FIRST FROST SHOULD TAKE THE 'CHILL' OFF THE WEST NILE VIRUS THREAT -- Mosquitoes carrying the deadly West Nile Virus will continue to be a threat until the first hard frost hits the region, says Temple biologist Stuart Neff. When that occurs varies, but typically it could happen anywhere from mid-October to early November, says Neff, an expert in aquatic insect populations. Still, he adds, people need to remain vigilant since any mosquitoes that have gotten into your house could avoid the frost and "be around to bite you through the winter." Although the mosquito has a life span of roughly two to four weeks, says Neff, people who have cisterns or sumps in their basement where the mosquito could get to water face the potential of the mosquito laying eggs and "putting in a life-cycle over the winter. And suddenly, as you're getting ready to go out through the basement to shovel snow in February, or just coming in, you're bitten," he says. But Neff doubts those mosquitoes would pose any West Nile threat since they would not have had access to birds carrying the virus.
AMERICANS TRAVEL ON, POST-9/11 -- The possible threat of terrorism apparently didn't keep Americans from changing their vacation or travel plans this past summer, according to Temple tourism professors David West and Wesley Roehl. In a survey of 500 travelers across the nation who visited the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation's web site for travel information during fall of 2001, West and Roehl found that 93 percent of respondents said they wouldn't let the threat of terrorism keep them from traveling--and 90 percent said they will travel to major domestic destinations. Only 16 percent said they cancelled trips just after Sept. 11, 2001. A month later, only 7 percent said they had cancelled because of terrorism. Additionally, more than 88 percent of travelers said they supported having armed air marshals on planes, while 75 percent supported fingerprinting as another security measure, with slightly fewer supporting eye recognition technology and the use of a national ID card. The majority of travelers did not support either keeping the security "status quo" or a mandatory three-hour wait between check-in and boarding, West and Roehl note. "The initial shock of 9/11 still lingers in U.S. travelers," says West. "But that fear has subsided. Many travelers are hitting the road and skies again, as indicated by the summer travel economic numbers."
AUTUMN GARDENING AGENDA: CARE FOR TREES, PLAN FOR SPRING -- With fall quickly approaching--and some trees already losing their leaves--it's time to take care of trees and plants in your yard, says Lisa Blum, manager of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture at Temple Ambler. Trees, especially, need care now since continued drought conditions are causing them to lose their leaves earlier than usual, Blum notes. "You have to make sure that trees are watered at least until leaf drop," says Blum. "This gives those last couple of leaves enough water to live and produce food for the tree for the winter. It's also important to mulch everything. It gives plants and trees a nice, stable environment for the winter and keeps the roots insulated." Blum also recommends cutting back dead perennial stems, flowers and foliage, both for the health of the plants "and because all of that dead material may attract disease and insects." Finally, says Blum, fall isn't too early to be thinking about spring. "Fall isn't a bad time to plant grass seed because it isn't very hot and you will get some moisture. You will get some growth and it helps the grass to establish itself before the winter," she says, adding that bulbs such as daffodils, tulips and hyacinths can also be planted in autumn. "The bulbs have six months to become established and they pop up as soon as those beautiful spring days start."
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