COGONGRASS SURVEY ALERT

by Beth Long

Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv. or I. brasiliensis Trin.) is a Federal Noxious Weed that sometimes is sold by nurseries as the ornamental cultivar Red Baron bloodgrass, Japanese bloodgrass, japgrass or speargrass. Cogongrass can lose its red color and become a problem weed. It has been found in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

Cogongrass is a perennial, rhizomatous grass that grows from 2 to over 4 feet in height. The leaves are about an inch wide, have a prominent white midrib, and end in a sharp point. Leaf margins are finely toothed and are embedded with silica crystals. The upper surface of the leaf blade is hairy near the base; the undersurface is usually hairless. The flowers are arranged in a silvery, cylindrical, branching structure, or panicle, about 3-11 inches long and 1½ inches wide.

NOW is the time to do a visual survey in your county. The early summer (May) flowering time is a unique characteristic for identification of Cogongrass and should assist in detection. Look at non-cultivated disturbed sites, such as pastures, orchards, fallow fields, forest, natural areas, and highway, electrical, utility, pipeline, and railroad rights of way. If you find a suspect plant, please send a picture via distance diagnostics with a note that this is a suspect for Cogongrass. You can also contact Beth Long, ealong@utk.edu or call 865-974-7957.

Additional information is located in the red Homeland Security folder that was recently mailed out to counties or can be found at: http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/imcy1.htm

“RASH” OF DELUSORY/ILLUSORY PARASITOSIS CASES – CAN USE OF A TV MONITOR IN THE IDENTIFICATION PROCESS HELP?

by Karen M. Vail, Ph.D

The following article has been written with the pest management technician in mind, but I believe it provides useful information for the county Extension agent too.

In the last three weeks, we’ve experience a “rash” of inquiries that appear to be cases of delusory (DP) or more appropriately illusory (IP) parasitosis. Most were middle-aged women complaining about itching from an unseen insect, mite, or other very small organism. For cases where samples were submitted to our lab, we did not find any parasites. This is not unusual.

“Delusory parasitosis (DP) is a false, unshakable belief that tiny organisms, such as mites, fleas, or worms, live in or on the skin, or within the body” (Bione and Hinkle 2006, Hinkle 2000). Some of our cases appear to be illusory parasitosis which means that the individual will accept an explanation that the cause of itches is something other than insects or other parasites. DP/IP sufferers tend to be disabled or retired, female and middle-aged to 80 yrs old.

Patients with DP typically report "insects" invading their ears, nose, eyes, and other areas of their body. These "creatures" frequently disappear and reappear, but can’t be caught, and change colors while being observed. Specimens brought in for identification usually consist of bits of dead skin, hair, lint and miscellaneous debris. The skin of the individual is often severely irritated and sometimes infected from desperate scratching, excessive bathing and application of ointments. While these occurrences may seem bizarre to persons who are not affected, they are frighteningly real to the patient. Delusory parsitosis, as well as other suspected emotional or medical conditions, should be brought to the attention of a physician.

Because the cause of itches cannot be seen in many cases, folks conclude that insects or mites are responsible and apply an insecticide. Unfortunately, insecticides seldom work in these situations and they may even cause further irritation and additional health problems. In addition, the medical community will too often prescribe medication for scabies or lice without even examining the patient. They fear the facility will be infested during the examination and get the patient out of the office as soon as possible. One person informed me the health care professional met them in their car to prevent infesting the waiting room. Unfortunately, this adds to the delusion as well as unnecessarily medicates and exposes the patients directly to pesticides and may further irritate the skin.

There are many possible causes of itches and irritations other than pests. Allergies, cosmetics, medications and environmental contaminants can result in reactions similar to insect bites. Just because an insect, mite or other parasite is not present does not mean the individual is not experiencing these symptoms. Keep an open mind to the possibility of non-insect causes of such reactions. An attempt should be made to rule out all potential sources of irritation.

The following can be used as a checklist to aid clients in determining the cause of an itch (modified from Potter 1997):

I. Obscure Biting Arthropods (Many of these pests are large enough to be seen without magnification except those indicated with an *. One should also consider the possibility of delayed irritation such as from bites obtained while outdoors.)

• bird and rodent mites (tiny, dark specks that move)

• scabies* (burrows into the skin – often found on fingers, elbow, knee, and shoulder blades; can be identified by a doctor via a skin scraping)

• lice (head and other hairy areas of the body)

• fleas (usually bite people around the ankles)

• chiggers * (constriction between skin and clothing - ankles, knee, or waistline)

• biting midges/mosquitoes

• ticks

• bedbugs (1/4 inch, oval, flattened bugs which are becoming more abundant, bites resemble a mosquito bite and often are in areas of the body that were exposed during sleeping)

• hairs from stinging caterpillars

II. Household Products

• detergents (especially phosphate-based)

• soaps

• cosmetics/hair products

• ammonia-based cleaners

• medications

• printing inks (e.g., carbonless)

• clothing (especially fire retardant)

III. Environmental Factors

A. Physical irritants

• paper, fabric, or insulation fibers

• low humidity

• seasonal changes in temperature

• static electricity

B. Chemical irritants

• formaldehyde (e.g., from particle board, wall and floor

• coverings

• ammonia

• solvents/resins associated with paints and adhesives

• tobacco smoke

• volatiles from asphalt and tar installation

IV. Health-Related Conditions

• pregnancy

• communicable diseases (e.g., chicken pox, measles)

• stress (home, work, death or prolonged illness of a loved one)

• diabetes, liver, or kidney disorders

• food allergies

• insect phobias

• many others

Other potential sources of skin irritations are listed in the sources, especially Hinkle (2000), at the end of this article.

I often see an increase in calls pertaining to itches in July/August and November. I assume it is due to a decrease in humidity that causes the skin to dry and itch. Coarse fibers from carpets and upholstery are other common causal agents, as are small shards of paper that are electrically charged.

Until recently, I didn’t realize we had an even bigger peak in DP/IP cases in the spring. After these latest cases, I decided to plot all suspected delusory or illusory (caused by other objects, such as fibers, etc.) cases based on my lab records from August 1996 to May 2006. This does not include phone conversations. With the recent cases added to the database, we have an even higher peak in April than experienced in August.

If DP or IP is suspected, one of the first steps should be an inspection of the premises to determine if a parasite is present. If a person believes that the insects are too small to be seen crawling over his or her skin, strips of clear cellophane tape may be patted over the affected area as the "crawling" sensation is occurring. Most small biting arthropods move slowly and will stick to the tape if present. Tape samples should be carefully attached to a white index card, so as not to crush any specimens and labeled to indicate from where they were collected. Glue boards can also be placed against edges of the structure’s surfaces where insects are suspected.

In the UT Extension Urban IPM Lab, the microscope has a digital camera which feeds to a TV monitor. When suspected parasite samples are viewed under this microscope, the client can observe the specimens also. The images, often of fibers, can be saved and printed. The client leaves with printed evidence that insects are not the probable cause of their symptoms. I believe, using this technique, we have been successful in showing people have illusory parasitosis when they were originally believed to be suffering from delusory parasitosis. At least they appear this way when they leave the lab and they don’t contact us any further.

As you handle these cases, remember, you are not a health care professional and any dermatitis should be referred to a doctor or other health care professional. UT Extension entomologists are not health care professionals, therefore our labs do not accept body fluids, scabs, blood products or any substance originating from the body, including clothing or products that may have come in contact with these substances, for identification. These types of products should be sent to a health care professional. If they isolate and preserve an insect, we will then aid in the identification process.

Even if pressured by the client, pest management technicians should not spray any pesticide if no pests are present. Often the client has already misapplied and over-applied over-the-counter products. Inform them of the inspection results. Indicate pesticide applications are not necessary and that you are looking out for their welfare. Document your findings of no insects found and ensure all appropriate company personnel are informed.

A recent article in Pest Control Technology (Bione and Hinkle 2006) provides advice for the pest management technician when dealing with suspected delusory parasitosis. Much of this has already been discussed above. These clients are very frustrated, often sleep-deprived, depressed, anxious and may be thinking of suicide as away to relieve these incessant symptoms. If a technician suspects a person may be considering suicide, a pest management company manager should be informed and the decision made whether to “call the police for a welfare check to ensure the client’s safety.” A network of pest management professionals (who are often first contacted by a person with DP), entomologists and psychologists (and physicians) is suggested to help identify and treat delusory parasitosis.

Sources:

Bione, S.E.D. and. N. C. Hinkle. 2006. [Public Health Issue] Invisible Bugs. Pest Control Technology

http://www.pctonline.com/articles/article.asp?ID=2640&AdKeyword=delusory+parasitosis

Hinkle, N.C. 2000. Delusory parasitosis. American Entomologist 46: 17-25.(This provides very thorough coverage of the subject).

Potter, M.F and G. M. Beavers. 1995. Public Health Pest Management a Training Guide. University of

Kentucky Cooperative Extension. (excerpted)

Potter, M. 1997. Invisible Itches: Insect and Non-Insect Causes by Mike Potter. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. (excerpted) http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/ent/ent58/ent58.pdf

Vail, K.M., G. Burgess, R. Gerhardt and C. Harper [eds.]. 2001. PB1673 General Pest and Rodent Control Pesticide Applicator Licensing Manual (GRC). pp. 130. University of Tennessee Extension http://eppserver.ag.utk.edu/psep/secondlevel/thirdlevel/GRC/pdf/chapter05.pdf.

OTHER UT NEWSLETTERS WITH PEST MANAGEMENT INFORMATION

Fruit Pest News

http://web.utk.edu/~extepp/fpn/fpn.htm

Tennessee Crop and Pest Management Newsletter

http://www.utextension.utk.edu/fieldCrops/cotton/cotton_insects/ipmnewsletters.htm

This and other "What's Happening" issues can be found at http://web.utk.edu/~extepp/whatshap.htm

Disclaimer

This publication contains pesticide recommendations that are subject to change at any time. The recommendations in this publication are provided only as a guide. It is always the pesticide applicator's responsibility, by law, to read and follow all current label directions for the specific pesticide being used. The label always takes precedence over the recommendations found in this publication.

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 author(s), the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and University of Tennessee Extension assume no liability resulting from the use of these recommendations.

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.

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