Readsboro, Vermont native, V J Comai, and retired UVM professor, Leonard Perry, discuss the answers to common landscape problems that we get asked each and every year. Questions like “What’s wrong with my birch/blue spruce?”
Find out why choosing the right plant in the first place is so important and more.
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At a recent conference for the International Society of Arboriculture, we had the opportunity to hear a special speaker, Richard Cowles, from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station of Windsor, CT. Mr. Cowles spoke on the topic of using neonicotinoids in landscaping and their affects on honey bee populations. The following text represents conclusions from his studies and observations. Please consider his findings with an open mind.
Neonicotinoids are systemic insecticides that are chemically similar to nicotine. These insecticides are not toxic to humans, when handling them, but are highly toxic to the nerves of insects – they interact with insects’ nerves the same way nicotine does in humans. For the targeted pests, this result is positive; however, there is much controversy regarding whether or not these insecticides are harming the bee population.
Systemic insecticides are transported through a tree or plant’s sap. The applicator applies the insecticide in one area of the plant, and the sap moves it to other parts of the tree or plant. Neonicotinoids move only upward (product examples include: Orthene, Merit, Tristar, Safari). Systemic insecticides are incredibly useful because the chemical moves throughout the entire tree or plant with a single, local application. The mobility varies among plant species and tissues. Application method (i.e. folair, soil injection, trunk injection, basal bark sprays) determines effectiveness. Sucking insects are easily targeted with this method. There is also a multi-year effectiveness due to storage of the chemical within the plant (concentrations vary between tissues of treated plants); the chemical remobilizes to new growth in subsequent years. This minimizes its affect on the environment if used with discretion.
Imidaclorid Hemlock Wooly Adelgid – treatments are effective for five years from single soil drench application. Chemical can actually be detected in hemlock for nine years.
There are 600+ species of bees native to North America. It is commonly said that neonicotinoids can:
These are four very common and widely accepted misconceptions. These misconceptions originated from flawed studies from groups such as Friends of Earth. These studies involved large-dose application practices and tested leaves and parts of flowers that bees don’t come into contact with. While the chemical was present in large quantities on these parts of the plants, there was no way for bees to be poisoned by the parts with the chemical. Nonetheless, groups still published that “the chemical is there, and the bees will be poisoned.” Unfortunately, once the public hears and accepts a negative idea, it is practically impossible to change their mind – no matter how much evidence is presented to disprove what they have decided.
When the majority of worker bees leave a hive, leaving behind the queen, it is known as colony collapse disorder. CCD first occurred long before neonics were in use. Records and research show that Isle of Wight Disease, a disease that causes CCD, occurred as early as 1904 long before pesticides were in use.
A recent study by Josephine Johnson, Ph.D., further demonstrates that neonicotinoids are not the cause for CCD. Her study took place in NYC. She took bee hives and placed them in and around trees being actively treated with neonics, targeting the Asian Longhorn Beetle. The study showed no insecticide in hives or in the bees. Ms. Johnson was trying to prove that neonics caused CCD. Instead, all her results indicated that the chemical was not in the hives as she thought it would be.
Research has shown strong evidence that a disease (virus) is responsible for CCD. Countries that ban the use of neonics still have CCD; however, Australia uses neonics but has no CCD. These findings lead us to believe that viral and other diseases cause CCD.
All evidence points clearly to viruses and diseases as the primary culprits for the decline of the bee population. But, you have, for lack of a better term, quaks and shammers who continue to pretend to do legitimate research and mold studies to point to neonics. With this being said, it is still possible to significantly harm bees with neonics.
Neonicotinoid pesticides are readily available to the public who are generally inexperienced and uneducated with regards to systemic pesticide application and best practices. Often, even those who are expected to be educated and experienced are not and make mistakes that do cause great harm to bees (see Wilsonville, Oregon’s Target Store mishap). When used improperly, neonics can be very toxic to bees.
Acetamiprid is the safest neonicotinoid. Tri Star is also much less toxic to bees. In landscape/homeowner situations, chemicals are often over applied so that bees are poisoned. It is very important that applicators read and follow labels and dosage rates according to instructions. In some cases dosage rates need to be adjusted to protect pollinators. Never apply neonics to linden trees as their pollen is already toxic to bees. Don’t apply residual neonics systemically to trees highly attractive to bees. For easy-to-kill pests, only re-apply systemic pesticides once pest populations start to increase again. If you over apply systemic pesticides, you:
Only really hard-to-kill pests require treatment each year – i.e. Asian Long Horn Beetle and Emerald Ash Borer.
North Branch Landscape has licensed pesticide applicators, licensed in both Vermont and Massachusetts. You can have confidence in our knowledge and expertise as we use best practices in pesticide application, protecting your landscape from pests and your pollinators from harm.
This blog post is based on a lecture by Richard Cowles (Researcher) from The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station of Windsor, CT. Richard Cowles is an expert in the area of biology and entomology. He is experienced in the uses of conventional and new insecticides for the management of nursery, turf, landscape, and small fruit pests.
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With spring-time here and warm weather upon us, you might be starting to notice common spring-time pest infestations in your lawns and gardens. One of the most prevalent spring-time pests are moles, known for the unsightly, ridge-like tunnels and mounds of soil they leave behind.
The New England Area has two kinds of moles, the Star-nosed, which frequent damp soils, and the Hairy-tailed, which frequent well-drained, upland soils. Both kinds of moles live underground in tunnels that range anywhere from 2-20 inches underground. Moles are active throughout the year but become most active during breeding season (March & April). During this time, moles dig many more shallow tunnels searching for mates.
Moles have very few predators. Dogs, skunks, cats, coyotes, and the occasional hawk or owl are their only real threats, and very small ones at that. For the most part, moles go unnoticed by people and predators until spring comes around. Not only does breeding season bring them to the surface, but the moist spring-time soil filled with earthworms does as well (earthworms constitute 85% of a mole’s diet).
Moles are elusive and just plain hard to get rid of. Because of their extensive networks, efforts to control these pests are typically short lived. The most common efforts include: baiting and trapping, repellents, fumigation, insecticides, and other non-chemical measures. Most professionals consider baiting and trapping to be the most effective method for mole control. This is due to the fact that moles feed and rest on two-hour intervals, which makes the turnaround for baiting and trapping very quick.
Professionals may also recommend repellents; however, this method requires frequent application and strictly followed application rates, frequency, and techniques. Applications can last up to 30 days but, in times of excessive rain, repeated applications are required. If you choose to use a repellent, it is best that you consult a landscape professional.
The other control methods are generally considered ineffective. Generally, fumigants do not work because of the moles’ many escape holes. The space being fumigated is just not well enough contained. Insecticides are ineffective because they only target about 20% of moles’ food source. If you attempt to kill the other 80% (being earthworms) you will be attempting to kill an essential component of healthy soil’s ecosystem. Some suggest that killing off the grubs that moles eat will actually encourage more tunneling as the moles search for other food sources. There is also little research to support the effectiveness of alternative nonchemical methods like electronic, magnetic and vibrational devices.
Because moles are a problem you will most likely have to deal with on an annual basis, baiting and trapping is considered the best method for mole control. The key to success when baiting and trapping is to choose a good trap and to place it in an active runway. The following are some tips from Sport Turf Managers Association that will help you effectively utilize this method of mole control.
If moles are your problem, these steps should help you significantly reduce the amount of tunnels and mounds found in your lawn. Just be aware that no matter what method of pest control you choose to use, there will most likely be more pesky little moles next year.
Happy trapping and good luck!
Wild bees pollinate crops across the United States and around the world. But what would happen if there were no more bees? Read more…
