PA IPM PSCIP

11/21/2022

Faulty science gave rise to a myth that vitamin B1 deters mosquito bites. A new review explores decades of studies disproving the idea—and why it persists.

11/30/2021

Updating Pennsylvania’s Science Education Standards, December 1st Deadline Quickly Approaches

Changes to Pennsylvania public schools are underway, with a panel of science and education experts volunteering their time and expertise to rewrite Pennsylvania’s science academic standards.

Changes to Pennsylvania public schools are underway, with a panel of science and education experts volunteering their time and expertise to rewrite Pennsylvania’s science academic standards.

11/09/2021

Check our presentations : 1) Introduction to pests, 2) bedbugs, 3) cockroaches, 4) fleas, 5) head lice, 6) mosquitoes, 7) rodents, 8) scabies, 9) spotted lanternfly, and 10) ticks.

Within this section, you will find PowerPoint presentations about IPM and other educational materials.

08/10/2021

Check PA IPM website, you will find information about Environmental Education.
https://ento.psu.edu/research/labs/rajotte/english/research

07/09/2021

BMPs for Non-Chemical W**d Control
This manual (free downloadable PDF in link!) provides comprehensive descriptions of 21 commonly used non-chemical w**d control techniques and of biological control agents for 18 w**d species/species groups that will help you as a practitioner treat w**ds more effectively.

This manual provides comprehensive descriptions of 21 commonly used non-chemical w**d control techniques and of biological control agents for 18 w**d species/species groups that will help you as a …

06/22/2021

The public comment period closes on July 4th. Please take a few minutes to speak up in favor of the Environment & Ecology K-12 Academic standards for Pennsylvania students! https://p2a.co/bEaaQhp?p2asource=partners&fbclid=IwAR1itkTtVnFt3ziMEbmQ_d9ZrcJ_rnhKgDgAP72KAg69zcViuXumXD13_ow

Take action to ensure students in Pennsylvania will continue to grow in their understanding and protection of our unique culture and local ecology through real world learning! []

06/11/2021

Stop disinfecting everything! Summer work must include attention to VENTILATION and FILTRATION systems in schools and childcares to help mitigate covid19, and to prepare for a safer reopening in the fall!

Many kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) schools in the US do not have good ventilation. This is a longstanding problem with negative effects on learning.

06/02/2021

Did it just rain? Are you concerned about mosquitos (you should be!)? Dumping standing water is the MOST important thing you can do to prevent mosquitos from becoming adults (and being the bloodsuckers and disease vectors we all hate!) It only takes a tiny bit of water for eggs to be laid and hatched, so picking up trash (and tires!) is also critical to reducing this habitat. Look around, high and low for places that can hold water for as little as 3 days (those accordion-style downspout extenders are notorious mosquito breeding habitat!) and eliminate it. If you can't get rid of the standing water (e.g., bird baths, tree holes, ornamental ponds) then mosquito dunks/donuts/pellets are an option. This product, however, should NOT be used in purposely set-out buckets of water in an attempt to foil mosquitos egg-laying behaviors. It sounds like a good idea, and regularly gets posted on the internet every year, but In real world studies it was shown to actually create more egg-laying habitat, even when tended to properly. Mosquitos don't lay all their eggs in one "basket" so don't give them more "baskets"! It is important to note that Bti (the active ingredient in mosquito dunks/donuts/pellets) is a larvacide and only works if the mosquito larva eats it. It is NOT a contact insecticide, so it doesn't kill all of them in the bucket; only the larva that ingest it. The EPA and the CDC each have good factsheets about Bti and mosquito control:
https://www.epa.gov/mosquitocontrol/bti-mosquito-control, https://www.cdc.gov/zika/pdfs/BTI_Fact_Sheet.pdf, and for a more local perspective check out Penn State's fact sheet: https://extension.psu.edu/mosquitoes Texas A&M also has a very thorough factsheet (because everything is bigger in Texas?) http://counties.agrilife.org/.../Backyard-Mosquito.... If you are really into using traps, then check out this newly designed model for residential use that has been vetted in real world situations: https://catchmasterpro.com/product/ovi-planter/

Pennsylvania has about 60 species of mosquito. The risk of contracting a mosquito-borne disease has recently increased with the introduction of West Nile virus.

05/18/2021

Have you been outside, enjoying the spring weather? Make sure you do a tick check and take the proper precautions to reduce the risks of tick borne diseases.

Lyme disease is an infection caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria and is transmitted by ticks.

05/13/2021

Here’s an update on disinfectant use in schools from our colleagues over at the Cornell Pesticide Management Education Program (PMEP). Thank you to Mary Centrella, PMEP Director and Educator, for putting it together.
As more people become vaccinated and things begin to open again, it essential that we continue to use disinfectants correctly.
Before using a disinfectant:
Assess whether it is necessary. Could soap and water be just as effective? Is the surface you are disinfectant high risk (i.e., used frequently by many people)? Be aware that recent information from the CDC shows that the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) on surfaces is considered low.
Keep in mind that disinfectants cannot cut through grime. In order for disinfectants to be effective, you must first clean the surface you want to treat.

Disinfectants Safety Leave a reply Here’s an update on disinfectant use in schools from our colleagues over at the Cornell Pesticide Management Education Program (PMEP). Thank you to Mary Centrella, PMEP Director and Educator, for putting it together. As more people become vaccinated and things be...

05/06/2021

Did you know that in 2002 Pennsylvania enacted dedicated K-12 academic standards for Environment & Ecology? There are 9 topic areas: Watersheds & Wetlands; Renewable & Nonrenewable Resources; Environmental Health; Agriculture & Society; Integrated Pest Management; Ecosystems and their Interactions; Threatened, Endangered, and Extinct Species; Humans and the Environment; Environmental Laws and Regulations.
https://www.stateboard.education.pa.gov/Documents/Regulations%20and%20Statements/State%20Academic%20Standards/Academic%20Standards%20for%20Environment%20and%20Ecology.pdf
Why would students need to learn about these, especially Agriculture and IPM? For starters, Pennsylvania is an agriculturally rich state with both large and small family farms providing food locally, nationally, and around the world! The global pandemic pinpointed some gaps in what people know (or more so, what they don't know) about food production and the supply chain. Therefore, preparing our children with a broad base of knowledge, critical thinking, and problem solving skills will not only broaden their job opportunities, but will help to mold them into informed citizens and innovative decision makers.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/driscolls-desperately-needs-to-know-how-many-strawberries-america-wants-11620225033?st=1fbf0q7nmmhnukn&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

04/27/2021

"Parasite Pu-Pu Platter: A Sampling of PA's Peculiar Pests"
Tuesday, April 27th at 7:00 pm eastern time​
Ever seen a fly on the wall? Or a tick on your back? Or a mosquito sucking your blood? Have you ever wondered how to keep these pests off without using just OFF? How do researchers study these pests anyways? This talk will discuss several ongoing research projects at Penn State seeking to better understand insects and arthropods (ticks!) that can transmit pathogens and make us sick. And don't worry, we'll discuss a few options to limit your contact with these pests too.
Featuring three speakers from the Department of Entomology at Penn State: Dr. Karen Poh (post-doctoral scholar), Jessica Brown (Ph.D. Candidate, Ecology), and Jesse Evans (Research Technician)
Register in advance:

Tuesday, April 27th from 7:00 - 8:00 PM Ever seen a fly on the wall? Or a tick on your back? Or a mosquito sucking your blood? Have you ever wondered how to keep these pests off without using just OFF? How do researchers study these pests anyways? This talk will discuss several ongoing research proj...