1. How To Start A Project Whitehall Project Teachers: Todd Breitenfeldt And Mike Battaiola

2. Subject of Talk: Overview of Whitehall Project Strategies to start Replicable Other Similar Programs Benefits

3. Projects Do Not Appear Out Of No Where!

4. Overview of Whitehall/WHE  Start Small, K.I.S!  knapweed insectary  Bio-agent collection  Bio-agent release/augmentation  Release site location, monitoring & mapping  Land owner relations – are GREAT!  Public collection days – are FUN!  Education: teachers & landowners

5. Start Small, K.I.S.!  Pick 2-3 weeds, 5-6 bio-agents of focus  Choose area of focus, plan budget  Locate teachers/groups in it for the long term  One person in charge  Be patient, plan for expansion.

6. Be Patient!

7. Yearly Cycle -Winter: Talk to students about job next summer, plan of work, MWCA Annual Meeting, present grants -Spring: Hire students, order needed supplies, begin articles -Late Spring: Train students, clean up insectaries, transplant replacement plants, plan release site monitoring schedule -Early Summer: finish insectaries, call all land owners, begin monitoring at correct times for bio-agents, begin field collections -Summer: Maintain insectaries, continue monitoring, collections, hold public collection days, plan for future funding/write grants -Mid/Late Summer: Make sure insectary flashing/netting is secure, begin Cyphocleonus collections, update records -Early Fall: students collect weevils -Fall: winterize equipment and insectaries, turn in grants…..sit back and smile at a job well done!

8. Too Many Cooks…

9. Insectary mass rear knapweed insects:  Produce: 1000-3000 Cyphocleonus achates weevils and ~500- 1,600 Agapeta zoegana moths each year  Insectary gardens on school grounds = great ed. opportunity students collect, help maintain + tours  Quite labor intensive – school, crews  Our problem: we are out of pullable knapweed in So. Jefferson Co.!

10. Whitehall Insectary Views:

11. Other Insectaries:

12. Bio-Agent Collection: Different method for each bio-agent “know the label!” Sweep nets, hand pick, vac., accelerator, aspirator or pump Contact all landowners w/ bio-release sites: educate & monitor GPS map and monitor bio-release sites Hold public bio-agent collection (net) days.

13. Pay Attention to the weather and timing of insect populations

14. Collection Views:

15. Bio-Agent Release/Augmentation:  Plan release sites  Release at proper time and in good habitat  Augment ‘till well established.

16. Release Site Location, Mapping & Monitoring

17. Land Owners Relations - Are GREAT!!!  Each year call every land owner and ask them what they want us to do: nothing, monitor, redistribute, augment and/or public collection day  Great way to educate about IPM!  Land Owners come to expect this service  Good PR for County, School and all weed fighters  Find and utilize useful bursts of insects!

18. Public Collection Days – Are FUN!!  Land owners have “ownership”  Great education opportunity  PR Value!

19. Education: Teachers educating students about weeds Whitehall Project Summer Classes Noxious Weed Curriculum Educate local land owners