Monthly Archives: October 2021

CCE PMEP’s Outreach Arm Launches a New Name and Website

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We’re happy to help spread the word both about the Pesticide Management Education Program and their name change. Thank you to Mary Centrella, PhD, Director & Educator of the Pesticide Safety Education Program, for providing the text.

photo of Mary Centrella

Dr. Mary Centrella, PSEP Director

The outreach arm of Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Pesticide Management Education Program (PMEP) has always operated under the name of the overall program. However, because PMEP also includes the Pesticide Sales and Use Reporting (PSUR) group, we are adopting the name Cornell Cooperative Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program (CCE-PSEP) for our outreach arm to better reflect its mission. PMEP will continue to exist as an umbrella term for both PSUR and CCE-PSEP.

image of the landing page of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program

Click on the image to visit the new PSEP website.

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Dealing with Woodchuck Concerns

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“My enemies are worms, cool days, and most of all woodchucks.” – Henry David Thoreau

photo of Paul Curtis

Dr. Paul Curtis

Thank you to guest blogger Paul D. Curtis, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University.

 

Woodchucks (Marmota monax) are large members of the squirrel family and are closely related to other species of marmots in North America. They usually are grizzled grayish brown from head to toe. Their compact, chunky body is supported by short strong legs. The forefeet have long, curved claws that are well adapted for digging burrows.

photo of brown, chunky mammal with short, rounded ears and a thick neck with one paw pulling a plant towards its open mouth

Woodchuck, aka Marmota monax, groundhog, whistle pig, and land beaver. Photo: mass.gov

Like other rodents, woodchucks have chisel‐like incisor teeth. Their eyes, ears, and nose are located toward the top of the head, allowing the animal to remain concealed in its burrow while checking for danger over the rim of the burrow opening.

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4 red and black insects on a brick wall

For some pests, your school is their winter getaway

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smiling women dressed for autumn in front of a outdoor fall scene

Joellen Lampman, School & Turfgrass IPM Extension Support Specialist

I recently presented at the New York State School Facilities Association Conference & Expo and was asked multiple times, “What can I do about boxelder bugs?”. That provided the opportunity to talk about them and other fall invaders. The good news is that most fall invaders are just looking for a warm place to wait out the cold winter. The bad news is that usually we have had our first frost by now, and the lack of frost is  extending the period of time that intruders are attempting to break into our buildings. But there are still steps we can take to prevent more from coming in.

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