Yellowjackets, bald-faced hornets and paper wasps are stinging insects that nest on or near structures. While colony sizes start small, the population of stinging insects in nests grows over time and can result in hundreds to thousands of individuals in the case of yellowjackets. Whereas management of large nests requires the assistance of a professional,…Continue Reading Inspect for Wasps and Avoid the Sting
Understanding Over-the-Counter Sprays for Mosquitoes and Ticks
Summer is the season that brings us outdoors to enjoy picnics, barbecues and campfires. Unfortunately, blood-feeding arthropods such as mosquitoes and ticks can ruin our outdoor experiences by making us itch or by spreading disease. Over-the-counter sprays are one way that people avoid a forced retreat to the indoors. Choosing the right product and understanding…Continue Reading Understanding Over-the-Counter Sprays for Mosquitoes and Ticks
All Buzz and No Sting
The sound of buzzing in our ears is one that evokes terror. Even as an entomologist, I can only stand the sound for a short time before I involuntarily swat at my winged assailant. If this is your reaction too – know that you’re not alone. Our distress over the buzzing of a flying insect,…Continue Reading All Buzz and No Sting
Inside-Outs of Dermestid Beetles
After a long, cold winter it seems we skipped spring and jumped into summer! The days are growing longer and May’s flowers are in full bloom. Concurrent with this change in seasons is a programmed response of many insects to emerge from overwintering and start their annual cycle. In some cases, these insects have spent the winter inside…Continue Reading Inside-Outs of Dermestid Beetles
Blossoms for your honey(bee)
It’s time to think about gardens full of flowers – and to visit greenhouses full of color to add to your own landscape! If you’ve heard about garden center plants containing pesticides – in particular neonicitinoids – that are toxic to honeybees and other native pollinators, you might wonder if you should still buy those…Continue Reading Blossoms for your honey(bee)
Ticks are disgusting
Ticks are disgusting, but don’t take my word for it. Aristotle, Cato, and Pliny all referred to ticks as “disgusting parasites”. Unfortunately, they pose a greater risk than making you feel like you have things crawling on you. They are a public health risk because they can transmit several diseases, including Lyme disease….Continue Reading Ticks are disgusting
Survey Provides Insights into IPM within NYS Schools
A 2013 survey of the pest management policies and practices of New York State public schools was recently published on-line: Pest Management Practices: A Survey of Public School Districts in New York State. A partnership of the NYS IPM Program, the NYS Department of Health, the NYS Education Department, and the NYS School Facilities Association, the…Continue Reading Survey Provides Insights into IPM within NYS Schools
Field Crops PESTS! Time for the NYS IPM Weekly Field Crop Pest Report !
Where is the pest, what is the pest, what damage do the pests do to my crop, what can be done to control them … You got questions on pests with field crops? I got a weekly publication for you: NYS IPM Weekly Field Crop Pest Report . The pest report provides a summary of…Continue Reading Field Crops PESTS! Time for the NYS IPM Weekly Field Crop Pest Report !
Make Every Day Arbor Day – contributed by Paul Hetzler
Muskrat Day. Velcro Appreciation Month. Hair Follicle Hygiene Week. Arbor Day. You know it’s an obscure event when the greeting-card trade hasn’t bothered to capitalize on it. I like to think the industry knows Arbor Day is worthy of a Hallmark line, but that they’ve decided to honor its spirit by conserving paper. (C’mon, it’s…Continue Reading Make Every Day Arbor Day – contributed by Paul Hetzler
Ground Bees Come in Peace
One of the first springtime insects that homeowners observe are ground bees. These insects create ant-hill like mounds in areas of bare soil with a ¼” opening in the center (about the thickness of a pencil). On warm, sunny days there may be dozens to hundreds of bees flying low to the ground among the…Continue Reading Ground Bees Come in Peace