Vol. 4 # 6  

      Agriculture - Well now, things are going along just peachy. The insects are out in force and some of that is even good. What I mean by that is the influx of calls about these caterpillars eating everyone’s thistles. As I mentioned some time ago, these are the caterpillars of the painted lady butterfly. They will be around all summer laying eggs and eating thistles. So enjoy it while it lasts. They’ll make those thistles look bad and you will, therefore, feel good! But, next year be ready to get out the spray can since they very seldom kill the thistles. I mean, why would you eliminate your food source?! Anyhow, it may be another decade before we see populations like this so take in the wonder of it all now.

     There are lots of Colorado potato beetles out mating and laying eggs right now. We’ve had eggs for some time but ground beetles have been keeping them eaten. Thus, we have adults and eggs and very few larvae as yet. But, watch out over the next week or ten days because the eggs are higher on the plants and larvae will be showing up.

     Watch the hay re-growth for weevils. Speaking of beetles,  this seems to be a beetle type of time, the cereal leaf beetle is going great guns. Be sure to watch thresholds before treating. In fact, it should be about at the end of its cycle but will still be going on barley and oats as you gain elevation to the cooler areas. We have recovered parasites from last year’s release site near Buhl so if you can not spray, these things can help over time.

     Who knows what will show up next. Be watchful for grasshoppers and those pesky religious crickets on the edges of the desert.

 Homeowners – Since I was just talking beetles with the ag guys, you deserve a beetle alert of your own. The bronze birch borer adults are out and active in Twin Falls right now. So get out there and get spraying! Spray the main branches and even trunks of younger trees. I saw a tree yesterday that was done in by these little guys. If you haven’t already sprayed for ash borer, get to that too. It is time , actually, for the second spray for this insect. The adults are active over a long period so be watchful.

     Now is also the time to inspect your elm and other trees for aphids. Try to stop the little beggars from dripping all over your car before it starts. Also, check maples and boxelder trees for small red eggs or small red nymphs that run around on the leaves. If you find them, treat them now so you don’t have the hoards of the adults on the side of your house this fall. At least we get a small idea of how the old Europeans felt when they saw the hoards of Mongols about to attack their cities! The boxelder bug gives us the same feeling. Use neem, orthene, or imidicloprid to control those pesky outfits!

     It looks like another great start to the year for the insects of Idaho. Maybe not for some mosquitoes and horseflies. There is some poetic justice out there after all!

     Until next time, Happy Bugging!