Nadia’s Backyard- Two-Marked Treehoppers: It’s Complex December 21, 2023
- Birds of a Feather? October 3, 2023
- The Promise of Disorder in a Winter Yard February 11, 2022
- Rerun: Men of Rice December 7, 2016
- Where the Words Live November 30, 2016
- Going Native October 16, 2016
- Backyard Gooseberries are Saucy Little Things June 17, 2015
- Spring Rerun: Kimchi from your backyard to you April 27, 2015
- A Seagull Named Emma January 27, 2015
- The Long Travelers: Leaf-cutter Bees, Part II September 29, 2014
Tag Archives: Pests
Unnatural Selection: Cardinals, Cowbirds and the Mob
There seems to be something attractive about plant stands near our front and back doors. So far, we have tried to assist in three attempts by Carolina Wrens to use them as nesting sites, which makes getting in and out … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized, Wildlife
Tagged Birds, Cardinals, Cowbirds, Missouri, Natural selection, Nests, Parasitism, Pest control, Pests, Photography, Reproduction, Songbirds, Wildlife
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Pests and Parasites
A very effective agent of biological pest control, this tiny wasp in our backyard is preparing to lay an egg on (or in) the little green aphid.. When the egg hatches, it will live inside the aphid, munching happily away, … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening, Insect pests, Insects, Photography
Tagged Gardening, Insects, nature, Parasitism, Pest control, Pests, Plants, Wasps
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Galls Galore
Besides having some spectacular fall colors this year, another thing our drought didn’t seem to hurt was the prevalence of oak leaf galls. I’m not sure why, but we seemed to have a bumper crop of them this year.
Posted in Insect pests, Insects, Native Plants
Tagged Autumn, Insects, Native Plants, nature, Pests, Photography, Plants, Wasps
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A Bounty of Broom Moths
Have your Baptisia been looking a little ragged lately? Check for these little guys. We are certainly having an outbreak in our yard, maybe due to the weirdness of the spring this year (?). I expect the Indigos will survive, … Continue reading
Posted in Insect pests, Insects, Landscaping, Native Plants
Tagged Baptisia, Gardening, Insects, Missouri, Moths, Native Plants, nature, Pests
2 Comments
A Lotta Damn Gall(s)
(NOTE: Full confession—I goofed! The following article is partially incorrect. The apple-like galls are NOT caused by one of the generations of a cynipid wasp, but rather by Polystepha pilulae, a midge, a mere dipteran, not a noble hymenopteran. … Continue reading
Posted in Insect pests, Insects, Landscaping, Native Plants
Tagged Climbing trees, Insects, Native Plants, Oak galls, Parasitic insects, Pest control, Pests, Pin Oaks, Trees, Wasps
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The Golden Invasion
Koganemushi froze, senses alert for danger as it detected motion. It raised its tiny oars in defense, then tucked and rolled, releasing its devastated leaf in a desperate bid to disappear beyond my sight. Too late. Before it could turn … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening, Insects
Tagged Coleoptera, Gardening, Insects, Japenese beetles, Native Plants, Pest control, Pests
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