Page 8
University Dally Kansan, June 24, 1983
Summer the time for chiggers
Stephen Primm KRANIAN
Chiggers can change a pleasant afternoon out-of-doors into an unpleasant one. Katie Hocker, 941 Louisiana St., finds it unpleasant to be sitting in the grass.
By JUDITH HINDMAN Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
Literally.
Beware. There are some pests hanging around Lawrence, waiting for a free hand-out.
AND CHIHGERS do not really care whether that animal is human.
According to George W. Byers, KU professor of entomology, the recent warm weather means more than sailing and sunburns. It also means that chickgers will begin to dangle on the ends of grass blades, with their front legs out, waiting to tatch onto any unwary animal that ventures into their habitat.
Chiggers are tiny, red mites whose bite often produces swelling and itching at the skin's surface.
"People are just accidental hosts," he said. "If people go into a place where chickgers are living, they grab hold of the people. It's an automatic reaction."
ACCORDING TO BYERS, because these warm weather pests hatch in the ground, they become active only after the soil warms up in the spring.
Byers said that this year's moist spring may mean a greater chigger population, because more eggs might have survived rather than drying out.
When the pests appear each spring, some KU students are bewildered by them.
Callista Orent, director of nursing at Watkins Hospital, said that sometimes foreign students did not know what to do, or how to get relief from the itching.
Byers said that although there were thousands of species of chiggers found in many parts of the world, only one was what he called the "common itchy chigger" that both people in the Midwest.
HE ALSO SAID that many parts of the world had more severe problems with chiggers.
"The our chiggers itch but don't carry disease," he said. "But in the Orient and other parts of the world, they don't carry disease, like scrub typhus."
For those who find they have become a chigger's dinner, John Baughman, acting director of Watkins Hospital, said that there was help available.
"There are some over-the-counter remedies that work moderately well."
He also said that a person with severe discomfort or infected bites should seek medical attention from a registered pharmacist or physician.
THE REACTION TO a chigger's bite varies from person to person.
When the chigger bites, its beak injects a protein-digesting enzyme, which produces the characteristic itching and swelling, into the skin.
This enzyme breaks down the cell walls and allows the chigger to digest
the inside of the cell, which Byers calls "cellular soup."
He said that a chigger would bite its victim only once, and then, after filling up on "cellular soup," it would go into the soil where it spent the rest of its life, which normally lasts about two months.
Once the pests have grabbed a host animal, they seek a place where they can hide.
"THEY ARE THIGMOTACTIC, which means that they like to be in contact with as much surface as possible. The crawl into tight spots to bite." he said.
On humans they bite wherever clothing fits tightly, such as along the tops of socks or shoes, around the belt line, or between folds in the skin.
And although there is some medical relief available, prevention seems to be more important.
Byers recommended that anyone going into an area likely to have chickgers use a repellent containing either benzyl benzoate, which is the most effective ingredient, or dimethyl phthalate. These should especially be applied around the tops of socks and shoes.
Baughman said that a dusting of sulphur would also repel the bugs.
HE ALSO RECOMMENDED taking a shower immediately after returning home and then buffing with a towel to crush the pests.
Byers said that it was important to know that chickgers lived in low, moist areas that have been cleared of trees and have plenty of low ground cover.
Homeowners can prevent chigger infestation of their lawns by keeping the grass cut short. This will cause out-of-the top soil and chigger eggs
Campus tornado safety outlined
Staff Reporter
Students watching a film in the Kansasan University on June 19, 1981, did not know where to go for shelter when a tornado warning sounded. The Student Union Activities film chairman said at the time that the University of Kansas never had developed any plan for the Union in case of a tornado.
This spring, people attending a banquet in the Union were sent to the cafeteria when a tornado alert was announced.
BILL TOWNS, operations manager for the Union, said a booklet is being published that contains severe weather guidelines for the Union. The booklet tells where to seek shelter in the building.
Towns said that during a tornado warning people should move to the bottom three floors of the Union, to hallways and away from glass.
A tornado warning is issued only when a tornado is sighted, a A tornado watch is issued when the possibility of a tornado exists.
John Mullens, KU coordinator of public safety, said the University was not required to have a tarnished shelter
HE HEAID THAT KU's severe weather procedures were outlined in a three-page memorandum called "The Weather Related Procedures."
plan and that it did not hold tornado drills.
The memorandum was revised last April and distributed to all faculty and staff by the office of the executive vice chancellor, Mullens said.
The procedure for a tornado warning is to move to low-level interior halvings, away from glass. People outdoors should seek shelter inside or in a ditch away from trees and power lines, and then report injuries or hazardous conditions to the KU Police or Facilities Operations.
The office of university relations produced about 500 posters listing severe weather guidelines this year. The poster of the posters has caused confusion.
KARLA CARNEY, market and promotional editor for University Relations, said the posters were adopted from National Weather Service guidelines. She said similar posters had been produced periodically by University Relations for several years.
This year, University Relations sent a poster to each KU dean, director
and chairman, she said. Posters also were sent to J. W. Lison, director of housing, and the rest to the KU building to display in buildings on campus.
John Sayler, Printing Service director, said the Printing Service never received any of the posters.
He said radios in residence halls were used to communicate with civil defense agencies during severe weather.
WILSON SAID he did not know whether the posters were displayed in residence halls. But he said residents received tornado information at the beginning of each semester and were instructed to keep the information in their desks.
In a spot check by the Kansas of six University buildings, no posters were seen.
Mullens said Lawrence had 13 sirens that were activated during a tornado warning. On campus, Watson was the only one to Joseph R. Pearson Hall have sirens.
He said the sirens were activated from the Douglas County Emergency Preparedness Center, 111 E. 11th St.
"When sirens go off, it is definitely a take-cover situation," he said.
Bicycles still target for thieves at KU
But no one has the authority to force anyone to take cover, he said.
By CHARLES BARNES
Staff Reporter
Though no major bicycle theft rings are operating on campus this summer, their reappearance may be just a KU manor of police, said yesterday.
"There have been about four bikes stolen since the beginning of June," he said, but these were individual thefts, a work of a well-organized group."
DENNEY ESTIMATED THAT one or two bicycle theft rings usually operate on campus during a year.
But he said that during the past fall and spring semesters, three theft rings
He described the method in the following way:
A Kansas City-based bicycle theft ring, which operated on campus during the spring semester, used the cut, run and return method, Denney said.
He snips the securing chain of those he wants with bolt cutters.
After sizing up the brands and values of several bicycles, the thief chooses a
AFTER HE FINISHES cutting the
chains, the thief or an accomplice
returns to pick up the bikes one by one.
"Though two people involved in the Kansas City ring were convicted of stealing two bicycles," he said, "we estimate they may have been responsible for the attempted thefts of 19 bicycles in all."
Denney said that when the two were arrested by police, they had two bicycles in their car, four bicycles had been left at a rendezvous point north of Lawrence and 13 other bicycles were found on campus with their chains cut, presumably for later pick up.
"The strange thing about this case was that even though we recovered 19 bicycles, six of those weren't reported stolen and the owners still have not, reclaimed them, yet." Denney said.
Because of this statute, KU police have been able to coordinate their investigations with Topeka and Law enforcement, which has made the job a lot easier.
Denney said that since the beginning of January 1983, 38 bicycles, worth an estimated $6,127, have been reported to the 38, 18 have been recovered.
According to Denney, some thefts but others do not discriminate.
"More thefts occur at residence halls," he said, "but that may be because there are more bikes to choose from."
Denney said that observance of a few precautions and cooperation with the police could decrease the number of bicycle thefts.
"Use a heavy lock and chain
"Use not leave a bike lying on the grass or
"Leave it on the ground."
If chains are dangling or anything else looks suspicious, report it to the police.
On the record
Ammonia gas escapes plant; officials say no harm done
TWO LAWRENCE BOYS were arrested for disorderly conduct Wednesdafter afternoon after they allegedly set fire to a bus. 950 Massachusetts st., police said.
THEVES STOLE EIGHT cases of beer and 14 cartons of cigarettes, valued at $170, from Louise's West, a tavern at 1307 W. 7th St., sometime Wednesday morning. The thieves entered the building by prying open a window, police said.
A 16-YEAR-OLD Lawrence boy was arrested early Wednesday morning and charged with the theft of two wopeds and possession of stolen property. The boy was held in jail in lieu of $3,000 bond. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for July 1.
An undetermined amount of ammonia gas was accidentally released at about 8:30 a.m. yesterday at the Cooperative Farm Chemicals Association plant east of Lawrence on Highway 10.
Bob Honse, general manager of the plant, said the gas escaped when a valve opened while the ammonia was being shut down for maintenance.
ammonia lingered longer than it normally would have.
Honse said that under normal atmospheric conditions the gas would have dispersed quickly and would not have been noticeable.
"It was well below the hazardous level," he said.
But because the wind was out of the east and there was already a haze of smoke from the burning wood.
Dick Hack, director of environmental health at the Lawrence-Douglas County Department of Health, said he was in charge as far west as Clinton Reservoir
He also blamed atmospheric conditions for the unpleasant smell lingering over the city.
"It was pretty strong in East Lawrence" he said
Hack, however, he did not think the amount of ammonia released caused the damage.
You'll Love Our Style
809 Vermont, Lawrence
843-8808
Headmasters.
NEXT-TO-NEW
CLOTHING FOR WOMEN
745 NEW HAMPSHIRE
THE MARKETPLACE
(BEHIND THE HARVEST)
Open Tues. thru Sat. 10:30 to 4:30
KATY'S CELLAR SHOPPE
Famous Sandwiches:
Offer expires June 26
Hero Ham
Hero Turkey
Hero Cheese
Hero Roast Be
Hero Ketchup
Hero New Yorker
INVENTORY SCHEDULE
Kansas Union Store—Closed June 29, 30, July 1
Burge Union Store—Closed June 27-29
Oread Bookshop—Closed June 27-29
PUBLIC NOTICE . . . STEREO LIQUIDATION
California Stereo Liquidators, Federal No. 95-3531037, will dispose of, for a manufacturer's representative, their inventory surplus of NEW stereo equipment. The items listed below will be sold on a first-come first-served basis while quantities last!
BEST WESTERN 7—C MOTEL
2831 Fairlawn, Topeka, KS
| | Value | Disposal Price | Value | Disposal Price |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 5 ONLY AM/FM Cassette Car Stereos, In-Dash | $159 | $29⁹⁹ea. | 22 PR. Triaxial Car Speakers ONLY $89 | $39⁹⁹pr. |
| 5 ONLY AM/FM 8-Track Car Stereos, In-Dash | $139 | $29⁹⁹ea. | 20 PR. Triaxial Car Speakers ONLY (6 x 9) Giant Mags | $119 $49⁹⁹pr. |
| 18 ONLY Graphic Equalizers for Car, High Wattage | $159 | $39⁹⁹ea. | 10 AM/FM Cassette—Built-in ONLY Equalizer & Auto Reverse | $299 $139⁹⁹ea. |
| 20 ONLY Cassette Car Stereos, Underdash | $75 | $25⁹⁹ea. | 23 PR. 2-Way Car Speakers, Dual Cone | $49 $19⁹⁹pr. |
| 20 ONLY Graphic Equalizers for Car, High Wattage | $175 | $59⁹⁹ea. | 10 AM/FM In-Dash Cassettes for Small Cars | $225 $89⁹⁹ea. |
| 30 ONLY AM/FM Cassette Car Stereos In-Dash | $189 | $59⁹⁹ea. | 22 AM/FM Cassettes for Car with Auto Reverse | $225 $89⁹⁹ea. |
| 8 PR. Modular 4-Way Speakers for Car (High-Power) | $179 | $89⁹⁹pr. | 25 ONLY Graphic Equalizer for Car, High Wattage | $215 $89⁹⁹ea. |
Sunday, June 26, 1983
9:00 am to 2:00 pm
ONE DAY ONLY
ALL BRAND NEW MERCHANDISE WITH FULL 2-YEAR WARRANTIES
Buy one or all of the above quantities listed—The Public is Invited!
VISA, MASTERCARD, CASH or PERSONAL CHECKS WELCOME
ONLY WHILE QUANTITIES LAST!