Urban IPM

Asp a.k.a. puss caterpillars

Posted on October 20, 2017 by wizzie.brown

These have been a hot news item lately in Central Texas. I did a news interview & Facebook Live broadcast yesterday to talk about them. While these teardrop shaped caterpillars look soft and touchable, they are NOT! Asps have spines attached to venom glands that can lead to a nasty sting, rash, and other issues. Some people may have a more severe reaction than others and where you are stung (thickness of the skin) can effect things. You can read my previous post on asps HERE. KVUE story… Read More →

Glowing scorpions

Posted on October 6, 2017 by wizzie.brown

Tuesday evening, I had the opportunity to attend KLRU‘s Next Nights. Since it’s October, they wanted some “spooky” things, so I headed over with the menagerie of arthropods. Unknown to me until about half way through the event, the night was to showcase Strange Town, KLRU’s show on paranormal adventures. Apparently, the location of the event is haunted! To fit in with the paranormal/ haunting theme, the event was lighted appropriately, but fortunately we had flashlights to highlight things that were a bit difficult to see with the… Read More →

FREE Webinar series- All Bugs Good & Bad

Posted on September 22, 2017 by wizzie.brown

Have you been watching the FREE webinar series All Bugs Good & Bad? It happens the first Friday of each month at 1PM Central time. If you are just now joining in, don’t fret because past webinars are available online. The next webinar is all about invasive ants. I know here in Texas we have a fair amount of invasive ants, so this one would be a good one to watch. Here’s the skinny: WHEN: Friday, October 6, 2017 WHERE: online click here New invasive ant species? Yes,… Read More →

September 9, 2017- What I’m seeing

Posted on September 8, 2017 by wizzie.brown

Insects that I’ve been getting the most questions on lately are: 1. MOSQUITOES- why are they so HUGE?! These are floodwater mosquitoes and I’m going to direct you to some great articles that were recently released to provide with all the details. Click HERE and HERE. 2. Hackberry psyllids are back! Have you been seeing tiny fly-like insects piling up on your windowsill? If so, you may have hackberry psyllids. These are pretty common around here in the late summer into fall. You can see my previous post… Read More →

Heartworms

Posted on August 25, 2017 by wizzie.brown

I know that heartworms are not an insect (they are a parasitic roundworm), but they are transmitted by mosquitoes so I feel I am within my bailiwick. So why write about heartworms now? Today, on my google calendar I have scheduled that my dogs are to get their heartworm preventative. This task was added to my calendar way back in 2015 and was set to repeat monthly without end. I also set up my calendar to send me an email reminder on the day, so I don’t forget… Read More →

Ensign wasps…they’re the good guys (actually, girls)

Posted on August 11, 2017 by wizzie.brown

Have you seen an insect in your house that kind-of looks like a fly, but not exactly? It will be black in color, but the stunning and key feature is the abdomen; it comes off the top of the abdomen and looks similar to a triangular flag. I know of many people who have asked me about this “weird house fly” and when I tell them they shouldn’t squish they look at me like I’m crazy. These “weird house flies” are ensign wasps and they help to manage… Read More →

Did you know?…..the insect version

Posted on July 28, 2017 by wizzie.brown

A bed bug can take up to six times it’s body weight in blood during a feeding session Monarch butterflies were named after King William, Prince of Orange (see the connection….) who later was named King of England Fleas can jump up to 200 times their body length The heaviest insect is the Giant Weta from New Zealand You can buy art created by a stag beetle on ebay….no joke! Have a great weekend!

Harvestmen, Daddy-longlegs or that weird, pulsing blob on the front porch

Posted on July 14, 2017 by wizzie.brown

I received a wonderful photo this past week and was thrilled when I was told that I could use it on my blog- thanks Jackie! The photo is the inspiration of today’s post. Harvestmen, also sometimes called Daddy-longlegs, are arachnids but are NOT spiders. Harvestmen are actually in their own order, Opiliones, whereas spiders are in the order Araneae. Harvestmen have one basic body section (spiders have two), two eyes, and eight legs. They live in moist habitats and usually are found under rocks or logs. The two… Read More →

Summer is here….and so are cicadas!

Posted on June 30, 2017 by wizzie.brown

Have you been hearing loud noises in trees when you go outside lately? Male cicadas are well known for their “song”. They rest on trees and produce a whining sound that is attractive to females (cicada females, that is…). The sound is produced by two vibrating membranes on the side of the cicada abdomen. Fortunately, for those who do not enjoy the “music”, female cicadas do not “sing”. Cicadas are fairly large insects with some growing over 1 1/2 inches. Color can vary depending upon the species, but… Read More →

Mid-year check on bug webinar series watching

Posted on June 16, 2017 by wizzie.brown

Have you been tuning in the first Friday of each month to the All Bugs Good and Bad webinar series? If you have no idea what I’m writing about or you possibly missed one or more along the way, FEAR NOT….we’ve got you covered! Each webinar has been taped for your viewing convenience (yes, you can watch in your PJs at home if you want). All you have to do is click on the link of the webinar you want to view below and then click the green… Read More →

Teaching, Research, Extension and Service