“WHAT’S HAPPENING “WHAT’S HAPPENING?” The University of Tennessee/Agricultural Extension Service Entomology & Plant Pathology - EPP #60

Volume No.3 - April 2, 2004

ANIMAL RESPONSE SEMINAR by Beth Long

Dr. Robert Linnabary, DVM, Coordinator, Tennessee Disaster Animal Response Team, will present a seminar on the UT TeleHelath Network titled “Response to a Foreign Animal Disease Outbreak in Tennessee” on April 15, 2004 at 12:30 pm EST; 11:30 am CST. Length: 60 minutes. No charge unless CME credits are needed ($10 cost for credit)

Audiences invited include the UT Extension service, livestock producers, veterinary personnel, public health and emergency management personnel.

Another seminar of interest will be broadcast on April 30, 2004, titled “Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies” by Melissa Kennedy, DVM, UT College of Veterinary Medicine.

ITV viewing sites for this seminar will be broadcast to UT Extension District Offices in Nashville and Jackson, and to the Knoxville UT Ag Campus in room 156-157 Biotech Building and at UT Hospital. Other viewing sites through the Telehealth Network will also be available.

Contact Bertha Jarnagin, UT Telehealth Network, 865-544-6871, [email protected] for registration and location information. Pre-registration is required as seating is limited at viewing sites. Additional information is available at: http://gsm.utmck.edu/telehealth/Currentprojects.htm

SUDDEN OAK DEATH FOUND IN FLORIDA AND OREGON by Beth Long and Dr. Kurt Lamour

Sampling is continuing from Tennessee nurseries that have received shipments of potentially SOD infected nursery stock from California. As of April 1, all Tennessee samples have tested negative for this new disease.

http://eppserver.ag.utk.edu/Whats/wh2004/Issue-3-04.htm (1 of 7)12/5/2012 6:40:47 AM “WHAT’S HAPPENING On March 31, both Florida and Oregon announced that a few of their nursery samples have come back positive for Phytophthora ramorum, the fungus that causes sudden oak death. These infected plants will be destroyed and nearby plants that are potential hosts of SOD will now be tested.

Currently, in the eastern United States, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Delaware, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Minnesota and Virginia have implemented varying degrees of quarantines on nursery stock from California.

Tennessee plant dealers who may have received suspect plant material from California and have not been contacted by state regulators should contact the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s plant certification office at (615) 837-5130. In addition, USDA has set up a toll-free SOD hotline for the nursery and landscape industry, news organizations and the general public at 1-888-703- 4457.

METHYL BROMIDE by Darrell Hensley

Finally, as of the Montreal Protocol (MP) meeting that ended March 26, 2004, 181 nations decided how much methyl bromide would be granted for critical uses in developed nations in 2005. The final decision applies to all developed nations including Canada, USA, European Community (EC), Japan, New Zealand and Australia. A group of forty methyl bromide stakeholders, participated in the final three days negotiations at the Extraordinary Meeting of the Montreal Protocol.

Key elements of the deal as it affects the U.S; o 19.6Mlbs of critical use exemptions, (CUEs), were granted for 2005, (equivalent to 35% of the 91 baseline) o With appeals from some consumers pending, the amount could be up to 1.7Mlbs higher. o A production allowance was set at 30% of the 91 baseline for 2005 (the same amount that was made in 2004) o The difference between CUE and production allowances, about 2.8Mlbs in 2005, will be filled from existing inventory. o There will be flexibility in allocation of the CUE amounts among categories. o The production allowance is in addition to amounts for QPS and export good outcome. The CUE allocation rules are the next challenge.

With the outcome for 2005 known, methyl bromide stakeholders in developed nations must

http://eppserver.ag.utk.edu/Whats/wh2004/Issue-3-04.htm (2 of 7)12/5/2012 6:40:47 AM “WHAT’S HAPPENING immediately turn their attention to creating an effective program to manage the critical use exemptions. The allocation and record keeping process will be highly complex and is further complicated by the Montreal Protocols decision to force a reduction in field inventory. Significant effort will be required to make sure the process is fair.

Balancing industry and the environment Methyl bromide users are working hard to minimize emissions, to develop alternatives and to comply with the Montreal Protocol. However, where alternatives are not technically or economically feasible, users need relief from the phase out schedule. The agreement reached last week provides that relief. o The Montreal Protocol acknowledged that alternatives were not available for many applications and increased by 2.8Mlbs, the amount of methyl bromide that U.S. farmers can use next year (vs 2004) o The Montreal Protocol did not reduce the amount that can be produced for the US in 2005 even though production was supposed to stop on 1/1/05. o Significant volumes of methyl bromide were made available in 2005 for the European Community and other developed nations. o These decisions signal that methyl bromide will be continue to be available beyond 2005 until viable alternatives are available.

As a result, methyl bromide availability in 2005 will be very similar to 2004. This outcome should reinvigorate methyl bromide stakeholders on all sides of the debate. Environmentalists and government will redouble their efforts to achieve a faster phase out. Methyl bromide stakeholders from the use community must continue the fight for fairness and balance between economy and environment.

Based on other information, turfgrass will receive 207 metric tons of MB on its 2005 CUE, and given the confusion between how the EPA combined TPI's and GCSAA's 2005 CUE requested amounts. A lot of assumptions and may not have a clear understanding of the process (from the beginning, to now and into the future).

This is far from the end of the process.

A quick summary The United States received 35% of the 1991 methyl bromide use baseline for 2005. This does not include the supplemental 2005 request that came in with the later applications. This 35% is composed of 30% new production and 5% existing methyl bromide stocks. Allocation is still a big issue. (SOURCE: Great Lakes Chemical)

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“CLUSTERING FLIES” by Karen M. Vail

Large numbers of flies have been reported clustered on the exterior walls of homes this week. These flies are often called cluster flies, but I think “clustering flies” would be more appropriate terminology because there is one species of fly, Pollenia rudis, with the common name of cluster fly. These insects, also referred to as "attic flies" or “fall nuisance flies,” often become pests when searching for overwintering sites in late summer/early fall and enter homes through small openings around windows, chimneys, vents, siding and other cracks. Most clustering flies are usually found near the top of the buildings. These flies don’t bite people. In heated structures or on warm days, the flies may become active during the winter. In spring, the flies emerge from overwintering sites and attempt to leave the structure, but are not always successful. Clustering flies may be one or a combination of three types of flies and are discussed below.

Cluster Flies Pollenia rudis The cluster fly is blackish, about 3/8 to ½-inch long (a little larger than the common housefly) and has short, golden colored hairs on its thorax. The wings overlay one another when the fly is at rest. If crushed, the resulting odor resembles buckwheat honey (Hedges 1994).

Cluster flies are parasites of earthworms. Through the summer, adults lay eggs in cracks in the soil. Upon hatching, larvae seek an earthworm host. In the south, four generations may occur with the last generation of adults seeking overwinter sites in late summer/early fall. In many cases, this is within the walls, attics and less often in basements of homes. These same overwintering flies get into rooms during the winter and spring months entering through small openings in walls.

Face Flies Musca autumnalis Face fly adults are serious pests of cattle and during summer, may feed on the mucous secretions from eyes and noses of cattle and horses. They closely resemble the common housefly. It has four dark stripes on the thorax, but unlike the house fly, a face fly has a tuft of hairs where the calypters attach to the thorax. Only an expert can distinguish a face fly from a house fly. Face flies may be more likely to invade farm homes or homes located near pastures because the larvae develop in fresh cattle manure patties. In the fall, face flies seek overwintering sites and may end up in the upper portions of a structure along with other “clustering” flies.

Blow Flies Family Calliphoridae Blue or green bottle flies are medium-sized flies with shiny metallic bodies and may also be found in homes during winter and early spring. Blow fly larvae develop in manure or carrion.

http://eppserver.ag.utk.edu/Whats/wh2004/Issue-3-04.htm (4 of 7)12/5/2012 6:40:47 AM “WHAT’S HAPPENING Adult blow flies are usually present in small numbers. They are strong fliers and are attracted to lamps or lights. The "buzzing" of their wings during flight is very annoying.

Control Procedures Cluster flies, face flies and blow flies are difficult to control once they have gained access to homes because they hibernate in wall voids and other inaccessible places. Like lady beetles, they are best controlled by preventing entry into the structure in late summer/early fall. The procedures listed here are suggestions and may not ensure complete elimination of the insects.

Late summer/early fall

• Before the flies arrive, close and seal openings through which the flies can enter. See PB 1303 Managing Pests Around the Home for details on pest-proofing homes (http://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/pests/default.asp#home). This procedure is time consuming and may require a dedicated long-term effort.

• Combine a spray with the pest-proofing effort. Prior to fly arrival, sprays can be applied to the outside of the house at potential fly entry points or where the flies collect before entering the home. Pay special attention to the areas beneath the eaves, around the windows and other areas where flies are likely to enter. While it is best to use a micro-encapsulated or wettable powder formulation, homeowners often have to settle for emulsifiable formulations such as Spectracide Bug Stop Multi-Purpose Insect Control Concentrate (permethrin), Bayer Advanced Home Pest Control Indoor and Outdoor Insect Killer (cyfluthrin) and others.

Fall and winter

• Flies can be removed with vacuum cleaners or fly swatters.

• Indoor voids used as overwintering sites can be treated with an insecticidal dust. Exterior cracks that were not sealed in the fall may also be dusted.

• In commercial structures, if overwintering sites cannot be found, a glueboard-style insect light trap can be placed in false ceilings in other locations lacking competing light sources.

Spring

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• As temperatures increase in late winter/early spring, flies will become more active. If the interior warms more quickly than the exterior, flies may crawl into the living spaces. Darken the room except for a single light source, such as a window, and vacuum the attracted flies.

• Large numbers of flies indoors can be controlled with a space spray or an insecticide, such as pyrethrins, labeled for indoor flying insects.

• Flies on the outside of structures will leave on their own accord. Reducing fly population on the outside will not affect numbers on the inside as these flies are trying to move away from the home.

• Cluster flies will not be controlled by eliminating earthworms, their larval host, in the lawn surrounding infested homes because the adult flies may travel over a half mile to find an overwintering site.

Sources: Potter, M. 1994. Cluster Flies, Face Flies and Blow Flies in Homes. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Entfact -624.

Hedges, S. 1994. PCT Field Guide for the Management of Structure-infesting Flies. Franzak and Foster, Cleveland, OH

Cervenka, V. and J. Hahn. 2000. Fall Nuisance Flies. FS - 07579 University of Minnesota Extension Service.

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Disclaimer Statement Pesticides recommended in this publication were registered for the prescribed uses when printed. Pesticide regulations are continuously reviewed. Should registration or a recommended pesticide be canceled, it would no longer be recommended by The University of Tennessee. Use of trade or brand names in this publication is for clarity and information; it does not imply approval of the product to the exclusion of others that may be of similar, suitable composition, nor does it guarantee or warrant the standard of the product.

The Agricultural Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, age, national origin, sex, veteran status, religion or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WORK IN AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and county governments cooperating in furtherance of Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Agricultural Extension Service Charles L. Norman, Dean

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