"WHAT'S
HAPPENING?"
E&PP INFO 60 March
8, 2002
CONTENTS PAGE
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Codling Moth Pheromone Use in
California..................................................................................................................................... 3
Inert Ingredients in Pesticides............................................................................................................................................................. 4
Insect Update ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Plant & Pest Diagnostic Lab
Highlights............................................................................................................................................. 5
Questions & Answers about Invading
Clover Mites......................................................................................................................... 1
Thiophanate-Methyl Use on Turf
Grass............................................................................................................................................. 4
Time for Dormant Oil Sprays................................................................................................................................................................ 4
2,4D Herbicide........................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Whitman Announces Transition from
Consumer use of Treated Wood Containing Arsenic..................................................... ................................................... 2
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QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT INVADING CLOVER MITES
by
Karen Vail
What
is a clover mite? Clover mites are very small, reddish-brown creatures that appear only as
moving dark spots to the naked eye.
Why
are they considered pests? Sheer numbers, and the resulting red-brown stain left behind
if they are crushed, make them unwelcome visitors. The red stains are not
blood, but they are the mite's body pigments. They are not blood feeders and
will not harm people or pets, nor will they infest household products. Once
inside a home or building they will soon die.
They
can be especially abundant in the heavy, succulent growth of well-fertilized
lawns. They usually enter a home around windows or doors so they are usually
seen crawling along sills or thresholds. The mites can crawl up outside walls
and may enter the buildings at upper levels.
How
do I reduce their numbers indoors? Clover mites are a
temporary nuisance. They appear
suddenly and then are gone. A soapy rag or wet sponge can be used to clean
mites off of surfaces. Wipe carefully to avoid crushing the mites and causing
stains. The crevice tool of a vacuum cleaner may also be used to pick up mites.
Non-chemical control should provide sufficient control indoors.
Can
I alter conducive conditions to prevent future invasions? There is an increased potential
for invading structures when grass extends to the foundation. A bare zone next
to the foundation will provide a barrier that will stop many mites and provide
a long term solution to persistent problems. Avoid over fertilizing lawns. This
creates situations that are ideal for mites to increase to tremendous numbers.
How
do I reduce their numbers outdoors? Mites seen on the outside
of buildings can be killed with a direct spray of an insecticidal soap. This
treatment will not provide any residual control. An insecticidal spray of a
synthetic pyrethroid along the outside walls and base of the foundation may
provide some relief.
Modified
from LAWN MITES By Lee Townsend, Pest News, Kentucky Cooperative Extension
Service 2-25-02.
WHITMAN
ANNOUNCES TRANSITION FROM CONSUMER USE OF TREATED WOOD CONTAINING ARSENIC
by
Darrell Hensley
EPA
Administrator Christie Whitman today announced a voluntary decision by industry
to move consumer use of treated lumber products away from a variety of pressure‑treated
wood that contains arsenic by Dec. 31, 2003, in favor of new alternative wood
preservatives. This transition affects
virtually all residential uses of wood treated
with
chromate copper arsenate, also known as CCA, including wood used in play‑structures, decks, picnic tables,
landscaping timbers, residential
fencing, patios and walkways/boardwalks. By Jan. 2004, EPA will not
allow CCA products for any of these residential uses.
"This
action will result in a reduction of virtually all residential uses of CCA‑treated
wood within less than two years," said EPA Administrator Christie Whitman.
"Today's announcement greatly accelerates the transition to new
alternatives, responding to marketplace demands for wood products that do not
contain CCA. This transition will substantially reduce the time it could have
taken to go through the traditional regulatory process."
"This
is a responsible action by the industry," Whitman continued. "Today's action will ensure that future
exposures to arsenic are minimized in residential settings. The companies
deserve credit for coming forward
in
a voluntary way, to undergo a conversion and retooling of their plants as quickly as possible. The transition to
new alternatives will provide consumers with greater choice for their building
needs."
The
transition period will provide consumers with increasingly more non‑CCA
treated wood alternatives as the industry undergoes conversion and retooling of
their industrial equipment and practices, while also allowing adequate time to
convert treatment plants with minimal economic disruption for the industry's
employees. Beginning immediately, and
over the next 22 months, wood treatment plants will convert to new alternative
wood preservatives that do not contain arsenic. In the current year,
manufacturers expect a decline in production of CCA products for affected
residential uses up to 25 percent, with a corresponding shift to alternatives.
During 2003, the
companies
expect the transition away from CCA to continue and increase, with a decline in
production of CCA products for affected residential uses up to 70 percent, with
a corresponding shift to alternatives. New labeling
will
be required on all CCA products, specifying that no use of CCA will be allowed
by the wood‑treating industry for the affected residential uses after
Dec. 31, 2003.
EPA
has not concluded that CCA‑treated wood poses' unreasonable risks to the
public for existing CCA‑treated wood being used around or near their
homes or from wood that remains available in stores. EPA does not believe there
is any reason to remove or replace CCA‑treated structures, including
decks or playground equipment. EPA is not recommending that existing structures
or surrounding soils be removed or replaced.
While
available data are very limited, some studies suggest that applying certain
penetrating coatings (e.g., oil‑based semi‑transparent stains) on a
regular basis (one re‑application per year or every other year depending
upon wear and weathering) may reduce the migration of wood preservative
chemicals from CCA‑treated wood.
Arsenic
is a known human carcinogen and, thus, the Agency believes that any reduction
in the levels of potential exposure to arsenic is desirable. As always, when
children play outside, whether around CCA‑treated play structures or not,
they should wash their hands prior to eating. Also, food should not be placed
directly on any outside surfaces, including treated wood. CCA‑treated
wood should never be burned, as toxic chemicals may be released as part of the
smoke and ashes. Consumers who work with CCA‑treated wood are encouraged
to use common sense in order to reduce any potential exposure to chemicals in
the wood. Specific actions include sawing, sanding and machining CCA‑treated
wood outdoors, and wearing a dust mask, goggles and gloves when performing this type of activity. Clean up all
sawdust, scraps and other construction
debris thoroughly and dispose of it in the trash (i.e., municipal solid
waste). Do not compost or mulch sawdust
or remnants from CCA‑treated wood. Those working with the wood should
wash all exposed areas of their bodies thoroughly with soap and water before
eating, drinking or using tobacco products. Work clothes should be washed
separately from other household clothing before wearing them again.
Chromate
copper arsenate, or CCA, is a chemical compound mixture containing inorganic
arsenic,
copper
and chromium that has been used for wood preservative uses since the 1940s. CCA
is injected
into
wood by a process that uses high pressure to saturate wood products with the
chemicals. CCA is
intended
to protect wood from dry rot, fungi, molds, termites, and other pests that can
threaten the integrity of wood products.
During
the past several months, CCA‑treated wood has been the subject of an EPA
evaluation under provisions of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act, which direct EPA to periodically reevaluate older
pesticides
to ensure that they meet current safety standards. The Agency is continuing to
proceed with a risk assessment. EPA is also continuing to evaluate public
comments and input from an external scientific review
panel
on methodologies to perform a risk assessment for residential settings and
potential exposure to
children
from CCA.
More
information on this announcement is available at
www.epa.gov/pesticides/citizens/1file.htm or at
http://web.utk.edu/~extepp/rnn/rnn‑2‑13‑02.htm
CODLING
MOTH PHEROMONE USE IN CALIFORNIA
by
Darrell Hensley
Codling
Moth Pheromone will be used as hopeful replacement for organophosphates. On
Wednesday, February 27, 2002, BPPD granted registration of 3M* MEC‑CM
Sprayable Pheromone for Codling Moth (3M Canada Company), a new formulation of
an existing active ingredient. The
Codling moth is a serious pest of apples, pears, peaches and walnuts to name a
few. This product is of particular importance as it is part of a demonstration
program funded by EPA Region 9 with the California Walnut Growers to both monitor
and investigate the use of these reduced risk pesticides as replacements for
higher risk organophosphates.
EFED
Demonstrates New Program on Endangered Species: The Environmental Field Branch attended a demonstration of a
program called "Endangered" developed by the Environmental Fate and
Effects Division. The intention of
this effort was to modernize the older, DOS‑based "Danger"
program. The new program, like the old
one, relates endangered species locations at the county level to crops that are
grown in that county. This relation
allows reviewers to ascertain, at a screening level, which species might be a
concern for a pesticide registered for a particular crop. However, the "Endangered" program
is in a more modernized Lotus Approach platform which can be more widely used
and which can be manipulated in many more ways than the old "Danger"
program.
Endangered
Species Staff Resumes Meeting with FWS and NMFS. Environmental Field Branch staff met with Fish and Wildlife
Service and National Marine Fisheries Service staff to continue work on the
Proactive Conservation Review for endangered species. While some work has continued, meetings had been interrupted for
several months by other priorities. The
overall effort of writing 42 draft 'narratives' on various steps of Endangered
Species
Act considerations for pesticides is nearly complete (so much for the Paper
Reduction Act), as are the last three narratives. The team will now go back to review and rewrite previously
developed narratives. The set of
narratives
are expected to be ready for management review within OPP and Service's review
by field offices by June. Almost sounds like they are trying to make trees an
endangered species with all these drafts and
narratives.
2,4‑D
HERBICIDE
by
Darrell Hensley
Three
year extension of the time‑limited tolerances for 2,4‑D use on
soybeans is granted. On February 27,
EPA granted a three‑year time extension for tolerances for the herbicide,
2,4‑D, on soybeans. This action
allows
registered
2,4‑D products to maintain their current pre‑plant use on reduced
or no‑tillage soybeans until December 31, 2004. A revised risk assessment was required as a result of comments
received from the World Wildlife Fund, which questioned the FQPA safety factor assigned to the
chemical, as well as questions regarding endocrine disruption. Additional work will be conducted by the
Agency to complete the remaining reviews of data submitted in connection with
the pre‑plant use on soybeans, which may result in the establishment of
permanent tolerances before the 2004 expiration date.
INERT
INGREDIENTS IN PESTICIDES
by
Darrell Hensley
The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to reclassify eight inert
ingredients from List 2, "Potentially Toxic Inerts/High Priority for
Testing" to List 1 "Inerts of Toxicological Concern." Certain
Inert Ingredients are being proposed for reclassification from List 2 to List 1; and, Rhodamine B from List 1 to List 4B. Eight inert ingredients have been
determined to be animal carcinogens, thus meeting one of the criteria for reclassification. EPA also intends to reclassify the inert
ingredient, Rhodamine B, from List 1 to List 4B, "inerts for which EPA has
sufficient information to reasonably conclude that the current use pattern in
pesticide products will not adversely affect public health or the
environment." This
reclassification is based on the Agency's determination that Rhodamine B, when
used as a dye in seed treatment, is not likely to result in residues in food
or feed; thus, meeting the criteria of
List 4B. The Federal Register
Notice, signed on February 27, 2002,
proposing these reclassifications will announce a 60‑day comment period
when published in the next week or so.
Once the Agency reviews and evaluates those submitted comments, Final
Notice will be published in the Federal Register to complete the
reclassification of these chemicals.
THIOPHANATE‑METHYL
USE ON TURF GRASS
by
Darrell Hensley
On
February 26, a meeting was held with several registrants to discuss cancer risk
from thiophanate‑methyl and its primary degradate in surface water. Based on the current assessment, cancer risk
is unacceptable from drinking water alone when modeling application to
turf. Most of the meeting was spent
responding to the registrant's questions about how the assessment was
conducted. This is one of the first
instances where the newly created turf scenario was employed with current
versions of PRZM and EXAMS to estimate runoff of pesticide residues from
turf. Although this is vast improvement
over earlier Tier I models, the registrants were reluctant to commit to
amending their turf labels until they understood this new approach. A follow‑up meeting will
be
scheduled to discuss mitigation measures for golf course and sod farm turf.
TIME FOR
DORMANT OIL SPRAYS
by
Frank A. Hale
Dormant
oil sprays are often overlooked but they can be very cost effective. These sprays control pests that are exposed on
the outer surface of the tree or shrub during the late fall, winter, and early
spring. This can be insects or mites
that are currently active on the plant or those that overwinter in a less
active stage.
Some
pests that are active during the winter that can be controlled with a dormant
oil spray include eriophyid (rust) mites on pine or hemlock. During mild winters, such as the current
one, white pine aphids can remain active on the trees and in need of control.
Many
of the less active overwintering pests are in the egg stage. Examples include the eggs of white pine
aphid on the pine needles; eggs of the spring cankerworm and the fall
cankerworm; European red mite eggs on apple twigs; spruce spider mite eggs on
juniper, spruce, arborvitae or other conifers; and southern red mite eggs on
broadleaf evergreens such as cherrylaurel and Japanese holly. These exposed eggs of insects or mites are
controlled very effectively by a dormant oil spray.
Scale
insects can overwinter as immature scale or adults. San Jose scale overwinter as immature scale on the bark of the
tree and become mature by May. Dormant
oil sprays are very important in managing this pest in the orchard.
INSECT
UPDATE
by
Russ Patrick
To
date we have not had any insect problems but as weather warms the potential for
armyworm invasion
can
exist. Look at your wheat and pastures early this season and don't let what
happened last season catch
you
by surprise. There is a potential new insecticide section 18 for armyworm control.
I have applied for
the
use of Tracer to control armyworms in pastures and rangelands. It is in the primary stage at this time.
I
will of course let you know if we get the label.
PLANT
& PEST DIAGNOSTIC HIGHLIGHTS
by
Tom Stebbins and David Cook
We
have received 184 samples at the clinic including 70 samples via the UT
Distance Diagnosis Web site since the first of the year.
ORNAMENTAL
AND TURF:
Needlecast
fungi on Norway spruce; volutella canker on boxwood; powdery mildew on euonymus;
black root rot on Japanese holly; entomosporium leaf spot on photinia; root
knot nematodes on ixora; pecan scab on pecan nuts; black knot on cherry;
seiridium canker on Leyland cypress; botryosphaeria canker on ornamental
cherry; bacterial shot hole on laurel; corky scab on cactus; botrytis blight
and rhizoctonia stem rot on geranium; Pythium root not and stem rot on African
violets; winter and cold injury on holly; anthracnose on liriope; black root
rot on pansy and petunia and cercospora leaf spot on pansy;
INSECTS:
Bagworms on arborvitae; soft scale and eriophyid mites and holly leafminers on
holly; white peach scale on weeping mulberry; scale and bamboo mites on bamboo,
armored scale on camellia; tea scale on holly; oyster shell scale on euonymus;
pine needle scale on Austrian pine; hawthorne lace bugs on pyracantha; white
pine aphids and black sooty mold on white pine; mealybugs on gardenia and
dieffenbachia; spider mites on orchids and shamrock plants; cyclamen mites,
thrips, two-spotted spider mites on New Guinea Impatiens; southern red mites on
eleagnus; southern lyctus beetles in persimmon; white flies and spider mites on
greenhouse tomatoes.
In
and around the home: Boxelder bugs invading homes; bed bugs; American
cockroaches, termites. clover mites, imported fire ants in a hospital,
drugstore beetles, carpenter ants; Indian meal moths, springtails and varied
carpet beetles.
HOW
TO REACH YOUR LOCAL POISON CONTROL CENTER
by
Gene Burgess
There
are two ways one may contact their Poison Control Center.
Ö
The American Association of Poison Control Centers has
announced a new nationwide phone number that will permit callers to reach their
local poison control center. The new
toll-free number is 1-800-222-1222.
When the number is dialed, a computer
identifies the caller’s area code and automatically connects the caller with
the nearest poison control center. This
new telephone number links the nation’s 65 poison control centers into a
countrywide network for the first time.
1-800-222-1222
Nationwide
Poison Control
2. There are two Poison Control Centers in
Tennessee, Vanderbilt and UT Medical Center at Memphis. These Poison Control Centers may also be
reached by dialing 1-800-288-999. East
and West Tennessee calls are directed to UT Medical Center at Memphis. Middle Tennessee calls are directed to
Vanderbilt.
1-800-288-9999
TN
Poison Control Center
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PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENT
To protect people and the environment,
pesticides should be used safely.
This is everyone's responsibility, especially the user.
Read and follow label directions
carefully before you buy, mix, apply, store, or dispose of a pesticide.
According to laws regulating
pesticides, they must be used only as directed by the label.
E12-2015-00-035-01
DISCLAIMER STATEMENT
Pesticides recommended in this
publication were registered for the prescribed uses when printed.
Pesticide registrations are
continuously being reviewed.
Should registration of 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 which may be of similar, suitable composition,
nor does it guarantee or warrant the standard of the product.
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