Parasites fight pests in stored products
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
f) University of Maryland
gncultural Experiment
Station entomologist has
been “using fire to fight
fire,” so to speak, in a
research project aimed at
controlling destructive in
sects.
The entomologist, Earlene
Armstrong, has been
studymg the feasibility of
using very small parasites to
control insects that infest
stored products such as
grains, cereals, fruits,
vegetables and nuts.
Roughly 10 to 30 percent of
the food produced in the U S
each year is damaged by
these pests after harvest.
Not only dp pests damage
or consume marketable
products, * but they also
transmit disease-causing
agents through the product
fey infest, contaminating
r more food than they eat.
In recent decades, several
methods of control have
been used to suppress these
stored product pests. Among
these are chemicals, m
cuding fumigants, dust
sprays and pesticides;
applications of heat or cold
to products to prevent or
slow the growth of pests; and
better sanitation. Another
method now bemg looked at
involves the use of biological
agents, such as the parasites
in Armstrong’s project.
In her research, Arm
strong has examined the
survival of insects in Stored
products under varying
conditions of light, tem
perature and humidity and is
comparing them growth and
developmental rates under
those conditions.
She is also trying to
certain the susceptibility
HEAT FOR LESS
of the stored product pests to
parasitic infection and to
determine the effects of
small parasites on
susceptible pests.
Thus far, her research has
focused on the red flour
bettle, although additional
emphasis in later studies
will be placed on the saw
toothed gram beetle, Indian
meal moth, cigarette and
drugstore beetles--some
other pests of stored
products in the Mid-Atlantic
states.
While working with the red
flour beetle, Armstrong
altered environmental
conditions and nutritional
requirements to spur an
mcrease in the parasite
population, the aim being to
kill the pest or at least
reduce its population below
economically destructive
levels
She found that parasitized
insects lay fewer eggs, have
reduced life spans and show
incomplete development to
the extent that many do not
complete their life cycles.
Each of these factors, over a
period of time, would
naturally reduce the pest
population.
Armstrong is now
examining the changes
induced in the insects by the
parasite’s presence, an area
of research that has received
little study so far
If successful, her ex
periments could lead to a
reduction of stored product
pests and the damage
caused by them, meaning
that less food would be lost
for human consumption and
that more would be available
to feed the people in this
country and around the
world.
University of Maryland Agricultural Experience
Station entomologist Earlene Armstrong examines
pests and parasites before placing them under a
microscope for closer study. She is studying the
use of parasites to control pests that infest stored
products like cereals, grains and nuts.
Cast ballots
LEESPORT - Mark S.
Balthaser, chairman of the
Berks County Agricultural
Stabilization and Con
servation Committee
reminds county farmers that
elections for 'Community
Committeemen are fast
approaching the deadline.
Ail ballots must be in the
county office by December 1.
Each of the eleven com
munities m the county has a
slate of six candidates from
which to choose Voters are
asked to vote for three or
less; the candidate getting
the highest vote will be the
chairman of the community
committee, the next highest
will be the vice chairman,
third will be a regular
member, and the fourth
and fifth will be first and
second alternates.
COMMUNITY 1
Bethel Marion Tutpehocken
John C Bartsch Bethel Frederick J
Bohn R 1 Myerstown Earl L Brown Rl
Win a “Love Boat” style cruise for two
to the Caribbean.
Register now to win. /*^ s \
No purchase necessary. fjfk
Comowf* S*ee*sf uMsStt !
ftulfS "MtUbl*4l P M
MM MT«ondCJMsr>'{» I (V*-. t<
whpf#*rah fctfe* x s f 'ii’i
use a Yanmar.
Special compact prices on a selection of
Yanmar Compact Tractors and attachments.
Whatever your needs are m a compact tractor Yanmar has a model for you
during this special savings event There are five qualifying models for you
tochoosefrom in 2and4 wheel drive from 13 to 33 horsepower Make us
an offer we can t refuse then moke no payments or pay no interest until
March I 1981' But hurrv c’ler-=nds December 31 1980
MARTIN HARDWARE & EQUIPMENT CO.
Rt 501 I 1 r Miles South of Schaefferstown PA
Phone 717 949 6817 Open Mon tri StoS Wed Btol2 Sat btoS
for Berks ASC Committeemen today
Myerstown Donald E Landis R 1
Myerstown Frank Troutman
Womelsdorf Bruce T Vounker Bethel
COMMUNITY 2
Jefferson Upper Tulpehocken Penn
Twps
LaVerne C Koenig R 2 Bernville
Harvey C Krill Rl Bernville Charles D
Moyer R 2 Bernville Evald B Wicks
Strausstown Curtis G Wolf Rl Bernville
Ja#ies R Yost Rl Bernville
COMMUNITY 3
Tilden, Upper Bern Center Twps
Roscoe Haag Rl Mohrsv/lle Rae M
Hix Rl Mohrsville Nicholas Kopicz Rl
Mohrsville Clarence R Luckenbill Rl
Bernville James W Ricgel Rl Bernville
WoodrowW Werlcy Rl Hamburg
COMMUNITY 4
Perry Windsor Bern, Ontelaunee
MiddleburgTwps
Ernest H Eptmg R 2 Hamburg Harry
R Kauffman R 3 Hamburg J Bruce
Leiby R 2 Hamburg Robert L Seidel Rl
Lenhartsville Lawrence T Sunday Rl
Lenhartsville Ronald Weyer R 2 Ham
burg
COMMUNITY 5
' Albany Greenwich Twps
Clyde K A Baver R 3 Kutztown Brian
A Bond R 2 Kempton Guy W Long Rl
Lenhartsville Carl S Miller R 3 Kutz
town Ralph G Sanner R 3 Kutztown
Richard C Wieder R 2 Kempton
COMMUNITY 6
Longbwamp Rockland Maxatawny
District Hereford Twps
Harold L Angstadt George
R Dt or* Rl Kutztown Gordon G
Gruber Rl Kutztown Earl W Latshaw
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 22,1980^811
How to
thaw turkey
YORK Chances are that
you’ll buy a frozen turkey for
your holiday dinner since
most turkeys tre sold that
way A. Joan Lamberson,
Extension Home Economist
reminds you that thawme
the bird can present a
problem. Harmful bacteria
which may be present on the
surface of the bird, grow
rapidly in a turkey that’s
improperly prepared for the
oven
For frozen, unstuffed
turkeys, it’s recommended
that thawing occur at
refrigerated temperatures.
Defrost the turkey on a tray
in the refrigerator in its
original wrappings Allow 24
hours for each five pounds of
turkey. When the bird is
pliable, take off the wrap
ping, remove the giblets and
neck, cover with a damp
towel and refrigerate until
ready to roast.
If you do not have
refrigerator space large
enough for thawing the
whole turkey, you may need
to use one of the following
methods. However, caution
is required to assure that the
surface of the bird does not
become warm, thereby
Rl Alburlis Wilson H Rohrbach Rl
Mertztown Charles A Savidge R 2
Mertztown
COMMUNITY?
Richmond Maidencreek Ruscombmanor
Twps
Warren W Berger R 3 Kutztown. Leroy
J Rich) Rl Kutztown Arthur F Hoch
Fleetwood Hermit C Schlegel Fleet
wood Feryl J Treichler R 3 Kutztown
Marshall Worrell R 3 Kutztown
COMMUNITY t
Oley Pikt Alsace Lower
Afsac*. Exeter Twps
J Andrew Click R 3 Boyertown David
Hauseman R 4 Boyertown Mark G Hoch
R 2 Oley Darnel E Levcngood Rl oley
Earl Mensch R 4 Boyertown Marlin R
Stoltzfus R 2 DouglassviHe
COMMUNITY 9
Colebrookdaie, Earl. Amity. Douglas
Washington Twps
P 2'ph Orey R 2 Oougfassvtll* Paschal
ROPE IN
SOME EXTRA
CASH!
Advertise With A
Lancaster Farming
CLASSIFIED AD...
Phone: 717-394-3047
or 717-626-1164
permitting growth of harm
ful bacteria.
Without opening the
plastic bag, place the frozen
bird m cold water for six to
eight hours. Change the
water frequently or place the
turkey under a running tap.
Never use warm or hot
water Allow one-half hour
thawing tune for each pound
of turkey. When the turkey
becomes pliable, take off the
plastic bag, remove the
giblets and neck, cover with
a damp towel and
refrigerate until ready to
roast.
A second alternative is to
leave the turkey in its
original wrappings, wrap
with newspaper, and place in
a heavy brown paper bag
Seal the bag and place in a
cool room. The newspaper
and bag should insulate the
turkey so that it will thaw
uniformly Allow ap
proximately one hour
thawing tune for each pound
turkey Do not allow ex
cessive thawing time. Due to
its potential hazards, this
method is not recommended.
Follow safe thawing
procedures to insure a happy
and safe holiday meal.
J Gehnngcr Bally Earl R Haler R 2
DouglassviUe Wilson R Hoflman Rl
Barto Ralph T Spencer R 3 Boyertown
Frederick J Walters R 2 DouglassviUe
COMMUNITY 11
Caernarvon Robeson Umon
Brecknock CumruTwps
Gregg Eshleman R 3 Mohnton David L
Glass Rl Birdsboro Wilmer G Krayb II
R 2 Elverson Samuel Schlouch R 3
Mohnton David 0 Shirey Geigertown
GaryStoltzfus R 2 Elverson
COMMUNITY 12
N Heidelberg. Heidelberg. S Heidelberg,
Lower Heidelberg Spring Townships
Norman H Bare R 5 Sinking Spring
Edwin E Gelsinger R 1 Wemersvillc
Charles R Kisshng Ri Robesonia Phillip
Luckenbill Rl Wemersvillc David
Schaeffer R 3 Wemersvillc Forrest
Strieker Rl Wemersvillc
: \ 1