Category Archives: Pests of landscapes
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 →
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 →
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 →
Pink hibiscus mealybug found in Texas
PORT ARANSAS – The pink hibiscus mealybug – which may be of concern to Texas citrus and ornamental industries – has been found near Port Aransas, Texas. “This mealybug is a potentially serious pest of many ornamental and agricultural crops,” said Dr. Carlos Bogran of College Station, Texas Cooperative Extension entomologist. First discovered in the U.S. in Florida in 2002, the pink hibiscus mealybug has also been found in California and Louisiana. It feeds by sucking plant sap from more than 300 species in 74 plant families, Bogran… Read More →
