Ruppert Landscape Appoints Kang President & COO
Jessica Schwartz
Native Wasp May Help ALB Eradication Efforts
As Turf recently reported, August is “Tree Check Month” for Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) since adult activity peaks this month for the invasive wood-boring beetle that attacks and kills 12 types of North American hardwood trees. But alongside public education efforts to spot and control ALB, the USDA and its partners may soon have another tool in its arsenal in the 25+ year battle, reported Sharon Lucik in Plant Protection Today, a USDA publication. Scientists from the USDA’s Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program announced in late July that they are evaluating a stingless parasitoid wasp, or Ontsira mellipes, for its potential to attack and kill ALB larvae. The wasp is native to North America, abundant, and widely distributed across the continent. Ontsira mellipes attacks larvae of native longhorned wood-boring beetles and ALB—a non-native—in laboratory tests. For this reason, scientists are hopeful that the wasp can aid ALB eradication efforts and conducting field studies in the ALB quarantine area in Worcester, MA. The team will conduct an 18-week study on conservation property in woodlots where public usage is limited, and ALB quarantine regulations are in place. “We’re already out in the field setting up our test and control plots,” said PQ’s Science and Technology researcher Juli Gould. If scientists do prove Ontsira mellipes is an effective biocontrol agent for the ALB, it would provide the ALB staff with a new tool to use in sensitive areas where traditional eradication methods may not be suitable, and also in wetlands and rugged ...
Native Wasp May Help ALB Eradication Efforts
As Turf recently reported, August is “Tree Check Month” for Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) since adult activity peaks this month for the invasive wood-boring beetle that attacks and kills 12 types of North American hardwood trees. But alongside public education efforts to spot and control ALB, the USDA and its partners may soon have another tool in its arsenal in the 25+ year battle, reported Sharon Lucik in Plant Protection Today, a USDA publication. Scientists from the USDA’s Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program announced in late July that they are evaluating a stingless parasitoid wasp, or Ontsira mellipes, for its potential to attack and kill ALB larvae. The wasp is native to North America, abundant, and widely distributed across the continent. Ontsira mellipes attacks larvae of native longhorned wood-boring beetles and ALB—a non-native—in laboratory tests. For this reason, scientists are hopeful that the wasp can aid ALB eradication efforts and conducting field studies in the ALB quarantine area in Worcester, MA. The team will conduct an 18-week study on conservation property in woodlots where public usage is limited, and ALB quarantine regulations are in place. “We’re already out in the field setting up our test and control plots,” said PQ’s Science and Technology researcher Juli Gould. If scientists do prove Ontsira mellipes is an effective biocontrol agent for the ALB, it would provide the ALB staff with a new tool to use in sensitive areas where traditional eradication methods may not be suitable, and also in wetlands and rugged ...
Biologicals On The Greens
From Biological Products Industry Alliance (BPIA) From the Spring 2019 Issue There is nothing more fun than waking up early on a Saturday morning and meeting some good friends to play a round of golf on a meticulously maintained course. It doesn’t matter whether it is your private country club or your local public course. Everyone enjoys playing on a good looking and pest-free course. Conversely, nothing is more miserable than trying to golf on a course that is in poor condition from turf disease or being overrun by a variety of buzzing and stinging insects. Two decades ago, most players wouldn’t have given a second thought as to what goes into maintaining their favorite place to play golf. They just wanted it to look scenic and be pest free. But times have definitely changed. Many people including golfers and golf course superintendents are trying to be ecologically responsible and live lifestyles which help sustain our natural resources and protect all aspects of our outdoor environment including on golf courses. For many years, golf course superintendents and their staff used a diverse assortment of very effective synthetic chemicals to eliminate unwanted pests and help improve the appearance of greens. The reality is that little consideration was given to the environmental consequences, and also there were very few efficacious alternatives available. “The market is definitely shifting since there are now many cost-effective biological products available for use on turf,” says Eric Smith, East Coast sales manager for BioSafe Systems. “These biopesticide ...
Turf Spring 2019 Issue: Time For Renewal
Spring Is A Time For Renewal Many of you are in full swing for the spring season, busy revitalizing lawns and landscapes across residential and commercial properties. With the publication of this issue, Turf joins you in that renewal with the official relaunch of the magazine. In 2018, our parent company, Group C Media, Inc., acquired Turf, and as the new editor in chief, I’m looking forward to covering the topics that matter to you and your business—from the technical and practical aspects of turf and tree care, to the ins and outs of business management. Celebrating its 30th year in 2018, our sister publication, Facility Executive, is written for facility management professionals who operate and maintain public and private sites. An important part of facilities work includes groundskeeping and related issues, including aesthetics, water conservation/quality, and pest control. We’ll draw on that expertise to deliver useful content to you here. With our focus on mowing equipment in this issue, you’ll find the cover story (Mowers: Buying Cycles and Pricing Prowess) provides insight on fleet management. And the authors of the articles on selling your services and securing new and existing contracts offer practical tips to bring in more business. And for My Landscape, we spoke with the head of landscape services at The University of Mississippi about a treasured green space on that campus. We’re digging in to bring you the latest industry products, best practices, and news, so you can grow your business in 2019. And, we want ...
