The Department of Entomology at Texas A&M and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service welcomes Brad Easterling to the Statewide Integrated Pest Management program. Easterling joined the Garden City Extension Agent-IPM position on January 2, replacing the vacant position that was previously held by Warren Multer, who retired on March 31, 2013. He will be… Read More →
IPM Hot Topics
Extension Entomologists Launch Website for West Nile Information
STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The summer months usually bring barbecues and swimming pools, and the start of mosquito season. To help keep residents safe and informed, entomologists at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service recently launched a special website portal called texaswestnile.tamu.edu for information on West Nile Virus, mosquitoes and mosquito prevention. The idea to start… Read More →
South Texas rains incite insects, delay summer harvest
Residents warned to be on the lookout for mosquitoes and flying ants, termites Writer: Rod Santa Ana, 956-878-8317, r-santaana@tamu.edu Contacts: Dr. Raul Villanueva, 956-968-5581, rtvillanueva@ag.tamu.edu Dr. Juan Anciso, 956-968-5581, janciso@tamu.edu WESLACO – Rains that fell April 28 have temporarily slowed the harvest of citrus and vegetable crops in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and will… Read More →
Sekula hired as South Texas row crops entomologist
Writer: Rod Santa Ana, 956-878-8317, r-santaana@tamu.edu Contact: Danielle Sekula, 956-968-5581, danielle.sekula@ag.tamu.edu WESLACO – Danielle Sekula has been named integrated pest management entomologist for cotton, grain sorghum and corn at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco, according to an official there. Sekula replaces several well-known entomologists who have filled the position in… Read More →
Texans being urged to be on the lookout for a new bug in town
Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu Contacts: Bill Ree, 979-845-6479, w-ree@tamu.edu Wizzie Brown, 512-854-9600, ebrown@ag.tamu.edu Dr. Charles Allen, 325-653-4576, ctallen@ag.tamu.edu COLLEGE STATION – With the holiday season gearing up, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologists are urging travelers to be wary of a new species of unwelcome six-legged hitchhikers itching to become full-time Texans. Brown marmorated… Read More →
Cooler temperatures often move critters inside
Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu Elizabeth “Wizzie” Brown, 512-854-9600, ebrown@ag.tamu.edu AUSTIN – Hungry hoards of mosquitoes, katydids, crickets, grasshoppers and other assorted pests-Texans have pretty much seen them all this summer, but will the onslaught stop once cooler weather hits? “The bugs of summer will subside, but a new slate is ready and willing to… Read More →
AgriLife Extension revamps much-used livestock pest control publication
Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu Contact: Dr. Sonja Swiger, 254-968-4144, slswiger@ag.tamu.edu STEPHENVILLE – One of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s old standby livestock pest control reference publications has been updated, revamped and split in two.The first installment is now available to the public, said the effort’s coordinator. New electronic livestock pest publication replaces old… Read More →
Fast Facts About Mosquito Prevention and Control For Schools
Here are a few facts that you can use and share with those in your district about mosquitoes, mosquito control, and West Nile virus. The most important single thing a school district can do is make sure school grounds are not contributing to your local mosquito populations. Check water catchment basins, storm drains, low areas,… Read More →
AgriLife expert offers tips for battling mosquitoes in your own backyard
Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu Contact: Dr. Mike Merchant, 972-952-9204, m-merchant@tamu.edu DALLAS – Rains have not been abundant this summer in North Texas, but an early jumpstart from the mild winter has given mosquitoes all they need for a mid-summer resurgence, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service entomologist. “Mosquitoes and mosquito-borne disease are a major problem in the… Read More →
Cricket invasion hits parts of East and Central Texas
Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu Contact: Dr. Michael Merchant, 972-952-9204, m-merchant@tamu.edu DALLAS – The current cricket invasion many are experiencing in parts of East and Central Texas isn’t particularly unusual, but the timing is, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service entomologist. Dr. Michael Merchant, AgriLife Extension urban entomologist at Dallas, said he’s had a number… Read More →