Author Archives: p-porter
Termite season begins now
If you own a home in Texas you’re concerned about termites–or at least you should be. Termites are likely to be the most expensive insect pest you will ever get in your home. I was reminded of this fact this weekend cleaning out my mosquito filled water fountain at my home in Plano. There I saw several termite “swarmers” floating on the surface–my first termite sighting of the year. I’m not too worried about my home–it has been treated in the past. And termites are naturally just about… Read More →
Bill signals new interest in mosquitoes
After last summer’s West Nile virus epidemic in north Texas there is a heightened awareness of mosquitoes and mosquito issues around the state. Last week the Texas Senate gave thumbs up (28-3 vote) on a measure (SB 186) introduced by Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas) that would give municipal health officials authority to enter empty or abandoned properties to treat mosquito breeding sites that pose a public health nuisance. The idea behind this bill is that abandoned homes, most notably those with untended, “green” swimming pools, can be a… Read More →
Turfgrass knowledge online
Integrated pest management starts from the ground up…literally. Nowhere is this more evident than your lawn. The foundation for good turf pest management is good lawn care. And if you want advice on the best varieties, proper soil preparation, correct fertility, and watering, you should head out right now for the AggieTurf website. The sections on selecting the right grass and how to care for your lawn are especially useful. Proper fertility can help or hinder pest control. Over fertilizing is known to attract chinch bugs and can… Read More →
A better way to enhance natural pest control
Today I received a call from a Master Gardener who wanted to advise a local organic garden on the best beneficial insects to release to control pests. My answer surprised her a little. I generally recommend against gardeners releasing beneficial insects. It’s not that I am opposed to biological control, or don’t believe in the value of predatory and parasitic insects. I know that releasing insects to control other insects is a time-honored, and historically successful, approach to pest control. The annals are full of stories of highly successful programs… Read More →
Kids love bugs
I usually start my Master Gardener entomology training classes with the same question: “How many of you have dreaded insect training because you hate bugs?” Inevitably, a few honest people will raise their hands. It seems that there is little love to lose between many adults and insects. On the other hand, unless kids have been pre-programmed by adults, they’re just as likely to be fascinated, as they are to be repelled, by bugs. That’s what I thought about as I read the report from the Entomological Society… Read More →
Waiting for the bees
As the season tilts toward spring in Texas I begin to look forward to the increase in insect activity. Not the pest activity, like mosquitoes and fire ants, but the vast majority of insects that are either harmless or who actively benefit us in one or more ways. Bumble bees are among those creatures which are mostly beneficial to people, though many of us have little appreciation for the gifts they give. In fact, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife biologist Michael Warriner, it’s been 100 years since… Read More →
Another fall pest for Texas homes?
The brown marmorated stink bug is the latest in a string of unwelcome foreign pests that want to share our homes during the winter months. A couple of weeks ago I posted a description of the hackberry nipplegall maker, which is a native insect pest that enters homes in the fall. The brown marmorated stink bug (let’s call it BMSB) is from Asia and has been settling into its new home in the eastern U.S. since it was first noticed in Pennsylvania in 1998. It was spotted in south… Read More →
Little insect with a big name invades homes
If you’ve ever noticed nipple-like swellings on hackberry leaves, you already know a little about the hackberry nipplegall maker, Pachypsylla celtidismamma. Pachypsylla is a genus of tiny insects that grow up inside galls that form on hackberry leaves. Like other gall makers, Pachypsylla adults lay their eggs on leaves, which then start to swell around the egg or developing larva, forming a gall. After feeding on the gall tissue all summer, Pachypsylla adults emerge in the fall. Unfortunately for fastidious homemakers, these adults commonly enter structures at this time in their… Read More →
Nebraska publication shows how to deter bed bugs
The University of Nebraska’s Integrated Pest Management program puts out excellent, practical materials on pest control. Their newest publication is an online magazine on the subject of managing bed bugs. I especially liked one of the videos included in the magazine showing how to protect your bed and use mattress encasements to discourage bed bugs. This video complements a blog post I wrote earlier the summer on first aid for bed bugs. If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having bed bugs, I always recommend calling… Read More →
