Posted on 04/03/2015 5:20:58 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
I spent a few days camping in a remote area in the mountains of western NC a couple of summers ago. The honey bees were thick as flies at a picnic.
No pesticides for miles.
“Carpenter bees? My shed was infested with these destructive pests. This is the time of the year they make their appearance. I’ve run them off for two or three years now....I tried sealing the holes and a number of other things, nothing worked.”
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I had the same problem on our rear deck for several years. I finally solved the problem by getting a long handle butterfly net and capturing them as the emerged and flew around when the weather warmed. The kids and I must have netter well over a hundred of the critters and promptly flushed them down the toilet. Finally no more seemed to be flying around. I guess we got them before they could reproduce for another generation because I haven’t seen a single one in subsequent years.
PS, chemicals were pretty well worthless as we tried that route unsuccessfully before we resorted to the manual netting and killing of them.
Is that what we are using to control the Emerald Ash Borer?
Insecticides are typically only recommended in urban areas or high value trees near an infestation. Insecticides with active ingredients such as imidacloprid, emamectin benzoate, and dinotefuran are currently recommended since they are systemic (incorporated into the tree cambium) and remain effective for one to three years depending on the product.
Ash trees are primarily treated by direct injection into the tree or soil drench. Some insecticides cannot be applied by homeowners and must be applied by licensed applicators. Initially, tree injections will not compromise tree health, but over many years drilling and chemical wounds will compromise the tree's health.
Damage from EAB can continue to increase over time even with insecticide applications. Insecticide treatments are not feasible for large forested areas outside of urban areas.
Whole forests are now abandoned and will die, wood can be harvested and used in that immediate area, but can't be transported outside the infected area. Wood must be lumberized or used for firewood, but strict quarantines are enforced.
Net net: let the EAB infection run its course, replant the acreage with billions of immune seedlings of other tree varieties and hope for the best within the coming century.
Non-native insect/animal species are rampant with Asia's shipments and US Customs, Dept of Ag, Dept Interior etc are woefully inadequate to supervise and interdict entry of so many destructive species.
Aka, they have no plan. The geography of America is also being 'transformed' by porous borders and the economy's demands for the world's exotic products, which carry hidden "guests".
How ironic would it bee if DDT was safer for bees than current pesticides....?
Hadn’t heard of the Emerald Ash Borer before. Down south, it’s termites/carpenter ants/carpenter bees that are most destructive to properties - termite killer mix seems to control them all just fine but it’s just us and no pets so we don’t have to worry as much about the wrong effects...
The only efficacious pesticides which don’t require drilling into the tree are neonicitinoids.
Thank you.
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