West Virginia University

Extension Service

April 2001

Dr. John F. Baniecki, Extension Specialist in Plant Pathology/Entomology,
Pest Management Program

Pesticide Tidbits

• New York City has been infested with Asian longhorned beetles that have already caused 5,000 trees to be removed. As a remedy, imidacloprid is going to be injected into hardwood trees in an effort to reach the larvae of the beetle. The beetle has the potential to cause more tree damage than Dutch elm disease, chestnut blight, and gypsy moths combined ($41 billion in damage by the USDA's estimate). (Environmental News Network) http://www.enn.com.

• USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) cooperators have recently elucidated a scenario in which caterpillar-infested tobacco plants released compounds during the day and night. Those released at night were repellent to female moths, who are looking for sites to deposit eggs. This information is in addition to that which demonstrated corn seedlings released chemicals that attract parasitic wasps when fed upon by caterpillars. (USDA ARS News Service) www.ars.usda.gov.
• USDA ARS researchers have also determined how to reduce intestinal loads of Salmonella typhimurium and E. coli 0157:H7 in pigs and cattle. These two bacteria have an enzyme, nitrate reductase, that is absent in beneficial microorganisms. When fed sodium chlorate, the enzyme converts chlorate to chlorite,which kills the bacteria. It is estimated that these two organisms produce 1.5 million cases of food borne illnessper year. (The Florida Cattleman, April, 2001).

• A whitefly-vectored crinivirus (tomato chlorosis virus) has been detected in tomato plants grown in Puerto Rico for the first time. Signs of infection include interveinal chlorosis, necrotic flecking, leaf thickening, and leaf rolling. (ProMED via Agnet, 3/25) www.promedmail.org.  
• A whitefly-vectored begomovirus (tomato yellow leaf curl virus Israeli strain) has been detected in tomato plants grown in Louisiana for the first time. Signs of infection include severe stunting, leaf cupping, and chlorosis. (ProMED, 3/27).

• Auxein Corporation and Mycotech Corporation have announced their merger into Emerald BioAgriculture Corporation. The company is based in Lansing, MI with production operations in Butte, MT. The company has eight EPA-registered products. (Citrus & Vegetable Magazine, March, 2001).

• A new biological fungicide (Contans^� WG) has been granted EPA approval. Produced by Encore Technologies, the material is billed as the only biological control product available in the U.S. for controlling Sclerotinia diseases in the soil (caused by S. sclerotiorum and S. minor). Info. at http://www.contans-wg.com. Akari^� 55C miticide/insecticide (fenpyroximate) for use on greenhouse ornamentals, floral and foliage crops has received FDACS approval as of February 19, 2001. (Pesticide Registration Evaluation Committee Agenda, April 5, 2001).

Pesticide Facts

Registered Pesticides-20,000

Registrants with Active Pesticide Registrations - 1,963

Farms and Business Sites Regulated Under Pesticide Programs -2,246,512
- Farms- 2,194,070
- Domestic Pesticide Manufacturing Establishments-11,305
- Foreign Pesticide Manufacturing Establishments -1,137
- Commercial Pest Control Firms -40,000

Farm Workers -2,952,600
- Self-employed Farm Workers-1,570,000
- Hired Farm Workers -890,300
- Unpaid Farm Workers -487,500

Certified Applicators -1,187,515
- Private Applicators -803,423
- Commercial Applicators-384,092

 (EPA, 2-14-01)

Helping you put knowledge to work

The West Virginia University Cooperative Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture and West Virginia counties cooperating. Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution.