Native Pollinators – 1 hour presentation
Our landscapes are full of native pollinators – solitary bees, native bees, beetles, wasps and flies. This presentation covers the basics of our native pollinators with a heavy focus on native bees and how to encourage them in your landscape. Be able to identify some of the more common pollinators in your landscape and learn what types of plants are great at bringing the insect pollinators in.
Fire Ant Management – 45 minute presentation
Fire ants can be a major nuisance and medical threat to homeowners. But they can also be controlled! This presentation covers the basic biology of fire ants, where they like to live, how they build their nests, and how they spread as well as best management practices for reducing their population in your yard. Can also include information about other landscape ants (leafcutter ants, harvester ants, crazy ants, etc).
Integrated Pest Management of Veggies – 30 min – 1 hour presentation
This presentation is tailored to the time of year (Spring or Fall) and type of veggies commonly grown at that time. Focusing on integrated pest management techniques, we discuss cultural and mechanical control measures to take to reduce pest populations as well as chemical control measures. Often what we do in our garden is the result of our pest issues. Learn how to avoid those and what insects to look for on your specific backyard crops.
Bugs Every Gardener Should Know – 30 minute – 2 hour presentation (see details below)
This program provides the most common insect pests of landscape and veggie garden at that time of year (Winter, Spring, Fall or Summer). Who are the chewers ruining your leaves, sap suckers taking the life out of the plant, moisture lovers in the garden, beneficial insects and neutral insects that make an appearance that time of year? We’ll cover identification, where they live, and what you need to do about them.
- 2 hour presentation – 30 insects covered
- 5 hour presentation – 20 insects covered
- 1 hour presentation – 15 insects covered
- 30 minute presentation – 10 insects covered
Beneficial Insects – 1 hour presentation
Beneficial insects fall into one of three categories: predators/parasitoids, pollinators, and recyclers. This presentation covers the identification and food sources of beneficial insects, with a heavy focus on predators and parasitoids and recyclers. Pollinators are only briefly covered, if this is the topic you would like to hear about, consider the Butterfly Gardening or Native Pollinator presentations.
Beekeeping 101 – 1-2 hour presentation
Beekeeping is a growing hobby among Texans. We like honey bees for their products, pollination, ag exemption, and environmental stewardship. This presentation covers the basics of beekeeping: what to purchase for equipment, tools and clothing; where to place your bees; and needs of bees. The longer you allow this presentation, the more information you will receive.
Honey Bee Biology – 1 – 1.5 hour presentation
This presentation is a great part 1 to Beekeeping 101. It’s important to understand the biology of the honey bee to understand how to properly manage them and understand what you are seeing inside their hives. This presentation covers the lifecycle of the honey bee and hive, the caste system, the difference between drones, workers and queens, and what roles each play in the hive. Also covered are common races of honey bees to gain an understanding of how honey bees are breed for various traits by beekeepers.
Butterfly Gardening – 1 hour presentation
Butterflies are a gardeners joy! This presentation covers host plants for butterfly caterpillars as well as good nectar plants for the adult butterflies. Learn to identify some of the common butterflies to our South-Central Texas area and the host plants they need to complete their lifecycle.
Continuing Education Topics for Structural Pest Management
- Stored Products Pests
- Wood Destroying Insects
- Landscape Integrated Pest Management (Trees, Turf, Landscape Plants)
- Integrated Mosquito Management
- Biting & Stinging Insect Management
- Small Fly Management
