How to promote beneficial insects in your garden. Lesson 1: Flowers
How to Attract Beneficial Insects to Your Garden: Lesson 1 – Should you plant flowers?
Alternatives to Lady Bugs
It's going to be another difficult year for plant pests. It’s always a bit of a guess, and largely has to do with localized weather, but generally, those pests that develop chemical resistance are stronger every year. So, whenever you're reading this - it's going to be a bad pest year. But, before you head... Continue Reading →
Know Your Bugs: Cucumeris
Neoseiulus cucumeris (formerly known as Ambylseius cucumeris) is used primarily for the control of thrips - mainly Western Flower Thrips and Onion Thrips. However, as a generalist predatory mite it is known to be effective in controlling spider mites, whitefly eggs, cyclamen, broad and russet mites. Besides the fact that it performs (when healthy and... Continue Reading →
The Problem with Wearing a Mask
I’m not anti-mask. I wear my mask indoors in public spaces as we have been asked to and now mandated to. I do have a problem with it, however. I don’t doubt for a moment that wearing a mask is in everyone’s best interest in the name of public health and safety. And sure, I... Continue Reading →
Never Buy Ladybugs!
Never buy Lady Bugs!! Seriously. For those of us who know ‘bugs’, and know biological pest control, there is only one reason for commercially available, lab-produced ladybugs: They are the “gateway bug;” An insect that people regularly see, generally like, and view as the poster-icon for beneficial insects. If shopping for “ladybugs” and even applying... Continue Reading →
Growing Backyard Wheat
Summer is a progression from Spring Green to hues of gold and brown. Fields of grasses like barley and wheat reach for the sun, turn gold and bow their heads to the summer heat. Your yard is, no doubt, full of beautiful plants that similarly demonstrate the passage of time in the choreographed, seasonal flora-dance.... Continue Reading →
Grow Hard
It was a windy day. I wasn’t far from the ocean, although I couldn’t see it. The valley was cold for June and I could smell the salt in the air. I don’t often get to visit growers, especially ones who aren’t already clients. But there I was, on a “cold-call” to an ornamental grower.... Continue Reading →
Know Your Bugs: The American Hoverfly
Eupeodes americanus is a hoverfly species with a range from Alaska to Mexico - and maybe beyond and even in Europe. Hoverflies are often mistook for bees - or so I hear. They do have yellow/black or white/black markings, but unlike wasps or bees, they have short antenna, enormous fly-eyes, and only one pair... Continue Reading →
Know Your Bugs: Whitefly
No one knows how many whitefly species there are, but most of the ones we are concerned about seem to arrive to North America via Florida, and the bad ones stay. If you’re not a total bug-geek like me and you have chosen to read this article it is likely because you are familiar with... Continue Reading →
Know Your Bugs: Phytoseiulus persimilis
Since the popularization of the modern greenhouse in Victorian England, non-chemical, greenhouse pest-control, as we know it, has been practiced. It was before modern chemical pesticides were available, and it was at this same time that Phytoseiulus persimilis (common name: Persimilis) became cosmopolitan and the standard for two spotted spider mite control. Without the sophistication... Continue Reading →
