Author Archives: p-porter
September no time to forget West Nile virus
If you live in north Texas, chances are that you’ve been following reports of mosquito spraying efforts. You may have heard that in September the risk from West Nile virus usually goes down. However, the latest data shows that WNV risk may a actually be higher now than any time during 2013. Last summer’s record outbreak of WNV is, and we hope will remain, the benchmark for a dreadful year of mosquito-borne illness here in north Texas. This summer has been much different, with only five human cases in Dallas… Read More →
Texas A&M’s Inspiring Latina
Juliana Rangel Posada is a relatively new Assistant Professor at Texas A&M specializing in honey bees. Last week she was named “Inspiring Latina of the Week” by Latina Magazine. The magazine printed an interview with her that might be of interest, especially to aspiring Latina entomologists. Congratulations to Julia for this honor. Her arrival at Texas A&M was highly anticipated, as our department had been missing a honey bee biologist for an extended period of time. And bees are an important part of our agricultural economy in Texas…. Read More →
Butterfly gardening gets a boost
Anyone who knows me, knows I love books. Especially books with beautiful pictures. And what subject is more beautiful than butterflies? The book I have most commonly recommend for people interesting in learning more about butterfly gardening is Butterfly Gardening for the South by Geyata Ajilvsgi. Now there’s an updated, Texas version, of her book, Butterfly Gardening for Texas. According to Sarah Gardener at Texas Discovery Gardens, the Gardens will be hosting Ms. Ajilvsgi Sunday, September 8 for a Garden Stroll and book signing. Admission is free to the… Read More →
A squirrelly problem
Squirrels may be cute, and I enjoy watching squirrels in the woods as much as anyone. I’m less entranced, however, by the squirrel cartel currently occupying my backyard. A few weeks ago, after returning home from an out of town trip, I noticed something wasn’t quite right with the cedar elm tree in my backyard. An entire branch of the tree appeared to be dead. Inspection close to the trunk revealed that the bark had been peeled off, chewed off actually, girdling the entire branch. I had noticed… Read More →
West Nile virus perspective
This week I attended the West Nile virus survivors support group, hosted by Dr. Don Read and his wife Roberta at the Medical City Dallas Hospital. The group meets every two months or so and provides a forum for learning about the disease and allowing victims to share their experiences and learn from other people who have been down the same rough road. This month’s meeting ended up being very moving, hearing the stories of several people who came down with the illness last summer. One woman in… Read More →
What is a beneficial parasite?
The words “beneficial” and “parasite” are not normally heard together. But when talking about gardens, and parasitic wasps that attack pests, the word pairing makes good sense. Many insects in both natural settings and the urban landscape have long been recognized by humans as “beneficial”, as in benefiting man. Predators of pest insects, in particular, have attracted admiring fans, especially farmers. As early as ninth century China, farmers were modifying their orchards to aid the transfer of predator ants for control of citrus pests. By the 18th century… Read More →
What to do if you’re attacked by bees?
While honey bees are highly beneficial to man, they can also be dangerous. If you don’t believe this, consider two Texas incidents this summer. In June, a Waco area man was killed by honey bees while working on his tractor. This past weekend a couple was severely stung and two of their miniature horses were killed following a bee attack at their Tarrant county home. Both incidents illustrate how serious honey bee infestations can be. It’s not that bees are mean, in a human sense. But they do take exception… Read More →
Cedar oil claims challenged
The company claimed that their bed bug and head lice insecticide was invented by the U.S. Army, and that their product was acknowledged by the USDA as the number one choice of “bio-based” pesticides. The company also claimed that the U.S. EPA was warning consumers to avoid “chemical solutions” for treating bed bugs. The problem was that the company’s claims weren’t true. As a result of false claims and illegal marketing of untested products for bed bugs and head lice, yesterday the Federal Trade Commission issued a judgment… Read More →
New bed bug publication
Got bed bugs? There’s help on the way in the form of a new AgriLife Extension fact sheet. Extension publication Ento-033, How to Select a Bed Bug Control Provider gives practical advice on what to look for when seeking professional help for these pests. Not just any pest control company will be able to provide you with the kind of service and control you need to get rid of bed bugs. This publication tells you how to interview a company, and compare different companies to make sure you… Read More →
Carabid beetles common in some areas
The past week has brought in several calls about swarming beetles, which appear to be Carabid beetles of the genus Harpalus. Ground beetles are fast moving, predatory beetles that, as the name implies, forage on the ground. Outdoors they and their likewise predaceous larvae are found on the ground in all habitats, both grassy and forested areas. Ground beetles have little interest in coming indoors, where there is little food. However they may accidentally enter homes when they slip under doors while trying to escape from daylight. Outdoors they… Read More →
