Category: pollinators

What will you learn at “BIOLOGICAL CONTROL: PARTNERS IN THE GARDEN”? Here’s our Day One Presentations

Learn to recognize and encourage your existing biological control partners. Have you ever noticed hoverflies around your flowers or seen ladybug larvae munching on aphids in the vegetable garden? Taking advantage of the natural enemies already occurring in your garden is an excellent way to reduce pesticide use. Tuesday, March 15—Wednesday, March 16 Have you registered? Visit our…Continue Reading What will you learn at “BIOLOGICAL CONTROL: PARTNERS IN THE GARDEN”? Here’s our Day One Presentations

IPM at the Empire State Producers (Virtual) Expo- Week One

The “Expo” is Virtual this year and begins the week of  February 21, 2022 The New York State Integrated Pest Management Program is proud to be part of this annual event. During Week One, Matt Frye talks Rodent Management (Tuesday), Amara Dunn addresses Biocontrol options (Thursday), and Betsy Lamb hosts the Cut Flowers session (Monday)….Continue Reading IPM at the Empire State Producers (Virtual) Expo- Week One

Questions and Suggested Links from our VEGETABLE IPM CONFERENCE, April 2021

A big thank you again to both our speakers and our attendees. You made this year’s virtual conference a huge success! Here are some questions that came into the chat during the conference: Pam W: Is using pesticide treated seeds considered organic? Steve Reiners answers: Pesticide treated seeds would not be allowed in a certified…Continue Reading Questions and Suggested Links from our VEGETABLE IPM CONFERENCE, April 2021

In praise of messiness

PUBLISHED ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 | Courtesy Paul Hetzler, CCE St. Lawrence County KEMPTVILLE, ONTARIO. — On my twice-monthly drive on Highway 416 between Prescott and Ottawa, I pass the sign for Kemptville, a town of about 3,500 which lies roughly 40 km north of the St. Lawrence. It has a rich history, and no…Continue Reading In praise of messiness

It’s Pollinator Week. Read All About It.

When we think about bees, we mostly think about honeybees … a European native brought here by the very first colonists. Now honeybees are struggling, hammered by a constellation of 20-plus diseases and parasites — not to mention a range of insecticides and fungicides. About 450 species of wild bees also populate our fields and…Continue Reading It’s Pollinator Week. Read All About It.

pollination potpourri: wasps, moths, flies, beetles, and oh yes … bees

Let’s start with a short pre-blog quiz: which of these native insects pollinate plants? bees moths beetles all of the above — plus flies, wasps, butterflies, moths The answer? #4. If you left out flies and wasps because they freak you out … well, just know there’s scads of different wasps and flies — not…Continue Reading pollination potpourri: wasps, moths, flies, beetles, and oh yes … bees

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