Category Archives: Uncategorized

Texas cave scorpion

Most people in Central Texas are well aware of striped bark scorpions as they can be found in the landscape and sometimes will venture indoors.  We have another scorpion that can be found in the area, the Texas cave scorpion. Scorpions are arachnids with eight legs and two body regions.   Scorpions have two pincers or claws, called pedipalps, which help them hold their prey as they eat.  They also have a long tail with a stinger on the tip that can be used for defense or to paralyze their prey. … Read More →

My travelling adventures and the TAMU tick app

I recently returned from a trip to Ohio.  The trip was a bit of an adventure…well, at least the getting there part.  We left here around 7:30AM and were supposed to get to Ohio at 12:35PM with a brief stop in St. Louis.  That did NOT happen.  On our way to St. Louis, there was an announcement about a mechanical issue with the plane, so they decided to land in Dallas to have things checked out.  I am totally fine with that as I would rather be on… Read More →

2018 All Bugs Good and Bad Webinar Series- recordings

Have you been keeping up with the All Bugs Good and Bad Webinar series for 2018?  There have been 6 webinars so far this year and we still have 4 more to go.  Webinars are held the first Friday of each month at 1PM CDT. If you missed any (or all) of the webinars from this year, you can still watch them!  Webinars are available for free online, so grab the beverage of your choice, throw on some comfy clothes, and sit down to enjoy.  Click on the link below for the topic you are interested in, then… Read More →

Insect Nail Designs

When I was in middle school I was somewhat obsessed with creating various nail designs with a different color and design on each nail.  Obviously, I had way more time on my hands back then as this was before all the fancy things available now like decals, nail wraps, airbrushing, etc.  I would meticulously color each nail a different color, wait for it all to dry and then move on to creating stripes, dots, or whatever my brain could think up.  While I rarely paint my nails anymore,… Read More →

Seminar on plant pest management- Saturday July 14, 2018

I’m giving a presentation on plant pest identification and management at Round Rock Gardens (901 Sam Bass Road, Round Rock, TX 78681).  If we have enough time, I’ll also cover some of the beneficials that can be found in the landscape. Bring your bug questions or samples that you may need help with. WHAT: plant pest ID & management seminar WHERE: 901 Sam Bass Road, Round Rock, TX 78681 (@ Round Rock Gardens) WHEN: Saturday, July 14, 2018 at 10AM

“That Takes the Cake” Cake Show 2018

While the event took place way back in February, I’ve been wanting to write about it and I’m just now getting to it.  So why in the world would I, who blogs about bugs, be writing about a cake show? Those who really know me, know that I love to bake…..and I love to eat what I bake….. I also love watching shows about baking- Great British Baking Show, anyone?  I used to be obsessed with Food Network’s Cake Challenge shows and had a deep amazement for Colette Peters, Bronwen Weber,… Read More →

Webworms (…and bagworms)

Webworms or bagworms…which do you really have?  Many people have been asking me about “bagworms” as of late, but after asking a few questions I discover that they have webworms.  So, what’s the difference? Bagworms: Form small cases that hold larvae, pupae, or female adults and eggs Cases are often found on evergreen trees & shrubs such as cedar, juniper, cypress, or pine Cases are made from silk and plant material laid down similar to shingles on a house, overlapping in layers Newly hatched larvae spin a silken… Read More →

Attracting pollinators webinar online today!

When: Friday, June 1, 2018 at 1PM CDT Where: online here https://auburn.zoom.us/j/209793415. Last year in the series, we met our native pollinators. This year, we will learn how to attract them to our own yards and gardens. In this webinar presented by Elizabeth “Wizzie” Brown, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, learn the fundamentals for creating your own pollinator oasis.  Moderated by Marcus Garner and Allyson Shabel, Regional Extension Agents, Alabama Extension. The link to the event is here:  https://auburn.zoom.us/j/209793415. Note: on June 1, the link to the live webinar opens about 15 minutes before the webinar…. Read More →

Harlequin bugs

PEST: Harlequin bug (adults about 1/2″ long, red & black in color) WHERE: cabbage, cauliflower, mustard, collards, etc. DAMAGE: piercing-sucking mouthparts suck plant juices leading to browning, wilting, & death of plant OPTIONS: pull out heavily infested plants; hand pick or vacuum insects off plants; pesticides (insecticidal soap, azadirachtin, permethrin, etc.)

Ant or termite swarmer?

With the warm(ish) temperatures- I know, it’s been all over the thermometer in Central Texas the past few weeks!- and the rain, both ant and termite swarmers have been spotted around town.  So if these insects emerge around the same time, do you know how to tell the difference? Ants will have the following: Antennae are elbowed Front wings are larger than hind wings No wing scale (they chew off their wings after the land on the ground) Middle part of the body is narrowed/ constricted Termites will… Read More →