Category Archives: News
Little waxy bugs, little worry
I’ve been receiving some frantic phone calls of late about a small insect that covers the stems of plants with some white waxy material. One person described it as “coming back with a vengance,” after battling it last year. The not-so-fearsome little insect is Metcalfa pruinosa. It’s often a good sign with an insect when it doesn’t have a common name, because we tend to give common names only to insects that are 1) very noticeable, 2) pretty, or 3) pests. This little guy is none of these… Read More →
Aggie beetle freak
Trying to think of a catchy, but apt, headline that would describe Ed Riley is a little difficult. But “beetle freak” comes close… in the best sense of the word “freak” of course. Ed is the associate curator of the Department of Entomology’s insect museum, and if anyone truly loves beetles, it’s Ed. Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine just did a very nice article about Ed in the June edition. To see an online version, click here. I understand from Mike Quinn, who took pictures for the story,… Read More →
Year for bagworms?
When I get one call about an unusual pest I typically tally it as an interesting day. When I get two calls, I begin to wonder. When I get three calls about the same pest issue it’s an infestation. Today I got my third call about bagworms on roses–this one from Janet Laminack in Denton County. My other calls were from Rockwall and Smith counties. Although bagworms can feed on a variety of different plants, 128 by one count, they generally prefer arborvitae and bald cypress in my… Read More →
A systemic for vegetables?
But even though my brain says trust the science, my heart says leave the systemic products for lawns, trees and shrubs. Read More →
Online, but still under construction
Since last Saturday morning, any of you attempting to go to the old citybugs (Insects in the City) site got a surprise. Insects in the City has a whole new look, and some new super-powers as well. I hope you’ll like the new look of the site with its animations, expanded links and greater use of insect and people images. The News Updates feature of the old site has been revived using blogging software that was not available when the site first debuted several years ago. This makes… Read More →
Tiny Bug Packs a Big Bite
The fourlined plant bug, Poecilocapsus lineatus, is a small, attractively colored insect that is active right now. I just received a question and picture of this insect attacking tomatoes in Denton county. Don’t be fooled by its pretty face, though. This insect has been recorded as a pest from about 250 different plant species, both herbaceous and woody plants. Herbs, mints, and composite flowers seem to be especially favored. What makes the fourlined plant bug unique is the rather severe damage (see image) that can be caused by… Read More →
Help selecting mosquito repellents
Every Texas gardener knows that the best time to be outdoors during the summer is in the cool hours of the morning and evening. Unfortunately this is also the favorite time of day for mosquitoes. So how do you do your outdoor activities without getting eaten alive, or worse, running the risk of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne viruses? The answer is a good mosquito repellent. Mosquito repellents are without question one of the marvels of technology. Gone are the days of slathering smelly bear grease on… Read More →
Stinky bugs
The common name “stink bug” refers to a family of about 220 North American insects in the Order Hemiptera. Stink bugs are so-called because of scent glands under their bodies that emit a musty odor. They are generally oval to elliptical in shape, and of medium to large size. Like all the insects in this order, stink bugs have piercing/sucking mouthparts. But unlike many of their plant-eating cousins, not all stink bugs eat plants. Some, like the tree stink bugs in the genus Brochymena, are predators on other… Read More →
Crape myrtle scale: New pest for US?
A relatively new insect pest is troubling crape myrtle in north Texas cities and backyards. Although an official name has yet to be given, this insect is thought to be an exotic pest that has somehow found its way to north Texas. In the genus Acanthococcus (formerly Eriococcus), the scale is a type of felt or bark scale. It’s closest cousin is the Azalea bark scale, but that species has never been associated with crape myrtle before. Current evidence suggests that the scale may be a migrant from Asia,… Read More →
Termite season
It’s spring in Texas and that means termite season. This year has reportedly been one of the busier termite swarm seasons for pest control companies. If you experience a flight of dark, winged insects with bodies just over 1/8-inch long, don’t ignore them. They could be a sign of termites attacking your home. To learn more about termites, check out the termite section of Insects in the City.
