Pest Management Professional, December 2012

believe it or not Will Nepper t Managing Editor Stored Product Pests Art Loving Renaissance Beetles An evolutionary biologist at Penn State has measured more than 3000 wormholes in antique Renaissance art Looking for answers from beetle bored holes in wood blocks used to make the prints has helped him uncover answers about the origin and evolution of many beetle types In a study of prints from 1462 to 1899 the curious biologist determined that wormholes are capable of shedding light on the geographic distribution of some beetles Because most prints come complete with a date and place of publication the prints function as ideal fossils The wormholes originate from the beetles as they exit the wood of the print blocks Before this beetles lay eggs in tiny cracks in the wood The larvae spend several years dining on the cellulose in the wood and as adults the beetles burrow out leaving behind the helpful wormholes His findings Prints from Northern Europe had wormholes five hundredths of an inch wide likely caused by the Anobium punctatum aka the furniture beetle Meanwhile prints from farther south had wider holes about nine hundredths of an inch which are likely the result of the Mediterranean furniture beetle Both species can be found in northern and southern Europe but for 500 years there was no chronological overlap Source nytimes com Mountain Pine Beetles Appetite for Destruction It seems the mountain pine beetle is getting into all kinds of trouble these days Reports coming from as far north as British Columbia and as far west as Reno Nev point the finger at the rice grain sized beetle as an ecosystem damaging pain On the other hand representatives of the Nevada Division of Forestry NDF say the native insect though a threat to forest safety is an integral component of the areas ecosystem A 2011 inventory of Nevadas dead trees compiled by the NDF show that mountain pine beetle tree infestations increased by 190 percent over 2010 The NDF points to drought conditions which lower tree vigor and moisture levels making them more susceptible to attacks The non native mountain pine beetle attracted by warming weather also has staked claim in western Canadian forests where theyre less welcome According to discovery com the army of beetles has invaded about 65000 square miles a fifth of the British Columbias forested areas Canadian researchers noticed an increase in summer temperatures in infected areas that corresponds with the invasion The increased surface temperatures are large enough to cause concern about creating additional changes in regional climate including changes in air circulation cloud cover and precipitation Alternately the NDF says that previous studies have shown climate change has allowed the beetle to flourish The current mountain pine beetle infestation ranks among the largest ecological disturbances in recorded Canadian history according to discovery com Sources discovery com foxreno com www mypmp net FEATURED PRODUCT TRANSPORT MIKRON INSECTICIDE To manage bed bugs around carpet edges baseboards doors and windows wall hangings bed frames and box springs choose Transport Mikron insecticide Featuring a combination of acetamiprid and FMC bifenthrin Transport Mikron has been shown to control pyrethroid resistant bed bugs in as little as two hours Transport Mikron insecticide Delivers quick knockdown and long lasting residual even against pyrethroid resistant bed bugs Is completely clear once mixed so it wont leave behind a messy residue Remains in suspension for consistent results without constant agitation Controls over 30 other nuisance pests indoors and out including food handling areas To learn more about Transport Mikron and other bed bug products from FMC visit www verifibedbug com or contact your local FMC Market Specialist Always read and follow label directions FMC and Mikron are trademarks of FMC Corporation Transport is a trademark of Nippon Soda Co LTD 2012 FMC Corporation All rights reserved