Comments for IPM in the South http://ipmsouth.com Integrated Pest Management in the Southern Region Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:25:23 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on IPM Centers a No-Show in the President’s 2011 Budget by Venerable NY IPM Program On the Ropes « IPM in the South http://ipmsouth.com/2010/02/06/ipm-centers-a-no-show-in-the-presidents-2011-budget/#comment-36 Venerable NY IPM Program On the Ropes « IPM in the South Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:25:23 +0000 http://ipmsouth.com/?p=132#comment-36 [...] final note for this post: this item is distressingly similar to the recent post about elimination of IPM Centers from the President’s federal budget, and to another regarding funding threats to Extension budgets. These are hard times all around for [...] [...] final note for this post: this item is distressingly similar to the recent post about elimination of IPM Centers from the President’s federal budget, and to another regarding funding threats to Extension budgets. These are hard times all around for [...]

]]> Comment on University Extension takes a hit nationwide by Venerable NY IPM Program On the Ropes « IPM in the South http://ipmsouth.com/2010/02/05/university-extension-takes-a-hit-nationwide/#comment-35 Venerable NY IPM Program On the Ropes « IPM in the South Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:21:03 +0000 http://ipmsouth.com/?p=128#comment-35 [...] elimination of IPM Centers from the President’s federal budget, and to another regarding funding threats to Extension budgets. These are hard times all around for public programs – let’s hope that [...] [...] elimination of IPM Centers from the President’s federal budget, and to another regarding funding threats to Extension budgets. These are hard times all around for public programs – let’s hope that [...]

]]> Comment on A Tale of Unintended Consequences by Insect and Mammal Invasive Species « Probestblog's Blog http://ipmsouth.com/2009/11/19/a-tale-of-unintended-consequences/#comment-23 Insect and Mammal Invasive Species « Probestblog's Blog Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:19:11 +0000 http://ipmsouth.wordpress.com/?p=110#comment-23 [...] A Tale of Unintended Consequences - this is a great story about Longhorned beetles [...] [...] A Tale of Unintended Consequences - this is a great story about Longhorned beetles [...]

]]> Comment on Does invasive always mean “bad”? by Paul Smith http://ipmsouth.com/2009/11/05/does-invasive-always-mean-bad/#comment-17 Paul Smith Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:07:46 +0000 http://ipmsouth.wordpress.com/?p=107#comment-17 I do not agree with this article, particular in regards to saltcedar. While it states that the SWFC nests in this tree, it fails to tell you that the fitness of the SWFC in saltcedar dominated habitats is greatly reduced when compared to native willow habitats. Additionally, saltcedar leads to greater channelization of streams and rivers, having deleterious impacts on numerous endangered species, mainly fish and molluscs. I think that the idea presented here illustrates the dangers of the single species conservation approach. The reclamation, or rescue of a habitat, which would benefit the ecological community as a whole is ignored in favor of taking action based on one "flashy" species of interest. I do not agree with this article, particular in regards to saltcedar. While it states that the SWFC nests in this tree, it fails to tell you that the fitness of the SWFC in saltcedar dominated habitats is greatly reduced when compared to native willow habitats. Additionally, saltcedar leads to greater channelization of streams and rivers, having deleterious impacts on numerous endangered species, mainly fish and molluscs. I think that the idea presented here illustrates the dangers of the single species conservation approach. The reclamation, or rescue of a habitat, which would benefit the ecological community as a whole is ignored in favor of taking action based on one “flashy” species of interest.

]]> Comment on When You Can’t Kill What’s Bugging You by Bill Bussey http://ipmsouth.com/2009/09/30/when-you-cant-kill-whats-bugging-you/#comment-8 Bill Bussey Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:29:25 +0000 http://ipmsouth.wordpress.com/?p=49#comment-8 Hi R. Great to meet you yesterday. Neat blog! Interesting that you should bring up resistance to Frontline and permetherin. My liver dalmatian, Chief, came down with a bad case of fleas this summer, especially after he was lost for a week - long story - and particularly after he stayed in the local pound for the weekend after he was found. When I got him home, I noticed a lot more fleas than usual. Though ticks were there, they weren't as bad as they are in the Spring and early Summer. When I got him home, I realized that I didn't have any more Frontline Plus. My vet assured me that he had been treated at the pound. Needing more, I thought I found a good deal in ordering Frontline from Joe's Pet Meds. After thinking about it, I ordered, and then did my research. WRONG! An internet search found that Joe's was actually in Australia! At least a few folks were not satisfied with the Frontline Plus they had received from them, in that it didn't kill the ticks and fleas. Still, the Frontline Plus arrived within the seven day shipment specified on the website. The website just doesn't tell you that they were in Australia... Buyer Beware! The Frontline Plus box looked about the same as the box of Frontline Plus I purchased from my vet, and those available here. However, closer inspection showed differences - most notably it was manufactured by Merial Australia. Logical. But was it the same stuff? It did not seem to work as well as the earlier Frontline Plus I had used in the past. Earlier monthly treatments seemed to kill all ticks very shortly after application. Could this be a different formulation? I also tried the much less expensive Adams Spot On Flea and Tick Control. This is Permethrin based. I'm familiar with Permethrin, having sold it extensively as a tick repellent for clothing while employed several years back at REI. It is the active ingredient of most flea and tick dips and shampoos. Apparently, it is the active ingredient of lice shampoo for children, so it is fairly benign stuff. It is the only thing which seemed to work to keep ticks off me. It is designed for use on clothing - not skin. The manufacturer's rep said that it would hold up to several washings. He also said that Permethrin actually kills - not repels - ticks and fleas when they contact the chemical, which I thought was interesting. Apparently DEET bug repellents work to only repel ticks and fleas by evaporating noxious vapors, but does not actually kill fleas and ticks. In any event, in desperation, I tried the Adams Permethrin based flea and tick control. It did not work at all. In further desperation, I tried an old fashioned flea collar, as well as an additional dosage of the Frontline Plus. Still, I found, and still find, live fleas crawling around on him. Worse, fleas would get on me in various places around the house. I placed flea traps around the house, vacuumed and sprayed in key places. Things did not really get much better. Only with the advent of recent cooler weather have things started to improve. Currently, no fleas are readily visible on him; though I can probably find some in "nether regions" if I try! Could this be resistance? Could it be a bad batch of Frontline Plus? Could it be bad housekeeping? (Probably!) Or could it be a bit of all of them? It is hard to say... To add insult, there has been internet chatter on the doggie lists today that Frontline has been shown to be harmful to pets, with some evidence that it is killing dogs who are treated with it. I don't have the study info, but it is apparently all over the web. This could very well be a rumor. But several have mentioned that they will give up use of Frontline and similar spot application products because of it. In any event, nice, well written blog. I'll read your other entries later. Please stay in touch. Bill Bussey Hi R.

Great to meet you yesterday.

Neat blog!

Interesting that you should bring up resistance to Frontline and permetherin. My liver dalmatian, Chief, came down with a bad case of fleas this summer, especially after he was lost for a week – long story – and particularly after he stayed in the local pound for the weekend after he was found.

When I got him home, I noticed a lot more fleas than usual. Though ticks were there, they weren’t as bad as they are in the Spring and early Summer.

When I got him home, I realized that I didn’t have any more Frontline Plus. My vet assured me that he had been treated at the pound.

Needing more, I thought I found a good deal in ordering Frontline from Joe’s Pet Meds. After thinking about it, I ordered, and then did my research. WRONG!

An internet search found that Joe’s was actually in Australia! At least a few folks were not satisfied with the Frontline Plus they had received from them, in that it didn’t kill the ticks and fleas.

Still, the Frontline Plus arrived within the seven day shipment specified on the website. The website just doesn’t tell you that they were in Australia…

Buyer Beware!

The Frontline Plus box looked about the same as the box of Frontline Plus I purchased from my vet, and those available here. However, closer inspection showed differences – most notably it was manufactured by Merial Australia. Logical.

But was it the same stuff?

It did not seem to work as well as the earlier Frontline Plus I had used in the past. Earlier monthly treatments seemed to kill all ticks very shortly after application.

Could this be a different formulation?

I also tried the much less expensive Adams Spot On Flea and Tick Control. This is Permethrin based.

I’m familiar with Permethrin, having sold it extensively as a tick repellent for clothing while employed several years back at REI. It is the active ingredient of most flea and tick dips and shampoos. Apparently, it is the active ingredient of lice shampoo for children, so it is fairly benign stuff.

It is the only thing which seemed to work to keep ticks off me. It is designed for use on clothing – not skin. The manufacturer’s rep said that it would hold up to several washings.

He also said that Permethrin actually kills – not repels – ticks and fleas when they contact the chemical, which I thought was interesting. Apparently DEET bug repellents work to only repel ticks and fleas by evaporating noxious vapors, but does not actually kill fleas and ticks.

In any event, in desperation, I tried the Adams Permethrin based flea and tick control. It did not work at all.

In further desperation, I tried an old fashioned flea collar, as well as an additional dosage of the Frontline Plus. Still, I found, and still find, live fleas crawling around on him. Worse, fleas would get on me in various places around the house.

I placed flea traps around the house, vacuumed and sprayed in key places. Things did not really get much better.

Only with the advent of recent cooler weather have things started to improve. Currently, no fleas are readily visible on him; though I can probably find some in “nether regions” if I try!

Could this be resistance? Could it be a bad batch of Frontline Plus? Could it be bad housekeeping? (Probably!) Or could it be a bit of all of them? It is hard to say…

To add insult, there has been internet chatter on the doggie lists today that Frontline has been shown to be harmful to pets, with some evidence that it is killing dogs who are treated with it. I don’t have the study info, but it is apparently all over the web.

This could very well be a rumor. But several have mentioned that they will give up use of Frontline and similar spot application products because of it.

In any event, nice, well written blog. I’ll read your other entries later. Please stay in touch.

Bill Bussey

]]> Comment on Termites in Raleigh: Don’t Give in to Fear by sripmccomm http://ipmsouth.com/2009/08/27/termites-in-raleigh-dont-give-in-to-fear/#comment-2 sripmccomm Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:05:00 +0000 http://ipmsouth.wordpress.com/?p=24#comment-2 The termite guy that I hired also did a thorough inspection of the house, didn't find any termites or signs of them, but didn't recommend treatment. He did say, however, that many companies recommend treatment because they're trying to start a contract with the homeowner. If you have a contract with a termite company, they're obligated to treat. The termite guy that I hired also did a thorough inspection of the house, didn’t find any termites or signs of them, but didn’t recommend treatment. He did say, however, that many companies recommend treatment because they’re trying to start a contract with the homeowner. If you have a contract with a termite company, they’re obligated to treat.

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