Genesee Sun

Not many options for pesky box elder bugs

LIVINGSTON COUNTY — Throughout the winter, box elder bugs are often found migrating within the walls of people's homes as a result of the cold weather, remaining somewhat inactive.

Box elder bugs are beetle-like insects about a half-inch in length that are black or dark grey with red stripes lining the outside of their wings and thorax.

"The boxelder [bug] is attracted to the unmated female boxelder tree. They are attracted to the sap as well as the female maple tree," stated Chris Hahn, GM of BUGMAN, a professional extermination business based out of Henrietta.

Hahn also claims that the bugs, "work their way in around the gaps of doors and windows," and that they invade houses during the fall by living within the walls. Although they are pests the boxelder bugs do not damage homes, but when crushed, they can emit a foul odor and leave a reddish stain on furniture and carpets.

"What we do is come in and treat the inside of your home with a residual so when they gravitate towards the light they pick up the material and die," said Hahn.

There is little that can be done for prevention during the winter season once they have already migrated within homes, as fall and summer are best times for treatment. Removing any female boxelder trees can help prevent the bugs from coming back.

"If you can locate the tree and remove it, or plant a male boxelder tree that should help," stated Hahn.

For treatment, call BUG MAN at (585) 334-3880 in Henrietta, or visit www.bugmanrochester.com.

Conesus Lake at risk for hydrilla infestation

LAKEVILLE — Hydrilla, a non-native aquatic plant that spreads rapidly and grows so densely it can overwhelm other plant species completely, is threatening Conesus Lake. If allowed to infest the lake, several fish and aquatic plants may die, decreasing tourism, boating and fishing on the lake.

In a hydrilla workshop put on by the Conesus Lake Association and the Conesus Lake Watershed Council at the Chip Holt Nature Center tonight, Conesus Lake Watershed Manager Miranda Reid and Conesus Lake Association member and professor of biology at SUNY Buffalo College Dr. Eric Randall both discussed the dangers of hydrilla, how it is spread and how it can be identified by the public.

Hydrilla, which is considered the number one invasive aquatic weed problem in the United States, was discovered last fall in the Cayuga Lake Inlet. That discovery significantly increases the potential for it to be introduced into other lakes, like Conesus Lake, since many boaters travel from lake to lake without first cleaning their boats. Once established in an aquatic environment, hydrilla is very difficult to control. Reid and Randall emphasized that early detection is the best way to eradicate hydrilla.

Reid mentioned Florida currently spends $30 million a year mowing hydrilla after neglecting to treat it before it had a chance to take over. If caught early on, it can be controlled and removed from the lake.

Since some aquariums come with hydrilla, it’s believed hydrilla first arrived in Cayuga Lake after an aquarium dump.

Dr. Randall showed those at the workshop examples of hydrilla, as well as of plants that may be mistaken as hydrilla. He told the workshop attendees that hydrilla has four or five leaves coming out of each whorl and that when looked at closely, the underside of the leaves have little teeth. Hydrilla also has a tuber embedded in sediment at the end of a white rhizome, or the part of the stem found underground.

Both Reid and Randall encouraged people to look for hydrilla close to the shoreline, as it can grow in water up to 25 feet deep. They also encouraged people to keep watch at the boat launch for boats with aquatic plants on their propellers. If the boat was in hydrilla-infested water, the plant can then be transferred to our lake. Reid encouraged people boating on various lakes to check, clean and dry their boats after exiting a lake.

If a person believes they have found hydrilla, or they’re not sure, they’re encouraged to contact Reid by calling (585) 243-7550, or by emailing her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Zero in with locally produced bow targets

It's the truth. Successful bowhunters are crack shots with their broadheads. And by crack shot I mean they are capable of tight four-inch groups out as far as they dare to toss an arrow. For me, 40 yards is about as far as I feel comfortable letting a razor-tipped shaft fly at a buck, and over the years I have skewered several whitetails at that distance.

How do we become dead shots with our bow and arrows? Most bowhunters practice religiously at 20 yards, and when we become proficient at that distance we step back in ten yard increments until we can position our 30 and 40 yards pins to hit dead on at those distances. This method makes us believe that shots past 20 yards are long, and that belief can ruin our confidence when the moment of truth presents itself. In fact, this is when we often freeze up and miss.  

There is a better way. My friend outdoor writer Bob Robb practices dutifully with his broadheads out to 60 yards. Then when he is confronted with a shorter hunting opportunity, say 32 yards, he is confident he can make the shot.

"If you have been practicing all summer long at 20 yards, then any shot past that distance appears long and can rattle you. For me, 32 yards is a close shot because I have been practicing at much greater distances. Indeed, opportunities out to 40 yards, and even beyond, are  nothing more than a chip shot when you practice shooting broadheads at long distances."

I like to shoot 40 to 60 yards with my broadheads at a life-sized 3-D deer target, and use a large block of foam from TSS Foam Industries as a back stop. At these distances any fishtailing or porpoising is easily detected against the charcoal grey color of the foam, and an errant shot is immediately snagged by the foam...and not lost in the grass. You will be surprised how quickly you fine tune your bow, and then tighten up your groups at these distances knowing you won't lose an expensive arrow shaft.

Today's high-speed bows are likely to bury hunting shafts up to the fletching at closer distances. TSS Foam Industries is working on a higher density version that will stop theses shafts dead at ten to 15 yards. Visit the shop and see what they have to offer.

TSS Foam Industries is a green energy company located on 2770 West Main Street in Caledonia next to the Caledonia Outlet Center. They have been in business for nearly 40 years, so they know foam. They hire 35 local people and recycle all their scrap urethane and corrugated paper products. Look for the Sky Wolf wind turbine on the south side of the road near the railroad tracks. Contact: 585-538-2321; FAX: 585-538-2876; www.tssfoam.net.

Demolition derby and tractor pull this weekend

DANSVILLE — Stop by the Dansville Municipal Airport this Sunday for a truck and tractor pull and demolition derby event.

The event, sponsored by Union Hose Co, #1 and sanctioned by Empire State Pullers and Lucas Oil Pro Pulling, starts at 1 p.m., with the gates opening at 11 a.m. Adults cost $16, kids age 7-12 cost $6 and kids under 7 are free.

The pull and derby features food, beverage and beer stands, ans a chicken BBQ on site. Parking is free.

For more information, call 585-519-5455 or visit http://www.empirestatepullers.com.