Vol. 4 # 11

     With all the events of and after 11 September, it is sometimes difficult to remember that there are crops and gardens that need tending. Plant growth, agriculture, weeds, and insects continue despite the events of human history. Thus, this newsletter continues on to help you in those efforts. 

Agriculture – Watch those new seedlings of alfalfa hay. Adults of the clover root curculio tend to be attracted to them in the fall. If large numbers come to a field in the fall, you could have problems with larvae of the little beggars feeding on the roots next spring and causing some problems. There are no threshold numbers or anything else to go by with these creatures so we’ll have to play it by ear. There are very few controls for the larvae. About the only thing we can do is keep the hay properly watered and fertilized. There is a soil fumigant available. With hay prices up, they may have more of an economic impact in 2002. If you need help with identifications of the adults this fall, let me know. The adults are grayish,4-6mm long, have a short snout, and bristles on their backs that stick up (you’ll need a hand lense to see these). See, I knew I’d get you counting hairs sooner or later!

     Now is also the time for planting fall grains. We are always between a rock and a hard place planting late to avoid aphid flights and diseases such as barley yellow dwarf, and earlier plantings for yield enhancement. Our aphid flyer will tell you when flights of these flying lice are over. If you plant earlier than that, there are systemic seed treatments and soil insecticides available that work. You’ll have to weigh costs of all of these and make your decision.

Home – Lots of things are happening on the home front. Right on schedule, the female hobo spiders are moving around and showing up. ( for more information check- http://www.uidaho.edu/so-id/entomology Aphid Flyer) Wasps and yellowjackets are more pestiferous also. We covered these guys and controls in the past couple of issues so I don’t need to tell you again (do I!?).

     There are still some immature boxelder bugs out there on the trees that need killing! Spray them there instead of on the side of your house later. Speaking of trees and the little beggars that suck the sap out of them, now is the time to put imidicloprid (Bayer Advanced Garden Tree and Shrub Insect Control) under trees and shrubs for aphid, scale, and other sucking insect control next year. Do it before the ground freezes. Don’t use it on your fruit trees. It is only for ornamentals.

     I’ve had preying mantis coming onto my porch now for several days and dying like flies. They must be done mating and are cashing in their chips. You can find the egg cases on twigs etc. Leave them outside and watch for them to hatch next spring. If you want to bring them in, put them in the fridge for a week or so and then bring them out to warm up. The little ones may hatch out. But be ready to feed them some insects or they will eat one another. Small ones can eat aphids or fruit flies but the larger ones need crickets, house flies, etc. They are fun to mess with but just like a dog or cat, they need feeding!

     While on the subject of house flies, now is the worst time for them to come to the house. With the sweet corn being harvested and silage corn being chopped, they have lost lots of hiding places. It is also colder at night and they are looking for winter resting spots. If it’s any consolation, most of the adult house flies will die over the winter. So, until next time, “Happy Bugging”.