Rideout: Tips for mosquito control and prevention
Andy Rideout
Spring rains provide attractive breeding sites for several species of mosquito in the area.
The container-breeding Asian Tiger Mosquito and the Eastern Treehole Mosquito are likely to see big increases with wetter springs, especially if temperatures remain warm. Although these mosquitoes are annoying, another less common species is the Culex mosquito species, which are known to be a primary vector of the West Nile Virus. The larvae and pupae of these mosquitoes are found in permanent or semi-permanent standing water.
In fact, all mosquitoes are dependent on water to complete their life-cycle. Adult mosquitoes lay eggs on the surface of water or in places where water is likely to accumulate. The eggs will then hatch to a larvae or “wiggler” stage. After several molts, they will pupate and emerge from the water as an adult. The entire life-cycle is completed in about two weeks or as little as 10 days during warmer w
In past years, I have received calls about a large, striped bee hovering above home lawns ,and many people have asked if this is the start to a ‘killer bee’ invasion or something worse.
Fortunately, unless you are a cicada, you have nothing to fear. This intimidating insect is the Cicada Killer Wasp. The Cicada Killers rarely sting unless disturbed, but because of their large size (2 inches) people become concerned. These solitary wasps can also become a nuisance when they dig holes in lawns and flowerbeds kicking out a horseshoe-shaped mound of dirt.
This year, the brood X, 17 year circadas will be hatching and likely, as a result, we will see many more cicada killers.
Rideout: Tomato plants vulnerable to broad range of wilt diseases
Andy Rideout
It is that time of year when home gardeners start setting their tomato plants. Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable grown by gardeners but they are also susceptible to a broad range of viral, bacterial, and fungal diseases, especially when exposed to wet conditions.
Of these diseases, the most common and often difficult to diagnosis are the ‘wilt’ diseases. Properly planting your tomato’s and avoiding bad drainage areas will prevent many of these common diseases.
Fusarium Wilt is a fungal disease favored by warm soil temperatures and low soil moisture; a little different from other wilt diseases. Symptoms are first noticed as yellowing of the lower leaves, often only on one side of the plant. The yellowed leaves gradually wilt and die. As the disease progresses, successive leaves yellow, wilt, and die but remain attached to the plant.
Director of Kentucky Emergency Management Mike Dossett said the vaccination clinics are about health equity. Health equity means that everyone has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible, he said. That means removing obstacles, and we are taking yet another step in this process by opening the clinic in Henderson and a second one in Laurel County, Kentucky. We re trying to give 250 doses a day, in addition to the mobile outreach vans, Dossett said, noting that between the two federal sites, the goal is to get 7,000 people vaccinated a week.
Both the mobile units and the clinic sites will administer both rounds of vaccines at the proper intervals.
There will also be mobile units going into the region to help get people vaccinated. Mobile vans will be sent to 12 adjacent counties to offer up the vaccinations to the general public, he said. Some local volunteer EMTs and paid EMTs have stepped up to go out into these areas to help get people vaccinated. FEMA will give us 2,000 flyers, and we will saturate this area with the information, Garrett said. The Governor will make the announcement on Thursday about where the mobile units will be going, he said.
Schneider said it s important for Henderson County to increase the number of vaccinations among eligible residents.