-
ALL STAFF AT TRAVIS COUNTY AGRILIFE EXTENSION OFFICE ARE TELEWORKING
Please click here for how to get in touch.
For disaster recovery information, please see the Extension Disaster Education Network.
Tag Archives: IPM
Backyard Bug Hunt: Red Imported Fire Ants
Join Wizzie Brown for this week’s Backyard Bug Hunt: Red Imported Fire Ants Wizzie Brown, County Extension Program Specialist – Integrated Pest Management, talks about fire ants you may find in your backyard bug hunt. When: Time: Apr 28, 2023 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada) How: Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83579211231?pwd=U3NoMC83aGNQSVpCQVBqSmp2Tk5Idz09 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 AgriLife Extension Service since 2002… Read More →
Backyard Bug Hunt: Rose Insects
Join Wizzie Brown for this week’s Backyard Bug Hunt: Rose Insects Wizzie Brown, County Extension Program Specialist – Integrated Pest Management, shares which rose insects should be on your Backyard Bug hunt. When: Apr 7, 2023 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada) Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkceirqz0rEtHRI1XIKTOW1uol4YE7NPq5 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting 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… Read More →
Cutworms by Wizzie Brown
It’s That Time of Year for Cutworm Damage Granulate cutworms are damaging in the immature, or larval stage. Cutworms can cut plant seedlings stems off at the soil level and on older plants they can climb the plant and feed on foliage or fruit. Young larvae skeletonize leaves while older larvae eat holes in foliage, feed on the surface of fruit, or burrow into fruit. Larvae are nocturnal, which may make it difficult to discover the culprit of plant damage. You may need to inspect the garden at… Read More →
Help Overwintering Insects by Wizzie Brown
Provide Shelter for Overwintering Insects If you want to help increase the survival of overwintering insects these next few months, there are some things you can do to provide them with shelter during colder times of the year. Why Bother? First of all, why should you provide shelter for overwintering insects? Not all insects are pests! It is estimated that less than 5% of insect species are considered pests which means the majority of insects are beneficial or just hanging around the landscape. Any of you that have… Read More →
Gossamer Winged Butterflies by Wizzie Brown
Gossamer winged butterflies, family Lycaenidae, are the second largest family of butterflies after Nymphalidae. There are over 6,000 species in the world with over 100 species in North America. Characteristics of Gossamer Winged Butterflies Adults are small, usually under 5 cm, brightly colored, and often metallic. Many species will have tails on the hindwing. The larvae are flattened and slug-like and have a gland that releases a sugary substance similar to honeydew that is used to “bribe” ants for protection. Lycaenindae is split into 7 subfamiles, 3 of… Read More →
Floodwater Mosquitoes by Wizzie Brown
All Abuzz About Mosquitoes If you’ve been outside lately, you have most likely noticed the giant mosquitoes that seem to want to pick people up and carry them off. With recent weather conditions, floodwater mosquitoes have emerged in large numbers. Floodwater mosquitoes lay their eggs above the water line in ponds, ditches, pastures, or other places where water collects. The eggs can remain in dry areas and when these areas are flooded the eggs hatch, leading to swarms of hungry mosquitoes. These mosquitoes are larger than mosquitoes we… Read More →
Vegetable Gardening Workshop at Wells Branch Community Garden
Get Tips from Travis County Master Gardeners Join Travis County Master Gardeners at the Wells Branch Community Garden for a vegetable gardening workshop for small garden plots. Topics covered are: Soil health and amendments Benefits of Composting Controlling Bermudagrass and other weeds Daily/Weekly/Monthly maintenance practices Best vegetable varieties for Travis County Controlling pests Planning your harvest Seed saving For more information about the Wells Branch Community Garden, please visit http://wellsbranchmud.com/parks-a-recreation/community-gardens Who are Master Gardeners? Master Gardeners are volunteers for the Travis County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension service. In… Read More →
Chiggers by Wizzie Brown
What Exactly Are Chiggers? Chiggers are the first stage out of the egg of a particular type of mite. They climb onto people and other animals walking through infested areas, crawl upwards, and wander around the body seeking a good site to settle down and feed. Feeding preference for these mites on humans is in areas where skin is thinnest (behind knees, armpits) or where clothing fits tightly, such as the ankles, waist, and the groin area. What Causes All That Itching? Chiggers do not burrow into skin… Read More →
Cicada Killer Wasps by Wizzie Brown
What are these giant wasps?!?!?!?! Cicada killer wasps, common this time of year, are native to Texas. They are some of the largest wasps that you can find in Texas, reaching up to 1 ½ inches long and can be somewhat frightening if you see them flying about your lawn. Cicada killers have a reddish-brown head and thorax, a black and yellow abdomen, and wings with a rusty tinge. Only females are capable of stinging because the stinger is a modified egg laying structure. Fortunately, female cicada killer… Read More →
Cactus Bugs by Wizzie Brown
What Are These Bugs on My Cactus?! Cactus coreids or cactus bugs, Chelinidea vittiger, are shield-shaped insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts. They are most commonly red but can vary in color. They have distinctive antennae; if you look at the antennae in cross section, they are triangular in shape. Adults have fully developed wings while immatures, or nymphs, do not and are sometimes mistaken for weevils. Cactus coreids feed in groups on prickly pear cactus. Often the first indication of damage is round, yellowish spots on the cactus pads…. Read More →