What is bugging you?
Dr. Mario A. Villarino
County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources
This week I got a sample brought to the County Extension Office of what looks like a small white moth, also known as bogus yucca moth or Prodoxus decipiens. The sample was from a very young mature specimen. These moths were found inside a house and the house owners wanted to know more about them. These moths are very small is size with white scales all over them and they feed as immature stages on succulents, and in particularly yucca plants. The larvae eats the plant and the adults look for the flowers but are not involved in pollination. The small white moth lives in desert, grassland, openings in pine or deciduous forest, or coastal chaparral and dunes with Yucca in Virginia, W. Virginia & Ohio W to MO & S to central FL & Eastern TX. There are no human diseases associated with this moth and, based on the biology of the insect, these moths were probably attracted inside the house, looking for light (many adult moths are attracted to light). Since I am presuming this is a rare event and due to the short life of adult stages probably the moths will not remain for too long.
Last week I got the chance to take a trip to Houston and the Baytown area. During a meeting at NASA, I was shocked to find out the effect of environmental concerns and daily activities in planning for the future. I was told that the challenges faced by communities now can affect space exploration. It seems to be that the way we handle our waste can determine if human life outside earth is a possibility or not. Our efforts on recycling are always too little compare to the daunting challenge of waste management when living space is a limitation. I was also told about the way other countries handle recycling, and how European nations (Germany) are mandated to recycle.
When living space is a limitation, recycling is the only way to sustain human survival. Now, how do we get from collecting aluminum cans into space exploration?. Very simple: if we cannot direct human waste properly, our living space can be compromised. Also, toxic waste produces pollution, especially of water bodies as lakes and rivers, and we all know how important is not just to have water but also have good quality of water. To promote recycling and to be proactive protecting our environment, the Hopkins County Beautification Committee and The Hopkins County Master Gardeners working in cooperation with the Hopkins County Extension Office will like to invite you to participate in the 30-day can recycle challenge for Hopkins County. The challenge is a promotional month to remind people to collect aluminum into the color can trailers. The challenge began March 22 and will finish on earth day, April 22, 2012.
The organization that collects more cans will be awarded the 2012 Environmental Stewardship Award for Hopkins County. The Color Can trailers are operated by several non- profit organization in the Sulphur Springs area. All the proceeds of the sale of the aluminum (soda) cans will benefit the corresponding non-for profit organization. The color can trailers are: Red trailer (Boy Scout troop 66) is located on the corner of Jefferson and Rosemont Streets, downtown Sulphur Springs. The Blue trailer (Boys and Girls Club) is located at 411 College Street at the Boys and Girls campus. The yellow trailer (MHMR our place) is located at the corner of Highway 11 and Airport road at the MHMR our place parking lot and the green trailer (Hopkins County 4-H) is parked at 1200B Houston Street and the Hopkins County Extension Office. So, collect as many aluminum can as you can and drop them at the color-can trailer of your preference, and help promote recycling and support our community. For more information on this or other agricultural topics please call the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443.
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