Coast to Coast with Kelli Rodda - October 2007

Michigan  

The state is combing through traps for Sirex noctilio, an exotic wood wasp, which was discovered in the state for the first time earlier this year. The larvae feed in stressed, dying or recently killed pine trees, said Deb McCullough, a forest entomologist at Michigan State . It was discovered in New York in 2005 and in Ontario , Canada , in 2006. It’s not been determined if S. noctilio will become an “important pest of pine in Michigan ,” she said. But the wood wasp will face native natural enemies in North America , she said. For more: Deb McCullough, MSU, (517) 355-7445; mccullo6@msu.edu.

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Canada  

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency added Garrya spp. (silk tassel) to its list of regulated genera for Phytophthora ramorum. Silk tassel is an evergreen shrub or small tree that’s hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6. The most common cultivated species are G. fremontii and G. elliptica. The Canadian list of regulated genera differs from the U.S. list. For more: CFIA, (613) 221-4283; www.inspection.gc.ca.

Louisiana  

The Louisiana State University AgCenter is promoting vetiver grass (Chrysopogon spp.) for its ornamental value and its ability to keep termites at bay. Gregg Henderson, an urban entomologist with the LSU AgCenter, first learned of the potential of vetiver grass as a termiticide about 13 years ago from Don Heumann, who was then a nursery and greenhouse operator in Metairie . Heumann thought he might have uncovered a possible solution to the termite problem when he noticed he had no bugs in his greenhouses where he was growing vetiver. Vetiver grass also is used for erosion and sediment control. For more: Gregg Henderson, LSU, (225) 578-1831; grhendeson@agcenter.lsu.edu.

California  

California agriculture officials added an aerial release of pheromones to its arsenal of control for the light brown apple moth. Planes will release an odorless, colorless pheromone material called Checkmate OLR-F, which has been reviewed and approved by U.S. EPA and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. The aerial releases are intended to surround the local moth population with pheromone so that the male moths can’t locate the females. The rate of breeding slows and eventually subsides. The pheromone remains effective for a month. The treatments started last month and are expected to last into October. For more: www.cdfa.ca.gov.

Postcards

Stop! Or I’ll … make you throw up? Law enforcement may soon be sporting the LED (light-emitting diode) Incapacitator, a flashlight designed to make the perp vomit. Intelligent Optical Systems Inc. in Torrance , Calif. , invented the nonlethal weapon. A series of colors and pulses temporarily blind and disorient the unlucky person on the other end of the Incapacitator. See it for yourself (without the negative side effects) at www.intopsys.com. … Cops in New Hampshire probably didn’t need the aforementioned Incapacitator to catch James Coldwell, who robbed a bank disguised as a tree. He used duct tape (a million and one uses, right?) to secure branches to his head and torso. The leaves didn’t provide enough camouflage. He was recognized by someone on the bank’s security film. … If you think your teenager would rather play Halo for hours on end, you’re wrong. What? I guess the moody person eating all your food would rather spend time with family. That’s how most teens responded in a survey from The Associated Press and MTV. And nearly half the respondents named mom and pop as one of their heroes. Go spend some time with the kids and hope they weren’t the 1 percent who instead named Spider-Man as their hero.

Quotable:

“When it comes to marketing, people tend to drop generations into a bucket instead of a shot glass.”

- Jeff De Cagna, owner of Principled Innovation, an association consultant. He spoke to the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association about the importance of not getting caught up in sweeping generational stereotypes and assumptions.

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- Kelli Rodda