D4—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 1,1981
COLLEGE/PARK, Md. - For
more than 100 years, forestry
experts have been searching for
ways to get rid of the gypsy moth,
an Old World insect pest respon
sible for millions of dollars m
damage to trees each year.
Now researchers at the
University of Maryland’s
Agricultural Experiment Station
have begun studies they hope will
shed hght on new gypsy moth
control.
The studies center on the adult
“eclosion” process - that point in
the adult’s lifecycle when it
emerges or hatches from its pupal
case, according to Michael C. Ma,
assistant professor of entomology
at the University.
It is during the eclosion process,
says Ma, that insects like the
gypsy moth are highly vulnerable
and his research may give
scientists a clue to how they might
Farm Talk
(Continued from Page D 3)
farmers and rural residents must
accept. If we’re gomg to have
animal agriculture, and to the
consumer that means meat, milk,
eggs, wool, and some other
products, we’re gomg to have
manure. There just isn’t any other
way. Surely the occasional smell of
a properly managed animal unit is
worth the end products we con
sume
Grow
Rabbits. Quail.
Pheasant. Racoons.
Chickens. Turkeys.
Guinea Pigs. Any
small animal. Right
in your own
backyard!
Put a little bit of country in your
life Experience the fascination
and fun of raising small animals in
your own backyard Natural
education for kids, profitable
hobby for adults lb get started
visit the 1100 square foot Favorite
Factory Showroom. Everything
you need for successful small
animal raising Full line of pre
fabricated, all-metal Lifestyle
enclosures Watering systems
Feeders 100 foot rolls of welded
Hormone holds key to gypsy moth control
control or inhibit the "turning on”
of adult behavior.
With research just under way,
Ma and fellow researchers have
found the gypsy moth’s brain
houses a hormone which triggers
the onset of eclosion. The concept
ot a hormone triggering
mechanism was first discovered
by James Truman of the
University of Washington in the
Chinese silkworm moth.
"The eclosion hormone acts as a
key that unlocks virtually all adult
behavior in the gypsy moth,”
states Ma.
"Morphologically, the gypsy
moth is an adult while it is in its
pupal case at least two or three
days before eclosion.
But without the release ot the
trigger mechanism, the moth will
not take on adult behaviors such as
flight and reproductive activities,”
he said.
By understanding the release
mechanism and action of the
hormone, he added, scientists may
be able to develop methods to
interfere with, or stop, the “tur
ning on” ot adult behavior. This,
says Ma, could in turn provide a
means ot controlling the
population spread ot the
destructive pest.
The gypsy moth was introduced
to the northeast United States m
the late 1860’s. It was chosen as an
experimental subject, explains
Ma, because since the mid-19th
century it has proven to be the
wire mesh Complete modular
rabbit raising systems All at
direct-to-you low prices Stop in
today and save'
Favorite Manufacturing, Inc,
114-116 Earland industrial Park,
Building #1 Just East of New
Holland off Route 25 Phone
(717) 354-4586
Open weekdays 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Fridays- 7 30 AM to 6 00 PM
Saturdays 730 AM to 11:30 AM
most ravenous ot defoliating in
sects in the U.b.
Each year, scientists estimate
the gypsy moth causes several
million dollars in damage to oak,
NORRISTOWN - There are four
major causes of overturns when
driving a tractor or any other type
of farm machinery, says Joseph H.
Way, Montgomery County
Agricultural Agent.
One major cause of overturns is
raising a load higher than the
center of gravity of the equipment.
To avoid this, there are four
precautions that can be taken. Use
wide front ends, and keep your
attachments low when using them.
Always use proper weights and
ballasts, and remove the at
tachments when they are not being
used.
Centrifugal force is the second
cause of overturns. This occurs
when a sharp turn is made at a
high speed and the tires become
pivot points, causing the vehicle to
turn over. Way recommends idling
down before making sharp turns
Dairy Farmers - Deworm Now
You’ve heard a lot about stress, 2 sources of mid-summer
stress; heat and worms. One can be avoided, the other only
modified. Parasite burdens can be avoided; heat stress can only
be modified. The chart below illustrates heavy burdens during
mid-summer resulting from heavy egg deposition in the spring.
SPRING RISE OF EGG PRODUCTION
1974-
17,500
15,000
12,500
10,000
7,500
5,000
2,500
If your herd was not dewormed in the spring, a parasite
burden can be avoided during mid-summer by whole herd
deworming with
CUTTER
beech and maple trees m the U.S.
In addition to large dollar
amounts lost through damaged
trees, huge sums of money are
spent each year to control or
Prevent tractor overturns
and keeping brakes evenly ad
justed.
Overturns also occur when a
vehicle is being used to pull a
stationary object, such as a log or
tree stump. This “rear axle
torque” results in a backward flip.
Operators can avoid this accident
by not blocking the wheels when
stuck and always backing out of
holes. Another precaution is to
avoid popping the clutch and
sudden staris
Improper hitching also can
"STRESS"
r.A. Yaswinski, M.S. and H.C. Gibbs, DVM, Ph D
lournal Veterinary Research Nov. 1975
Jan/Feb
BAYMIX®
BAYMIX IS AVAILABLE
AT YOUR LOCAL
/IT’S MAGIC PHONE
How quickly C )/ 717-394-3047
( You Get Results <>''7l7-626-1164
\' V jClasslfieds! j^^ // (I lj
Mar/Apr May/Jun Jul/Aug
DEWORM HERE Deworm here
if not done
in spring
eliminate gypsy moth populations.
Ma says he hopes his research
will contribute significantly to a
total mtegrated pest management
program tor the gypsy moth.
cause overturns. When a heavy
load is hitched, the front end can be
lifted oft of the ground and the
vehicle can flip backwards. To
prevent this, remember to keep the
drawbar at the recommended
level, hitch only to the drawbar,
and use the proper ballasts and
weights.
Way reminds tractor operators
that the few minutes needed to
take safety precautions may save
valuable time, energy, and human
resources in the long run.
ADULTS
I I HEIFERS
Sept/Oct Nov/Dec
V v '
DEWORM HERE