46 Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 2014. 40(1): 46–47 Book Review Book Review Gangloff-Kaufmann, J.L. 2011. Wasp and Bee Man- agement: A Common-Sense Approach. Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service (NRAES). Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, U.S. 88 pp. ISBN 978-1-933395-22-7 Intended for a broad audience, this guide is an in- formative, enlightening, and practical resource. Composed by one of the foremost authorities in the field of structural/urban pest management, the guidelines and recommendations in this book offer tremendous application to help reduce the risks as- sociated with the inevitable human–stinging insect conflict that will arise for many, including arborists. Laid out in a user-friendly manner, this book is divided into two sections: the first chapter, titled “Bees and Wasps,” and the second chapter, titled “Common Wasps and Bees of the Northeastern United States.” Chapter 1 outlines the hands-on strategies involved in a successful stinging-insect management program in the “human environ- ment” (p. vii), and chapter two examines the suc- cessful identification and natural history of species of importance from the stinging-insect community. From the preliminary stages of this book, the author gives voice to what is probably one of the most important issues concerning stinging insects: human allergic reactions to stings. The author clearly makes the point that a “relatively small number” (p. 1) of wasps and bees pose actual risks to humans, and that certain population levels of stinging insects should be tolerated, since they perform important environmental functions. The guide is quick to define, advocate, and establish protocols pertain- ing to the use of a sustainable, holistic, integrated pest management (IPM) approach. For example, the author presents accepted, published action thresholds that are relative to population levels of specific types of stinging insects, including honey bees (Apis mellifera mellifera), bumble bees (Bom- bus spp.), and yellow jackets (Vespula spp.). Cultural ©2014 International Society of Arboriculture management options (e.g., removal of food sources or harborage) are emphasized, as is the judicious use of minimal amounts of least-toxic insecticides. Continuing through the first chapter of the book, detailed regular assessment (i.e., inspection and monitoring) guidelines are outlined pertain- ing to the most common types of stinging-insect pests: paper wasps (Polistes spp.), yellow jackets, and bald-faced hornets (Dolichovespula maculata). Frequently, shrubs are used in landscape settings as habitat for nest construction by stinging insects such as bald-faced hornets. Potential conflicts with this insect for arborists and landscape professionals, especially when they are pruning or shearing suitable host plant material [e.g., arborvitae (Thuja occiden- talis), burning bush (Euonymous alatus), yew (Taxus spp.)], makes awareness for this insect during hot- summer months a priority. The author also makes similar inspection guidelines relative to other lower- risk stinging insects, such as honey bees, bumble bees, and cicada killer wasps (Sphecius speciosus). Other integrated management options of empha- sis include preventing the establishment and build up of stinging-insect populations through proper sanitation, food source elimination, nest exclu- sion/removal, and trapping. The book outlines discussion of the elimination of oſten overlooked food sources, such as pet food, compost piles, and other protein sources, like dead animals. Sources for wood fiber that may be used in nest construc- tion are also recommended for elimination, includ- ing dead trees, wood chips, and dead limbs. For members of the arboriculture community, know- ing this additional benefit about common practices, like dead-wooding and removals/take-downs of dying or dead trees, may be of particular interest. Sometimes, practices employed to detect and remove stinging-insect nests from structures include the use of sensitive sound-detection equipment (e.g., a stethoscope) to detect feeding vibrations or buzz- ing, and thermal imaging to locate stinging-insect
January 2014
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