FOR RELEASE THE WEEK OF APRIL 19, 1999:
We flew to Europe last month and were asked to supply the name and telephone number of an emergency contact person. What now?
That Department of Transportation ruling went into effect Oct. 1, 1998, says Sandra Cann, assistant coordinator of extension family economics for the University of Idaho. It stems from the delays in family notification that occurred following the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.
Now, whenever you’re flying internationally, you’ll be asked by U.S. and foreign airlines to provide next-of-kin and emergency contact information. If you refuse, you won’t be allowed to board.
Carriers will request the information either at the point of purchase or at the gate. Cann says the names are forwarded directly to the Department of State in the event of an airline disaster.
Are there non-insecticidal remedies for black vine weevils?
Try the beneficial nematodes Steinernema ("an ambusher") or Heterorhabditis ("a cruiser"), says Bob Stoltz, University of Idaho extension entomologist. On either a spring or fall evening when soil temperatures are at least 60, spray or pour the "entomopathogenic" nematodes around the base of your affected plants in a mixture of tepid water. Moisten the soil before you apply them–and for several weeks after–because nematodes depend on moisture for movement.
According to Stoltz, the microscopic, wormlike nematodes release a bacterium inside the body cavities of weevil larvae, which multiplies and kills the pests within 48 hours. "They should be very effective on black vine weevils, cutworms and lawn grubs if used according to direction," he says.
Avoid adding nitrogen fertilizers for roughly two weeks before or after applying the nematodes. And check out the Ohio State University web site, www2.oardc.ohio-state.edu/nematodes, for a list of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides that may also endanger these beneficial organisms.
What are antioxidants and how important are they really to our diets?
At the level of our body’s individual cells, antioxidants are simply molecules that inactivate other molecules called "free radicals." Scientists have learned that active free radicals can attack and damage protein, fat and even DNA–and, over time, may increase our chances of developing heart disease, Alzheimer’s, some cancers and even age-related macular degeneration. According to Martha Raidl, University of Idaho extension nutrition specialist, free radicals are produced both by chemical reactions that occur normally in our bodies and by environmental pollutants like cigarette smoke.
Fortunately, we can increase our levels of free-radical fighting antioxidants by improving our diets. Vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene are all antioxidants, as are carotenoids and flavanoids. Eat a variety of yellow, orange, red and green produce–along with vegetable oils, nuts and grains–and you’ll be loading up on antioxidants.
What’s enough fruit and vegetables? Five half-cup servings or five small pieces–not really all that many when you spread them out from breakfast to bedtime.
I’d like to remove aphids from my roses without resorting to pesticides. What works?
You can blast them off with water or mist them gently with insecticidal soap, says Ed Bechinski, University of Idaho integrated pest management specialist. Either way is gentle on the environment.
Insecticidal soaps differ from body or dish soaps in their very specific carbon chain length, Bechinski says: they’re intentionally designed to kill soft-bodied insects without harming plant leaves. (Notable exceptions are glossy-needled plants like spruce trees and hairy-leaved plants like violets, which can’t tolerate the stuff.)
Unfortunately, insecticidal soaps lose their effectiveness as soon as they dry. Because they have no residual impact, you need to reapply them every three days to keep up with aphid infestations.
"The pluses outweigh the minuses," Bechinski says. "Insecticidal soaps offer a huge margin of safety for you, me, our pets and the overall environment."