How to get rid of pantry moths | How to avoid adult ticks 10/1/2021

Dr. Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann provides insights about management of pantry moths. Joellen Lampman provides seasonally relevant information about ticks and how we can avoid them in the IPM Minute.

How to get rid of pantry moths
Links:
What’s Bugging You Pantry Pests: https://nysipm.cornell.edu/whats-bugg...

Questions:
Q: Is it fair to say that food is often infected, but lower volume stores or those not practicing first in/first out might cause eggs to hatch before food is consumed?
A: That seems like a possible scenario considering that infestation can happen at many different points in the supply chain. Pantry months can infest raw materials, processed items, stored and packaged goods. Furthermore, some foods are more likely to been infected than others. For example, people may be less concerned about moths infesting pet food or bird seed compared to food intended for human consumption. Stores with low turnover might provide enough time before sale for pests to emerge, or to be infested at the site if there is an ongoing problem.

Q: How do you deal with pests attracted to waste bird food scattered by pet birds? No matter how clean you keep the area moths appear.
A: It might be useful to have moth pheromone traps to monitor and catch low levels of adults. If your bird food comes in manageable sized packages or bags, freezing the product before using can prevent the reintroduction of moths. Alternatively, newly purchased bird food can be stored in areas outside the living space in tight-fitting, insect and rodent-proof containers. If the material was infested ahead of time, this can keep pest moths confined to an area away from the spilled bird food, and will also prevent infestation by naturally occurring moths. Finally, ensure that windows have tight-fitting screens and doors are kept closed during warm months to keep moths out of the home.

Adult ticks are out for blood - how to avoid them
Links:
Don’t Get Ticked New York Campaign: www.DontGetTickedNY.org
Collection of blog posts about permethrin-treated clothing to protect yourself from ticks: https://blogs.cornell.edu/nysipm?s=pe...
How Do I Protect Myself From Ticks?: https://nysipm.cornell.edu/whats-bugg...
Frequently Asked Questions about Ticks: https://nysipm.cornell.edu/whats-bugg...
University of Rhode Island Tick Encounter Tick Spotters: https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter/tic...

Questions:
Q: Are Asian longhorned ticks on the East Coast?
A: Yes, Asian longhorned ticks are found on the East Coast, first discovered in NJ and VA, now widespread in the mid-Atlantic and Hudson Valley Regions. You can learn more from this United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) page: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/maps...

Q: The very small ticks are active now in NY?
A: Larval ticks of the Asian longhorned tick are active now (Fall). Use the Interactive Map from Tick Encounter to determine which ticks and what life stages are active in your area at any given time: https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter/fie...

Q: Ticks can be active in the fall and winter too?
A: Answered live:    • How to get rid of pantry moths | How ...   and in the chat: Fall and winter are good seasons for adult black-legged ticks, as long as the temperature is over 37 Degrees Fahrenheit. Keep in mind that a patch of ground where ticks are present can be above 37 F even if the air temperature is colder. See this blog from Tick Encounter to learn more: https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter/tic...

Q: If there is snow cover will we see ticks?
A: Generally, snow cover makes ticks inactive because they cannot search or quest for hosts. However, snow does not kill ticks, and there is some evidence that persistent snow cover is better for ticks than dry, cold winters: https://entomologytoday.org/2014/05/0...

Q: Do birds carry ticks too, and will there be more around where birds feed?
A: Ticks can feed on mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians (see more about the multi-host lifecycle of ticks here: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/life_cycle_.... While ticks will feed on birds, there is not strong support from the scientific literature that having a bird feeder will increase the risk of encountering a tick (see https://academic.oup.com/jme/article/.... Nevertheless, bird feeders can attract other animals, including small mammals that can also harbor ticks such as white-footed mice, deer mice, chipmunks, and squirrels. Therefore, it is a good IPM practice to keep bird feeders away from the home.