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| | European Spider Mite and the Spotted Spider Mite. |
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Where has the time gone? It seems just yesterday it was 2007. Pest problems are light presently, but two major situations have developed.
1. Asian Lady Beetles – With the onset of cool weather we are seeing the gathering of Asian lady beetles as we always do this time of year. Since the cool weather is a little later, the beetles’ gathering is later as well. Reports have been coming in about literally thousands collecting in houses and sheds, on trees and sides of houses and in a couple factories along the river. Although excellent predators on aphids and a few other soft-bodied insects, they become a nuisance as they collect on white, tan or yellow houses and find their way indoors. Not only are they a nuisance flying around in the house, but if you try to catch them with your hands they will defecate on the wall or furniture they are on – and this usually stains the paint or the fabric. Always vacuum them up and then release them outside, or they will crawl back down the vacuum hose. If you are a greenhouse grower of plants or vegetables, you have an opportunity to collect a very good beneficial that you can store in the refrigerator from now to next spring. Simple get a few tall, round ice cream cartons and put a small amount of damp straw in the carton, collect a couple hundred lady beetles, put them in the container, cover it and store in the refrigerator. You can get an 80 percent to 90 percent survival rate. If you have aphid, scale or whitefly problems in the greenhouse during the winter, here is a good biological control. Simply release some of them in the greenhouse for good insect management. In the spring when pests begin to show up in your flower or vegetable gardens, simply release the lady beetles for pest control. These little beetles are really looking for a place to overwinter in the walls or attics of your house. The problem is when they get in and you turn on the heat, it may warm them enough so they begin to look for a way out. They are attracted to any light source and do not remember where they came in, so they wind up in the house causing problems. Sometimes spraying a pyrethroid around the doorways will help to divert them from coming inside through the door when it opens.
2. Yellow Jackets – This nemesis will be around until we have a couple of freezes. They are predators and scavengers; basically they will eat about anything. When foraging and finding a good food source, they will go back to the colony and tell others where a good food source is located; hence, you get from several to dozens flying around and causing problems. They are attracted to any food source from garbage cans to picnics, open drink cans and game-cleaning areas. If it’s edible, they want some and can be very aggressive if you are not willing to share. At this time of year they become much more aggressive when disturbed or swatted. Unlike honeybees, they can sting you several times. Presently colonies are producing a large number of queens since they are the only stage of the yellow jacket colony that overwinters. They, like the lady beetles, seek a warm place to hibernate over the winter before beginning a new colony. They too like the walls and attics of houses; however, when they get warm and come into the house trying to get out they can be more than just aggravating. Again, when they’re found in attics or sheds, the pyrethroids are best to manage them. If you use a total-release bomb in the attic, be sure to turn off the gas appliances before you do so.
3. Mites – We continue to see high mite populations on various plants – citrus, roses, tomatoes and other ornamentals. At this time ultra fine oils will be about the best and safest means of management. Two applications should remove most populations.
There are few pest problems at this time, but many insects are active, particularly those moving in from outside or brought home in boxes or bags from the stores. Be careful and check before you store things.
Until next year!
Dale