EPA Introduces New Graphic on Insect Repellents

Update from the EPA on a new graphic for insect repellents!

EPA Pesticide Program Updates      From EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs       www.epa.gov/pesticides

July 17, 2014 In This Update: EPA Introduces New Graphic to Help Consumers Make Informed Choices about Insect Repellents  The EPA today unveiled a new graphic that will be available to appear on insect repellent product labels. The graphic will show consumers how many hours a product will repel mosquitoes and ticks when used as directed. The EPA’s new graphic will do for bug repellents what SPF labeling did for sunscreens. This new graphic will help parents, hikers and the general public better protect themselves and their families from serious health threats caused by mosquitoes and ticks that carry debilitating diseases. Incidence of these diseases is on the rise. The CDC estimates that there are nearly 300,000 cases of Lyme disease in the United States each year. Effective insect repellents can protect against serious mosquito- and tick-borne diseases. The EPA is accepting applications from manufacturers that wish to add the graphic to their repellent product labels. The public could see the graphic on products early next year.

2016 Garden Tour

Now that the 2014 Garden Tour is behind us, it is time to begin looking forward to our next tour in 2016. I know that sounds like a long time away but it will be here before you know it! I have already been given one perspective garden to look at and I would like to have other suggestions so that we can look at them over the summer.

If you know of a garden that you think should be included on the 2016 Garden Tour, please let me know by emailing me at tim_mathews@ncsu.edu or call 828-456-3575.

Late Blight Positively Identified in Henderson County!

Tomato late blight, caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans, was confirmed today (July 11, 2014) in a tomato sample from Henderson County, North Carolina and confirmed by the Plant Disease and Insect Clinic and the Quesada Lab at NCSU.

For more information, check out the latest posting here:

http://plantpathology.ces.ncsu.edu/2014/07/tomato-late-blight-confirmed-in-western-north-carolina/

Bagworms

Over the past month, I have watched as an arborvitae about a mile from my house has been decimated by bagworms. It is not a pretty sight. Then, yesterday, as I was returning from my mailbox I happened to see out of the corner of my eye, something moving in my Blue Spruce. When I stopped to get a closer look I saw several very small bagworms hanging from my tree. The more I looked, the more I saw! I pulled several off and disposed of them but I suppose I'll be doing the same thing this afternoon when I get home. Thankfully, they seem to be concentrated at one location on one side of the tree. I hate bagworms!

For information on bagworms, their prevention and control, see the following link:

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/trees/ort081e/ort081e.htm