Authors

Cathy Blunier
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development

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McLean County 4-H News

New information about 4-H events!

October 29, 2008

Holiday Cookie Collection

HOLIDAY COOKIES

BEING COLLECTED BY

McLean County Association for Home & Community Education (HCE)

FOR OUR SOLDIERS OVERSEAS

HELP US COLLECT

500 DOZEN COOKIES

BRING COOKIES TO MCLEAN COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE, 402 N. HERSHEY ROAD, BLOOMINGTON

8:00-4:30 Monday through Friday

COOKIES WILL BE PACKED IN BOXES ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2008 starting at 8:00 a.m.

ALSO COLLECTING MONEY TO GO FOR POSTAGE EXPENSES.

QUESTIONS: LEATHA P. 309-452-9164

Posted by Theresa Chambers at 3:01 PM | Permalink |
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October 29, 2008

Entomologists Request Help from Youth in counting Lady Bugs

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Scientists have launched a nationwide project to help them understand why some ladybug species have all but vanished while others have greatly increased their numbers and range, and they want little kids to help.

"We don't know why this happened, what impact it will have on controlling pests or how we can prevent more native species from becoming so rare," said John Losey, a Cornell University entomologist who leads the Lost Ladybug Project.

Funded by a $2 million National Science Foundation grant, the project is recruiting citizen scientists, particularly children, to search for a nine-spotted ladybug officially called Coccinella novemnotata (or C-9, for short) and other ladybug species and send photos of them to Cornell for identification and inclusion in a database.

"The scientific end of our project is, there are so many ladybugs, so many places to look for them and not very many entomologists, so we really need help building a database and mapping out where these beetles are," said Leslie Allee, a Cornell research associate.

"The other objective of our project is educational," Allee said. "The goal is to generate excitement about natural science and getting outdoors; demystifying science and getting kids comfortable with the process of doing scientific inquiries."

The project welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds, but outreach efforts are targeted especially to 5- to 11-year-olds from rural, farming, migrant or low-income communities.

"We know that a single positive experience at this age can greatly enhance the potential that a child will maintain a lifelong interest in science and the diversity of life," Allee said.

During the pilot phase of the Lost Ladybug Project, Jilene and Jonathan Penhale, ages 11 and 10, found a nine-spotted ladybug near their home in Arlington, Va., in October 2006. It was the first C-9 documented in the eastern U.S. in 14 years.

There are about 5,000 species of ladybugs, also known as ladybird beetles, with about 450 species in the United States, Losey said. Better understanding of ladybug populations, which are highly sensitive to environmental conditions, would lead to better crop management and conservation of other native species as well, he said.

The ecological value of ladybugs is well known. They are common predators of garden and agricultural pests such as aphids and scales, and their presence serves as an indicator of ecological health.

One theory on the disappearance of C-9 and other native ladybugs is that introduced species like the Asian ladybug have excluded them from their favored habitat. Another idea is that the number of parasitic wasps that prey upon ladybugs increased with the introduction of alien ladybugs. Changes in cropping patterns and loss of agricultural land also may have played a prominent role.

This was interesting- We are doing this at our house! Note the 4-H emblem at the bottom of the Cornell field guide!

http://hosts.cce.cornell.edu/ladybeetles/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/ladybugguide11.pdf

Posted by Theresa Chambers at 8:42 AM | Permalink |
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October 10, 2008

Two great 4-H Programs on October 18

4-H Find Out Party/New Member Meeting

Attention new 4-H families! We are excited about your first year in the McLean County 4-H Program.

On October 18 from 9:30-11 am at the at Heartland Community College, the University of Illinois Extension 4-H program will host a 4-H Find Out Party. Location on campus: meet at the Cafe near the Instructional Commons Building (park in Lot D.)

HCC map: http://www.heartland.edu/welcome/general/images/hccCampusMap.pdf

The program provide information to parents and youth regarding the 4-H project opportunities, talks and demonstrations and what it takes to have a great 4-H experience! 4-Hers will complete several activities and learn more about 4-H!

4-H Club Officer Training

Have you been elected to an office in your 4-H club?

Are you considering running for an office in your club?

If so, then you won't want to miss the 4-H Officer Training on October 18, at the at Heartland Community College. Location on campus: meet at the Cafe near the Instructional Commons Building (park in Lot D.)

From 9:30 - 11 am you'll learn what it takes to actively participate in a 4-H meeting using parliamentary procedure.

You'll also learn the specific duties required for several offices including: