Insects and Animals
Poisonous Plants – Pets
Poisonous plants in the landscape often concern pet owners. Puppies love to chew – and if they chew the wrong thing for long enough, they could be harmed. Cornell University – Plants Poisonous to Dogs Petstyle – Plants poisonous to...
Mosquito Control – Health Effects from City Foggers
Mosquitoes are more than a summer nuisance. They can spread serious disease to humans and animals. However, people are justifiably concerned when plans are announced to spray entire neighborhoods with insecticide. This article from CNN – Health posted April 4,...
Japanese Beetles – Control Options
Each summer promises to be a banner season for Japanese beetles. The coppery-green beetles hatch in the lawn in June each year. Once they have emerged, the beetles head straight for their favorite plants nearby. The leaves of grapes, canna,...
Mosquito – Control
Mosquitoes generate the most ire of any of the summer insects. We can tolerate insects that nibble leaves and disfigure fruit. But when the insect is dining on us, the atmosphere of tolerance quickly becomes strained. There are plenty of...
Milorganite for Repelling Deer
Numerous are the products that claim to repel deer from your garden! While many of them may deter deer temporarily, few have been the subject of University studies. Anecdotal tales from gardeners convinced a couple of UGA researchers to try...
Lady Beetles – Do They Bite?
I love a scientist who takes his work seriously. Recently, I wanted to know something seriously enough to offer my own hand to lady beetles to find definitively if they bite!! Much to my surprise, they do! Not only that,...
Yellowjacket – Huge Nests
Giant yellowjacket nests??? Sounds like one of those horror movie scenarios doesn’t it? Nonetheless, folks in Alabama know to watch out after a mild winter.Super-sized yellowjacket nests Alabama Story Followup Alabama Story Followup #2 And folks in south Georgia better...
Digger Wasps
October, 1995Digger wasps are insect inhabitants which usually do not damage the turf grass. They can be present in all turf grasses however. This wasp is about l 1/2 inches long and has bright yellow markings on its body. The...
Japanese Beetles – Employment for Son
Few things are more disheartening than finding three little Japanese beetle bottoms sticking merrily in the air as they munch the center of a perfect rose bloom. I have ‘em and they are very well fed. Fortunately, I also have...
Hemlock Wooly Adelgid – Donate
The State of Georgia desperately needs your help. As you have probably heard, the hemlock trees in North Georgia are now under attack by a tiny insect called the hemlock woolly adelgid. At present it is devastating hemlocks in Rabun...
Tadpole Identification, Frog Calls
My Rockdale county Extension friend Jule-Lynn Macie says “In 19 years I’ve never been asked to identify a tadpole, but just in case – try this website: The Southeast Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative of the UnitedStates Geological Survey announces...
Termites -Control, Contracts
Dr. Beverly Sparks, Extension Service entomologist, has compiled a list of the most frequently-asked questions about termite control. Here are her thoughts: Q: How soon after I discover termites should I have the infested structure treated? A: In most cases,...
Insects – On Patio Plants
Porch and patio plants can carry aphids and spider mites when you bring them inside each fall. First, examine the underside of their leaves, looking for live insects, their cast off skins or their brown fecal drops. If you find...
Lady Beetle (Ladybug) – Traps
One ladybug is a curiosity. Four ladybugs are beneficial insects. But hundreds of ladybugs are a downright nuisance! They march across the dining room table, they crawl up the living room drapes. They make a crackly mess when stepped on...
Asian Ambrosia Beetle – Scientific Research (easy to understand)
Scientific papers are usually mind-numbing. However, we have to know LOTS more about the Asian mbrosia beetle (AAB) before we can find an effective way to control it. These two Extension reports give a good overview. Mississippi Extension Fact SheetArkansas...
Dog – Eats Cicada Skin
Here’s an odd note from a dedicated gardener and animal lover: “Not only are the discarded skins of cicadas a delight to birds, our female Jack Russell, Lollie, goes from pine tree to pine tree in search of them. “She...
Yellowjacket – Summer Behavior
Yellowjackets are a common, yet misunderstood, insect of the South. Most folks only know about their attack behavior when a nest is disturbed. Wasp expert Dr. Bob Matthews sheds some light on their other behaviors: “Eastern yellowjackets,Vespula maculifrons may be...
Fire Ant Control – Even Faster!
You’ve heard about the Georgia Two-Step method of controlling fire ants. Now comes another couple of products that, in combination, give both quick control and season-long results. Indoxacarb (Spectracide Once and Done Fire Ant Bait) rapidly kills fire ants in...
