Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- October 28, 2008
Falling fall temperatures inspire an insect invasion (:48)
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Suggested Intro:
THEY'RE CREEPY, THEY'RE CRAWLY -- AND THEY WANT TO LIVE IN YOUR HOUSE. IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHY YOUR HOME IS SEEING AN INSECT INVASION, A GARDENING SPECIALIST IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES MAY HAVE THE ANSWER. GARY ABDULLAH HAS THE STORY:
Story:
(:17) ASIAN LADY BEETLES, STINK BUGS, BOX ELDER BUGS AND OTHER INSECTS ARE STREAMING INTO HOMES ALL OVER THE STATE, LOOKING FOR WARM PLACES TO OVERWINTER. YOU MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO PULL OUT THE PESTICIDE, BUT PENN STATE MASTER GARDENERS COORDINATOR GINGER PRYOR SAYS THE BEST ADVICE IS TO GO EASY ON THE BUG SPRAYS:
Pryor Actuality:
(:19) "BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE INSECTS, YOU DO NOT WANT TO GO IN WITH A PESTICIDE AND SPRAY THEM AND KILL THEM IN THE HOME, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY WILL DIE IN BETWEEN THE WALLS AND THEN THEY WILL ACTUALLY ATTRACT OTHER, BAD INSECTS LIKE CARPET BEETLES AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO FEED ON THEM. SO, MOST OF THE INSECTS, WE JUST RECOMMEND VACUUMING UP."(:12) PRYOR SAYS MOST COUNTY PENN STATE EXTENSION OFFICES CAN IDENTIFY THESE INSECTS AND OFFER TIPS ON REPELLING THE INVASION. TOPPING THE LIST IS TO SEAL UP THE CRACKS AND OPENINGS THE BUGS USE TO GET IN. FROM PENN STATE, I'M GARY ABDULLAH.
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