Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- October 27, 2009
Pennsylvania homeowners fight the fall Battle of the Bugs (:50)
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Suggested Intro:
IN AN AUTUMN RITUAL AS SURE AS FALLING FOLIAGE, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PENNSYLVANIANS ARE LOCKED IN BATTLE WITH LADYBUGS, BEETLES AND OTHER INSECT INVADERS. A SPECIALIST IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES SAYS BUG SPRAYS WON'T WIN THIS WAR. GARY ABDULLAH HAS THE REPORT:
Story:
(:16) ASIAN LADY BEETLES, BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUGS, BOXELDER BUGS AND OTHER INSECTS ARE AGAIN INFESTING HOMES ACROSS THE STATE, IN SEARCH OF PLACES TO OVERWINTER. PENN STATE EXTENSION ENTOMOLOGIST STEVE JACOBS SAYS THE INVADERS ARE HARMLESS, AND HOMEOWNERS SHOULDN'T COUNT ON PESTICIDES IN THIS ANNUAL BATTLE OF THE BUGS:
Jacobs Actuality:
(:19) "IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE A PROFESSIONAL SPRAY THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE, BUT EVEN THEN, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE VERY, VERY MINIMAL EFFECT, SO IT'S PROBABLY BEST NOT TO EVEN BOTHER. IT'S BETTER TO TRY TO CAULK AND MAKE THE HOUSE AS TIGHT AS POSSIBLE ON THE EXTERIOR. AND, ONCE THEY'RE ON THE INSIDE, JUST USE A VACUUM OR SOMETHING ELSE TO COLLECT THEM UP AND DISPOSE OF THEM."(:15) JACOBS SAYS EVEN MASKING TAPE CAN MAKE A TEMPORARY SEAL, ONCE YOU'VE FOUND THEIR ENTRY POINTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL PENN STATE EXTENSION OFFICE, OR GO ONLINE AT ENTO DOT P-S-U DOT E-D-U AND CLICK ON "INSECT ADVICE." FROM PENN STATE, I'M GARY ABDULLAH.
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