Items
of Interest:
Texans Being Urged to Be on the Lookout for a New Bug in Town (Dec 3, 2012)
Texas A&M University.
With the holiday season gearing up, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologists are urging travelers to be wary of a new species of unwelcome six-legged hitchhikers itching to become full-time Texans. "We're working to raise awareness about the brown marmorated stink bug in Texas," said Bill Ree, AgriLife Extension entomologist at College Station. "This pest is hitting some states hard. It's a great hitchhiker which is probably one, if not the main reason, it has spread to so many states."
Entomologists are asking all Texans to report
and submit suspected samples so they can confirm if and where the
insects may be taking up residence in the state.
Emergency Zebra Mussels Order Made Permanent (Nov 8, 2012)
Texas Parks and Wildlife.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission voted Thursday to make permanent an emergency order adding Lake Ray Roberts, Lake Lewisville and the section of the Elm Fork of the Trinity that connects the two reservoirs to the list of water bodies under special regulations intended to control the spread of zebra mussels. The emergency order had been signed by TPWD Executive Director Carter Smith at the end of July following the discovery earlier that month of the destructive invasive species in Lake Ray Roberts, which is north of Denton.
For more information on zebra mussels and how to clean, drain and dry a boat, visit http://www.texasinvasives.org/.
Palm Tree-Killing Weevil Found in South Texas (Oct 22, 2012)
Texas A&M University.
An intensive, area-wide survey of the Lower Rio Grande Valley has detected the presence of a palm tree-killing weevil that has caused extensive damage in other parts of the world, according to Dr. Raul Villanueva, an entomologist at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco. "Unfortunately, in April and May we found the South American palm weevil at two locations in Alamo. The good news is that there’s no sign yet of the Asian, or red palm weevil." The South American palm weevil is black, about an inch and a half long and originated in Central and South America, he said. It then spread to Mexico and California where it has killed many oil and coconut palm trees. "This invasive species can threaten the ornamental palm industry, not only in Texas, but throughout the South, he said.
New Regulations to Affect Boaters, Anglers on Texoma, Lavon, Red River (May 3, 2012)
Texas Parks and Wildlife.
“Boaters and anglers on Lake Texoma, Lake Lavon and the Red River and its tributaries are being asked to take proactive steps toward being good stewards of the state’s aquatic resources by draining all water from their watercraft before leaving a boat ramp and hitting the road,” said Brian Van Zee, regional inland fisheries director for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). The new regulation is intended to prevent the spread of zebra mussellarvae, or veligers, which are so tiny they cannot be seen without a
microscope. All water will need to be removed from a boat before leaving Lakes
Texoma or Lavon for another lake, the boater’s home or other destination. The regulation applies to the Red River from the I-44 bridge in Wichita County downstream to the Arkansas border, including all Texas waters of Lake Texoma and Lake Lavon. A second regulation designed to prevent the spread of silver and bighead carp also takes effect May 17. This regulation primarily affects anglers who collect live bait; it prohibits the transport of live non-game fish from waters known to be inhabited by the two species of carp.
Texas Department of Agriculture and USDA Confirm Detection of Plant Disease That Damages Citrus Trees (Jan 18, 2012)
Texas Department of Agriculture.
The Texas Department of Agriculture and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed the first detection in Texas of citrus greening, a destructive plant disease that poses a threat to the state's citrus industry. The disease was discovered in a tree in a commercial orange grove in San Juan.
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