“WHAT’S HAPPENING?”

University of Tennessee - Agricultural Extension Service

Entomology & Plant Pathology - EPP #60

Volume No. 11 - August 13, 2004

Illegal Pesticide Products in US

Gene Burgess

EPA has warned that consumers should not buy products that claim to eliminate insects, rodents, microorganisms and bacteria but do not carry EPA-approved labels for use in this county. These products are not approved by EPA and may not carry proper precautions on their labels.

In order for a pesticide product to be used legally in the U.S., it must have two sets of numbers on the front label of the container. The first number (EPA registration number) indicates that the product is registered with EPA. The second number (EPA establishment registration number) is placed at the bottom of the label and shows which facility manufactured the product.

EPA has cited two companies for illegally selling misbranded household pesticide products from Canada in the United States. The Agency is seeking more than $500,000 in combined penalties for numerous violations.

Pink Hibiscus Mealybug

Beth Long

Louisiana has destroyed a large number of hibiscus plants that were shipped infested with pink hibiscus mealybug to large retail stores from Florida. Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) inspectors are currently looking at hibiscus plants in retail stores in Tennessee, especially plants received since January, 2004.

The pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, is a serious pest of many plants in tropical and subtropical regions, including Africa, southeast Asia, and northern Australia. It was found in the Caribbean in 1994 for the first time. It was discovered in Broward County, Florida on 13 June, 2002.

This pest has two common names (pink mealybug and hibiscus mealybug), but there is an effort to standardize the common name by calling the pest "pink hibiscus mealybug," even though it attacks many plant species. If this mealybug becomes established, pink hibiscus mealybug is expected to attack many crops including vegetable crops such as asparagus, beans, beets, cabbage, peanuts, pigeon pea, cucumber, lettuce, pepper, pumpkin, and tomato; forest trees, and many species of ornamental plants including Allamanda, Angelica, Anthurium, Bougainvillea, Croton, ginger lily, Heliconia, Ixora, hibiscus, palm, and oleander.

Be alert if you get any calls about mealybugs (especially pink ones!) on hibiscus plants, or on plants near recently purchased hibiscus. Send homeowner samples to the diagnostic lab for identification or if retail plants are seen with suspected PHM, call TDA to have an inspector look at them. TDA can be reached at (615) 837-5338.

Seen any pretty pink eggs?

Beth Long

Some states are reporting finds of pretty pink egg clusterss on water plants. These are eggs of the Channeled Apple Snail, an exotic snail that has been found in FL and TX. Infestations in the United States are believed to be the result of individual releases of aquarium specimens from a home or school biology classroom. Because the snails feed on most aquatic plants and become quite large, their presence in a home aquarium with live plants soon becomes undesirable, and ultimately the snails may be released into the environment rather than being euthanized.

In the environmental setting, the snails begin to breed, and population can reach enormous numbers. Applesnail populations are usually noticed when their distinctive pink-red egg masses are seen in large numbers above the water line on plants, dock pilings, cement culverts and other hard objects, usually by which time the snails are well established. The channeled applesnail is large (to approximately 4" shell height), and lays distinctive clusters of pink to red eggs on solid objects above the water, therefore observation of these pink egg masses may be the easiest way to detect if applesnails are present.

If you see these pink egg masses, please contact the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) at (615) 837-5338.

Examples of Codes to Require Elimination of Situations That Produce Mosquitoes on Private Property

Karen M. Vail and Reid Gerhardt

While the following information may be more helpful to county health department personnel, county Extension agents are often involved with county business and may be involved with the decision-making process related to codes that require elimination of situations that produce mosquitoes on private property. Below you will find information that Roger Nasci of CDC placed on the National WNV (West Nile Virus) Forum. We thank Gary Spangler, TN Dept. of Health, for forwarding this information.

Local communities can contribute considerably to mosquito control efforts by enhancing public awareness about conditions that promote mosquito production and by enforcing existing codes that require elimination of situations that produce mosquitoes on private property (e.g., health hazard codes, green pool codes, neighborhood blight codes, clean yard codes, public health nuisance codes sanitation nuisance codes, etc.).

These codes, which are often overlooked or not regularly enforced, can be put to beneficial use by local governments during times when aggressive vector control efforts are required. Of course, the local governments must set a good example by taking measures to reduce mosquito production on municipal lands.

Some examples are found at the links below:

http://www.cmhhealth.org/docs/HealthCodechap221.03.pdf

http://www.clintoncity.com/depart/com_dev/code_of_ordinances/nuisances/chapter1.asp

http://www.cityofdeming.org/legalpage/vecCon2.pdf

http://www.leg.wa.gov/RCW/index.cfm?section=17.28.185&fuseaction=section

http://www.wichita.gov/CityCode/Default.htm?code=1589

http://www.chattanooga.gov/citycode/code/chapter20.pdf

http://www.ulct.org/sweber/codes/title4chapter2.html

http://www.hartselle.org/code/part2chp50.htm

Tobacco Blue Mold Field Survey for Oospores in Tennessee

Darrell Hensley

China has agreed to purchase burley and flue-cured tobacco from the U.S. if it meets their requirements for freedom from blue mold. According to the protocol of agreement, China will accept U.S. tobacco that has been inspected and found free of blue mold oospores. The oospore is the survival stage of the fungus and can withstand the curing process. USDA-APHIS, state regulatory departments, and university extension services will cooperate in the surveys. APHIS will pay for the lab analysis for the oospores, to be conducted in North Carolina. In Tennessee, the Extension Service has been asked to conduct the field survey. Anni Self, of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, will serve as the coordinator, and will receive the samples and ship them to the laboratory.

Objective: A field survey and sampling of blue mold-infected flue-cured and burley tobacco is required to determine if oospores of the pathogen have formed in the infected leaves. A survey must be conducted in any state from which tobacco will be exported to China. Samples of leaves with blue mold lesions must be examined microscopically in a certified laboratory chosen by USDA-APHIS.

Scope: Any county in which blue mold has been reported should be surveyed. However, only one sample must be collected per county.

Minimum field sample: A sample will consist of five 2”x2” squares of tobacco leaf tissue taken from leaves with clearly identified tobacco blue mold lesions. Each of these five squares must come from a different plant.

Sample collection procedure:

1. Locate blue-mold infected plants. Leaves selected for sampling must have clearly-visible, necrotic blue mold lesions. The leaves MUST have been infected for at least two weeks prior to sampling. This is because oospores usually form later in the development of the disease. Light green or yellow blue mold lesions form first, then the lesions become brown as necrotic tissue forms. Oospores, when they form, are usually found in the necrotic tissue. Sampling of lower or mid-stalk leaves with older brown lesions is preferred. Avoid leaves that are in a state of severe decay or rot as they may decompose in transit.

2. Cut a 2”x2” square of leaf tissue containing the blue mold lesions from the leaf. Avoid the midrib. The purpose is to get the lesions with a minimum amount of leaf tissue that might otherwise rot during transit. Collect squares from five different plants so you end up with five 2”x2” squares of leaf tissue as your sample. Do not enclose in plastic bags.

3. Shipping samples: Allow tissue to dry slightly before and during transit. Leaf tissue will rot if it stays moist. However, avoid drying to the point of brittleness. It is suggested that the 5 squares be spread out on several layers of paper towels in a cool place (like your office) and air-dry for a few hours to remove surface moisture and field heat. Enclose the 5 squares, laid flat and NOT overlapping each other, in the paper towels. Complete a “Field Sampling Record” (see attached) and enclose it in an envelope with the sample. Time mailing of the sample to Ms. Self so it will arrive in Nashville by Friday (so that it will not be held in the post office over the weekend). Samples may also be hand-delivered

TOBACCO BLUE MOLD FIELD SURVEY FOR OOSPORES

IN TENNESSEE

- FIELD SAMPLING RECORD -

Please complete the Field Sampling Record and mail with sample to:

Anni Self, Tennessee Department of Agriculture

Plant Certification Section

P. O. Box 40627

Nashville, TN 37204

Date sample collected: ____________ Sample ID number (leave blank): ______________

Nearest town: _____________________ County:_________________ State: TN_

Field location (directions): ______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

GPS field coordinates: _______________________________________________

(if available)

_______________________________________________

Grower/farm name: _________________________________ Phone: _______________

Address: ________________________________________________________

Sample collected by: _________________________________ Phone:_______________

Mailing address:_______________________________________________________

Email address: _______________________

Tobacco type (circle one): Flue-cured Burley

RESULTS (leave blank)

The laboratory assay was _________________for oospores of the blue mold pathogen

as determined by Dr. Gloria Abad, Plant Pathogen Identification Laboratory, Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, 1104 Williams Hall, Raleigh, NC 27695-7211. Telephone: 919/515-3825; FAX: 515-7716.

Date submitted to lab: __________________ Information verified by:

Date of report: __________________ __________________________

Anni Self, TDA

Lab report number: __________________ Tennessee Survey Coordinator

EPA Reports: 2,4,-D Does Not Cause Cancer

Gene Burgess

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released draft health and environmental risk assessments in June, which began the public comment stage for the registration of the herbicide 2,4-D. After examining the combined risk from exposure through food, drinking water and residential uses, with certain assumptions, the EPA concluded that 2,4-D would “not exceed” the Agency’s level of concern. As well, the Agency concluded that short-term margins of exposure for homeowner applications of 2,4-D to lawns were “not of concern.” The EPA also released a review of the recent epidemiology pertinent to 2,4-D. That review concluded by stating, “Based on the above reviews of the above studies, HED (Health Effects Division) concludes there is no additional evidence that would implicate 2,4-D as a cause of cancer.”

“The EPA’s draft assessment on the human and environmental scientific data based reinforces a growing number of regulatory decisions and expert reviews that conclude the use of 2,4-D, while protecting food production and the environment, does not present a risk to human health,” stated Donald Page, Executive Director of the Industry Task Force II on 2,4-D Research Data.

This concludes an eighteen-year process during which the Industry Task force II on 2,4-D Research Data submitted some 300 Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) research studies.

Additional information may be obtained toll-free at 1-800-345-5109.

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 mix, apply, store or dispose of a pesticide. According to laws regulating pesticides, they must be used only as directed by the label. Persons who do not obey the law will be subject to penalties

Disclaimer Statement

Pesticides recommended in this publication were registered for the prescribed uses when printed. Pesticide regulations are continuously reviewed. Should registration or 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 that may be of similar, suitable composition, nor does it guarantee or warrant the standard of the product.

The Agricultural Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, age, national origin, sex, veteran status, religion or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WORK IN AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture,

and county governments cooperating in furtherance of Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914.

Agricultural Extension Service, Charles L. Norman, Dean