80-805: The bobolink ( Dolichonyx oryzivorus ) is a small New World blackbird and the only member of the genus Dolichonyx . An old name for this species is the "rice bird", from its tendency to feed on cultivated grains during winter and migration. The bobolink breeds in the summer in the United States and Canada , with most of the summer range in the northern U.S. Bobolinks winter in southern South America , primarily Paraguay , Argentina , and Bolivia . Bobolink populations are rapidly declining due to numerous factors, such as agricultural intensification and habitat loss; they are considered threatened in Canada, and are at risk throughout their range. The genus name Dolichonyx
160-431: A cockroach infestation using fresh cucumber peels. Warfarin has traditionally been used to kill rodents, but many populations have developed resistance to this anticoagulant , and difenacoum may be substituted. These are cumulative poisons, requiring bait stations to be topped up regularly. Poisoned meat has been used for centuries to kill animals such as wolves and birds of prey. Poisoned carcasses however kill
240-445: A 75% decline was noted between 1966 and 2007. Originally, they were found in tallgrass prairie and other open areas with dense grass. Although hay fields are suitable nesting habitats, fields which are harvested early, or at multiple times, in a season may not allow sufficient time for young birds to fledge . Delaying hay harvests by just 1.5 weeks can improve bobolink survival by 20%. This species increased in numbers when horses were
320-522: A bacterium that infects and kills mosquito larvae, in local water sources. Mechanical pest control is the use of hands-on techniques as well as simple equipment and devices, that provides a protective barrier between plants and insects . This is referred to as tillage and is one of the oldest methods of weed control as well as being useful for pest control; wireworms, the larvae of the common click beetle , are very destructive pests of newly ploughed grassland, and repeated cultivation exposes them to
400-550: A bobolink. The bobolink is also mentioned in the film The Mouse on the Moon in connection with the fictional European microstate of Grand Fenwick , where oddly the bird is apparently common. The bobolink is also mentioned in the musical Camelot . Words by Alan Jay Lerner . The bobolink is mentioned in the song, “The Wind,” by Billy Bob Thornton, written by Warren Zevon. Icterid 30, See text Icterids ( / ˈ ɪ k t ər ɪ d / ) or New World blackbirds make up
480-471: A family, the Icteridae ( / ɪ k ˈ t ɛr ɪ d i / ), of small to medium-sized, often colorful, New World passerine birds. The family contains 108 species and is divided into 30 genera. Most species have black as a predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red. The species in the family vary widely in size, shape, behavior, and coloration. The name, meaning " jaundiced ones" (from
560-483: A householder knows about the beetle damage is often when a chair leg breaks off or a piece of structural timber caves in. Prevention is possible through chemical treatment of the timber prior to its use in construction or in furniture manufacturing. Termites with colonies in close proximity to houses can extend their galleries underground and make mud tubes to enter homes. The insects keep out of sight and chew their way through structural and decorative timbers, leaving
640-422: A mean of protecting other vulnerable species and ecosystems . Pest control via hunting, like all forms of harvest, has imposed an artificial selective pressure on the organisms being targeted. While varmint hunting is potentially selecting for desired behavioural and demographic changes (e.g. animals avoiding human populated areas, crops and livestock), it can also result in unpredicted outcomes such as
720-609: A natural pest control . In Florida, bobolinks feed most often on the Fall armyworm rather than the True armyworm, as the former is more common in the region. Males sing bright, bubbly songs in flight. During the 1800s the bobolink, like many birds, was slaughtered in large numbers for the meat trade. The numbers of these birds are declining due to loss of habitat . Bobolinks are a species at risk in Nova Scotia, and throughout Canada. In Vermont ,
800-524: A robust thermal envelope and acoustic noise-canceling properties. The EPA regulates this type of general-use pesticide within the United States allowing it to only be sold and installed by licensed pest management professionals as part of an integrated pest management program. Simply adding Boron or an EPA-registered pesticide to an insulation does not qualify it as a pesticide. The dosage and method must be carefully controlled and monitored. Rodent control
880-490: A similar fashion to some cuckoos . Some species of icterid have become agricultural pests ; for example, red-winged blackbirds in the United States are considered the worst vertebrate pests on some crops, such as rice . The cost of controlling blackbirds in California was $ 30 per acre in 1994. Not all species have been as successful, and a number of species are threatened with extinction. These include insular forms such as
SECTION 10
#1733093753585960-470: A standard rifle. Special smoothbore shotguns, such as the Marlin Model 25MG can produce effective patterns out to 15 or 20 yards using .22 WMR shotshells, which hold 1/8 oz. of #12 shot contained in a plastic capsule. Poisoned bait is a common method for controlling rats, mice, birds, slugs, snails, ants, cockroaches, and other pests. The basic granules, or other formulation, contains a food attractant for
1040-399: A structure. Control and extermination is a professional job involving trying to exclude the insects from the building and trying to kill those already present. Soil-applied liquid termiticides provide a chemical barrier that prevents termites from entering buildings, and lethal baits can be used; these are eaten by foraging insects, and carried back to the nest and shared with other members of
1120-475: A wide range of carrion feeders, not only the targeted species. Raptors in Israel were nearly wiped out following a period of intense poisoning of rats and other crop pests. Fumigation is the treatment of a structure to kill pests such as wood-boring beetles by sealing it or surrounding it with an airtight cover such as a tent, and fogging with liquid insecticide for an extended period, typically of 24–72 hours. This
1200-405: Is always situated on the ground and is usually well-hidden in dense vegetation. Both parents feed the young. Bobolinks forage on or near the ground and mainly eat seeds and insects . They are nicknamed the " armyworm bird " because of their predation on large numbers of armyworms , including the true armyworm ( Mythimna unipuncta ) and the fall armyworm ( Spodoptera frugiperda ), acting as
1280-503: Is at least as old as agriculture , as there has always been a need to keep crops free from pests. As long ago as 3000 BC in Egypt, cats were used to control pests of grain stores such as rodents. Ferrets were domesticated by 1500 BC in Europe for use as mousers. Mongooses were introduced into homes to control rodents and snakes, probably by the ancient Egyptians . The conventional approach
1360-531: Is costly and inconvenient as the structure cannot be used during the treatment, but it targets all life stages of pests. An alternative, space treatment, is fogging or misting to disperse a liquid insecticide in the atmosphere within a building without evacuation or airtight sealing, allowing most work within the building to continue, at the cost of reduced penetration. Contact insecticides are generally used to minimize long-lasting residual effects. Populations of pest insects can sometimes be dramatically reduced by
1440-435: Is difficult and is based on exclusion and sanitation where possible, resorting to pesticides when necessary. The beetles can fly in from outdoors and the larvae can survive on lint fragments, dust, and inside the bags of vacuum cleaners . In warehouses and museums, sticky traps baited with suitable pheromones can be used to identify problems, and heating, freezing, spraying the surface with insecticide, and fumigation will kill
1520-621: Is from the Ancient Greek dolikhos , "long", and onux , "claw". The specific oryzivorus is from Latin oryza , "rice", and vorare , "to devour"; an old name for this species is "Rice Bird". The English "Bobolink" is from Bob o' Lincoln, describing the call. Measurements : Adults are 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in) long with short finch -like bills and weigh about 28 g (1 oz). Adult males are mostly black with creamy napes and white scapulars, lower backs, and rumps. Adult females are mostly light brown with black streaks on
1600-575: Is referred to as host-plant resistance and reduces the need for pesticide use. These crops can harm or even kill pests, repel feeding, prevent colonization, or tolerate the presence of a pest without significantly impacting yield. Resistance can also occur through genetic engineering to have traits with resistance to insects, such as with Bt corn , or papaya resistance to ringspot virus. When farmers are purchasing seed, variety information often includes resistance to selected pests in addition to other traits. Pest control can also be achieved via culling
1680-672: Is the damage done to honey-bees , solitary bees and other pollinating insects and in this regard, the time of day when the spray is applied can be important. The widely used neonicotinoids have been banned on flowering crops in some countries because of their effects on bees. Some pesticides may cause cancer and other health problems in humans, as well as being harmful to wildlife. There can be acute effects immediately after exposure or chronic effects after continuous low-level, or occasional exposure. Maximum residue limits for pesticides in foodstuffs and animal feed are set by many nations. Using crops with inheritable resistance to pests
SECTION 20
#17330937535851760-442: Is the larvae that do the damage; these are invisible from the outside of the timber but are chewing away at the wood in the interior of the item. Examples of these are the powderpost beetles , which attack the sapwood of hardwoods, and the furniture beetles , which attacks softwoods, including plywood. The damage has already been done by the time the adult beetles bore their way out, leaving neat round holes behind them. The first that
1840-565: Is the regulation or management of a species defined as a pest ; such as any animal, plant or fungus that impacts adversely on human activities or environment. The human response depends on the importance of the damage done and will range from tolerance, through deterrence and management, to attempts to completely eradicate the pest. Pest control measures may be performed as part of an integrated pest management strategy. In agriculture, pests are kept at bay by mechanical , cultural , chemical and biological means. Ploughing and cultivation of
1920-897: Is vital in cities. New York City and cities across the state dramatically reduced their rodent populations in the early 1970s. Rio de Janeiro claims a reduction of 80% over only 2 years shortly thereafter. To better target efforts, London began scientifically surveying populations in 1972 and this was so useful that all Local Authorities in England and Wales soon followed. Several wildlife rehabilitation organizations encourage natural form of rodent control through exclusion and predator support and preventing secondary poisoning altogether. The United States Environmental Protection Agency notes in its Proposed Risk Mitigation Decision for Nine Rodenticides that "without habitat modification to make areas less attractive to commensal rodents, even eradication will not prevent new populations from recolonizing
2000-628: The Icteriidae , a family created in 2017 and consisting of one species — the yellow-breasted chat ( Icteria virens ). Most icterid species live in the tropics, although many species also occur in temperate regions, such as the red-winged blackbird and the long-tailed meadowlark . The highest densities of breeding species are found in Colombia and southern Mexico . They inhabit a range of habitats, including scrub, swamp, forest, and savanna. Temperate species are migratory , with many species that nest in
2080-571: The Mediterranean flour moth , the Indian mealmoth , the cigarette beetle , the drugstore beetle , the confused flour beetle , the red flour beetle , the merchant grain beetle , the sawtoothed grain beetle , the wheat weevil , the maize weevil and the rice weevil infest stored dry foods such as flour, cereals and pasta. In the home, foodstuffs found to be infested are usually discarded, and storing such products in sealed containers should prevent
2160-500: The Sumerians used sulphur compounds as insecticides . Modern pest control was stimulated by the spread across the United States of the Colorado potato beetle . After much discussion, arsenical compounds were used to control the beetle and the predicted poisoning of the human population did not occur. This led the way to a widespread acceptance of insecticides across the continent. With
2240-406: The cotingas , which would then have greater variation ). One unusual morphological adaptation shared by the icterids is gaping, where the skull is configured to allow them to open their bills strongly rather than passively, allowing them to force open gaps to obtain otherwise hidden food. Most icterids have rounded tails and lack rictal bristles. They have nine primary feathers and are placed among
2320-399: The industrialisation and mechanization of agriculture in the 18th and 19th centuries, and the introduction of the insecticides pyrethrum and derris , chemical pest control became widespread. In the 20th century, the discovery of several synthetic insecticides , such as DDT , and herbicides boosted this development. The harmful side effect of pesticides on humans has now resulted in
2400-473: The larder beetle , and the larvae of the black carpet beetle and the drugstore beetle which attack leather-bound books, while the common clothes moth and the brown house moth attack cloth bindings. These attacks are largely a problem with historic books, because modern bookbinding materials are less susceptible to this type of damage. Evidence of attack may be found in the form of tiny piles of book-dust and specks of frass . Damage may be concentrated in
2480-423: The nine-primaried oscines . Icterids have adapted to taking a wide range of foods. Oropendolas and caciques use their gaping motion to open the skins of fruit to obtain the soft insides, and have long bills adapted to the process. Others such as cowbirds and the bobolink have shorter, stubbier bills for crushing seeds. The Jamaican blackbird uses its bill to pry amongst tree bark and epiphytes , and has adopted
Bobolink - Misplaced Pages Continue
2560-412: The pink bollworm and the codling moth , among others. To chemically sterilize pests using chemosterilants, laboratory studies conducted using U-5897 (3-chloro-1,2-propanediol) attempted in the early 1970s for rat control, although these proved unsuccessful. In 2013, New York City tested sterilization traps, demonstrating a 43% reduction in rat populations. The product ContraPest was approved for
2640-667: The 1960s, problems of resistance to chemicals and damage to the environment began to emerge, and biological control had a renaissance. Chemical pest control is still the predominant type of pest control today, although a renewed interest in traditional and biological pest control developed towards the end of the 20th century and continues to this day. Biological pest control is a method of controlling pests such as insects and mites by using other organisms . It relies on predation , parasitism , herbivory , parasitody or other natural mechanisms, but typically also involves an active human management role. Classical biological control involves
2720-709: The Americas, the majority of records are from the British Isles . The species has been known in the southern United States as the "reedbird," or the "ricebird" from their consumption of large amounts of the grain from rice fields in South Carolina and the Gulf States during their southward migration in the fall. One of the species' main migration routes is through Jamaica , where they are called "butter-birds" and at least historically were collected as food, having fattened up on
2800-469: The Galápagos have been found with seeds from Drymaria cordata , a plant native to the Galápagos but highly invasive elsewhere, entangled in their feathers, potentially spreading them to the mainland. Their breeding habitats are open grassy fields, especially hay fields, across North America . In high-quality habitats, males are often polygynous . Females lay five to six eggs in a cup-shaped nest, which
2880-529: The Jamaican blackbird, yellow-shouldered blackbird , and St Lucia oriole , all threatened by habitat loss; and the tricolored blackbird of California, which is threatened by habitat loss and destruction of nests. Cacique and oropendola species are called paucar or similar names in Peru . As paucares are considered very intelligent, Native Americans feed the brains to their children to make them fast learners. As
2960-406: The United States and Canada moving south into Mexico and Central America. Icterids are variable in size, and often display considerable sexual dimorphism , with brighter coloration and greater size in males being typical. While such dimorphism is widely known in passerines, the sexual dimorphism by size is uniquely extreme in icterids. For example, the male great-tailed grackle is 60% heavier than
3040-579: The aforementioned rice. Bobolinks are the only species of land bird known to annually migrate through the Galápagos Islands , which are over 2,000 km from their primary migration route. A bobolink was collected in the Galápagos Islands by Charles Darwin in 1835. Bobolinks have been hypothesized to act as vectors for avian malaria-causing parasites arriving in the Islands. Additionally, bobolinks in
3120-672: The back and flanks, and dark stripes on the head; their wings and tails are darker. The bobolink breeds in the summer in North America across much of southern Canada and the northern United States; from 1966 to 2015 the species experienced a greater than 1.5% annual population decrease throughout most of its breeding range, extending from the Midwestern United States to the Canadian Maritimes . The bobolink migrates long distances, wintering in southern South America. One bird
3200-602: The birds and other predators that feed on them. Crop rotation can help to control pests by depriving them of their host plants . It is a major tactic in the control of corn rootworm , and has reduced early season incidence of Colorado potato beetle by as much as 95%. A trap crop is a crop of a plant that attracts pests, diverting them from nearby crops. Pests aggregated on the trap crop can be more easily controlled using pesticides or other methods. However, trap-cropping, on its own, has often failed to cost effectively reduce pest densities on large commercial scales, without
3280-492: The budworm population and prevent the damage caused during outbreaks. Many unwelcome animals visit or make their home in residential buildings, industrial sites and urban areas. Some contaminate foodstuffs, damage structural timbers, chew through fabrics or infest stored dry goods. Some inflict great economic loss, others carry diseases or cause fire hazards, and some are just a nuisance. Control of these pests has been attempted by improving sanitation and garbage control, modifying
Bobolink - Misplaced Pages Continue
3360-457: The canopy. These release volatile chemicals that attract males. Pheromone traps can detect the arrival of pests or alert foresters to outbreaks. For example, the spruce budworm , a destructive pest of spruce and balsam fir , has been monitored using pheromone traps in Canadian forests for several decades. In some regions, such as New Brunswick, areas of forest are sprayed with pesticide to control
3440-458: The colony, which goes into slow decline. Mosquitoes are midge-like flies in the family Culicidae . Females of most species feed on blood and some act as vectors for malaria and other diseases. Historically they have been controlled by use of DDT and other chemical means, but since the adverse environmental effects of these insecticides have been realized, other means of control have been attempted. The insects rely on water in which to breed and
3520-417: The correct time and the method of application is important to ensure adequate coverage and retention on the crop. The killing of natural enemies of the target pest should be minimized. This is particularly important in countries where there are natural reservoirs of pests and their enemies in the countryside surrounding plantation crops, and these co-exist in a delicate balance. Often in less-developed countries,
3600-418: The crops are well adapted to the local situation and no pesticides are needed. Where progressive farmers are using fertilizers to grow improved crop varieties, these are often more susceptible to pest damage, but the indiscriminate application of pesticides may be detrimental in the longer term. The efficacy of chemical pesticides tends to diminish over time. This is because any organism that manages to survive
3680-581: The development of newer approaches, such as the use of biological control to eliminate the ability of pests to reproduce or to modify their behavior to make them less troublesome. Biological control is first recorded around 300 AD in China, when colonies of weaver ants, Oecophylla smaragdina , were intentionally placed in citrus plantations to control beetles and caterpillars. Also around 4000 BC in China, ducks were used in paddy fields to consume pests, as illustrated in ancient cave art. In 1762, an Indian mynah
3760-456: The evolutionary niche filled elsewhere in the Neotropics by woodcreepers . Orioles drink nectar. The nesting habits of these birds are also variable, including pendulous woven nests in the oropendolas and orioles. Many icterids are colonial , nesting in colonies of up to 100,000 birds. Some cowbird species engage in brood parasitism ; females lay their eggs in the nests of other species, in
3840-502: The fabric, creating holes and specks of excrement. Damage is often concentrated in concealed locations, under collars and near seams of clothing, in folds and crevices in upholstery and round the edges of carpets as well as under furniture. Methods of control include using airtight containers for storage, periodic laundering of garments, trapping, freezing, heating and the use of chemicals; mothballs contain volatile insect repellents such as 1,4-Dichlorobenzene which deter adults, but to kill
3920-489: The family Icteridae was sister to the family Icteriidae (containing the yellow breasted chat ) and together these two families formed a clade that was sister to the New World warbler family Parulidae . Parulidae – New World warblers (120 species) Icteriidae – yellow breasted chat Icteridae The genus level cladogram shown below is based on a molecular phylogenetic study by Alexis Powell and collaborators that
4000-469: The female. The smallest icterid species is the orchard oriole , in which the female averages 15 cm in length (6 in) and 18 g (0.040 lb) in weight, while the largest is the Amazonian oropendola , the male of which measures 52 cm (20 in) and weighs about 550 g (1.21 lb). This variation is greater than in any other passerine family (unless the kinglet calyptura belongs with
4080-408: The first line of control is to reduce possible breeding locations by draining marshes and reducing accumulations of standing water. Other approaches include biological control of larvae by the use of fish or other predators , genetic control, the introduction of pathogens, growth-regulating hormones, the release of pheromones and mosquito trapping. Birds are a significant hazard to aircraft, but it
SECTION 50
#17330937535854160-475: The habitat, and using repellents , growth regulators, traps, baits and pesticides. Physical pest control involves trapping or killing pests such as insects and rodents. Historically, local people or paid rat-catchers caught and killed rodents using dogs and traps. On a domestic scale, sticky flypapers are used to trap flies. In larger buildings, insects may be trapped using such means as pheromones , synthetic volatile chemicals or ultraviolet light to attract
4240-504: The habitat." The United States Environmental Protection Agency has prescribed guidelines for natural rodent control and for safe trapping in residential areas with subsequent release to the wild. People sometimes attempt to limit rodent damage using repellents. Balsam fir oil from the tree Abies balsamea is an EPA approved non-toxic rodent repellent. Acacia polyacantha subsp. campylacantha root emits chemical compounds that repel animals including rats . Insect pests including
4320-499: The initial application will pass on its genes to its offspring and a resistant strain will be developed. In this way, some of the most serious pests have developed resistance and are no longer killed by pesticides that used to kill their ancestors. This necessitates higher concentrations of chemical, more frequent applications and a movement to more expensive formulations. Pesticides are intended to kill pests, but many have detrimental effects on non-target species; of particular concern
4400-404: The insects when suitably applied. Susceptible items can be protected from attack by keeping them in clean airtight containers. Books are sometimes attacked by cockroaches, silverfish, book mites, booklice , and various beetles which feed on the covers, paper, bindings and glue. They leave behind physical damage in the form of tiny holes as well as staining from their faeces. Book pests include
4480-486: The insects; some have a sticky base or an electrically charged grid to kill them. Glueboards are sometimes used for monitoring cockroaches and to catch rodents. Rodents can be killed by suitably baited spring traps and can be caught in cage traps for relocation. Talcum powder or "tracking powder" can be used to establish routes used by rodents inside buildings and acoustic devices can be used for detecting beetles in structural timbers. Historically, firearms have been one of
4560-584: The introduction of natural enemies of the pest that are bred in the laboratory and released into the environment. An alternative approach is to augment the natural enemies that occur in a particular area by releasing more, either in small, repeated batches, or in a single large-scale release. Ideally, the released organism will breed and survive, and provide long-term control. Biological control can be an important component of an integrated pest management programme. For example: mosquitoes are often controlled by putting Bt Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. israelensis ,
4640-615: The larvae, permethrin , pyrethroids or other insecticides may need to be used. Carpet beetles are members of the family Dermestidae , and while the adult beetles feed on nectar and pollen , the larvae are destructive pests in homes, warehouses, and museums. They feed on animal products including wool, silk, leather, fur, the bristles of hair brushes, pet hair, feathers, and museum specimens. They tend to infest hidden locations and may feed on larger areas of fabrics than do clothes moths, leaving behind specks of excrement and brown, hollow, bristly-looking cast skins. Management of infestations
4720-399: The male plays no part in nesting and care of the young, a man who does not work may be called a "male paucar ". The family group was introduced in 1825 as a subfamily Icterina by Irish zoologist Nicholas Vigors . He placed the subfamily in the starling family Sturnidae . A phylogenetic analysis of the passerine families by Carl Oliveros and collaborators published in 2019 found that
4800-450: The musical Bloomer Girl : Evelina, won't ya ever take a shine to that moon? Evelina, ain't ya bothered by the Bobolink's tune? The bird is also one of the many important ornithological references in the poem " Pale Fire " by the fictional poet John Shade , part of Vladimir Nabokov 's novel of the same name. Sophie Jewett ends her poem "An Exile's Garden" (1910) with a reference to
4880-499: The natural enemies of the pests and introducing suitable predators or parasites . In homes and urban environments, the pests are the rodents , birds , insects and other organisms that share the habitat with humans, and that feed on or spoil possessions. Control of these pests is attempted through exclusion or quarantine , repulsion, physical removal or chemical means. Alternatively, various methods of biological control can be used including sterilisation programmes. Pest control
SECTION 60
#17330937535854960-542: The pest animals — generally small- to medium-sized wild or feral mammals or birds that inhabit the ecological niches near farms , pastures or other human settlements — by employing human hunters or trappers to physically track down, kill and remove them from the area. The culled animals, known as vermin , may be targeted because they are deemed harmful to agricultural crops, livestock or facilities; serve as hosts or vectors that transmit pathogens across species or to humans ; or for population control as
5040-480: The primary methods used for pest control. " Garden Guns " are smooth bore shotguns specifically made to fire .22 caliber snake shot or 9mm Flobert, and are commonly used by gardeners and farmers for snakes, rodents, birds, and other pest. Garden Guns are short-range weapons that can do little harm past 15 to 20 yards, and they're relatively quiet when fired with snake shot, compared to standard ammunition. These guns are especially effective inside of barns and sheds, as
5120-580: The primary mode of transportation, requiring larger supplies of hay. A 2021 study found that the reintroduction of American bison across the United States was detrimental to bobolink populations, with adult populations dropping as much as 62% and juvenile populations as much as 84%. This is presumed to be due to many new bison herds being managed more as livestock than wildlife, often kept in fenced pastures and protected from predation, which encourages overgrazing , trampling, and rapid multiplying. The study also found that lighter grazing by bison did not have
5200-745: The problem from reoccurring. The eggs of these insects are likely to go unnoticed, with the larvae being the destructive life stage, and the adult the most noticeable stage. Since pesticides are not safe to use near food, alternative treatments such as freezing for four days at 0 °F (−18 °C) or baking for half an hour at 130 °F (54 °C) should kill any insects present. The larvae of clothes moths (mainly Tineola bisselliella and Tinea pellionella ) feed on fabrics and carpets, particularly those that are stored or soiled. The adult females lay batches of eggs on natural fibres, including wool, silk, and fur, as well as cotton and linen in blends. The developing larvae spin protective webbing and chew into
5280-613: The prominent yellow feathers of many species) comes from the Ancient Greek ikteros via the Latin ictericus . This group includes the New World blackbirds, New World orioles , the bobolink , meadowlarks , grackles , cowbirds , oropendolas , and caciques . Despite the similar names, the first groups are only distantly related to the Old World common blackbird (a thrush ) or the Old World orioles . The Icteridae are not to be confused with
5360-465: The release of sterile individuals. This involves the mass rearing of a pest, sterilising it by means of X-rays or some other means, and releasing it into a wild population. It is particularly useful where a female only mates once and where the insect does not disperse widely. This technique has been successfully used against the New World screw-worm fly , some species of tsetse fly , tropical fruit flies ,
5440-416: The same harmful effects, demonstrating that the two species could likely coexist under the right circumstances. Emily Dickinson penned many poems about or mentioning the bird. Edgar Allan Poe mentions the bird in "Landor's Cottage". William Cullen Bryant wrote about the bob-o'-link in his poem "Robert of Lincoln." The bobolink is mentioned in the song Evelina by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg , from
5520-427: The snake shot will not shoot holes in the roof or walls, or more importantly, injure livestock with a ricochet . They are also used for pest control at airports , warehouses , stockyards , etc. The most common shot cartridge is .22 Long Rifle loaded with #12 shot. At a distance of about 10 ft (3.0 m), which is about the maximum effective range, the pattern is about 8 in (20 cm) in diameter from
5600-425: The soil before sowing mitigate the pest burden, and crop rotation helps to reduce the build-up of a certain pest species. Concern about environment means limiting the use of pesticides in favour of other methods. This can be achieved by monitoring the crop, only applying pesticides when necessary, and by growing varieties and crops which are resistant to pests. Where possible, biological means are used, encouraging
5680-552: The spine, the projecting edges of pages and the cover. Prevention of attack relies on keeping books in cool, clean, dry positions with low humidity, and occasional inspections should be made. Treatment can be by freezing for lengthy periods, but some insect eggs are very resistant and can survive for long periods at low temperatures. Various beetles in the Bostrichoidea superfamily attack the dry, seasoned wood used as structural timber in houses and to make furniture. In most cases, it
5760-530: The sterilization of rodents by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in August 2016 as a chemosterilant. Boron , a known pesticide can be impregnated into the paper fibers of cellulose insulation at certain levels to achieve a mechanical kill factor for self-grooming insects such as ants, cockroaches, termites, and more. The addition of insulation into the attic and walls of a structure can provide control of common pests in addition to known insulation benefits such
5840-444: The surface layers intact, as well as through cardboard, plastic and insulation materials. Their presence may become apparent when winged insects appear and swarm in the home in spring. Regular inspection of structures by a trained professional may help detect termite activity before the damage becomes substantial.; Inspection and monitoring of termites is important because termite alates (winged reproductives) may not always swarm inside
5920-495: The target species and a suitable poison. For ants, a slow-acting toxin is needed so that the workers have time to carry the substance back to the colony, and for flies, a quick-acting substance to prevent further egg-laying and nuisance. Baits for slugs and snails often contain the molluscide metaldehyde , dangerous to children and household pets. An article in Scientific American in 1885 described effective elimination of
6000-507: The targeted animal adapting for faster reproductive cycles . Forest pests present a significant problem because it is not easy to access the canopy and monitor pest populations. In addition, forestry pests such as bark beetles, kept under control by natural enemies in their native range, may be transported large distances in cut timber to places where they have no natural predators, enabling them to cause extensive economic damage. Pheromone traps have been used to monitor pest populations in
6080-408: The use of pesticides, possibly due to the pests' ability to disperse back into the main field. Pesticides are substances applied to crops to control pests, they include herbicides to kill weeds, fungicides to kill fungi and insecticides to kill insects. They can be applied as sprays by hand, tractors, or aircraft or as seed dressings . To be effective, the correct substance must be applied at
6160-499: Was brought to Mauritius to control locusts, and about the same time, citrus trees in Burma were connected by bamboos to allow ants to pass between them and help control caterpillars. In the 1880s, ladybirds were used in citrus plantations in California to control scale insects , and other biological control experiments followed. The introduction of DDT, a cheap and effective compound, put an effective stop to biological control experiments. By
6240-416: Was probably the first to be employed, since it is comparatively easy to destroy weeds by burning them or ploughing them under, and to kill larger competing herbivores. Techniques such as crop rotation , companion planting (also known as intercropping or mixed cropping), and the selective breeding of pest-resistant cultivars have a long history. Chemical pesticides were first used around 2500 BC, when
6320-1851: Was published in 2014. The study compared mitochondrial gene sequences. The subfamilies are those that were proposed in 2016 by Van Remsen and collaborators. The numbers of species are taken from the list maintained by Frank Gill , Pamela Rasmussen and David Donsker on behalf of the International Ornithological Committee (IOC). Xanthocephalus – yellow-headed blackbird Dolichonyx – bobolink Sturnella – meadow larks (3 species) Leistes – blackbirds and meadowlarks (5 species) Amblycercus – yellow-billed cacique Cassiculus – Mexican cacique Psarocolius – oropendolas (9 species) Cacicus – Caciques and oropendolas (11 species) Icterus – orioles (32 species) Nesopsar – Jamaican blackbird Agelaius – (5 species) Molothrus – cowbirds (6 species) Dives – blackbirds (2 species) Ptiloxena – Cuban blackbird Euphagus – blackbirds (2 species) Quiscalus – grackles (7 species) Lampropsar – velvet-fronted grackle Hypopyrrhus – red-bellied grackle Gymnomystax – oriole blackbird Macroagelaius – mountain grackles (2 species) Amblyramphus – scarlet-headed blackbird Curaeus – austral blackbird Anumara – Forbes's blackbird Gnorimopsar – chopi blackbird Agelaioides – baywings (2 species) Oreopsar – Bolivian blackbird Agelasticus – blackbirds (3 species) Chrysomus – blackbirds (2 species) Xanthopsar – saffron-cowled blackbird Pseudoleistes – marshbirds (2 species) Prehistoric icterid genera that have been described from Pleistocene fossil remains are Pandanaris from Rancho La Brea and Pyelorhamphus from Shelter Cave . Insect pest control Pest control
6400-517: Was tracked migrating 12,000 mi (19,000 km) over the course of the year, often flying long distances up to 1,100 mi (1,800 km) in a single day, then stopping to recuperate for days or weeks. Bobolinks often migrate in flocks, feeding on cultivated grains and rice , which leads to them being considered a pest by farmers in some areas. Although bobolinks migrate long distances, they have rarely been sighted in Europe — like many vagrants from
#584415