Howdy everybody,
I've provided a link for the essential worker travel form for those of you in cities or counties with shelter in place restrictions. This website will have updated versions of this form if it changes. The Texas Department of Agriculture posted this form on their website here:
https://www.texasagriculture.gov/NewsEvents/COVID19CoronavirusResponsePage.aspx
The current form can be found here:
https://www.texasagriculture.gov/Portals/0/forms/COMM/Essential_Worker_Travel_Form_3.25.2020.pdf
I was in a webinar yesterday where we heard that a few folks have been pulled over and needed this form. It's not currently practice for anyone to be asking for this form, but it might not be a bad idea to have it with you just in case.
Our extension office in Wharton is currently closed, but open by appointment. Feel free to give us a call or send me an email if you guys need anything. Stay safe and wash your hands everyone!
Sincerely,
Kate Crumley
Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Logo
Friday, March 27, 2020
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Forest Tent Caterpillars
Howdy!
Our office has been getting a lot of calls lately on caterpillars. Most of these are forest tent caterpillars. These caterpillars attack a wide array of tree and shrub species, and are medically harmless even though they're fuzzy. Most trees can handle the loss of up to 20% of their foliage without harm, and many can re-leaf even after complete defoliation if there are no other stressors, so treatment for these caterpillars is rarely warranted.
You can protect some of the tree by treating with an insecticide from a hose end sprayer, such as Spinosad or a Bacillus thuringiensis for a lower off-target impact. Another option is spot treating the caterpillar aggregation with a spray bottle of insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, or any labelled pyrethroid insecticide. Targeted applications or use of lower impact insecticides will help preserve beneficial insect populations. If your populations are lighter, I would recommend leaving them for the birds and beneficial insects to feed on.
Stay safe and wash your hands, everyone!
Sincerely,
Kate Crumley
For more information:
https://citybugs.tamu.edu/2015/04/10/tent-caterpillars-without-the-tent/
https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/eastern-tent-caterpillar/
https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/gardening/tent-caterpillars/
Our office has been getting a lot of calls lately on caterpillars. Most of these are forest tent caterpillars. These caterpillars attack a wide array of tree and shrub species, and are medically harmless even though they're fuzzy. Most trees can handle the loss of up to 20% of their foliage without harm, and many can re-leaf even after complete defoliation if there are no other stressors, so treatment for these caterpillars is rarely warranted.
You can protect some of the tree by treating with an insecticide from a hose end sprayer, such as Spinosad or a Bacillus thuringiensis for a lower off-target impact. Another option is spot treating the caterpillar aggregation with a spray bottle of insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, or any labelled pyrethroid insecticide. Targeted applications or use of lower impact insecticides will help preserve beneficial insect populations. If your populations are lighter, I would recommend leaving them for the birds and beneficial insects to feed on.
 |
| Forest Tent Caterpillars Photo: Kate Crumley |
Stay safe and wash your hands, everyone!
Sincerely,
Kate Crumley
For more information:
https://citybugs.tamu.edu/2015/04/10/tent-caterpillars-without-the-tent/
https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/eastern-tent-caterpillar/
https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/gardening/tent-caterpillars/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)