Prepare now to fight eastern tent caterpillars
Eastern tent caterpillar eggs are expected to commencement hatching mid-March inward Central Kentucky, an entomologist warns.
The caterpillars are responsible for Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome (MRLS), which tin post away drive late-term foal losses, early on in addition to late-term fetal losses in addition to weak foals. Studies revealed that horses volition inadvertently swallow the caterpillars, in addition to the caterpillar hairs embed into the lining of the alimentary tract. Once that protective barrier is breached, normal alimentary tract bacteria may gain access to in addition to reproduce inward sites amongst reduced immunity, such every bit the fetus in addition to placenta.
During the 2001-2002 outbreak, an estimated thirty per cent of that year’s thoroughbred foal crop was lost inward Kentucky. The field suffered an economical loss of almost $US336 1000000 inward all breeds of horses.
Lee Townsend, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture entomologist, said the development of the caterpillar – in addition to insects inward full general – is straight correlated amongst air temperature. This helps predict when they volition last active.
“Temperature information from UK’s silver Weather Center so far shows a designing inward Central Kentucky that is really similar to 2012,” Townsend said.
“Last year’s sense is the best affair to operate by,” he said. “There has been a gradual exactly relatively steady full general growth inward tent caterpillar numbers, in addition to they convey operate much to a greater extent than apparent inward some areas over the past times few years.
“However, concentrations tin post away last spotty, heavy inward some areas in addition to really low-cal inward others. The eastern tent caterpillar overwinters inward ring-like masses of 100 to over 400 eggs or in addition to then pencil-sized twigs. H5N1 relatively modest growth inward the position out of egg masses from i twelvemonth to the adjacent tin post away hateful a large natural springtime inward caterpillar numbers.”
Townsend said Equus caballus owners amongst spring-foaling mares should directly banking concern check their combat lines for wild cherry trees in addition to inward a few weeks for signs of tent caterpillar activity.
“This is a skillful fourth dimension to prepare,” Townsend said.
“Begin past times checking pasture combat lines to run into how abundant wild cherry is inward them. If practical, programme to movement important mares from areas where these trees are abundant to minimize the conduct chances of exposure to the caterpillars. The potential is greatest when the mature tent caterpillars operate out trees in addition to wander to abide by places to pupate in addition to transform to the moth stage.”
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