In mid-April, 2023, our neighbor knocked at the door, asking if a local tree-care company could use our driveway to spray her Austrian pine trees. Doing so would make it easier and quicker for the tree-care company to spray.
I agreed.
Before the technician began spraying, I asked, “What insect are you spraying for? What chemical are you using?”
“We’re spraying for the Zimmerman pine moth, and we’re using Permethrin, “he answered said.
While I‘ve periodically heard of various beetles attacking different pine trees in our Colorado forests and yards, I hadn’t heard of the Zimmerman moth.
I was curious.
I retreated to my home office, logged onto my computer, opened a browser, and searched for “Zimmerman Pine Moth Colorado.”
Google returned more than 250,000 hits (website pages). The first was a commercial company, the second hit linked to Colorado State University’s Extension Fact Sheet 5.591 on the Zimmerman Pine Moth by W.S. Crenshaw. It was dated January 2020.
Crenshaw’s narrative provided the history of this moth in Colorado, explained how it damaged pine trees, and more information on the Zimmerman moth. He reported the moth’s life history, habits, control methods, and seven photographs of the moth as well as their damage and how to identify infestations.
When you’re faced with gardening problems, it’s a good idea to first seek gardening, lawn, and yard care information from a state land-grant university’s extension service website. Start with your state’s land-grant university. They usually
- Provide localized current information about topics for your region, state, and possibly county
- Explain successes, limitations, and failures on the respective topic
- Provide information from experts—professors and researchers who are subject matter specialists for fact sheets and videos on respective topics
- Provide easy-to-understand explanations
- Include photographs and drawings for many topics
- Avoid promoting or selling specific products or treatments
- List addresses and phone numbers for county and regional office extension agents who specialize in diverse topics
Land-grant universities—originally called agricultural colleges— were established by the Morrill Act of 1862. Their missions were to teach agriculture, military tactics, mechanical arts, and classical studies. Further legislation, the Hatch Act of 1877, and the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, clarified the missions of land-grant universities to teach, conduct research, and provide service to communities.