Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 40(1): January 2014 colonies in a structure. Arborists may take note, as these same practices are occasionally employed to detect insect activity and decay in trees. Addition- ally, the author even includes a cautionary note about the removal of stinging-insect nests when working from heights with a ladder. Arborists are more than familiar with the risks associated with the use of ladders and the care that must be taken. Once detected, nest removal using mechanical means (e.g., insect-specific commercial vacuums) and exclusion through void sealing are outlined in detail. Arborists who offer landscape pest manage- ment services may be familiar with the use of traps for pest emergence timing and possibly even pest population reduction. From proper trap con- struction and placement, to specified baiting instructions, Wasp and Bee Management: A Com- mon-Sense Approach details the use of select trap- ping strategies that include the use of food-based attractants as a pesticide-free means of temporar- ily reducing numbers of select stinging insects. There are no specific pesticide recommendations in this book; however, the author does share best management practices relative to a last-resort, chem- ical-based approach to the treatment of a stinging- insect-related issue. These include the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), timing strategies regard- ing the treatment of stinging-insect nests (e.g., may be most effective if carried out in the cool of night), and even proper use of certain chemical formulations (e.g., the use of dusts for the treatment of cavities or the use of long-distance aerosol-based sprays for the treatment of stinging-insect nests at a greater dis- tance). Nicely wrapping up the stinging-insect portion of this guide is a seasonal IPM “checklist,” detailing stinging-insect monitoring and prevention strategies. The risks and concerns about stinging insect con- flicts are further noted in the final pages of Chap- ter 1. Injury and even death as a result of a sting are discussed, as is the fact that while most people have been stung, many individuals remain woe- fully unaware of their true sensitivity to a sting. Important first-aid information, in response to single-sting or multiple-sting incidents, includes the use of cold compresses, oral/topical antihis- tamine treatments, and the assistance of medical professionals. Although only a small number of people are identified as being highly allergic to a sting (approximately 2 out of every 1000, accord- 47 ing to this guide), anaphylactic shock and even death are discussed as possible outcomes that may occur in a relatively short period (15–30 minutes). Appropriately, the final page of this chapter is a two- sided stinging-insect prevention/first-aid summary. Chapter 2 of this guide regards the identification and natural history of wasps and bees common to the northeastern United States. Aſter highlighting the benefits of stinging insects (e.g., they are impor- tant predators of pests; they pollinate more than one- third of food crops at an annual value estimated to be upwards of USD $15 billion), the book then delves into the specific identification of more than 20 groups and/ or species of stinging insects. Some of these include yellow jackets, paper wasps, bald-faced hornets, honey bees, the Africanized honey bee (Apis mellifera scutellata), bumble bees, and carpenter bees (Xylo- copa virginica). A color-coded risk-rating system and color photographs are used to help the reader more readily visualize and identify the stinging insect(s) in question. The final pages of this chapter comprise a chart that offers a useful “quick identification of wasps and bees” and their associated sting-risk level. In summary, this guide represents a needed step toward addressing the current information short- age and lack of awareness of the risks associated with human–stinging insect conflicts for members of the arboriculture community. Wasp and Bee Manage- ment: A Common-Sense Approach spurs questions and thought about applications that translate directly to arboriculture, especially to arborists that offer a landscape IPM service. These applications include the emphasis of safe work practices and the com- mitment to both ongoing innovation and authentic practice of holistic pest management. For arborists in communities across the United States where the use of pesticides is strongly discouraged, select- ing a commercial pest vacuum, instead of using a more traditional see-it and spray-it approach, may prove the smarter alternative, given the information in this guide. Conflicts between humans and sting- ing insects can be properly addressed, minimizing pain and suffering, and even possibly saving a life. Reviewed by: Richard W. Harper Department of Environmental Conservation University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts, U.S.
[email protected] ©2014 International Society of Arboriculture
January 2014
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