This information is a compilation of material collected from various news sources. The use of this material does
not imply endorsement of the US Army Environmental Command nor the Department of the Army.
VOLUME 5, NUMBER 10
30 OCTOBER 2007
Consultant’s Corner
CONTENTS
Consultant’s Corner
New Army Regulation 200-1, Environmental Protection and Enhancement
The major revision of this regulation, dated 28 August 2007, is now available at the USAEC Pest
Assistance Available from
Management website in the Guidance Section, http://aec.army.mil/usaec/pest/pest02.html or at USAEC Pest Management
the Army Publishing Directorate website in the 200 Series, Environmental Quality:
(PM) Team
http://www.apd.army.mil/USAPA_PUB_pubrange_P.asp AR 200-1 has an issue date of 28
September 2007. AR 200-1 incorporates policy and related requirements from AR 200-3,
Army Reserves
AR 200-4 and AR 200-5. Pest Management is covered in Chapter 5. AR 200-1 also cites
Announcements
DoDI 4150.7, DoD Pest Management Program, and implements applicable portions of the current
DoD 4150.7-M and DOD 4150.7-P.
News Articles
New Army Pest Management Policy on 25B Exempt Pesticides
The Senior Army Pest Management Consultant issued the following new Army Pest Management
policy for EPA 25B exempt pesticide products on 7 September 2007: "The EPA defines 25 B
pesticides as being such pesticides that are exempted from the EPA registration process.
Although 25B pesticides are referred to as "minimum risk" pesticides, they have not undergone
the extensive efficacy studies required for registration. Therefore, one has to depend on "word
of mouth" or sales literature as to their effectiveness. The only exception may be published data
from a recognized third party (college or university) for a given product. The Army, therefore,
cannot endorse the use of 25 B pesticides unless there is recognized efficacy data from a third
party as stated above." The USAEC, Pest Management Program, will begin reviewing requests
for 25B pesticides in installation's FY08 PUPs according to this new policy.
NEW PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTING IPMPS, PUFS, PUPS, OCPURS, CONTRACTS,
AERIAL SPRAY STATEMENTS OF NEED, TRAINING & CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTATION.
Beginning on 1 October 2007 please submit your installation IPMPs, PUFs, PUPs, OCPURS,
pest control service contracts, aerial spray statements of need, and training & certification
documentation to Ms. Christine Convery, christine.convery@us.army.mil
<mailto:christine.convery@us.army.mil> or Dr. Herb Bolton, herbert.t.bolton@us.army.mil
<mailto:herbert.t.bolton@us.army.mil>
Submission of FY 08 IPMPs: Please keep in mind that early submissions of your FY 08
IPMP/PUF & PUP allow your installation pest management operations to be conducted without
work stoppage when pesticides are pre-approved. Ideally, IPMPs, PUFs and PUPs for FY 08
should be approved by USAEC prior to the start of the new FY. Realizing this may not be
achievable in all cases, we would urge you who have not already done so to please submit your
IPMPs and/or forms to USAEC no later than 31 December 2007. Out of cycle pesticide use
requests (OCPURs) (a pesticide(s) that you want to use later in the fiscal year (FY) but did not
include in the annual (PUP) can be sent to us anytime during the FY for approval. Having your
IPMP approved for the new FY, avoids the hectic rush created to get your IPMP approved prior
to a scheduled EPAS visit as well as the required environmental program data call at end of year.
Please contact USAEC if you need additional information or guidance for submitting or
reviewing your IPMP, PUF or PUP for FY 08[e-mail pestmanagementteam@aec.apgea.army.mil]
Noxious & Invasive
Species Update
Endangered & Threatened
Species
Health Watch
Other Pest Management
Links/References of
Interest
Products/Equipment
Meetings of Interest
Certification,
Recertification and Pest
Management Quality
Assurance Evaluator
Courses
DoD Standard Pesticides
and DoD Equipment” List
Equipment
Needed/Excess
Pesticides
Regulatory Newswatch
technicallyPotpourri
New Invasive Species
Weed Books!
[<mailto:pestmanagementteam@aec.apgea.army.mil> ]
Army Environmental Database-Environmental Quality (AEDB-EQ) and DoD MoMs Pest
Management Data Call: Colleagues, the FY 07 4th QTR AEDB-EQ data call for pest Management will be open
sometime October 2007 and remain open through mid December 2007. Each year the Army reports the number of
approved IPMPs, as well as total pounds of active ingredient and number of certified applicators as part of the
annual DoD MoMs report. Please contact Ms. Christine Convery, christine.convery@us.army.mil
<mailto:christine.convery@us.army.mil> if you need additional information or guidance for submitting your FY 07
pest management data.
FY 07 Annual Pesticide Usage Reporting: We suggest that when submitting your annual pesticide usage reports
to USAEC electronically or through the mail that you consider using the following format so any change in pesticide
use across the Army may be better explained. This information will allow us to not only identify the areas of
pesticides usage but perhaps show if golf courses, agriculture out leasing or RCI have a major or minor impact.
POC for this action is Ms. Christine Convery, christine.convery@us.army.mil
<mailto:christine.convery@us.army.mil>
Total Pounds Active Ingredient (PAI) =
 Herbicides/Fungicides
 Insecticides
 Rodenticides
 Golf Course
 Agriculture Out leasing
 RCI
Comments:
INSTALLATION PEST MANAGEMENT COORDINATORS (IPMCs) USER'S GUIDE: The
USAEC Pest Management Staff has prepared and posted a technical guide for IPMCs on
the USAEC website as a tool for them to effectively manage their installation's pest management program. This guide helps IPMCs to define organizational pest management responsibilities at their installation, including health and safety, environmental considerations, and pest
surveillance and control. In addition, this guide clarifies important program elements, such as
reporting and record keeping, integrated pest management (IPM), the installation self-help
program, pest control service contracting, as well as other essential program requirements.
The IPMC plays a pivotal role on our installations to provide our Soldiers and their families
with a safe and effective program that eliminates disease transmission, protects military
property, and ensures troop training capability while minimizing the reliance on pesticide use.
As the Army restructures its base operating functions to meet 21st Century military strategies,
installation pest management programs will also change the way it conducts its operations
and obtains funding. Major program changes include privatized housing, more reliance on
commercial contractors, and, to a lesser extent, increased use of government purchase cards
to procure limited pest control services. These evolving operational changes will continue to
impact Army pest management policies and the way we conduct business.
TIMELY TOPICS AFPMB LINK: “Timely Topics” are now available on the Armed Forces Pest
Management Board's web site at: http://www.afpmb.org/pubs/usaec/timelytopics.htm. All issues will be
sent by web link. If you have any problems accessing the AFPMB web site please let us know.
Equipment Needed/Excess Pesticides: If you have “functional” pest management equipment that is no longer
needed or excess “serviceable” pesticides that you would like to donate to another installation, please contact the
USAEC Pest Management staff and we will try to assist you in the redistribution of these items.
2
ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FROM
USAEC PEST MANAGEMENT (PM) Program
The Pest Management Program is committed to providing the highest level of technical assistance to you in support of
the Army’s Installation Pest Management Program. Please contact the PM members for any assistance you may need.
The PM staff and their primary program responsibilities are:
Sandra Alvey*, DAC: USAEC Senior Pest Management Consultant; Pest Management Policy & Guidance.
Distance Learning Initiative; IPM-in-Child Development Centers Initiative. Chair, AFPMB.
sandra.alvey@us.army.mil <mailto:sandra.alvey@us.army.mil> *On active duty for 1 year as of 8 September 2007
Ms. Christine Convery, DAC: Pest Management Consultant; IPMP, Pesticide Use, Pest Control Services Contract
and Aerial Spray Statement of Need Approvals; Training, Certification and Accreditation; Environmental Reporting.
GIS/GPS Initiative, Performance Based Contracting Guidance, IPMC/PMQAE Training Guidance, EPAS Audits,
Pest Management Program Assistance Visits (PMPAVs), DoD/State Certification Database, Web Site Management.
Base Operations Pest Management Support, IPMP Reviews, Pest Control Service Contract Reviews, Aerial Spray
Statement of Need Reviews, Pesticide Registration Reviews. Pest Management List Server, AEDB-EQ,
Administration, and Records. christine.convery@us.army.mil <mailto:christine.convery@us.army.mil> (410) 4361213
Dr. Herb Bolton, USDA/CSREES Liaison: Invasive Species, IPM Demonstration Projects, Sustainable Range
Tick Control Project, EPAS, Timely Topics. Base Operations Pest Management Support, IPMP Reviews, Pest
Control Service Contract Reviews, Aerial Spray Statement of Need Reviews, Pesticide Registration Reviews.
herbert.t.bolton@us.army.mil <mailto:herbert.t.bolton@us.army.mil> (410)436-7073
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ARMY RESERVE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Intentionally Left Blank)
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NEWS ARTICLES
Protecting Military Air Bases from Bird Aircraft Strike Hazards (BASH) – see
attachment
Biologists with USDA Wildlife Services provided technical and operational assistance at 75
military airbases, 97 joint-use facilities, and 502 civil airports in FY 2006 to reduce wildlife
hazards to aviation. Operational assistance, such as dispersal or removal of Canada geese
and other wildlife, was conducted at 45 military airbases. The resident Canada goose
population in USA has increased over 3-fold to 3.5 million birds, 1990-2006.
3
Media Advisory: Media Invited To Colorado State University Ribbon Cutting For Regional Biocontainment
Laboratory, Infectious Disease Symposium
FORT COLLINS - WHAT: Colorado State University will unveil its new 38,000-square-foot Regional
Biocontainment Laboratory during a ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by a symposium featuring cutting-edge
research on infectious disease from national experts. The $30 million laboratory is devoted to the university's
efforts in infectious disease research, and the ribbon cutting will be the media's only opportunity for a tour and
photos before the building is closed to the public and research begins. Media tours begin immediately after the
ceremony.
Monarch Butterflies on the Move
Migrating monarch butterflies have turned up in the Nashville area lately as they head
south to spend the winter.
Fire Trucks' Sirens Bug Killer Bees, Expert Says
When you're around killer bees, it's best to keep quiet. That's what New Orleans
insect experts have told local firefighters. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture has
confirmed that Africanized bees are in St. Bernard Parish. Unlike their name suggests, killer
bees are not poisonous insofar as a single sting would not kill a person who isn't allergic to bees;
however, they are more aggressive than regular honeybees.
Bugs Bite Into Yankees Postseason
In all his years as New York's catcher, Jorge Posada has made thousands of trips to the mound.
This was his first holding a can of bug repellant. Posada's fogging of Yankees closer Mariano
Rivera was one of many bizarre sights during an AL playoff game against the Cleveland Indians
that turned when millions of insects infested Jacobs Field.
Are You Insured for a Rat Attack?
This is the busiest month of the year for pest control firms. The first frosts spell an end to the ready
supply of outdoor food for rodents, so they forage, nest and breed in the nooks and crannies of
warm homes.
But eating, sleeping and breeding are not all they do. They spread disease and can chew through wiring, pipes,
even wooden joists and brickwork.
Boston Non-Profit Group Awarded $50,000 EPA Grant
(Boston, Mass. - October 3, 2007) - The Committee for Boston Public Housing, Inc., of Boston, Mass. is one of
twenty community-based organizations to receive a $50,000 grant for projects in low-income communities on
environmental and public health issues. The organization’s project aims to reduce the exposure of children to the
air toxins associated with the use of the pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, and rodenticides commonly used by
public housing residents. This will be achieved by conducting in-home training on Integrated Pest Management
(IPM).
Biocontainment Lab Open at CSU
October 2, 2007 -- FORT COLLINS - Colorado State University Tuesday unveiled its new 38,000-square-foot,
$30 million regional biocontainment laboratory that will be a key component of the university's infectious disease
research and product development. The facility, which has been a decade in its planning and construction, will
help CSU maintain and enhance its reputation as a leader in infectious disease research, according to Barry
Beatty, director of the university's Infectious Disease Supercluster.
Another Giant Spider Web Discovered
Just as a gigantic web that drew worldwide attention wanes, another one is
forming on the opposite side of Lake Tawakoni. Two spider researchers
visited the site Monday and found two types of arachnids: long-jawed
spiders, Tetragnathidae, and communal nesting spiders, Anelosimus
studiosus. Both, along with a number of other types of spiders, were also
at the giant web at Lake Tawakoni State Park.
Redding Private Property Owners Open Their Land to Controlled Deer
Hunt
The town’s Conservation Commission points to the destruction done by the
high deer population to woodlands, the high number of deer-vehicle
accidents and the spread of Lyme disease as its reason for supporting a
4
controlled deer hunt on town land. The committee believes its deer reduction plan will result in a significant
reduction in deer tick populations that would be sufficient to prevent the spread of Lyme and other tick-borne
diseases.ane hit by bird, forced to land
Ticks Can Survive Washing
Before venturing into tick-infested territory, you used a topical repellant on exposed skin and outer clothing.
When you returned, you did a body check and threw your clothes in the wash. But clean clothes may not be
tick-free clothes. When he found a live lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) on the agitator of his washing
machine, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) entomologist John Carroll decided to find out how tough ticks
are. So he bagged up nymphs from two species--the lone star tick and the deer tick, (Ixodes scapularis), the
creature that transmits Lyme disease--and put them in the washing machine.
'Killer Bees' Now Established In New Orleans
Africanized honeybees have been found in the New Orleans area since July of
2005, but the regularity and frequency of finding them there is new cause for concern.
Another confirmed positive Africanized honeybee sample in the New Orleans area
indicates the bees are most likely established there now, Agriculture and Forestry
Commissioner Bob Odom said.
For Honey Bee Queens, Multiple Mating Makes Her Attractive To Workers
The success of the "reign" of a honey bee queen appears to be determined to a large degree
by the number of times she mates with drone bees.
Primitive Plants Use Heat And Odor To Woo Pollinating Insects
University of Utah scientists discovered a strange method of reproduction in primitive
plants named cycads: The plants heat up and emit a toxic odor to drive pollen-covered insects
out of male cycad cones, and then use a milder odor to draw the bugs into female cones so
the plants are pollinated.
Cockroaches: A.M. Morons, P.M. Geniuses
NASHVILLE, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- A U.S. study of cockroaches suggests the insects are morning morons, but evening
geniuses. Vanderbilt University researchers have discovered dramatic daily variations in the cockroach's
learning ability. "This is the first example of an insect whose ability to learn is controlled by its biological clock,"
said Professor of biological sciences Terry Page, who led the study with undergraduate students Susan Decker
and Shannon McConnaughey.
Study: Biting Spread Devil Tumors
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
 90 percent of the devil population on Australia's Tasmania have died

Researchers found that tumors spread the population by biting
during fights

Tumors make it difficult for the animals to bite and catch prey; they

starve
Experts fear the animals could become extinct within two decades
Reducing Feral Hog Population a Daunting Task
Texas has about half as many feral hogs as it does white-tailed deer — perhaps 2 million hogs and about 4
million deer. Almost all the growth in the hog population has occurred over the past 20 years. Once limited to a
few thousand pigs in small pockets of East and South Texas, feral hogs infest all but a half-dozen or so of
Texas' 254 counties.
Creepy Crawler Invasion
Oklahoma City -- This year's wet weather has already brought crickets out in record
numbers and the wet weather is now bringing out a different creepy crawler.
5
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NOXIOUS & INVASIVE SPECIES UPDATE
BLM Issues Decision on Vegetation Treatment and Fuels Reduction Study
The Bureau of Land Management issued a decision today that will help improve the health of public lands by
enhancing the agency’s ability to control and manage vegetation – including invasive and noxious weeds – and
helping reduce fire-prone fuels, such as cheatgrass. The BLM’s decision – known as the Record of Decision for the
Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement on vegetation treatment and fuels reduction – was developed
on a national level to analyze the environmental effects of herbicides for treating and managing vegetation on
Western public lands.
“Today’s decision is the result of extensive public participation and careful, comprehensive environmental study,”
said BLM Director Jim Caswell. “We now have clear direction on using new but proven tools to support such
important projects as the Healthy Lands Initiative.” (The Healthy Lands Initiative, as called for by the President in his
Fiscal Year 2008 budget proposal, is aimed at restoring the health and productivity of the public lands at landscape
levels.)
Subject: [NIWAWlist] Wavyleaf Basketgrass Moves in Waves through Maryland Forests
Typical growth habit of wavyleaf basketgrass, photo by John SnitzerTwo small populations of a Eurasian grass
never previously found in the US were discovered in Patapsco State Park by sharp-eyed botanists in 1996.
Smithsonian Institution and international experts confirmed its identity as an exotic subspecies of a grass that is
native to sub-tropical and tropical regions, including the southeastern coast of the US.
Japanese Beetle May Help Virginia Tech Entomologists Fight Hemlock-Killing Insect
BLACKSBURG, Va., September 17, 2007 -- The eastern hemlock, a tall, long-lived
coniferous tree that shelters river and streamside ecosystems throughout the eastern
United States and Canada, is in serious danger of extinction because a tiny, non-native
insect is literally sucking the life out of it. Entomologists at Virginia Tech are now studying a
beetle from Japan that may be a natural predator of Adelges tsugae, or hemlock woolly
adelgid (HWA). Scientists hope the Japanese beetle will curb the rapid spread of the HWA
without damaging forest ecosystems.
Researchers Using Nature to Save the Hemlocks
The exact origin is still a mystery. In the early 1900s, either lumber or trees from Asia made
their way to a North American port carrying a fungal disease now know as chestnut blight.
Although chestnut trees in China and Japan had a natural immunity to the disease, their
American cousins did not. By 1940, the once-widespread American chestnut tree was
virtually extinct. Other than a few lonely stands, only small shoots from existing root bases remain today, and the
blight quickly ravages even these.
Little Fire Ant Threat to Organic Farms in Hawaii
The Little Fire Ant (LFA) was one of the pests discussed among farmers at the recent Hawaii Food Summit. The
Fire Ant may be small, (an entire colony can live under a mac nut shell), but the bite
packs a big punch, and infestations are disrupting harvests and agriculural practices on
Hawaii's West side. The insects cause harm to animals, pets and livestock with a
strong sting and can cause blindness.
Fire Ants Killing Baby Song Birds At High Rates
Red imported fire ants may be killing as many as a fifth of baby song birds before they
leave the nest, according to research recently completed at Texas A&M University.
Groups Work to Turn the Tide of Invasive Species
Environmental groups, educators and government officials are banding together to
enlist the help of the public in stemming the spread of invasive species in the Lake Winnebago system. In order to
educate the public and combat aquatic invasive species, the Department of Natural Resources, University of
Wisconsin-Extension, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and the Winnebago Lakes Council will join together during
the next month to hold public meetings about the waterways.
6
Fire Ant Invasion Spreading Across Islands
HILO, Hawaii -- An infestation of fire ants on the Big Island and Kauai is spreading, and researchers say it will be
difficult to stop. The ants are already a bigger threat than coqui frogs, known for their loud
chirping that makes them a nuisance on the Big Island and Maui, said Tommy Thompson, an
entomology researcher associated for the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical
Agriculture and Human Resources.
Invasive Glossy Buckthorn Chokes St. J. Woods
ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. --An invasive plant known as glossy buckthorn is taking over the 97acre town forest, crowding out other species and raising an alarm among some local residents.
The plant has shown up in several areas around Vermont and has been put on a list of noxious
weeds that the state has ordered quarantined. The movement or sale of the plant can be
punished by fines of up to $1,000 per violation.
Common Buckthorn and Glossy Buckthorn
366th Fighter Wing to Conduct Aerial Spraying for
Cheatgrass Control
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- A specially modified C-130
Hercules aircraft conducts an herbicide aerial spray mission on the Mountain
Home AFB’s Saylor Creek Range in 2000. Beginning Friday, Sept. 14 and
lasting though September 28, approximately 3,200 acres of Air Force land in
Owyhee County will be sprayed with the herbicide Plateau® to reduce the
growth of cheatgrass – an invasive, non-native grass that chokes out native
vegetation and has contributed to recent catastrophic range fires (Photo
courtesy of Ms. Angelia Binder, 366th Civil Engineer Squadron Environmental
Flight).
Halt in Weed Program Clogs Swartswood Lake
For the first time in two decades, the weed harvesters in Swartswood Lake were nearly silent and grounded
because of an apparent Catch-22 — They can't be used to clean out invasive aquatic weeds which inhibit the
growth of endangered plants because of the presence of those endangered plants.
Crow's Nest: Swallowwort Soil Sampling
The soil sampling was part of a study by graduate student Lillian Magidow from Cornell
University. She's working to increase our knowledge of the distribution of the invasive
swallowworts (Vincetoxicum nigrum and V. rossicum) and the characteristics of the sites
they occupy.
Controlling Imported Fire Ants Organically
Whether you broadcast conventional insecticides or organic products over an entire area or
treat the mounds individually, it is important to follow the label. This will ensure the lowest
level of toxicity to the environment and other insects.
The Two-Step Method Fire Ant Control - El método de dos etapas para controlarlas
hormigas bravas
The two-step method can control fire ants when followed once or twice a year. The first
step is to spread a bait insecticide over the entire yard. At least three commercially available fire ant baits can be
applied in this way: Amdro ®, Award ® and PT 370 Ascend ®. The best times for applying baits are spring and fall,
although you can apply them anytime during the warm season when ants are active.
Bugs Might Save Lake m - Hydrilla Leaf-Mining Fly from Pakistan or Flea Beetle Could Help
Millwood
ASHDOWN, Ark.—The hydrilla leaf-mining fly from Pakistan or the flea beetle may help keep
Millwood Lake from shrinking.
The insects could be part of the solution, but a proposed federal government study will
determine the options, said Derick Walker, a natural resource specialist with the Corps of
Engineers at Millwood Lake.
7
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ENDANGERED & THREATENED SPECIES
Pennsylvania's Flying Squirrels Endangered
The northern flying squirrel, the largest and rarest of Pennsylvania's two flying
squirrel species, will be added to the state's endangered species list, according to
the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Adding the squirrel to the state's
endangered species list will allow the Game Commission to better manage their
habitat and apply for federal funding.
Ohio Adds 8 Species to Endangered List
COLUMBUS - Eight new species of animals and insects, including a beautiful but
rarely seen river damselfly, were added to the list of the state's endangered or threatened species, the Ohio Division
of Wildlife announced.
US Attorney - Southern California Man Guilty Of Smuggling Protected Tortoises
LAWFUEL - The Legal Newswire - In a plea agreement filed today, a Diamond Bar man agreed to plead guilty to
participating in a scheme that smuggled dozens of protected and endangered tortoises into the United States.
Threats to Bumblebees Fly Under Radar
GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — Looking high and low, Robbin Thorp can no longer find a species of
bumblebee that just five years ago was plentiful in northwestern California and southwestern
Oregon. He fears that the species — Franklin's bumblebee — has gone extinct before anyone
could even propose it for the endangered species list. To make matters worse, two other
bumblebee species — one on the East coast, one on the West — have gone from common to
rare.
Federal Judge Restores Endangered Species Act Protections for Oregon Coast Coho
Salmon
A federal judge has declared illegal the Bush administration's
decision to remove endangered species protections for Oregon Coast coho
salmon. U.S. District Judge Garr King adopted in its entirety the July 2007
recommendation of Magistrate Judge Janice Stewart that the administration's
refusal to list the coho be set aside. The court ruled that coho's legal "threatened"
status be reviewed and a new listing decision be finalized within 60 days.
Restoration of ESA listing would prohibit actions that harm the species and require
the government to prepare recovery plans.
Dozens of Endangered Falcons Gunned Down in Cyprus
NICOSIA (AFP) — Gunmen in Cyprus have killed 46 threatened red-footed
migrating falcons simply for target practice, bird conservation officials on the
Mediterranean island charged on Tuesday. Birdlife Cyprus manager Martin
Hellicar said farmers on Friday found the pellet-riddled birds lying in a tight
cluster on a citrus farm west of the coastal resort of Limassol. Another six birds
were found shot but still clinging on to life. Hellicar said exacerbating the killings
was the fact that the red-footed falcon was recently upgraded from "vulnerable"
to "globally near-threatened". "Globally near-threatened is as bad as it gets,
which makes this one of the worst cases of illegal bird killings ever reported in
Europe," Hellicar told AFP.
U.S. Considers Black-Footed Albatross for Endangered Listing
HONOLULU, Hawaii, October 9, 2007 (ENS) - Today the federal government began
a formal review to determine if the black-footed albatross should receive the
protections of the Endangered Species Act. This albatross is already classified as
globally endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The
announcement, published in the Federal Register, comes in response to a petition
filed in 2004 by the environmental law firm Earth Justice on behalf of the Center for
8
Biological Diversity and Turtle Island Restoration Network. The black-footed albatross, Phoebastria nigripes, nests
in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Midway Atoll has the second largest population in the world.
Four Native Fish Species Returned to Arizona Canyons
WILLCOX, AZ — October 9, 2007— A multi-agency team converged in southeastern Arizona last week to carry out
one of the largest reintroduction efforts in the state of threatened and endangered fish species. Four varieties of
native fish were introduced to five new locations at the Muleshoe Ranch Cooperative Management Area (CMA),
near Willcox. The four native fish species – spikedace, loach minnow, Gila topminnow and desert pupfish – were
transported by helicopter from their original sites in Aravaipa Canyon and Dudleyville to streams and springs in the
Muleshoe CMA, which is managed jointly by The Nature Conservancy, USDA Forest Service and U.S. Bureau
of Land Management.
Endangered Species Lists Grows
The Red List — which lists the status of 41,415 plant and animal species — found that 16,306 are threatened
with extinction, 188 more than in 2006. There are 10,930 species in South America, 2,053 in Mexico and
Central America and 1,657 in the Caribbean, including French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname. The World
Conservation Union, an international network that promotes environmental conservation and biodiversity
classifies species, according to their risk of extinction: extinct or extinct in the wild; critically endangered,
endangered and vulnerable: species threatened with global extinction; near threatened: species close to the
threatened thresholds or that would be threatened without ongoing specific conservation measures; ;east
Concern: species evaluated with a low risk of extinction; data deficient: no evaluation because of insufficient
data.
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HEALTH WATCH
Tropical Disease Follows Mosquitoes to Europe [For more information see the
attached PDF file on Chikungunya]
For years, medical entomologists have worried that the astonishing ascent of the
Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) might bring not only nasty bites but also
new public health surprises. After all, the mosquito is a known vector for more
than 20 viral diseases.
West Nile Virus Update --- United States, January 1--September 11, 2007
This report summarizes 2007 West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance data reported to CDC through ArboNET as of 3
a.m. Mountain Daylight Time, September 11, 2007. A total of 38 states have reported 1,395 cases of human WNV
illness to CDC (Figure, Table). A total of 770 (56%) cases for which such data were available occurred in males;
median age of patients was 49 years (range: 15 months--96 years). Dates of illness onset ranged from January 8 to
September 7; a total of 38 cases were fatal.
Dengue Fever Surges in Latin America
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Dengue fever is spreading across Latin America and the Caribbean in one of the worst
outbreaks in decades, causing agonizing joint pain for hundreds of thousands of people and killing nearly 200 so far
this year. The mosquitoes that carry dengue are thriving in expanded urban slums scattered with water-collecting
trash and old tires. Experts say dengue is approaching record levels this year as many countries enter their wettest
months.
9
New Suspect Identified In West Nile Deaths Of Pelicans
Stable flies are the latest suspect that may be involved in the West Nile virus
deaths of hundreds of pelican chicks at the Medicine Lake National Wildlife
Refuge in northeast Montana. West Nile virus killed 800 to 1,000 pelican chicks
in 2003, averaged 400 in each of the next three summers and more than 600
this year.
No Basis for Chronic Lyme Disease
The controversial diagnosis of chronic Lyme Disease -- used by some doctors
to justify treating thousands of people with antibiotics for months or even years
-- has no scientific basis, according to a review being published in tomorrow's
New England Journal of Medicine.
Discovery May Lead to Hantavirus Treatment
Researchers have discovered one reason why deer mice don't get sick or die from hantavirus: they produce a
protein that prevents an anti-inflammatory response to the virus. This discovery might move research for treating
hantavirus in humans forward dramatically. "It allows the virus to escape the immune response," said Tony
Schountz, a microbiology professor at the University of Northern Colorado. "This will force people who do human
research to look at this more carefully."
Hantavirus Kills 3 in Week
Four people have died from Hantavirus in Colorado this year, including three this week, tying the record of fatalities
set in 1993. The three most recent victims lived in rural Custer, Costilla and Park counties, the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment said Tuesday.
Just the Facts…. Pacific Poison Oak
Pacific poison oak grows as a shrub or vine. It is found in the Pacific coastal states of
Washington, Oregon, and California, as well as western portions of Nevada. Plants can
survive under a wide range of temperatures, elevations, soil types, moisture conditions, and
light intensities. In southern California, where Pacific poison oak is a ubiquitous shrub, this
plant has a serious economic impact due to lost employment time as a result of dermatitis it
causes. Plants are poisonous at all times of the year and at all stages of growth.
Just the Facts….Red Imported Fire Ant
The Red Imported Fire Ant is an invasive ant species that is rapidly colonizing the southeastern portion of the
United States. Native to South America these ants were introduced into the United States through the port of
Mobile, Alabama in the late 1930’s. They have since spread to13 states and Puerto Rico. These ants are a health
hazard to humans and small animals, causing painful blisters and allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. They
are a major agricultural pest and the large, unsightly mounds of excavated soil that they build make it difficult to
harvest crops from infested fields. Human movement of infested material has aided these pests in
their spread northward.
Arizona Woman Infected With Plague Known as 'Black Death'
'Black Death' has descended on the hills of northern Arizona. State health officials report that a
woman in Apache County contracted plague after being bitten by a flea that was carrying the
bacteria. There has also been an outbreak of the deadly disease among prairie dogs and rodents
in Coconino County.
West Nile virus: most active year since 2003
“We generally feel by the time we’re in September the reporting we’ll see is mostly from July and
August bites,” Gingery said. But he said the danger of infection remains so long as weather is
warm enough for mosquitoes to breed; the first frost will interrupt their life cycles perhaps some
time in mid-October. “Weather plays a big role, definitely, both precipitation and temperatures,” said John Pape,
CDPHE epidemiologist who runs West Nile surveillance. He said mosquito and bird populations, which are affected
by weather, are factors as well.
Senator Maggie Hassan Pursues EEE Task Force
EXETER — State Sen. Maggie Hassan hopes the reconvening of an arborvirus task force will help those upset
with the state Fish and Game Department's policy for mosquito control reach a compromise. The major
disagreement over mosquito control is between the state Fish and Game Department, which has a policy for how
and when treatment can occur on its land, and residents who want more treatment on the state Fish and Game
land. Fish and Game has revised its blanket no-treatment policy with a new policy that allows larvicide and
adulticide treatment if certain conditions have been met. But some residents of Stratham and other area towns feel
the policy is too rigid.
10
Plague confirmed in East Mountains woman
The state Department of Health reports that an East Mountain woman is the state’s fifth confirmed case of human
bubonic plague this year.
State Bitten Hard by Virus
A record 81 Oklahomans have been infected with the mosquito-borne West Nile virus this season, and six state
residents have died from the disease, public health authorities reported Monday. The 81 cases surpass 2003,
when the state had 79 cases of West Nile virus.
Spider Infestation Closes Dublin Park Pool
Black widow spiders shut down Madison's Dublin Park pool complex last week while recreation department
personnel and the city's pest control contractor battled more than 100 of the creatures.
Spiders, Scorpions Found in Manila Mail
MANILA, Philippines - The package from Hong Kong looked innocent enough, marked "personal clothing." But
when customs officials opened it, they were stunned to see about 300 live scorpions and spiders.
The scorpions and spiders — which included tarantulas — were packed in nets, bottles and transparent plastic
boxes, concealed under clothes, newspapers reported Wednesday.
Forest Fragmentation May Increase Lyme Disease Risk
Forest fragmentation may increase Lyme disease risk. Having a patch of woods in your backyard may boost your
spirits but could threaten your health. New research shows that small forest fragments in New York have more
Lyme disease-carrying ticks, which could increase peoples' risk of the disease.
Migrating Tick Populations Pose Year Round Disease Threat For People And Pets
Veterinarians across the United States are citing an increase in tick-borne infections in recent years, according to
Michael Dryden, DVM, a Kansas State University professor of veterinary parasitology. Researchers attribute tick
migrations to warmer temperatures, increasing white-tailed deer populations, reforestation and urban sprawl.
Advancements in diagnostic screening have allowed veterinarians to easily track the rise in canine exposure to tickborne infections around the country.
Return to Table of Contents
OTHER PEST MANAGEMENT LINKS/REFERENCES OF
INTEREST
Newly Revised Book on Weeds and Invasive Plants Discusses How They Can Be Managed
Using Ecological Approaches
How weeds and invasive plants develop and interact in their new environment, and how people
can manage and control them, are addressed in a newly revised book, Ecology of Weeds and
Invasive Plants: Relationship to Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (WileyInterscience, 2007), a classic reference authored by Jodie S. Holt, a professor of plant physiology
at the University of California, Riverside, and two other coauthors.
Poster for the “2008 National Weed Awareness Week”
If interested in obtaining a personal copy of the Poster you can e-mail Dr. Pete Egan - Egan, Peter, Dr, OSD-ATL
[Peter.Egan@osd.mil]. View the (Poster.pdf) file for an example.
National Invasive Species Council NISC Report Ending the Week of September 20, 2007.
11
Red Imported Fire Ants - [California Department of Food & Agriculture]
Provides information about:
1. Facts and Information
2. Identification
3. Environment
4. Biology
5. CDFA > PHPPS > PDEP > Red Imported Fire Ant Treatment
6. History in California
OTSG Policy Memo on Stinging Insects [Memorandum for Commanders, MEDCOM Regional Medical
Commands]
Sting Insect Policy – To provide administrative guidance and policy to healthcare providers relating to the
evaluation, treatment, and assessment of Soldiers, contractors, and civilian personnel with stinging insect
allergies.
USAEC Pest Management
USAEC provides centralized pest management oversight and technical support for the US Army Pest Management
Program for Installation Management Command (IMCOM) Regions (except Europe and Korea) and other special
installations not currently under IMCOM.
Armed Forces Pest Management Board
 DoD Pest Management Courses - Army Sponsored Courses
Entomological Sciences Program, USACHPPM
 Entomology - Mapping Pest Populations
The Entomological Sciences Program offers several avenues of support to help you get started with Geographical
Information Systems (GIS) and be successful.
Army Medical Zoology Branch, AMEDD Center and School
Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency Pest Management
NAVFAC Applied Biology Newsletter Summer 2007

http://www.afpmb.org/pubs/NAVFAC/newsletters/NAVFAC%20Atlantic%20Applied%20Biology%20News
letter%20Summer2007.doc
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the 13 major operating components of the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is the principal agency in the United States government
for protecting the health and safety of all Americans.
California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC)
Invasive Plants
 Definitions and Impacts
 Invasive Plant Inventory
 Management
 Research
 Mapping
Kansas State University Extension Service [http://www.entomology.ksu.edu/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=57]
Report a Pest or Disease [US Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service]
Web site provides you with POCs within each State for reporting a plant or animal pest or disease.
Nonindigenous Aquatic Species by State [DOI. USGS. Florida Integrated Science Center.]
Query for an up-to-date listing of nonindigenous species by state, sorted by taxonomic group, scientific name or
common name.
PestTracker: State Information USDA. APHIS. Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey. National Agricultural Pest
Information System.]
PestTracker is the public access web site of the National Agricultural Pest Information System (NAPIS), the
12
agricultural pest tracking database of the US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey.
Invasive and Noxious Weed List [USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service]
View Federal and state noxious weed lists, an invasive plant list, or an introduced plant with links to more
information:
 Federal Noxious Weed List
 State Noxious Weed Reports
 State and Federal Composite List of All US Noxious Weeds
 Invasive Plants of the US
 Introduced Plants of the US
 Pesticides – US Environmental Protection Agency
Web sites provide information about Pesticides, Health and Safety, Environmental Effects, Controlling Pests,
Regulating Pesticides, Compliance and Enforcement, Grants and Partnerships, Science and Policy, Regions,
States, and Tribes.
Pesticides and Pests: Disaster Preparedness & Response [National Pesticide Information Center]
Pesticides Emergencies
 Pesticide Emergencies Contacts
Preventing and Preparing for Chemical Emergencies
 Chemical Emergencies – CDC
 Dispose of Unwanted or Disaster Pesticides and Chemicals
 Know How to Handle and React to Chemical Products During an Emergency – FEMA
 Be Prepared for Chemical Emergencies in Your Community – EPA
Return to Table of Contents
NEW TECHNOLOGIES/PRODUCTS/EQUIPMENT/TRAINING
T-Rex Rat Trap
The Trapper T-Rex is the newest snap trap from Bell
Labs, makers of many professional rodent control
products. This trap is easier to set than conventional
rat snap traps and gives you a more reliable rat kill.
Features include a sensitive trigger and superior trap velocity with unique
interlocking teeth that makes it far more difficult for a rat to escape.
Rodent Traps
Web site provides a list of rodent traps and describes their features. There is a variety of devices to choose from
when trapping rats or mice. The two main groups of rat and mouse traps are live traps and kill traps.
Rodenticides are also used to kill rats and to kill mice.
Fighting Moths With Pheromones Is Now Easier
Rather than place pheromone-emitting dispensers in trees by hand to disrupt
codling moth mating, apple and pear growers could soon be spraying the pest’s
chemical sex attractant instead, thanks to ARS research. For decades, growers
have released synthetic forms of the female moth’s sex attractant, or pheromone,
in orchards to confuse the male moths and keep the insects from mating and
spawning new generations of destructive caterpillar offspring.
Return to Table of Contents
CERTIFICATION, RECERTIFICATION, AND PEST
13
MANAGEMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE EVALUATOR
COURSES
If you are interested in attending one of these courses, contact Ms. Christine Convery, US Army Environmental
Command, DSN 584-1213, commercial (410) 436-1213, email christine.convery@us.army.mil
Click here for the AMEDD Center and School list of Certification, Recertification, and PMQAE Classes
Click here for a list (AFPMB web site) of DoD training and certification courses provided by the Army,
Navy and Air Force.
Return to Table of Contents
DoD STANDARDS PESTICIDES AND DoD “EQUIPMENT” LIST
Standard Pesticides Available to DoD Components and All Federal Agencies (Includes Material Safety Data
Sheets & Labels) as of October 1, 2007 (Download MS Word Version)
DoD Pest Management Materiel Other Than Pesticides (Includes Product Image and Specifications) as of
October 1, 2007 (Download MS Word Version)
 Pesticide Dispersal Unit Guidance
DoD Contingency Pesticides (Includes Material Safety Data Sheets & Labels) as of October 1, 2007 (Download
MS Word Version)
Return to Table of Contents
MEETINGS OF INTEREST
* * * * 2007 * * * *
5-8 November 2007. The 63rd Annual Wyoming Weed and Pest Conference: the 63rd annual Wyoming Weed
and Pest Conference will be held in the Snow King Resort, 400 E. Snow King Ave. in Jackson Hole, WY. For more
information, please contact Slade Franklin, Wyoming Weed and Pest Coordinator (sfrank@state.wy.us) (Staff
Contact Chris Dionigi)
6-8 November 2007. The Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF) Meeting: the Aquatic Nuisance
Species Task Force (ANSTF) Meeting will be held at the Washington Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at
4401 North Fairfax Drive, in Arlington, VA. Lodging accommodations have been reserved at the Holiday Inn
Ballston (site of the November 2006 meeting). Hotel details are available and the preliminary agenda will be made
available on the ANSTF website at http://anstaskforce.gov/Documents/Logistics_ANSTF_11_07.pdf. The
deadline to reserve a room at the Holiday INN is October 5, 2007 in order to get the meeting rate. For additional
information, please contact Scott Newsham at Scott_Newsham@fws.gov (Staff Contact Dean Wilkinson).
7-8 November 200. A Conference on Cogongrass in the South: a conference entitled "Confronting the
Cogongrass Crisis across the South" will be held at the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center in Mobile,
AL. For more information please see /www.aces.edu/forestry/ (Staff Contact Chris Dionigi).
11-14 November 2007. Florida Mosquito Control Association - Florida State mosquito control association
engaging in teaching and education of mosquito ... Crowne Plaza in Jacksonville, FL.
14
9-12 December 2007. The 55th ESA Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.
Click here to register for the 55th ESA Annual Meeting on Dec. 9-12 in San Diego, CA.
Important note about meeting housing registration
The Town and Country is now sold out for hotel rooms. Meeting attendees who have not yet booked a room are
asked to contact the Crowne Plaza online or at (619) 297-1101. Be sure to tell the reservation agent that you will
be attending the ESA meeting. Complimentary transportation between the properties will be provided.
* * * * 2008 * * * *
Armed Forces Pest Management Meetings
1. 186th Meetings
- Committee & Council Meetings: February 26-28, 2008
- Executive Committee: March 13, 2008
2. 187th Meetings
- Committee & Council Meetings: August 19-21, 2008
- Executive Committee: September 4, 2008
Return to Table of Contents
EQUIPMENT NEEDED/EXCESS PESTICIDES
One of the methods of ensuring that potential pest management resources are not inadvertently lost is to periodically
check Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DMRO) sites for turn-in of pesticides as well as equipment and
related pest management materiel. The DRMO website is easy to navigate -http://www.drms.dla.mil/
Return to Table of Contents
REGULATORY NEWSWATCH
Final Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
a. Federal Register Notice (HTML/PDF)
Press Release
Dear Reader Letter
Signature Page
Record of Decision
Appendixes
i.
Appendix A - Herbicide Use Protocol
ii.
Appendix B - Herbicide Use Standard Operating Procedures
iii.
Appendix C - Endangered Species Act Consultation
iv.
Appendix D - Monitoring
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Bureau of Land Management, [WO–220–05–1020–JA–VEIS], Notice of
Availability of the Record of Decision for the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for
Vegetation Treatments Using
Herbicides on Bureau of Land Management Lands in 17 Western States
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
15
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
The decision selects for use the four herbicides identified in Alternative B of the FPEIS. These herbicides are:
Diquat, diflufenzopyr (in formulation with dicamba), fluridone, and imazapic. The BLM also selects for continued use
the following 14 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered active ingredients: 2,4-D, bromacil,
chlorsulfuron, clopyralid, dicamba, diuron, glyphosate, hexazinone, imazapyr, metsulfuron methyl, picloram,
sulfometuron methyl, tebuthiuron, and triclopyr. The BLM does not select for use the following six herbicide
active ingredients: 2,4-DP, asulam, atrazine, fosamine, mefluidide, and simazine.
Cancellation of Pesticides for Non-payment of Year 2007 Registration Maintenance Fees
SUMMARY: Since the amendments of October, 1988, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
(FIFRA) has required payment of an annual maintenance fee to keep pesticide registrations in
effect. The fee, due January 15, 2007, has gone unpaid for 721 registrations. Section 4(i)(5)(G) of FIFRA
provides that the Administrator may cancel these registrations by order and without a hearing; orders to cancel
all 721 of these registrations have been issued within the past few days.
EPA Approves 1-Year Use of Pesticide
The Environmental Protection Agency gave the go-ahead for one-year use of a new agricultural pesticide
Friday, saying its own scientific review overrides health concerns expressed by more than 50 chemists and
other scientists. Methyl iodide, also known as iodomethane, will be allowed to control soil pests "under
highly restrictive provisions governing its use," the EPA said in a statement.
Report an Environmental Violation
If you are experiencing an environmental emergency or are witnessing an environmental event that may lead to
imminent loss of life. Environmental emergencies, like oil and chemical spills and the release of radioactive
materials, may occur from



transportation accidents,
events at chemical or other facilities using or manufacturing chemicals, or
as a result of natural or man-made disaster events.
To report oil and chemical spills
and radiation emergencies,
call the National Response Center:
1-800-424-8802
If you want more information on reporting an environmental violation, go to the: Report Environmental Violations
Project- general information page.
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act - 7 U.S.C. s/s 136 et seq. (1996)
The primary focus of FIFRA was to provide federal control of pesticide distribution, sale, and use. EPA was given
authority under FIFRA not only to study the consequences of pesticide usage but also to require users (farmers,
utility companies, and others) to register when purchasing pesticides.
 Full text of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
Return to Table of Contents
POTPOURRI
16
Scientist: Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Already Beyond 'Worst-Case' Scenario
SYDNEY, Australia — Worldwide economic growth has accelerated the level of greenhouse gas emissions to a dangerous
threshold scientists had not expected for another decade, according to a leading Australian climate change expert. Tim
Flannery told Australian Broadcasting Corp. that an upcoming report by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
will contain new data showing that the level of climate-changing gases in the atmosphere has already reached critical levels.
Subject: [NIWAWlist] Wavyleaf Basketgrass Moves in Waves through Maryland
Forests
Wavyleaf Basketgrass Moves in Waves through Maryland Forests
Have You Seen It?
A spreading invader -- everything on the ground plane is wavyleaf, photo by Kerrie Kyde
Attention Citizen Scientists!
Help Control Wavyleaf Basketgrass
If you have seen this NEW and Highly Invasive Species,
Report Your Sightings <mailto:kkyde@dnr.state.md.us>
Typical growth habit of wavyleaf basketgrass, photo by John SnitzerTwo small
populations of a Eurasian grass never previously found in the US were discovered in
Patapsco State Park by sharp-eyed botanists in 1996. Smithsonian Institution and
international experts confirmed its identity as an exotic subspecies of a grass that is native
to sub-tropical and tropical regions, including the southeastern coast of the US.
The native grasses are Basketgrass (Oplismenus hirtellus) and its related native
subspecies Bristle Basketgrass (Oplismenus hirtellus ssp. setarius). The exotic subspecies is Wavyleaf
basketgrass (Oplismenus hirtellus ssp. undulatifolius).
In 2000, a private consulting ecologist found this grass by a wooded stream on the property of the Hernwood
Landfill in Baltimore County. Last year this shade-tolerant moist forest grass turned up more than 20 miles away in
Little Paint Branch Park in Prince George’s County, where is it being actively removed by groups of volunteers.
During this dry summer, this fast-moving grass was one of the few plants obvious on the forest floor, and now that
fall has arrived, it is blooming and producing seed.
Wavyleaf basketgrass is a striking grass. It is a low-lying, trailing perennial grass, branching and rooting at nodes
along creeping stems called stolons. The leaf blades are flat, about ½ to 1" wide and between 1½ and 4” long,
deep green with rippling waves across the grass blades, as though the tide were coming into shore along the
leaves. They have elongated pointed tips. The leaf sheaths and stems are noticeably hairy, although the hairs are
very short. This characteristic distinguishes it from its closest relative Oplismenus hirtellus ssp. setarius, which
occurs naturally in the southeastern US and Mexico and has only a few hairs, if any. When it blooms, in late
September and into October, the grass spikelets have glumes (lower bracts) with very long awns (extended pointed
tips). The awns produce a sticky substance that allows the grass seed to adhere to passing animals and so
disperse.
Foliage of Wavyleaf basketgrass, photo by Kerrie Kyde
A group of Oplsimenus flowers (inflorescence) showing the sticky purplish awns that help distribute the seeds
If you walk, run, bicycle, horseback ride or pass through a patch of this grass right now,
the seeds will stick to your pants, boots and vehicle and can be moved to new
uninvaded locations (see photo below). Please take precautions.
17
Photo of Wavyleaf basketgrass sticky awns, photo by John Snitzer. It is unclear how Wavyleaf basketgrass first
came to the US and to Maryland, although it is possible that the Baltimore County landfill was the unwitting source
of the natural area infestation, spreading from hanging basket plantings that someone threw away. Variegated
varieties of the related O. hirtellus ‘Variegatus’ are sold ornamentally as “Ribbon grass” or “Basket grass,” but the
wavyleaf subspecies does not seem to be sold in the horticultural trade. It does appear to spread rapidly through
wooded natural areas: the Little Paint Branch pockets of infestation add up to about 3 acres, and in sections of
Patapsco Valley State Park, the grass covers more than 150 acres.
DNR has begun to map the extent of the infestation, and is taking steps to limit the spread of this invasive grass. If
you hike, bike, horseback ride, or simply walk your dog in Maryland forests, especially in moist forests along
waterways, please keep an eye out for this grass. If you think you have seen it, please let us know where and how
much of it there is (a few plants, patches, groundcover carpets). Digital pictures, especially close-ups, of the plant
are extremely helpful for identification purposes.
Photographs courtesy of Kerrie Kyde and John Snitzer
(top to bottom):
*
*
*
*
*
A spreading invader -- everything on the ground plane is wavyleaf basketgrass
Typical growth habit of wavyleaf basketgrass
Wavyleaf basketgrass foliage
A group of Oplsimenus flowers (inflorescence) showing the sticky purplish awns that help distribute the seeds
A built-in distribution system: a researcher's pant legs are covered with awns and seeds
Attention Citizen Scientists!
Help Control Wavyleaf Basketgrass
If you have seen this NEW and Highly Invasive Species,
Report Your Sightings <mailto:kkyde@dnr.state.md.us>
For More Information
For questions or comments, or if you have seen this grass, please contact:
Kerrie Kyde, Invasive Plant Specialist
kkyde@dnr.state.md.us
Phone: 410-260-8534
You can reach us toll free in Maryland: 1-877-620-8DNR (8367)
TTY users dial 711
Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife and Heritage Service
580 Taylor Ave. E-1
Annapolis, MD 21401
Return to Table of Contents
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