Evaluation of Two Parasitoids in Dairy Calf Greenhouses

Parasitoids are a critical component of a successful dairy IPM program.  In the first year of this two-year study we compared individual species parasitoid releases.  During Year 2 we compared the best individual parasitoid from Year 1 (M. raptorellus) to a 50:50 ratio of M. raptor and M. raptorellus

Confronting Finsler space-time with experiment

Within all approaches to quantum gravity small violations of the Einstein Equivalence Principle are expected. This includes violations of Lorentz invariance. While usually violations of Lorentz invariance are introduced through the coupling to additional tensor fields, here a Finslerian approach is employed where violations of Lorentz invariance are incorporated as an integral part of the space-time metrics. Within such a Finslerian framework a modified dispersion relation is derived which is confronted with current high precision experiments. As a result, Finsler type deviations from the Minkowskian metric are excluded with an accuracy of 10^{-16}.Comment: To be published in General Relativity and Gravitatio

Effect of tensor couplings in a relativistic Hartree approach for finite nuclei

The relativistic Hartree approach describing the bound states of both nucleons and anti-nucleons in finite nuclei has been extended to include tensor couplings for the $\omega$- and $\rho$-meson. After readjusting the parameters of the model to the properties of spherical nuclei, the effect of tensor-coupling terms rises the spin-orbit force by a factor of 2, while a large effective nucleon mass $m^{*}/M_{N} \approx 0.8$ sustains. The overall nucleon spectra of shell-model states are improved evidently. The predicted anti-nucleon spectra in the vacuum are deepened about 20 -- 30 MeV.Comment: 31 pages, 4 postscript figures include

Development of Veterinary Entomology IPM Extension Materials

Arthropod pests can significantly impact animal health and net profitability of cattle production. Extension outreach of IPM approaches and techniques have been tremendously instrumental in enhancing producer awareness of pest management alternatives. Keeping outreach sourced with state of the art information, resources and approaches helps ensure the greatest potential educational impact. Developing the specimen boxes and demonstration kits has positively impacted the effectiveness of our outreach efforts

An Integrated Approach to Managing Fly Pests in Dairy Calf Greenhouses

ReportHouse flies, Musca domestica, and stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans, are both extremely important dairy cattle pests in New York. House flies transmit diseases and are annoying, while stable flies inflict a painful bite causing weight loss and discomfort to animals. Both of these flies have the potential to move from the farm to neighboring homes creating legal challenges and extremely poor community relations. Large, plastic covered, half-hoop structures, resembling greenhouses used for holding large numbers of calves are beginning to replace individual calf hutches on New York dairy farms. The benefits of using these atructures are numerous (easier animal handling, healthier calves, and easier cleanup), however, there is also the potential for buildup of large numbers of fly pests. Until recently, we have not had the opportunity to critically evaluate the effectiveness of our dairy fly IPM program recommendations in these facilities. Additionally, this on-farm project enabled us to evaluate our fly management recommendations and provide us with a means to solicit grower feedback and suggestions in “real time.

Evaluation of Seasonal Variations in Carcinops pumilio Dispersal and Potential for Suppression of Dispersal Behavior

NYS IPM Type: Project ReportSeasonal dispersal of Carcinops pumilio collected using two trapping methods, the Hister House™ and a black light pitfall trap were examined in the laboratory. The largest number of hister beetles captured with black lights (201,000) occurred in April while the greatest dispersal (70%) in the arenas both occurred with beetles collected in May. The greatest dispersal (68%) from Hister House™ collections occurred in April with June collections providing the greatest numbers of beetles per trap. Regardless of trapping method, dispersal and beetle collections declined from June through October. The trend in November indicates that although beetles were difficult to collect in traps, those that were placed in experimental arenas dispersed at a high rate (40 to 50%). Currently, there is insufficient data to determine if photoperiod alteration has an impact on suppression or induction of dispersal behavior

Evaluation of Competition, Host Type and Host Location on Searching Ability and Parasitism Rates of Muscidifurax raptorellus and Nasonia vitripennis in New York Poultry Facilities

NYS IPM Type: Project ReportMuscidifurax raptorellus and Nasonia vitripennis were examined in experimental areas and field-release environments to evaluate their individual and paired effectiveness in managing house fly, Musca domestica, populations. Laboratory-reared and field-collected pupae were evaluated to determine the impact of host type and host location on parasitism rates

Statewide Survey of Mosquito Breeding (Species Identification and Prevalence) on NY Dairy Farms

Mosquitoes breeding on dairy farms may present a health risk to the citizens of New York State. Our study had four critical results. We determined that bunker tires on dairy farms are important mosquito production sites. We identified the mosquito species breeding in bunker tires and the adult species host seeking on dairies in select regions around New York State. We identified the current range of the invasive species Oc. j. japonicus breeding on New York dairies and we have established “negative presence” baseline data for Ae. albopictus on dairies in these 5 regions