Entomology Update

Sugarcane AphidEPA MP3

Delusory Parasitosis

Photo: Univ. of Florida

New Pest of Sorghum in Kentucky : Sugarcane Aphid

Greenbug

Dark stripe

Corn leaf aphid

Dark Head

SCA Identification

• Sap feeder, produces honeydew (harvest issues)• Does not inject a toxin or transmit disease• Reproduce asexually very rapidly, all females• Monitor fields weekly• Also feeds on Johnsongrass, Sudan grass

Sugarcane Aphid• Pre-boot sorghum can cause grain loss, but during grain

development can also reduce yields

• Large infestations can stunt growth and result in uneven head emergence from the boot

• Sticky leaves and stalks clog combines at harvest and reduce separation of the grain from the plants. Combines may require service time to clean honeydew and remove stalks/grain heads

• Infestations in forage sorghums also kill leaves and reduce forage yields

• Honeydew contaminating leaves and stems can also gum up cutter bars and machinery at harvest

• Black sooty mold growing on honeydew can be used to spot infestations

Sugarcane aphid infestationspresent after head

emergence may have less impact on yield

Monitoring for Sugarcane Aphid

• Check sorghum weekly• To detect, look at one leaf on

each of 50 plants– If nothing check again in one week– If present, scout 2x per week and

use a threshold of 50 to 125 sugarcane aphids per leaf

Controlling Sugarcane Aphid with Insecticides

• Lorsban, dimethoate, and malathion are labeled for aphid control on sorghum, but do not show the same level of control as Sivanto or Transform.

Source: Texas A&M

A KY Section 18 for Transform WG was approved for 2015

Sweet Sorghum

• Not in a crop group and not covered by other sorghum labels. An ‘orphan’ crop.

• Only Intrepid labeled for this crop.• Near complete losses of sweet sorghum in

many counties.• IR-4: in progress…• Emergency Section 18 ?

New EPA Mandate: MP3Managed Pollinator Protection Plan

• White House: May 19, 2015– National Strategy to Promote health of Honey Bees

and Other Pollinators• Reduce overwintering losses to <15% in 10 years• Increase monarchs to >225 M• Enhance 7 M acres for pollinators in 5 years

New EPA Mandate: MP3Managed Pollinator Protection Plan

• Each state to develop a MP3 by 2017• North Dakota, Mississippi, Colorado used as

model• Kentucky Department of Agriculture is the lead

agency (Division of Environmental Services/Apiarist)

• Core group has met 7 times working on a draft plan for KY

KY MP3 (Draft)• Three parts– BMPs for beekeepers, pesticide applicators,

landowners– Communication tool used by applicators to alert

beekeepers in the area– Lists of forage crops which can be used by

landowners, government agencies, and utilities to provide quality pollinator forage

Beekeeper BMPs• Document honey bee colony health

with photographic evidence as well as business receipts from current and previous years.

• Contact your local USDA FSA office regarding the ELAP program

• Register hives with the KDA State Apiarist

• Beekeepers consider a Bee Flag to alert urban neighbors or area farmers

Beekeeper BMPs• Maintain strong healthy colonies using

recommended management practices.• Plant diverse flowers. Every hive on

average needs 252 million flowers.• Stay informed about honey bee issues

through associations, extension, and FSA.• Avoid placing honey bee colonies in

direct proximity to agricultural fields

Beekeeper BMPs• Have full-length screens “at the ready”

to drape over hives.• Send honey to be tested and see what

flowers are actually being represented in the honeys.

• Be able to recognize colony loss to pesticides and report it.

Beekeeper BMPs

• Communicate with local farmers and notify them of your colony locations.

• Do not place colonies on private land without permission.

• Post contact information in a prominent location at each apiary.

Joe and Jane Beekeeper1020 Honey Hill RoadApiarisville, KY 44444

(270) 555 – 5555pollinator_headquarters@gmail.com

Applicator BMPs• Be aware of honey bee colonies near fields to be

treated with pesticides. • Use IPM and economic thresholds to determine

if insecticides are needed.• Consider impacts on pollinators when making

pesticide recommendations.• Always use pesticides according to the labeling.

Applicator BMPs• Pesticides highly toxic to pollinators should be

applied early in the morning or in the evening when bees are less active. – Before 9:00 am– After 3:00 pm– When temperature is below 55F

Applicator BMPs• Honey Bee ‘Ultra’ Toxic Insecticides– tolfenpyrad

• Apta, Bexar, Torac

– imidacloprid• Admire, Nuprid, Macho, …

– dinotefuran• Venom, Scorpion, Safari, Zylam

– clothianadin• Arena, Belay, Poncho

– thiametoxam• Actara, Flagship, Meridian

– cyantraniliprole• Exirel

Applicator BMPs• Avoid pesticide drift. • Identify and notify beekeepers in the area

(within 2 miles) prior to applying pesticides as required by pesticide labeling.

Applicator BMPs• Document your efforts to contact beekeepers

within 2 miles when applying pesticides with required beekeeper notification.

• Minimize spraying non-crop areas with insecticides or other pesticides highly toxic to pollinators.

• Communicate with your local beekeepers.

Landowner BMPs• Work with beekeepers to choose hive locations.

Ideal locations for hives will have minimal impact on farming operations but still will allow bees to access forage and water.

• Communicate with renters about bee issues. • Communicate with chemical applicators whose

responsibility it is to look for hives, notify neighbors, etc.

Landowner BMPs• Plant bee forage. – Plant flowering plants improve bee forage, especially

in non-farmable or non-crop areas. – Lure bees away from areas being treated with

chemicals

Web-based Communication Tools

• Driftwatch, Beecheck, Fieldcheck– Alerts applicators of nearby beekeepers and

sensitive crops• KellySolutions– Beekeepers receive notification of nearby pesticide

applications

Enhancing Pollinator Forage• Honey bees, wild bees, monarch butterflies– Monarch way stations/migration corridors– Example seed mixes (native plants)– Recommended perennials (native plants)

• Guidance for DOT, local governments, utility companies

Kentucky MP3 Process

• Public Forum January 20th, Frankfort• Discuss – BMPs– Communication Tool– Increasing/enhancing pollinator forage

• 1 additional public forum• Cooperative Extension– Key role with education

Delusional Parasitosis/Infestation

• Psychological condition: Believe parasites, mites or “bugs” are present in or on their bodies and/or infest their environment– Self mutilation through scratching or digging “to let

the bugs out”– Self treating themselves or their environment

Delusional Parasitosis/Infestation

Commonalities– Sensation of

crawling/itching/biting– 2x with women– Ages 30 to 80– No socioeconomic association– Use home remedies– Collect samples off self for

examination– Extensive descriptions of pest

biology/life cycle

Commonalities• Numerous physicians visits• Delusion shared by other family

members• No treatment has been effective• Real dermatitis• No arthropod involved

Descriptions• Black and white, but change colors • Jump or fly• Have eight little legs and a small sucker• Half moon shape, • Moth-like creatures• Waxy looking fuzz balls• Granules about the size of a grain of salt • Long hairs that move independently• Tiny white worm with a brown bulb on its head• Worm-like coating around the hair root with a black bulb attached• Greenish-grey cigar shaped things• Infest inanimate objects: automobiles, furniture, clothing, rugs• Crawling out of their skin (Hallucinations)

Hinkle, N. 2000. American Entomologist

Potential Arthropods to Rule Out

• Fleas• Ticks• Lice• Chiggers• Mosquitoes• Bed bugs• Thrips• Rat mites• Bird mites• Mange mites• Lace bugs

DP: Potential Causes• Keep an open mind

• Personal use factors• Environmental factors

–physical–chemical

• Health-related factors

• Client many send or bring in numerous samples– Skin scappings– Scabs– Lint– Tape– Clothing – Bath water

Delusional Parasitosis/Infestation

Kerr, S. 2014 Journal of NACAA

DP: Personal Use Factors

• Detergents, soaps, fabric softeners• Cosmetics• Medications• Alcohol/drug abuse: amphetamines,

methamphetamine, and cocaine

DP: Environmental Factors Physical

• Particles & FibersPaper, Fabric, Insulation

• Low Humidity• Temperature Changes• Static Electricity• Pollen and mold spores

DP: Environmental Factors Chemical

• Indoor Air Quality• “Sick Building Syndrome”• Volatile Organic Chemicals• Off-gases - furniture,

wall and floor coverings• Solvents, resins

DP: Health-related Factors

• Food allergies• Diseases• Pregnancy• Diabetes, liver,

schizophrenia , dimentia, or kidney disorder

• Stress, anxiety, nerves

Delusory Parasitosis and Extension

• You may encounter with this condition• You are able to identify situations where biting

arthropods are involved• Not extension professional’s responsibility to

diagnose• Have a referral plan (physician) for suspected

cases

Delusory Parasitosis and Extension

Recommendations• Try to rule out arthropod causes• Ask about pets and nesting animals• Show images of known biting

insects for comparison• Explain that some pests are

microscopic, but not invisible• Recommend glue boards, water

pan traps, or tape to catch biting pests

• blood, scabs, skin scrapings, bodily fluids, and stool samples Should only be handled by medical personnel

• Do not challenge their claims or agree with them just to comfort them

• Do not use the word ‘bites’• Avoid being alone with the client• Avoid having them show you their

welts• Never diagnose clients as

delusional or in need of psychological help

Mystery Bug IPM

• Be thorough and competent• Provide inspection / identification of

samples• Be patient and understanding• Be frank• Be firm -- as far as you can tell the

problem is not due to insects or mites• Don't improvise• Be professional and tactful

Mystery Bug IPM

• Be thorough and competent• Provide inspection / identification of

samples• Be patient and understanding• Be frank• Be firm -- as far as you can tell the

problem is not due to insects or mites• Don't improvise• Be professional and tactful

Mystery Bug IPM

• Where there are no insects–You must say so–Don’t use insecticides

Final Thoughts• Conclusions you can make– No arthropods or pests were observed in your samples.

Multiple factors can be associated with your discomfort. Although it is best to consider each factor including pests, seek assistance from your primary physician to ease the sensation itself.

– For issues related to the red welts on your skin, we recommend that you continue to work closely with your doctor to try to determine the cause of the problem. We are not medically trained to do so.

• Create a standard short and direct response letter that includes the non-finding of an arthropod cause. Do not include criticism of their belief or treatment recommendations. Recommend they consult a physician.

Final Thoughts

• If you determine this is not arthropod related, then this issue is outside the scope of Extension work.

• An inability to have them accept science-based facts is not a failure on the part of Extension personnel or volunteers.

• Avoid the tendency to feel frustrated, depressed, or discouraged by the lack of positive outcomes when working with clientele.

• Examination by a medical professional is the best outcome.