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Post by tom π on May 1, 2018 11:25:52 GMT -5
Found my first Phanaeus vindex, a rainbow scarab beetle. It's beautiful. Yes, it is a dung beetle. I was cleaning out a compost barrel and think the odor may have drawn it. "This species, like all dung beetles, are not pests, and play an important role in reducing fecal matter in the environment, thus reducing the number of disease spreading flies." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phanaeus_vindex
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Post by tom π on May 2, 2018 14:37:35 GMT -5
The spined soldier bug (Podisus maculiventris) is reported to attack gypsy moth caterpillars, the larvae of Mexican bean beetle, European corn borer, diamondback moth, corn earworm, beet armyworm, fall armyworm, cabbage looper, imported cabbageworm, Colorado potato beetle, velvetbean caterpillar, and flea beetles. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spined_soldier_bugIf you don't know what your secret garden friend looks like, search for "spined soldier bug" and click on images. They have points on their shoulders and are dark brown here. One pitched on my arm yesterday. They are friendly. They will climb onto your finger and stand there, wiggling their antennae at you and peering at you with their cute little bug eyes.
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Post by kimmsrπ on May 4, 2018 5:09:37 GMT -5
-Although from the comments we read sometimes we would expect to find that there are more insect pests ou there in reality most all of the insects are either beneficial or innocuous. I think it is due to lack of knowledge that many people spray insecticides, which also kill the Beneficial's, that are polluting our environment.
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Post by tom π on May 5, 2018 10:38:29 GMT -5
"Most of North America is home to some type of Assassin Bug. The Wheel Bug is a commonly seen member of the Assassin Bug family. Its red and black nymphs are often sighted crawling in large groups on branches during spring and summer. Because of their diet, they are a helpful aid in controlling unwanted insect populations in a garden."
The Wheel Bug is, I think, a valuable, beneficial insect, but with two reservations. If it bites you, you will know pain as you have never known before. Richard Fagerlund says: "Over the years I have been bitten by venomous snakes nine times (two copperheads, one water moccasin and six rattlesnakes). I have been stung by a half dozen scorpions, several centipedes, a black widow and several other spiders, fire ants, harvester ants, velvet ants (wingless wasps [called 'cow killers' here]), bats, rats and cats. Without a doubt the most painful bite I have sustained was from a wheel bug." The Wheel Bug's sloth-like movements tempt one to pick it up. I was once so stupid as to pick one up. Nevermore.
The other reservation is that Wheel Bugs are apex predators and will kill other beneficial bugs like lady bugs and spined soldier bugs. Overall, it is probably advantageous to have a garden full of Wheel Bugs. I find them mostly on bush and pole beans.
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Post by tom π on May 30, 2018 9:08:06 GMT -5
Saw my first mantis this morning while harvesting celtuce. It was on the rim of my tool bucket and was about an inch long, so the mantises have been hatched out for some time. Wikipedia has reservations about mantises:
"Gardeners who prefer to avoid pesticides may encourage mantises in the hope of controlling insect pests. However, mantises do not have key attributes of biological pest control agents; they do not specialize in a single pest insect, and do not multiply rapidly in response to an increase in such a prey species, but are general predators. They eat whatever they can catch, including both harmful and beneficial insects. They therefore have "negligible value" in biological control."
I think this is poor observation. The mantis grows big, so it eats a lot of something, and the young probably gobble up mostly pests.
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Post by deckman22 on Jun 1, 2018 9:34:59 GMT -5
I've never heard of this wheel bug but, will certainly keep an eye out for them. I seem to attract bugs and get bitten by them a lot, especially chiggers this time of year, scratch, scratch.
Plenty of the dung beetles here, seen them rolling deer poops and goat poops. I always wondered where they were going with their bounty, ha.
Had to pull the first yellow squash plant yesterday due to those bugs that bore into the stem/root. Easy to tell when they have attacked the plant cause it starts to drop leaves and looks wilted. Threw it over the fence for deer food.
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Post by tom π on Jun 1, 2018 12:34:09 GMT -5
Had to pull the first yellow squash plant yesterday due to those bugs that bore into the stem/root. The squash vine borers haven't hit me yet, but this morning I found two ladybugs eating my squash leaves. Had to look it up. It's the Squash Lady Beetle (Epilachna borealis). It looks like a Mexican bean beetle (Epilachna varivestis) except it has seven spots on each wing while the bean beetle has eight. www.walterreeves.com/gardening-q-and-a/squash-beetle-identification/
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Post by Mumsey on Jun 1, 2018 16:06:17 GMT -5
tom π, Then there's the Asian beetle that looks like a lady bug but isn't, she is lighter in color and pinches you! Beneficial for farm crops, quite a nuisance when you live near soybean fields. During harvest they are literally everywhere!
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Post by tom π on Jun 1, 2018 17:18:10 GMT -5
Beneficial for farm crops, quite a nuisance when you live near soybean fields. Do they help control aphids in your garden?
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Post by Mumsey on Jun 2, 2018 3:21:39 GMT -5
tom π, They must because I rarely have aphids. When the beetles are present, you notice little else, they get your full attention. Their numbers are horrifying! They get in the house, in your hair, in your clothes. They stink when you smash them. The leave behind an orange stain. They pinch, not a bite. Remember the corn husk deal? That same field is where they come from when the farmer plants soybeans. Last year it was corn, and the dreaded husks, I must check and see if he planted soybeans this year. I don't know which I'd rather have!
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Post by tom π on Jun 2, 2018 7:02:54 GMT -5
They get in the house, in your hair, in your clothes. I am going to be on the lookout for these beetles. I have read about their odor, stain, and pinch. I may have some, because the native ladybugs seems to be disappearing, but haven't recognized them. Could you carry a comb in the garden to get them out of your hair? I suppose you use a vacuum to catch them in the house.
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Post by Mumsey on Jun 2, 2018 7:31:45 GMT -5
tom π, They are easy to distinguish from the real lady bug. Lady bugs are a deeper orange/reddish color. Asian beetles are larger and lighter in color than the lady bug that we are familiar with. If you can get 2 side by side you will see differences.
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Lani
Sprout
Posts: 14
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Post by Lani on Jun 5, 2018 11:40:36 GMT -5
They aren't bugs (in the literal sense, anyway), but does anyone else use beneficial nematodes to control fleas in the yard? When we lived in Florida, I used them pretty often and felt like it made a difference for my sweet pup. Even on medicated flea control, she was so itchy from them biting her in the yard. Beneficial nematodes are a real pain to spread, though; you soak the sponge with them in a bucket of water and then have to spray / saturate your yard enough for them to get into the soil. But, they are a nice organic method of pest control.
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Post by patriciatiffany on Sept 29, 2018 4:25:05 GMT -5
It is the very good way to use these bugs to your advantage can help keep your garden healthy and free of pests. Ladybugs, Green Lacewings, Trichogramma wasps, Spined Soldier bugs or Preying Mantis are some of the most beneficial insects that help us in protecting our garden and keeping it healthy.
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Post by dennis on Oct 20, 2018 18:37:43 GMT -5
WOW I wish I had a few of those in my yard. Beautiful!
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