 1996. Evaluation of Boopathy and M. Folkins. 2007. Effect of six techniques for control of the western orange oil extract on the Formosan subter- Abe, T., D.E. Bignell and M. Higashi. 2000. drywood termite (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) ranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Termites: Evolution, Sociality, Symbioses in structures. J. Econ. Entomol. 89(4):922- J. Econ. Entomol. 100(3):880-885. and Ecology. Kluwer Academic Publishers, 934. Sbeghen, A.C., V. Dalfovo, L.A. Serafini and Boston. 466 pp. Lewis, V.R. 1997. Alternative control strategies N.M. de Barros. 2002. Repellency and toxi- Brooks, S.E., F.M. Oi and P.G. Koehler. 2003. for termites. J. Agric. Entomol. 14(3):291- city of basil, citronella, ho-sho, and rose- Ability of canine termite detectors to locate 307. mary oils for the control of the termite live termites and discriminate them from Lewis, V.R., C.F. Fouche and R.L. Lemaster. Cryptotermes brevis (Isoptera: non-termite material. J. Econ. Entomol. 1997. Evaluation of dog assisted searches Kalotermitidae). Sociobiology 40(3):585- 96(4):1259-1266. and electronic odor detection devices for 593. Coyne, J.F. and L.H. Lott. 1976. Toxicity of detecting western subterranean termite. Scheffrahn, R.H., W.P. Robbins, P. Busey, N.Y. substances in pine oleoresin to southern For. Prod. J. 47:79-84. Su and R.K. Mueller. 1993. Evaluation of a pine beetles. J. Georgia Entomol. Soc. Lewis, V.R. 2002. Drywood termites. In: rev. novel, hand-held, acoustic emissions 11(4):301-305. ed. 2008. Pest Notes. M.L. Flint and B. detector to monitor termites (Isoptera: Dunegan, H. 2001. Detection of movement of Ohlendorf, eds. University of California, Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae) in wood. termites in wood by acoustic emission ANR Pub. No. 7440. 6 pp. J. Econ. Entomol. 86:1720-1729. techniques. www.deci.com www.ipm.ucdavis.edu Scheffrahn, R.H., N.-Y. Su and P. Busey. 1997. Ebeling, W. and R.E. Wagner. 1964. Built in Lewis, V.R. 2003. IPM for drywood termites Laboratory and field evaluations of select- pest control. Pest Control 32(2):20-32. (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae). J. Entomol. Sci. ed chemical treatments for control of dry- Ebeling, W. 1975. Urban Entomology. 38(2):181-199. wood termites (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae). J. University of California, Berkeley and Los Lewis, V.R., A.B. Power and M.I. Haverty. Econ. Entomol. 90(2):492-502. Angeles. 695 pp. 2004. Surface and subsurface sensor per- Scheffrahn, R.H., N.-Y. Su, J. Krecek, A. van Ebeling, W. 1983. The Extermax system for formance in acoustically detecting the Liempt, B. Maharajh and G.S. Wheeler. control of the western drywood termite, western drywood termite in naturally 1998. Prevention of colony foundation by Incisitermes minor. Etex, Ltd. Las Vegas, infested boards. For. Prod. J. 54(6):57-62. Cryptotermes brevis and remedial control NV. 11 pp. Light, S.F., M. Randall and F.G. White. 1930. of drywood termites (Isoptera: Ferster, B., R.H. Scheffrahn, E.M. Thoms and Termites and Termite Damage, with Kalotermitidae) with selected chemical P.N. Scherer. 2001. Transfer of toxicants Preliminary Recommendations for treatments. J. Econ. Entomol. 91(6):1387- from exposed nymphs of the drywood ter- Prevention and Control. Univ. Calif. Agr. 1396. mite Incisitermes synderi (Isoptera: Exp. Sta. Circ. 318:1-64. [cited in Ebeling Scheffrahn, R.H., P. Busey, J.K. Edwards, J. Kalotermitidae) to unexposed nestmates. J. 1975] Krecek, B. Maharajh and N.-Y. Su. 2001. Econ. Entomol. 94(1):215-222. MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet). 2006. Chemical prevention of colony formation FQPA (Food Quality Protection Act). 1996. IPM Technical Grade d-Limonene. Florida by Cryptotermes brevis (Isoptera: Practitioner 18(10):10-13. Chemical Company, 351 Winter Haven Kalotermitidae) in attic modules. J. Econ. Hink, W.F. and B.J. Fee. 1986. Toxicity of d- Blvd. NE, Winter Haven, FL 33881; Entomol. 94(4):915-919. limonene, the major component of www.floridachemical.com Scheffrahn, R.H. 2008. Pers. Comm., oil, to all life stages of the cat flea, NRC (National Research Council). 1993. University of Florida, Ft. Lauderdale Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera: Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Res.and Education Center, Fort Pulicidae). J. Med. Entomol. 23:400-404. Children. National Academy Press, Lauderdale, FL 33314. Hollingsworth, R.G. 2005. Limonene, a citrus Washington, DC. 386 pp. Sheppard, D.C. 1984. Toxicity of citrus peel extract, for control of mealybugs and scale Park, I.-K. and S.-C. Shin. 2005. Fumigant liquids to the house fly and red imported insects. J. Econ. Entomol. 98:772-779. activity of plant essential oils and compo- fire . J. Agric. Entomol. 1:95-100. Isman, M.B. 2006. Botanical , nents from garlic (Allium sativum) and Smith, M. 1995. Drywood termites: experts deterrents, and repellents in modern agri- clove bud (Eugenia caryophyllata) oils answer some “toughies.” Pest Control culture and an increasingly regulated against the Japanese termite Technol. 23(2):34, 36, 37,40,88. world. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 56:45-66. (Reticulitermes speratus). J. Agric. Food Styer, S.C. and P.D. Greany. 1983. Increased Johnson, W. 2004. Diazinon and Pesticide Chem. 53:4388-4392. susceptibility of laboratory reared vs. wild Related Toxicity in Bay Area Urban Creeks: Potter, M. 1997. Termites. In: S.A. Hedges, ed. Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa, Water Quality Attainment Strategy and Handbook of Pest Control by A. Mallis, 8th larvae to toxic citrus allelochemics. Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). Final ed. Mallis Handbook and Technical Environ. Entomol. 12:1606-08. Project Report, California Regional Water Training, Cleveland, OH. Pp. 233-332. Su, N.-Y. and R.H. Scheffrahn. 1986. Field Quality Board, San Francisco Bay Region, Quarles, W. and C. Bucks. 1995. Non-toxic comparison of sulfuryl fluoride susceptibil- March 2004, 1515 Clay St., Oakland, CA. termite treatments. Organic Gardening ity among three termite species (Isoptera: 120 pp. December:44-50. Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae) during Karr, L.L. and J.R. Coats. 1988. Insecticidal Quarles, W. 1999a. Pesticides from herbs and structural fumigation. J. Econ. Entomol. properties of d-limonene. J. Pesticide Sci. spices. Common Sense Pest Control 79:903-908. 13:287-290. Quarterly 15(4):3-19. Su, N.-Y. and R.H. Scheffrahn. 1990. Karr, L.L. C.D. Drewes and J.R. Coats. 1990. Quarles, W. 1999b. Non-toxic control of dry- Economically important termites in the Toxic effects of d-limonene in the earth- wood termites. IPM Practitioner 21(8):1-10. United States and their control. worm Eisenia fetida (Savigny). Pest. Quarles, W. 2004. Where are they? New meth- Sociobiology 17(1):77-94. Biochem. Physiol. 36:175-186. ods for finding termites in structures. IPM Su, N.-Y. and R.H. Scheffrahn. 2000. Termites Kofoid, C.A. and O.L. Williams. 1946. The toxi- Practitioner 26(1/2):1-9. as pests of buildings. In: Abe et al., pp. city of various poisonous dusts. In: Kofoid Quarles, W. 2006a. New botanical pesticides 437-453. et al., pp. 477-478. from Chenopodium. IPM Practitioner Taylor, W.E. and B. Vickery. 1974. Insecticidal Kofoid, C.A., S.F. Light, A.C. Homer, M. 28(3/4):1-12. properties of limonene, a constituent of cit- Randall, W.B. Herms and E.E. Bowe. Quarles, W. 2006b. Thermal pest eradication rus oil. Ghana J. Agric. Sci. 7:61-62. 1946. Termites and Termite Control, 2nd. in structures. IPM Practitioner 28(5/6):1-8. Thoms, E.M. 2000. Use of an acoustic emis- ed. rev. University of California Press, Quarles, W. 2007. Global warming means sions detector and intragallery injection of Berkeley, CA. 795 pp. more pests. IPM Practitioner 29(9/10):1-8. spinosad by pest control operators for Lemaster, R.L., F.C. Beall and V.R. Lewis. Randall, M. and T.C. Doody. 1946. Treatments remedial control of drywood termites 1997. Detection of termites with acoustic with poisonous dusts. In: Kofoid, et al. pp (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae). Fla. Entomol. emission. For. Prod. J. 47(2):75-79. 463-476. 83:64-74. Raina, A., J. Bland, M. Doolittle, A. Lax, R. Vogel, N. 2008. Personal communication,

IPM Practitioner, XXX(1/2) January/February 2008 8 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Update

Nathan Vogel, Orange-X Termite, San control of Cryptotermes brevis (Isoptera: Leandro, CA. Kalotermitidae) in naturally infested struc- Vogt, J.T., T.G. Shelton, M.E. Merchant, S.A. tural mesocosms. J. Econ. Entomol. Russell, M.J. Tanley and A.G. Appel. 2002. 99(4):1354-1362. Efficacy of three citrus oil formulations Wright, C.G., R.B. Leidy and H.E. Dupree, Jr. against Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: 1994. Chlorpyrifos in the air and soil of Formicidae), the red imported fire ant. J. houses eight years after its application for Agric. Urban Entomol. 19(3):159-171. termite control. Bull. Environ. Contam. Woodrow, R.J. and J.K. Grace. 2005. Efficacy Toxicol. 52(1):131-134. of selected localized injectable chemical XT-2000 (website). 2008. Efficacy of XT-2000. treatments against Cryptotermes brevis www.orangextermite.com (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) in naturally Zhu, B.C.R., G. Henderson, H. Fei, X. Ying and infested lumber. In: Proc. Fifth Intl. Conf. R.A. Laine. 2003. -induced mor- Urban Pests, C.-Y. Chang and W.H. phological changes to exoskeleton of Robinson, eds. www.icup.org.uk Formosan subterranean termites (Isoptera: Woodrow, R.J., J.K. Grace and R.J. Oshiro. Rhinotermitidae): toxic effects of cis-nerol. 2006. Comparison of localized injections of J. Entomol. Sci. 38(2):225-233. spinosad and selected insecticides for the

Resources Acoustic Detectors— Dunegan Engineering Consultants, PO Box 61808, Midland, TX 79711; 432/561-5901, Fax 432/563-0178; www.deci.com; Acoustic Emission Consulting, 5000 San Juan Avenue, Suite D, Fair Oaks, CA 95628; 916/965-4827, Fax 916/965-4350; www.aeconsulting.com Borescopes—Univar USA, 2256 Junction Ave., San Jose, CA 95131; 800/888-4897, 408/953-1612, Fax 408/434-6489. Professional Equipment (see below) Electrogun—ETEX Ltd., 5200 West Oakley Blvd., Ste. D24, Las Vegas, NV 89146; 800/543-5651, 702/364-5911, Fax 702/364-8894; www.etex-Ltd.com GreenMatch™ (herbicide)—Marrone Organic Innovations, 2121 Second St., Suite B-107, Davis, CA 95618; 530/750-2800; www.marroneor- ganicinnovations.com. Monterey Chemical, 3654 S Willow Avenue, PO Box 35000, Fresno, CA 93745; 559/499-2100, Fax 559/499- 1015; www.montereychemical.com Heat Treatment— Thermapure/TPE Associates, 180 Canada Largo Road, Ventura, CA 03001; 800/873-2912, Fax 805/648-6999; www.thermapure.com Moisture Meters—Professional Equipment, 30 Oser Avenue, Suite 500, Hauppauge, NY 11788; 800/334-9291; www.professionalequip- ment.com Non-Chemical Treatment Methods—Northwest Termite, 112 Commercial Court No. 4, Santa Rosa, CA 95407; 800/281-2710; www.northwesttermite.com Orange Guard™ (insecticide)— Orange Guard, 20 Village Square, Suite 7, Carmel Valley, CA 93924; 888/659-3217, Fax 831/659-5128; www.orangeguard.com Orange Oil Treatment—Orange-X, San Leandro, CA,877/444-6726; www.orangextermite.com Orange Oil Treatment—Pacific Coast Termite, 1175 Chess Drive, Foster City, CA 94404; 800/672-6436, 650/212-0801; www.pacificcoast- termite.com Orange Oil—Florida Chemical Company, 351 Winter Haven Blvd. NE, Winter Haven, FL 33881; 863/294-8483; Fax 863/294-7783; www.floridachemical.com Orange Oil—XT-2000, 6328 Riverdale St. Suite A, San Diego, CA 92120; 866/870-8485, 619/276-7640, Fax 619/542-8471; www.xt2000.com ProCitra™ (insecticide) —Whitmire Microgen Inc., 3568 Tree Court Industrial Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63122; 800/777-8570, 636/225- 5371, Fax 636/225-3739; www.wmmg.com

IPM Practitioner, XXX(1/2) January/February 2008 9 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Conference Notes ESA 2007 Annual Meeting Highlights—Part 1 By Joel Grossman dation on western flower thrips, Chenopodium Extracts in Frankliniella occidentalis, is about 2008 hese Conference Highlights 400% greater, said Jeffrey Shapiro are from the Dec. 9-12, 2007, (USDA-ARS, 1700 SW 23rd Dr, “Keynote™ (=QRD 400, QRD T Entomological Society of Gainesville, FL 32608; 400416, Facin™) is a biopesticide America (ESA) annual meeting in [email protected]). product based on an San Diego, California. ESA’s next Eliminating moth eggs as a food extract of Chenopodium ambro- annual meeting is November 16-19, source for 72 hours also reduces sioides var. ambrosioides, said Paul 2008, in Reno, Nevada. For more predator production costs with no Walgenbach (AgraQuest, 1530 Drew information contact the ESA (10001 impact on reproduction rate or sur- Ave, Davis, CA 95616; pwalgen- Derekwood Lane, Suite 100, vival. [email protected]). Cheno- Lanham, MD 20706; 301/731-4535; podium extracts (1% spray solu- http://www.entsoc.org). Fungal Biofumigant for tions) are contact insecticides/miti- Potatoes cides with limited residual that can Pesticides and Bee be sprayed right up to harvest (see “Recent reintroduction of potato IPMP 28(3/4):1-12). Extracts are Colony Collapse tuber moth, Phthorimaea oper- effective against soft-bodied arthro- According to Elina Niño (North culella, into the potato growing pods such as thrips, , white- Carolina State Univ, 2315 Gardner areas of the Pacific Northwest flies and web-spinning spider mites Hall, Campus Box 7613, Raleigh, resulted in large economic losses to on greenhouse crops such as NC 27695; [email protected]), pes- some growers,” said Lawrence Lacey onions, peppers, cucurbits, toma- ticide exposure could be a con- (USDA-ARS, 5230 Konnowac Pass toes, leafy vegetables, bedding tributing factor in honey bee decline Rd, Wapato, WA, 98951; llacey plants and potted flowers. Besides and colony collapse disorder. “Our @yarl.ars.usda.gov). The principal being comparable to synthetic pesti- data suggest that oxalic acid and economic damage occurs towards cides against pests, the Cheno- imidacloprid significantly reduce the end of the growing season when podium extract is “safe to adult queen survival, weight, and lipid tubers become exposed and are forms of beneficial insects and storage. Since the queen is the only infested prior to or during harvest. mites.” reproductive female, this could have A good IPM tool is biofumigation EPA registration for Facin, which negative effects on colony produc- with an endophytic fungus, is compatible in tank mixes with a tivity and health.” Muscodor albus, which was isolated wide range of pesticides, is expected Imidacloprid, which affects the from cinnamon tree bark. This fun- in the third quarter of 2008, said insect nervous system and may gus produces volatile compounds Walgenbach, noting that “with con- cause disorientation, is accumulat- such as alcohols, ketones, esters, tinued improvement in isolation ed from treated plants when bees acids and lipids that are toxic to and identification techniques, the forage. Oxalic acid is effective insects, nematodes and plant opportunity for discovery of novel against varroa mites and may be pathogens, and it is being commer- plant compounds has increased.” In used to treat hives, though it has cialized by AgraQuest. the case of Facin, the extract is a some negative impacts on bees. Fungal biofumigation at 24°C mixture of compounds with varied “Our results show that oxalic acid (75°F) for 3 days is effective against modes of action, which is expected and imidacloprid significantly the pest. But potato storage tem- to slow resistance. reduced the number of successfully peratures can be much lower, reared queen cells,” said Niño. This depending on whether the end use Nematodes Conquer reduction could have a negative market is seed, fresh market or pro- Curculio and Borers effect on the natural requeening cessing. At lower temperatures, M. process that occurs in the hive, albus is less effective against pest Soil treatments of Steinernema thus weakening the colony. larvae. Though “fumigation with M. spp. nematodes, if properly formu- albus during the initial few days of lated, can provide 78-100% biologi- Shipping Hungry Orius storage may be adequate to control cal control of plum curculio, neonates and young larvae,” said Conotrachelus nenuphar, said David If the insidious flower bug, Orius Lacey. “Older larvae would produce Shapiro-Ilan (USDA-ARS, 21 insidiosus, is fed for 72 hours on detectable frass and these tubers Dunbar Rd, Byron, GA 31008; sucrose or water instead of moth should be culled before storage.” [email protected]). eggs before insectary shipment, pre- Nematodes can also control

IPM Practitioner, XXX(1/2) January/February 2008 10 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Conference Notes peachtree borer, Synanthedon exi- chambers, choice and no-choice tri- Rd, Kearneysville, WV 25430; cmy- tiosa, and lesser peachtree borer, als were conducted using varied [email protected]). Trap Synanthedon pictipes, in peach laminated trap shapes (square, tri- designs with low capture efficiency orchards. angle, inversed triangle, diamond, may underestimate pest pressure. In two years of plum thicket field semi-circle, circle) and background Conversely, designs that are too tests, Steinernema riobrave strain colors (yellow, green, blue, black). attractive to insects can cause satu- 355 provided 100% plum curculio Only a circular yellow surface was ration by non-target insects or even control. Strain 3-8b provided 99% coated with sticky Tanglefoot™; the the pest species being monitored. plum curculio control in the first background color surrounding the Orange, red, green, blue, yellow year and 88% control in the second circle was not sticky. and white delta-style pheromone year. S. riobrave is highly effective “As in the laboratory tests, circu- traps deployed in commercial at controlling C. nenuphar larvae in lar yellow sticky cards with 5 cm (2 orchards in Wayne County, NY, and the soil, regardless of host plant. in) diameters and a black back- Adams County, PA, were compared Since nematodes are less effective ground (12 x 12 cm; 4.7 x 4.7 in) for capturing obliquebanded leafrol- against adult plum curculio, man- trapped 2.3 to 21 times more F. ler, Choristoneura rosaceana; agers may have to shift emphasis occidentalis than the commercial Oriental fruit moth, Grapholita from adult insects to soil monitor- yellow sticky cards. “Vernon and molesta; and non-target muscoid ing of larvae for timing nematode Gillespie (1995) reported that high flies and honeybees, Apis mellifera. applications. “In contrast to prior observations “High levels of peachtree borer conducted in the western U.S. control can be achieved using (Knight & Miliczky, 2003) where Steinernema carpocapsae in a pre- high early season capture of flies in ventive and curative approach,” un-baited red and orange delta said Shapiro-Ilan. These tactics also style traps was noted, we observed appear to be promising from an the highest seasonal fly captures economic perspective because appli- (mid-June and mid-late July) in cation rates needed are less than white, unpainted white, and blue 100 million IJs (infective juveniles) traps,” said Myers. White, unpaint- per ha (2.47 acres). Nematodes in ed white, and blue were also most this case are not applied to the soil, attractive to honeybees. but to tree wounds produced by the “For monitoring of obliquebanded borer. Insidious flower bug, Orious leafroller and Oriental fruit moth in S. carpocapsae applications insidiosus the eastern U.S., we recommend required a protective covering to be choosing trap colors such as yellow, effective against lesser peachtree red or orange because they appear borer. “The bandage (diaper) treat- contrast background colors to the to be less attractive to non-target ment with nematodes caused 100% yellow such as blue and violet insects,” said Myers. “While green suppression whereas the gel trapped more thrips than low con- traps were also less attractive to wrapped in cheesecloth resulted in trast background colors to yellow. non-target insects, our experience about 70% reduction in larval sur- We also found a similar result, that indicated that this color can be vival,” said Shapiro-Ilan. “Thus, yellow color with black background suppression of lesser peachtree attracted more thrips.” problematic for finding the trap borer appears promising as long as The best ratio of yellow sticky within the green tree canopy.” the nematodes are provided protec- surface to black background was tion upon application.” 1:7.5. The larger the ratio of the Pheromones and (black) background to the (yellow) Beauveria Yellow Sticky Circles sticky area, the higher the attrac- Increased regulation has left a tiveness of the trap to WFT. The Cylindrical and cup-shaped traps need for alternatives to protect attractiveness of the circle shape to capture more thrips than flat stored products. Ian Baxter (Univ of WFT may be related to floral geome- shapes such as yellow sticky cards. Southampton, Southampton SO17 try; but thrips shape discrimination But trap shape and background 1BJ, Hampshire, United Kingdom; is still not completely understood. color are typically ignored in IPM [email protected]), has examined an programs trapping western flower electrostatic powder (Entostat™) thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occiden- Pheromone Trap Color that carries the fungus, Beauveria talis, said Bishwo Mainali (Andong “Understanding factors that may bassiana, as an alternative pest National Univ, Gyungbook, Andong, affect interpretation of data is control approach for the Indianmeal South Korea; mainali.bishwo important in efforts to design better moth, Plodia interpunctella.” @gmail.com). traps and optimize efficiency of Indianmeal moths (IMM) are In commercial South Korean monitoring efforts,” said Clayton attracted to a synthetic pheromone strawberry greenhouses and growth Myers (USDA-ARS, 2217 Wiltshire lure in a dispensing station where

IPM Practitioner, XXX(1/2) January/February 2008 11 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 ConferenceUpdate Notes they become inoculated with B. mani, was intermediate, and only Ground Beetles and Weeds bassiana conidia. In one trial, 45 blue lobelia and non-native Queen Ground beetles (Carabidae) are out of 50 male moths entered the Anne’s Lace, Daucus carota, opportunistic feeders that feed on dispensing station and were inocu- increased survival more than water weed seeds in addition to slugs and lated with conidia despite walking controls. The convergent lady bee- other soft-bodied insects, said only briefly on the powder, which tle, Hippodamia convergens, was Jessica Green (Oregon State Univ, was repellent. During mating, male “relatively insensitive” to flower 4017 ALS Bldg, Corvallis, OR moths transferred 3.3% of the availability, though it did better 97331; [email protected]). Entostat powder to females. Some with bee balm and survived worst Annual weed seeds such as pig- of the powder even gets transferred with culver’s root. weed, Retroflexus amaranthus; to the egg via maternal scale shed- Natural enemies caused a reduc- wild-proso millet, Panicum mili- ding. tion in colony growth, aceum; and hairy nightshade, “emphasizing the importance of Solanum sarrachoides can reduce Blueberry Conservation these insects for suppressing blue- yields and quality in vegetable berry pest insects,” such as blue- Strips crops such as snap bean. But “Flowering plants are being used berry aphid, Illinoia pepperi, said ground beetles eating weed seeds increasingly around the world as a Walton. “During 2008, we will test can be part of “an integrated weed means to improve biological control additional native flowering plant management plan” to “reduce herbi- in agricultural landscapes,” said species for their ability to increase cide use.” Nathaniel Walton (Michigan State survival of the natural enemy In row-planted Oregon snap Univ, 202 CIPS, East Lansing, MI species tested here. Then, as the beans, the most abundant ground 48824; [email protected]). flowering plant strips become more beetle species collected were “However, few studies have used established next year, we will con- Pterostichus melanarius and flowering plants that are native to tinue to evaluate the response of Harpalus pennsylvanicus with less- their particular region.” different natural enemy groups to er numbers of Agonum, Amara and As part of a longer term study of these insect conservation strips. Bradycellus species. Weed seed pre- conservation strips for biological Finally, aphid exclusion methods dation averaged about 20%, despite insect control in blueberries, the will be further explored for deter- ground beetle population reductions following flowering plants native to mining the effect of flowering plant by pesticides. Michigan were evaluated: penste- strips on the level of natural aphid mon, Penstemon hirsutus; bee balm, control in crop fields.” Neem for Stinkbug IPM Monarda fistulosa; culver’s root, Veronicastrum virginicum; early Cover Crops, Mulches, and The southern green stink bug, goldenrod, Solidago juncea; blue Viruses Nezara viridula, a worldwide pest of lobelia, Lobelia siphilitica; yellow many crops, can be managed with giant hyssop, Agastache nepetoides; Despite frequent insecticide appli- neem extracts in India, where neem smooth aster, Aster laevis; and little cations for aphid control, South trees are common. “The present bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparius. Carolina muskmelon growers are study indicated that the antifeedant Native Michigan flowering plant plagued by aphid-transmitted effect of neem can be utilized to species varied in their attraction of watermelon mosaic virus, said Geoff reduce the damage inflicted by N. natural enemies, and only one had Zehnder (Clemson Univ, Clemson, viridula and may be a promising significantly greater abundance SC 29634 ; [email protected]). solution for the management of this than mown field borders or native Over a two-year period, pesticide pentatomid pest,” said Paula grass plots. This was the late-sea- alternatives such rye cover crops Mitchell (Winthrop Univ, Rock Hill, son blooming plant, Solidago drill-seeded between rows (in SC 29733; [email protected] juncea, which produces large floral January), black plastic mulches, edu). displays. Recent research has and reflective aluminum mulches A 5% concentration of Neem shown that floral display area is a were tested to reduce the visual Azal® “was significantly more effec- strong predictor of the abundance attraction of the aphid virus vectors tive” (reducing stinkbug damage to of natural enemies on flowers to muskmelons. near zero) than crude aqueous (Fiedler and Landis, 2007). Flowers “Results indicated that the estab- extracts and neem oil in protecting improved survivorship of natural lishment of a rye cover crop bean pods. Neem “reduced the pre- enemies regardless of whether the between plant beds and the use of liminary probing behavior that fur- flower was native or not. Benefits reflective mulch could effectively ther resulted in reduced damage to varied with the insect species. reduce the incidence of virus dis- the seed,” said Mitchell. Neem The insidious flower bug, Orius ease,” said Zehnder. Interestingly, Azal’s advantage was likely due to insidiosus was most sensitive to rye cover crops and reflective mulch its higher azadirachtin content; provision of flowers, living signifi- worked better alone; combining the azadirachtin concentrations of cantly longer in cages with flowers. cover crop and reflective mulch did 1.25% and higher significantly The aphid parasitoid, Aphidius cole- not confer an advantage. reduced seed damage.

IPM Practitioner, XXX(1/2) January/February 2008 12 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 ConferenceUpdate Notes

Injections for Landscape Japanese Beetle Repellent age if properly cared for but newly Trees Oils established turf is particularly sus- ceptible due to its limited root sys- The emerald ash borer, Agrilus Nadeer Youssef (Tennessee State tem and carbohydrate reserves. planipennis, is a Chinese wood-bor- Univ, 472 Cadillac Ln, McMinnville, Among the “naturally occurring ing beetle that has killed millions TN 37110; [email protected]) chemicals that have shown biocidal of native ash trees in Canada and has studied Japanese beetle repel- properties against field armyworm the U.S. It was discovered in lents. Repellents were tested to see in laboratory bioassays are caffeic Windsor, Ontario, Canada, in 2002. if they could drive Japanese beetles acid derivatives, primarily chloro- According to Blair Helson away from collection points. Of the genic acid, and flavonoids such as (Canadian Forest Service, 1219 49 essential oils, 5 essential oil maysin, luteolin, rutin and isoori- Queen St E, Sault Ste Marie, ON combinations, and 2 non-essential entin,” said Reinert. Adding chloro- P6A 2E5 Canada; bhelson oils tested for adult Japanese beetle genic acid and maysin to pest diets @nrcan.gc.ca), trunk injection of repellency in 2003-2007, 23 plant reduced larval weights and boosted TreeAzin™ (5% azadirachtin; neem) oil or oil combinations significantly mortality. is an effective, highly targeted new reduced collected numbers of adult Increased N fertilization of resist- tool. Low volumes of TreeAzin can Japanese beetles, Popillia japonica. ant turfgrass cultivars may reduce be injected quickly and completely Plant oils significantly reducing relative amounts of allelochemicals into trees with a new, high output, adult Japanese beetle collection and decrease resistance to leaf- commercial tree delivery method, include: “peppermint, wintergreen, feeding insects. the EcoJect System (BioForest ginger, juniper berry, Juniperus Technologies, Inc). communis; cedar leaf, Thuja occi- Chinch Bug IPM After injection of TreeAzin into dentalis; Dalmation sage, Salvia large green ash trees, “azadirachtin officinalis; tarragon, bergamot mint, St. Augustinegrass infested with is rapidly taken up and effectively tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia; southern chinch bug, Blissus insu- translocated.” Emerald ash borer Bulgarian lavender, Lavandula laris, “suffers stunted growth and (EAB) exit holes in branches were angustifolia; cardamom, fennel, dies in patches,” said Eileen Buss significantly reduced, over 80% anise, ylang ylang, Cananga odora- (Univ of Florida, 970 Natural Area compared to untreated trees. Trunk ta; yarrow, geranium, Pelargonium Dr, Gainesville, FL 32611; exit holes were reduced 96% at the sp., thyme and oils,” said [email protected]). Turfgrass man- high rate of TreeAzin, but not at the Youssef. agers have relied on insecticides for low rate. Two of the best ones were winter- control of the pest for over 60 years, “Early summer injection with green,Gaultheria procumbens, and sometimes with over 6 applications TreeAzin at 250 mg azadirach- peppermint, Mentha piperita. Adult a year in Florida. Non-chemical tin/cm diameter at early stages of Japanese beetle capture was also management options are needed to infestation should provide very reduced by combinations of winter- reduce insecticides and delay effective control of EAB larvae and green oil with peppermint oil or gin- resistance development. tree protection as prophylactic ger oil, ginger plus citronella oils, “If more eggs are laid by B. insu- treatments,” said Helson. Trunk and cumin plus coffee oils. laris in fertilized turfgrass, popula- injections with azadirachtin may tions may build faster, which may also result in reductions in fertility Less Fertilizer, Fewer result in more damage and insecti- and fecundity of adults feeding on Armyworms cide use,” said Buss. When nitrogen leaves. (N) is reduced, chinch bugs are Helson also found that trunk Many grasses are resistant to fewer in number and the St. injections of emamectin benzoate insects when they are modestly fer- Augustinegrass is shorter and were very effective. “We observed tilized, but when they are fertilized lighter green. Moderate to high N 100% mortality of EAB in June, heavily with nitrogen (N), the natu- fertilization resulted in more fecund July and August bioassays.” No ral resistance may be reduced or chinch bugs. Extremely high N (4 lb other product has yielded similar lost. Loss of resistance can lead to per1,000 ft2; 1.8 kg per 93 m2) led results in 5 years of studies. A outbreaks of pests such as fall to grey leaf damage, lower turf major question underlying every armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, quality and more fecund chinch EAB insecticide trial is whether said James Reinert (Texas Agric bugs. Further research is needed ‘good’ performance –e.g. 80% larval Exper Stn, 17360 Coit Rd, Dallas, comparing soluble versus slow- control—ultimately prevents the TX 75252; [email protected]). release nitrogen sources. eventual decline or death of a treat- Fall armyworm is a major pest on In central Georgia, the St. ed tree. In this case, emamectin managed turf such as golf courses, Augustinegrass cultivar Raleigh is benzoate provided 99.8% control. parks, and lawns, and “larvae feed very susceptible to southern chinch Additional studies are planned. on aboveground plant parts, moving bug, Blissus insularis. But the culti- in mass across the landscape,” said vars Floratam and Floralawn have Reinert. Most established grass high resistance, said S. Kris landscapes will recover from dam- Braman (Univ of Georgia, 1109

IPM Practitioner, XXX(1/2) January/February 2008 13 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Conference Notes

Experiment Street, Griffin, GA Kentucky Turf Grub IPM “Evaluation of pathogens is on- 30223; [email protected]). going, but so far milky disease bac- “Root-feeding white grubs are the teria, Paenibacillus popilliae, pre- most destructive insect pests of tur- dominate,” said Redmond. Floral Interplants and fgrasses in Kentucky,” said Carl “Mortality of masked chafers from Mole Crickets Redmond (Univ of Kentucky, S-225 milky disease or parasitism by Agri Sci Bldg N, Lexington, KY “Mole crickets, Scapteriscus spp. Tiphia pygidialis was as high as 40546; [email protected]). are the most damaging pests of 40% and 16%, respectively, at some Grubs cause dead patches and southern pasture and turfgrasses,” sites.” said Cheri Abraham (Mississippi encourage skunks to dig up turf State Univ, 103 Clay Lyle Ent, Box looking for grubs. Kentucky beetles Herbal Rust Mite 9775, MS 39762; cam384@msstate. producing pest grubs include the edu). From 1979 to 1989, the para- Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica; Remedies sitoid wasp, Larra bicolor northern masked chafer, Pear rust mites, Epitrimerus pyri, (Sphecidae) was introduced into Cyclocephala borealis; southern are small, hard-to-detect, and more Florida for mole cricket biocontrol. masked chafer, C. lurida; May bee- difficult to control than other spider By 2004 larra wasps were in tles, Phyllophaga spp. and black mites. Rust mites lower the quality Mississippi, and by 2007 Alabama. turfgrass ataenius, Ataenius spretu- and yield of organic pears, and are Female larra wasps search out lus. found more on younger leaves in mole cricket surface tunnels by “Life cycles, timing of egg hatch, the upper part of trees, said Silvia walking atop the soil and turf, and susceptibility to insecticides Rondon (Oregon State Univ, 2121 S probing with their antennae. “When vary among grub species, so know- 1st St, Hermiston, OR 97838; sil- a surface tunnel is encountered the ing which species predominate is [email protected]). female will enter and exit the same important,” said Redmond. Masked Twenty leaves per organic pear tree tunnel many times after which, the chafers predominate in irrigated were sampled; and a mite brushing mole cricket rushes out of the tun- roughs, “although Japanese beetle machine was used to count the rust nel,” said Abraham. “Once the wasp or mixed grub populations are com- mites. encounters the mole cricket, it is mon.” Kentucky is in a warm- and When 10% of pear trees in organ- stung and the egg is laid.” A mole ic orchards were infested with pear cricket is killed by a single larra rust mites, trees were sprayed with wasp larvae in about two weeks, either azadirachtin (Neemix®), rose- and a wasp adult emerges from a mary and peppermint oils (Eco- silken cocoon buried in the sand in trol®) or a mixture of rosemary, 6-8 weeks. sesame, thyme, peppermint & cin- Larra wasps are active on coastal namon oils (EF300®). Mississippi golf courses from mid- At the first spray application, only May to November, but need flower 64 fl oz/acre (4.8 l/ha) of Ecotrol nectar to thrive. “Results so far significantly reduced rust mites. indicate that flowering Pentas may After the second spray, 16 oz/acre be a suitable alternative for turf (1.3 l/ha) Neemix was best, result- managers in the northern Gulf ing in only 2.4 rust mites per leaf; region that would like to recruit versus 11.3 rust mites/leaf in the and sustain populations of L. bicolor control, 16.3 mites/leaf with for biological control of mole crick- Ecotrol and 44.8 rust mites/leaf Plum curculio, ets,” said Abraham. with EF300. Spermacoce verticillata, another Conotrachelus nenuphar member of the Rubiacea with small Citricola Scale Biocontrol individual flowers, is a good larra wasp nectar source. But Sperma- cool-season grass transition zone, “Organophosphates are likely to coce seeds spread outside planting so identifying and assessing the be restricted in the San Joaquin plots, and it is considered a weed. prevalence of natural enemies and Valley (SJV) where most (California) Further nectar source experiments pathogens is important for IPM and citrus is grown because they pro- are underway, and “will hopefully conservation biological control. duce volatile organic compounds show that nectar sources adjacent The most common pathogen is and contaminate ground water,” to infested turfgrass will increase milky disease, Paenibacillus popilli- said Robert Luck (Univ of wasp longevity and parasitism of ae, with different strains infecting California, Riverside, CA 92507; mole crickets, enhancing biological Japanese beetles and masked [email protected]). “To provide citrus control.” chafers. Other grub pathogens growers with an alternative to these detected include entomopathogenic insecticides, we are developing an nematodes (Heterorhabditdae) and augmentative release program for the fungus Metarhizium. suppressing citricola scale, Coccus

IPM Practitioner, XXX(1/2) January/February 2008 14 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Conference Notes Calendar pseudomagnoliarum, similar to the low-income apartment complexes in March 14-16, 2008. Beyond Pesticides Conference. program developed by the Fillmore Gary, Indiana. Visual inspections Berkeley, CA. Contact: Beyond Pesticides, 701 E Street SE, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20003; Protective District in southern included interviews with residents www.beyondpesticides.org California to suppress black scale.” to learn about insecticide use, In southern California, the domi- repair needs and pest infestation March 17-19, 2008. Food Safety Conf., Washington, DC. Contact: www.foodsafetysummit.com nant early season parasitoids when history. If an infestation was sus- citricola scales are small are pected, six sticky traps were placed March 25-27, 2008. 20th Anniversary: SARE 2008 Coccophagus spp. and Metaphycus in the apartment for 24 hours to National Conference, Kansas City, MO. Contact: helvolus. “Augmentative biological gauge the infestation level. www.sare.org/2008conference/ control of citricola scale depends on Cockroach allergens (Bla g 1) were March 29, 2008. UC Master Gardeners Gardening the development of an economically assayed in kitchen floor dust sam- Workshop. Napa, CA. Contact: UC Coop Extn, 1710 efficient mass-rearing system for its ples at 0, 6 and 12 months. Soscol Ave. No. 4, Napa, CA 94559; 707/253-4221. parasitoids,” said Luck. “We cur- Infested apartments were also April 20-May 3, 2008. Permaculture Design Course, rently mass rear several Meta- monitored monthly with sticky San Luis Obispo, CA. Contact: www.earthflow.com phycus species parasitoids on traps until there were no cock- roaches for two consecutive May 20, 2008. 60th Intl. Symp. Crop Prot., Ghent, brown soft scale, Coccus hes- BelMay 29, 2008. Postharvest Methods, Farm to peridum, grown hydroponically on months; then inspections were once Buyer. Stratford, OK. Contact: Kerr Center, excised Yucca leaves.” every 3-4 months for previously Sustainable Agric., www.kerrcenter.com In orchard trials with augmenta- infested apartments and every 6 June 5-7, 2008. Understanding Biodynamic tive releases of Metaphycus flavus months for never-infested apart- Agriculture, San Luis Obispo, CA. Contact: imported from Turkey, citricola ments. One apartment complex was http://continuing-ed.calpoly.edu/ scale infestations were significantly treated by a commercial pest man- agement firm. The other apartment June 12-13, 2008. Environmental Horticulture IPM reduced. “We know anecdotally Conf., San Luis Obispo, CA. Contact: R. Rice, Hort from SJV pest control advisors that complex was treated by Purdue and Crop Sci, Cal Poly, 805/756-2830; groves with concurrent populations researchers. Thus, “contractor- http://hcrs.calpoly.edu of both brown soft and citricola delivered IPM” was compared with “researcher-delivered IPM.” June 13, 2008. Grant Application Deadline. Western scale render citricola scale popula- SARE. Contact: Western SARE, Ag Science Bdlg, tions uneconomic because of “The property management staff Rm 305, 4865 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322; Metaphycus parasitism,” said Luck. held monthly housekeeping classes 435/797-3344, http://wsare.usu.edu to train residents on cockroach pre- “The multivoltine (multiple genera- July 26-31, 2008. Annual Meeting, American tions per year) brown soft scale vention, proper housekeeping, cock- Phytopathological Society. Minneapolis, MN. generates the parasitoids that sub- roach harborage reduction, and Contact: APS, 3340 Pilot Knob Rd., St. Paul, MN sequently utilize the univoltine (one methods for removing cockroach 55121; www.apsnet.org. allergens,” said Wang. A combina- generation per year) citricola scale. August 5-6, 2008. Sustainable Farming Conference, We propose to mimic the southern tion of boric acid dust and cock- Oklahoma City, OK. Contact: Kerr Center California situation by using para- roach gel baits were applied to Sustainable Agric., www.kerrcenter.com cockroach infested apartments. At sitized brown soft (scale) infested October 4-8, 2008. 12th Annual Conf. Community Yucca leaves and plants that can be least six sticky traps were placed in Food Security Coalition. Philadelphia, PA. Contact: placed in citrus groves. This release each apartment to help detect the www,foodsecurity.org technique will be tested in a small existence of cockroaches and reduce the cockroach numbers. October 15, 2008. Application Deadline, UC Santa SJV organic grove of Valencia Cruz Farm and Garden Apprenticeship Program. orange.” Apartments with poor sanitation Contact: 831/459-3240; www.ucsc.edu/casfs received mandatory housekeeping Cockroach IPM in Low- classes. October 20-22, 2008. Farming with Grass, Oklahoma Both “contractor-delivered IPM” City, OK. Contact: Soil and Water Conservation Income Housing Society, 945 SW Ankeny Rd, Ankeny, IA 50023; and “researcher-delivered IPM” sig- www.swcs.org “Cockroaches remain the most nificantly reduced costs (77-89% common indoor pests,” said reduction), insecticide use (85-93% November 7-8, 2008. Annual Meeting, Assoc. Natural Changlu Wang (Purdue Univ, 901 Biocontrol Producers. Stoneville, MS. Contact: M. reduction) and allergens (60-75% Burt, ANBP, 714/544-8295; www.anbp.org W. State St, West Lafayette, IN less). IPM delivered by Purdue 47907; [email protected]). They researchers, however, provided November 16-21, 2008. 10th Annual Meeting, Safety contaminate food and exacerbate greater allergen reduction. of GMOs. Wellington, New Zealand. Contact: 64-9- 269-1240; email, [email protected]; asthma symptoms. Although IPM is IPM challenges included residents www.isbgmo.info advocated for German cockroaches, who were not cooperative in clean- Blattella germanica, voluntary adop- ing their apartments, the need for December 7-11, 2008. Annual Meeting Entomological Society of America. Reno, NV. tion is rare. Understanding the repairs, inaccessible apartments Contact: ESA, 9301 Annapolis Rd., Lanham, MD costs and benefits of IPM should (e.g. lack of housing authority staff; 20706; Fax 301/731-4538; www.entsoc.org help promote the adoption of IPM. residents refusing service), and new IPM costs and benefits were infestations brought in by new resi- December 8-11, 2008. Annual Meeting, North Central Weed Science Soc. Indianapolis, IN. Contact: measured at 268-unit and 517-unit dents. 217/352-4212; www.ncwss.org

IPM Practitioner, XXX(1/2) January/February 2008 15 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Book Reviews

Bed Bug Handbook, the will find the 49 pages of “Action Since the book is non-technical Complete Guide to Bed Bugs Checklists” extremely useful. Key and covers such a large number of and their Control. 2007. L.J. to success with IPM is documen- topics, we can expect that some of Pinto, R. Cooper and S.K. Kraft. tation, and these checklists will the material is covered sparsely, Pinto and Associates, Mechanics- help. and it is. However, some topics, ville, MD. 266 pp. $72, Paperback. The Bed Bug Handbook is an such as management of household www.techletter.com essential reference for structural pests, are covered with a remark- According to one of the pest management professionals. able amount of detail. If more authors, this book is “the only General readers may also find it information is needed, each chap- published text on bed bugs that interesting, and it is a valuable ter has a number of general refer- has been written to meet the companion to the classic work by ences for further research. needs of a variety of industries, Usinger, Monograph of Cimicidae, The chapter on household including property management, that has recently been reissued.— pests gives details of pest biology hospitality and pest management.” Bill Quarles and emphasizes habitat manage- It was written for specialized pur- ment and non-chemical controls. poses, but some of it may be California Master Gardener For example, for carpenter ants, interesting to a general reader. Handbook. 2002. D.R. Pittenger, Thus, there are chapters on bed ed. University of California caulk cracks and crevices, trim bug cultural history and biology. Agriculture and Natural tree limbs and shrubs to prevent In addition, medical, social, and Resources, ANR Pub. No. 3382. ant access to structures, use an business implications of bed bug 702 pp. Paperback. $35. inorganic perimeter mulch to dis- infestations are discussed. http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu courage nesting, eliminate damp But the major strength of this California Master Gardeners conditions, unclog gutters, store book is its emphasis on practical are expert gardeners that are wood off the ground and away methods of bed bug control. Do trained and certified by the from the house. you need to know if low tempera- University of California. More than The chapter on lawn care tures will kill bed bugs? Then, you 1800 Master Gardeners are now emphasizes selection of resistant can quickly find that two hours at active in 36 California counties. and hardy turfgrass species and 1°F (-17°C) will kill all stages of These experts help provide scien- cultural management. In the weed bed bugs. However, when disin- tifically accurate information control chapter, we find that “good festing belongings, exposure times about home horticulture and pest cultural control can account for must be adjusted for their weight. management to the general public. 60 to 70% of the weed control in So, it takes more than 10 hours at There are similar programs in 45 turf.” Herbicides are recommend- this temperature to kill all bed other states, and so the book ed only as a last resort. Though bugs in 5.5 lb (2.5 kg) of laundry. should also be useful to a national the chapter on garden pests has a Bed bugs are so new to many audience. lot of information on pesticides, pest management professionals The Master Gardener Handbook non-chemical and biological con- that something as simple as moni- was designed as a reference book trols are recommended, and the toring and inspection may have to for use during and after the train- author says, “pesticides should be learned. The Bed Bug Hand- ing program. It is an impressive only be used when non-chemical book provides all this basic infor- effort involving 25 authors, 28 col- methods fail to provide adequate mation. But novel techniques are laborators, and 62 reviewers. It is control of pests or when pest pop- also reviewed, including the written in non-technical language. ulations begin to cause unaccept- Cryonite™ system that uses pres- Topics covered include an intro- able losses.” If pesticides are used, surized CO2 to produce supercold duction to horticulture, soil and “dry ice” that is released as fertilizer management, water man- Bacillus thuringiensis (BT), soap, “snow.” Steam and dry heat tech- agement, plant propagation, diag- oil, and other reduced risk pesti- niques such as the Thermapure™ nosing plant problems, plant cides are encouraged. system are evaluated. Strengths pathology, entomology, household The California Master Gardener and limitations of bed bug sniffing and structural pests, weed sci- Handbook is recommended for dogs are revealed. ence, garden pests, house plants, anyone who enjoys gardening. Best of all, bed bug control lawns, landscape and garden There is enough horticultural, methods are illustrated with more design, woody landscape plants, pest management, and general than 100 “how-to” photos. poisonous plants, home vegetable information that many garden Pictures of bed bug habitat can gardening, nutrition, and special problems can be prevented, and help formulate inspection plans. crops such as grapes, berries, others managed without resort to From a practical point of view, fruit trees and nuts, citrus, and pesticides.—Bill Quarles pest management professionals avocados.

IPM Practitioner, XXX(1/2) January/February 2008 16 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Ask the Expert

BIRC (Bio-Integral Resource Center) add a couple of thin wooden strips to Hope this helps, answers pest management and pesti- lift it off the ground. Slugs and snails BIRC cide toxicity questions submitted crawl underneath. You can buy com- through the Ask the Expert link at mercial traps such as the Slug Dear BIRC, www.ourwaterourworld.org or through Saloon™. This is a plastic dish you I am wondering what chemicals the Ask the Expert link on fill with beer. Slugs fall into it and are used to pressure treat wood www.birc.org. At the moment, anyone drown. today and if is safe to use in an nationwide can use this service, and There are other traps you can inside project. Are there safe treat- we hope it will help mitigate some of make, or you can use Sluggo™, ments? What is Thomsonized wood? the harmful effects of pesticides. The which is iron phosphate. The bait Thank you. website and link were created through has low toxicity to mammals, kills a grant from the California Regional slugs and snails, and any left over BIRC replies, Water Resources Control Board, and becomes fertilizer. There are several kinds of pres- the link is currently supported by a Hope this helps, sure treated wood. The industry grant from the Rose Foundation. We BIRC standard for a long time was chro- encourage BIRC members to use the mated copper arsenate (CCA). This Ask the Expert link. Some of the ques- Dear BIRC, was banned for home use by the tions are of general interest, and are If we use black plastic for weed EPA. Arsenic had a tendency to leach reproduced here. control, will it kill the following bulbs out of it. There was concern that that are already planted there? We when the old wood was discarded in Dear BIRC, have narcissus, daffodils, snowdrops, landfill, it would lead to contamina- My pea patch and lettuce seem to crocus, and hyacinth. tion of drinking water in wells. be getting eaten excessively by slugs Thank you. Carpenters were also exposed to (amongst other things). I have been arsenic when they sawed the wood. trying to go chemical free, we like to BIRC replies, Materials that are currently avail- distribute produce and flowers for Black plastic mulch works pretty able are based on copper or borates local residences/neighbors. I am well because many weeds are annu- or organic . By organic I using recycled wood in the raised als whose seeds need light to germi- mean the kind that can be bought at beds and unfortunately can only nate. Those that do germinate will drug stores to take care of athlete’s water at night. Next door is a small not grow because no light is available foot. duck pond and the garden borders to produce food through photosyn- Thompsonized wood has been an active public park and play area. thesis. pressure treated with copper azole Any suggestions? Now, will black plastic mulch kill and with Thompson’s Water Seal. If Thank you. bulbs? It certainly will not help them you are using it inside, you probably much. One problem will be that the do not need the water sealant, unless BIRC replies, emerging bulb might not be able to the wood is likely to be exposed to One way to reduce the numbers of make it through the plastic to the water. slugs and snails is to use Snail sunlight. If you know where the Copper azole contains copper ion, Barr™ copper strips on the raised bulbs are, you might be able to cor- boric acid, and the tebu- beds. Slugs and snails are repelled rect that problem by cutting the plas- conazole. It protects against insects by copper. This approach is used by tic, but weeds would also grow and decay. In field tests, it was equiv- , and they put the through at that point. alent to CCA. The materials have fair- strips around the trunks of citrus The other problem is heat pro- ly low acute toxicity to mammals. trees. duced underneath the black plastic. I Also, high concentrations are not Water as little as possible, as believe daffodil bulbs tolerate a rea- used in the wood. water encourages slugs and snails. sonable amount of heat. But I do not If you do not expect the wood to Since the molluscs are nocturnal, know about the others. Another get much exposure to water, you and you are watering at night, anoth- could use wood that has been pres- problem is water. Black plastic does er option is handpicking. Use a flash- sure-treated with a mixture of boric not allow water to penetrate. So the light and look carefully at the acid and borax. Osmose sells this as bulbs could die from lack of water. foliage.They like to hide underneath Advance Guard™. Arch Treatment As an alternative, you might be leaves. Pick off any that you see, and Technologies calls it SillBor™ and able to mulch with an organic mulch dispose of as you see fit. Chemical Specialties calls it for weed control. This mulch would Slug and snail traps are a possi- TimberSaver™. It is resistant to wood preserve moisture in the area and bility. An overturned clay pot or clay rot, termites, and woodboring beetles. should not heat the ground. The dish will act as a trap for slugs and You can also buy untreated wood bulbs could be watered, and they snails. You can also just put a small and treat it with borates yourself. should be able to emerge through the one square foot board in the garden. The borate material is called Timbor® mulch. Prop it up an inch or so on rocks, or and is sold by Nisus Corporation in

IPM Practitioner, XXX(1/2) January/February 2008 17 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Ask the Expert

Rockford, TN, 800/264-0780. inside, the amount of active ingredi- desiccation. Safer Soap™ can also However, pressure treated material is ent is so low that they would not be kill weeds. It destroys the cell walls probably more effective as it pene- acutely poisoned if they ingested it. and allows desiccation. trates deeper into the wood. The stations are convenient. Put Hope this helps, You should have no problems with them on ant trails. Remove them and BIRC any of these treatments as long as put them in a plastic sack for later you do not ingest the chemicals. use when the ants are gone. You can Dear BIRC, Borates cannot be absorbed through toss empty ones in the trash. I just recently discovered that I the skin, and they are non-volatile. Hope this helps, have a problem with house mice. I You could be exposed only by eating BIRC live on the third floor of a three story or inhaling the sawdust. Borates building in the Boston area. I am have low acute toxicity to mammals. Dear BIRC, planning on sealing all my dry foods You might have more of an expo- A landscape contractor is using in better containers and making sure sure problem with copper azole. In Roundup® to control difficult weeds food does not get left out, but apart addition to boric acid, you are deal- around our apartment complex. from this, I am wondering what your ing with copper and tebuconazole. What are commercial grade alterna- suggestion would be for getting rid of Copper and boric acid are not tives that will be effective for control- the mice in a most humane, but volatile. I do not know how volatile ling weeds, but that won’t endanger effective manner. They are relatively tebuconazole is, but it has fairly low humans and animals? small mice that come out at night acute toxicity. Greatest potential Thank you. and eat my grains and scurry exposure would come as you are around. sawing the wood and actually doing BIRC replies, I’d rather not kill them if it’s pos- the construction. Alternatives to Roundup include sible. Is there anything that keeps Hope this helps, mulches, mechanical control, them away for good that works BIRC flamers, corn gluten meal, and alter- immediately? native herbicides based on orange oil, Thank you so much. Dear BIRC, clove oil, soap, or vinegar. Mulches I am house sitting for friends. are useful for areas such as planting BIRC replies, There are two cats here. We have an beds. Flamers can control weeds pok- The best thing you can do is first ant problem. The attraction is the ing up through concrete or asphalt. protect your food as you suggest. catfood. I am not sure what to use to Flamers can also be used on a lawn. Leave no garbage or crumbs for them get rid of the ants that would not They are best at killing small upright to eat. Find out how they are getting harm the cats. herbaceous weeds. Flamers have very in. Look for mouse holes in doors. Please help! little effect on turfgrass. Check your door sweeps to make Mechanical methods can be use- sure they are intact and in good BIRC replies, ful. If you have dandelions, there is a working order. Do not leave doors If the ants are after the cat food, tool called the Weed Hound that and windows open without screens to one method is to exclude the ants allows for efficient extraction. Even protect the opening. from the cat food bowls. You can do the standard Weed Whacker can be Check areas where plumbing this in several ways. You can get a useful in landscape weed manage- comes into your apartment. shallow pie pan and put soapy water ment. The idea behind mechanical Sometimes they squeeze in around a in the bottom. Then set the cat food methods is to remove the weed before pipe. Outside the structure, look bowl in the pan. This establishes a it produces seed. around the perimeter for holes in moat that excludes the ants. Another Corn gluten meal is basically corn foundation or attic vents, or holes in possible way is to cover the bottom of meal. It has low toxicity. When used the structure itself. When you find the pan with Vaseline. That might on lawns, it suppresses weed seed the hole, seal it up. Use a combina- also work. The problem with this germination and provides nitrogen for tion of copper mesh and caulk. approach is that it is messy. the turfgrass. Hence, it is a pre-emer- Once you have pest proofed your There is a product called The gent and an organic weed and feed house and food, use live traps to Antser™. This is an enclosed plastic material. catch the ones that you have. You device that you fill with water. There are a number of least-toxic can buy these at the hardware store. Anything you set on top of it cannot herbicides. They work best on annual Or you can call the manufacturer be accessed by ants. You can find it weeds, though they can kill perenni- Woodstream 800/800-1819 and ask at www.theantser.com or by calling als with repeated use. Green Match™ about live traps for mice. Once you 925/686-4437. is based on orange oil, Burn Out™ is have caught them, you can release You can also discourage ants by based on clove oil, Matran™ contains them outside. using ant baits. Combat® or a number of essential oils, and vine- Hope this helps, Maxforce® baits enclosed in plastic gar will kill weeds if they are less BIRC bait stations cannot be accessed by than four inches high, and it is cats. Even if they were able to get applied on sunny days. It works by

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