Page 5 - Wright Special News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Judy Wright Special to The Citizen Many areas of central and western New York are preparing for another outbreak of gypsy moths later this summer. Gypsy moths made news headlines last year due to their significant defoliation of trees. Last year was the worst outbreak observed in western New York since 1985, which lasted into 1989. Gypsy moth populations remain low for a number of years and then, for some reason, the population skyrockets. Most outbreaks last two to four years. When populations are high there are an estimated 1 million caterpillars per acre in some forests. While ...

Judy Wright Special to The Citizen May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month! Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread from the bite of a tick infected with the bacteria. Unfortunately, Lyme disease and several other tick-borne diseases have been increasing in New York through an increase in tick numbers, a warming climate and humans coming in contact with them. Fortunately, not all ticks are a health threat to humans. There are an estimated 1,000 named species of ticks worldwide and about 100 in the United States, of which approximately 20 are a major public health concern or of ve...

Judy Wright Special to The Citizen In spite of the up and down temperatures this spring, we will soon be enjoying the outdoors with each other — and, unfortunately, the pesky mosquito. As I have mentioned previously, everything in nature has a purpose. It just so happens that mosquitoes, while annoying to humans and other mammals, are an excellent food source for many birds. Hummingbirds happen to be one of the biggest consumers of mosquitoes. The word "mosquito" is Spanish for "little fly." The female mosquito has a tube-like mouthpart, called a proboscis, that pierces the s...

Judy Wright Special to The Citizen Hopefully everyone recognizes that old medications, whether they are prescription or over-the-counter, should not be flushed down the toilet. The good news is April 24, 2021, is the 19th Drug Enforcement Agency National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The DEA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Justice. There has been concern about pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) being detected in drinking water for several decades. In 2010, studies found discarded medications in the drinking water source for over 50 million Americans. Sinc...

Judy Wright Special to The Citizen Lawn mowing season is not too far away. The past few days of warm weather, sunshine and rain have really brought the grass plants out of their winter dormancy. Mowing the lawn gives many of us a reason to go outdoors after being cooped up from both a long winter and the continued need for social distancing. Here are some considerations to keep in mind to achieve the best results for both the lawn and the environment. Lawns are described as an open area of closely mown grass associated with a house, garden or park. Historical references indicate l...