Comments on: For students, finding an invasive insect in Maine is yet another ‘useful’ ŔÖ˛Ą´«Ă˝ experience /news/2015/05/22/hwa-biology-north-woods/ Mon, 01 Jul 2024 19:59:55 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 By: peter milliken /news/2015/05/22/hwa-biology-north-woods/#comment-178363 Fri, 29 May 2015 18:47:46 +0000 /news/?p=94682#comment-178363 I question the assertion that of Xavier Asbridge’ that “…the perceived link of neonicotinoids to colony collapse disorder; (which) has been proven to be baseless.”

Such certainty without reference causes me concern. I encourage a balance to his assurance with a link listed below.

Time will tell. It is wise to keep an open mind. There are no easy answers; but an approach of ” Always certain, Seldom wrong” contributes little to finding a solution.

“Study strengthens link between neonicotinoids and collapse of honey bee colonies
Boston, MA — Two widely used neonicotinoids—a class of insecticide—appear to significantly harm honey bee colonies over the winter, particularly during colder winters, according to a new study from Harvard School of Public Health.”
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]]> By: Xavier Asbridge /news/2015/05/22/hwa-biology-north-woods/#comment-175299 Fri, 22 May 2015 22:43:07 +0000 /news/?p=94682#comment-175299 Though there is no effective way to save all the Hemlocks from this pest, now that we know Imidacloprid can be bark applied you can save important groves. One person with a backpack sprayer can treat at least 100 trees per day and the chemical has come down drastically in cost. The treatment will keep the trees free of HWA for at least five years. Unfortunately the limiting factor for treating a lot of Hemlock at one time is the maximum amount of Imidacloprid allowed per acre per year. I would like to see this changed for this one pest but that is unlikely due to the perceived link of neonicotinoids to colony collapse disorder; which has been proven to be baseless. One caution if you do decide to treat them is that it is critical to get the rates right. Too heavy a dose will encourage Elongate Hemlock Scale which is also invasive but not as easy to treat.
IPMMAN

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