An Assessment of Gypsy Moth Eradication Attempts in Michigan (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

Michigan\u27s infestation of gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, extends over 600,000 acres, First discovered in Michigan in the 19505, gypsy moth was reportedly eradicated through the use of DDT then reintroduced in the 1970s, Substantial circumstantial biological evidence, however, points to the probability that gypsy moth has resided continuously in Michigan for over 30 years, Environmental factors may be largely responsible for containing Michigan\u27s gypsy moth popUlations

A qualitative study of the health experience of gypsy travellers in the UK with a focus on terminal illness

Aim To understand the experience of terminal care and health care access for Gypsy Travellers, to inform palliative and primary care service provision. Background Little contemporary research of UK English Romany Gypsy Travellers is available. This ethnic group is often overlooked in ethnic minority health research. Methods Access to Gypsy Traveller communities was through non-health care channels and required the development of trust through repeated contact over time. English Romany Gypsy Travellers at two Traveller sites participated in face-to-face contacts. Data collection was through field observation and seven semistructured interviews with Gypsy Traveller women who had experience of caring for relatives who were dying. In addition, data were collected over two years through discussion in a members-only Gypsy and Traveller interest e-mail forum. Findings The culture of Gypsy Travellers is distinct but diverse. Hygiene is important as is discretion and sensitivity to the information requirements of the patient and family. Gypsy Travellers are aware that their mobility (voluntary or enforced) can negatively impact on health care. Home care for the terminally ill is often preferred to hospital care often due to poor understanding of their cultural and personal needs by health care professionals and due to an aversion to ‘bricks and mortar’. Care may be provided by the extended family. Palliative care provision should consider the needs of Gypsy Travellers including respect for their culture and support for caring at home

Effects of Hybrid Poplar (Salicaceae) Clone and Phenology on Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) Performance in Wisconsin

Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) developmental interactions with two hybrid Populus species clones were studied in laboratory trials. Significant differences in larval performance were found between clones and within the same clone at different phenological states. No larvae were able to complete development on clone NM6. All gypsy moth larvae feeding on clone NC5271 survived when leafflush was synchronized with gypsy moth eclosion in early May. However, neonates feeding on NC5271 foliage in July experienced in- creased mortality. Weights of surviving gypsy moth larvae feeding on NC5271 foliage in May versus July were not significantly different

Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae): History of Eradication Efforts in Michigan, 1954-1981

Gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, was first discovered in Michigan in 1954, Aerial spraying operations were conducted to eradicate gypsy moth infestations with synthetic insecticides (DDT, carbaryl, and diflubenzuron)

‘Doing research’ with gypsy-travellers in England: reflections on experience and practice

In order to bring the lives of Gypsy–Travellers in line with the sustainable communities’ agenda, there is now a duty for local planning authorities in England to assess the accommodation and related needs of Gypsy–Travellers. As such, there has been an increase in research, which aims to ‘find out’ more about these communities. This article explores some of the issues that researchers should consider when carrying out research with Gypsy– Travellers. It focuses specifically on issues around identifying and engaging with members of the Gypsy and Traveller communities, offering some strategies and solutions based on the experiences of the authors and other researchers

English folk music on the margin - Cecil Sharp's gypsies

Cecil Sharp is the only English or even British collector who can be compared with such European giants as Bela Bartok and Zoltan Kodaly, compsers and collectors who undertook extnsive fieldwork documenting the folk music of indigenous cultures including many Romani gypsy singers and musicians. Cecil Sharp only occasionally referred to collecting from gypsy singers. This paper identifis and examines Sharp's encouters with the gypsy community revealing singers, recordings and photographs previously unidentified

Alternatives to the Gypsy Moth Eradication Program in Michigan

Responding to questions of what the gypsy moth, Porthetria dispar, would do in Michigan forests, a computer simulation model was constructed. The model consisted of three subunits: a submodel of gypsy moth population dynamics, a submodel of forest growth and a submodel of tree defoliation and mortality. Several different policies were simulated for an 80 year period. The eradication policy now employed in Michigan failed due to survival of small portions of the population. Allowing the gypsy moth to become established in Michigan forests and then responding by spraying when defoliation is visible provided a policy with the least economic and environmental cost

Indirect effects between deer, mice, and the gypsy moth in a forest community

White-tailed deer are ecosystem engineers that dramatically alter forest understory vegetation. Consequently, deer can impact many species in a forest through both direct and indirect effects. One species that deer may indirectly affect is the gypsy moth, whose pupae are preyed upon by the white-footed mouse. Through alterations to understory habitat of mice, deer may reduce mouse predation on gypsy moth pupae. In this study, I tested for indirect effects of deer on the gypsy moth by comparing mouse abundance, vegetation properties, and predation on pupae inside, and outside, of long-term deer exclosures. Overall, I did not find evidence for indirect effects of deer on the gypsy moth. There was little effect of the exclosures on mouse abundance, predation rates, and habitat measures. High mouse abundances, which likely resulted from a large acorn mast the previous year, may be obscuring indirect effects that would be detected at lower mouse abundances

Derrington, C. & Kendall, S. (2004). Gypsy traveller students in secondary schools: culture, identity and achievement. Stoke on Trent, UK and Sterling USA: Trentham Books (ISBN 1 85056 320 8) [Book review]

Review of C. Derrington & S. Kendall's 2004 publication, Gypsy Traveller Students in Secondary Schools: Culture, Identity and Achievement. Stoke on Trent, UK and Sterling USA: Trentham Books. (ISBN 1 85056 320 8). The book is concerned with English Gypsy Travellers (although six participants were Irish Travellers), as opposed to fairground or circus people and new age travellers

Defining ethnicity in a cultural and socio-legal context : the case of Scottish gypsy-travellers

Scottish Gypsy/Travellers are 'to be regarded' as an ethnic group in Scotland by both the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Executive until a test case in a court of law clarifies matters. Since 2000-01 this fact has not been contested in any meaningful way and it is now the case that Gypsy/Traveller children, if they choose, can tick their own box in school Census counts. It logically follows from this that they can, in principle, experience racial discrimination. As it stands Scottish Gypsy/Travellers are undoubtedly as much an 'ethnic group' as any other which is currently protected by the Race Relations Act 1976 (as amended 2000) despite the fact that at the moment they generally lack the substantive protection of the Act in the Scottish context. It follows that Scottish Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland or Britain can experience racial discrimination which is not dissimilar to that experienced by all the minority ethnic groups currently protected by race relations legislation, including English Gypsies and Irish Travellers. Whether they do experience racism is, of course, a matter for the police and courts to address in the individual cases that occur rather than any academic analysis. The next stage of the process will, eventually, see a test case come before the Scottish courts and complete its journey through the legal system. Only when this happens will the socio-legal status of Scottish Gypsy/Traveller ethnicity be firmly decided