Beneficial Insects: Yellow Jackets
If you have ever been chased and stung by a yellow jacket you must be surprised that the title of this post suggests that they are good insects. The truth…
If you have ever been chased and stung by a yellow jacket you must be surprised that the title of this post suggests that they are good insects. The truth…
Dodder is a unique weed because of its parasitic nature. It twines itself around another plant and attaches itself by means of haustoria, root-like structures that penetrate the host plant…
The common name “blister beetle” is given to 7,500 species of beetles in the Meloidae family that secret cantharidin, a chemical that causes blistering of the skin. They have a…
The origin of purslane is somewhat obscure. It appears to be indigenous to North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia but archaeological evidence suggests that it may have…
If you have ever had gophers in your garden you know what a terrible menace they can be. They dig extensive tunnels, eating roots as they go, even pulling plants…
The aggressive behavior and painful sting of the red imported fire ant (RIFA) makes it an unwelcome guest in gardens, woods, and fields. In addition to the pain the RIFA…
The fall army worm is the caterpillar of a moth. It is native to the tropical regions of the western hemisphere from the United States to Argentina but overwinters in…
Disappointment abounds when you find that new transplants have disappeared over night, the leaves of your prize hosta is filled with jagged holes, or that your strawberries have been chewed.…
Buckhorn plantain is a perennial weed native to Eurasia introduced by European settlers when they came to American. It is now found throughout the United States including Alaska and Hawaii.…
Found throughout the world, the 800 species of Trichoigramma feed on the insect eggs especially moths and butterflies. Several species feed on the eggs of over 200 different garden pests,…