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Tag Archives: IPM
Fireflies
What Are Those Flashing Bugs Called? What do you call those flashing beetles that light up in the summertime? Is it a firefly or a lightingbug? Different areas of the U.S. call these beetles one or the other or, sometimes, use them terms interchangeably. Fireflies and lightningbugs refer to beetles in family, Lampyridae. I recently visited my family in Ohio and got to return somewhat to my childhood, being giddy over the number of fireflies I discovered emerging with their gentle flashing patterns at dusk. Yes, I ran… Read More →
Backyard Bug Hunt: Predatory Insect ID
Join Wizzie Brown for this month’s Backyard Bug Hunt: Predatory Insect ID Wizzie Brown, County Extension Program Specialist – Integrated Pest Management, explains how to identify predatory insects. When: Time: July 19th, 2024 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada) How: Join Zoom Meeting Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system. Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZcld-2prD4iHNU9B1S6QgZYrURGPbcMPLIJ/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGrpjsuG9aQuB-GRpwqGoigLOvzpiVHgo1oxT20MHZiZTnPJNdwFYJ9E_Xg Additional Resources Integrated Pest Management AgriLife Extension Entomology Pesticide Safety Education Resources About Wizzie Wizzie Brown County Extension Program Specialist – Integrated Pest Management Email:EBrown@ag.tamu.edu Wizzie has been with… Read More →
Backyard Bug Hunt: Wasp ID
Join Wizzie Brown for this month’s Backyard Bug Hunt: Wasp ID Wizzie Brown, County Extension Program Specialist – Integrated Pest Management, explains how to identify wasps. When: Time: June 21st, 2024 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada) How: Join Zoom Meeting Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system. Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZcld-2prD4iHNU9B1S6QgZYrURGPbcMPLIJ/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGrpjsuG9aQuB-GRpwqGoigLOvzpiVHgo1oxT20MHZiZTnPJNdwFYJ9E_Xg Additional Resources Integrated Pest Management AgriLife Extension Entomology Pesticide Safety Education Resources About Wizzie Wizzie Brown County Extension Program Specialist – Integrated Pest Management Email:EBrown@ag.tamu.edu Wizzie has been with Texas A&M… Read More →
Saltmarsh Caterpillars
Woollybear Cousins Active Now Saltmarsh caterpillars seem to be a common sight in gardens, lawns and traveling across roads and sidewalks. These caterpillars are a particular species, Estigmene acrea, and turn into saltmarsh moths. They are often mistakenly called “woollybears” which are a different species, Pyrrharctia isabella, that turn into Isabella tiger moths. The two species are related and in the same family Erebidae. Many Fuzzy Colors Saltmarsh caterpillars are extremely variable in color and have many setae in the late instar which creates a hairy or fuzzy… Read More →
Mountain Laurel Mirid
Mountain laurel mirids, Lopidea major, are relatively small insects that reach a little over ¼” as adults. Nymphs, or immatures, look like adults, but don’t have fully developed wings and are smaller in size. These mirids are a type of plant bug that is red and black in color. Bodies and front part of the wings are red while the head, antennae, legs, and back part of the wings are black. They have piercing-sucking mouthparts and use them to puncture foliage of plants. Feeding can lead to deformation… Read More →
Backyard Bug Hunt: Common Veggie Garden Pests
Join Wizzie Brown for this month’s Backyard Bug Hunt: Common Veggie Garden Pests Wizzie Brown, County Extension Program Specialist – Integrated Pest Management, talks about common vegetable garden pests. When: Time: April 19th, 2024 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada) How: Join Zoom Meeting Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system. Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZcld-2prD4iHNU9B1S6QgZYrURGPbcMPLIJ/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGrpjsuG9aQuB-GRpwqGoigLOvzpiVHgo1oxT20MHZiZTnPJNdwFYJ9E_Xg Additional Resources Integrated Pest Management AgriLife Extension Entomology Pesticide Safety Education Resources About Wizzie Wizzie Brown County Extension Program Specialist – Integrated Pest Management Email:EBrown@ag.tamu.edu Wizzie has been… Read More →
Genista Caterpillars Munch on Mountain Laurels and More!
Caterpillars on your Mountain Laurel? Spring seems to have arrived in Central Texas and my mountain laurels are putting on blooms. If you’re like me and enjoy going in for a good sniff of those grape candy smelling flowers, while you’re there take a look around for caterpillars that may be munching on foliage. Genista caterpillars can be quite common on mountain laurel but may also be found on crape myrtle and honeysuckle. These caterpillars can grow up to one inch in length and are greenish yellow to… Read More →
Backyard Bug Hunt: Insect Orders (complete metamorphosis)
Join Wizzie Brown for this month’s Backyard Bug Hunt: Insect Orders (complete metamorphosis) Wizzie Brown, County Extension Program Specialist – Integrated Pest Management, talks about Insect Orders with complete metamorphosis. When: Time: March 8th, 2024 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada) How: Join Zoom Meeting Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system. Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZcld-2prD4iHNU9B1S6QgZYrURGPbcMPLIJ/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGrpjsuG9aQuB-GRpwqGoigLOvzpiVHgo1oxT20MHZiZTnPJNdwFYJ9E_Xg Additional Resources Integrated Pest Management AgriLife Extension Entomology Pesticide Safety Education Resources About Wizzie Wizzie Brown County Extension Program Specialist – Integrated Pest Management Email:EBrown@ag.tamu.edu Wizzie has… Read More →
Leafcutting Ants
Large Mounds Made by Leafcutting Ants Too Texas leafcutting ants, Atta texana, are fascinating ants native to Texas, Louisiana, and parts of Mexico. Leafcutting ants create large, extensive colonies, often with multiple mounds clustered in a single area. Mounds are volcano or crater-shaped with a centralized opening and may be mistaken for fire ant mounds, but fire ant mounds do NOT have a centralized opening. Usually, worker ants of this species, who forage for food, are the most commonly seen leafcutting ants, but in spring it is possible… Read More →
Backyard Bug Hunt: Insect Orders (incomplete metamorphosis)
Join Wizzie Brown for this month’s Backyard Bug Hunt: Insect Orders (incomplete metamorphosis) Wizzie Brown, County Extension Program Specialist – Integrated Pest Management, talks about Insect Orders with incomplete metamorphosis. When: Time: February 16, 2024 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada) How: Join Zoom Meeting Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system. Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZcld-2prD4iHNU9B1S6QgZYrURGPbcMPLIJ/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGrpjsuG9aQuB-GRpwqGoigLOvzpiVHgo1oxT20MHZiZTnPJNdwFYJ9E_Xg Additional Resources Integrated Pest Management AgriLife Extension Entomology Pesticide Safety Education Resources About Wizzie Wizzie Brown County Extension Program Specialist – Integrated Pest Management Email:EBrown@ag.tamu.edu Wizzie has… Read More →