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Author Archives: wizzie.brown
It’s freezing outside. Why are all the insects not dead?
So as I sit in my cozy office (with my sweater, scarf, fingerless gloves, and heater) I consider the poor insects that are having to deal with the drastic flip-flopping of the weather the past few weeks. We’ve seen temperatures in the 20’s and temperatures in the 80’s, so I’m sure that they are a bit confused. I was asked last week when it was warm how the mosquitoes came back so quickly if they died when it was freezing. Well……. Insects have certain adaptations that allow them… Read More →
Invasive ladybugs?!
There has been a rash of calls, emails, texts, and questions regarding lady beetles that have been seen in high numbers lately in Central Texas. We all know that ladybugs are good bugs, right? Well, not this time. That should make you ponder “What makes a good bug or a bad bug?”. My answer to that would be it depends not only upon the insect in question, but also where it is found and what it is doing. If you find an termite in your house, is it… Read More →
2016 Holiday Gift Wish List
It’s that time again for finding the perfect gift for the discerning person on your list (or for a good gag gift for the Grinches). Here are some possible arthropod-themed items you may need to pick up. First up is a spider infused computer mouse. I personally think the whole thing is a bit humorous as I used to have a bird eating tarantula that ate mice and this flips that- a “mouse” with a tarantula inside. ….maybe it’s just me that sees that angle? Anyhoo,… Read More →
Lygus bugs
I’ve been getting email and calls about small “stink bugs” on cruciferous crops lately. I went out to our demonstration garden to see if I could rustle some up on what we have planted out there and I hit the jackpot. I found Lygus bugs on the cabbage and some other plants (that I have no idea what they are…I went back out to look- they’re fava beans). Lygus bugs have a wide host range and have been found on over 350 plants. These bugs commonly begin the… Read More →
Survey needs participants!
The Southern Regional Extension Forestry program is conducting a survey about people’s awareness of forest and tree health issues. By answering a few questions about these issues, your firewood use habits, and where you’ve recently learned about the issues, program staff hopes to gain insight as to how to effectively engage with the public and how to improve in the future. This survey should only take 10 minutes. The first page asks about your firewood purchasing practices. The second page asks about your knowledge of invasive forest insects. All answers will be… Read More →
Widow spiders
Information just in time for Halloween where spider webs and spooky spiders are a common sight. There are four species of widow spiders found in Texas, with the best known being the black widow. Coloration can vary, but they are typically jet black with two reddish-orange triangles on the underside of the abdomen, forming an hourglass shape. The triangles sometimes do not touch each other creating a broken hourglass shape. Males and juveniles are smaller and often are more colorful, with bright markings on their sides or back…. Read More →
Fun facts about bugs
I’m feeling a bit blue today, so I thought I would do something a bit lighter. Here are 10 fun facts about insects! Insects are on every continent except Antarctica. The fear of cockroaches is called Katsaridaphobia. Mexican jumping beans are seed pods that have been inhabited by the larva of a small moth and are native to Mexico. Adult ladybugs will eat more than 50 aphids per day. Throughout history, species of biting ants have been used as sutures to close wounds. Blow flies find dead bodies using body… Read More →
Have you seen me? Snout butterflies
If you have driven, biked or walked anywhere in Central Texas recently, you most likely have noticed butterflies fluttering about. These are not monarchs or swallowtails that we are used to seeing, but snout butterflies. Unlike the Monarch butterflies that fly through Texas on the way to overwintering locations, these butterflies are moving to new areas in search of new food sources after depleting the food in the area they emerged. The butterflies are also in search of mates. Snout butterfly caterpillars feed on hackberry trees, while adults… Read More →
Backyard Basics Fall Expo in San Antonio
Come one, come all! Bexar County AgriLife Extension is hosting their annual Backyard Basics program, September 17th and would love to see you there! This gives you the opportunity to hear from a great variety of presenters on topics we’ve heard you want to hear about. Great door prizes and give always in addition to fantastic speakers. Please pre-register at https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/BexarCounty