STRANGE COCOONS

Soon the notorious “hanging bag” will be seen on Leyland cypress trees. These bagworms are found throughout North Carolina and have a very wide host range of our most common ornamental plant species but are usually associated with arborvitae (evergreen from the cypress family) or juniper. A single bagworm does relatively little harm as it feeds on leaves, but we seldom see a single bagworm. Excessive defoliation is possible with numerous worms and could result in death of the tree within one or two seasons.

Damage is most noticeable in landscapes rather than woodlands. Prior to pupating, bagworms attach their bag to a twig with a silk band. Occasionally this band girdles the twig as the twig enlarges.

The larvae are expected to hatch in May and June. The young then spin down on silken threads that are blown about by early spring breezes. Most of the larvae land on the original host plant, but some small worms may be "ballooned" for some distance on the silk thread. Once they reach a suitable host, the worm begins to spin its bag and as it grows, it incorporates some of the host plant foliage into the bag for camouflage. Because of this, the bagworms may go unnoticed for quite some time.

As the bagworms grows, it enlarges the bag and adds fresh plant material to the outside. In August, the worms mature and molt into the pupal stage. During August and September, male moths emerge from their bags to mate. After mating, females have been known to lay up to 1,000 eggs inside their bag before they die.

When the newly hatched larvae reach a plant which is different from its parents' host plant, these insects often have difficulty in adapting to it and may die or may produce only a few offspring. After several years of struggling to keep from going extinct, the population may hit on the right combination of genes for the new plant and suddenly that plant is covered with bagworms.

Homeowners can integrate various pest management techniques to help control bagworms in their landscape. Plant less susceptible plant species if bagworms are common. Bags can be removed by hand or by pruning off branches. This can be done any time a bag is visible. However, the biggest impact is in the fall and winter since each bag could contain 1,000 eggs at that time of year. Parasitic wasps could be purchased and released in the landscape. This natural parasitism and predation may help to keep populations low. Lastly, chemical control may be an option. Insecticides labeled for caterpillar management may be used. They will not be effective if the worms are in the bags. Each bag acts as a protector and is waterproof against chemicals applied to the bag itself. However, control can be seen with insecticides that kill when ingested by the bagworm.

The best time for chemical bagworm control is late May or early June. The caterpillars are very small and susceptible to insecticides. For specific control recommendations contact your local North Carolina Cooperative Extension.

by Sarah Southard, DVM

Last November, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Division reported that a horse in Surry County had tested positive for equine infectious anemia. This was the first confirmed case of EIA in North Carolina since 2017. At that time, a second horse in Henderson County was awaiting confirmatory testing results. As of the first week of February 2023, a total of 19 horses in 9 different counties across North Carolina have tested positive. Seventeen of those have been euthanized. The majority of positive cases in this outbreak have been associated with unsanctioned horse racing.

Equine infectious anemia is a blood-borne viral disease that affects horses, donkeys, and mules. It is spread from animal to animal by biting and bloodsucking insects such as horse flies and deer flies. Transmission can also happen via reusing any blood-contaminated needles, surgical instruments, dental floats, bridle bits, or other tools. There is no treatment or cure for EIA and no preventative vaccine is available.

Diagnosis is made by a blood test that looks for antibodies specific to the disease. The test was developed in the early 1970s by veterinarian Dr. Leroy Coggins, hence the “Coggins test,” as it is most commonly known. Written proof of a recent (usually defined as within one year) negative Coggins test is required by all properly operating equine sales, shows, and sporting events in the state. Folks who are purchasing horses, donkeys, or mules via private treaty rather than public sale should also require written proof of the same prior to transfer of the animal. Equines should not cross state lines for any reason without a negative Coggins test result prior to transport. The USDA requires that an official Coggins form accompany every blood sample submitted; a copy of this form should also accompany any equine for intra- or interstate travel.

North Carolina’s equine infectious anemia control program allows for one of three options for equines that are confirmed to be infected: immediate euthanasia; permanent identification by freeze-branding or lip tattoo and isolation to the home farm for the remainder of the animal’s life; or transportation under written permit directly to slaughter. Any equine that has been exposed to EIA is tested immediately, quarantined for 60 days, and retested. Upon a second negative result, the quarantine is lifted.

Spring is a great time to get outside with your horse for some camping, trail riding, or other eventing! Do it as safely as possible. Strengthen your farm’s fly control program. Be certain not to use any tools or instruments that are contaminated with blood from other equines. Contact your primary care veterinarian to have your animal’s Coggins updated, and be sure that any equine facilities or events you are attending with your animal require a negative Coggins result for all equines prior to admission.

by Martha Bassett

I’d like to tell you about a big adventure that I had last fall going to a music festival. To give context, early in the Covid pandemic, I decided to spend my quarantine time learning Bossa Nova guitar and Brazilian Portuguese. I put together a Bossa band and worked up a couple of hours of music, and these songs have become a big part of what I do. I’ve always loved Brazilian music, and now it’s mostly what I listen to. I’m not as knowledgeable as a native, but I have my favorites. One of them is Chico César.

I waited impatiently for international travel restrictions to be lifted, and finally booked a trip to Rio de Janeiro in November of 2022. Before the trip, I watched Chico’s website to see if he’d be performing in Rio. To my delight, he was scheduled at a festival two hours outside of the city in the rural town of Itaipava. I booked a hotel room for the weekend and a bus ticket out of Rio.

Three days after arriving in Rio, I caught an Uber to the bus station. My language skills were pretty basic, and folks down there don’t generally speak English. Everything I attempted was a challenge, from buying groceries to switching the SIM card in my cell phone to navigating the metro system. I wasn’t prepared for the enormity of the bus station, and it took me a long time to find the line for my bus. When I did, I learned that I had misread the ticket (still not fluent!) and had missed my bus. A good Samaritan named Wagner (who didn’t speak English) helped me navigate getting on another bus and even changing buses halfway there. Using Google Translate, he told me to walk to a nearby restaurant, owned by his brother-in-law, to call an Uber to get me to my hotel. So I got off the bus on the side of the highway after dark and walked across a field past a police station until I found the restaurant. I did what I was told, and wondered how I ever would have figured that out on my own.

The next morning, I caught an Uber with two other women at the hotel who were also going to Rock the Mountain, a festival that happens every spring and fall (November being spring in Brazil). Marina and Mariana adopted me for the weekend and made sure I heard all the best music. They spoke a little English, and I spoke a little Portuguese, and we bonded over music and beer. When Chico César performed, I was right up front singing along. During the evening hours, the crowds were so dense that I couldn’t even raise my arms. To dance, you had to stay so far back that it was difficult to see the stage, but the stages had video monitors on each side showing the concert and a person doing sign language of the songs. There were no chairs. If you wanted to sit, you put a blanket on the ground.

In many ways, Rock the Mountain was just like any American music festival: great people-watching, multiple stages, a variety of music, food tents, zip lines, even a Ferris wheel. But the main difference was how the audiences sang along and knew the words to all the songs of every artist. Whether the music was new or old, the crowd sang, sometimes so loudly that I couldn’t hear the artist!

When I got back to the city, I went out to hear music almost every night, mostly samba and jazz. The audiences always sang. People were friendly, and when they found out I was American, they’d invite me to other concerts and follow me on Instagram. Many still keep in touch. I can’t wait to go back! So, Americans, when you find yourself at your favorite music festival this year, don’t be afraid to sing out loud. The artists will be honored that you know the words!

Family Medicine

a department of Northern Regional Hospital

Nurse Practitioner Ashley M. Bryant

Joins Northern Family Medicine

Ashley M. Bryant, FNP-C, has joined the clinical provider team of Northern Family Medicine, the rapidly growing division of Northern Regional Hospital where specialty physicians and nurse practitioners diagnose and treat patients of all ages, from newborns to seniors.

“Becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner permits me to offer patients a seamless continuum of care throughout their lifespan,” said Bryant, whose clinical experience includes 16 years of critical-care nursing -- with most of those years at Northern Regional Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU). “Compassion, effective listening, and communication are of utmost importance in my care of patients,” she emphasized.

“We welcome the addition of Ashley Bryant to our topnotch clinical team,” said Richard Herber, MD, in announcing her appointment to Northern Family Medicine. “Ashley’s demonstrated patient-care expertise and her familiarity with the Northern Regional Hospital family make her an effective and committed member of our provider team.”

Born and raised in Mount Airy, NC, 37-year-old Bryant launched her nursing career by graduating in 2006 with an Associate Degree in Nursing from Surry Community College. She subsequently earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 2011 from Winston-Salem State University. Bryant’s decision to pursue nursing was inspired, in part, by the healthcare-career choices of her maternal grandmother and mother – who chose to work as a nurse and medical technologist, respectively. “I was raised in the Northern family, as my mom has worked here for over 40 years.” Bryant’s mother, Kim Cheek, currently serves as Director of Laboratory Services at Northern Regional Hospital.

Bryant’s extensive work experience as a critical-care nurse began when she was assigned to the ICU at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem. Two years later, she joined Northern’s ICU – where, for the past 14 years, she cared for very ill patients.

Bryant’s desire to transition from inpatient critical-care nursing to the outpatient nature of family medicine was fueled by her observation of the progression of her father’s own chronic illness. “My dad was a diabetic who, very sadly, passed away from complications of the disease,” she says. “It was during that time I realized I wanted to make a difference in patients’ lives before they required hospitalization.” To that end, Bryant enrolled in Western Carolina University and graduated with honors in 2022 from the Master of Science in Nursing – Family Medicine Practitioner program.

Bryant is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and Sigma Theta Tau honor society of nurses. She is certified in Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, Advanced Stroke Life Support, and Management of Aggressive Behavior Training.

Bryant is grateful for the support provided by Northern Regional Hospital during her specialty transition. “I’ve been at Northern for 15 years, and the Hospital’s leadership team and my own colleagues have always been encouraging as far as advancing my education and even changing career paths,” she said. “The Hospital offers many professional development programs and wants to see their employees succeed.”

To make an appointment call Northern Family Medicine at 336-786-4133 or visit choosenorthern.org/family-medicine

by Sheri Wren Haymore