Posts Tagged ‘insects’
Rat-tailed Maggot
Q: I found the weirdest things I’ve ever seen in an old log-filled trash can that had rainwater in it. When I poured out the water there were several white grub-like things that each had a long tail. They wiggled...
Wasps – Attacking Furniture
Q: For the last two years we have been plagued with a reddish-brown wasp that seems attracted to our wooden deck chairs. I have searched for a nest, but couldn’t find one. How can I rid our deck and yard...
Compost – Maggots
Q: I found a worm/grub in mass in my compost pile and am very curious as to what it might be. They are very dark gray-brown and the head end is actually the pointed end. They are literally swarming in...
Giant Resin Bee – Carpenter Bee Foe
Q: Each spring I battle with carpenter bees in my log home. However, starting each July, I see somewhat smaller bees, lighter in color, entering the circular holes left by the carpenter bees. They don’t seem to be worsening the...
Euonymus scale – Control
Q: 1. My variegated euonymus has lots of little white dots under the leaves and it doesn’t look very healthy. Can you diagnose? Q: 2. I have a row of golden euonymus shrubs that have developed scale on the leaves...
Maple – Clawed by Cat
Q: I wonder if you could help me determine what is wrong with my Japanese maple. About 2 months ago, I noticed that the upper portion of the trunk looked like it had been clawed. At first I thought it...
Pine Ambrosia Beetle
Q: I was wandering my property in Jackson county and found sawdust at the base of some pine trees. I decided it was the southern pine beetle so I took out several trees and thought I had taken care of...
Insects – Identification Online
Q: Is there a good online resource for identifying insects? A: You bet! I am really impressed with BugGuide.net which is the brainchild of Troy Bartlett of Duluth. You simply click on one of the graphic outlines of common insects...
Saddleback Caterpillar – Attacked by Parasitic Wasp
Q: I was cleaning some leaves from my small pond a week ago and my leg brushed up against this little devil. It stung worse than a bee sting! It is the weirdest little “caterpillar” I’ve ever seen. And it has...
White-marked Tussock Moth – Identification
Q: One of my first grade students found a pretty caterpillar. It was about an inch and a half long, mostly white with yellow accents. It was very skinny and had what appeared to be very large antennae that were...
Milkweed Tussock Moth
Q: I’ve found many of these caterpillars on my tropical milkweed plants. I know the tropical milkweed is a host plant for monarch butterflies, but I don’t seem to be able to identify what type of butterfly or moth this...
Grasshopper Control
Q: In mid-September, my yard is full of grasshoppers. I have every size and color you can imagine. What happened to cause this and what can I do to get rid of them? A: Just about any landscape insecticide will...
Pine Beetle – Damage to Pine
Q: I have a dead tree, 20′ – 30′ tall, in my backyard. It appears to have been gnawed, like by a beaver, around 10′ – 15′ off the ground. Any idea as to what is doing this? A: Your...
Stings – Avoiding (and the only rude gardener I’ve ever met!)
Q: Q: My name is Ann, and I really need your help! I am trying to plan some landscaping for my front yard and backyard and around the front sidewalk and around my brick mailbox. Normal people would have no...
Wax Scale – On Maple
Q: Our Japanese maple appears to have some type of fungus. Actually, it looks like small mushrooms. Is this harmful to the tree and what causes this? A: You have an excellent example of wax scale. The adult females you’ve...
Rose Thrips – Control
Q: The edges of my rose petals are brown and ragged. What causes this? A: Rose thrips hide inside rose buds and chew on the edges of petals. When the bloom opens, the damage is evident for all to see....
Carpenter Bee – Repelling
Q: I had carpenter bees boring in my deck last year and now they are back again. Is there any way to keep them away? A: The best you can do is to reduce the local population each year. Although...
Schefflera – Aphids
Q: I have a dwarf umbrella tree, Schefflera arboricola ‘Gold Capella’. I had it on my screened porch last summer and brought it inside in the fall. After bringing it inside, I noticed sticky areas on the top of some...
